Night had already fallen. Su Li crouched low, swiftly approaching the factory, her scythe blade glinting coldly under the moonlight.
“Split up,” she ordered briefly. “Aoi Hoshino, you head to the east side and find the Power Control Room. Cut all the power. I’m going straight to the Prison Block.”
Aoi Hoshino raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you don’t need backup?”
“I’m faster alone.”
Aoi shrugged, asking no more. She knew the Captain’s personality all too well; the colder the White Death God remained, the more dangerous she was.
“All right, I’m off then.” She turned and disappeared from Su Li’s sight.
Su Li stopped at the factory’s entrance and chose to sneak in.
Although the enemy already knew she was coming, Rose didn’t know if Su Li had ordered a retreat, so she couldn’t expose her own information too much. Stealth was still very important.
Her footsteps were light, but each one felt like stepping on taut nerves.
Lu Yuan…
Images of Lu Yuan kissing Lin Wan flashed through Su Li’s mind again. Since the footage was recorded by a Crystal, she couldn’t see Lu Yuan’s expression clearly.
What kind of expression would Lu Yuan have when kissed…
Damn it, what am I thinking about?
Su Li suddenly slapped herself. This was a rescue mission!
“Ca-Captain?” Tian Aixing’s voice sounded uncertain through the communicator. She didn’t understand why Su Li suddenly hit herself.
“Nothing. Keep on with the mission,” Su Li replied. “I’m swatting a mosquito.”
The excuse was obviously ridiculous. Tian Aixing couldn’t possibly believe it, but she didn’t ask further.
The abandoned factory reeked of rust and rot. Pipes lining both sides of the corridor were heavily corroded, and the occasional drip of water echoed sharply in the silence.
***
Suddenly, Aoi Hoshino’s voice came through Su Li’s communicator:
“Captain, I found the Power Control Room, but…” Her voice faltered. “It might take a while before I can cut the power.”
“What’s wrong?”
A series of loud metallic crashes burst through the communicator, mixed with Aoi’s rapid breathing.
“Hah… this crazy woman… what the hell has she been raising inside the fuse box!”
Another deafening clang sounded. It seemed like Aoi’s Electric Hammer smashed through something.
“Need backup?” Su Li asked softly.
“No!” Aoi said. “Just consider it a warm-up.”
Sticky, writhing sounds came from the other end, followed by the whistle of a heavy object slicing through the air.
Aoi let out a startled “Yikes!” and then a rapid series of footsteps.
“Three… no, five Tentacle Monsters!” Her tone was disgusted. “They look like squid—so gross.”
“Uwaa!”
Su Li heard crackling electricity, then a muffled grunt as if Aoi had been struck.
“Aoi?!”
“I’m fine!” The voice suddenly faded, probably dropped to the ground. “Take this! Try sneaking up on me again and I’ll send you flying!”
A sharp electric flash flickered above Su Li’s head, and the factory lights flickered a few times in response.
Then came the dull thud of a heavy object hitting the ground and the splatter of some viscous liquid.
“All done~” Aoi’s triumphant voice rang out. “But the fuse box is broken. I have to operate it manually… wait!”
A harsh metallic screech suddenly echoed through the communicator.
“Two more! How do these things keep getting in the ventilation ducts… Hey! Don’t touch that switch!”
Static filled the channel, then the communication cut off.
At the same time, the entire factory’s lighting system started flickering wildly before plunging into darkness.
“Aoi? Aoi?!”
No response.
But at least the power was cut.
Su Li clicked her tongue and quickened her pace toward the cells.
No time to sneak now; speed was paramount.
“Tian Aixing, can Ming Snake still reach Aoi Hoshino?” Su Li’s figure was like a white streak racing through the pitch-black corridors.
“I can see her, but she can’t join the comms right now. She’s overwhelmed—full of Tentacle Monsters,” Tian Aixing replied.
“That’s good enough…”
Before she finished speaking, the ventilation duct to Su Li’s right exploded with a loud bang.
Three tentacles burst through the pipe, covered in slime and barbs, reeking as they lunged straight for Su Li’s face.
“Annoying.”
Su Li didn’t even slow down.
Her scythe sliced through the darkness, tracing three white arcs.
The tentacles froze midair before snapping into several segments that fell to the ground, splattering sticky liquid short of her clothing.
The tentacles writhed on the floor, but once they ceased moving, Su Li had already vanished.
***
“Bang!”
The iron door of the cell was kicked open, warped and flying straight out, smashing a large hole in the glass enclosure.
Inside, Lu Yuan was struggling to stand, leaning against the wall. Seeing Su Li burst in, she gave a weak smile.
“Too slow, Captain…”
Su Li’s gaze swept over the wounds on Lu Yuan’s body and then fell on Lin Wan, unconscious in the corner.
“Can you walk?”
“Barely…” Lu Yuan took a step but stumbled forward, only to be caught by Su Li.
“Don’t push yourself,” Su Li said.
Just then, the factory’s Broadcast System crackled with a harsh electric noise before Rose’s amused voice echoed through.
“Such a touching reunion, Captain~”
Su Li snapped her head up, scythe raised instantly, but Rose’s lazy chuckle continued.
“Don’t be so tense. I’m not planning on fighting you today.” Her voice drifted, carried by the wind as she moved quickly. “After all… anyone would be angry to see their favorite toy played with by someone else, right?”
Lu Yuan felt Su Li’s grip suddenly tighten.
“You think everyone treats people like you treat toys?” Su Li snapped.
“Ala la,” Rose’s voice dropped. “But that black Magical Girl was indeed quite delicious~”
“You—!” Lu Yuan opened her mouth to curse but was cut off by a sharp pain.
***
“Bang!”
A huge hammer smashed through the wall, and Aoi Hoshino stepped out from behind the debris, drenched in a foul-smelling liquid. She looked like she’d just clawed her way out of a pile of tentacles.
“Am I late?”
“No.” Su Li’s voice was eerily calm. “Tian Aixing, track her.”
“No good. She’s using magic to interfere…” The voice in the communicator sounded urgent. “Give me a moment. Ming Snake is already on the way.”
“Two seconds… one second… Got her!”
“Northwest!” Tian Aixing announced.
Su Li’s figure vanished instantly, leaving only the command: “Aoi, lead them out!”
Lu Yuan tried to follow but was held back firmly by Aoi.
“Don’t cause trouble. You can’t even take down a chicken right now.”
Through the shattered window, they saw a streak of white light shooting toward the rooftop in the northwest.
Rose’s silhouette was faintly visible on the rooftop of a nearby residential building. She looked back at the pursuing Su Li and blew a kiss.
“Missing me that much, Captain? Next time we meet, I’ll have an even better ‘gift’ ready~”
Black mist swirled suddenly. By the time Su Li arrived, only a black coat drifted on the rooftop.
Her scythe slammed hard onto the concrete, carving a crack over ten meters long.
***
“So fast…” Tian Aixing sounded weak. “Captain, there are no other enemies nearby. I’ve overused my powers and need to log off.”
“Understood,” Su Li replied.
“Beep beep.” The communicator buzzed a few times—Tian Aixing had logged off.
Su Li bent down to pick up the coat and pulled a photo from her pocket. It showed Lu Yuan imprisoned, the Crystal on her chest circled carefully in red ink.
On the back was a small line of writing:
【Next time we meet, I’ll savor it properly~】
Su Li’s fingers trembled slightly.
“Captain, the person’s rescued. Don’t be angry yet,” Aoi said over the communicator. “Contact the helicopter. The two of us can’t carry so many.”
“Okay.” Su Li tore the photo to pieces, letting the scraps scatter in the night wind.
“Oh, remember to have the crew prepare a change of clothes. Lu Yuan can’t just walk out like that—it’d be bad if she got photographed.” Aoi reminded.
“Mm.” Su Li agreed, pondering what kind of clothes to prepare for Lu Yuan…
It seemed like… women’s clothes?
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.