The Creatures that We Are

Qin You's grave expression deepened as he fought to mask his unease.

"Don't fall for it," Sir Jiang warned. "He's trying to shake you."

"Exactly!" Liao Liao's voice rang out. "He wants you to waste your turn on defense!"

Qin You remained silent, mind racing. I know that without your reminders. But what if this is reverse psychology?

Liao Liao had read some of Gao Yang's moves correctly, but her mistakes had cost them 0618 and Void. Neither she nor Sir Jiang truly cared about his survival—she focused only on staying alive, while Sir Jiang sought to clear Qilin's path.

I've fought too hard to become a sacrifice now.

Gao Yang thought “I won’t use an Absolute Barrier” last turn, and he didn’t use it. This time, he hinted that he would kill me, maybe he really will!

And it’s very likely.

If not for my Tracking, what happened at the Starcatching Pavilion wouldn’t have happened.

And I just hurt Gao Yang.

Gao Yang must hate me now. Sir Jiang won’t live that long even if Gao Yang doesn’t kill him. As for Liao Liao, there’s no bad blood between her and Gao Yang.

Gao Yang’s unlikely to defeat us in his state. Were I him, it would make sense for him to avenge his companions with one more kill before his death.

So, it’s very likely for Gao Yang to kill me next turn.

"Qin You! Are you listening?" Liao Liao's urgent voice cut through his thoughts.

"Yes," he replied, face carefully blank.

"Keep attacking next turn. You have the energy, right?"

Qin You nodded. "I do."

"Good! Gao Yang will target either me or Sir Jiang. We both need to defend."

Qin You's expression tightened.

"I know what you're thinking—that we're making you take the risk while we play it safe."

“Just think about it. Gao Yang cannot leave me and Sir Jiang alone once more. Another Spatial Blender will surely kill him. Even if he lives, I’ll kill him for sure with God of Firearms.”

“So Gao Yang only has one choice: use a lot of energy to kill me or Sir Jiang. Then he’ll think about the next turn.”

Qin You remained silent.

"There's no reason for him to target you!" Liao Liao pressed on, conviction growing. "Every move he makes is toward ultimate victory. Killing you this round won't get him there!"

"Trust me! You're completely safe! Attack him while he's wounded. Another hit like that last one, and victory is ours!"

Still, Qin You said nothing.

Liao Liao's teeth clenched. "Fine—I won't defend next turn. We'll attack together! I'm betting he goes for Sir Jiang!"

Surprise flickered across Qin You's face. "By your own analysis, you're at greater risk than I am."

"Yes! I know!" Liao Liao's frustration burst forth. "But you need proof that I believe what I'm saying! You cannot defend next turn! We end this together!"

Qin You's gaze shifted, calculating. Finally, he nodded. "Okay."

“We don’t have time.” Sir Jiang had been paying attention to the countdown. Five seconds. If they didn’t choose an action once the countdown ended, they would be giving up on their turns like Nico.

Liao Liao and Qin You looked back at their respective interface and chose their actions.

[Thinking Time ends.]

[The fourth turn begins.]

The gray barrier lifted. Beneath Gao Yang's feet, the pattern flared green.

Liao Liao’s heart sank. She had wishfully thought that perhaps Gao Yang would be the second to act with his injury slowing him down, but it seemed that his current condition did little to hinder his mobility.

Meanwhile, the pattern under Sir Jiang’s feet turned yellow—he was Gao Yang’s target!

Liao Liao nearly cried out. Relief at predicting correctly, at not being chosen, lasted only a second before her frown returned.

Bathed in blood, Gao Yang’s eyes glowed a brilliant gold as energy rippled violently from under his feet. He wasn’t making a regular attack this time; he was getting serious!

A massive wing of flame erupted from his right shoulder as he launched toward Sir Jiang. The inferno transformed their black and white domain into a canvas of shimmering orange. Blood-drenched and wreathed in fire, Gao Yang looked like a warrior reborn amid blood and flames.

The air itself seemed to pause. The blazing wing collapsed inward, leaving only dancing embers as all that power concentrated into his right fist.

Boom!

Gao Yang's ultimate Fire Punch manifested as a roaring dragon of flame, descending like a waterfall of destruction that left Sir Jiang nowhere to run.

Crimson waves rippled outward, consuming everything in their path.

Gray barriers materialized around Liao Liao and Qin You, shielding them like observation pods. Through the translucent walls, Liao Liao felt like she was watching a star die.

The sight doused her rekindled hope. She'd calculated everything she could, but Gao Yang's raw power exceeded all expectations.

Sir Jiang had chosen defense—but against this?

Gao Yang had gone all-in with the attack, in fact.

He could guess that Liao Liao would have Sir Jiang defend himself, but Gao Yang had no other choice. There was no turning back. He had to break through Sir Jiang’s defense.

For both sides, those five seconds stretched eternal. The world disappeared into the dragon's fury, into its howl and flame.

Then stillness returned.

Liao Liao and Qin You turned toward Sir Jiang. Their eyes went wide.

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