Until Dusk Protocol - Chapter 8: Essence of the Void: Part 1

Resident Evil, natural disasters… Zombies, the ice age…

Through movies and video games, humans have been familiarized to these kinds of, “doomsdays.”

But nobody actually believes that any of those things would happen.

Though from childhood Su Lifeng was a person that could foresee disasters, he never thought that one day he would be foreseeing the end of the world:

In 100 days, the entire world would fall.

Humans would be near the point of extinction.

Su Lifeng took a large, deep breath upon awakening from this vision: “I need to bust a load to calm down…”

- Description from Novelupdates

Themes: Black Market Trading, Global Crime Networks, Boundaries of Human Nature and Morality, The Struggle Between Truth and SurvivalStory Background:In a modern metropolis, the surface level of prosperity conceals the darkness and corruption lurking beneath. Ethan, a highly skilled detective, spends his life navigating the shadowy corners of the city, uncovering the hidden secrets buried beneath the mundane facade of everyday life. When he is drawn into what initially seems like a simple suicide case, he becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving the global black market, power struggles, and transnational crime.Main Characters:Ethan (Protagonist): A seasoned, calm, and intuitive detective who excels at finding the truth in complex cases. On the surface, he is a quiet, solitary man who prefers to avoid social interaction, but deep down, he is haunted by unresolved cases from his past. Faced with dark forces, he is both determined and full of doubt.Lila (Female Protagonist/Key Ally): Ethan's investigative partner, an intelligent and resourceful intelligence officer with a mysterious background. Her past is also shrouded in secrecy, and she seems to have an undisclosed connection to the “Black Angels” organization. She provides crucial assistance in Ethan's investigation, but her motives remain unclear, casting suspicion on her true intentions.Victor Saville (Antagonist/Main Adversary): A charismatic yet dangerous businessman, who appears to be a successful entrepreneur but is, in fact, one of the central figures of the global crime syndicate “The Black Angels.” Cold-hearted, clever, and ruthless, he controls a global black market network, overseeing arms trafficking, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. He is not only a key figure in Langley's death but also the biggest obstacle in Ethan's investigation.The Mysterious Woman (Key Character): An elusive woman who repeatedly appears during Ethan's investigation, warning him not to delve deeper into Saville and the “Black Angels” organization. Her identity is unclear, but it is evident that she holds vital secrets about Saville and his network. Her appearances leave Ethan bewildered—whether she is an enemy or his only ally remains uncertain.

“Any who don the title of 'king' or anything of the sort in my presence is nothing more than an ignorant fool. This is my land and I shall be reclaiming it soon. I am Cacophony, the Vampire Empress!”As those words left her lips, every cell in my body reacted. It was unreal—no, it was otherworldly. Her beauty, her power, and her overwhelming arrogance. It might've been then that I realized that my normal life had ended.How did it come to this?Ah, it was curiosity. Yes, a deathly curiosity brought me to that graveyard that day.It was there that I stumbled upon her coffin. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing then, and even now I have no idea what possessed me to touch it—that single moment changed the course of history for the entire world. I found myself delving into a completely unknown world.Should I regret it? Maybe. But the truth is, I don't.Exploring the world’s hidden secrets, forging unexpected bonds, and living alongside the revived empress—it’s exciting.“Even if it's wrong, I think I'm going to enjoy every moment of it.”

A mysterious game called “Forsaken” descends upon the world. Players can slay monsters to extend their lifespan, or consume their lifespan to extract game abilities into reality!As extraordinary powers emerge, chaos spreads across Blue Star, plunging the world into disaster.In his previous life, Qin Feng, along with his cousin Qin Xiaoyou, rose to become one of the top hundred global powerhouses. But in the end, he was betrayed by his star-struck sister, who gouged out his 'Ancient God Eyes' to gift them to her idol.Reborn in a new life, Qin Feng chooses to walk alone!His sister? Let her be damned!Thus, a god-level assassin with no shadow or form is born.He is the Shadow, dancing in the dark with his blades. Death and slaughter bloom like art in his hands...Surrounded by countless corpses, he will ascend to the throne of gods!P.S.: Skills evolve infinitely—permanent invisibility, one-hit kill, hundredfold drop rate, divine slaying with ease...