Chapter 56: The Final Recompense (Part Two)

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!” As the alarm resounded throughout the research institute, all guards mobilized, many of whom possessed supernatural abilities, converging in the direction from which the enemy advanced.

At the rear, a man dressed in a white suit slowly turned his head. “Is it him?” He stared at the screen, witnessing Xie Liu stride down the corridor, murderous intent blazing, cutting down every guard who dared block his path.

The man in the white suit exclaimed in astonishment, “As expected from a member of the Hunting Squad—even the lowest-ranked among them are beyond the reach of ordinary guards.”

“Chairman, shouldn’t you take precautions?” urged a figure in a white lab coat beside him. The chairman shook his head. “No need. I’ve been waiting for him. This fellow belongs to Vladimir. Now’s the perfect opportunity to make him leave incriminating evidence.”

“I don’t believe this man would dare lay a hand on me, the chairman.” He gazed at the screen, murmuring, “Father, the institute you left behind—if it serves to bring Vladimir down, it won’t be in vain.”

…

Alarm! Alarm!

The entire institute flashed with warning lights. Xie Liu had slaughtered his way forward, the number of bodies unknown; the edge of his dagger was so battered it could no longer cut. He tossed it aside and drew his last Desert Eagle. With a flick of his steel wire, Xie Liu propelled himself rapidly down the corridor, arriving before the final door. He kicked it open, revealing a space resembling a cafeteria. Dozens awaited, armed with riot shields and mounted machine guns, forming a semi-circle, bracing themselves to confront Xie Liu, their killing intent palpable.

Xie Liu sneered coldly, his gaze piercing through them to the last door behind. Beyond that, was it where children like Angel were imprisoned?

His expression hardened. He discarded his useless dagger and emptied Desert Eagle, advancing alone. Bathed in blood like a Satan, he struck terror into every heart.

“He’s just one man! Everyone, attack!” shouted someone, and all guns opened fire simultaneously.

Dust and chaos filled the air. After a wild barrage, someone called for a ceasefire, and silence fell. As the smoke cleared, Xie Liu was nowhere to be seen. “Where is he?”

“Above!” All looked up as Xie Liu descended from on high, claws bared. Three spikes extended from his gauntlets; he laughed cruelly, cutting through the crowd, leaving carnage in his wake. Each swing ended a life; within moments, a dozen lay fallen.

When all opponents fell, Xie Liu stopped. He glanced at his gauntlet, its blade edge curled and ruined. With a grunt, he slipped off the gauntlet, tossed it aside, and stepped forward—only to be pulled back. He looked down; his steel wire belt was caught, part wedged into the wall.

He unfastened the belt. Amid the groans, he strode across the battlefield’s wreckage to the final door.

“Is this it?” he murmured, then pressed his hand gently to the door.

With a creak, he slowly pushed it open, revealing a pitch-black tunnel. Xie Liu entered, discovering a Japanese katana embedded in the floor ahead. He pulled it free, gazing forward, a puzzled expression on his face.

“You’ve arrived.” The voice came from ahead. Xie Liu looked towards it, seeing a man in a white suit standing nearby, his left hand gripping a katana identical to Xie Liu’s.

This man was around thirty, strikingly handsome. Standing before Xie Liu, he radiated an aura like an unsheathed blade, its sharpness threatening, filling Xie Liu with danger.

“First time meeting. I am Taro Tohno, Chairman of the Far East District of Fantasy City. Xie Liu, isn’t it? I’ve been watching you for quite some time,” the man in the white suit said coolly. Xie Liu frowned, remaining silent. Taro continued, “You’re quite interesting. For the sake of a single test subject, you slaughtered your way here. Thanks to you, Vladimir will finally give me the leverage I need.”

“Indulging your subordinates, damaging the city’s research institute—even as a chairman, he won’t escape the council’s punishment.” Taro’s right hand rested on his sword hilt. “But that’s for later. Right now, I want to play. Come, Dead Eye, let me see what makes the Hunting Squad so formidable.”

Xie Liu’s heart sank. He sensed he was caught in a game, manipulated as a pawn. But there was no time to ponder. In the next instant, he leapt backward as a cold flash grazed his chest. He glanced down; a metal button on his chest was sliced clean in half.

“So fast!” Xie Liu was shocked. “What kind of sword-drawing speed is this?”

The chairman had drawn and swung his blade without warning. Even as he straightened, it was as if he had never moved, the long sword returning to its sheath, a blur.

“Forgot to mention—once, I was a famous psychic and underwent physical development.” Taro pressed his right hand to the sword hilt again, drawing Xie Liu’s attention.

“Fell for it.” Taro sneered. Xie Liu felt a chill; a blade slashed from the side. Alarmed, he reversed his sword to block, but blood flashed—he recoiled, clutching his wounded right arm.

“How did you do that?” Xie Liu, enduring pain, looked ahead and saw Taro now wielded a short blade in his left hand.

“Dual wielding?” Xie Liu understood, gripping his sword tightly. He knew dual wielding, but now, he only had this katana left.

“Quick reflexes. Any slower and your arm would be gone.” Taro drew his long sword; both men faced off, neither willing to make the first move.

“I have a question. You’re a Hunting Squad member, a psychic. Why not enjoy your privileges and status? Why dive into this muddy water? I recall you’re not someone guided by emotion,” Taro said softly, his eyes probing.

“Nothing much—a little girl taught me a lesson.” Xie Liu replied coldly. “You high and mighty chairmen, do you know how hard it is for us small people to survive?”

“Hardship?” Taro’s smile deepened. “Your hardship is just to live better, isn’t it? What meaning does it have?”

Xie Liu shook his head. They continued to stare, searching for each other’s openings. “And what is your meaning? Sacrificing lives for research, abandoning ethics and morals—what meaning remains?”

“How could you understand? Everything we do is for human progress.” They circled each other, wary of approaching. “Small sacrifices are necessary. Their abilities are used to benefit more people, to foster better development—what’s wrong with that?”

“Do you know how much value this institute creates in a year?” Taro boasted. “A figure you can’t comprehend. Only I can define this era! Only I can bring progress! So what’s a little sacrifice?”

Xie Liu laughed coldly, pointing his blade forward. In that moment, he understood Taro’s values. One who never suffered, how could he speak of compassion?

This was not a war between two people—it was a war between two worldviews.

Xie Liu pondered, then spoke softly. “I recall reading, the progress of an era is defined by how humanity treats life, how it treats lives without privilege. The value of the children here is the value you should possess.”

“My value could never be equated to those test subjects!” Taro’s anger flared, but Xie Liu ignored him, continuing, “Do you really think you’ve advanced the era? Before the first industrial revolution, there was the Renaissance. Before the second, the Enlightenment. All industry and science progressed under humanistic guidance. Your institute—no, all of Fantasy City—is a grotesque creation. You place technology above ethics. Your existence is a mistake. Humanity isn’t ready to accept this level of technological gift!”

“Your rhetoric is utterly foolish. Seems there’s no need for further discussion. Want to save those test subjects? Go ahead—get past me.” Taro raised his blade. Xie Liu tensed, and in the next instant, Taro vanished from sight.

“What’s happening?” Xie Liu was stunned. A warning flashed in his mind; he thrust his sword forward, parried a blow, but blood sprayed from his shoulder.

“Ah!” Xie Liu cried out, seeing Taro nearby. “What did you do?”

“This is my ability: Mental Pressure.” Taro rested his sword on his shoulder. “Humans always ignore what they can’t understand or fear. That’s weakness. Because you don’t dare face it, humanity stalls.”

“Don’t dress up your ability. It’s nothing but a trick to confuse perception.” Xie Liu stood, staring Taro down. “No one ever truly stalls, because…” A bloody smile touched his lips. “There are always great people singing praises to life, urging those who stall forward.”

He recalled the words he spoke to comfort Angel that morning. More than comforting her, it was redemption for himself.

Thinking this, Xie Liu closed his eyes.

Taro sneered, “But you’re not one of those great people!” He stepped forward, activating Mental Pressure, vanishing from Xie Liu’s view. Not even mutant eyes could perceive him, for this ability interfered not with vision, but with the mind.

Xie Liu kept his eyes shut, lowering his blade as if surrendering. Suddenly, he lunged forward, blade flashing cold!

“Clang, clang…” Two crisp sounds. Xie Liu opened his eyes, seeing a short blade knocked away, spinning and embedding in the ground, its edge trembling.

In Taro’s hand, the long sword was broken in two.

“You rely too much on your ability—not everyone fears you.” Xie Liu pointed his blade at Taro’s nose. “The one truly stalled is you.”

Taro froze. “Impossible!” he whispered, then slowly knelt, coughing up blood. A fresh gash had appeared on his chest.

Xie Liu reversed his blade, planting it before Taro, but did not kill him.

“Move aside, let me pass.” Indeed, he could not kill this man, a chairman, as Taro himself said. Xie Liu was not one for impulsive emotion.

Passing the silent Taro, Xie Liu approached the next door—was this where Angel once lived?

He advanced, not noticing Taro’s twisted expression behind him.

“I refuse!” Taro roared, drawing his long sword and swinging at Xie Liu. As the blade neared his face, a purple lightsaber blocked the strike, and with a soft sound, the long sword snapped in two.

“Xie Liu, why didn’t you tell everyone?” Lin Yang stepped forward, anger in his gaze, Purple Star pointing at Taro.

Xie Liu saw Gong Hou and others arrive. He smiled gently. “Because I knew, even if I didn’t say anything, you would all come.” Lin Yang was taken aback; Xie Liu pressed his hand to the door.

He had not yet opened it when Taro shouted, “Dead Eye, you’re defying the city! Have you considered the consequences? Are you really rebelling?”

Xie Liu’s hand paused on the door. Yes, behind it lay the city’s darkness—its leaders would never allow its contents to be revealed.

Thus, opening the door meant becoming an enemy of the city?

Xie Liu stood at the threshold, hesitating.

Taro sneered, “Dead Eye, I said it—you’re the one who stalls. Open the folding door! Once you do, you’ll face the whole city as your enemy!”

“Open it, open it!” Taro laughed wildly. Lin Yang snorted, “Shut up!”

Taro fell silent, grinning at Xie Liu.

Xie Liu spoke, “If it’s just me, then there’s no problem. Let everything fall on my shoulders. Lin Yang, this has nothing to do with you.”

He had always known, and so had Angel, that to rescue these children, someone must pay the price. Angel had chosen him.

Since it was Angel’s choice, he could not betray her expectations. Resolute, Xie Liu pushed open the door.

“You!” Taro was stunned, eyes wide in disbelief.

Xie Liu opened the long-sealed darkness, stepped through the door into a corridor flanked by countless doors. As he entered, the corridor lights all flickered on.

Numerous iron doors, cold and shadowed, tightly closed. As the lights came on, faces appeared at the small windows, peering curiously at him.

A multitude of vacant eyes, hollow and numb, stared at him.

Xie Liu’s fists clenched, shaking, nails digging into the flesh. His rage was evident. He raised a fist and smashed a row of buttons by the door.

The alarms blared, but no one came. The iron doors swung open as the controls were destroyed. Xie Liu withdrew his bloody hand and watched the doors open.

One by one, the children emerged, faces stiff, gazing blankly at Xie Liu.

They were like the walking dead, eyes devoid of light, staring at him.

Each child was skin and bone, each bore scars, each had eyes full of numbness and despair.

In that moment, Xie Liu knew all he had done was worth it.

He knelt slowly before the children, head bowed, whispering, “I’m sorry. I came too late…”

…

“So this is your so-called progress?” Lin Yang looked coldly at Taro. “If human progress is built on sacrifice, then I’d wager everything to send humanity back five hundred years.” He turned to Xie Liu. “Count me in this time.”

“And us as well.” Gong Hou led the others in.

Taro suddenly stood, “Excellent, truly excellent. Prepare for the city’s wrath.” He sneered, leaning against the wall, punching it so hard the ground shook.

“You think you can defeat me like this? Naïve, utterly naïve!” Taro laughed, the wall behind him crumbling to reveal a three-meter-tall robot.

Taro leapt into the cockpit, laughing, “Normally I wouldn’t need this, but today you’ll witness the institute’s latest technology.”

The robot rose, raising its fist, “You’re all going to die, so let me finish you off!” The fist descended.

Then—

Nothing happened.

“What’s wrong?” Taro shouted, frantically pulling the controls to no effect.

“No need to struggle. I’ve revoked your access,” came a voice from behind. Everyone turned to see a man in black enter. Taro was stunned, exclaiming, “Vladimir?”

“I’ve already reported your actions to the council. I told you, this institute cannot be exposed, but you lost subject 0737 and made such a mess.”

Vladimir continued, “Three days ago, I informed the council how to handle your situation. The council has approved the agreement: this institute will be completely erased, and you, for mishandling, are temporarily removed as chairman.”

“You!” Taro’s eyes widened. “How is that possible?”

“Oh, I forgot to mention, I’ll be handling the eradication, carried out by my Misfortune Group,” Vladimir smiled, winking at Xie Liu and the others. “Proceed with your duties.”

“You!” Taro pointed at Vladimir. “You’ve been scheming all along!”

“Not at all.” Vladimir turned away. “Normally, what you do isn’t my concern. But you made it my business, so don’t blame me for being ruthless. Don’t mess with my Misfortune Group. Remember, it’s mine!”

…

Watching the institute’s destruction, Xie Liu glanced at Vladimir. “Did you already know everything here?”

“More or less,” Vladimir said, picking his ear. “What, do you want to hit me too?”

Xie Liu’s expression shifted. Vladimir sneered, patting his shoulder. “Some things we can’t change. This time I can save you; next time, who knows?”

“So should I thank you?” Xie Liu’s face was still cold. Vladimir shook his head, not answering. He pointed at the bound Taro behind him. “I’ll take this guy away. The rest is up to you.” He left with Taro aboard a flying vehicle.

Watching the craft depart, Xie Liu stood silently for a long time before finally nodding. “Let’s go.”

He turned to the crowd of children behind him. “Angel, I’ve fulfilled your wish.”

In the distance, the sun rose. It was a sunrise he could never again share with Angel.

Yet now, countless children stood by him, gazing quietly at the dawn. The world owed them a sunrise; now, at last, it was repaid.