Before her sanity completely gave way, Chi Chuchun used the last of her strength to sweep her sickle-blade, forcing back all the soldiers trying to restrain her. She grabbed a tank with both hands, lifting it effortlessly and hurling it into the distance, where it turned into a pile of scrap metal in a booming explosion.
The swarms surrounded her, shielding her in the center, driving away and biting the soldiers who approached, using their bodies to block the bombardment of shells and the outpouring of heavy fire for the young girl.
"Don't... come near... me!"
Akabane Tsubaki roared with a raspy voice like a trapped beast. She could no longer sense any presence of the Syndicate nearby; perhaps she had killed every last one of them, from ordinary soldiers to high-ranking officers and even the command level above colonel.
Perhaps, sensing the danger, they had long since fled the battlefield. She had done all she could; now, it was time for her judgment.
"Make your decision quickly, Your Excellency the Family Head," the Rosetta elite urged.
Snow Crow Ji did not respond. She took off her trench coat and, ignoring the attempts of those around her to stop her, walked straight through the blockade to stand before Akabane Tsubaki. At first, sensing her aura, the girl showed extreme resistance, swinging her sickle-blade and growling in warning like a child afraid of being scolded by a parent. But as that familiar scent drew closer, Akabane Tsubaki's presence gradually grew less frantic.
Her massive body slowly knelt to the ground. She hung her head, her once-pure face now obscured by fire and dust. Long hair cascaded down, brushing against her cheeks. She raised her dim eyes slightly, struggling to force a smile.
"How did I do?"
"I killed all those guys. It won't happen again, at least not in the Devil City Military District."
The troops stationed in Devil City surrounded them. Snow Ji looked at Akabane Tsubaki's monstrous form and slowly reached out to stroke the face clouded by ash and fire. The latter lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry. I think I messed everything up."
"Do it. Everyone is watching. Don't make things too difficult for my brother. The pressure on his shoulders must already be so heavy."
"A little girl who hasn't even grown up yet, quit acting so magnanimous," Snow Ji said coldly.
Akabane Tsubaki looked up. Raindrops traced the woman's elegant and resolute face, sliding from the bridge of her nose to the corner of her mouth. The woman watched her in silence. When talking about the swarms, the woman always showed disgust, yet as she examined this twisted insectoid body, Snow Ji remained calm.
"You act as if saying you're not afraid of death makes it true. Your brother will certainly be implicated by this, and don't think you'll escape judgment easily. Whether it's for disobeying military orders or your state after losing control, an explanation must be given to the outside world. Prepare yourself for severe punishment."
"But that's for later. Tell me you don't want to die, and then come back with me."
Behind the woman were thousands of troops, their dark muzzles all aimed at this spot. She reached into her clothes and pulled out a medal of honor, as if she had prepared it for the girl long ago.
"Chi Qiu once gave this medal to me. I never intended to give it to you, but tonight, at the very least, you have earned it."
These words undoubtedly struck the softest chord in the girl's heart. Her nose stung, and tears flowed uncontrollably. At first, she whimpered, but soon her breathing hitched, and finally, she broke into a loud sob.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to die... I'm so scared. I'm really scared. I'm afraid of the pain, I'm afraid to die."
"I know I did many things wrong. Sister Xue, scold me or punish me if you must, just don't let them do it, okay? I still have so many games to play, I want to go back and see everyone again... but I don't want to make it hard for my brother."
"Don't talk nonsense."
Snow Ji didn't know whether to be stern or to smile, but seeing the girl regain her senses, her expression softened considerably. Ultimately, despite the hardships and the baptism of fire she had endured, the girl was still just a child who hadn't lost her innocence. If not for the state of the world, someone her age should never have been on a battlefield like this.
"If anything goes wrong with you later, my judgment will be held responsible, and I'll face severe punishment because of you too. So take this seriously."
Akabane Tsubaki nodded with reddened eyes.
Right under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Snow Ji solemnly took the medal, intending to place it in the girl's hand. Suddenly, the roar of artillery echoed from somewhere, and an abrupt sense of dread exploded in her heart.
Before the woman's eyes, a shell struck Akabane Tsubaki directly in the chest. Flames surged, and the searing crimson spark swallowed the girl's face, drying her tear tracks.
Akabane Tsubaki's eyes slowly widened. Her chest collapsed from the blast, flesh and blood scattering to reveal pale bone. Her entire left arm flew into the air, and the injuries on the left side of her body were so horrific that only a skeleton remained.
She stumbled back, her massive form tottering. Several more shells exploded on her. Unprotected, Akabane Tsubaki's spider-abdomen was blasted open, and her legs were shattered, stripping her of the ability to move. Under the relentless fire suppression, she had no way to escape. She could only curl her body, using her remaining right arm to shield herself as she endured the bombardment.
The agony instantly stripped away her sanity. She lost control once more, roaring and struggling to lunge forward, only to be suppressed by the shelling again. Using her last shreds of reason, she held back the rampaging swarms, forcing them to shield her and bear the brunt of the heavy bombardment.
The girl's faint cries were swallowed by the deafening roar of the explosions.
"What are you doing!" Snow Crow Ji turned around and roared in fury, her face like a savage lion's.
"Why did you open fire without my orders!?"
"Who was it? Who!"
She unsheathed the blade at her waist and quickly locked onto the target, marching forward aggressively with the intent to strike down the commander of the Liberation Wings.
No one dared to stop Snow Crow Ji in this state, but Leiye, the commander of the Liberation Wings, merely stared calmly at the blade pressed against his throat. He looked at the woman, his eyes devoid of fear.
"Your Excellency the Family Head, this is a supreme directive from the higher-ups. I was notified that once I judged Akabane Tsubaki had lost behavioral control, I had the authority to order my subordinates to execute her."
"The higher-ups? To hell with them! I am the head of the Snow Crow family, and I order you to stop firing!" Snow Crow Ji roared.
At that moment, a personal communication from a young man caused Snow Crow Ji to freeze.
"Ji, I authorized the Liberation Wings' operation. Do not make things difficult for them."
Hearing Chi Qiu's voice upon connecting, Snow Crow Ji's fury blazed even hotter.
"To hell with you, Chi Qiu! Has a bug crawled into your brain and fcked it? That's your sister! Are you going to kill her with your own hands just for that damn position of yours as head of the family?"
Snow Crow Ji no longer cared for appearances. Rage made her like a protective lioness; if the young man were standing before her, she would have lunged forward to tear out his throat.
She couldn't understand. Not long ago, Chi Qiu had hoped she could save Akabane Tsubaki. Why had his mindset shifted so drastically in just a few short hours, leading him to make such a cold-blooded decision?
"These were choices of necessity..."
"How did I never notice how hypocritical you were? You damned bastard!"
"Ji, calm down. This is a battlefield."
"Calm down my ass! Chi Qiu, I'm telling you, if Tsubaki dies, I swear I'll go to the Chi residence and kill you first so you can accompany her to the grave. Just you watch and see if I don't do it!"
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