Inside a bar in Beldam.
They didn't talk much, listening with slight smiles as the drunks at the next table discussed paranormal powers and mystical events.
"Earlier, *hic*, I saw those Feysacians in Beldam. Not only are they built like bears, but they can also drive flames and throw them like javelins!"
"No way... Is there really such paranormal power?"
"Haha, you just haven't seen it yourself. One day I got drunk and fell asleep near the cemetery. I saw people from the
...
The drunks, talking about things they had either experienced themselves or heard secondhand, were getting excited, spittle flying as their faces flushed red.
"They're always like this. They only get excited after drinking, always love to brag, but usually, they're pretty depressed." Byers, a local Beldam resident, explained a few words at the sight. "Ever since the coal mines started to deplete, young people have gradually been leaving Beldam for Constant and
This man, not yet thirty, had worked as a miner when he was young. He was lucky not to have died in the mine, but his skin had become very dark from it.
The muscles exposed on his body weren't overly exaggerated, but they gave a feeling of being cast from steel.
Roy, the leader of the group, chuckled and said: "What they said might actually be true, not boasting. The war before really exposed supernatural powers to a lot of people, especially the soldiers who directly participated. As long as they survived, they all had relevant experiences."
"Also, it brought a lot of opportunities, allowing some people who had absolutely no chance to come into contact with supernatural powers and true mysticism to become Beyonders."
The way he expressed it was very understated, as if he was talking about other people's affairs, but in reality, this was exactly what the four of them had experienced.
Byers and Roy were soldiers who fought in the defensive battle of Beldam. Phil was once plundered by Feysacians but was lucky to survive. Pasha and her former civilian companions lured and ambushed several Intis soldiers during the street fighting.
They had all witnessed the deaths of many friends and, for various reasons, acquired supernatural powers.
Then, due to the chaos brought by the war, they were either separated from their troops or actively avoided detection, remaining unknown to official forces. Gradually, they got to know each other and, driven by a mentality of huddling together for warmth, became friends.
This time, they had come to Beldam, Byers's hometown, to seek out his possible surviving relatives and friends.
"The truth of this world far exceeds our imagination." Pasha, with her dark gold hair and deep blue eyes, echoed with emotion.
She was only in her early twenties, and her features were quite good, but her face lacked any excess flesh, so the outline of her bones was distinct, making her look much older than her actual age.
"From now on, we're going to have different lives." Roy, whose hairline was a typical feature of Loen, raised his glass. "To a brand new future..."
Before he could finish, a sudden scream rang out from the bar hall.
Roy and the others, having a certain amount of experience, immediately became alert and turned their gazes towards the sound.
They saw a plainly dressed young man lying on the floor, rolling back and forth, seemingly in extreme pain.
In the dim light of the gas wall lamp, everyone noticed that the young man's back had split open his clothes, revealing one bloody red streak after another, as if they had been made by a leather whip.
Yet, no one around was holding a whip, and the victim had only screamed once. Unless he had been whipped countless times in that single instant.
But if so, how could no one have noticed?
"...There's a wallet in his hand... Could this be related to the anomaly just now?" Phil, who was thin, glanced at the scene and then said hesitantly, "Should I take it and have a look?"
Roy thought for a moment and nodded slightly.
"Be careful."
Phil grunted in acknowledgment, stepped out from the small round table area, and used the crowd of onlookers as cover to approach the young man, who was no longer thrashing but only groaning softly.
He stealthily reached out his left hand, aiming for the ordinary-looking leather wallet.
"Ah!"
Phil suddenly screamed, watching as his left hand was severed at the wrist and fell to the ground with a smack.
Blood spurted from the wound, splashing onto the faces and clothes of those nearby.
The scene froze instantly. The drunk patrons were stunned at first, then swallowed their saliva, turned around, and frantically rushed for the doors and corners!
"It's strange... No one attacked me!" Phil almost fainted from the pain but forced himself to tell Roy, Byers, and Pasha about his "experience."
Roy's gaze sharpened, and he decisively said: "Let's get out of here!"
He then turned to Byers and said: "Pick up Phil's hand and keep it safe. I remember that the military doctor I knew before, Webb, is also from Beldam. After being discharged, he came back here and opened a private clinic. He... he can effectively treat this kind of trauma."
That military doctor named Webb was also a Beyonder. During his participation in the Southern War, he had gradually improved step by step, gaining medical skills that surpassed reality. It was said that he could sew severed limbs back on, making them just as flexible as before.
"Okay." Byers replied without hesitation.
He stepped forward, took out a wooden box, picked up Phil's severed hand, and placed it inside.
Meanwhile, Pasha used the miraculous ointment she had bought earlier to initially stop the bleeding from Phil's wound and bandaged it up.
Immediately after, the group of four left the bar.
After asking around several times, they finally found Webb's clinic with the help of passersby.
The clinic had not yet closed for the day. The light from the gas lamp inside spilled out, casting a dim yellow glow.
Roy politely pulled on the doorbell and heard the repeated dinging echoing from inside.
However, after several minutes passed, no one came to greet them.
"Passed out drunk?" Pasha glanced at Phil, who was in unbearable pain, and made a doubtful guess.