Chapter 285: Shadows Over the Battle Zone

Listening to his subordinate’s analysis, Ito Hirono’s expression softened ever so slightly.

That’s right—he had considered that possibility as well.

Rather than admit that the Huaxia Battle Zone had bested them, he preferred to blame it on a malfunction in the dungeon!

Especially…

“No one can survive that. It’s downright terrifying!”

“Keep gathering intelligence.”

“Have our undercover spies collect intel at all costs! We fear nothing until we face unforeseen risks. If those damned pigs also perish, our plans won’t hit any snags. My only worry is they might bring back resources!”

“As long as they come up empty, they’ll follow our orders to the letter!”

A life lost is trivial; the plan is what counts!

They simply couldn’t match the Military in sheer numbers or high-end firepower. The only leverage was to strangle energy supplies, forcing the Huaxia Battle Zone to bow down! Just like in the old trade wars, a Battle Zone burdened with a billion survivors simply couldn’t maintain military might while trying to safeguard ‘the people’s livelihood’!

………….

Aboard the fighter jet, they gazed at the colossal barrier marking the approaching tunnel entrance.

Yenir turned his head and murmured quietly:

“Let’s move—prepare to disembark.”

They were barely twenty kilometers away from the Japan-Korea Defense Line—a very short distance for a Third-Stage Awakened.

Any closer would put them in danger.

For Yenir, it was all about playing the part from a safe distance; he had no desire to take unnecessary risks.

In the quiet, Ming Luo was the first to rise. He sighed and clapped Zheng Cheng on the shoulder. Thinking of the Middle-Aged Man who had once been both a mentor and friend, he felt a pang of sorrow.

Then, as though struck by a thought, he hesitated and asked Yenir:

“Yenir, if we let Zheng Cheng feign a desperate escape to pass on false information, won’t the timing get all mixed up?”

“Assuming everything goes as planned, the Japanese and Korean Battle Zones should already know their casualties, right?”

“But only when everyone has left will the casualties be automatically accounted for.”

“So, according to you, since there’s a traitor within the Military, they probably have no idea we just emerged…”

“In other words, our exit just doesn’t add up.”

He was left with a trace of doubt.

In truth, once they emerged, they realized the timing for leaving the dungeon didn’t line up.

They had settled the dungeon on the eighth day, though the actual exit was on the tenth day.

Even more, within the Settlement Space, they had an uneasy feeling that something was off with the dungeon—the space had faltered with a brief blackout.

Facing Ming Luo’s concerns, Yenir simply smiled dismissively.

Indeed, what Ming Luo had noticed was a bit convoluted, but it was a real issue.

There were two rules for ending the dungeon.

First, if everyone dies, the dungeon ends automatically.

Second, the dungeon ends when the last person leaves.

If one side wipes out the other, the exit time is determined by the survivors and won’t be announced in advance.

But it doesn’t really matter.

As for why they only emerged two days after the dungeon was settled, Yenir could only chalk it up to the Sword God System’s mischief.

After seizing control of the dungeon, their time flow must have sped up—hence their delayed exit by two days relative to the plan.

But so what?

“Let them guess.”

“It’s precisely because this might reveal that we ‘controlled’ the dungeon that we need to put on a show.”

With that double entendre, Yenir offered a mysterious smile and decided not to explain further.

Before jumping from the fighter jet, he walked straight to Zheng Cheng’s side.

“Swallow this self-destruct device.”

“You know I must ensure nothing goes wrong.”

With a calm demeanor, Yenir spread his hands, revealing a blue self-destruction crystal he had taken from the Military’s stockpile.

It was equipped with remote control and a timed detonation.

No matter how strong a Third-Stage Awakened was, their internal organs remained vulnerable.

Once detonated, this crystal would shatter Zheng Cheng into pieces. Though Zheng Cheng cooperated and was even willing to atone, caution was paramount. If by some chance Zheng Cheng slipped up during the act…

Well, then things would get very messy.

In silence, Zheng Cheng accepted the crystal with a composed face and swallowed it without hesitation.

Without any trace of defiant anger, he remarkably regarded Yenir with admiration:

“That’s the right move.”

“Really, you’re even better than I imagined. A man destined for greatness must be ruthless!”

Perhaps in his final moments, Zheng Cheng shed everything. For a moment, he reverted to the impassioned Youth he once was.

“If only I had half your resolve and half your means back then…”

“I’m convinced I wouldn’t have ended up here…”

“Yenir, you must be careful from now on! I’m useless—I can neither save everyone nor kill those bastards! But you… you have to live on! Survive! I await the day you become the strongest so we can put an end to our oppression once and for all!”

Silence.

Listening to Zheng Cheng’s heartfelt words, Yenir remained silent.

One minute later…

“Crash!”

The hatch opened.

Roaring winds flooded into the cabin.

As he clung to the hatch, Zheng Cheng suddenly turned his head, as if he had one last thing left unresolved.

“Yenir!”

“Can I ask you something?”

The wind roared fiercely.

In the raging gale, all three leaped from the fighter jet, suspended in mid-air. Yenir gave a slight nod, urging him to continue.

Taking a deep breath, Zheng Cheng’s eyes flashed with a plea as his fists slowly clenched:

“Yenir! I hope that after I die, you won’t tell the Military I was a traitor!”

“I refuse to die branded a traitor!”

“I can’t let the Old Minister and the others down… I just can’t…”

His voice choked as Zheng Cheng’s eyes turned red, the scars on his face softening his once-determined look into one of sorrow.

He feared nothing in life.

But being labeled a traitor all these years had tormented him—the weight of every trusting gaze still haunted him.

After a moment of quiet, Yenir slowly nodded in response to Zheng Cheng’s final plea.

“Alright.”

A bitter smile broke over his face.

With Yenir’s promise secured, Zheng Cheng took a deep breath and, shedding any semblance of hesitation, charged toward the Japan-Korea Defense Line. In his resolute retreat, there was an unmistakable note of tragic heroism.

Behind him, Yenir and Ming Luo exchanged looks and, with a sigh, gave chase.

Meanwhile, a burst of explosive noise at close range instantly caught the attention of the Awakeners along the Japan-Korea Defense Line.

…..

“What was that?!”

Several Third-Stage Awakened on the frontline stared in confusion at the rapidly approaching dark specks.

Although this was a defensive zone, years without conflict had lulled them into complacency, assuming no one would dare to approach.

The sudden appearance of three dark dots immediately piqued their interest.

Before they could ponder further, the Awakener with the sharpest vision caught a glimpse of the incoming shadow and felt a jolt of alarm.

“That outfit… It’s the Military!”

“Enemy approaching!”

Without hesitating,

the Awakener bellowed furiously, instantly alerting everyone on the line.

All eyes turned to the charging figure, and before they could react further, a terrified shout erupted from a man at the forefront.

“Help me!”

“I’m Zheng Cheng! I’ve got critical intel from Huaxia!”

“Their forces—They’re not dead!”

Desperate and fleeing as if pursued by death itself, his cries painted a picture of utter terror.

On the frontline, after a brief moment of distraction, Ito Hirono was overjoyed upon hearing the news.

Intel? Zheng Cheng? Wasn’t he the infiltrator he’d arranged?

“Save him! Get him to safety now!”

His voice cracked with desperation.

Realizing that Zheng Cheng was frantically trying to deliver the false intel, the entire defensive line sprang into action.

Yet, just as they moved to engage him, a razor-sharp sword light streaked across a hundred meters, slicing at Zheng Cheng’s back as he fled.

Sky Rift Radiance!

A sword strike was unleashed.

Trailing behind Zheng Cheng, Yenir sighed deeply. Once the false message had been passed on, he launched his lethal attack without hesitation.

The dazzling, silvery sword light effortlessly severed Zheng Cheng’s defenseless body.

In an instant, blood rained down.

Just as Zheng Cheng seemed to sense his end and turned to look at him, Yenir’s silent vow echoed as if bidding him farewell.

“Face your fate…!”

“In two months, I’ll repay your favor! Let them all share your fate!”

It was as if he had heard his own promise.

On Zheng Cheng’s lifeless face, there was an unmistakable look of relief.

And then, he fell silently.