Chapter 83 The Path of Heroes

"Xie Liu, come outside for a moment." Franny called Xie Liu out. After the staff had tidied up, the entire cafeteria was renewed, showing no trace of the previous chaos. They were famous now. Fortunately, hunters are a passionate bunch; after their fight, instead of being seen as freaks, their fluid battle style attracted a crowd of admirers, both young men and women. Swarmed by chatter and excitement, Franny had to struggle to pull Xie Liu from the crowd.

"What do you want?" Xie Liu complained. "I was just signing an autograph for a girl. Oh, don’t worry—I didn’t use my real name, just my codename."

"I don’t care about that." Franny jabbed her finger hard against Xie Liu’s forehead, leaving it red. Xie Liu covered his head, looking resentful at Franny. "Do you know your situation?"

"My situation? What’s that?" Xie Liu feigned ignorance. Franny actually grew angry. Seeing her expression, Xie Liu quickly became serious. "You mean the matter of us getting into the top five?"

"So you haven’t forgotten. Do you honestly have a way to keep your team safe?" Franny knew Xie Liu was clever and wanted his take. "I don’t know how you managed to reach this position with your skills, but the way things look now, you’ll probably be kicked out in the first round."

"I already have a plan." Xie Liu raised his finger. Franny’s eyes lit up. "Really? Can you share?"

"Our team gets kicked out of the direct squad, and then we all join your Silver Flash team. How about it?" Xie Liu said with a straight face. Franny slapped his head—she, too, couldn’t help but curse. "Get lost!"

Xie Liu stumbled, seeing Franny really turn to leave. He realized it was time to stop joking. "Do you want the truth?"

Franny halted. Xie Liu rubbed the spot where she’d hit him and smiled wryly. "Honestly, I don’t know what to do."

"Our current goal is the top five. Let’s analyze: First place is the 'Godslayers,' no need to discuss—two level ten ability users, we can’t compete. Second place is your 'Silver Flash,' not only do you have a bunch of level nines, but just you as a level ten powerhouse means we have no chance to resist."

"You don’t need to worry about us. If necessary, I can clear the way for you. Rankings mean little to us," Franny replied, but Xie Liu shook his head. "Let’s not talk about that. Third is the 'Heaven’s Punishment' team. Their captain, Tianhe Chiba, I’ve seen him—he could crush us in seconds. Fourth is 'Scorpion,' with Paul as captain, a level ten spatial ability user. I’ve heard his ranking is even higher than Tianhe Chiba’s; I’d likely be wiped out instantly. Fifth is 'Azure Dragon,' whose strength we’ve witnessed—the largest hunter squad, not to be underestimated."

"Besides them, there’s 'Celestial Oracle,' 'Gale,' 'Destruction,' 'Revelation,' 'Divine Vision,' 'Breaker,' 'Dawn,' 'Fury,' 'Dragon God,' 'Judgment,' 'Nightmare.' Which of these teams isn’t formidable?" Xie Liu spread his hands, utterly helpless.

The hunter squads gather nearly a third of the city’s top ability users. Even with solid strength, here it’s nothing special, let alone Xie Liu’s group, who had almost "snuck" in.

"Actually, beating them isn’t impossible… it’s just…" Xie Liu suddenly realized something and stopped. "That’s impossible. How could we win?" He shrugged. "Either way, we’ll be eliminated. So be it. We’re still hunters, just not direct squad members anymore."

Franny seemed to catch Xie Liu’s earlier muttering, but didn’t dwell on it. "Looks like we need to sit down and talk."

...

They found a nearby café, choosing a window seat. Not far from them, a virtual screen was broadcasting a program. Xie Liu grew curious—what would television be like in the Fantasy City?

"All channels these days are covering the Hunter Tournament. It’s the city’s annual grand event." Franny glanced at the virtual screen, then looked away. The street outside teemed with pedestrians, most wearing hunter insignias. "But, who is the star of this event?"

"Xie Liu, let me ask you—have you ever thought you might become someone admired by tens of thousands?" Franny suddenly asked. Xie Liu’s hand trembled slightly, his coffee nearly spilling. Franny noted his loss of composure, frowned, and watched as Xie Liu forced a smile. "That’s impossible," he said, covering his embarrassment by sipping coffee and pretending to watch TV.

"Hey!" Xie Liu suddenly noticed the virtual television was showing footage from the battle at the Hokkaido branch a month ago.

"Good afternoon, everyone. The hottest topic these days is the just-convened Hunter Tournament. Today, we once again witness the hunters in action. Have many young viewers been inspired to join the hunter squads and become powerful hunters?" The virtual screen showed an elegant hostess introducing the segment.

"Today, we’re honored to welcome a powerful hunter. But before that, allow me to introduce today’s guest—a hunter who stood out in the Hokkaido battle, our level ten powerhouse, Tianhe Chiba. Moreover, Chiba is the captain of our direct hunter squad, 'Heaven’s Punishment,' famed as the God of Judgment. Sir, please greet our viewers." The camera switched to Tianhe Chiba, who sat awkwardly.

"What’s going on?" Xie Liu asked. Franny sighed, "Last time in Hokkaido, we suffered heavy losses. The public’s trust in the military plummeted, especially after the joint task force’s disastrous performance. You don’t spend much time in the city, so you don’t realize citizens now doubt the task force’s capability."

"In this situation, explanations from the authorities are useless; the public won’t buy it. In the end, they had to play the Chiba card, since he destroyed the giant metal man. The authorities want to restore prestige through a level ten ability user." Franny sipped her coffee. "Surprisingly, it worked. The public has an inexplicable faith in level ten users. Now, Tianhe Chiba has been packaged as a celebrity."

"Chiba must be exhausted. He doesn’t seem willing," Xie Liu watched the screen intently. Franny shrugged; she understood this feeling well.

"So, Mr. Tianhe Chiba, as the greatest hero of the Hokkaido defense, do you have anything you’d like to say?" The hostess asked with a smile. The young man, just past twenty, frowned. "I just want to say, the defense’s success wasn’t my achievement alone. Many others fought bravely to repel the enemy. I only arrived at the end and did what I had to. The real heroes are—"

"Ah, our hero is so modest," the hostess interrupted Chiba. Franny frowned, speaking softly, "Chiba is still too young. He shouldn't say such things. If he’s not the hero, what’s the point of the authorities’ packaging?"

The hostess continued, "At that time, a giant metal man over a hundred meters tall approached the Hokkaido branch. Imagine the chaos if a brand-new giant robot stormed in. Fortunately, our hero arrived in time and destroyed it with a single blow. Honestly, Mr. Tianhe, I’m now your biggest fan." She laughed.

"Actually, you’re mistaken. When I arrived, the metal man was already battered. I just delivered the final blow," Chiba tried to explain, looking anxious. "Someone else held it at bay before me."

"But wasn’t it you who ultimately destroyed the metal man, Mr. Tianhe?" the hostess replied, her smile undiminished. "If you hadn’t intervened, no one else could have stopped it."

"But, but—" Chiba tried again, but the hostess cut him off. "Clearly, our hero doesn’t want to claim all the credit. Besides great power, our hero’s character is noble. We can’t let our hero’s deeds go unrecognized. Luckily, someone captured footage of the battle. Let’s witness the hero in action." The screen switched to battle footage.

"The hostess is quick, not giving Chiba a chance to explain," Xie Liu observed as the footage rolled, shaking his head. Tianhe Chiba was still too inexperienced.

The battle footage was abrupt, likely edited. There was no sign of Xie Liu’s fighting, only the moment he was struck and sent flying. A caption below said that before the mighty metal man, others were utterly powerless.

After Xie Liu was sent flying, the camera focused solely on Tianhe Chiba, showing him blasting the metal man’s arm off in one blow. Another caption popped up: The metal man could send others flying with a slap, but even a single finger from Tianhe Chiba was unstoppable.

"So I’m just a negative example, a mere foil for Tianhe Chiba. Wait—not even a foil, more like fertilizer," Xie Liu laughed at himself, watching the scene where Chiba’s thunder destroyed the giant metal man, the video showing the event from various angles.

"This hardly seems like candid footage," Xie Liu muttered, but the audience loved it. He fell silent, sipping his coffee.

"Chiba said on his official website that the real battle hero was the one sent flying, but public opinion is all one-sided, thinking that person was just reckless. At most, they suggest awarding a martyr’s title. Chiba’s now afraid to say more, lest you be thrust into the spotlight," Franny smiled at Xie Liu. "But privately, Chiba told me the one he admires most is you. True strength isn’t always worthy of respect—a heart that dares to act, knowing the odds, deserves the greatest admiration."

"That’s nice. Thank him for me," Xie Liu replied quietly, lost in thought.

Silence fell between them. Franny remembered the unresolved matter with Xie Liu’s Misfortune Team. She felt embarrassed, unsure how to broach the subject.

After a long pause, Franny finally asked, "Xie Liu, don’t you feel any resentment?"

"Resentment? What for? This is fine. This is where people like us belong, isn’t it?" Xie Liu grinned. "We’re just cannon fodder, aren’t we?"

Franny’s delicate frame trembled.

"No, it shouldn’t be like this. That’s the most terrifying thing. The most frightening isn’t being treated as cannon fodder, but accepting it in your heart. Believing it’s your fate to die in meaningless tasks, paving the way for heroes who will be remembered in legends—this isn’t fair."

Franny’s tone grew impassioned.

"No one is born the protagonist. No one should pave the way for others’ glory. The world isn’t dictated by a handful of heroes. You can’t see yourself as cannon fodder. At least, you must live within your dreams."

Xie Liu gazed at Franny in surprise. This beautiful woman pressed a hand to her chest, speaking with rare emotion shining in her eyes.

Watching her, Xie Liu smiled, unsure if it was bitter, carefree, or grateful.

"But I’ve long lived in ‘reality.’"

Franny’s frame shuddered again.

For the first time, she felt aggrieved. For the first time, she truly let go of her identity to try and persuade this soul before her.

But the man in front of her seemed closed off, letting nothing in.

"No, it shouldn’t be like this." For the first time, Franny felt deeply upset. She wanted to be angry, but couldn’t. She wanted to help this man, but he never accepted it.

From childhood, who dared defy her?

Yet Xie Liu dared! A wave of grievance surged in her heart, and she felt tears threatening to fall. She turned her head, not wanting Xie Liu to see her loss of composure.

Just then, Xie Liu handed her a clean napkin. "Uh, well… thank you anyway."

Clearly, Xie Liu noticed Franny’s distress and perhaps thought he had made her cry. He was at a loss.

Watching his awkward gesture, his eyes darting, Franny couldn’t help but laugh as she took the napkin. "No matter what you think, this time, I, Franny, will make you the hero in the spotlight."

"Come on, spare me!"

Public information: The Doomsday Weapon, also known as the Plasma Cannon, concentrates immense energy. When it reaches a certain level, it releases a directional blast, channeling energy through immense heat and electricity to strike a target. The Doomsday Weapon requires colossal energy, often measured in tens of thousands of gigajoules. To generate such energy in a confined space, not only must the energy be compressed to the utmost, but it also demands a powerful power source—only the main battleship’s energy system can provide this. Thus, the Doomsday Weapon is installed exclusively on main battleships.