City skies, ominous clouds surge.

Three years ago, during an anti-narcotics operation in Gongzhou City, a chain of explosions occurred on site due to a misjudgment by the chief commander Ryan Sullivan, resulting in heavy casualties for the narcotics squad. Three years later, Ryan Sullivan, who should have died in the line of duty with no remains left, miraculously awakens from a vegetative state.

Chapter 1

　　Boom—!

　　A blast wave, carrying sparks, rushed straight at him; burning debris flew in all directions from the explosion. The load-bearing wall couldn't hold any longer—a new round of collapse swept from far to near, and in the flames, broken walls and ruins fell like a torrential rain, cutting off the flashing police lights and the clamor of voices in the distance:

　　"Command center requesting backup, requesting backup!"

　　"Where's Captain Sullivan, where is Captain Sullivan?!"

　　"Oh no, Captain Sullivan rushed in! Hurry, hurry, hurry!!..."

　　...

　　The inferno turned into mottled, twisted patches of color, the noise receding like a tide; his hand, braced against the wall, was burned, and the blood streaming from his fingers was instantly evaporated by the flames. But he felt no pain, heard nothing—no matter how many times this scene replayed in his dreams, it was always the same. The whole world echoed only with his own hot, hoarse breathing, and then he raised his gun at the devilish figure slowly emerging from the sea of fire—

　　Bang!

　　The figure drew closer.

　　Bang!

　　Bang, bang, bang, bang!

　　The bullets sank into the phantom, as if passing through air, vanishing silently into the flames.

　　His hand slackened, and the Type 92 pistol dropped in front of him, making a barely audible click in the inferno.

　　"I'm right here," he heard a snake-like voice behind him, cold and smiling, leaning in close to his ear. Then a hand brushed his cheek, saying, "Ryan Sullivan, I'm right here."

　　For the thousand and first time, he looked back in his dream, but no matter how hard he tried, he could never see the backlit figure in his nightmare clearly.

　　"Go to hell, come with me." The figure smiled. "Everything of yours is over... over forever."

　　He closed his eyes, and in his last shred of consciousness, heard the fire engines racing closer, sirens wailing in the distance. But the roaring flames devoured everything, the earth trembled and cracked, countless demonic claws reached out, dragging him alive into a sunless abyss...

　　·

　　Three years later, Jianning City.

　　Ryan Sullivan opened his eyes.

　　Sunlight streamed into the hospital room through sheer curtains, the snow-white walls reflecting a soft glow. A bouquet of white roses at the bedside still held dewdrops, giving off a faint fragrance. The nurse's gentle voice drifted in through the half-open door:

　　"Bed 538 is being discharged today, let the director know, and get the paperwork ready for the family..."

　　"He was in a coma for years, and now he's waking up and going home! Just goes to show, people are really..."

　　"Shh!" the head nurse whispered. "Get back to work!"

　　The footsteps gradually faded away. Ryan Sullivan showed no reaction.

　　He remained in the posture of just waking up, leaning on the recliner by the window, his pupils reflecting a cold indifference born of long familiarity with nightmares, mirroring the lush trees and the blue sky beyond.

　　A moment later, the door was gently pushed open, and someone carefully approached. Ryan Sullivan didn't turn his head; the person stopped only when they reached his side and said softly, "Brother Sullivan."

　　Emily Carter had carefully permed and dyed curls, a black dress, red nails, a platinum handbag on her arm, and a large envelope just taken from the doctor's office tucked under her arm. Seeing his gaze, she smiled sweetly: "I saw you were asleep, so I didn't wake you. All the paperwork is done, the car's downstairs, let's go."