Chapter 168
Chapter 168: Courage
Day 7 of the Savage Realm, noon.
Eerie Island, Soul-Return Town.
With a flash of light, the Circular Mobile Fortress crashed down onto the barren wasteland roughly 100 meters outside Soul-Return Town's gate.
Its treads ground the dry bones beneath them to powder, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.
Inside the cockpit, Xin An worked the control panel, activating the fortress's external panoramic surveillance.
She simultaneously engaged Full Map Unlock.
Within moments, the outside landscape appeared on the main screen.
The sight that greeted them was one of devastation.
Surrounding the entire perimeter of Soul-Return Town stood countless solitary graves!
"Reporting…no red dots detected."
Xin An stared at the map in her mind. Far from relaxing, a chill crept up her spine.
"No enemies on the surface, but in a netherworld like this, the shadows are probably crawling with filth."
She turned to look at the massive gatehouse looming ahead. "And that gate into Soul-Return Town is too narrow."
"This Mobile Fortress of ours is way too big—there's no way we're driving it through. So what do we do now?"
Zhao Yan, serving as squad captain, knitted his brow and instinctively glanced toward Yue Tian, who sat with his eyes closed in quiet meditation.
"Sir, what do you think we should—"
Yue Tian didn't even open his eyes. He simply gave a casual wave of his hand.
"Comrade Zhao Yan, get clear on your role."
"In this unit, you are the captain of Blade Squad. I am nothing more than an ordinary squad member following orders."
"Whatever you decide, make the call yourself. I will respect your decision absolutely."
Zhao Yan's heart lurched the moment those words landed.
He understood—Elder Yue Tian was deliberately testing his command ability!
Zhao Yan forced himself to snap into captain mode.
He fixed his eyes on the grave layout displayed on the main screen and issued a decisive order.
"Soul-Return Town is an officially rated Yellow Danger Level zone—there are absolutely rules in place here!"
"Xin An, follow my lead. Do your best to steer clear of those grave mounds and bring us to the open ground closest to the gate with the fewest graves!"
"Then we abandon the vehicle and proceed on foot, so we don't unknowingly violate whatever taboos govern this place!"
"Copy that!"
Xin An immediately pushed the control stick forward.
Everyone who heard the plan gave a quiet nod of approval.
Steady and methodical—it was undeniably the safest way to open.
In the back row, Yue Tian gave a faint dip of his chin as well, silently affirming Zhao Yan's caution.
As the fortress crept forward, Zhao Yan suddenly turned back toward Yue Tian with a report.
"Sir, there's actually something else. The moment we set foot on Eerie Island, beyond scouting out Dragon-Summer Imperial City, we also need to find someone along the way."
"Find someone?"
The eyebrow beneath Yue Tian's mask arched slightly.
"Are you referring to the No Words Needed who's been dominating the leaderboard?"
"He does seem quite likely to be hiding somewhere inside Soul-Return Town."
"No, Sir. It's not him."
Before Zhao Yan could even respond, Xin An—big mouth as ever—blurted it out from behind the wheel.
"The person we're looking for is Tang Sirui—originally the firepower unit of our Iron Wall Squad!"
"He threw a fit because his injuries kept him out of the trial, so he went and jumped straight to Eerie Island!"
"And he took all of Huaxia Nation's Second Base's valuables with him!"
Smack!
Zhao Yan's face turned beet red. He reached over in a fit of furious embarrassment and gave Xin An a sharp flick to the back of the skull.
"Ow!"
Xin An yelped, clutching her head.
"Drive your vehicle! Nobody was going to mistake you for a mute if you kept quiet!"
Zhao Yan's moustache quivered with rage as he hissed under his breath, "Don't you know you never air your dirty laundry in public?!"
"Bringing up something this embarrassing right in front of an Elder—you don't care about face? I do!"
Yue Tian listened.
A full 5 seconds passed before he spoke.
"That Magic Orb whose ability is 【Infinite Combo】—that's him, isn't it?"
He remembered the boy far too well.
Every squad member who made it into the Tiger-Grade Reserve had to complete a month of intensive training at the Central Base.
Certain Elders were selected to serve as instructors.
And the instructor assigned to drill Tang Sirui's batch of new recruits had been Yue Tian himself.
That kid wasn't just a walking arsenal—he was a walking disaster.
During training, he caused havoc everywhere he went. Blew up the latrine pit. Leveled the mess hall.
More than once he'd driven Yue Tian to abandon all Elder dignity, tear a willow switch off a tree, and chase the little brat halfway around the base, thrashing him as he ran.
"That little rat bastard…"
"And now, after all this time, I have to come to Eerie Island in person just to clean up his mess. Truly a karmic debt."
Yue Tian squeezed his fist. He stared at the surveillance feed ahead and let out a single sentence.
"Xin An, drive faster."
"My hands…are feeling a little itchy all of a sudden."
"Yes, Sir."
Xin An, still cradling one side of her head, was so startled she immediately floored the accelerator.
She quietly lit a row of candles in her heart for Tang Sirui.
"Shadow, keep an eye on the radar and secondary monitor for me."
Xin An called out for help.
"Understood, Vice-Captain."
At that moment, Shadow was completely focused on organizing her own equipment.
She took the specially-made tactical case containing 【Dragon God's Severed Right Arm】 and 【Watcher's Eye】 and secured it to her back with alloy restraint straps.
Zhao Yan watched her struggle slightly under the weight, and his protective elder instincts kicked in without thinking.
"Little Shadow, that case looks pretty heavy—how about…"
"Let me carry it for you the rest of the way?"
"It's fine, Sir."
Shadow shook her head.
"The Dragon God personally instructed that this can only be kept by me."
"I must guard it with my life. I absolutely cannot hand it to anyone else."
"Ah…right, right."
Zhao Yan scratched his head awkwardly. He'd been so caught up in caring for the younger member that he'd nearly forgotten what was inside that case—it was a god's relic!
If someone snatched it midway and the Dragon God held them accountable, how many lives would their whole group have to pay with?
"You must protect yourself well—this thing is too important." Zhao Yan urged, still uneasy.
Yue Tian spoke up at the right moment. "No need to be so anxious."
"Shadow's ability is top-tier when it comes to stealth and self-preservation."
"Even so, however…"
Yue Tian's gaze swept the interior of the vehicle from behind his mask.
"In any engagement ahead, the first mission for every single one of us is to protect her at all costs."
"Along with these 2 items the Dragon God entrusted to her! Is that understood?"
"Yes! Sir!"
Zhao Yan and Xin An both straightened up at once and responded in unison.
"Thank you."
Shadow dipped her head slightly, a warmth spreading through her chest.
Just then, Shadow suddenly felt as though something was missing from the noise inside the cabin.
She glanced over, and there was Liu Ruyan, crouched in a suspicious little crouch in one corner of the vehicle.
The woman was hugging her 2 brand-new S-Grade pieces of equipment she'd just redeemed from the Supreme Vault.
A 【Bamboo Thunder Sword】 crackling with arcs of lightning, and a【Dragon Blood Soft Armor】shimmering with flowing radiance.
"Heh heh heh…exquisite. Absolutely exquisite!"
Liu Ruyan was practically drooling, giggling softly to herself.
"With these 2 S-Grade pieces of equipment behind me, I'm practically unstoppable!"
"Once we're inside Soul-Return Town, let's see which sightless cursed creature dares to stand against me!"
"Ha ha ha……"
Shadow's mouth twitched twice as she watched Liu Ruyan lost in some blissful fantasy of invincibility.
She quietly turned away, repeating a silent mantra to herself.
“I don't know this woman. I absolutely do not know this woman.”
Then Shadow redirected her attention to the secondary monitor's screen.
But that one glance drained the color from her face in an instant.
"Something's wrong! Captain, we've got a situation outside!"
Shadow's voice was sharp and urgent as she jabbed a finger at one corner of the screen.
"Those graves…those graves are moving on their own!"
"Something seems to be trying to break through the ground!"
"What?!"
Zhao Yan's face went pale. He lurched toward the main console.
"Xin An! What's the count? How many?!"
"A lot! Captain, a huge number!"
Sweat instantly beaded across Xin An's forehead. Both hands locked white-knuckled around the steering yoke.
"At least dozens of red dots—and the number keeps climbing!"
"Damn it! We were so careful. We didn't touch a single gravestone—so why are they coming for us?!"
Zhao Yan slammed a fist onto the console.
"Looks like this filth is just Soul-Return Town's guard dogs!"
"Get close enough to the gate and they attack—no exceptions!"
"If we can't avoid it, then forget the rules!"
"Xin An! Push the engine to maximum!"
"Forget the taboos—run straight over those grave mounds!"
"Drive through them and get us into that gate at all costs!"
"Copy! Full-speed advance!"
Rumble rumble rumble!
The Mobile Fortress transformed into a bulldozer, crushing one solitary grave after another beneath its treads!
But that destruction acted like a catalyst!
The speed at which the monsters underground broke through the surface began to skyrocket!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ground around them exploded in rapid succession. Accompanied by ghostly shrieks, countless chains with 【Coffin Nails】 bound to their front ends…
Erupted from the earth and shot after the Mobile Fortress in pursuit!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Several chains struck the rear armor plating of the fortress—some even punched clean through the outer layer!
"Captain, it's no good!"
Shadow watched the increasingly dense net of chains closing in on the monitor and screamed.
"Those chains are moving way faster than the vehicle!"
"At this rate, we'll be overtaken any moment now!"
"This……"
Staring at those relentless chains on the screen, Zhao Yan's breathing grew ragged.
Cold sweat poured down in streams. In this moment of crisis, he hesitated!
Right at this life-or-death juncture.
"Zhao Yan!!!"
A fierce, authoritative shout rang out beside Zhao Yan's ear!
Yue Tian rose to his feet.
"Stop carrying that habit of waiting for orders before you act—the one you developed as Elder Wan's deputy!"
"Into the position of captain of this ace squad!"
"Listen carefully! You are the captain! Your instincts are this entire squad's compass!"
"If you have a plan, say it! If the sky falls, we all hold it up together!"
"Never be afraid to bear risk! And never hesitate on the battlefield!"
The blunt force of Yue Tian's words struck Zhao Yan like a hammer blow—his weathered face flushed a deep crimson.
But at the same time, Yue Tian's words shattered the shadow hanging over his heart!
That's right!
Looking back at most of his life, Zhao Yan had always been somebody's second-in-command, always supporting someone else.
He'd finally clawed his way to a captaincy in middle age—then lost it not long after because of his own caution and retreat.
Stepped down in quiet embarrassment.
And now!
Here on Eerie Island, where the fate of the nation hung in the balance, the organization had given him one more chance to start over!
If he couldn't bring himself to go all-in even now—
Then for the rest of his life, he truly would be nothing but a coward hiding in his shell.
"This risk…I, Zhao Yan, am taking it today no matter what!!!"
Zhao Yan raised his head, jaw clenched, and roared with every ounce of strength in his body.
"All units, listen up!!! Prepare to abandon vehicle!!!"
"Xin An! Lock onto the gate's direction and engage autopilot!"
"We are going to use this Mobile Fortress as bait and a shield!"
"Blow it up!"
"Everyone else, ready your weapons—the instant the door opens!"
"Use the explosion's cover to sprint for that gate at maximum speed!!!"
The moment this insane plan was announced—
Xin An and Shadow, and even Liu Ruyan still lost in her fantasy, all wore the same expression of absolute shock.
Use the Central Base's latest technological crown jewel as a disposable meat shield?!
That was absolutely suicidal!
Yet Yue Tian, standing in the back row, let a smile spread beneath his mask.
"Yes…exactly that…"
"When facing the cursed…"
"All scheming is meaningless."
"Only that reckless, heedless courage…"
"Is the most powerful weapon in humanity's hands!"