Explosion

Tap!

Huo Lian materialized silently from the air, her footsteps barely making a sound.

She nodded at Luo Wei, whose eyes flashed with a sharp light before he returned the nod.

Puchi!

"Haha! Those pesky cowards always run away!"

Li Wen decapitated a straggler cavalry with his sword, a smile on his face that could either be mockery or pure joy!

He glanced at Sun Lei beside him and said while running:

"Kid Sun Lei, you and Luo Wei should go on ahead! I don't have any children, so my death wouldn't matter. Let me hold them off!"

"What are you talking about, Uncle Li Wen? We should be running together!"

Sun Lei, covered in blood, kept pace with Li Wen, holding his longsword level. He stared coldly at the monsters and said.

"Yaaah—!!"

Two Goblin Cavalry charged at the two captains, spears raised, letting out continuous sharp, unpleasant screeches!

Swish! Swish!

However, only two sword lights flashed. Sun Lei and Li Wen continued to retreat with the squad, while two severed goblins and grey wolves lay on the ground!

"Hahaha! This power is truly exhilarating, too bad it'll be gone soon!"

Li Wen laughed heartily, but his face was pale, and sweat dripped continuously.

"Still too weak..."

Sun Lei gasped for breath. He looked at his slightly trembling hand and couldn't help but clench it tightly!

He looked up at the surrounding team members. Only 13 were still alive; the rest had died on the road!

There were only 7 Shield Guards and 6 Warriors left. The squad had originally consisted of 24 melee-class professionals!

A single charge from the Goblin Cavalry had cost them nearly half their numbers!

Although they had also killed over a dozen Goblin Cavalry, it was far too few compared to their numbers, which were in the hundreds!

And then there was that Gold-grade Ogre...

Sun Lei looked up at the giant figure in the distance, his heart heavy!

It was getting closer and closer!

Rumble...

Just then, another charge from the Goblin Cavalry struck!

"Hey, kid Sun Lei... can you still hold on?"

Li Wen stopped, a weary smile on his face, his longsword trembling uncontrollably!

"I'm alright, but I probably won't last until the next round."

Sun Lei said calmly, only his slight panting indicating the immense physical strain he was under!

Li Wen smiled, his voice slightly hoarse, and said:

"Then stop using that spell, kid. You're still young..."

"I'm the captain, you don't have the right to order me."

Sun Lei grinned, looking like you couldn't do anything about him.

"You brat..."

Li Wen cursed with a smile but said nothing more. He might as well save his breath to deal with the monsters!

The Shield Guards in the squad formed a defensive line once more, preparing to meet another wave of attacks!

However, at that moment, Luo Wei issued a different command!

"Speed up! Everyone retreat!"

Sun Lei and Li Wen froze, but their bodies moved without hesitation!

They grabbed a few teammates who hadn't reacted and turned, picking up speed and running again!

"Captain Luo, what's going on?"

Sun Lei sped up to Luo Wei's side and asked him curiously.

Luo Wei didn't answer Sun Lei directly. He looked up with a solemn expression and said in a deep voice:

"Are you sure there's no problem?"

This question was clearly directed at Huo Lian, who was also beside Luo Wei.

"I'm sure. The detonation area is still within the blockade. Based on when we descended, the residents have already been evacuated!"

Detonation?!

Sun Lei, hearing these words, couldn't help but be startled. He stared at Luo Wei with wide eyes!

"Surprised?"

Luo Wei asked with a smile, looking at Sun Lei's astonished expression.

Sun Lei snapped back to attention and nodded, saying, "But... didn't you say it would be troublesome if it collapsed?"

"That was before. Now that the collapse is a foregone conclusion, if we can't deal with this Realm Gate, we might as well use the collapse to get rid of these monsters!"

"Fortunately, when we came down, the City Guard was already organizing the evacuation and sealing off this area. Now we can only let these monsters go up!"

Luo Wei sighed, a flicker of sadness and regret quickly crossing his face, but it was immediately replaced by determination!

Since it couldn't be changed, he would at least protect more teammates!

Luo Wei reached out and touched the armor on his chest, as if there was something precious inside.

"We're almost there, I'll go ahead!"

Huo Lian called out and instantly accelerated, passing everyone!

"Everyone, speed up!"

Luo Wei glanced back at the Goblin Cavalry rapidly approaching behind them and shouted at the top of his lungs!

As if sensing the movement behind them, or perhaps because of Luo Wei's command, the fleeing group ran even faster!

However, even so, the distance between them and the Goblin Cavalry continued to close!

"Hah... ah ha..."

Sun Lei panted heavily, running closely beside Luo Wei, his eyes constantly checking on the situation within the group.

Suddenly, Sun Lei's expression changed as he realized something was wrong. Li Wen was missing!

Sun Lei quickly looked back and saw Li Wen slowly stopping, turning around, and raising his long sword towards the monsters!

"Captain Li Wen!"

Seeing this, Sun Lei couldn't help but shout, wanting to turn back and pull him away!

However, Luo Wei grabbed Sun Lei, saying coldly, "Don't go. He's exhausted his last bit of strength. Even if you pull him back and deactivate Life Burn, he'll still die. You should stop your Life Burn quickly too!"

"How could this be... we were so close to surviving..."

Sun Lei couldn't accept it. His comrade, who had been fighting alongside him just moments ago, was now dead as they were about to escape!

"That's just how human lifespans are. Without breaking through the Gold-grade threshold, we only have a hundred years!"

"He's already done everything he possibly could. We can't let his efforts go to waste..."

Luo Wei took a deep look at Li Wen, who was facing the Goblin Cavalry alone, then pulled the crestfallen Sun Lei and turned to flee!

Rumble...

"Haha..."

A dull, hoarse chuckle escaped Li Wen's lips as he gripped his sword, staring at the approaching monsters with eyes full of killing intent!

"Die, monsters!"

Even though his body was as dry as withered branches, devoid of life, the flame hidden deep within still burned!

Loved ones! Cherished ones!

Li Wen recalled all the shattered fragments of his past, and his heart felt like it was being torn apart. The flames of hatred were almost enough to incinerate him!

Power surged from his withered body, and he unleashed a soul-burning strike!

Battle Qi Slash—!

"Aaaaaah—!!!"

A flash of white sword light shot out with Li Wen's roar, slicing through the darkness and cleaving fiercely towards the charging group!

Splat, splat, splat, splat—

In an instant, more than a dozen goblins at the front of the charge were cut in half!

Blood splattered out, dyeing the surrounding Goblin Cavalry in a coat of crimson!

However, that was all...

"Hahaha... what a pity... hahaha..."

Li Wen laughed hoarsely, his voice hoarse, as if mocking or perhaps lamenting!

In his final moments, Li Wen looked at the approaching lances and a look of relief spread across his face.

In the end, I didn't even get a chance to avenge the people most important to me...

Chomp...!

As the lance pierced Li Wen's body, a massive explosion reverberated through the sewer!

BOOM—!!!