Chapter Sixty-Six: Pyrrhic Victory

"No! He's aiming at Tuoba Lin and the others!" Xiao Quan and Mu Qi felt a sudden tightening in their chests as they witnessed Nangong Yuchen’s abrupt change in target; it seemed as though something ominous was about to unfold.

Tuoba Lin and Liu Ze, who had been suppressing Angel, were suddenly struck with terror as they sensed the artillery shell streaking toward them from behind. Abandoning their assault on Angel, they scrambled to hide behind their shields, cursing inwardly, "Those two idiots, Xiao Quan!"

"Boom!" With a deafening roar, the yellow shell detonated. A shockwave ripped through the area, pulverizing the surrounding grass, while Tuoba Lin and Liu Ze were swallowed by the rising yellow glow.

Taking advantage of the opening, Angel dismissed her Blade of Collapsing Wind and drew her next piece of gear—the Ice-Blue Bow. She vaulted into the air, summoned three energy arrows, drew the bow into a full moon, and fired them toward the sky.

As she released the bowstring, her mind drifted back to the memories of the previous night.

"You’re still injured; get some rest. I’ll keep watch."

"Hmm! By the way, Nangong Yuchen, have you considered our battle tomorrow? You know that once Tuoba Lin and Xiao Quan join forces, they’ll surely be aware of all our mechs and tactics, so..."

"I understand what you mean. We’ll definitely be tied down by them tomorrow, and you’re worried they’ll choose Kexin as the weak point, right?"

"...What if I’m the weak point?"

"Don't worry, I’ve already thought this through. If any of the three of us finds ourselves in danger, we’ll just call out the other's name..."

The mental images flickered past, and Angel said firmly, "Triple Death of the Ice Soul, go!"

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Three pale blue arrows trailed long, luminous streaks through the air, falling like meteors. Yet, their target was not Tuoba Lin and Liu Ze, who were cowering behind their shields, but Mu Xue in the other skirmish circle!

"Mu Xue, retreat!" Xiao Quan and Mu Qi, caught off guard, stared in horror as the three arrows veered toward Mu Xue.

But by the time they shouted, the arrows had already been unleashed.

Mu Xue was still firing her pistol, on the verge of eliminating Nangong Kexin, when suddenly, three half-meter-long arrows appeared in the sky. They shifted their trajectories mid-air, raining down upon her from different angles.

"I can't dodge this? How is such a technique possible?" As the arrows closed to within ten meters of the ground, Mu Xue turned deathly pale. She had never expected a skill like this; the arrows were not only incredibly fast, but their disparate angles made evasion impossible.

As the arrows descended, Mu Xue never imagined she would be the first to be eliminated right at the start of the battle.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

With three arrows piercing her body, Mu Xue was eliminated, and one more person vanished from the Phantom Island.

Nangong Kexin had been saved, though her injuries had rendered her combat-ineffective.

"Ah! Nangong Yuchen, I’m going to kill you!" Mu Qi, consumed by rage, hoisted his greatsword and charged at Nangong Yuchen like a madman. Mu Xue was his biological sister, and the three of them had sworn to advance together as elite students; now, because of Nangong Yuchen, she had been ruthlessly eliminated.

Xiao Quan followed close behind, his face as dark as water, clearly just as enraged. Mu Xue was an important partner to him as well; with her gone, even if they won, the future elite squad would be missing her presence.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" Nangong Yuchen showed no fear, and the three clashed once again.

As Tuoba Lin and Liu Ze emerged from the artillery smoke in disarray, they were horrified to see that, ten meters away, Angel had already switched to her third piece of gear: the A-GNM88-39 Energy Heavy Machine Gun!

"Liu Ze, run! That woman has brought out the heavy machine gun!"

But Angel did not give them the chance. She pulled the trigger, and a hail of bullets transformed into a beam of light, hammering against Tuoba Lin’s shield!

"Rat-a-tat-tat..."

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Cowering behind Tuoba Lin, Liu Ze was frantic. He knew the shield couldn't withstand the barrage of a heavy machine gun for more than ten seconds before they were turned into sieves.

"Liu Ze, get out of here now! My shield won't last another few seconds!" Tuoba Lin felt his shield beginning to dissipate and urged Liu Ze to flee.

"Boss!"

Liu Ze seemed to make a resolution. He leaped over Tuoba Lin, pulling out his artillery-style sniper rifle—a weapon he had intended to save for Xiao Quan after dealing with Nangong Yuchen, but he had no choice now.

"Hmph!" Angel shifted sideways. The moment Liu Ze produced the rifle, she aimed her barrel at him. Having been hit by one of those shots two days ago and still nursing injuries, how could she let it happen a second time?

"Boss, kill her now!"

"Rat-a-tat..." Dense bullets tore through Liu Ze before he could even squeeze the trigger. Soon, his tattered body began to dissipate, and he was eliminated!

"Liu Ze!" Watching his good brother be eliminated while trying to save him, Tuoba Lin, fueled by fury, rushed toward Angel, pushing his failing shield to its limit.

Angel quickly lowered her aim, locked onto Tuoba Lin, and pulled the trigger.

But Tuoba Lin was already upon her. Denying her the distance to maneuver, he delivered a violent, crushing punch to the barrel of the heavy machine gun!

"Bang!"

With a terrifying force of 450kg behind his golden-armored fist, Angel was sent flying, gun and all.

"Pfft!" In mid-air, Angel coughed up blood. The force had bypassed the gun and struck her chest. Already injured, she couldn't take the impact; she collapsed to the ground, nearly losing consciousness.

"It’s all your fault, you bitch! If not for you, Xiaofeng wouldn't have been eliminated, and we wouldn't be in this state. Go to hell!"

Tuoba Lin’s voice dripped with hatred as he grabbed Angel by the throat and lifted her up, seemingly intent on strangling her to death.

Angel had no strength left to resist; her injuries were too severe. It was a miracle she hadn't died already.

"If this weren't an assessment, I’d strip your clothes off and throw you out on the street!" Tuoba Lin roared, tightening his grip.

Just then, a purple spear tip, swift as lightning, pierced through Tuoba Lin’s back. Before he could react, the tri-edged point had burst through his chest!

"Pfft! Pfft!"

"You..." Before he could finish the word, Tuoba Lin collapsed to the ground. Eliminated!

"That’s two I owed you; this makes one back," Nangong Kexin said before collapsing beside Angel. It was her sneak attack that had turned the tide, but the effort had exhausted her so completely she couldn't even stand.

Angel lay motionless on the ground, having slipped back into unconsciousness.

...

"Clang! Clang!"

"Die! Die!"

Mu Qi remained crazed, swinging his greatsword fearlessly against Nangong Yuchen, while Xiao Quan utilized his speed to launch constant attacks from the flanks and rear.

All three were covered in wounds; had they not been protecting their vital points, they would have likely crippled each other long ago.

After another collision, Nangong Yuchen finally seized an opportunity. Using his shield to knock back Xiao Quan, he burst forward, flashed behind Mu Qi, and thrust hard at his back.

Though not fast, Mu Qi had vast combat experience. Seeing he couldn't dodge, he quickly pressed his greatsword against his back, using its broad surface to block the strike.

Nangong Yuchen then shifted to the side, his Thunder Sword Curtain sweeping toward Mu Qi’s neck. He was exploiting Mu Qi’s inferior speed and reaction time to finish him off.

Seeing the attack coming, Mu Qi panicked. His greatsword was still behind him, and he tried to raise his shield to block, but the purple sword in Nangong Yuchen’s hand was too fast—the shield couldn't keep up.

"Mu Qi, retreat!" Xiao Quan lunged to the rescue, swinging his blade toward Nangong Yuchen’s back.

Nangong Yuchen ignored the blade slicing into his back, choosing to take the hit instead. His hand moved, and the purple blade slashed across Mu Qi’s neck, eliminating him!

Finally, it was one-on-one!

Alone, Xiao Quan was no match for Nangong Yuchen. Under the onslaught of the latter’s monstrous tri-discipline cultivation, he was completely overwhelmed. In less than half a minute, Nangong Yuchen pierced Xiao Quan’s brow, eliminating him as well!

"Whew!" Having finally slain both, Nangong Yuchen let out a long breath and knelt on the ground to rest. He then hurried to the two women with concern. "Kexin, Angel, are you alright?"

"Is the Phantom Island over?" Nangong Kexin asked wearily, shaking her head.

"Yes, it's over. We won. We’ve advanced to elite students!"