A blue panel materialized in front of Tianlei. He pressed it, and several beams of light shot down from the ceiling above.
From those lights emerged all his squad members.
Their faces widened as they took in the scene of blood everywhere, and Muyan's collapsed form on the ground. As a three-star Vanguard-level master, they hadn't expected someone like Tianlei to injure him.
Yet with Tianlei being the only other person stained with blood, they couldn't dispute what had happened.
"Guys!" the ponytailed cadet screamed. "It seems our provisional executor didn't fail us!"
"Horary! Horary! Horary!"
The squad erupted into cheers even the cadet who had endured all the cannon fire just so Tianlei could reach the core. Destiny Star hovered beside him, still healing his injuries, something that should have been impossible.
As a mid-stage Level One healing beast, it should have been exhausted by now, yet its glow had not faded.
Tianlei rushed over and helped him up.
"I hope I didn't fail you?"
The man laughed despite the pain.
"It seems a three-star soldier-class master is far more powerful than I thought."
"By the way, my name is Bai Chen," he added. "But you can just call me Chen."
"You're from the Bai family?" Tianlei asked.
If he remembered Feather Lady's words correctly, members of the Bai family were rich, arrogant brats with Bai Kun being the prime example.
"That's exactly why I prefer being called Chen."
Tianlei didn't push the matter.
Just then, a voice echoed through the hall ,not the usual feminine tone but a deep, commanding male voice.
"Congratulations on passing this unexpected game. Your team has successfully completed all assigned objectives—intelligence, teamwork, and sacrifice."
Everyone looked up as a wormhole formed in midair. A man dressed in a completely black military uniform stepped out, a sharp insignia gleaming on his chest. He descended slowly, hands clasped behind his back.
"Your Black Team has demonstrated traits I haven't seen in months," he continued as his feet touched the ground. "For that, allow me to award your prizes."
He waved his hand, and several holographic screens appeared.
"Your team has accumulated two million merit points. Ordinarily, the reward is one million five hundred thousand, but a bonus has been applied this round."
The squad burst Into celebration. But Tianlei didn't smile. His gaze drifted back to Muyan's unmoving body which they still hadn't attended to him.
The man snapped his fingers.
"Additionally, each of you will be bestowed a Level Two King-Smith Stabber."
Nine polished projections of silver daggers appeared in the air.
"This is unexpected," Bai Chen said, still leaning on Tianlei.
"What is?"
"Usually these games are straightforward. Today's was far more complex and two rewards at once?"
"So this is the first time this has happened?" Tianlei asked, his eyes shifting from the floating daggers back to Muyan.
"The military branch acts as a shortcut into Golden Earth Academy," Bai Chen said quietly. "It's a disciplinary ground and a training hub for future soldiers. But recently… it's become more mysterious."
"Mysterious how?"
Bai Chen glanced at the lieutenant, who was speaking into his communicator, clearly distracted.
"Were you injected with a drug when you arrived?"
"Yes," Tianlei replied.
"People who react the way you did are usually sent to a mental health center. Some never return. Those who do often get promoted to new ranks."
"Like me."
"Even Muyan acted crazier than you when he arrived."
Tianlei looked at Muyan again. Something twisted in his chest. Seeing him like that—abandoned hurt more than he expected.
"Sir," Tianlei called out.
The man looked over, ending his call.
"I prefer being addressed as 'Lieutenant,'" he said flatly.
"Lieutenant, aren't the Red Team members being extracted?"
The man laughed.
"This game is like war. In war, the fallen receive no special treatment , same goes for the losers here."
"But—"
Bai Chen tightened his grip on Tianlei.
He looked down. Bai Chen shook his head subtly, warning him to stop.
"Alright. Go and rest," the lieutenant said, lifting slightly off the ground as another wormhole opened. Before stepping through, he glanced back at Tianlei.
Their gazes locked for a brief second.
Then the man vanished into the spatial portal.
The wormhole expanded, swirling violently.
"Let's go," Bai Chen muttered, exhaustion heavy in his voice.
Destiny Star turned into a silver streak and disappeared into his storage ring.
One by one, the exhausted squad members entered the wormhole. Appreciation was evident on their faces as they looked at Tianlei. Tianyu seemed slightly ashamed, though pride still burned brightly beneath his arrogance.
Tianlei didn't have the bandwidth for him.
He cast one last glance at Muyan.
"Brother Chen, wait here."
Bai Chen understood immediately and nodded, releasing his support. Without it, he nearly collapsed but managed to stay upright.
Tianlei walked over and crouched beside Muyan.
Muyan's condition was dire. Even if Tianlei had caused it, he had still won out of someone else misery .
The drowning cursed mind technique turned out to be more terrifying than he anticipated . Three direct hits were enough to take down a Vanguard-level master.
"I'm sorry for all of this."
He touched his forehead. A tiny milky droplet like a tear emerged and clung to his fingertip. Tianlei stared at it, then exhaled.
He placed It on Muyan's lips. The droplet slipped into his mouth.
"I hope the Bodhi blood essence can heal you."
Tianlei stood, fists clenched.
This so-called game forced people to brutalize one another for a few points—points that merely granted entry into Golden Earth Academy. What made it so valuable that people were willing to go this far?
He took a step ,then stopped and turned.
"Damn it," he muttered.
He crouched again, lifted Muyan, and slung his arm over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Bai Chen asked.
"We can't just leave him here."
"But that's—"
Bai Chen was cut off as a rough male voice thundered through the hall.
"Extraction of failures is prohibited before the allocated time. Provisional Executor Feng Tianlei, what do you think you are doing?"
No one was visible, but the crushing pressure made the presence unmistakable.
"Can't you see he's critically injured?" Tianlei shouted. "Have some humanity!"
"Disobedience of orders."
A sharp flash tore through Tianlei's vision. He stumbled backward but refused to let Muyan fall.
"Provisional Executor, do you understand the consequences of your actions?" the voice demanded.
"Some rules are meant to be broken, aren't they?"
Silence filled the hall for a while, ten long seconds passed.
Then the voice returned.
"For him to leave… you have to stay."