Chapter 186: Baseball

Time's up, Kagami.

Jiang Xia stood up from his seat, reminding him that it was time to resolve the issue.

Kagami looked up at the already-prepared restaurant, took a deep breath, and said: "Thank you, Jiang Xia. I'll give you an answer, and Liang will surely respect my decision."

Saying that, he looked at the Alien Insect Restriction Device in his palm, opened the door, and the sunlight was just right.

Kagami's body passed through the falling sunlight; in the gradually hazy sunlight, he stepped out, merging perfectly with the falling light.

A true warrior will forever follow his heart, forever remember why he fights.

At ten in the morning, Kagami wore a crisp black suit, white shirt, black tie, his hair neatly combed, with a solemn expression as he arrived at the place he had agreed upon with Jiahemei Liang.

You look really handsome today, brother.

Jiahemei Liang waved his arms, running quickly toward Jiahemei Xin, head tilted up with a smile.

You've come, Liang.

Of course I had to come; two years ago I failed to keep the promise." Jiahemei Liang's voice still carried a hint of nostalgia.

Back then I was waiting for you here; after you disappeared, my heart felt as if something vital was missing.

Kagami looked at his brother, unchanged from two years ago, and spoke softly.

Are you not playing baseball anymore because of me? I'm sorry.

Jiahemei Liang lowered his head in apology: "I've thought it through; I won't run away anymore, and I'll have a proper talk with Dad."

Thank you, Liang.

What's there to thank? We're brothers." Jiahemei Liang made the gesture of them playing baseball together.

He raised his palm high, wanting to give Jiahemei Xin a high-five.

Kagami watched the familiar motion, smiling: "Still nothing's changed, Liang. Memory really is a wondrous thing."

Having said that, a uniform sound suddenly rang from behind Jiahemei Xin; black-clad Ant Soldiers wielding weapons emerged from all directions, surrounding the place completely.

Aim

The black-uniformed Ant Soldiers raised their guns, aiming at Jiahemei Liang, who was raising his right hand.

Then, marching in perfect unison, they pressed toward the two brothers, Jiahemei Liang and Jiahemei Xin.

Brother, wait a moment; I'll deal with the trouble first, then come catch up.

Jiahemei Liang looked at the advancing Ant Soldiers, a strange smile flickering on his face.

The one standing before Jiahemei Xin was no longer his brother.

He spread his arms; with his breath, a yellowish-brown exterior gradually replaced his human skin, and the pair of transparent wings on his back slowly unfolded.

His ugly, ferocious face let out a piercing shriek.

Besides the ZECT Ant Soldiers, many different Alien Insect larvae suddenly sprang from the open ground, launching a sudden attack from behind the Ant Soldiers.

The Cricket Alien Insect leapt forcefully, its wings spreading behind it, brown claws constantly tearing at the sturdy combat uniform, while the larval swarms, with strength many times that of humans, not only knocked the Ant Soldiers to the ground.

The Ant Soldiers' dense firepower net had virtually no retaliatory power against the swarming Alien Insects; it was a one-sided slaughter, hot gunpowder smoke filling the air as the Ant Soldiers collapsed in heaps.

Having knocked down the Ant Soldiers, Jiahemei Liang walked toward the central figure in a suit—Jiahemei Xin—with a smile.

The enemies have all been dealt with; now I'd like to ask Brother for a small favor.

Jiahemei Liang gave a light smile: "Brother, my companions want to become like you, but you needn't fear—after you die, you can live on inside an Alien Insect."

Come on, become like me; let's play baseball together.

Sure, Liang, let's play baseball together.

Jiahemei Xin watched the slowly approaching Jiahemei Liang, not resisting but instead actively spreading his arms in an embrace.

The distance between them grew ever closer, and Jiahemei Xin's smile grew ever brighter.

As Jiahemei Xin slowly opened his arms, Jiahemei Liang did not resist; he truly liked this brother, and would wait for his companions' Mimicry to finish before killing him.

Moreover, he knew his brother well; Jiahemei Xin existed to protect important people, willing to give everything, and he was undoubtedly that important person now, so he felt reassured—they still had plenty of time ahead.

Jiahemei Xin was considerably taller than Jiahemei Liang; they were true brothers. He stroked Liang's forehead, feeling the lively warmth; the terror and despair from two years ago vanished instantly, and now Kagami truly felt at peace about his brother's disappearance.

As Jiahemei Liang was enjoying the long-overdue two-year embrace, a sharp 'click' sound drew his attention.

Brother, what are you doing? I feel... my body feels a bit off.

Jiahemei Liang shoved Jiahemei Xin away violently, stumbling backward.

What Jiang Xia said was correct; the thing he gave really can suppress Alien Insect activity.

Seeing Jiahemei Liang's body continually twisting, Jiahemei Xin understood—the Alien Insect Suppression Ring was taking effect.

"Get on him, tear him to pieces!" shouted the Cricket Alien Insect, having reacted, its head twisted.

It now felt its consciousness fading, accompanied by a sense of bodily frailty; this body was gradually slipping from its control.

"No, no, I can't hurt Brother." He waved his hand again, urging the surrounding Alien Insects to retreat.

The surrounding larvae exchanged glances, then instinctively obeyed the leader's command, slowly retreating.

"You've come back, Liang." Jiahemei Xin watched the Alien Insects drift away from here, speaking softly.

"Yeah, Brother, I've remembered everything. That day I waited for you as promised, but an accident happened midway—I died accidentally. Sorry, Brother, I didn't keep your promise."

"It's fine, Liang; we've met again now, haven't we?"

Jiahemei Xin's eyes grew blurry, and everything before him turned hazy.

"Brother, I might not be able to play baseball with you anymore; let's do our move one last time."

Jiahemei Liang slowly extended his right hand, lifting it high, like a child begging for candy.

"Alright, get ready." Jiahemei Xin likewise raised his hand and ran toward his brother.

"Pa."

Jiahemei Xin's left hand firmly slapped Liang's outstretched hand, making a crisp sound.

"This is just perfect, Brother."

After Jiahemei Liang finished speaking, bright red blood spurted from his chest like a fountain.

Jiahemei Xin's right hand hung limp, and the smoking pistol slowly slipped from his grasp.

"Liang!" Jiahemei Xin held him tightly in his arms, his voice breaking.

He could not believe he had actually done it, personally taking his brother Jiahemei Liang's life.

"It's fine; this is my own choice, and it's what I hoped for."

Jiahemei Liang spoke, "I helped you fire this shot, so brother, don't blame yourself."

Jiahemei Liang slowly looked at the pistol that had fallen to the side; perhaps his fingerprints were still on the trigger.

"I feel like I had a long nightmare, in which I turned into a monster and then began relentlessly taking other people's lives."

"I am grateful to you, brother, for awakening me and giving me the ability to end my own life; I, who have taken other lives, am destined to have no right to live on."

"You could be considered as having avenged me, brother." Jiahemei Liang said.

The Alien Insect Suppression Ring continued to exert its effect, composed of the power Jiang Xia himself had split apart, possessing the traits of creating and controlling Alien Insects.

For the Alien Insects, it is a potency-enhancing stimulant, yet also a dangerous weapon capable of stripping away their power.

The Alien Insect ring had completely absorbed the power of the Bell Cricket Alien Insect, returning its body to human form; by now Jiahemei Liang's blood had already flowed out more than one-third of his total volume, and there was no hope left.

Jiahemei saw his brother, whose eyes had lost their luster, and gently brushed his face.

He knew, the Alien Insect Limiting Ring given by Jiang Xia was not a lifeline, but a poison, a poison a hundred times more violent than the deadliest poison in the world, for Jiahemei Liang.

For Jiahemei, who had lived with Liang for over twenty years, he knew that the moment Liang put on the ring, Liang's life had already entered a countdown.

Because Liang could not accept it, could not accept the memories he had when he was an Alien Insect, because Liang, just like himself, had a kind heart.

At the moment he received the ring, he truly felt grateful to Jiang Xia, for allowing him to see his brother one more time, in human form.

So even if Jiang Xia docked his wages completely, he would still accept it honestly.

"But, has Jiang Xia also already guessed this ending?" Jiahemei slowly lifted his head, looking at the sun hanging in the sky, continuously radiating halos, and thought.

"It seems we both lost."

Jiang Xia looked toward the Heavenly Dao Chief at the side and said, 'Jiahemei neither decisively killed the Alien Insects nor revived his brother.'

"Grandma once said, as long as a person loves someone else, they become weak, but people need not feel ashamed of that, for it is not true weakness."

The Heavenly Dao Chief slowly raised his hand, and red beetles were circling around him.

In an instant, the Alien Insects that Jiahemei Liang had stopped were completely wiped out.

(End of chapter)