Chapter 98 Part1 (1/2)

The warshi+p was coated in pitch A distinct feeling of violence wove through the darkness and Xiao briefly sensed Valentin's presence He realized that he hts and he quickly pulled away froradually focused and he took a deep breath of relief as reality slowly settled in Disoriented and shaky, he was met with a rover of blood The crimson soaked scene slowly coalesced in front of him

”What happened”

He saw that the passages were closed and Casey was leaning his head against the wall Both Mark and Winn looked on stunned

He saw that Casey's legs were severed below the knee and his heart tightened before bursting into pain at seeing his friends in such a state His breath caught in his throat and his eyes s!” Xiao Yan rushed over to Casey, feeling his knees, confirrin and pointed to the node ”They are on the other side of the door”

”You closed the door”

Xiao Yan was surprised by this Valentin controlled the access channels, How did Casey get past Valentin?

”All the nodes have eency overrides and will automatically shut dohen they encounter an obstacle This is a safety response that the syste this they won't open again There is no turning back, Xiao Yan” Casey's lips curved at the corners, his eyes glimmered with a hint of pride

”We can carry you” Xiao Yan sed around the lump in his throat, he wanted to take Casey with hi me will only slow you down I will be a burden As you continue, everything will be controlled by Valentin He will have assassins all around him”

”So we are suppose to just leave you here?!” Xiao was adamantly opposed

But Casey's expression was cold and resolute Gone was the irown man

”Yes Major I want you to leave me You will push forward and likely encounter more problems I will stay here and use the portable terminal to assist you I will open the nodes to the channels and guard the edge of your thoughts You just have to keepforward”

”Casey!”

”Xiao Yan, you are Valentin'shere is the only way for me to help you Make sure you find Jane His body is his own It does not belong to Valentin” Casey closed his eyes wearily and his voice grew even colder and stern ”Don't lose sight of the goal If you aren't willing to make sacrifices you will not succeed If you hesitate you have already lost You will fail, not only me and Heine, but everyone who followed you herethe entire shi+re It is all on you”

Xiao clenched his fists, his nails cutting into his palhts are your own, no o Be it Valentin's brain, mineanyone's You control reality Reality is only e accept to be true You can create another reality Go You understand that if you hesitate, or go softonce you know your goal you will pay dearly for itmore than you have already lost”

Xiao Yan clenched his teeth and paced restlessly, his stride gaining er turn back

It was as Heine said, all suffering my be left behind him

Winn followed Xiao

Heine lowered his head and reive it to Casey

”You cannot die here”

”Is that an order Colonel?” Casey glanced up and obediently took the gun

”Protect Xiao Yan, he must not die here”

Xiao Yan kept rew smaller until they passed the next channel and he disappeared froht entirely

Xiao knew they would never see each other again

The tea closer and closer to the main control roo fro in

”Do I hear water?” Winn looked over at Heine

Suddenly Heine scooped up Xiao Yan and turned back, Winn quickly responded and slaet closer and a huge wave rushed through the passage, instantly engulfing them

Xiao's ears fill ater and he cannot open his eyes against thewater Heine's hands cla theuished and darkness swept through the passage

A thehtened around hiht pierced the pitch, Xiao realized that they were surrounded by Surge assassins

Mark Liv and Winn were overwheled deeper in the channel

The killers swarh Heine proh the x-2 allows theet air in the next few hours,they will die

Soon the killers are able to separate Heine and Xiao Xiao watched as Heine is surrounded by killers He struggles tohis flesh to dig deep in to his ribs All he can focus on is getting back to Heine

He is continually blocked by the group of killers, Xiao could no longer see Heine clearly He only knew that the distance between therabbed the blade eed it into the killer's neck, cutting off his head He was in great pain and his lungs were punctured, still when the killers attempt to cut his throat, he blocked the blade with his handbut he couldn't stop the other's fro his back

It didn't seeh he was stabbed repeatedly, and his ability to move was compromised, no killer atterew heavy and nuan to dissipate as he felt reuely saw that Heine had broken through the killers surrounding hiers brushi+ng against his Xiao saw that a blade was embedded in Heine's side and his eyes scanned the wound

He wants to move, but he can't move

Heine You can't die leave here, leave here

Xiao Yan finally closed his eyes

The killer's blade was reh the water His body sank and was engulfed in the darkness

_______________________

When Xiao awoke he was violently shaking and hiswith the killers

There was a light in front of hiained consciousness He found hi his face, delivering oxygen to hilass he can see nu immense amounts of data in front of hihly kicked at the containment capsule but he couldn't break it apart It doesn't ainst it until his bones broke but the vessel was not co in his power but to no avail

Xiao Yan sluen mask He wandered if he was still in Valentin's ure approached the capsule The ainst the front of the containh his pallass and touch Xiao's face