Chapter 123: In Blood and Fire

~19 min read 3,675 words

This order is very ruthless.

It's obvious they don't care about Andeliya's life or safety at all.

She felt like a rag, used up by someone casually and then casually thrown away.

Various emotions welled up in her heart.

Irritation, gloom, frenzy, hatred, regret……

She truly despised this order.

But could Andeliya refuse?

No!

She was already deeply trapped, unable to extricate herself, only able to watch helplessly as she was step by step driven into the abyss.

"Kelun, let's hurry up."

Andeliya took a few deep breaths, steadied her emotions, and spoke as calmly as possible.

She wanted to finish this as quickly as possible.

Any outcome would do.

No matter how her own fate turns out, at least she wouldn't have to stay anxious and worried like now, constantly on edge.

"Okay."

Dalton marched ahead with his head down, opening the way, and when he replied he didn't even turn his head.

Before, whenever he spoke to Andeliya, no matter what he was doing, he would always keep his gaze on her face.

Rather than now, when he doesn't even glance at her.

Andeliya had a lot on her mind and simply didn't notice this.

People's feelings and relationships are worn down in such tiny details, gradually fading and cold through repeated neglect, eventually becoming extremely stiff.

As if they had never known or understood each other, like strangers.

Dalton could hardly recognize or tell whether the person behind him was still the Andeliya he knew.

That pure, innocent, kind girl with an unparalleled bright smile.

He let out a faint sigh, his emotions extremely complex.

He shook his head, brushed aside the distractions, and stopped thinking about Andeliya.

He shifted his focus, recalling again the hints the boss had deliberately left on the road for him, repeatedly confirming what he needed to do next.

The boss's message was frank, saying this would be relatively dangerous.

If he wasn't willing, he could withdraw, just needing to keep it secret.

But Dalton didn't care whether it was dangerous or not.

He only wanted those who forced Andeliya to stop being herself to pay the price.

Blazing fury burned in Dalton's chest.

He sped up, no longer bothering to clear the path, simply crushing any thorns and weeds in his way.

Andeliya followed behind, suddenly finding no good path, unable to complain, she could only grit her teeth and endure.

There was no choice; this was what she had asked for.

Soon the two approached the mountain hollow and stopped to observe.

The entrance to the hollow was narrow, but inside it opened up wide and spacious.

If viewed from above at night, the hollow resembled a ferocious beast about to devour someone.

The grass growing on the plain, over a person tall and as straight as swords, under the moonlight cast mottled, chilling shadows.

This only heightened the eerie, chilling atmosphere within the hollow.

Perhaps it was guilt, but standing at the hollow's mouth and looking in, Andeliya's calves trembled slightly, and for a moment she dared not venture deeper.

"What's wrong?"

Hearing the footsteps behind him stop, Dalton turned and asked.

We're almost at the destination—don't cause trouble now.

"No… nothing."

Andeliya's voice trembled a bit; she quickly bit her lip, using the pain to help regain calm.

She raised her right hand, smoothed the hair by her right ear, and absentmindedly rubbed both sides of the emerald gem, activating its voice-message transmission function,

and asked at the same time, "Are you sure your boss is in here?"

Dalton shrugged and answered honestly, "I'm not sure, but he should be here. His traces end here; he didn't go elsewhere."

"Really?"

Andeliya glanced into the hollow and remarked offhand, "This place is huge and flat—apart from weeds and shrubs, there are no wild beasts; it's indeed a good spot to rest overnight."

"Who says it isn't?"

Dalton agreed with Andeliya, saying, "The boss is the boss—he picks campsites better than we do."

Saying that, he turned around, cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, and shouted toward the hollow, "Boss, we've come to join you—please take us in!"

As for acting, the five brothers aren't professionals, but they're not bad either.

As a member of the brotherly heavenly troupe, Dalton was diligent; despite not knowing what dramas were unfolding elsewhere, he still performed his part meticulously.

Even if he were singing a solo, he couldn't afford to slip up.

His shouts echoed repeatedly in the hollow, but drew no reply.

"Could he not be here?"

Dalton muttered doubtfully, then stepped into the hollow and began to search.

Andeliya followed helplessly, trotting with Dalton across the hollow's flat ground, calling out for the boss over and over.

Inside the cave, Ai Rui Si watched the scene with great amusement.

Translation: "Inside the cave, Ai Rui Si watched this scene with great interest."

We need to keep as single line.

What?

Translation: "What?"

You're asking why Dalton couldn't find the cave?

Translation: "You ask why Dalton couldn't find the cave?"

But need to keep meaning: "You ask why Dalton couldn't discover the cave?" We'll phrase: "You ask why Dalton couldn't find the cave?"

Ai Rui Si Clark, trying to conceal herself better, waited quietly for her cue, but she pulled out a camouflage door panel from her small pack and blocked the cave entrance.

We need to use glossary name exactly: "Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke". So translation: "Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke, in order to hide better, waited silently for her cue, but she took out a mimetic door panel from her small pack and blocked the cave entrance."

Make sure it's one line.

Not even the naked eye could see it, let alone detection devices.

Translation: "Not to mention the naked eye, even scrying devices couldn't detect it."

Just for fun, just to blow things up, Ai Rui Si is willing to do anything.

Translation: "For fun, for blowing things up, Ai Rui Si is willing to do anything."

Even pulling out her own rations is no problem.

Translation: "Even bringing her own rations doesn't matter."

"Where the hell did you hide, you bastard?"

Translation: "\"Where the hell did you hide, you bastard? \""

"Where the hell did you hide, you bastard?"

What surprised Ai Rui Si even more was that she hadn't even noticed Lin Ke's trace.

That guy's hiding skills are impressive.

Translation: "\"This guy's hiding place is really good. \""

Next time, I definitely want to play hide-and-seek with that guy to see who's better at hiding.

Translation: "\"Next time I definitely want to play hide-and-seek with this guy to see who can hide better. \""

Hmm, that's happily decided.

Translation: "\"Well, that's happily decided. \""

Cuixi Lukia coldly watched Dalton and Andriya spinning around in the mountain hollow, her confidence in her intuition growing stronger.

Cuixi Lukia coldly watched the scene of Dalton and Andriya running around in the mountain hollow, her confidence in her intuition growing stronger.

Linke Grand is definitely hiding somewhere in the mountain hollow, preparing to ambush them.

We need Linke Grand. So translation: "Linke Grand is definitely hiding somewhere in the mountain hollow right now, preparing to ambush them."

The insider was likely exposed before they could send a message during the day.

Translation: "The insider was likely exposed before they could transmit the message during the day."

Linke Grand probably didn't eliminate the insider beforehand because he wanted to lure them in and take them all out at once.

Translation: "Linke Grand probably didn't eliminate the insider beforehand because he wanted to lure them over and wipe them out in one fell swoop."

Cuixi Lukia doesn't know where Linke Grand gets his confidence, but the more so, the more she must be cautious.

Translation: "Cuixi Lukia didn't know where Linke Grand got his confidence, but the more so, the more she had to be careful in her response."

After some thought, Cuixi Lukia decided to launch a barrage of firepower first.

Translation: "After some thought, Cuixi Lukia decided to launch a barrage of firepower first."

Anyway, they've already been exposed.

Translation: "Anyway, they've already been exposed."

"Let's fire a few rounds first."

We need to keep quotes. Translation: "\"Let's fire a few rounds first. \""

She gave the order in a tone of indifference.

Translation: "She gave the order, her tone indifferent."

For apprentice mages, the main purpose of zero-ring magic is truly to learn the rules of magic and assist research, not combat.

In the highly developed mage world, the outcomes of duels between apprentice mages are almost always decided by magical items and arcane devices.

Translation: "In the highly developed mage civilization, the decisive factor in duels between apprentice mages is almost always magical items and arcane devices."

Only in rare cases—such as lacking a Magic Stone, or in a one-on-one duel under restrictions, or when magical items and arcane devices are exhausted—do they rely on zero-ring magic to determine the victor.

Cuixi Lukia certainly wouldn't knowingly charge into the grass of the mountain hollow where a trap might very well exist, but she stubbornly did so.

Naturally, she first struck the grass to see if she could scare out a snake.

Translation: "Naturally, she first struck the grass to see if she could scare out a snake."

"Yes."

Translation: "\"Yes. \""

The six Pureblood Will members also didn't treat the lives of Dalton Kelun and Andriya Norman as anything at all.

We need Pureblood Will, Dalton Kelun, Andriya Norman. So translation: "Six members of Pureblood Will also didn't take the lives of Dalton Kelun and Andriya Norman seriously at all."

They each took out various components and assembled them into individual weapons resembling mortars or grenade launchers.

Translation: "They each took out various parts and assembled them into individual weapons resembling mortars or grenade launchers."

The two three-person teams had clear division of labor and worked together seamlessly.

Translation: "The two three-person teams had clear division of labor and worked together seamlessly."

Those in charge of reconnaissance maintained position and coordinates,

We need to keep the comma? The line ends with a comma; we should keep it as part of translation? The instruction: keep each translation on a single output line. We'll translate including the comma at end. So translation: "Those responsible for scouting maintained position and coordinates,"

those in charge of firing adjusted the parameters,

Translation: "Those responsible for firing adjusted the parameters,"

and those in charge of loading ensured the supply of self-destructing fire bombs.

Translation: "Those responsible for loading ensured the supply of self-destructing fire bombs."

self-destructing fire bombs

"Fire!"

Translation: "\"Fire! \""

Cuixi Lukia gave the order, and the two three-man teams rustled as they continuously launched self-destructing fire bombs toward the mountain hollow, covering the barrage.

One after another, the self-destructing fire bombs screamed as they tore through the night sky and fell into the mountain hollow.

Translation: "One after another, the self-destructing fire bombs howled as they tore through the night sky, falling into the mountain hollow."

Some exploded in midair, others detonated violently upon impact.

Translation: "Some exploded in midair, others detonated violently upon impact."

"Dodge quickly!"

Translation: "\"Dodge quickly! \""

Suddenly ambushed, Dalton reacted quickly.

Translation: "Suddenly ambushed, Dalton reacted quickly."

He ran down the mountain slope, still not forgetting to shout at the dazed Andriya, who had been stunned silent by the sudden attack, to warn her.

Dalton ran down the mountain slope, still not forgetting to shout at the dazed Andriya, who had been stunned silent by the sudden attack, to warn her.

Explosions boomed continuously, flames raged.

Translation: "Explosions boomed continuously, flames raged and burned."

The self-destructing fire bombs bombarded two rounds, blasting out one pit after another.

Translation: "The self-destructing fire bombs bombarded two rounds, blasting out one pit after another."

Dalton saw Andriya still frozen in place, not moving for a while, and he grew anxious.

Translation: "Dalton saw Andriya still frozen in place, not moving for a while, and couldn't help but feel anxious."

In his mind, a heavenly conflict began.

Translation: "In his mind, a heavenly struggle began."

To save or not to save—that is the question.

Translation: "To save or not to save—that is the question."

In the end, past affection prevailed.

Translation: "In the end, past affection prevailed."

Having found cover, Dalton couldn't hold back; he turned and rushed toward Andriya, hoping to drag her to safety.

Translation: "Having found cover, Dalton couldn't hold back; he turned and rushed toward Andriya, hoping to drag her to safety."

"Kelun, don't come over!"

Andriya heard the whistling sound from above again and finally came to her senses.

Translation: "Andriya heard the whistling sound again from above and finally came to her senses."

She looked up and saw a pair of self-destructing fire bombs heading toward her.

Translation: "She looked up and saw a pair of self-destructing fire bombs heading toward her."

She knew the existence of the alchemical product that could completely kill a person here,

Her panic far exceeded Dalton's.

Translation: "her panic far exceeded Dalton's."

Seeing Dalton recklessly rush to save her, her heart seized with sharp pain, tears streamed down uncontrollably, and she let out a wild scream.

Translation: "Seeing Dalton recklessly rush to save her, her heart seized with sharp pain, tears streaming uncontrollably as she let out a wild scream."

What an idiot.

Translation: "\"This idiot. \""

Let her die if she must; after all, it's her own doing.

Translation: "\"Let her die; after all, it's her own doing. \""

She didn't want to implicate Dalton.

Translation: "\"I don't want to implicate Dalton. \""

But her remorse came too late.

Translation: "But her remorse came too late."

Dalton and the self-destructing fire bombs reached her side at the same time.

Translation: "Dalton and the self-destructing fire bombs reached her side at the same time."

Boom—boom—boom.

Translation: "Boom—boom—boom."

Boom—boom—boom

In Andrea's intense regret, two self-destructing fire thunder exploded one after another.

Fortunately Dalton promptly raised the defensive shields of all defensive rune items on his body, blocking the explosion damage from the self‑exploding fire thunder.

Besides being covered in dirt, the two suffered no injuries.

"How could you be so stupid?"

Dalton hurriedly hugged Andeliya and ran down the mountainside, shouting while running, "Standing there motionless, do you have a death wish?"

While stumbling along, Andeliya stared blankly at the angrily roaring Dalton; large tears rolled down like broken pearls: "Sorry, Kelun."

The two ran while embracing, unable to pick up speed.

The whistling sound came again; the bombardment of self‑exploding fire thunder came in wave after wave, relentless.

If they continued to entangle like this, neither would survive.

"Forgive me, Kelun!"

Andeliya quietly made a decision, murmuring softly.

After speaking, she struggled to break free of Dalton's arms, pushed him aside, and ran off in another direction.

While running, she activated all defensive rune items on her body.

Taking Dalton as the target, she layered shield after shield upon him.

Even the not‑very‑proficient water shield and wood shield techniques were promptly employed.

Having done these, Andeliya raised her head and shouted at the bright "moon": "Damn bitch, I'm done! Come on, kill me if you can!"

The successive oppression and coercion, the bombardment without prior warning, had already ignited Andeliya's spirit of resistance.

Dalton's fearless dedication fully catalyzed that spirit of resistance.

Andeliya knew she actually had no means to retaliate or take revenge; she could only vent her anger in this way.

"Tsk, foolish people."

Cuixi Luqiya watched this scene, the corner of her mouth curling into a cold smile, then ordered, "Grant her wish! Target her with saturation bombardment."

However, she ultimately did not use the "keychain".

"Yes."

The six members of the Pureblood Will responded in unison.

During the bombardment, they assembled several more throwing devices.

Now one round of bombardment can launch six self‑exploding fire thunders.

Speak of delay, then it's fast.

After the words fell, six self‑exploding fire thunders had already been fired, instantly bombing Andrea's head.

Dalton lunged to the ground, struggled to rise, intending to retrieve Andrea.

But he could only watch helplessly as six self‑exploding fire thunders struck Andrea squarely; her figure was engulfed in the flames and dust accompanying the violent explosion.

When the dust settled and white light descended, Andrea's figure had already vanished.

Only scattered flesh and limbs remained on the spot, crackling flames burning, and a nauseating scorched aroma.

The academy guarantees no death, but it never promised no injury!

"Ugh~ah…"

Dalton let out a wounded beast‑like howl, yet could do nothing,

only able to crawl and scramble into a cave, hiding himself.

Cuixi Luqiya no longer bothered with Dalton.

The purpose of the bombardment was not to punish the insider, nor to vent anger, but to scare the snake out of the grass, to find Linke Grand possibly hiding in some corner of the mountain hollow.

"Stop."

After more than ten rounds of bombardment, almost every convenient hiding spot in the mountain hollow that could be considered was blown to bits.

Yet the target's figure was still nowhere to be seen.

Either her judgment was wrong, or the target relied on defensive magical items to withstand the explosion damage outright.

"Close‑range reconnaissance."

Cuixi Luqiya issued a new order.

The two members in charge of reconnaissance immediately left the battle, each controlling a round flying disc and a biomechanical eagle, from different directions and heights, using various reconnaissance modes to conduct a thorough scan of the small mountain hollow.

As expected, Dalton, curled up in the cave, was found out.

The target's figure still left no trace.

"Team One, Team Two, cross‑guard, advance."

The bombardment failed to flush out the target, reconnaissance failed to locate the target, so Cuixi Luqiya had to resort to the measure she least wanted to take.

"Ground search."

This truly was a last‑ditch method.

Thus our side shifted from covert to overt, losing an advantage.

The two three‑person teams, well‑trained, immediately readied for battle, one in front and one behind, advancing toward the small mountain hollow.

Lin Ke lay prone several dozen steps away from Cuixi Luqiya, his whole body buried in the earth, covered by a special cloak.

To stay hidden, he dared not let his peripheral vision fall on anyone.

He even dared not breathe.

He relied solely on eavesdropping to learn the enemy's deployment and movements.

After hearing the seven people set out one after another toward the small mountain hollow, he finally exhaled softly.

"The Pureblood Will are not fools."

It is impossible for every single action to conform to Lin Ke's expectations.

Suspecting a ruse and deciding to bombard a dozen more rounds before acting exceeded Lin Ke's expectations.

Lin Ke had even made psychological preparations for the ambush failing, preparing to activate the backup plan.

He quietly withdrew, without any reluctance to leave the fight.

Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke is so clever; I expect she will also act opportunistically.

Fortunately, the pure-blooded are so determined to kill him that, even knowing it is dangerous and unwilling, they still go to investigate.

The ambush plan still has a chance of success.

After all, the trap is set in the exact center of the mountain hollow, not some remote corner suitable for setting traps in the usual sense.

Moreover, the delayed-action self-exploding fire thunder can only be triggered by a combined stimulation of mental and magical power, and is not affected by the explosion of other delayed-action self-exploding fire thunders.

In the cave, Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke saw wave after wave of bombardment, the howling sound, the splendid sight, yet they were not caused by her, and her mood was very bad.

Fortunately, it won't be long before she can also set off a satisfying explosion.

Cui Xi. Lu Qi Ya safely entered the mountain hollow, waved her hand, and sent both groups out to search.

She herself also carefully inspected the uneven ground around the blasted craters.

Given the terrain of the mountain hollow, only two kinds of places can hide people and set ambushes.

Either a cave or underground.

What Cui Xi. Lu Qi Ya was checking for was whether there were any signs of digging.

Linke Grand has high affinity for both water and wood systems, so he cannot possibly use earth-system sorcery.

If he wants to conceal himself and set traps, aside from ready-made caves and depressions, he can only dig by hand, which will inevitably leave traces.

Gradually, Cui Xi. Lu Qi Ya walked around in a circle and arrived at the flattest central area of the plain in the mountain hollow.

"Report, no target found."

Team One searched the left side of the mountain hollow and found nothing.

"Report, no target found."

Team Two threw Dalton. Ke Lun, who had violently resisted but was quickly subdued, to the side and stepped forward to report.

Perhaps luck was turning, as all seven people actually gathered in the center of the plain.

"Good, good, good!"

Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke laughed wildly, without hesitation detonating the trap.

The enhanced delayed-action self-exploding fire thunder, the ordinary delayed-action self-exploding fire thunder, and that great weapon were all triggered at the same time.

A deafening roar sounded.

A mushroom cloud rose and billowed.

All sounds ceased.

(End of chapter)

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End of Chapter

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Ch. 123 / 44328%