The Creatures that We Are

The grenade detonated – a standard flashbang meant to disorient rather than kill. Most of the team hit the ground in time, but Bumblebee and Sunny, slower to react, suffered minor injuries from the blast.

"Zhong He!" First Firelord's Mind's Eye pierced through the chaos. "He's under the bridge!"

"Ice Thorns!" Sister Ling's voice cracked as she unleashed Frost, freezing the river's surface. Crystalline spikes erupted randomly, stabbing at their hidden attacker.

Zhong He responded instantly. He retracted his Reaper's Thread, armoring himself before conjuring a shadow string. With practiced precision, he anchored it to a concrete pillar and swung away from Sister Ling's barrage of attacks.

"He's moving to the bridgehead!" First Firelord's voice carried both anxiety and fury. His former best friend's ruthless attack had caught him off guard.

Jing Ke, positioned near Flower, let rage fuel his power. Twin bone blades erupted from his palms. "After him!"

Nomad and First Firelord exchanged a quick glance before following.

"Harvest Song, assist them!" Colorless commanded. "Everyone else, stop playing defense – strike back!"

"Yes, ma'am!" The unified response was followed by immediate action.

Colorless had read the situation correctly. Qilin and Surnamed Li needed no protection. Keeping her subordinates on defense would only result in mounting casualties. Scattering was their best option now. She had told them beforehand: engage only winnable fights, and retreat from losing ones. No needless sacrifices.

"Left side of the bridge, Raven Shark—" Surnamed Li's foresight caught the image of their opponent emerging from the water, commanding a shark far smaller than the previous whale.

"Lightning!" Sunny's shout cut through the warning. "From above!"

Beyond her Blood Curse, Sunny had comprehended Crisis Alert, serial number 169, Guard-type. This secondary ability allowed her to foresee personal threats five seconds to one minute ahead, depending on the threats’ severity. She hadn't needed to warn others before, relying on Surnamed Li's broader precognition.

But now, with attacks coming from multiple directions, Surnamed Li couldn't track everything. Sunny's power had glimpsed their potential fate: seven to eight lightning bolts would strike from above, claiming multiple lives – including her own.

...

Thirty seconds earlier, Heavenly Dog had carried the petrified Qing Ling to safety. Hong Xiaoxiao brought her back immediately, but maintaining Invisibility and using Time Reset had drained her energy. With Qing Ling unconscious, neither could return to the fight.

Muzitu stepped up to fill the void. Using Experience Thief, he borrowed Qing Ling's level 6 Lightning and Hong Xiaoxiao's level 5 Invisibility. He mounted Heavenly Dog's back, cloaking them both as they approached the bridge's center. Even at a quarter strength, Qing Ling's Lightning crackled with devastating power.

Purple static danced around Sunny before she could finish her warning.

"Lie down, all of you!" Stubborn Weasel stepped up.

Those around her immediately dropped down without hesitation.

Amid the crowd, She rose to her full height, pressing her palms together above her head like a lightning rod. Her second Talent activated—Bullseye, serial number 161, Guard-type. The ability substantially increased her overall defense and turned herself into a target, drawing all ranged attacks, including ones that did elemental, energy, poison, spatial, and even psychic or spiritual damage.

Lightning struck. The pale purple light turned night to day. Stubborn Weasel's small frame absorbed the onslaught of electric currents, her defense bolstered by both Hedgehog and Bullseye. Her clothes smoldered, her skin charred, but she still stood.

She tried to scoff, to dismiss the attack, but no sound came. Confusion flickered across her face as she lost her senses entirely.

No way! Lightning like that isn't enough to kill me!

What went wrong?

Crimson lines appeared around her neck, waist, thighs, and knees. Like a sliced-up sausage, her body scattered piece by piece.

Unbeknownst to Stubborn Weasel, the lightning was just a distraction. Hidden within was invisible spatial power. Level 6 Spatial Dissection far exceeded what her level 3 Bullseye and Hedgehog could withstand. Even Zhuang Mei, the life monster, had been forced to transform when faced with such an attack.

Ignorant of all that, Stubborn Weasel stood forward and gave her life to protect her teammates.

However, her death wasn’t in vain.

Hedgehog's reflection kicked in: 25% for close combat, 10% for ranged attacks. Deep cuts materialized across Heavenly Dog's body, his invisibility shattering as blood sprayed. Only his natural resistance to spatial damage kept him from suffering a greater injury.

Behind him, Muzitu convulsed. His own lightning reflected by 10%, the current passing through their contact into Heavenly Dog. Both paralyzed, they plummeted from the sky.

"Stubborn Weasel!"

Bumblebee cried out hoarsely as he lay on the ground, face covered in tears.

Back in Team Vermilion Bird, he had hated her the most. Her tongue found every weakness, every tender spot. He had cursed her, even wished for her death. Now that she was gone, grief crashed through him like a wave.

Looking back, hadn't she always been the first to take hits for the team? Perhaps her thorny exterior was just armor, keeping others at arm's length so their kindness wouldn't make her fear death. So she could step forward, again and again, to shield them.

"Ahhh!”

Bumblebee's eyes darkened as his body swelled. Yellow-brown particles erupted from his mouth and armpits like he were a deflating balloon, rising skyward.

Decaying Particle, serial number 53, Poison-type. The poisonous particles rushing out of the user’s body would surround others and weaken them quickly until they died of exhaustion. It had never been safe to use, the poisonous cloud affecting friend and foe alike. But grief pushed his Talent to level 6, giving him control at last.

The deadly mist surged toward Heavenly Dog and Muzitu, seeking vengeance.

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