Chapter Thirty-Two: The Fatal Blow

As the stone bridge wound its way to the thirteenth level, a glimmer of hope finally appeared ahead in the mine—the outline of a small truck parked inside the cavern, facing an exit that led to a battered road, most likely the route used for transporting ore.

Only four members remained in the Odd Gate squad. Longzhan Xingye, overjoyed, felt his exhaustion dissolve, and he quickened his pace, charging toward the truck. Just then, a phantom shot forward, followed by a shadow—nimble as a cat—darting ahead of him.

Less than thirty seconds later, the truck rumbled to life, and the figures atop the rear compartment revealed themselves—Snow Night Fairy. It was easy to guess that Lily of the Valley was in the driver’s seat. These two were indeed clever; they had trailed the Odd Gate squad all along. Snow Night Fairy knew Wu Hua’s prowess, and running with them meant a chance at survival.

Fei MM broke through the crowd first, shouting, “Wait for us! Stop the truck, don’t leave us behind—”

A thunderous gunshot cut her off.

“-5012,” a green damage value.

Wu Hua and his companions were stunned. Fei MM took a bullet to the nose, her face a mangled mess of blood and flesh. A cold, spectral white light rose, as if a ghost ascending.

“They…” Qin MM was frozen in disbelief. No one could have anticipated that, after so many had fought desperately on the bridge to let those in front escape, the two experts from Blue Ocean Company would turn and kill their own.

It wasn’t hard to understand. The truck was old and battered, its cargo limit low. If too many crowded the rear, it would slow to a crawl.

Wu Hua was furious—utterly furious. Since entering the Star Wars world, he’d seen plenty of malicious PKs for leveling up or treasure, but never such viciousness. This wasn’t just cruel—it was evil. Anyone with a shred of conscience wouldn’t commit such acts.

Though the game world never defined justice or evil, one shouldn’t assume that a good weapon gave license to do anything.

Wu Hua raised his Desert Eagle. He never wasted bullets, nor acted lightly. When he acted, it meant death.

Snow Night Fairy was still crouched atop the rack, working the rifle’s bolt. As the bullet chambered, she opened her optical sight. The crosshair revealed Wu Hua, standing motionless, right eye shut, gun steady in both hands, seemingly aiming at her—distance, sixty-three meters…

Snow Night Fairy’s heart skipped; she knew the Desert Eagle’s power was formidable, and she quickly rolled aside to evade.

“Bang—” The muffled shot echoed through the cave, the bullet whistling forth.

As Snow Night Fairy hugged her sniper rifle, silently relieved to have dodged another bullet, something she never expected happened.

A deafening boom shook the cave, the world trembled, and her vision spun a full 1080 degrees.
Wu Hua hadn’t aimed at her, but at the truck’s fuel tank. It exploded, sending the vehicle up in flames, hurling it through the air before it crashed back down. Wu Hua rushed forward, gun drawn.

Snow Night Fairy and Lily of the Valley coughed and struggled out of the wreckage. The blast had halved their HP, and the thick smoke stung their eyes, leaving them half-blinded and badly burned.

When Lily of the Valley managed to open her eyes, Wu Hua was already standing before her, gun raised, expression cold as stone, his gaze sharp as knives.

Sensing danger, she raised a hand hurriedly. “Wait, I—”

Wu Hua didn’t allow her to finish. His Desert Six boots stomped her face, silencing her, and the Desert Eagle’s slide flicked into place.

“Bang, bang, bang!”

Three golden shell casings flew from the chamber, their crisp sound echoing as they hit the ground.

Lily of the Valley’s head burst open, blood splattering Wu Hua’s face, not even leaving time for a scream.

Qin MM was stunned, as was Longzhan Xingye. The once-invincible Blue Ocean Company warrior had met such an end.

Snow Night Fairy felt an unprecedented terror rise within. She had thought herself ruthless, but Wu Hua was far crueler. He had killed without blinking.

“Let me explain.” Snow Night Fairy struggled to rise, but Wu Hua darted over like a specter, gun less than three meters from her head.

“I won’t kill you,” Wu Hua said coldly.

Snow Night Fairy breathed a sigh of relief.

“But that’s impossible.” The Desert Eagle fired again. Snow Night Fairy’s mouth hung open.

-5188!

Another shot, another green damage value—retribution swift and merciless.

The AE round struck her throat, blood spraying like an arrow. Her fate was the same as Lily of the Valley’s—transformed into white light.

“I won’t forgive you.” These were Snow Night Fairy’s last words, bitter and venomous.

Bitter indeed, for her most precious equipment lay exposed—a pair of blue boots.

“Bah, two piles of filth.” Wu Hua spat on the ground and picked up the boots. “Lucky for you your SVD didn’t drop.”

Longzhan Xingye hurried over. “Brother, you’ve caused big trouble. They were the Seven Fairies.”

“Fairies, my ass,” Wu Hua retorted, still seething. “Without these two, Tutu and the others wouldn’t be dead. I won’t let my brothers and sisters die in vain.”

In front of the television, Tutu heard these words and silently swore, “Brother, I’ll never forget your kindness. Anyone who threatens you, I’ll make them set up shop in the administration hall.”

Longzhan Xingye nodded approvingly. “This isn’t the time for talk. Let’s go.”

The broken road narrowed further, and behind them, all traces of people and zombies vanished. After a fork in the path, the three felt a weight lift from their hearts—just ahead was the elevator to the secret passage.

Once they descended and entered the tunnel, the waiting military Mercedes would carry them to safety. No zombie could catch up.

But why had the zombies disappeared? Wu Hua stood on the elevator, puzzled. Ten minutes later, he found the answer: after the lift touched down, someone was standing atop the Mercedes’ rear rack—Murong Longcheng.

After their harrowing battles, the trio was startled, but quickly regained composure. Even Qin MM was unusually calm. Each wondered: how had the Mother managed to get ahead? What method had he used to descend?

That would likely remain a mystery forever.

Longzhan Xingye stretched his muscles, slowly drawing his K57 military dagger, its blade shimmering with cold blue light.

Perhaps he didn’t know: Murong Longcheng, during the prior pursuit, had infected over fifty players. His level had soared to a terrifying thirty-six, and even after being swept by Shoot-You-Without-Guilt, his HP remained over sixty thousand.

Without a word, both sides began their duel. Murong Longcheng’s claws whipped up a fierce wind as they struck, but Longzhan Xingye’s dagger pressed against his wrist, flipping upward to block the blow.

A spatter of foul blood, and a red damage value “-488” floated above Murong Longcheng’s head. The damage was small, but Wu Hua was surprised—Longzhan Xingye’s attack power had hardly diminished, proving the dagger’s sharpness. Blue gear was indeed blue gear.

Qin MM, holding her pocket camera, watched in awe—this was likely the only warrior daring to face a zombie head-on in this mission, for Longzhan Xingye’s combat skills were truly formidable.