Final Round

Foreword:

I just wanted to help them; I couldn't bear to see them suffer.

Even now you're still correcting me, and that's what I hate most about you.

Middle age is a struggle; man cannot fight fate, and fate cannot fight time. Many hurdles that seemed insurmountable at the time suddenly become insignificant after a few years. I have never seen anyone hate another person for a lifetime. What's even more terrifying is forgetting and indifference, which ultimately succumb to time.

Really? How can you defy destiny? I'm going to become a monk tomorrow.

--Jiang Wen

[Part 1: Just One Step Away]

"Come on, let me calculate it for you!"

On the warship deck of Cruise Ship No. 1, Wen Bucai removed the mask from his visor, revealing the Flash Butterfly Armor logo inside, exposing a pair of innocent eyes.

"--Thirty-four decks, counting from the east corridor to the entertainment room, and there are sixty-two guests in the billiards room."

Jack pouted, his face full of displeasure. "Yeah!"

Wen Bucai: "I killed them. How many exhibition attendees and hostesses were on the ship? They don't count! They don't count! Can you call those blood-giving units that can't even hold a gun the enemy? They were civilians!"

Jack: "That doesn't count? Those who aid and abet evil, those who make a living by eating human flesh, don't count either? And those I killed don't count?"

"Hehe." Wen Bucai continued to argue, "Those sons of George Joshua, even the eldest son, who was eight feet tall and had a six-foot waist, could only be counted as one head."

"You!" Jack's eyes turned red, and he immediately transformed into his evil spirit form, seemingly unable to control the anger in his heart.

Wen Bucai immediately raised his hands in surrender and began to change the subject.

"Hey, have you thought about something?"

Jack: "What is it?"

The deck was riddled with bullet holes, and the machine gun turrets were smashed to pieces by the powerful soul force. Corpses littered the ground wherever the force went, a scene that terrified even gods and demons.

Standing amidst pools of blood and entrails, Wen Bucai chatted with his good friend about George Joshua.

"The Grand Commander of Lieyang Fort has seven seals to protect his Gate of Death, right?"

Jack was no longer angry and wanted to listen carefully to his brother's serious topic.

Wen Bucai: "The first seal is the Queen's Soul Might [Heavenly Kingdom Awaits], which is his extra health."

"The second seal is two guns, one long and one short, firing spirit-destroying bullets; this is his attack range."

"The third seal is that rubber body, his psionic armor."

"The fourth and fifth seals are both on Cruise Ship Number Three. [The Beast] and [In Your Name] represent his holy blood balance and extremely strong luck."

"The sixth seal on him is a dragon scale, serving as a life-saving talisman and a protective armor for his heart."

The Wen Bucai, provided a reasoned and well-supported analysis—

"--If it weren't for these six seals, he wouldn't be qualified to fight the War King. If we exhaust the War King's strength, we'll be unable to spare the time to support the battlefield, and we might actually be able to defeat Glory."

"It's all because of the War King's ultrasonic explosive punch."

Jack corrected him, "That's called Pankrasin, it's the unique skill of [Fragrant Dream]."

"It was precisely because the destructive power displayed by the War King's Pankrasin was too great," Wen Bucai continued, "That Joshua finally felt his life was threatened, and he fled the battlefield in a panic."

"So here's the question: where's this guy's seventh seal?"

Jack Martin dismissed it. "Maybe it doesn't even exist."

Wen Bucai deeply troubled, paced back and forth beside the pile of corpses, his brow furrowed.

"I always have a bad feeling. Every time it's a critical moment, I always have the illusion that my boss is calling me to work overtime."

Jack couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Don't be so tense! This isn't some disaster movie, the director doesn't need to deliberately create a huge scene like it's the end of the world! Our show doesn't need to inflate box office numbers!"

Wen Bucai craned his neck. "You mean the seventh seal doesn't exist?"

"Maybe it's expired? Like fresh meat on a supermarket shelf," Jack Martin described vividly, gesturing wildly and spitting as he spoke. "Even atomic bombs can expire! If you ask me, with my jinxed opinion, the Seventh Seal doesn't even exist."

"It's just a ruse by George Joshua to scare people. The power of the other six seals is already intimidating enough. Any one of them is an incredibly powerful psychic force. If we consider him as the main character, with so many buffs stacked on him, who would dare to challenge this demon king?"

"Just like a non-existent wild card, the Seventh Seal is merely a scare tactic. To complete the seven seals in the classic Book of Revelation, they forcibly created something that doesn't exist."

Wen Bucai opinion, find this reason utterly absurd.

"--Let it expire? Can the enemy's trump card be let expire?"

Jack Martin shrugged dismissively. "What else? If something is that powerful, why save it for last, like Ultraman's laser beam?"

"That makes sense." Wen Bucai thought it made sense, "When the BOSS wants to attack a city, he usually calls me and the gunsmith to be the vanguard. This can reduce the loss of other soldiers, reduce casualties, and keep the morale of the follow-up troops high. If George Joshua really had a trump card, he should have used it long ago."

Jack Martin chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! You always look so worried, you're bound to get depressed sooner or later! Just relax and relax."

A dozen or so earth-shattering explosions erupted from the water veins near the ship.

--That was a sign that a mine in the river had triggered a chain of explosions.

Cruise ships and warships began to rock gently, including nearby small reconnaissance boats, while jet skis were even shoved into the pier's seawall and smashed to pieces.

The entire Westbrook Bay area heard the enormous roar, which was deeper, more resonant, and more powerful than the cannon salutes at dawn.

Jack Martin's smile was still frozen on his face.

Outside the No. 1 cruise ship, a pair of enormous bone wings had already unfurled behind them.

Emerging from the murky river waters is a skeletal specimen, the remains of Ushhumgal (the benevolent flying serpent) from Sumer mythology, also known as the "flying serpent with fiery eyes."

George Joshua stole most of the primordial energy from this skeletal dragon, using it all as capital for the White Shark Association's comeback. This is also the origin of the dragon scales on George Joshua's body— the Seventh Seal.

When it stumbled and crawled to the side of the No. 1 cruise ship, and its claws touched the ship's side, you could see the huge claws and nose of this skeletal dragon. Cold spiritual fire emanated from its skull. Its wingspan was about fifty meters wide, and its body and tail were about seventy meters long.

The old Nokia phone rings out...

Wen Bucai picked up the phone, slowly turned around, and stared at the skeletal dragon. Administrative leave and this VIP were only a step away.

The boss said gently and kindly on the phone, "I sensed a very powerful spiritual pressure."

Wen Bucai: "No no ...

The boss, in a high-pitched, childlike voice, said, "Honey, it's time to work overtime."

[Part ② - Sunny Days]

"You fucking stop right there!" Banner followed Ms. Joshua and ran out.

George Joshua, dragging a headless corpse, was deathly pale and completely disoriented; he had lost his mind and was no longer able to think.

She wanted to escape, but these things held her tightly; these heavy sins clung to her relentlessly.

Krichieva gripped her hands tightly before she died, unwilling to let her go even as her head was split open.

The mangy dog behind them was still carrying a paw in its mouth, following along reluctantly.

Banner Ibj, that son of a bitch, is he out of his mind? Doesn't he know who I am?

With these thoughts in mind, George Joshua, his eyes bloodshot, dragged his heavy body forward, unable to speak any longer.

I don't want to live like this anymore, I don't want to lie anymore, I don't want to explain anything anymore! I don't want to compromise anymore!

Run! Run! If you can get to the freight station and sneak onto the train, maybe you can escape.

So thirsty, so hungry!

George Joshua stared at Krichieva's corpse, swallowing hard. Without hesitation, she bit open the wretched woman's arm, even swallowing her fingers. Seeing Banner Ibgi relentlessly pursuing her, she began to flee in panic again.

"Run?! Let's see where you run to! You were playing the victim with me at first! I didn't expect you to be a cannibal too!" Banner was furious and finally remembered that there was a car they could use.

He ran back to the grocery store, climbed into Krichieva's patrol car, and followed behind Ms. Joshua, calling out to her—

--He had no guns or ammunition and couldn't guarantee his safety, so he could only resort to verbal sparring.

"Suspect! You will be charged with resisting arrest! I have reason to suspect that you killed Commander Krichieva!"

"Surrender immediately! Otherwise, I will use my knightly combat skills on you! Otherwise, I will use my knightly combat skills on you!"

George Joshua screamed at the top of his lungs—

"--I didn't do it! It wasn't me! It wasn't me! I didn't kill anyone!"

The patrol car followed behind her, heading towards the highway along the railway line. George drove ahead in the emergency lane, while Banner chased after him in his car.

Banner kept banging on the computer in the patrol car, trying to activate the emergency mode and call for reinforcements from other militia members, but the terrible weather once again left him isolated and helpless. This is the brutal nature of Lieyang Fort; in the dark of a torrential downpour, the victims never see the light of day.

"You didn't do it? Then why are you running?!" Banner shouted fiercely. "Cooperate with the investigation! Everything will come to light! Madam! I know you're scared! I'm a militiaman from Lieyang Fort! I won't let you be wronged!"

George Joshua cursed—

"Fuck you militia! You want to rape me too?! Right?!"

Banner was deeply shocked. He didn't know what had happened to the woman. Judging from the ballistics at the scene, the direction of the shot that Krichieva was hit from, and judging from the bloodstains, should have come from near the low wall. But the girl was in Krichieva's arms at the time.

As Ms. Joshua gnawed at Krichieva's corpse, she dragged the body forward. She bit through bones, used her hands as snacks, and never felt her teeth possessed such power—she finally felt that God had granted her superpowers.

By biting off the corpse's arms, she could run freely again, her body regaining its strength! It was an outlet for life, a hope for life, and a source of endless courage bestowed upon her by life!

"Stop running, ma'am!" Banner stopped referring to the stranger as a "suspect" and tried to reason with her politely, increasing his speed to continue the chase, "You can't outrun a V8 engine!"

"Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!" Joshua, like a little girl, just kept running and didn't want to stop—she didn't know Banner didn't have a gun; she was just scared.

She could feel a large hand holding her tightly.

The hand was called "Fate," and it seemed that everything she had done in the past had become karma, trying to drag her back into the mire of Lieyang Fort. Rain lashed her forehead, soaking her clothes, and her legs grew heavier and heavier.

She still couldn't understand why she had become a woman. Why?

Was this a miracle? Or was God playing a trick on her in secret?

If she were still a man, those despicable militiamen behind her probably wouldn't have survived a minute; they would have died a painful and slow death under the torment of the [Unmanned Zone].

She is invulnerable to swords and spears! Invincible!

This spiritual power protected her, enabling her to overcome one difficulty after another and fight countless battles.

From the Black Hawk Down to the American Civil War, World War I and World War II, from the Philippines to France, from Vietnam to Afghanistan.

Amidst the surging roar of the dragon echoing from the city center—

--The sun rose slowly, like a blood-red chicken egg, illuminating the dark outline of the Lord of Cinder in the tributary of the Pompeii Sea. Maddes was within it, transformed into a scorching fireball, floating in the airspace more than three hundred meters above the ground.

The sunlight began its disinfection process, which made Ms. Joshua uneasy. The holy blood within her flesh began to boil, and she struggled in agony, suddenly slowing her pace and unable to run any further.

But Banner didn't have time to slow down!

Suddenly, a mangy dog popped out from the back row, along with Black Cat holding the mangy dog.

The mischievous boss wanted to surprise the brave militiaman, so he grabbed the fat supervisor's body bag, tore off a severed arm, hung it on the passenger seat of the militiaman's patrol vehicle, and poked half of his head out.

"Hey! Young man! You're pretty good!"

Startled, Banner slammed on the gas, sending Ms. Joshua flying!

The patrol vehicle crashed into the railing of the highway ramp bridge, Joshua fell from the ramp, which was more than six meters high, into the railway tracks at the station platform.

The fragile windshield shattered instantly because the militia vehicle's windshield wasn't bulletproof. Mangy the Dog hugged Boss, and Boss hugged Banner, but they were both unharmed.

Only the fat manager's arm went missing again.

--It was propelled outwards by the enormous impact and eventually landed on the platform.

Looking at the platform again, the freight station was sheltered by large areas of waterproof plastic sheeting, protecting it from the sun. George Joshua stood up once more.

Her face was covered in blood, and she felt as if Lady Luck was secretly watching over her—yes! Without that collision, she wouldn't have been able to reach the freight station platform so quickly.

The staff were still eating breakfast because of an accident along the railway line; a train had collided with a patrol vehicle, and there weren't many people on the platform!

This was practically a perfect path to survival designed by God himself! Everything was going exactly as she had predicted!

This is her intelligence and wisdom! This is her gentle and kind heart!

She was so smug, so proud and self-reliant—she was truly a force for women in the new era! A remarkable role model for our times!

George Joshua thought to himself, "I should probably change my name! Once I'm back in the Alliance, I'll be hanging out with FF! We'll be best friends!"

She walked toward the nearest truck bed, crawled inside, and bumped right into another stowaway.

That's Susie--

After leaving Huimin Supermarket, Susie took all her belongings to the freight station. She didn't want to buy a ticket; she wanted to sneak back to the capital. Taking a freight truck would save her a lot of money and avoid the hassle of baggage handling. Supervisor Blake was dead, and no one was giving her unemployment benefits. She had to get by.

The two exchanged a glance, Susie felt only awkwardness.

"Sister, are you hitchhiking too?"

George Joshua immediately grasped the meaning; she seemed to understand something and also knew Susie's little secret.

Yes, yes!

Susie shifted her position, making room for Ms. Joshua in the cramped cargo compartment, while she herself sat on the metal plate of the container.

"Then sit here! Sit here! It's more comfortable here. You've been soaked in the rain, haven't you?"

Ms. Joshua sat down immediately, as if she were seeing a family member, and waited for the truck to start, which was another agonizing time.

Susie chatted idly, muttering, "Sister, this city is really disgusting! It's like a garbage dump, rotting and stinking."

Ms. Joshua remained silent, staring intently at the shadows beyond the plastic sheeting—the shadows of workers coming and going, preparing to start the trucks and head to the next stop.

Susie continued, "It doesn't treat people like human beings. I worked in a supermarket, and that's what happened."

Joshua immediately covered Susie's mouth. She saw outside workers inspecting the railway embankment and checking the condition of the track pipelines.

Just then, Susie could vaguely see something strange behind the unfamiliar woman.

In the end, Supervisor Blake saved Susie's life. He was so kind; I cried so much.

This fat paw, after weathering countless storms and hardships, returned to Joshua's backside. It had crawled out of Banner's militia patrol car, escaped from the mangy dog's mouth, fallen off the ramp onto the railway tracks, landed on Joshua, and then refused to let go.

Susie didn't scream at first; she just stared at the fleshy paw in utter terror.

She was overcome by fear, so much so that she missed the best time to call for help!

Until Joshua turned around and was sure the staff were far away—

"--Sister, what's wrong?"

Susie immediately stammered, "I... I... I... you... you... you... you have a hand on your butt."

Joshua ran his hand along the jeans. These were the jeans Banner had given him; she had no gratitude whatsoever. The thought of it made him grit his teeth in hatred. He pulled his hand down and smelled the stench of the swollen, rotting corpse, his face contorted with disgust.

She would rather eat excrement than eat the flesh of such a lowly person.

God had given her many opportunities, favoring George Joshua time and again, allowing her to rise to prominence and ride the giant ship of America to the top.

She possesses incredible luck; even now, she is still able to continue living as a woman.

This was the final round; instead of eating Blake's rotten flesh, she turned her attention to Susie.

The girl smelled wonderful. "When the train starts moving and becomes noisy, I'll take her inside and carry her away," George Joshua thought, tossing the severed arm aside without doing anything about it, letting its scent drift away.

Susie was completely frozen in place. She stared in terror at George Joshua, at the cannibalistic monster.

As the train gently moved forward, the traction device pulling the carriages, her heart skipped a beat. She seemed to detect a hint of bloodlust in the other person's eyes.

The cargo box began to accelerate, but only during the coasting phase at eight kilometers per hour.

Two arms reached in from outside the plastic sheeting, and the occasional excited barking of dogs could be heard.

The wolf finally caught up with the eagle, and George Joshua was grabbed by the back of the neck and pulled by the hair by two hands, dragged back to the platform.

Susie thought it was the K-9 police dog unit investigating illegal immigration, and was too scared to make a sound, but could hear the cursing coming from the platform getting farther and farther away.

Ms. Joshua screamed at the top of her lungs.

"You son of a bitch! Why are you meddling in other people's business! Just because of a dog? Just because of a dog!?"

9527 replied indifferently--

"I just want to help them; I can't bear to see them suffer."

Glory gripped her wife's hand tightly, while two phantom deities with cat faces and human bodies floated in the air.

"You're still correcting me even now, that's what I hate most about you, you're practically blatantly acting like a father."

"Man can't fight fate, and fate can't fight time. Many hurdles that seemed insurmountable at the time suddenly become nothing more than a distant memory after a few years. I've never seen anyone hate another person for a lifetime. What's even more terrifying is forgetting and indifference; in the end, both are defeated by time!" Ms. Joshua roared, being dragged along by her hair. "We can be friends! I can be anonymous! I can! I can love Ming De!"

Ming De stepped on Joshua's head and delivered his verdict.

"Really? How can you defy destiny, George Joshua?"

The noise faded into the distance and eventually disappeared completely.

After another 800 meters or so, Susie finally mustered up the courage to lift the curtain and peek at the scenery outside the cargo compartment.

The golden sun rose, shining on her dark skin. A slight allergic reaction followed; the intense light made her uncomfortable, and for a moment she couldn't be sure if it was real or just a dream.

She mustered her courage and finally began to weep and mourn for Supervisor Blake.

--He was a bastard, but also a good person; both bastards and good people deserve their comeuppance.

In her mind, this man only wanted some respect and some privileges. This arrogant man wanted to drive her away from Lieyang Fort in order to protect her.

She picked up the rotten flesh from the cargo compartment, picked up the severed hand, and threw it away violently!

She shouted, "Manager Blake! Dust to dust, ashes to ashes! Blake! I'm going home! Goodbye! Goodbye!"

The arm disappeared into the haystack, and the cityscape of Lieyang Fort flashed by.

--Susie closed the plastic sheet.

The thick, swollen paw landed on the railway line in the Northland Granary area, rolled away from the haystacks, and landed squarely on the Long-Armed Ape's face. The two brothers, wearing masks, committed the crime, shooting and killing someone. After the Horse-Faced Monkey ran away, the Long-Armed Ape wanted to return to the scene to get some more money before leaving, and just happened to bump into the militiamen who came to provide backup.

This hand of fate, which came from nowhere, became evidence of the Long-Armed Ape's crimes, just like the "The Hand of Omnipotence" that Thumb admired.

He had no choice but to resist arrest with his gun, and ultimately died on the spot after being shot seventeen times.

Banner Ibji, covered in wounds, slumped in the freight station's medical room, flanked by a forensic doctor on one side and a public security review center on the other. A nurse was treating his wounds in front of him, and the warband leader's burning gaze was behind him.

Four Eyes had to deal with interrogations from four different units simultaneously.

"--What hand? What person? What corpse? What aphrodisiac? What George Joshua? I really don't know what's going on! Am I getting a promotion?"