The Honkai Beasts backed away.
The enemy's minions retreated at incredible speed, soon giving Shennong and the others a chance to escape.
"Go!"
Xuanyuan was using the power of the Key of Domination, attempting to control the Honkai Beasts. Clearly, she had succeeded. The thousands of Honkai Beasts were no longer controlled solely by their innate destructive urges; they were also driven by Xuanyuan's desire to protect.
"Ooooooh—!"
The warriors led by Shennong broke through the layers of encirclement, their charge smashing apart the Honkai Beast formation like the surging Yangtze River.
As the warriors left the battlefield, the sound of something hitting the ground rang out. The clang forced everyone, driven by curiosity, to look toward its source.
Xuanyuan was down on one knee. The golden greatsword before her had lost its radiance and become dull.
"Go!"
Xuanyuan repeated herself. In this condition, merely picking up the Xuanyuan Sword was a struggle for her, let alone continuing to fight. But she still had to fight, still had to stand on the tribe's front line.
Someone was bound to die in this war, but the first one could only be her.
"A chief has the responsibility and duty to protect her people."
Only that meaning could be read in her resolute eyes.
"Keep moving forward! What are you waiting for?!"
Shennong abruptly turned around and was the first to run outside, his face covered in tears.
He couldn't die.
He couldn't die.
Everyone couldn't die.
But... did Xuanyuan really have to die?
Was there any way for him to die in Xuanyuan's place?
There had to be.
He could only hold on to that hope.
The cool night breeze brushed against Shennong's face, stimulating his nerves. That breeze must have reached Xuanyuan too, right?
Rain struck his face, as though