The sharp pain of the bullet piercing his shoulder had yet to fade when Stanley whipped his head around.
The instant he recognized the newcomer, shock flooded the soldier's eyes for the first time.
He was not the only one.
Senku lay gravely wounded on the ground, his crimson pupils contracting sharply.
Amid the smoke filling the air, a figure slowly stood, swaying on the verge of collapse.
It was Li Xiang.
Her body was already battered beyond recognition. The hideous wound through her chest was a bloody mess, and blood, both dried and fresh, covered her from head to toe, as though she had crawled out of a pool of it.
A long, glaring trail of blood marked the ground behind her, a horrifying sight.
She barely managed to straighten her swaying body, one arm clamped tightly around Xeno's neck, holding him firmly in front of her as a hostage.
Her other hand held a pistol steady, its muzzle aimed straight at Stanley.
The severe wound in her chest made steady breathing impossible. Every breath sent her chest heaving as she gasped for air, stubbornly clinging to her last breath to keep from falling.
Dead silence fell over the battlefield.
Stanley stared at her blood-covered face, his throat bobbing. "Weren't you dead?"
He had seen the fatal shot pierce her heart with his own eyes. He had watched her fall to the ground and die.
No one could survive such a wound, much less stand up again and return to the battlefield.
Li Xiang's eyes were lifeless. She gritted her teeth, her voice hoarse and broken.
"What the hell do you care whether I'm dead?"
"Even if I die, I'll damn well take you with me."
Even though she could barely stand, even though she was covered in wounds,