The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 1082: Come

War Tiger drew his Dragonslaying Giantsword and stood before everyone to shield them. At the same time, Qing Ling rushed up to him, circled by a dozen weapons.

The two greatest fighters stepped up to protect their companions.

Thankfully, Gao Xinxin didn’t immediately attack.

She only had eyes for Gao Yang. She extended a hand and waved at him. “Come, Brother.”

Psychic Armor...fails.

Psychic Armor...fails.

Psychic Armor...fails...fails...failfailfailfailfailfailfail—

Energy went wild. Pathway crumbled. Talent unreachable.

Gao Yang’s reddened, broken eyes became dazed. Then he smiled, wiping his tears and walking toward Gao Xinxin.

He shook off Vermilion Bird’s hands and weaved through War Tiger and Qing Ling. It was as if he had forgotten about everything that had happened a few minutes ago, as if Gao Xinxin had come here to give him a surprise and to say happy birthday to him.

Gao Xinxin smiled, like that was exactly why she was here.

The situation was so strange that for a moment, the others forgot to act, or even think. They watched as Gao Yang walked up to Gao Xinxin.

“Stop, Gao Yang!”

Finally, Qing Ling broke the silence.

Gao Yang paused, halting.

He didn’t turn around. He didn’t speak. His back looked lonely and lost against the backdrop of the setting sun. He seemed to be thinking hard about why he had stopped. His best friend and little sister were waiting for him. He should go up and greet them, right?

Why stop? Why?

Qing Ling alone could tell what he was thinking. She shouted, “Have you forgotten, Gao Yang? There is no right or wrong choice!”

He shuddered. His blank eyes focused once more. His painful memory and cruel rationality returned.

Yeah, there is no right or wrong. A choice is only a choice.

I’ve long made mine.

I chose humanity. I chose hope.

I chose to fight and give my all even if I’d die for it, even if I’d be rendered to pieces at the end of it. I chose to never surrender.

I chose to be the hero to save the world.

But...who is going to save me?

Someone save me, please.

Give me a release, kill me, destroy me...

He stood between day and night, death monsters and awakeners, bravery and despair, a heroic sacrifice and a tragic end.

Tears fell nonstop. A lump formed in his throat.

Gao Xinxin’s smile faded. A few strands fell above her eyes and struck a chord of resentment in her. “You disappointed me, Brother. You promised that we would always be family no matter what happened.”

Gao Yang said in a trembling voice, “Yes, we will always be—”

“No!” Gao Xinxin screamed. “You hesitated!”

Gao Yang stared.

“You trust them more than you trust me! You betrayed me! You’ve been lying to me! You’re just as fake, despicable, and deceitful as the humans! I’ll never trust you again!”

“No, that’s not right.” Gao Yang shook his head vehemently. “Xinxin, I’m your brother. We’re family. I’ll never hurt you. Trust me...”

Gao Xinxin lowered her head.

After a moment, she looked up once more, blinking. “Then Brother, I’ll give you another chance to prove yourself.”

“Okay! Say it!”

“Come here and let me kill you. I promise I’ll let all of them get out of here alive.”

Gao Yang paused, holding Gao Xinxin’s gaze. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Gao Xinxin’s eyes glinted mischievously. “Let me kill you, and your friends will be safe. I promise. The other death monsters won’t hurt them, either.”

“Do you not trust me, Brother? When have I ever deceived you?”

She reached out to him. “Come, Brother.”

“Death isn’t scary, Brother. If you die, we’ll get to be together forever. I promise you.”

“No matter what happens, you’ll always be my brother, and I’ll always be your sister. We’ll always be family—”

Countless bolts of lightning came down from the sky, drowning Gao Xinxin in white currents.

“No!”

Gao Yang screamed. He was about to rush over when something cool hit his neck. War Tiger had snuck up to him and injected him with a powerful sedative—it was meant for Wang Zikai. The full dose overwhelmed Gao Yang with sleepiness, weighing him down. He staggered and tried to walk further, but he collapsed after two steps.

Qing Ling caught Gao Yang and rushed to Baili Yi. The man quickly opened his diary and drew with his energy chalk once more.

Qing Ling, carrying Gao Yang, dove into the diary, followed by Nine Frost, War Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and finally Baili Yi.

While Gao Yang was talking to Gao Xinxin, Vermilion Bird had quietly used Equivalent Exchange on Heavenly Dog. As the Talent triggered, tremendous energy overflowed from Heavenly Dog, tripling his power for 90 seconds at the price of two months of coma.

He flashed across the clearing to grab the diary in the air before soaring into the night sky. It took only three seconds for him to vanish, leaving only the explosive sounds of him breaking the sound barriers announcing his departure.

Five seconds. That was the time it took for Qing Ling to sneak up on Gao Xinxin with lightning, War Tiger to knock out Gao Yang, Baili Yi to pull them into the diary, and Heavenly Dog to run with it. Every part of the plan connected to the next seamlessly.

It was thanks to Nine Frost.

While the siblings conversed, he had used Telepathy to loop everyone outside of Gao Yang into a group chat, allowing them to come up with Plan B.

The wild lightning left the ground charred. Standing there, Gao Xinxin was stripped of all her clothes, her twin tails loosened. Black hair ran down her shoulders. Smooth silver scales now covered her fair skin. The six air wings had turned light silver, shimmering like condensed light. She looked like a fae described in mythology.

She didn’t give chase, but looked up at where Heavenly Dog had vanished. A smile tugging her lips, she muttered to herself.

“You can’t run, Brother.”