Caesar remained silent, sitting cross-legged at the edge of the bed.
Cold and mechanical, he repeatedly loaded bullets into the magazine, as if this simple task was the only thing that could momentarily pull him away from the pain of indecision.
The number of bullets was limited, and soon, he had filled five entire magazines.
For a battle, five magazines would be enough.
On the other side, Chu Zihang's preparations were far simpler. Sitting cross-legged in the corner of the room, the broken sword, "Murakumo," once called "Judgment," lay across his knees.
He dampened a piece of cloth with water and, with slow and careful movements, wiped down the fractured blade.
Chu Zihang's actions were serious, as if he were caring for a treasured possession. It was almost like the meditative practices of an ancient samurai, each movement cleansing the dust from his heart and soul, allowing it to shine with a new, sharp edge.
Ever since his father's disappearance, his days were mostly spent either practicing swordsmanship or maintaining his sword.
Although the sword, Murakumo, made of alloy by the equipment division, didn't actually require maintenance, as it could easily be replaced when broken.
Still, did a broken sword even deserve care?
As for Lu Mingfei, he had hoped the boy would wake up, but in the end, he remained curled in a corner, his eyes vacant and lost.
Caesar found this rather boring and shifted his gaze to the window.
The golden sunset bathed the ancient city in warm light, as if coating it in a layer of gold leaf.
A city of millions, all within his grasp.
By the time the sun had fully disappeared below the horizon, and the black star rose to the center of the night sky, the terrifying forces from the stars would soon descend upon this beautiful city.
By then, more people would die.
Caesar sighed deeply, his eyelids drooping, his voice rough as he muttered, "The time is almost here."
"Mm."
Chǔ Zǐháng replied softly, then stopped wiping.
The broken Murakumo sword was set aside, and he slowly lifted his eyelids, looking at Caesar, who still couldn't make a choice. He spoke calmly, "We don't have the luxury of choice."
Caesar remained silent, a pained expression on his face.
"If we don't do this, more people will die."
Chǔ Zǐháng's golden eyes gazed deeply at Caesar as he spoke softly, "I don't know if this is the right choice, but I know for sure that if we don't stop them here, not only will Cassel Academy fall, but many more people will die."
Caesar's pain deepened. He knew the consequences of this action well, but he understood the outcome of inaction even better.
He had been raised with elite education. Pride and talent had accompanied him through his growth, allowing him to easily become a leader and gather a large following.
But never had he felt pain like this before.
Only those who have truly felt the weight of countless lives resting on their shoulders can understand the suffocating, almost breathless kind of pain that comes with it.
"You seem so at ease, haha." Caesar laughed bitterly, his eyes filled with dark despair as he looked at the calm Chǔ Zǐháng.
In a way, Chǔ Zǐháng's mission was simpler, at least he didn't have to bear the pain.
If the rescue failed, all he faced was death.
"Mm."
Chǔ Zǐháng didn't argue, instead looking at him seriously: "Because you're 'Caesar.'"
Yes, because he was 'Caesar!'
He was proud and arrogant, but only he could make such a cruel decision and carry the weight of millions of lives.
Silence lingered for a long time, until the sun completely dipped below the horizon.
The whole city was covered by nightfall, the grey clouds still lingering in the sky, hiding the stars and the moon. The air was heavy with moisture, as if warning of an impending storm.
Pedestrians had returned home early, and the city's colorful lights lit up the streets.
The wall clock showed 9:25, with less than three hours remaining until the summoning ritual at midnight.
"I should go."
Chu Zihang grabbed the strap of the bronze box and looked at the silent Caesar, saying lightly, "If the rescue fails, I'll signal you. The rest is up to you."
He didn't put any more pressure on Caesar, because there was no need. He believed Caesar would make the right choice.
With those words, he pushed open the door and left.
One drop, two drops.
Soon, heavy rain poured down.
The rain poured in dense streams, raising a cloud of mist.
Chu Zihang, carrying the heavy sword box, moved with agility, unaffected by the rain, moving quickly through the downpour.
In fact, after crossing into the blood boundary, his body had become almost as resilient as a dragon, and the weight of the sword box didn't hinder him in the slightest.
His feet landed on the steel-reinforced concrete rooftop, slightly bending his knees before launching forward with immense force.
Boom!
A sound like a cannon firing echoed through the night sky, cracking open the stormy rain.
In an instant, Chu Zihang broke through the sound barrier, leaping between rooftops separated by dozens of meters, his body surrounded by explosive shockwaves that created a water dragon in the rain.
The sound waves and fierce winds wrapped around him, making it seem like an ancient beast from the wilderness, releasing a suffocating aura, headed straight for the Pantheon.
As Chu Zihang neared the Pantheon, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Holding his breath, he blended into the night and the storm, darting between the blind spots of the streets, like a ghostly apparition.
The night sky hung low, the clouds thick and oppressive.
The air seemed to have been soaked in ink, the low pressure making it hard to breathe.
Suddenly, a sharp bolt of lightning split the sky, followed by deafening thunder, like the roar of gods, echoing through the heavens.
The dome of the Pantheon appeared even more solemn and mysterious in the heavy rain. Water slid down the curved roof, as if draping the ancient building in a misty veil.
The crisp sound of raindrops hitting the stone pillars blended with the distant thunder, creating a magnificent symphony.
Chu Zihang carefully hid in the shadows, letting the rain soak him. His eyes, sharp as a hawk in the night, scanned the area around the Pantheon.
To his surprise, there were no defenses around the Pantheon, and not a single watcher in sight.
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