Chapter 277: 277, I had no choice

When power began to surge like lava beneath a volcanic crater, all living things plummeting into the crater would be melted into crimson flames.

Humanity's craving for power had never faded; otherwise, the Li family would not have created nanorobots for military use.

Ren Xiaosu felt the raging flame within his body, stepped forward with his blade, and the nanowarrior watched in stunned silence as he swept past. They tried to raise their nanoblades to strike him, but his speed crushed them like figures slowed by a 'slow-motion' button.

The black blade sliced horizontally across a nanorobot's chest, cleaving its blade into a smooth, even cross-section before its body crumbled into fragments.

A nanowarrior, unable to evade in time, collided with Ren Xiaosu and his outer armor, feeling his chest cavity collapse as blood squeezed from ruptured vessels.

Over a dozen nanowarriors surrounded Ren Xiaosu, their blades hacking at his back only to carve a crack in his armor, failing to pierce his skin.

The armor's fissure writhed outward, grotesque and terrifying.

In that instant, the nanowarriors realized how nanorobots were meant to be used!

When Ren Xiaosu's formidable physique merged with his outer armor, he became a siege engine, charging recklessly and inspiring dread.

Some nanowarriors began to fear, unsure how to defeat this heavy, powerful machine, their hearts overwhelmed by helplessness.

He grabbed a fallen weapon and roared, wildly firing into the tent as if to banish his fear.

But the next second, the roar ceased as Ren Xiaosu's black blade plunged into his chest, blood flooding his alveoli into froth.

Ren Xiaosu slowly withdrew the blade: "Invincible, how's it going on your end?"

Chen Wudi hefted his golden cudgel: "Done!"

Only then did Ren Xiaosu shed his outer armor, returning the blade to its palace. He gazed at the wreckage, noting the tent still stood.

Though the situation seemed dire, Ren Xiaosu looked down at the fallen "comrades"—some shot dead in the chaos, others weeping in pain.

But he cared little for their plight, instead turning to Li Qingzheng and Wang Yuch: "Are you hurt?"

Ren Xiaosu frowned, spotting blood on Wang Yuch's leg, while several students bore wounds. Li Qingzheng, however, remained unscathed.

Wang Yuch's face glistened with sweat: "Shot in the leg, maybe broken. Captain, check the others—they're wounded too."

Ren Xiaosu tallied five injured students, their wounds grave, requiring immediate removal of embedded bullets.

"We can't stay here," Ren Xiaosu said: "We'll flee while the battle rages, hijack a truck, and return to the 108 Wall!"

This crisis revealed that someone had begun connecting the dots, and lingering in Li's domain would only invite greater peril.

Ren Xiaosu told Chen Wudi: "Carry the wounded out; wait for me outside."

Li Qingzheng dutifully helped the injured out, and after they left, Ren Xiaosu twisted each "comrade's" neck—these people knew too much to be spared.

He retrieved all utensils, tools, and weapons from his storage space, leaving only gold and food, then packed the nanorobots from the fallen warriors inside.

Afterward, he emerged from the tent, bearing the wounded with the others.

The 313 position had devolved into chaos, Qingshi's bombardment so fierce it defied imagination. No one noticed them, and passing combat units assumed they were retreating wounded.

"There's a car!" Ren Xiaosu whispered: "The driver's still inside—hijack it!"

They were close to the 313 entrance; seizing the vehicle would let them flee instantly amid the turmoil.

Yet at that moment, a strange squad of soldiers rushed in from outside the position, and Ren Xiaosu felt a peculiar unease—their movements too synchronized, their eyes devoid of emotion.

It was a full company, five hundred strong!

Ren Xiaosu ducked, attempting to slip past with Chen Wudi, but the lead officer halted them: "Which combat unit do you belong to?"

The voice was mechanical and calm. Li Qingzheng quickly approached: "We're from the Seventh Infantry, wounded and heading to the medical station."

The officer glanced at them and continued: "Take me to the Hero Camp's position."

Ren Xiaosu's fists clenched—these people were after him again?!

What to do? If they were indeed five hundred nanowarriors as he suspected, even gods couldn't defeat Chen Wudi and him.

Moreover, in this open field, a fight would draw too much attention!

As Ren Xiaosu frantically pondered, Li Qingzheng laughed: "Fine, I'll take you."

Ren Xiaosu froze, then saw Li Qingzheng turn with a bitter smile: "You go to the medical station quickly—don't delay treatment. I'll escort the officers to the Hero Camp and meet you there."

Ren Xiaosu stammered: "You... "

"What's with you," Li Qingzheng laughed: "I'm thrilled enough. Go on."

With that, Li Qingzheng abruptly turned and marched toward the high ground of the Hero Camp, never looking back.

True war and life are thus—too sudden for grand words or sentiment, accidents strike, stealing away familiar faces and smiles.

Ren Xiaosu resolutely turned toward the truck: "No one looks back."

Wang Yuch struggled: "Captain..."

Ren Xiaosu lowered his voice, roaring: "I said I'm no good man! My light's long gone!"

Wang Yuch and the others fell silent, unsure what "light" Ren Xiaosu meant.

Only Chen Wudi understood, recalling his master's words: If I had a choice, I'd want to be someone with light in my heart, but I never had one.

It's not that I didn't want to choose—it's that life never gave me that option. The only choices were life or death.

This is the wasteland.

...

Five more chapters until the moon ticket.