The bearded man yelled furiously, "Seize him! Don't let him get close!"

Today was Zhou You's first encounter fighting humans. Battling humans felt distinct from mutant beasts. He was hesitant to inflict harm due to their shared species. However, an insight struck him— humans' defense was weaker than even the lowest-tiered mutant beasts. Being of the same species, Zhou You had a precise knowledge of human anatomy, making it easy to target their vulnerabilities.

But humans, ever the intelligent species, had developed protective gear due to their fragility. Now, another group of guards entered the scene, clad in silver armor resembling crocodile skin and wielding not just ordinary firearms but laser cannons.

"Haha, you're doomed today!" The man with the scruffy beard lay on the ground, laughing maniacally.

Zhou You stepped firmly on his chest, hearing a distinct sound of bone breaking, and asked with a smirk, "Didn't you just say that no firearms were allowed here? Isn't that cannon in their hands considered one?"

He swiftly grabbed a person from the ground to shield himself, "I've never seen such a weapon before. Unsure of its power. How about we test it on one of your own?"

"Release the hostage and surrender. Do so, and you might live," said a man with a mask, his voice deep. It was evident he was the leader of this group.

"Help... save me..."

Zhou You tightened his grip on the hostage's neck, negotiating, "Will you let us go? We promise we won't breathe a word of what happened here."

"Overstepping your bounds!" The man raised his gun and fired without hesitation. A beam of blue light shot forward. Zhou You hurled the human shield in its path and dodged. The beam penetrated the hostage's chest, leaving a gaping hole with blood pouring out. The victim's wide eyes reflected utter disbelief.

"You don't even value the life of your own comrade. You're worse than beasts!" Zhou You's face darkened, genuine anger evident. The weapons on the ground began to tremble and levitate.

"You... you're a psychic manipulator too?" The faces of everyone present changed, and the armed guards started retreating.

Zhou You wanted to ask what a psychic manipulator was. And their use of the word "too" suggested there was another powerful one among them, given their reaction.

Unnoticed by all, the blood from the dead individual started to flow along a specific pattern, as if it had a life of its own, slowly staining an emblem.

"So what? If you want to fight, continue. If not, let us leave. As I said, we won't speak of this or may lightning strike me!"

"Hmph, even if you're a psychic manipulator, you won't leave here alive today. The gods will punish any human who disrespects them."

Zhou You, scratching his ear, questioned whether he had misheard. "What nonsense? Gods? Sounds more like devils to me."

Just as he was about to act, nine pillars of light shot up into the sky. Instinctively looking back, he saw the stone columns at the bottom of the pit glowing with a eerie red hue, illuminating the entire cave.

The next instant, everyone saw various symbols and a vast formation drawn on the cave walls, emitting a mysterious glow.

A sense of dread filled the air, and the guards mumbled in fear, "It's the god! The god has truly manifested!"

Zhou You scoffed, "Are you an idiot? How could this bizarre formation be the work of a god? It's more like a devil's doing!"

"Don't blaspheme!" An agitated guard fired at Zhou You, who dodged swiftly.

Chapter 026: Trapped in the Cave

"Hehehe..." An eerie, grating laughter echoed throughout the cave, causing everyone to freeze. It sounded like a creature from the darkest depths, sending shivers down their spines.

As the laughter persisted, guards holding guns started to silently retreat towards the exit. Even the wounded on the ground were crawling out. The workers in the pit rushed towards the stone ladder. But with space only for one, they pushed and shoved, causing many to fall. Any wound became an entry point for the red light, which sucked the life out of them instantly.

The terrifying scene drove the workers to even more frantic attempts to escape. Zhou You was deeply shocked. What was this sinister force? And if it's this powerful now, what would happen when it's complete?

"Hehehe... Since the formation activated prematurely, let's use you all to empower it. No one is leaving." The chilling voice echoed, and guards realized they couldn't leave the cave, feeling an unseen force blocking their exit.

"Master! Master... We are your loyal disciples, please let us go!" The guards pleaded, bowing deeply. The indifferent voice replied, "Since you're my disciples, it's only fitting you make a sacrifice for our god. With you, there are precisely ninety-nine souls here, and we can't have one less. Hehehe..."

Zhou You shouted, "Who's playing these ghostly tricks? If you dare, show yourself!"

The figure paid no attention to him. Within the cave, the red glow grew more radiant after absorbing the blood of several individuals. Those immersed in this red light felt an odd force pulling at them.

Old Bridge was just an ordinary man. He was the first to react, walking lifelessly towards the edge. Just as he was about to jump, Zhou You grabbed and pulled him back.

"Bridge! Wake up! Snap out of it!" Zhou You slapped his cheeks, but couldn't bring him to his senses. As Bridge struggled to move forward, Zhou You had no choice but to knock him unconscious.