Are you really not staying?

Luo Li's cry of "This road is blocked!" was accompanied by a terrifying power that instantly cleared a fifty-meter radius, like throwing a block of ice into a boiling pot of oil, causing the entire noisy and tragic battlefield to suffocate for a moment.

Both the frenzied vampires attacking the city walls and the desperately defending human troops were stunned by this scene that defied common sense.

That was not a pure burst of energy, but involved a deeper level of erasure at the level of rules.

Kong Yan'er's mouth dropped open, forgetting even to maintain her Clone, staring blankly at Luo Li, who was suspended in mid-air with wildly dancing silver hair and eyes like a galaxy, and muttered, "Damn... Li Zi, you... you've been hiding even better than me..."

Qingqiu Ze's live streaming equipment faithfully recorded this shocking scene. After a brief silence, the chat exploded. However, he himself forgot to provide commentary and just stood there dumbly holding the equipment, as if gazing up at a god.

Yang Shan, leaning on his shield and panting heavily, looked at Luo Li's retreating figure, his honest face filled with shock and... pride.

"Spacetime... Domain?" Luo Li slowly landed back on the city wall, his silvery-white pupils gradually returning to normal, but the mysterious aura around him, which seemed to be integrated with Spacetime, still remained.

He felt his spiritual energy and Path power almost completely drained from his body, as well as the stinging pain in his pupils, yet his heart remained cold and clear.

This attack was extremely costly, but its effects were immediate.

This not only temporarily relieved the pressure on this section of the city wall, but more importantly, the intimidation from that higher-level power caused the originally surging vampire tide to hesitate and become chaotic.

In particular, the several A+ level auras in the distance became noticeably more restless, but for the time being, they did not rashly advance to attack the area where Luo Li was located.

The torrent of war was slightly slowed down because of him alone.

"Stabilize the formation! Replenish energy! Quickly!"

Kong Yan'er was the first to react, shouting loudly to organize the defense.

With Luo Li's decisive blow, the morale of the defending troops soared, and the previously crumbling defensive line was temporarily stabilized.

The fighting remains fierce, but at least hope has not been extinguished.

Luo Li did not use the [Spacetime Domain] again, as the energy consumption was beyond what he could easily bear in his current state.

Wielding Enma, he remains active on the front lines, efficiently reaping the lives of vampires who dare to approach, thanks to the predictive abilities of [Eyes of the Time Abyss] and the fundamental power of [Spacetime] Path, like the most precise killing machine.

I don't know how much time passed; it felt like a century, yet also like just a moment.

As the thick, bloody hue on the horizon began to fade, revealing the deeper darkness that followed, the vampire horde's offensive, as abruptly as it had arrived, began to slow, and then, like the receding tide, retreated into the distance.

They left behind mountains of corpses, including many powerful beings of B-rank and even A-rank, before disappearing into the darkness below the horizon.

The fortress's energy shield had dimmed considerably, and the walls were littered with debris, indicating heavy casualties.

But the fortress held.

"Is it... over?" Qingqiu Ze slumped to the ground, completely unaware that the live streaming equipment had slipped from his hands.

Yang Shan leaned against the shield, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.

Kong Yan'er withdrew her Clone, her face pale, and walked to Luo Li's side. Looking at the carnage below, she patted his shoulder heavily, wanting to say something, but ultimately only let out a complex sigh, "... Awesome."

Luo Li leaned on Enma, breathing slightly heavily. The burden brought by [Eyes of the Time Abyss] made his eyes sting and his mind exhausted.

But he still stood straight, his gaze sweeping over the bodies of the fallen soldiers on and off the city wall, as well as the soldiers and superhumans who had survived the ordeal and were embracing and weeping. There was no joy of victory in his heart, only a heavy sense of oppression.

This victory came at a terrible cost.

Moreover, he knew this was just the beginning.

The shadow of the Seven Deadly Sins, like the Sword of Damocles, still hangs high.

Just then, a dark green figure appeared silently on the city wall.

Commander-in-Chief, Chen Zihan.

He was still wearing his crisp military uniform, spotless, but his expression was colder than usual, and there was a hint of weariness deep in his eyes.

He had clearly gone through a tough battle as well.

His gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling on Luo Li.

"Well done."

His voice remained calm, neither praising nor criticizing, but for him to utter those four words was already a very high compliment.

"Your abilities are exceptional. Staying on the front lines will allow you to play a greater role."

Chen Zihan looked at Luo Li and directly extended an invitation, or rather... an order.

Luo Li paused for a moment, then raised her head to meet those icy eyes. "Commander-in-Chief, my rotation period has ended, and my application has been submitted."

Chen Zihan frowned almost imperceptibly. "Rules are rules. With the potential you just demonstrated, staying at ' Ironwall ' will give you the best resources and privileges."

Kong Yan'er and the others held their breath, watching Luo Li.

The Commander-in-Chief personally invited him to stay, which was a tremendous honor and an opportunity that countless people would kill for.

Luo Li slowly shook her head, her tone calm yet firm. "Thank you for your kindness, Commander-in-Chief. But... I must go back."

In his mind, the Castorice standing downstairs in the dormitory building, her purple eyes filled with anticipation and joy, came to mind.

[Let's go home.]

He had promised her.

Chen Zihan gave him a deep look, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate his heart and see the unwavering obsession deep within Luo Li's soul.

He didn't try to persuade her further, but simply said, "What a pity."

Then, just as he had arrived, he vanished without a trace.

"Li Zi... you..."

Kong Yan'er was getting anxious.

"The Commander-in-Chief has spoken! This is an offer of appreciation from an SSS-level expert! Are you just going to refuse like this?"

Qingqiu Ze chimed in, "Yeah, Brother Li! Stay on the front lines, make your mark, and who knows, you might even become a general someday!"

Luo Li put away Enma and looked towards the distant Jiangcheng. Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable power. "There, someone is waiting for me."

Everyone fell silent.

They all knew who Luo Li was referring to.

That girl in Zone E, like a rare orchid in a secluded valley.

Yang Shan patted Luo Li on the shoulder and said with a simple smile, "I understand, Castorice Die is still waiting for you."

Kong Yan'er sighed, then resumed her carefree demeanor, wrapping her arms around Luo Li's neck. "Alright, alright! You're such a womanizer! But it's a promise, you'll treat us when we get back! It has to be a big meal!"

"No problem."

Luo Li smiled.

The next few days were spent busy with cleanup and rest.

The fortress was immersed in an atmosphere of tragic grandeur and busy activity, with compensation for the fallen, treatment of the wounded, and repair of the defensive lines.

Luo Li's rotation request was quickly approved with Chen Zihan's tacit approval.

The day before he left, Luo Li went to Zone E to pick up Castorice.

She had already packed her simple luggage and was waiting for him downstairs in the dormitory.

Seeing him approach, she quickly went to meet him, her purple eyes filled with clear concern as she looked him up and down. "Are you alright? I heard... the battle was very fierce."

"It's nothing, just a minor injury, it's healed a long time ago."

Luo Li held her hand, feeling the coolness and real touch of her fingertips, and the fatigue of the past few days seemed to dissipate a lot.

"We... can we leave tomorrow?"

Castorice's voice carried a hint of disbelief and anticipation.

"Yes, all the formalities are complete. The transport plane leaves early tomorrow morning."

Luo Li nodded firmly, and seeing the light that flashed in her eyes, she felt it was all worth it.

The two walked side by side in the relatively quiet corridor of Zone E, the setting sun casting long shadows through the Blood-Erosion Clouds.

"Really... not staying?"

A gentle voice sounded from the side.

Luo Li and Castorice stopped and saw Lu Jingheng maneuvering his wheelchair, slowly driving out from a side road.

His face wore his usual gentle smile as he looked at Luo Li: "Your performance this time has shocked the entire front line. Commander-in-Chief Chen seems to value you highly. Staying in ' Ironwall ' might be more helpful for your growth."

How could Lu Jingheng possibly know that the advantages Luo Li gained by seducing Castorice were far more helpful than staying on the front lines?

Luo Li looked at Lu Jingheng; this mysterious researcher always seemed to appear at crucial moments.

He shook his head, his tone still firm. "Mr. Lu, my decision will not change."

Lu Jingheng smiled, seemingly unsurprised, then turned his gaze to Castorice and said meaningfully, "Returning to the rear may not necessarily bring peace."

Some eddies do not disappear simply because of a change of location.

Castorice frowned slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in her purple eyes. She didn't speak, but simply moved closer to Luo Li.

Lu Jingheng took in their reactions without saying anything more, maneuvering his wheelchair to make way. "Since you've made up your minds, then I wish you both a safe journey. I hope... our next meeting will be at a better time."

His words carried a certain unspoken meaning, but Luo Li was too eager to Homeward Heart Like an Arrow to ponder them.

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Lu."

Luo Li nodded, took Castorice's hand, and brushed past him.

Back at dormitory Zone C, Kong Yan'er, Qingqiu Ze, and Yang Shan were already waiting for him, saying they wanted to give him a farewell dinner.

The so-called farewell feast was actually just sharing the rare and precious things that everyone had secretly hidden away at the front line—a few cans of expired but not spoiled beer, some dried meat, and even a small bag of peanuts that Qingqiu Ze had somehow gotten his hands on.

"Li Zi! I'm not saying anything more! It's all in the beer!" Kong Yan'er raised the beer can, her eyes slightly red.

"Brother Li! Don't forget to do the live stream when you get back! Your family misses you!" Qingqiu Ze also raised the jar.

"Brother, take care!" Yang Shan patted Luo Li's back hard.

Looking at these three companions who had met amidst bloodshed, Luo Li felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He raised his beer can and said, "Take care! Next time you come to Jiangcheng, I'll treat you!"

In the simple dormitory, the men's rough laughter and farewell words echoed, diluting the sorrow of parting and deepening the camaraderie among comrades.

The next morning, on the platform where the transport plane took off.

Luo Li and Castorice, carrying simple luggage, prepared to board the plane.

Kong Yan'er, Qingqiu Ze, and Yang Shan all came to see him off.

"Really... not staying?" Kong Yan'er looked at Luo Li and asked for the last time, abandoning her usual frivolousness and looking serious.

Luo Li looked at his three brothers fighting side by side, then at Castorice waiting quietly beside him, took a deep breath of the cold yet familiar air of the front line, shook his head, and a relieved yet determined smile appeared on his face.

No, thank you.

That's my home.

"And she is my home."

He took Castorice's hand, and in the rising sun filtered through the Blood-Erosion Clouds, he turned and walked towards the open hatch of the transport plane.

Castorice nestled beside him, glancing back at the steel fortress standing on the blood-red wasteland. A complex emotion flickered in her purple eyes, but when she turned back to look at Luo Li's resolute profile, only complete trust and reliance remained in her eyes.

The hatch slowly closed, isolating the outside world.

The transport plane roared into the air, carrying travelers Homeward Heart Like an Arrow, soaring into the sky shrouded in blood, a sky that held all their ordinary dreams.

The fortress grew smaller and smaller in view.