I'll Be the Hero

"Three-Eyed Five-Manifestation Immortal, Xiao, heeding your summons, here to protect you!"

His clear, cold voice echoed through the dim mine.

A dark green figure suddenly appeared before them, and even the air seemed to freeze.

On the Sky Screen.

Everyone wore different expressions, yet they were equally astonished.

Paimon's mouth hung open, her large eyes wide as her body tilted slightly backward in midair. Her face was a mix of delight and confusion.

"Huh??"

Yelan, Yanfei, Arataki Itto, and the others parted their lips, seemingly wanting to speak but stopping themselves.

Douluo Star.

The Sentient Beings were equally dumbfounded. Their gazes toward "Youth" became exceedingly complicated, filled with shock and indescribable confusion.

So many people had called his name, yet he had turned a deaf ear and offered not the slightest response.

But this Blonde Girl had merely cried out with a trace of unease, and he actually... came?

So abrupt, so swift, and he had answered her summons...

That was far too romantic!

"Double standards. That's way too blatant!"

Someone could not help squeezing out the words through clenched teeth, their tone full of disbelief.

"How the hell is anyone supposed to handle that?"

Another person rubbed his temples, mourning for the "outsiders" on the Sky Screen.

The difference in treatment was just too severe!

"Are those two really just friends?"

Whispers and doubtful discussions spread through the crowd.

Gossip was humanity's true nature, and harmless gossip like this was a rare opportunity indeed.

Gossiping on Douluo Continent was no easy matter without some strength.

If a Soul Master unleashed a large-area AOE soul skill, anyone without sufficient strength could easily get caught in the crossfire.

The Sky Screen was different. All they had to do was look up to enjoy the gossip, without any risk of being "caught in the crossfire." Where else could they find such a good thing?

Still, when their minds were filled with question marks, it was not because there was something wrong with them...

Looking at the figure on the Sky Screen, the Sentient Beings began discussing it.

Their guesses had not been wrong. The "Youth" who had "taken leave" was indeed Xiao.

He was an immortal...

As for how Xiao had appeared, the Sentient Beings had not seen it clearly.

They had only caught an extremely faint "xin," like space being sliced open in an instant by a sharp blade, and then he had simply appeared before them.

It was truly mysterious and unfathomable, beyond all common sense.

On the Sky Screen.

"Xiao, it really is Xiao!"

Paimon's voice carried the exhilaration of having survived a disaster. Her small body bounced excitedly in the air.

In Paimon's eyes, now that Xiao had come, they would be able to get out alive.

Though she had not met many immortals, she knew that Liyue's immortals were very powerful.

"That's great, Xiao, you're here!"

Paimon looked at Xiao with a face full of delight, breaking the silence.

She hurriedly flew in front of him and asked expectantly.

"Xiao, do you know how we can get out?"

"I do not."

Xiao's voice remained calm and unruffled. He shook his head slightly, his golden eyes sweeping coolly over the surroundings.

"This is also my first time in the depths of The Chasm."

He spoke bluntly, with a certainty that was firm and beyond question.

Hearing this.

The expressions on everyone's faces instantly froze. The light of hope that had just ignited seemed to be extinguished by a bucket of cold water.

"Ah..."

Paimon's head immediately drooped as she let out a sigh.

"Even you don't know, Xiao?"

Paimon froze, blinking her big eyes, her face full of disappointment.

"What? In the end, am I still going to be trapped here?"

Arataki Itto curled his lips, his face full of unwillingness and irritation as he fiercely raked a hand through his short crimson hair.

His words were brimming with stifled frustration.

He had thought that with one of the Geo Archon's great generals here, they would be able to escape. Who would have thought...

He had come, and he was certainly impressive—exceptionally so.

But this Immortal seemed to be trapped as well!

Xiao said nothing, merely quietly turning his gaze toward the Blonde Girl.

A nearly imperceptible ripple passed through the depths of his amber eyes.

He had not made a friend in many years.

The paths of immortals and mortals were different. Burdened by Karmic Debt, if ordinary beings came near him, they would suffer misfortune at best and lose their lives at worst.

But this Traveler was different. Getting close to him would not bring "ill omen."

He was special—an unexpected variable in these long years.

"Xiao, I'm sorry... I got you trapped here too."

The Traveler spoke apologetically.

He had not expected that a single call from him would truly "summon" the other over.

Xiao shook his head and looked around, searching for a way out.

Everyone exchanged glances. For a moment, the Sky Screen fell silent once more.

"They'll definitely get out, right?"

"Of course. Doesn't Lord Emperor have their backs?"

The people within the Sky Screen might not have known about this, but those watching it knew that Zhongli was sitting outside The Chasm, sipping tea.

If anything really happened, he would certainly act at once.

That man gave people such an incredible sense of security!

The Sky Screen shifted. Everyone was silent for a while before finally starting to "argue."

Only Arataki Itto, with the pair of horns on his head, did not join in.

Suddenly, Arataki Itto seemed to have caught onto something important. He stood up and looked at everyone.

"A full-force strike can break through space?"

"Hahaha, just my luck that I heard that!"

His laughter was bold and hearty, with a touch of simple-minded goofiness.

"What do you mean, one leaves and one stays? I don't like the sound of that!"

"After all that talk..."

Arataki Itto pressed a hand to his forehead and looked toward the stone wall.

As he looked at the stone wall, everyone's gazes gathered on him as well.

"Isn't this what we need?"

"Come on, let me see what kind of damned thing can trap people to death in here!"

"Wait..."

Yelan raised her right hand, wanting to stop Arataki Itto's bizarre idea.

This was an underground cavern. If it collapsed, all of them would die here!

Was this young Oni Clan man really that impulsive?

Arataki Itto acted as though he had heard nothing. He assumed a charging stance, amber light flickering over his fist.

The Sky Screen even gave Arataki Itto a close-up so everyone could see clearly.

"Have a taste of this!!"

Once he had finished charging up, Arataki Itto smashed his fist toward the wall.

The Geo Element and tremendous force slammed into the wall, shaking the earth and mountains.

An amber-colored opening appeared before him—a new passage.

A little bull kept snorting as it ran toward Arataki Itto.

As expected of a "cattle herder"—he really had brought a bull with him.

"Hah... hah..."

Arataki Itto panted as he stared at the opening before him.

"Looks like I couldn't smash this place apart with one punch, but isn't there a new path now?"

"Hahaha..."

"I'll be... the hero..."

After saying that, Arataki Itto truly could not hold on any longer. His eyes rolled back, and he swayed before collapsing.

"Boss!!"

Arataki Itto had fallen, but his spirit left the people of Douluo Continent utterly stunned.

Did people like this really exist in the world—people who sought nothing in return, who would rather sacrifice themselves just to carve out a way forward for others?