Deviant: No Longer Human

"Zi'er!"

Meanwhile, amidst the panic and chaos, Fu Yuxin's heart was seized with terror as she darted through the crowd, her eyes wildly searching for her daughter Zhenxi.

Her instincts were in overdrive, pushing her through the mass of fleeing people, every fiber of her being strained in the desperate search for her child.

As she weaved through the panicked crowd, a firm hand suddenly clasped her shoulder. Spinning around, Fu Yuxin faced a warrior, his gear emblazoned with the symbols of the demon hunters, his expression stern yet concerned.

"It's too dangerous here!" the warrior shouted over, trying to steer her to safety.

"No, you don't understand—my daughter, she's still out there!" Fu Yuxin cried out, her voice laced with panic and desperation. "I have to find her, please!"

The warrior's eyes, hardened by countless battles, softened momentarily as he glanced back at his teammates who were struggling to subdue the shadow wolf.

His gaze then returned to Fu Yuxin, resolute and calm. "If she is alive, I will find her," he vowed.

He swiftly keyed his communicator, speaking rapidly. "Alert—all units, we have a missing child, likely in the immediate danger zone. Initiating search."

Fu Yuxin's heart skipped a beat, torn between relief and escalating worry. "Please... you have to save her," she pleaded, her hands clenched in front of her, the very picture of on the brink of despair.

______

Meanwhile —As Wang Xiao departed the shadowed embrace of the Velvet Shadows, his path meandered towards the serene Green Oasis Garden, a place where memories of bygone days lingered like morning mist.

His journey often led him through the bustling Century Park, a place that bridged his past to his present.

Lost in the depths of his reverie, a sudden soft collision and a plaintive cry brought him sharply back to the moment.

"Oww!"

At the sound, Wang Xiao instinctively paused and looked down, his eyes widening in mild surprise.

Before him, a small figure had materialized as if conjured by the soft breeze.

A little girl, with tears glistening on her delicate cheeks like dewdrops on morning blooms, had stumbled and now clung to his robe, her tiny hands gripping the fabric with a desperation born of fright.

"Eh?" Wang Xiao uttered softly, his voice a gentle murmur in the twilight chaos.

He stooped gracefully to the child's level, his movements as fluid as falling petals.

His gaze, warm and concerned, met hers—a pair of eyes as wide and luminous as the autumn moon, filled with the innocent bewilderment of youth.

"Oh, hey there, little one... are you looking for someone?" His inquiry was tender, the timbre of his voice soothing.

He noted how her small, tear-stained face, framed by wisps of ebony hair, could evoke a heartache in even the stoniest of souls.

The girl looked up at him, her eyes pools of moonlight marred by the shadows of fear.

She seemed for a moment to hesitate between continuing her tears and embracing the solace offered by this kind stranger.

"M-mama?" Her voice was a quivering whisper, as delicate as the first frost of winter, revealing her longing and her helplessness.

Wang Xiao's heart melted further, his expression softening as a tender smile graced his lips.

With a voice as soothing as a gentle stream, he reassured the tiny soul creature him, "Uh, I may not know your mama, but if she possesses even a fraction of your charm, I will spare no effort in helping you find her."

His grin momentarily lit up his face, but concern quickly clouded his features as he sensed her shuddering.

Zhenxi's small form trembled like a leaf in the wind, and she instinctively nestled closer into Wang Xiao's embrace, seeking a sanctuary in the storm that had become her world.

Her actions tugged at the strings of his heart, evoking a sense of protectiveness that softened his expression.

In the fading light, Wang Xiao's face carried a shadow of somber thought.

Known among the realms for his powers that could vanquish night devils and spar with the gods under the sun, he was a figure carved from the legends of old, invincible and steadfast.

Yet, in this moment, the innocence and trust in the eyes of this small child revealed his seldom-seen weakness—a tender spot for the young creatures, especially those who reminded him of his own daughters.

This little girl, with her wide, fearful eyes, mirrored the faces of his own cherished daughters, melting the edges of his resolve.

Nevertheless, Wang Xiao, a stalwart guardian of old tales, would scarcely admit to such sentiments, not even if the truth were to be pried from him with the mightiest of spears.

He chuckled lightly, a sound as soft as falling petals, breaking the somber mood. "Okay, okay, I understand— it seems like your mommy has left you alone, and now you've chosen me, of all people, to be your savior," he murmured, half to himself as he scratched his neck in a rare display of awkwardness.

Suddenly, a stern voice followed after, "Careful!"

The warning came from the direction the child had appeared.

"Hm?"

Wang Xiao's gaze snapped up to see the figure of a warrior, the same one who had earlier advised caution to a frantic Fu Yuxin.

The warrior was in hot pursuit of the tree headed beast, a creature of nightmares, now eyeing Wang Xiao and the little girl with a predatory glare.

Its six eyes, bloodshot and frenzied, locked onto them with a murderous glare, each head dripping with fresh, viscous blood.

"Growwwl...."

The beast's three heads snarled menacingly, their gazes fixated on the tiny form of Zhenxi, who clung to Wang Xiao, seeking refuge in his shadow.

The air around them filled with the sudden stench of blood.

Wang Xiao, his expression hardened into a mask of resolve, unconsciously shielded Zhenxi with his hand atop her head.

"!"

Zhenxi, feeling the unexpected warmth and safety of his hand, looked up with eyes wide and shimmering with a mix of awe and fear.

Her small fingers reached up, grasping at his hand, trying to draw comfort from his presence.

"Awoooooo!"

With a deafening roar, the shadow wolf lunged toward them, its massive form soaring two meters into the air, propelled by primal ferocity.

The warriors in pursuit gasped in horror, recognizing the immediate danger but powerless to intervene in time.

Wang Xiao, however, remained unfazed. With a serene composure that contrasted the violence of the moment, he raised his hand and spoke a single, commanding word.

"Stop."

Whoosh!

Time seemed to suspend as the shadow wolf froze mid-leap, its fierce momentum arrested by an invisible force.

Confusion and terror flickered in its six wild eyes as its fur bristled unnaturally.

"Whimper..."

Now, the once fearsome predator's eyes swiveled toward Wang Xiao, filled with fear and pleading.

Its ferocious snarls turned to whimpers as it instinctively bowed its heads in submission, recognizing the supremacy of the force that held it captive.

Wang Xiao's hand clenched into a fist, a subtle but powerful gesture.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the flesh of the shadow wolf began to dissolve, stripping from its bones in a horrifying spectacle.

It streamed toward Wang Xiao's fist, transforming into a gruesome vortex of disintegrating matter.

The flesh disintegrated into an ethereal mist, vanishing before it could sully Wang Xiao's hand.

Thud!

The skeleton of the beast collapsed onto the concrete, bone by bone.

The skull hit first, creating a chilling echo, followed by the spine and the ribs, each landing with a heavy, hollow sound.

Thud! Thud! Thud!