The two figures, colliding like a storm, finally separated.
Caesar panted heavily, drawing in air as if trying to force oxygen directly into his cells. His muscles were fully pumped and wouldn't calm down anytime soon.
Chu, standing opposite him, was in the same condition.
Neither spoke.
They instinctively paused, conserving strength for the next exchange.
Then they both noticed something was wrong.
Why had the gunfire stopped?
Even the earpieces were silent.
A suffocating stillness enveloped the campus.
It felt wrong.
"This is Caesar." Caesar pressed his earpiece. "Is anyone from the Student Union still active? Respond."
"This is Chu Zijhang." Chu spoke next. "Any Lionheart members still operational?"
"Present!"
A cheerful voice came through the channel-Morin's.
"Senior, you guys keep fighting. I'll come over once you're done!"
"I still have one person." Chu looked at Caesar. "My junior. Morin."
"I have no one left?" Caesar frowned. "Where's NuoNuo?"
"I'm here."
The voice sounded in his earpiece.
Caesar froze.
He didn't recognize it.
But then he thought about it-he was the Student Union president. Not recognizing every subordinate's voice was normal.
"You are...?" Caesar asked.
"Lu Mingfei."
This time, the voice didn't come from the radio.
It came from behind him.
Along with footsteps.
"You're still alive?" Caesar turned around and saw Lu Mingfei standing there. There was a trace of surprise in his tone. "As expected of an S-rank. We should have a proper match later."
"Yo, looks like everyone's here."
Another voice cut in.
Caesar turned his head toward Chu's side.
A man in casual clothes was walking over.
In a battlefield filled with tactical gear, his outfit looked completely out of place.
Even more out of place was his demeanor.
He was strolling through a corpse-littered battlefield like he was on a spring outing.
So relaxed that Caesar looked at him twice.
If he remembered correctly, this was the freshman who was close with NuoNuo.
Should I challenge him too later?
His Yan Ling is Divine Calculus, right?
That wouldn't count as bullying... would it?
Caesar thought.
"You could be a bit more serious," Chu said, clearly exasperated by Morin's attitude. "Even if the Day of Liberty is a simulation, we should treat it like the real thing."
"I get it, Senior." Morin laughed. "But in this situation, there's no need to be so tense."
He pointed at Lu, who had stepped forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Caesar, and gave a thumbs-up.
"Nice one, Mingfei. You didn't disappoint."
"Right." Caesar glanced at Lu beside him. "You two went to the same high school."
"If you want to switch sides, you can still do it now."
"If not, I expect you to give everything you've got in the next fight."
Lu glanced at Caesar.
Golden Eyes burned open.
Caesar instinctively flinched.
Lu turned away and pointed at Morin.
"This is between me and him."
"Good."
Caesar let out a quiet breath.
He wasn't sure if he was relieved because he didn't have to fight three people at once-
Or because he didn't have to face those Golden Eyes again.
Even Chu's eyes had never pressured him this much.
"Then I'll handle Chu Zijhang."
Caesar spun his hunting knife, Dictator, and stepped forward.
As the boss, how could he let the underling go first?
He raised Dictator, preparing to charge-
BANG.
A gunshot rang out.
"...?"
Caesar looked down at his chest.
His body swayed.
Before he could say anything, he collapsed.
Whatever thoughts he had would have to wait until he woke up.
As Caesar fell, Lu Mingfei was revealed behind him.
The gun was still raised.
"This... isn't quite right."
For the first time, confusion appeared on Chu Zijhang's face.
He stepped toward Lu.
BANG.
Chu's eyes widened slightly.
He looked down at his chest.
Then at Lu.
Then he collapsed as well-gracefully.
By coincidence, he fell right beside Caesar.
Face to face.
Same height.
A perfect portrayal of "frenemies."
Morin immediately pulled out a camera.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
Ten shots in rapid succession.
He put the camera away and looked at Lu.
Lu tossed the handgun aside.
He picked up Caesar's Dictator.
Golden Eyes blazed as he stared straight at Morin.
"Now," he said,
"it's you and me."