"Retreat! Fast!" Lin Taichu shouted. "This place is about to explode!"
Hearing him, Zhao Hu and Qian Ming immediately led the others rushing outside.
Lin Taichu followed behind them, looking back as he ran. King Bai Ze stood amid the burning tents, a crazed smile on his face as the flames slowly swallowed him.
They charged out of the inner city, only to find that explosions had begun in the outer city as well. A huge hole had been blasted through the city wall, and shattered stones flew through the air.
"This way!" Lin Taichu pointed at the breach in the wall. "Get out through here!"
Everyone followed him toward the breach. Buildings collapsed one after another along the way, and the ground split apart. They narrowly avoided falling rubble several times before finally reaching the opening.
"Quick! Get out one at a time!" Lin Taichu shouted.
Zhao Hu was the first to jump out, then turned back to help the others.
Qian Ming and the other soldiers jumped out in turn. Lin Taichu was the last. The instant he leaped through the breach, a massive explosion erupted behind him. Yunshui City's central district was blasted to pieces, and the shockwave hurled him through the air before slamming him to the ground.
He struggled to his feet and looked back at Yunshui City. It had become a sea of fire, with thick smoke billowing skyward and blotting out the sun.
"Commander, are you all right?" Zhao Hu ran over and helped him up.
Lin Taichu shook his head. Looking at the burning Yunshui City, he felt a tangled mix of emotions. King Bai Ze was dead, but Yunshui City had been destroyed as well. In this battle, who had truly won?
"Let's go," Lin Taichu said. "Back to Sunset City."