Chapter 7 - The Great Glacier (2/2)

We wanted to save him but it was already too late. His blood-curdling screams from being burnt by fire reverberated across the mountain valley. It was chilling to people who heard it even though it wasn’t even cold. On top of that it seemed like he wasn’t going to die anytime soon.

Some wanted to extinguish the flames on his body by throwing dirt that was shoveled up. But the burned surface area on his body had already reached nearly 100% and it was a third degree burn. Even if they managed to extinguish the flames on his body, he most likely couldn’t make it over one or two hours due to the lack of medical access in the depths of Kunlun Mountain. He would only suffer more if he lived.

The scene of someone being burned alive was too cruel. Luo Ning didn’t dare to witness it and turned her head away. The expression on her face was frozen while she covered her ears with her mouth open, not sure if she wanted to cry or scream. Little Lin, who was the youngest among everyone was frightened too. He hid behind Big Guy and couldn’t stop trembling.

The second squad leader took out his gun, wanting to help him end his suffering. He really couldn’t bear to see him being tormented like this. Furthermore, if he let him continue to scream like this, an avalanche would definitely happen.

The instructor laid his hand over the second squad leader’s hand which was pulling on the gun’s bolt. “You can’t fire here. Use the bayonet. Let me do it,” he said softly.

There was a great amount of acc.u.mulated snow piled up above the glacier on the mountain’s summit. Even the slightest noise could possibly trigger a catastrophe. The only favor we can do for w.a.n.g Gong was to stab his heart with the bayonet and let him to die an instant death.

Without any delay, the instructor took a Type 56 Semi-automatic rifle with a bayonet fitted on it from one of the soldiers. He quietly apologized to his own comrade for letting him down before shutting his eyes and pierced the weapon through w.a.n.g Gong’s heart. w.a.n.g Gong finally stopped his heart wrenching howls and collapsed onto the ground motionlessly. The flame on his body however continued to burn.

The instructor was just about to pull the bayonet out from his chest when that monstrous blue flame suddenly burned brightly and unexpectedly spread along the bayonet and travelled up the rifle.

The speed the flames spread was just too fast. Within a blink of the eye and before anyone could register what was happening, the instructor’s body was already engulfed by those blue raging flames.

Just like w.a.n.g Gong, the instructor let out a blood-curdling scream in pain. Everyone knew the instructor well and he was definitely a tough man. Although he had a gentle and frail appearance, he had the fort.i.tude and perseverance of a professional soldier. He must have been suffering an intense and unimaginable pain from being burnt by those odd flames to be letting out such a shrill cry.

The second squad leader tearfully held up his gun. He couldn’t care about the avalanche now. He simply couldn’t bear to see the instructor to suffer any longer. Just when he was about to pull the trigger, the instructor who was engulfed in flames suddenly spoke. “I order… none of you are allowed to fire your weapons… Hurry up and leave with your comrades…”

Although the pain on the instructor’s body was difficult to bear, his mind was still clear. He was aware that his own screams could cause an avalanche. To keep himself from emitting any more noises, he turned the bayonet that was heated to glowing red around and pierced it through his own heart. His body had only burned into a pile of fine ashes after for a long, long time.

The remaining members in the squad watched the entire heroic tragedy that unfolded before them in agony. Everyone was clenching their teeth and fists tightly, and tried to fight back the tears that had welled up their eyes. Some even bit their lips until they bled.

The mountain valley was quiet. The azure sky over our head that was reflected on the icy surface of the Great Glacier led people to have a misconception that the world has two identical skies. Unsure that which one was on top and which one was at the bottom. A scenery that was as magnificent as the paradise but was instead filled with a strangely frightening atmosphere.

Those two piles of ashes on the ground had been well and alive just a few minutes ago. Yet they were reduced to nothing but a small pile of ashes now, not even a trace of their bones or residue were left. No one would have believed that something like this would happen in this world if there were no witnesses.

A blue colored fireball suddenly emerged from the pile of ashes that was left by w.a.n.g Gong’s burning. It hovered in midair and faced everyone, as if choosing its next target. It had an exceptionally fast speed. Anyone within its range of attack stood no chance in escaping. A faint vibrating noise could be heard in the air. It must be from the vibration of this weird ladybug’s wings.

The squad had lost three people now and they were all the key members. The instructor who was leading the team, and two engineers had been sacrificed. Only two engineers remained. One was Luo Ning, the cartographer and the other was Liu Gong from the Geological Inst.i.tute of Shanghai. It seemed like it was impossible to complete this mission.

Without the instructor around, the soldiers had lost the core of their heart. However when everyone was faced with this monstrous blue colored fireball, almost everyone had the same thoughts: “I’d rather be buried alive by the avalanche than to be burned to ashes by this creepy thing alive.”

A few soldiers who was starting to lose their cool had already lifted and aimed the gun in their hands at the ladybug in midair. The second squad leader suddenly told everyone, “My comrades. The instructor has sacrificed himself for us. Now I am the leader! I order you all to return alive, what say you?”

I suddenly caught on to what the second squad leader was planning to do. He was thinking of sacrificing himself to buy everyone some precious time to withdraw. I pulled on his arm and choked. “No way. You are not even a political party member. Why do you have to do this? If someone is going to do it, let it be me.”

The second squad leader pushed my hand away. “Little Hu, you’re not even a squad member. I have told you not to speak like me, but you’d never listen.” He was already running off without turning his head towards the fireball that was suspended in midair before he even finished speaking.

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