Chapter 125: Brutality

Before breaking the Black Fog Armor with the flashlight, players couldn’t harm the Dark Kidnapper’s body at all. The flashlight’s battery life was limited too. After using strong light mode, which drained power quickly, it needed hand-cranking to recharge before another use.

If the flashlight lost power while the Dark Predator’s Black Fog Armor remained unburned by light, players faced only slaughter.

After a brief rest, Lü Yang led the group through the Iron Gate into the abandoned construction site. Though many empty buildings stood idle, Lü Yang knew exactly which one held Liu Hui, along with five kidnappers inside.

Besides damaged doors, four buildings had intact ones. A large open space stretched before them. If players launched a direct assault, all five Dark Kidnappers charging out would lead to terrible casualties.

Lü Yang scouted the area, then returned near the site’s entrance gate. He outlined the next tactic to the others.

“Are all your flashlights fully charged?” Lü Yang asked first. This was vital, concerning the whole team’s safety.

“They’re charged.” Everyone answered Lü Yang one by one.

“Earlier at the gate, I went first. I lured two Dark Kidnappers into our ambush. Now it’s your turn. Four buildings left. There’s one Task each. Take turns scouting. If you can smash a door open from afar with a rock, great. Lure them out that way. If not, you must kick the door open. Draw the Dark Kidnappers onto this open ground.”

“When one goes to break the door, if Dark Kidnappers rush out, the others rush forward together. Cover them with light! Use the beams to pin them inside, stopping their attacks and burning off their armor. Once their armor breaks, I’ll finish them off.”

“We’re unarmed! Going up to kick doors is suicide! Unless you give us the gun.” Wang Zixian protested Lü Yang, clearly unhappy and distrustful. Weren’t they promised they wouldn’t be cannon fodder? Now they were pushed to the front?

“Are you defying my order!?” Lü Yang stared coldly at Wang Zixian.

“You’re the leader, but tactics need to make sense! Back when I worked under Master Han…” Wang Zixian began to argue, but Lü Yang’s cleaver instantly rested on his neck.

“I am not Han Shao! Question my command again, and your head comes off!” Lü Yang’s voice turned sharp.

“No need for you to do it, boss! I’ll take his head first!” Sun Haibo pulled out his own cleaver, glaring fiercely at Wang Zixian.

Lü Yang gave Wang Zixian a final menacing look before turning to Sun Haibo.

“Haibo, you take the far-right door. I’ll cover you from behind. Don’t worry. I’ll stop those Dark Predators from hurting you,” Lü Yang told Sun Haibo.

“Oh…” Sun Haibo felt unsettled. He’d shown loyalty, yet got the first dangerous Task. But he steeled himself and walked forward.

Lü Yang knew well. All buildings except the one holding Liu Hui were empty. He knew exactly which room had kidnappers. The earlier tactic assigning risk served one purpose: testing obedience.

Since Wang Zixian refused orders, Lü Yang didn’t mind assigning him the room with kidnappers. Lü Yang wasn’t cruel. He tried to rescue innocents trapped in the Mysterious Domain. But those hindering the team, those questioning everything? Those weren’t worth saving. For them, death was acceptable.

Sun Haibo returned unharmed. He puffed his chest proudly, flashed a ‘V’ sign, and eagerly told Lü Yang the room held no Dark Kidnappers.

“Well done!” Lü Yang fist-bumped Sun Haibo approvingly, then looked at the other three. “Next! Who opens the door on the far left?”

The remaining three exchanged fearful glances. Who wanted to step on a landmine with kidnappers hidden?

“No volunteers? Then let me assign it.” Lü Yang’s tone hardened.

“I-it’ll be me…” The timid Li Ping, surprisingly, raised her hand.

“Go. I’ll protect you,” Lü Yang nodded.

Li Ping stood trembling. She edged towards the shut door on the far left. Besides Lü Yang, everyone else tensed like wartime – gripping flashlights, cleavers, pipes tightly, holding their breath, braced for battle.

Of course, the room was empty. No Dark Kidnappers charged out after she broke the door.

Once Li Ping returned safely, Lü Yang pointed to the second shut door from the right. He ordered Ji Zhen and Wang Zixian: one would go. After a tense silence, Ji Zhen volunteered.

Again, the room was empty.

Seeing Ji Zhen emerge safely, Wang Zixian paled. Three rooms checked, clearly the last one hid the Dark Kidnappers and hostage. And he was out of choices.

“I won’t go! I never agreed! Not unless you give me the gun!” Seeing everyone stare, Wang Zixian shook his head desperately.

“You will follow orders! Defy me, and you die! Right! Now!” Murder flashed in Lü Yang’s eyes. What could turn a compassionate soul brutal? This treacherous Mysterious Domain, certainly.

“I quit!” Wang Zixian stood to leave through the site gate.

“Don’t you dare!” Sun Haibo roared, lunging at him, pinning him to the ground instantly.

“Boss! Got him! What now?” Sun Haibo shouted to Lü Yang.

“Kill him!” Lü Yang gestured and turned his back.

Wielding life and death lightly, ordering deaths – Lü Yang disliked it. But survival demanded it. Saving Yi Yi and Yi Ya demanded it.

As Sun Haibo raised his cleaver high, Wang Zixian, sobbing hysterically, finally yielded. “Fine! I’ll go! I’ll go!”

Sun Haibo looked to Lü Yang. Lü Yang waved. Release him. If Wang Zixian would be cannon fodder, fine; Lü Yang needed fodder now. The other three obeyed. Unless essential, their sacrifice wasn’t necessary.

Naturally, if Lü Yang could save Wang Zixian post-door-kick, he would. Fodder held value. Might be useful later.

“You better cover me properly!” Wang Zixian crawled up, dusted himself off, looking miserable. What a fall! Once a high-flying assistant beside Master Han… now cannon fodder pushed around! The bitterness was immense.

“Quit whining! Get moving!” Sun Haibo pressed his cleaver to Wang Zixian’s neck, shoving him towards the Dark Kidnapper’s building.

Wang Zixian grabbed bricks, hurling them clumsily at the door from afar. Ineffectual. Reluctantly, he shuffled toward the door itself.

To prevent escape and preserve the fodder, Lü Yang moved everyone close. They flanked the door entrance, ready to attack the five Dark Kidnappers rushing out once Wang Zixian broke through.

Trembling violently, Wang Zixian reached the door. Under Sun Haibo’s threat, he kicked it open. Simultaneously, voices cursed inside, and a gunshot echoed.

Wang Zixian screamed. The powerful bullet tore his stomach open. Intestines spilled out. He collapsed. Lü Yang dragged him aside lightning-fast and snatched the fallen flashlight.

“They have guns! Guns! Why didn’t you tell me? Ah! AGH!” Wang Zixian wailed amidst his agony, accusing Lü Yang.

Lü Yang ignored him. Of course he knew. Why else needing fodder?

Two Dark Kidnappers wielding cleavers charged out. Instantly, four flashlights hit them – all in strong light mode! The ambushers briefly froze, eyes covered, before pushing stubbornly through the blinding beams towards the players flanking the doorway.

“Keep those lights on them! Retreat slowly to left and right! No running! Run, and I’ll shoot you myself!” Lü Yang commanded loudly – both direction and violent threat.

“Haibo! Now!”

Lü Yang timed the exposure precisely. At the double ‘thump’ and blue flash, he shouted the order. Raising his cleaver, Sun Haibo charged into action.