Chapter 21: The Sacrifice of Half the Sky

“Feel the true power!”

The Fire Fox Leader offered no further explanation, nor did it grant the players additional time to prepare or brace themselves.

Instead, it raised both hands high, letting out a sky-shattering roar.

Instantly, a burst of flame `噌` (TL Note: An onomatopoeia for a whooshing or sudden sound, often indicating a rapid, aggressive emergence) erupted from beneath its feet.

This fiery mass rapidly expanded, sweeping towards the three players of the “Girls’ Team.”

The raging inferno appeared extraordinarily swift and formidable.

The players, understanding that direct contact or a direct hit would be catastrophic, scattered to either side.

The furious flames blazed a straight path, leaving behind vivid red scorch marks on the ground.

Xingxing, inadvertently stepping into the fiery trail, instantly lost more than half of her health bar.

Fortunately, she reacted just in time, bouncing away like a rubber ball; otherwise, she might have been instantly incinerated.

This terrifying display left the players utterly petrified, nearly scattering their souls.

If merely the path scorched by the flames could almost instantly kill Xingxing, what fate awaited anyone directly struck by them?

Surely, they would be reduced to ashes.

Chen Lili shielded Xingxing, allowing her precious moments to consume healing items and restore her full health.

Meanwhile, Xue Hu, seemingly oblivious to the immediate danger, was engrossed in her own calculations.

“Wh-what should we do?” Chen Lili stammered, her gaze darting back to Xingxing and Xue Hu while maintaining a wary stance against the Fire Fox Leader’s impending assault.

“This monster seems a bit too powerful. Should we fight or retreat?”

“We can’t win. Retreat quickly; we’ll strategize later!”

Xue Hu, without hesitation, scrawled these words onto a wooden plank.

Then, without a backward glance, she walked directly towards the exit of the Fire Fox Tribe’s main gate.

Chen Lili, taken aback by Xue Hu’s decisive action, paused for a moment in surprise.

However, Xingxing promptly grabbed Chen Lili’s hand, pulling her along as they bolted outwards.

“Trying to flee?” the Fire Fox Leader snarled malevolently, its eyes narrowing as it watched the players attempt to escape.

“Have you consulted the steel trident in my hand?”

It reacted instantly, hoisting its Flaming Steel Trident high above its head before thrusting it forward with immense force.

The Flaming Steel Trident, propelled by a potent vortex of fire, soared through the air, hurtling towards the trio.

At that moment, Xue Hu was at the forefront, with Xingxing trailing just behind her, holding Chen Lili’s hand.

Consequently, Chen Lili found herself at the very rear of their formation.

Yet, the trajectory of the Flaming Steel Trident did not appear to be aimed directly at Chen Lili.

Instead, it veered slightly to the left, and if it continued on this path, it would undoubtedly strike Xingxing.

Xingxing cast a glance over her shoulder, and in that instant, two of her three souls (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, “san hun liu po”, referring to extreme fright or loss of composure) nearly fled her body.

The Flaming Steel Trident was moving with terrifying speed, and Xingxing, no peerless master, had no hope of evading the lethal projectile.

Had this not been within the confines of a game, her legs would likely have buckled, leaving her to collapse and await death.

Xingxing, having already closed her eyes and braced herself for death, suddenly felt a forceful shove against her body.

She stumbled, then collapsed onto the ground with a soft thud.

Immediately, a wet ‘thwack’ echoed – the sound of the steel trident piercing flesh.

However, the anticipated agony never arrived.

This rapid succession of events prompted Xingxing to open her eyes in bewilderment.

What met her gaze was a figure, nearly charred beyond recognition.

They lay less than a meter away from Xingxing.

This horrific sight instantly made Xingxing, who had never experienced such turmoil, leap to her feet in terror, letting out a piercing scream: “Ah————————!”

Although almost entirely incinerated, the corpse still faintly showed an outstretched arm, frozen in a pushing-and-falling posture.

Considering that this spot was originally where Chen Lili had stood, and Chen Lili was now nowhere to be seen, it could only be inferred that this charred body was Chen Lili herself!

“Wh-why? Why did you save me?”

Xingxing, now fully grasping the gravity of what had transpired, found it utterly inconceivable.

They were destined to be mortal enemies in the end, so why would Chen Lili sacrifice herself to save her?

“Go! Now! There won’t be a second person to save you!”

Xue Hu, without preamble, hurled the wooden plank she had written on, words and all, towards Xingxing.

While the action caused no physical harm, it jolted Xingxing back to reality in an instant.

This was no place for sentimental musings; a single moment’s hesitation meant being incinerated by the pursuing Fire Fox Leader.

Just then, all remaining living players simultaneously heard a voice.

Xue Hu recognized it immediately: it was Nina’s voice, the game’s guide, or perhaps the system itself.

[Ding dong~ Player Chen Lili, codename: ‘Half the Sky’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom referring to women holding up half of society), confirmed dead. Game paused.]

Nina’s voice, saccharine yet devoid of emotion, began broadcasting Chen Lili’s personal information.

[Main Quest: Successfully capture the Azure Dragon, incomplete. Side Quest: Be the first female player to reach level 150, incomplete.]

[Special Missions: None. Confidential Missions: None.]

[Game end conditions not met. Game continues. Please ensure your safety, players~]

Nina’s voice faded, bringing an end to Chen Lili’s game life and, implicitly, her real life as well.