"Move!"
"Run!"
"The Kabane are here!"
The crowd panicked completely. No longer caring about Fang Li's earlier intimidation, they lost their composure again and shoved desperately toward the Iron Fortress.
At this point, Fang Li naturally could no longer maintain any order. He could only tighten his grip on his dagger and sigh silently to himself.
After doing so much, Fang Li had only wanted more civilians to survive so that he could gain greater rewards.
He had already done everything he could. From here on, he truly could not spare any concern for these ordinary people.
After all, the person Fang Li truly needed to protect was Yomogawa Ayame, not the ordinary civilians of Aragane Station.
Fang Li immediately said to Yomogawa Ayame, "Miss Ayame, please get on first."
"B-But..." Yomogawa Ayame seemed to want to share everyone's hardships and refused to abandon those around her.
But Fang Li said directly, "I understand how you feel, but the Iron Fortress is a valuable Hayajiro. Only you, the eldest daughter of the Yotsuyu Clan, have the master key. If you don't board, the Iron Fortress can't start, no one can leave, and everyone will die."
"He's right, Lady Ayame." Kurusu Kunoichi looked at Yomogawa Ayame with utmost seriousness. "Please board first. Leave this place to us."
"...Understood." Yomogawa Ayame fell silent for a moment before nodding.
"You lot!" Only now did Kibito Aragane speak again. He picked out several samurai and ordered, "Escort Lady Ayame aboard first!"
"Yes!" The samurai answered in unison and moved to surround Yomogawa Ayame protectively.
"Everyone..." Yomogawa Ayame looked at Fang Li, then at Kurusu Kunoichi and the other samurai. In the end, escorted by several samurai, she headed toward the Iron Fortress.
"Form up!" Kurusu Kunoichi immediately gave the order, shouting, "Don't let a single Kabane get through!"
The samurai immediately formed a defensive line, raised their Steam Guns, aimed at the incoming horde of Kabane, and repeatedly pulled their triggers.
Bang bang bang bang bang—!
The chaotic gunfire rang out without pause.
Every Steam Gun opened fire at full force, spraying bullets into the Kabane horde ahead.
Clang clang clang clang clang—!
The Steam Gun bullets struck the Kabane one after another, producing sounds as though they had hit steel. Sparks burst forth, knocking the Kabane down.
But before long, those Kabane got back up and charged forward again.
At this point, even Kurusu Kunoichi had no time to say anything. Together with Kibito Aragane, he raised his Steam Gun and fired continuously, keeping the gunfire unceasing.
Other than the samurai firing their guns, the only people left at the scene were Fang Li, Mumei, and Ikoma.
"Damn it!" Ikoma cursed and tried to rush forward.
But before he could, Mumei suddenly spun around and swept fiercely at Ikoma's legs.
Thud—!
As the dull impact sounded, Ikoma cried out in pain. He was swept off his feet and slammed hard into the ground.
"You..." Ikoma immediately glared at Mumei. "What are you doing?!"
"Shouldn't we be the ones asking that?" Fang Li said to Ikoma somewhat speechlessly. "What were you planning to do just now?"
"Fight, of course!" Ikoma answered without hesitation. "Steam Guns can't take down the Kabane. Only my Tsuranuki-zutsu can pierce the membrane around a Kabane's heart, so I have to fight!"
"Have you lost your mind?" Fang Li rolled his eyes and said without the slightest politeness.
"Setting aside the fact that, after what just happened, you still want to step forward and fight, your identity as something other than human has already been exposed. If you rush in like that, do you think those cowardly samurai won't shoot you along with the Kabane while you're fighting them? One shot, and they'll send you straight to hell."
Ikoma was immediately at a loss for words. Looking at the Kabane horde still pushing forward through the hail of bullets, he said with great unease, "But if this keeps going..."
"If this keeps going, the Kabane will reach us sooner or later." Fang Li also gazed ahead. "But all we need to do is buy time for the Iron Fortress to start, not fight the Kabane. As long as the Iron Fortress starts successfully before the Kabane get here, we win. We don't have to kill every last Kabane to win. Get your priorities straight."
This time, Ikoma had nothing more to say.
"No matter what, if you want to live, get on the train and behave yourself. Otherwise, even if you're a Kabaneri now, if the Kabane horde swallows you up, you'll definitely die." Fang Li said directly, "Once you're aboard, stay in the last carriage. Don't come into contact with anyone."
"Then... what about you?" Ikoma asked almost instinctively. "Aren't you getting on? That's too dangerous!"
Fang Li had no answer. He merely stared directly at Ikoma, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
After a while, Fang Li smiled and said, "You were facing off against me just now, and now you're worried about my safety. As expected, protagonists are just hopelessly good people."
"Huh?" Ikoma froze.
Protagonist?
What did that mean?
"All right, hurry up and get aboard." Fang Li gave Ikoma no time to react and turned his gaze forward.
"I don't dislike people like you, so don't die, you hopelessly good person."
With that, Fang Li stomped the ground and directly leaped over the defensive line formed by the samurai, charging toward the Kabane horde.
"What?!" Ikoma was greatly shocked.
Kurusu Kunoichi, Kibito Aragane, and the other samurai were equally stunned.
Yet Fang Li acted as if he noticed none of it. Watching the Kabane horde desperately advance through the gunfire, he showed no fear that the samurai's bullets might hit him. His eyes abruptly transformed into Ice-Blue Demon Eyes.
Seeing Fang Li charge at them as though no one else existed, the nearest Kabane let out a roar.
Bang—!
At that moment, a gunshot rang out.
The roaring Kabane was struck directly. Its entire body shuddered, sparks burst from its front, and its movement suddenly stalled.
Fang Li almost did not need to turn around to know who had fired.
"Honestly."
The girl named Mumei raised her red Steam Gun and slowly undid the restraint around her neck.
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