Chapter 14 : Domain Out of Control (The First Full-Scale Battle)

The morning fog, like a thick quilt, pressed down on the mountains and forests, almost completely obscuring visibility.

Chen Ye crouched behind a large rock in the woods, his Type 56 semi-automatic rifle already cocked on his shoulder, his shotgun resting on his lap, and his pistol at his waist.

His three brothers stood guard on either side, their eyes tense.

His sister, Chen Xue, crouched among the bushes ahead, her fingers lightly touching the ground, her gaze as sharp as an eagle's.

—Seven or eight members of the black market had already entered the forest, advancing slowly.

"Brother Ye, they know your abilities, they'll be very careful," Zhao Shi whispered.

Chen Ye nodded: "Me too. Don't fire, test the waters first."

He gently reached out, the boundaries of his sensory field expanding.

The wind in the air, the falling leaves, the vibrations of the soil—all responded to his will.

This was the first time he had fully unleashed his domain, yet the system hadn't fully responded—

A potential warning appeared:

[Mental Load Critical]

[Domain Stability: 73%]

[Warning: Potential for Loss of Control]

As the first black market member stepped into the core of the forest, the space suddenly trembled violently.

Fallen leaves were swept up as if by an invisible giant hand, branches shook violently, and even several dead trees were twisted and sent flying.

Chen Ye's heart tightened: "Xue, step back!"

But Chen Xue was already under the influence of the passive contract; her fingers slid across the soil, semi-autonomously responding to the domain's power.

Her perception intensified the spatial fluctuations—beyond Chen Ye's original control.

The first bullet fired, a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle accurately striking a black market member in the shoulder. The gunshot created a whirlwind, disrupting the enemy's formation.

However, what followed was a complete imbalance within the domain—the wind, the soil, the fallen leaves, and even the movement of small forest animals all began to react uncontrollably.

"Retreat!" Chen Ye hissed, but his domain had already strengthened itself, attacking all living beings within its perception range.

One black market member suddenly slipped, rolling several meters and scraping his shoulder.

Another trying to approach was instantly knocked back by a sudden whirlwind of falling leaves.

"Brother Ye, what's going on?!" Liu He shouted.

Chen Ye's face darkened—for the first time, he felt his power backfiring on him.

The expansion of his domain wasn't entirely at his will, but rather an uncontrolled reaction resulting from the combined resonance of the system, the space, and his sister.

Just then, the black market boss rushed forward, holding a shotgun, his eyes fierce.

Chen Ye aimed, but found his intended action delayed; his fingers tightened, and his breathing became rapid.

A system notification flashed:

[Warning: Host control decreased]

[Mental load exceeded limits]

[Domain is prioritizing itself]

He gritted his teeth, forcefully suppressing his fear, barely managing to concentrate.

The gun in his hand finally fired again, the bullet breaking the boss's advance.

But the reactions of the fallen leaves, the wind, and the trees were no longer entirely predictable.

In the distance, his sister's passive resonance, like an unknown ripple, gently touched the ground, causing a black market member to be swept up in a whirlwind and thrown to the ground.

A sense of oppression filled the air; every breath felt like being squeezed.

Chen Ye understood—the domain was no longer just a tool, but a battlefield on the edge of life and death.

Every shot fired, every movement, could trigger an uncontrollable environmental reaction.

"Retreat!" Chen Ye growled. He had to admit that the battle had spiraled out of his control.

The three brothers quickly retreated, protecting their sister. Chen Ye was the last to withdraw, forcefully suppressing the return of the domain's energy.

The wind, the fallen leaves, and the branches gradually returned to their places, but a slight tremor lingered in the forest, like the mountains breathing.

The black market members retreated a few steps in disarray, staring at the forest in terror.

They hadn't expected the hunters in this forest to possess such "inhuman power."

Night fell, and the forest returned to a temporary calm.

Chen Ye sat on a rock, sweat streaming down his face, his hand still clutching his gun.

A system notification appeared softly:

[Domain Stability: 52%]

[Host Mental Load: High]

[Warning: Increased Risk of Another Loss of Control]

He closed his eyes, watching the faintly flickering shadows of the forest in the distance, knowing in his heart:

—This was only the first full-scale battle.

The greater the power, the higher the price, and his and his sister's fate would be completely drawn into this vortex of inhuman power.

Chen Ye whispered to himself, "I must master it, otherwise, it will master us first."

Under the moonlight, the shadows of the locust trees swayed in the wind, as if foreshadowing an even greater storm to come.