Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Seven: A Glimmer of Hope Amidst Darkness

Page (1/3)

System voice:
Players Madman, Night Owl, and Night Bloom have completed the mission to destroy Eric’s Mad Plan. All group members gain 10,000 experience points, 2 merit points, and 3 charm points...

Wu Hua barely had time to listen to the system’s voice because the emergency lights around him were flashing intermittently—an obvious sign of a massive explosion looming. The scene was in utter chaos, with everyone surrounded by monsters. Creatures resembling dinosaurs, wild boars, and frogmen leapt out, indistinguishable from alien xenomorphs. Their skins were either jet black or beige, slick and slimy, covered with mucus—fierce in appearance and utterly repulsive.

All gunslingers, medics, and warriors, regardless of profession or weapon, dealt only “-1” damage to these monsters. The creatures clawed wildly, but strangely, anyone caught suffered a fixed damage of “-1000,” an alarmingly high and terrifying figure.

The monsters outnumbered the players several times over. White flashes and red damage numbers appeared continuously. Many were clawed, bitten, and torn to death. Over a dozen heavy machine gunners from the Arctic Snow squad gathered tightly, wielding more than ten M249s—still terrifying. Hundreds of bullets flew every second, enough to kill a monster every minute. The central area was the safest spot, with countless gunfires demolishing the base’s various facilities. Instruments sparked and exploded, igniting flames and filling the air with the choking stench of burnt metal.

Broadcast: “Countdown—13 minutes and 30 seconds.”

Wu Hua and Night Owl swung through the air using their watches, narrowly escaping the disaster. However, Night Bloom was cornered by several monsters. She used “Psychokinetic Bind,” spreading her hands as psychic waves continuously emitted from her gloves. Any monster within fifteen meters would be immobilized by the psychic waves. The monsters were too fearsome; attacking them was suicidal. Yet using this technique to defend herself was only delaying death, as exhaustion would leave her vulnerable to being torn apart.

Suddenly, a shadow swooped down from afar. After kicking over a dinosaur monster, Wu Hua grabbed Night Bloom’s belt and held her tightly. “Stop using psychokinesis. Let’s go.”

He pressed a switch; metal wires retracted, and the two ascended diagonally into the air.

The emergency lights flashed faster, and the horrific scene below grew more dreadful. Clawed monsters ripped people open, leaving blood and gore everywhere. No one could have expected the mission’s outcome to be so catastrophic.

Night Bloom clung tightly to Wu Hua, who was drenched in sweat mixed with blood but stared resolutely toward the stairway exit ahead.

She tightened her embrace and softly asked, “Why didn’t you run first? Why come back for me?”

Wu Hua cursed explosively, “Damn it! Are you annoying or what? Women are always so damn nagging! What the hell are you saying at a time like this?”

Night Bloom’s heart warmed. The years of coldness inside her seemed to melt with those few harsh words. She looked at him with emotion. “Please believe me. From now on, I will never harm you.”

Wu Hua, too busy to argue, nervously manipulated his watch as they swung through the air.

Page (2/3)

Broadcast: “Countdown—10 minutes.”

As they descended the stairs, Night Owl grew frantic. “Madman, run! Run now!”

Without hesitation, Wu Hua and Night Bloom dashed upward.

The thousand-plus steps seemed short before, but now they felt endless. The exit’s light was but a pinprick, and it would take nearly ten minutes to reach it.

“Damn it, I’m all in,” Wu Hua muttered, stuffing his AUG from his shoulder and Finnish Star from his back into his backpack, then sprinting barehanded.

The exit light grew wider, like the mouth of a bowl, and distant rumbling indicated that reinforcements, including the Qimen Corporation’s Big Hornet helicopter, had arrived to extract them.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from behind. Wu Hua was momentarily stunned as a figure was flung several meters away. Night Owl cried out and tumbled down the steps, with “-290” appearing overhead—likely kicked by the assailant.

Before he could react, Wu Hua shouted, “Watch out!”

But it was too late. A green sword beam shot forward, aimed at Night Owl’s vital chest. With a “puff,” he couldn’t dodge in the narrow space. Blood splattered as he collapsed to the side, the number “-3386” flashing—a grievous wound from the strike to his left ribs.

Wu Hua glanced back upward and saw Azure Star blocking the path, wielding an energy sword.

“Madman, hand over the items. If you don’t, I’ll blow you up and let you pick up the pieces. You’re blacklisted now; a massive explosion won’t be worth it,” Azure Star said coldly. “You can even sell them to me. Name your price. I guarantee your safety.”

Wu Hua looked behind him again—more pursuers were coming. Bellflower surged forward, raising her sword to strike Night Owl. Without hesitation, Wu Hua lunged, his Dragon Fang sword gleaming midair with a “ding” as it blocked Bellflower’s bronze blade. Landing, he drew his M500 and prepared to fire, but Azure Star slashed down from above. Wu Hua dodged again, rolling left just as a psychic wave shot up from behind Bellflower. Wu Hua’s heart sank, knowing this attack was unavoidable.

A thunderous roar erupted as the two energy waves collided and exploded midair. The shockwave stung everyone’s faces painfully.

Cold Plum Proud Snow and Night Bloom each took several steps back. Wu Hua and Night Owl seized the moment to get up and rush upward.

Azure Star turned coldly, with Bellflower and Cold Plum Proud Snow closing in as well.

Page (3/3)

“Night Bloom, do you know what you’re doing?” Azure Star asked icily.

Wu Hua was shocked, suddenly realizing that Night Bloom and Azure Star were truly on the same side.

Night Bloom’s expression was void of emotion. “Lanlan, I hope you won’t hurt Madman. He’s not the person you think. He’s a friend worth keeping.”

Wu Hua was genuinely taken aback, and even Azure Star and the others were stunned.

Azure Star’s face showed surprise for the first time. “Night Bloom, do you know what you’re saying? Don’t forget, the man standing beside you is my company’s enemy.”

Night Bloom replied, “I know, but I don’t want to betray him.”

Wu Hua was speechless. Was this the legendary “defection”? But he hadn’t “defected” anyone, nor had he guessed she had any ties with Azure Star.

“Men are all the same. Don’t you know that?” Azure Star said coldly.

Night Bloom suddenly said, “This has nothing to do with men or women. Whether in the game or reality, no one has ever stood up for me like he has—never given up on me in any desperate situation, and never demanded anything in return. Whether he’s a man or a woman, that’s what friendship means. Do you want me to betray my friend?”

Wu Hua looked at Night Bloom with newfound respect. He had always looked down on women, but this woman made him see things differently because loyalty knows no gender.

Azure Star was completely stunned. She hadn’t anticipated any of these details in this operation and couldn’t understand what charm this shameless scoundrel possessed to have captivated Night Bloom so thoroughly.

Azure Star said coldly, “Night Bloom, we’re friends. I don’t want to make this difficult for you. You have your freedom, but don’t stand in my way today. If I can’t get what I want, don’t blame me for not recognizing you.”

Night Bloom’s expression darkened. “Lanlan, are you really willing to harm me for the sake of technological energy? How are you any different from Xiaoyao?”

Time pressing, Azure Star said no more and charged forward, sword raised.