Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Since when did friendship plant itself so firmly in his heart?
Tang Ling barely had any idea.
At first, he was reluctant, but slowly and eventually, it seeped into his heart through the creaks and crevices. The process seemed slow, yet felt like an instant. Every one of their faces was branded deep in his heart.
As the sword flashed in front of his eyes, Tang Ling revealed a reminiscing smile.
There was Orston riding the king beast into the exam venue, munching on an apple with his bare chest, showing his family tattoo of a black sun.
Yu appearing coldly, stuttering as he tried to speak, and being dusty as he tossed the bag on the ground that proved his strength.
Beside him was Andy the talker. Andy was drooling over the apple Orston was eating.
Amir, whose eyes were like the beast, nervous, uncomfortable, and scared as he walked into the bloody cage with his head lowered.
Sorry, Christina and Vian, I don’t remember your fights from the exam, but I’ll never forget how you celebrate each other’s success holding hands. Yeah, who cares when this friendship started? All I remember are your faces!
Huuu!
Tang Ling exhaled loudly.
Cheers flooded over from the second tactical passage like a tsunami.
Tang Ling spotted Andrew leading the Summit Squad over. Hank was absent, but he could not care about the details at the moment.
The number of enemies is reaching the limit, so the show must be reaching its climax. It might be the best chance for me to leave now so that I won’t trouble anyone in the Fierce Dragon Squad, will I?
Tang Ling did consider leaving at the beginning, but it would be too early. He was afraid that his enemies could not recognize their target and all they knew was fighting. If he had not been with the Fierce Dragon Squad from the start of the battle, what would happen to his friends?
He dared not imagine the outcome.
All these were only Tang Ling’s guesses. He suspected that even though the Agnes family teamed up with the Underground race, there must be secrets that they withheld from their ally.
What if the Agnes family delivered a vague explanation of himself to the Underground race? It was possible. The conspiracy behind this show was so deep that even he himself was fooled at times.
Of course, everything was but a speculation. Tang Ling could not be sure of it, but this speculation scared Tang Ling as he dared not gamble with his friends’ lives. What he gambled on was his Precise Instinct. If he were to leave, his friends would be free from the attacks.
Therefore, Tang Ling resolved it with the best way that he could come up with.
Hold it, hold it! Protect them. This is the last time that I can protect them! I must protect them until the enemies reach the limit and the show ends.
Listen! The clashing noise in the first and third passages had somehow softened!
Listen! The fight in the second passage had stopped. Repeated cheers of Aber’s name replaced the gruesome noises, and it was louder than before.
Look! Andrew was heading their way at a strange speed. While he was not slow, he was definitely not fast either as if he was someone coming over to collect the fishing net.
How would he collect the net? It was not something Tang Ling had to think about at the moment. He knew that everything that he planned from thereon followed the main storyline. Nothing went wrong up until now.
Should he leave, everything would be over.
The golden minute he fought for his friends finally came into play.
Will Andrew expect me to retract back to the safety point? A mocking smile appeared on Tang Ling’s face. His doubts of the tactical movement disk remained even though he had been using it for a while and it seemed to be working fine. However, this show was too abrupt and sudden. Where would the trap be? What would the scheme be about?
Nevertheless, it was no longer necessary for him to analyze all that.
Before all this, he snuck into the left forest and used his transformation to clear all the obstacles on the road, removing all those dominating mutated beasts in the area.
I bet the Agnes family never expected that, eh? In order to escape without a mistake, he had hidden all the valuable materials of the mutated beast on him, and if he really arrived in some other place, he would not be without valuable currency.
Therefore, he was fully prepared for all this. He would never have to care about the little scheme of the enemy anymore. Even if the net was pulled, he would not be caught. If he had doubts about the tactical movement disk, he would not use it again.
A powerful kick propelled the Underground race in front of him away. Tang Ling pushed the button on the buckle of the tactical movement disk on him.
Pak!
The buckle was unlocked and he shook his shoulder.
Bump!
The whole disk fell off his back.
“Tang Ling, what the hell are you doing?” Yu looked at Tang Ling in disbelief. Judging from the situation, the battle was nearing its end as more and more reinforcements amassed on their location. Still, Tang Ling had chosen the suicidal path?
Why is he so dumb? I know the battle is going to be over, but we are still surrounded by enemies. How can he be so arrogant and careless in the midst of danger?
Tang Ling did not give any answer. He looked at Andrew further away and spotted his shaken expression mixed with disbelief.
Is the problem with the disk? Tang Ling suddenly shouted, “Everyone, back off one by one! Use the retraction and go up to the safety point.”
“Tang Ling, you…” Andy had a bad feeling, but their tacit understanding made him follow orders. All of the Fierce Dragon Squad backed off one by one. Tang Ling did not even look back when his friends retreated. He dashed forward, disregarding the consequences, and went on a mad rampage at the enemies for a full two seconds. He would exchange blows with the enemies. His sudden action managed to provoke several Undergrounds in front of him.
It was at that moment that he turned around all of a sudden. The control he had of his own body was perfect as he dashed and slid forward into the right exit.
Tang Ling purposely cleared out the enemies at the right exit before this just to secure his escape, so there were no enemies in his way.
Then, he ran out of the exit like a gale.
The whole Sector R was plunged into a huge mess. The New Moon Warriors of the First Reserved Camp had tasted the scent of victory. They heard the cheers in their ears which excited them and boosted their courage as though it was an adrenaline shot.
It was a great chance for them to seize war credits. The Purple Moon Warriors were coming out from the first war passage, and with their arrival, the enemies would be cleared out soon.
It would be a free loot of war credits!
Tang Ling was not a stranger to the situation. He was even familiar with what they were doing, yet his heart was filled with sorrow. His time facing the battlefield ruins was nearing its end. What else saddened him now?
As for worries, they were gone. All that was left within him was sadness.
It was Tang Ling’s choice, the choice he had to make. His plan was to escape during the mess, and this would be his only chance.
Before the fight, he had no confidence to escape. If there were really any scheme targeting him, his death would be certain. After the fight, it would be impossible! The Agnes family would rise to power, then he would not have the slightest chance to escape.
Therefore, Tang Ling had been trying his best to sketch out the outline of the whole scheme just to plan his way out of this.
While he was getting prepared before this fight, during the last meeting with Su Yao, an idea rose during their conversation. It was where the safest place for him to meet Su Yao would be if they were separated.
Su Yao should be able to think of a place once he got the news that things had gone south.
Tang Ling could not think of anything else anymore. All that he had done until now was the pinnacle of his wisdom, power, and strength.
Tang Ling was fast. The New Moon Warriors who were busy killing the enemies did not spot him.
Based on his original calculation, the Fierce Dragon Squad could retreat in seven seconds and then retract themselves to safety. It must be in that order since the safety point was set very close and the enemies had them surrounded. A sudden retraction might tangle the strings and slow them down for the enemies to reach them.
Seven seconds was the optimal time. If they could execute the actions in order, the enemies would need at least nine seconds to get to the area where they retreated to. The two seconds of difference would be enough for all of the Fierce Dragon Squad to retract.
Four out of the seven seconds had passed.
Tang Ling used three seconds to dash out of the U-shaped kill box through the hole he dug on the wall. He dashed more than 30 meters in a second.
Five seconds. Tang Ling was almost 70 meters away.
He concentrated on his escape while he listened to what happened behind him. He was worried about his friends delaying their retraction beyond the optimal time after they realized he was running away without turning around.
What would they feel about him then?
Tang Ling stopped the last question the moment it rose. He should not be thinking about all that now.
Six seconds. Tang Ling was reaching 100 meters.
His heart was racing. Please retract in time! Please use that golden one minute that I fight for you guys!
In fact, the situation was better than he thought. The one-minute window that he gave his friends would be considered more than enough. Judging from the situation, his friends would be safe in less than 20 seconds.
Don’t worry, Tang Ling. They will retract! Yu is around and Amir is a rational guy.
Tang Ling felt comfort when he thought of the two of them.
Seven seconds.
Tang Ling looked up to see Hank standing in the middle of the messy entrance of Sector R. His heart clenched like a giant hand had squeezed his heart and pulled it with a lot of force.
Pain started to spread deep down, hurting his heart. It was not because of himself, but because he had a feeling that something might happen to his friends.
Hank was with Andrew, and their relationship was once a heated discussion among the First Reserved Camp. Aber could never order Hank around, meaning that Andrew was certain Tang Ling would escape, hence Hank was left there to block the exit.
If Aber expected his escape, it would not be Andrew’s closest person blocking his way. Instead, it would be someone close to Aber. However, Aber did not send someone over, meaning that he was confident his plan would pin Tang Ling down for good.
Andrew, on the other hand, did not agree. Analyzing that point onwards, it proved that Andrew did not follow Aber’s orders, or at least some of them, in their grand scheme of things.
It was not a surprising scene either. If killing Tang Ling was considered a war credit, everyone would fight each other for the chance, even the relatives of the Agnes family. From Lionel to Andrew to Aber, every one of them was fighting for credits.
Tang Ling cared nothing about the messy political fights. All he cared about was the method that Andrew used to fool Aber. It would mean…
In that particular moment, many thoughts and analyses flashed over in his mind. Amidst the voices in his mind, Tang Ling heard the pulling noise from the retraction.
What he heard put him at ease. Maybe he was being paranoid. What could possibly happen to his friends?
Next, Tang Ling should focus on how to deal with Hank. Should he transform right away?
Alas, in the very next second…
“Aargh!” Vian’s helpless screamed entered Tang Ling’s ears.
“Vian!” everyone else called out to her together.
“No, no, no, no! Please tell me it’s not true!” Amir’s frantic voice followed right after.
“Vian?!” Tang Ling’s heart was shattered.
What was it like when the heart broke? A person might feel sluggish or even be stunned for a second or longer. Then, the numbness would kick in. The first reaction that a person would have was, ‘Is this a dream?’
Everyone else in the Fierce Dragon Squad was stunned, including Tang Ling.
Tang Ling forced himself to a hard stop and turned around blankly. He ran back towards the two walls as quickly as he could and it was probably the fastest that he had ever run in his life.
Am I too late? Huh?
Tang Ling’s eyes were red. They were burning and teary!
I can’t summon the seed. I need at least two seconds for the transformation. What should I do? What?!
Tang Ling was really shaken. His mind went blank and so did everyone else’s in the Fierce Dragon Squad.
Under their dull gazes, they watched as the helpless Vian stood on the spot while the enemies swarmed over to her. In less than a second, she would be surrounded.
Amir went crazy as he dashed down from the wall madly.
Christina widened her mouth in disbelief. “Amir?”
What happened? Christina then screamed loudly as if a great burden was lifted.
I have to go back! I have to go back! Can I get two more seconds? I can exchange my life for two more seconds! Two more seconds and I can stand in front of Vian and protect her!
I do not have a death wish. I really don’t! I just don’t want to watch Vian die like this without me beside her because…she died because of me!
Tang Ling’s heart felt like it was ground by a thousand blades. The phrase ‘She died because of me!’ punched his gut and choked his throat tightly.
He laughed bitterly to himself. No matter how accurately he calculated, how hard he tried to best the scheme and calculate what would happen to the disks, he failed. He failed to calculate human nature and failed to include the possible loss of his friend’s life in his equations.
Vian seemed to understand her situation under everyone’s gaze. She looked in the direction where Tang Ling ran off to and showed a smile. Then, she raised her sword.
Fight! She would fight to her last breath! She was also a warrior!
Tang Ling saw the opening to the U-shaped kill box. It was just in front of him. He dashed over madly.
Amir landed on an enemy’s shoulder and launched himself towards Vian. The enemy raised its giant hammer, and Vian lifted her sword.
Clank!
Vian blocked the giant hammer strike with a falter, but then another giant hammer was swung towards her from her left, striking her waist powerfully.
The rest of the Fierce Dragon Squad was awakened by the heavy clank. What was life and death in this kind of situation? What was dangerous anymore?
Memories of them spending quality time together flashed in everyone’s minds.
There were seven of them. There were always seven. The number seven seemed to stimulate everyone else as they jumped off the wall to Vian.
A mouthful of blood spewed from Vian’s mouth as she strenuously dished out her sword and stabbed her enemy.
The moment she stabbed her sword into the enemy, another hammer pounded her chest. She could not defend herself. There were too many of them.
Amir dashed as quickly as he could. He finally reached Vian. He opened his arms wide, wanting to hug Vian and retract her to safety. Amir was faster than he had ever been, yet Vian’s chest was heavily damaged and her ribs were probably shattered.
Tang Ling also made his way in between the stone walls. Everyone else also joined them on the ground.
Although it was less than a second delay, it felt very long as though a century had passed.
There were too many of them. There were just too many enemies!
Tang Ling shouted his lungs out and jumped towards an enemy’s head.
Amidst the hammer brandishes, his Precise Instinct operated at its peak as he dodged every single strike while dashing to Vian.
Tang Ling’s voice seemed to enter her ears just as Vian’s sight started to blur, but she tried her best to look around. It was at that moment that another hammer was swung towards her head powerfully.
Amir turned around with a jolt. He switched his hug towards the giant hammer instead.
Countless hammers were swung towards Amir and Vian.
Tang Ling made it back, and so did the rest of the Fierce Dragon Squad. He used his shoulder and the momentum from his speed to knock the giant hammer away.
Crack!
His cracked, but he could not care less.
Vian managed to hold the edge of Tang Ling’s uniform with her fading smile.
Tang Ling turned around, his heart was completely shattered.
Amir also turned to Vian with blood spewing from his mouth. His eyes were bleak as he fell into despair. He seemed he wanted to die in Vian’s place. He blocked more incoming hammer strikes with every part of his body.
The rest of the Fierce Dragon Squad made it and they too blocked the numerous hammer strikes with either their bodies or weapons. They used everything they had to hold off the enemy and stop them from hammering.
It was only three seconds since everything went south, yet the duration was the time between life and death. It felt surreal as if it was all a dream.
How could this happen? Life and death in an instant? Was this the end?
Silent. Everything suddenly went silent. They defended with their lives and protected the fallen Vian in a circle.
Time flew by as they put their lives on the line. The Purple Moon Warriors finally made it and the enemies seemed to have received orders to retreat.
How long had it been? 10 seconds? 15 seconds? 20 seconds?
Tang Ling’s Precise Instinct failed as he did not have to heart to count.
The enemies scattered, but it no longer mattered. When the enemies surrounded them, Tang Ling did not have a chance to carry Vian to the safety point. The formation was a mess and the whole squad could barely held on. All they did was defend with their lives and sheer willpower.
Did anyone else fall? No, it did not seem like it.
When the enemies scattered, other than Vian, everyone else was standing.
Amir was wobbly, but he was on his feet. He looked at Tang Ling and Tang Ling looked back at him.
What should he say? Tang Ling raised his sword to Amir’s neck coldly.
Amir showed a bleak smile. There was no urge of survival left in his eyes as he was also dying. He had blocked the hammer strike that originally went for Vian’s head with his arms. His chest was damaged and his organs were certainly shattered.
So what? His life had never started anyway, so it would not matter if the flower in his heart withered now.
“T-Tang Ling…” Vian’s meek voice whispered. Tang Ling kept his sword away and looked at her.
What should he do?
Sheer Cold Liquid! Get some water and freeze Vian. There’s a lot that I have to do…
Tang Ling was grateful that he was able to remember the liquid. However, Vian mustered all her strength and pulled him back. As a matter of fact, her hand never let go of Tang Ling’s shirt.
“Hug…me…it’s…c-cold…” The light in Vian’s eyes were fading.
Tang ling panicked. What should he do? Ignore her and try to save her? No, he could not do that either. Should he not be going to the river for some water?
Instinct replied on behalf of Tang Ling. He endured the pain from his damaged shoulder and hugged Vian.
Her hand gripped his collar. Although she looked satisfied and peaceful, blood kept spewing from her mouth. Her voice was clear all of a sudden. “I still have a little brother. I’m at ease. Tang Ling, I thought I’d never get the chance to…”
Tang Ling carried Vian to the river blankly. What would it happen if he froze Vian in the underground river? Would it work?
Tang Ling’s heart was shattered beyond repair. The pain reminded him of that night because Vian had died in his place.
Could Vian be quiet? Her voice made him feel even more painful.
She could no longer speak. She started to twitch and the last breath in her faded away while the blood from her mouth dyed Tang Ling’s chest red.
What is the last word you said? Hug?
Tang Ling tightened his hands around Vian.
Vian, will you wake up and fix my battle uniform for me? Will you wake up and sit beside me quietly, watching me like you used to?
I am…I…Am I hugging you enough?
Tang Ling did not tear up.
Christina looked at Tang Ling and Vian. Her voice was trembling as she sobbed, “V-Vian, is she…is she…?”
She broke down weeping.
Amir’s gaze started to fade. He felt like he was seeing the flower that he tried to pick when he was younger. The wind was strong and it blew the flower away, further away, so far that he could no longer reach it.
Summer is ending, isn’t it?
Tang Ling held Vian with his left arm and the Wolf Crunch appeared in his right.
What about 10 years later? Isn’t there a promise that we should not forget? I won’t forget it. I’m ready to meet you again 10 years later!
He stabbed the Wolf Crunch into the back of Vian’s head and twisted it…
What will we be like 10 years later? 10 years without you…
You cannot become a zombie…
Tang Ling kept his dagger and carefully patched Vian’s head.
Let’s go now. I’ll demand justice for you. Those who are responsible for your death will all die*.*
