13

The school building descended into chaos.

Window after window shattered like fragile ice under a relentless assault. The wind howled in, carrying icy chills, accompanied by the cold gleam of metal as flying assassins burst through the frames, aiming straight for the classrooms. These mechanical fiends, like bloodthirsty hounds, clung to the wood and window frames with their long, metal legs, their spinning disc blades slicing through everything in their path.

Splintered glass and flying wood chips scattered in the firelight, resembling the aftermath of a Gatling gun burst. Outside, the sounds of wind, explosions, and screams melded into a gruesome symphony. Classroom after classroom fell, villagers fled in terror like prey, finding nowhere to hide. Some tripped and rolled, screaming in fear; others swung hoes and chairs in desperate retaliation, barely touching their foes. Many could only scream in despair, awaiting their fate.

On the second-floor corridor, flying assassins lined up in three columns, their black metal shells gleaming coldly in the firelight. They suddenly accelerated, like razor-sharp gusts, charging at the fleeing villagers. In an instant, several figures froze in place, their bodies splitting into three parts, blood spraying like fountains, limbs rolling on the ground, staining the stone floor red.

Meanwhile, in the sky, crimson numbers plunged from 99, rapidly decreasing. Gamblers in front of their screens watched, feeling like they were witnessing a grand gladiatorial feast.

On the betting table, blood was the wager, death the currency.

Some were thrilled, eyes gleaming like beasts smelling blood, licking their lips as they stared at the screen's massacre. Fingers tapped rapidly on tables, a rhythm urging more slaughter. Others showed impatience, snarling:

"Too slow! Too slow!"

"How are these rubbish hunters so weak? They let some escape?"

"When will the real action start? Where's the thrill?"

Voices swelled like a torrent, filled with a craving for blood, a frenzy for violence. They were like a pack of hungry ghouls, eagerly demanding the next round of slaughter.

-----------------

A two-meter-high wooden wall stood between the trio and the dense forest, symbolizing temporary safety. For Alex and Jordan, it was a trivial obstacle, but for Brooke, it seemed insurmountable.

"I'll crouch down, you step on my shoulder!" Jordan confidently suggested, patting his shoulder.

But Brooke stubbornly shook her head, her cheeks turning crimson. Jordan suddenly realised why—it would be rather awkward for her to climb in that pretty dress.

Alex thought for a moment and suggested,"How about we both climb up first, then pull you up?"

Brooke hesitated but finally nodded.

In the next second, the two boys simultaneously sprang up, effortlessly scaling the wall and sitting on the top. As they prepared to pull Brooke up, Alex noticed the red eyes of the flying assassins locking onto them like prey, halting their attack and turning their gaze towards them.

Uh-oh!

"Hurry, Brooke, reach out!" Alex urged.

Panicked, Brooke struggled to grip their hands, losing her balance and falling back to the ground. Meanwhile, the flying assassins adjusted their attack trajectory, slicing through the air with a deafening whine, diving towards them!

"Damn it!" Alex didn't hesitate. He flipped upside down, his legs hooked firmly onto the wall, swinging like a pendulum to grab Brooke's arms and pull her up.

Brooke clung to Alex's clothes, climbing up his body like a tree. Jordan reached down and grabbed her arm, hauling her over the wall. They tumbled together onto the grassy ground on the other side.

Boom!

As they tumbled over, the assassins' blades shredded the wall, sending splinters and dust flying, narrowly missing their backs.

Alex sat up, feeling a warm trickle from his nose. Wiping it, he found his hand covered in blood. Before he could process it, his mind replayed a moment he wished he hadn't seen—

White...with teddy bear prints.

Alex paused, his expression becoming oddly complex.

Brooke, still catching her breath and adjusting her rumpled skirt, noticed his look and asked,"What's wrong?"

"Nothing...nothing," Alex quickly averted his gaze, discreetly wiping the blood from his nose.

Jordan, however, squinted suspiciously, his eyes darting between the two. His gut told him—something was definitely up!

The buzzing in Alex's ears grew louder, like the whispers of death urging him on. Without thinking, he roared,"Run! Into the forest!"

No sooner had he spoken than he leapt down, rolling as he hit the ground and quickly grabbing his spear. He turned to face the enemy.

A blinding red light caught his eye as a flying assassin dived towards him, its sharp metal tip aimed at his chest! Alex reacted swiftly, deflecting it with his spear. But instead of shattering like ordinary machines, it curved away in a bizarre arc and shot back into the sky. At the same time, two more assassins flanked him, cutting through the air like a storm.

These things were like airborne predators!

Alex's mind raced. He had never seen such agile mechanical enemies. They hovered and dodged like dragonflies, their paths unpredictable—using a spear against dragonflies? Utter madness! Merely thrusting or jabbing wouldn't damage their core structures!

Suddenly, a memory flashed—

His master had once shown off a demonstration after dinner...

That day, the master had taken Alex's spear, placing an egg at the near end and a stone at the far end. With a light flick of his finger, a strange vibration traveled down the spear, smashing the stone while leaving the egg intact!

They had dismissed it as an old man's bragging, but now, Alex decided to take a gamble.

Not a thrust, nor a jab, but... a vibration!

He took a deep breath, his wrist trembling slightly as he guided the spear along the assassin's trajectory. He struck with sudden force! The old bamboo shaft vibrated like a wave, sending an invisible shockwave through the spear and into the metal body!

"Crack—"

The flying assassin froze, then exploded into metal shards!

Alex paused, heart pounding—he had done it! If his master saw this, he'd probably pop his eyes out in shock. After all, the master had practiced this technique for thirty years, and Alex had only learned it a few years ago!

But there was no time for pride. The danger wasn't over. He quickly turned and sprinted towards Brooke and Jordan!

As Alex ran into the forest, his chest heaved, and his back was soaked with sweat, but he couldn't stop.

The dense woods should have been their last barrier, yet the nimble flying assassins followed closely, like bloodthirsty hounds trailing their prey.

The buzzing grew louder, sounding like death's whispers urging them on. Alex cursed under his breath.

These flying assassins were already difficult in open spaces, but in the forest, they became even trickier. They no longer charged mindlessly but used the terrain, moving like snakes, weaving between the trees and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Left side!"

Driven by instinct, Alex dodged to the side just as a sharp metal disc whizzed past, effortlessly slicing through a thumb-thick tree branch with a smooth, mirror-like cut.

Jordan was in a worse state. He had just stumbled over an exposed tree root and fell face-first into the damp soil. As he tried to get up, a fierce whooshing sound came from behind.

"Don't move!"

Alex yelled, hurling his spear with precision. It shattered a flying assassin barely an inch from Jordan's head, sending metal fragments scattering around him, causing him to scramble forward in terror.

"Can't you at least look cool?" Alex couldn't help but tease as he pulled back.

Jordan, pale and out of breath, didn't have time to respond. He rolled and followed Alex, holding a broken half-sword.

The flying assassins, however, weren't about to let them go.

The last few metal discs glided in the air, each like a bloodthirsty scythe, whistling through the air with deadly precision. Trees were cut down left and right, leaves flying, turning the forest into a torn battlefield.

"Faster! Move faster!"

Alex gritted his teeth, grabbing Jordan by the collar and pushing him forward. They rolled close to a tree trunk just as several metal discs whizzed past their heads, slicing through the bushes behind them.

And then, from the shadows of the forest, red lights glowed once more.

More flying assassins had completed the encirclement.

This was a meticulously planned hunt, and they were completely trapped!

"Damn it! Where's Brooke?!"

Jordan gasped, fear evident in his eyes. He turned abruptly but saw no sign of the girl.

Not far away, in the dark forest, a figure was tangled in black vines, her body covered in dirt and blood, barely conscious.

"Alex..." her lips trembled, almost instinctively calling out his name.

In the next instant—

Swish!

The air exploded, and a swift figure darted out of the darkness!

A spear cut through the air, slicing the vines and causing droplets of blood to splatter on the dry leaves. Alex flipped over, shielding Brooke behind him, his gaze coldly surveying the mechanical assassins.

"Close your eyes and hold on tight," he commanded, his voice low and authoritative.

Brooke stared at him, the bandage on his right shoulder stained with fresh blood. After a moment, she nodded slightly.

Around them, the mechanical assassins buzzed, as if analysing new attack strategies.

And then—

Buzz!

Red lights flared, killing intent surged!

Alex gripped his spear, back against the tree, taking steady breaths.

There was no way back...

Only a way through!