Digging Princess had posted the comments herself.
She truly felt neither joy nor sorrow anymore. If she had to describe her mood in one word, it would be numb.
No one understood what it meant to go from one extreme to the other better than she did.
Not long ago, she'd been wondering how to cling to Bai Fu's coattails so they could both come out ahead. She'd even imagined the day she'd become a top creator in the gaming world. But before she'd had much time to celebrate, both Bai Fu's fate and her own had reached a turning point—and it was the kind that only went downhill.
What did it mean to be totally screwed?
Digging Princess was close to tears.
What else could she do? She sank down onto the ground, like the other players, and stared blankly at the pickup as it disappeared into the distance.
She wondered what the people who'd watched Jing Ke leave must have felt when he departed from Yi River.
[Is this really goodbye?]
[Maybe Fu Fu still has a one-in-ten-thousand chance of surviving?]
[If you're only willing to say there's a one-in-ten-thousand chance, doesn't that mean you actually think she has no chance at all?]
[Goddammit, the story writers are fucking awful!]
[Mom, I hate tragic twists. Even if it's the kind where someone burns themselves up to save the world, I still hate it.]
[Tragedy can make a story better if it's done well. It's just that this came so suddenly, so fast. Bai Fu's story looked like it had only just begun.]
Yeah, it had come too fast—just like the pickup Bai Fu was driving now. It was all happening so fast that nobody could react in time.
In the livestream Pai Da had hastily started, Bai Fu sat in the driver's seat, showing only her cold profile. She gripped the steering wheel firmly and floored the accelerator.
No one knew when the path through the Insect Tide would disappear. So there was only one thing she could do now—
Speed up. Go as fast as she could!
A road sign in the way? Run it over!
A barrier in the way? Run it over!
A Deformed Insect in the way? Run that damn thing over too!
In just over ten seconds, the pickup burst out of the settlement, shooting into a gap in the Insect Tide like a straight spear.
The racket caught the attention of the Deformed Insects that had been madly chasing the players. They immediately changed targets and surged toward the pickup like a tide.
"Open fire! Now!"
Pai Da shouted, directing the players who'd climbed into the pickup with him. They were using guns Bai Fu had gotten from Xia Shi.
Dust billowed beneath the wheels, and gunfire burst from the cab.
But there were simply too many insects. A few scattered shots weren't enough to change the situation. As the road ahead seemed about to be sealed off, everyone watching from afar held their breath.
If there were only one or two Deformed Insects blocking the road, the pickup could easily run them over. But if there were a dozen, dozens, or even hundreds, the pickup simply wouldn't have the power to break through.
And if the pickup stopped, everyone aboard would be surrounded by countless Deformed Insects.
[Death]
The word suddenly flashed through their minds.
The onlooking players' hearts raced like the pickup's engine, threatening to leap from their chests.
But before they could say a word, the Deformed Insects surging toward the vehicle suddenly froze, as if they'd fallen into a time-stop zone.
[What happened?]
[Did the game bug out?]
[How could it be bu—holy shit, look!]
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The roar shattered the quiet night. The next moment, the pickup smashed through the swarm in front of it like a ferocious beast. After racing over a slope, it flew into the open wilderness.
F-flew into the air?
Even Pai Da and the others inside the truck were stunned. They only came to their senses when it hit the ground, crushing a Deformed Insect and splattering blood across the windows.
"We made it out! Hahaha, we made it out!"
The players in the pickup, the players watching the livestream, Yago, and Xia Shi all cheered loudly.
[How did they do that? Why did those Deformed Insects suddenly stop moving?]
[I know! Look at the gadget Fu Fu just pulled out. It's exactly like the one Number Seven used when attacking us!]
Everyone looked at the spherical device Bai Fu had just taken from her pocket.
[Spiritual Energy Restraint]: Uses a spiritual energy shock to paralyze all targets within a 20-meter radius (1 use remaining)
Trying to block my way?
Killing intent filled Bai Fu's eyes.
This road was indeed a road to death—but she was the one spreading death!
[You killed a Type II Deformed Insect. Contribution Points: 100%. Adjusted for the level difference, you gained 270 experience.] [You killed...]
"Deformed Insect attacking the tire from the left rear. Take it out."
"Three Deformed Insects on the right. Try to kill one, or the door won't withstand their impact."
Bai Fu began issuing orders with calm precision.
Her expression remained stern. There wasn't a hint of joy—or panic—in her face. That steady composure was what drew people to her most.
[Fu Fu is awesome!]
[Digging Treasure, stop moping and get out here to see a god!]
[You can't die! Whatever you do, don't die!]
Before, everyone had thought Bai Fu couldn't possibly come back alive. Now, at last, they dared to let themselves hope, just a little.
Maybe there really was a chance?
The players sprang into action.
Those at the scene redoubled their attacks on the Deformed Insects.
[Come on, everyone, hit them harder! No weapons? That's fine—throw rocks! If we can hold even one more Deformed Insect back, Fu Fu will be that much safer!]
Players who weren't there went to the official account to petition the developers not to kill Bai Fu off. Whether it would do any good or not, they flooded the account anyway. At least the developers would see how they felt.
The sight of everyone pulling together moved Yago and Xia Shi.
The pure emotions of humanity were more beautiful than any gemstone!
Digging Princess was swept up in the fervor too. She sprang to her feet and rushed toward the residents of the Abandoned Cooling Plant, who were still in chaos.
Fu Fu had gone out there to save these people. Whether she made it back or not, Digging Princess had to do everything she could to keep them alive, so Fu Fu's efforts wouldn't be wasted. She also had to make sure they knew what Fu Fu had done.
Fu Fu might not care about her reputation, but Digging Princess couldn't stand by and let her sacrifice go unnoticed.
"Everyone, line up and stay put! Stop running around! How are we supposed to get you all to the Temporary Shelter if you keep running everywhere?"
"You idiots! You're just sitting here waiting to die. Did you ever think about the person who drove out there to save you? She used herself as bait to draw the Deformed Insects' attention! Get up!"
"Get up! Don't you think you owe it to Bai Fu to make her efforts count?"
At first, Digging Princess met with some resistance.
"Who are you? Why should I listen to you? Bai Fu's the one saving us, not you."
Bang!
Xia Shi stepped forward and fired a shot into the sky.
She blew on the muzzle, her face cold. "Do as she says. Anyone who disagrees can take it up with me."
"..."
Even the most unruly people in the evacuation group became obedient in an instant.
You've got a gun, so you're right!
As the evacuees made their way to the Temporary Shelter, they all looked up in the direction Bai Fu had driven off.
Could she really draw the Insect Tide away?
In truth, even after breaking through the swarm, things hadn't gone the way the players hoped.
The sound of the pickup driving through the night was an enormous taunt, constantly drawing Deformed Insects in to charge it. But that wasn't the worst part. The real headache was the pollution sources scattered randomly throughout the contaminated zone.
Bai Fu had to stay intensely focused to avoid crashing into one, which greatly slowed the pickup down. And once it slowed, the Deformed Insects drawn by the noise could catch up.
One Deformed Insect's impact wouldn't damage the pickup much. But when dozens kept ramming it one after another, that was another matter.
[Keep this up and the door's going to get knocked off. If that happens and a Deformed Insect sprays poison into the cab, it'll all be over.]
[They're still not far enough away. If they drop the lure here, the Deformed Insects it attracts could still reach the Abandoned Cooling Plant.]
The players watching the livestream were on edge.
At the crucial moment, Convert to My Fu stepped forward.
"I'll stay behind and buy you as much time as I can! Keep going!"
Bai Fu stared at Convert to My Fu for a long time. At first, her expression wavered. But in the end, she seemed to accept what was happening, and her face grew calm again.
"I hope we'll meet again someday."
"We will!"
Convert to My Fu grinned, showing his white teeth. He found an opening and jumped out of the pickup.
"Come on, you bugs! Attack me!"
At his shouts, most of the Deformed Insects that had been trying to stop the pickup changed course and rushed toward him. He immediately took off running in the opposite direction.
As he ran, he couldn't help glancing back at the pickup a few more times.
Do your best, everyone. This is my final Ripple!
Convert to My Fu was the first to jump out, but he wasn't the last. After him, the other players followed suit once they'd run out of bullets, jumping out to serve as human bait.
One, two... By the time they were done, only Bai Fu and Pai Da remained in the pickup.
"How far are we from the Abandoned Cooling Plant?"
"About 5,000 meters," Pai Da replied at once after checking the map.
Bai Fu shook her head. "Not far enough. The lure's range is about 5,000 meters. If we use it here, it'll still affect the Abandoned Cooling Plant. We need to drive at least another 500 meters."
Pai Da agreed with her analysis. The only problem was that the truck didn't look like it could hold out much longer.
His gaze passed through the windshield and fixed on the group of Deformed Insects that had appeared out of nowhere.
Were there twenty of them? Thirty?
With that many Deformed Insects attacking at once, the truck would soon be wrecked. It was time for him to step in. But with his ability, could he hold them off for even a minute?
Maybe he'd have a chance if he were at full health, but he'd injured his leg fighting Yulia earlier, and it still hadn't fully recovered. The odds were practically zero.
What rotten luck.
Pai Da's heart sank.
There wasn't even enough time for Bai Fu to drive away. He felt like they were going to fail the [Insect Tide Invasion] quest.
"I'll do it."
"Huh?"
Bai Fu's words sent a shockwave through Pai Da. The players watching anxiously in the livestream erupted too.
Hey, hey, hey! Don't do this! Don't give us hope only to plunge a knife straight into our hearts!
[Somebody save her! Can anyone come save her?!]
[Holy shit, why can't this piece-of-junk truck be bigger? Why can't it fit more people?]
[I can't bear to keep watching.]
Bai Fu, who was keeping one eye on the livestream, chuckled to herself. She'd deliberately driven toward the areas with the most Deformed Insects. She'd been driving for a while now, so it was about time to turn back and collect the experimental lab's enhancement drugs.
She could've waited until after dropping the lure to turn back, of course. But getting out now to "sacrifice" herself would make a far bigger impact. It would be more moving, too.
This was the perfect distance. She'd leave the Spiritual Energy Restraint with Pai Da, making sure he could safely deliver the lure to its designated location and complete the [Insect Tide Invasion] quest.
Bai Fu continued, "We came this far with the courage to face death, all to draw the Insect Tide away. Now, success is right in front of us. How can we let this opportunity slip away just to save our own lives?"
Pai Da's mouth fell open as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but in the end, not a word came out.
"I'm sorry."
He heard Bai Fu say that.
"I put a burden that should have been mine to bear on your shoulders. But... let me be selfish one more time."
Bai Fu shook her head and delivered a cheesy, over-the-top line.
If this burden feels too heavy, then simplify things. Don't think of it as saving anyone. Just do it for me. Use the lure on those Deformed Insects!
Bai Fu forced a smile and handed Pai Da both the lure and the Spiritual Energy Restraint.
Then she brought the pickup to a stop, opened the door, and jumped out.
"Come on! I'm not afraid of you, you bugs! Bring it on!"
Bai Fu's voice rang out distinctly in the night.
Pai Da still couldn't find the words. He only felt his eyes grow blurry all of a sudden. Damn it. In all the games he'd played, this was the first time an NPC had moved him to tears!
He felt an urge to jump out and face the savage Deformed Insects alongside Bai Fu.
But he knew he couldn't. If he did, he'd make all of Bai Fu's efforts pointless—and with his abilities, he couldn't save her anyway.
The only thing he could do was slide over to the driver's seat and start the pickup when prompted by the game.
Go! For Bai Fu, keep going!
"I'll come back! I swear I'll come back!"
Aaaah! Anyone who gets in my way is dead!
The shout in his heart mingled with the roar of the pickup, a crashing symphony that broke through the Deformed Insects' blockade—and through the boundary between the game and reality.
In the rearview mirror, Bai Fu's figure grew smaller and smaller, until it vanished completely into the night, as if it had never been there at all.
[Hurry up, Pai Da! Hurry!]
[I'm not going to sleep tonight! Aaaah! At a time like this, Bai Fu's still apologizing to us. Couldn't she be a little more selfish?]
[I'm crying so hard]
[She's the real Brave!]
[It has to work! It has to! We can't let Fu Fu down!]
Watching the comments flood the livestream, Bai Fu felt half her worries ease. When she saw the Deformed Insects she'd held back stop in their tracks, then rush off in the direction Pai Da had driven, the rest of her worry lifted too.
From here, all she had to do was wait. The threat the Insect Tide posed to the Abandoned Cooling Plant should be over. After all, the lure Number Nine had thrown was actually in the middle of the Waste Gas Cooling Plant. The only reason it had drawn so many Deformed Insects was that many of them had heard the commotion and followed along without knowing what was going on.
Now that the lure had been tossed somewhere else, most of the Deformed Insects wouldn't go flocking to the Abandoned Cooling Plant anymore.
Congratulations!
Now the world had been born where everyone was happy—except for some players who were sick of getting stabbed!
Bai Fu punched away a shapeshifting amoeba that had tried to sneak up on her. Things had come to this, so there was no point wasting any more time here. She turned and ran straight for the Abandoned Cooling Plant.
A few minutes after she left, a pickup truck came tearing through the night.
As soon as it stopped, Patrick Star stumbled out.
"Sis Fu! Sis Fu! I'm back! Where are you?"
He searched frantically, but in that vast wilderness, there was no sign of Bai Fu.
Was this really the end?
The screen was filled with grief and wails. Only by searching through the gaps could anyone find a few comments that were even remotely optimistic.
[There's no body, and no scraps of clothing. Maybe Fu Fu is still alive?]
P.S. Thanks to Sad Words and Riding a White Horse 1408 for the tips.
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