The arena erupted into cheers, a cacophony of noise.
"What’s going on, President?" Four-leaf Phoenix Tree gasped, "Almost didn’t make it."
At this mont, his body functions were nearing their limit, and the side effects of prolonged use of Divine Speed were already showing.
The decline in multiple abilities made it impossible for Four-leaf Phoenix Tree to avoid the dense fire network, yet he still made the insane move of breaking through the ’Military Crown’ blockade, sothing others considered utterly crazy.
The price was that Four-leaf Phoenix Tree’s physiological functions had plumted to the freezing point, entering a critically injured state.
"Too risky," said Lu Shuhang.
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree chuckled, exhaling deeply:
"President, think about it, since the final showdown with Light Chasing Garden began, has our approach ever been conservative?"
"Why did you choose to seize the black box alone, and why did I risk coming to help you?"
Lu Shuhang remained silent.
As if guessing what was on the young man’s mind, the expression on Four-leaf Phoenix Tree’s face was calm.
"This match is no longer about winning or losing."
"With Xiao Xinzhu receiving the death penalty, no matter what, she cannot accompany us into another match, and we’ve already shown our strategies. There’s not much chance of victory against Queen’s Armant."
"I don’t want to say anything disheartening at a ti like this."
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree leaned against the side, barely holding on,
"But I’m just stating facts."
The fourth round of total bombing comnced, several fighter jets flew side by side overhead, a carpet bombing by the Revolutionary Army approached, the deafening roar bringing a rare mont of silence to the otherwise riotous arena.
"Seeing you looking so dejected really ticks off." Four-leaf Phoenix Tree punched Lu Shuhang on the chest.
"I’ve always been wondering why our president, the commander of Assassin’s Creed, is so conservative, like a turtle always trying to crawl back to the pond."
"In the past, we were always so timid, missing so many opportunities, that’s why people on the forums constantly criticized us for turtling. Don’t be fooled by Yu Lan’s quiet deanor, she’s actually defending us in secret accounts every day."
Lu Shuhang did not respond.
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree understood the young man’s longstanding concerns, and the two exchanged a tacit glance, both revealing a slightly bitter smile.
He knew that given their real-life situations, their friendship was fragile on this short journey, unlike those guilds backed by significant resources, always having an opportunity to start again.
They lacked the courage to lose, as losing would an never having a chance again.
In this world, people’s journeys vary; when so fall, countless hands lift them up, but when others fall, they can no longer see the backs of their companions.
Compared to the president, Lu Shuhang was more like a steward or nanny, or as others put it, a male mother.
Always cautiously planning battle strategies, cautiously making decisions, cautiously handling disputes, cautiously maintaining the balance of their fragile friendship.
Always the last one to close his eyes before the campfire went out.
He cherished this friendship too much, always silently repairing its cracks, even though it was already filled with them.
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree could even imagine Lu Shuhang standing in front of a cracked glass, holding a cloth and glue, trying to wipe and patch it up in solitude.
According to Four-leaf Phoenix Tree’s thinking, this friendship perhaps should never have existed from the start—five ordinary people struggling on the edge of reality.
Even in the Oasis, they should have been like nobodies, paying protection fees in the Evil Spirit Cave, then forming a makeshift team, only to drown in the qualifying round, throwing a farewell party before parting ways.
"President, this is probably the last ti I’m playing a match with you." Four-leaf Phoenix Tree said, looking up.
"Mm." Lu Shuhang responded quietly.
"I really miss that ti we cleared Heroic Spirit Hall; that was Assassin’s Creed’s crowning mont."
"I thought we could keep going until the end."
"Mm..." Lu Shuhang bowed his head, remaining silent.
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree pressed down on his bleeding wound; he was almost out of blood.
"Everyone should keep an account, for mory’s sake," Lu Shuhang said softly.
"Screw you, Lu Shuhang!" Four-leaf Phoenix Tree suddenly shouted.
Lu Shuhang was slightly taken aback but was abruptly pulled over by Four-leaf Phoenix Tree, pushed against the wall, his face t with a heavy punch, imdiately swelling up.
"Did you not understand a single word I said!?"
The four-leaf clover earring clanged, and Four-leaf Phoenix Tree’s mischievous face twisted with anger.
"Did you think I was being sentintal with all this talk?"
"No wonder everybody called you a turtle, we’re at this point and you’re still considering surrender?"
"To hell with preserving mories, we need to go out with dignity!"
"Don’t you get it?"
"All of us have been holding back a fire in our hearts from the beginning to the end, and it’s about to erupt."
"Now that Xiao Xinzhu is dead, we have even less to worry about."
"Even if we can’t win, we can’t let down those who believe in us, we must silence those who mock us, we need to lose gloriously!"
"Even in defeat, we must be able to look back on this match with pride, and when we think of each other, we’ll sigh, having had trustworthy companions."
"Even in defeat, we need everyone to rember there was a guild called Assassin’s Creed, understand?"
"And besides, who says we can’t win?"
"If we can’t beat the final Queen’s Armant, can’t we at least defeat Light Chasing Garden?"
"If you still want to crawl back into the pond like a turtle, then get out of my sight."
Lu Shuhang stared blankly at Four-leaf Phoenix Tree, unable to snap out of the young man’s impassioned words.
A mont later, Lu Shuhang slowly adjusted his collar, and Four-leaf Phoenix Tree knew the calm and decisive president had returned.
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree’s lips curled into a faint smile:
"Now, I have a spectacular plan. Want to hear it? I guarantee they’ll rember it for a lifeti."
Lu Shuhang listened quietly to the young man’s plan whispering in his ear, his deep black eyes growing even more composed.
The final monts ticked silently by.
Silence hovered over the arena, the audience’s eyes fixed intently on the screen, holding their breath in anticipation of what would co next.
In this instant, on the cleared battlefield, golden lightning darted out!
"Four-leaf Phoenix Tree!" the comntator scread excitedly, "It’s Four-leaf Phoenix Tree rushing out without a mont of hesitation, heading straight for the black box!"
"Four-leaf Phoenix Tree?"
Controlling the soldiers, Xu Xiaoyou frowned slightly, with Bai Youyou above her giving a warning.
"He’s severely injured, his speed has already decreased."
Xu Xiaoyou didn’t test further, raising her hand with a [Headshot] card.
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree turned his head, a bullet shot right through, black and white fras freezing over, blood splashing.
Four-leaf Phoenix Tree fell to the sound, Lu Shuhang rushing out from behind him, shadows surging like boiling water, giant dark purple eyes opening behind him.
He ignored Xu Xiaoyou and Bai Youyou’s obstacles, his hand movents quickening, his figure suddenly crouching low as his speed sharply increased to the maximum, the shadow flashing and disappearing, soaring to the sky, shadow instant assaulting hundreds of ters!
His goal from beginning to end was only one, the black box.
The young man’s words echoed in Lu Shuhang’s ears.
"The opportunity to seize the black box is only once."
"The last ti."
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