Chapter 53: 5S-Rank
The Source lunged at him in an instant.
Qi He leapt up, driving the long blade in his hand straight into one of its seams!
Metal stretched at the same time, the cold aura intensifying—his wrist strained so hard that veins stood out along his arm.
Using the momentum from his midair twist, he slashed down hard—
A gash split open across the mass of flesh inside.
The Source pulsed and churned, but its regeneration began to slow.
Zhuge Dun was stunned. “…That thing can stand up?”
Even so, the attacks didn’t stop.
All firepower converged, hammering furiously at the exposed interior of the Source!
After landing from his flip, Qi He raised his head. At this close distance, the Source—now upright—looked even more massive, spreading countless gaping mouths toward him in the dark, fanged and writhing.
He flicked the white frost off his blade and issued a command: “Everyone, ranged attacks only—don’t come near me.”
As soon as the words fell, he darted forward again.
The enraged Source was now wide open.
Everyone went all out.
Gong Lianyu had finished charging Shu Ling’s energy and switched over to Yan Chuanbai’s ability. Zhuge Dun stayed outside the combat zone, continuously firing under the enhancement of metal-type ability.
Not a shred of combat strength was wasted.
Qi He’s figure weaved in and out before the Source.
Each reckless approach brushed against death—he used “Force” to dodge, mental power pushed to the limit as he evaded a storm of cross-tier attacks that filled the air—
Not for a single instant was there a safe place to stand.
Even the system held its breath, not daring to let him lose focus for a heartbeat.
Under the crushing threat of death every second—
One point… two points… three points… The wind whipped the hem of his coat as the snow-bright blade kept tearing through the shell that encased the inner core. Qi He’s figure flashed out, flipped over—and charged again.
His mental power was climbing, level after level.
If there’d been a rank detector present, it would have shown that light shooting straight toward 5S-rank.
…
Boom!!! Another explosion roared.
Qi He leapt back, stopping ten meters away.
…Four hours had passed.
The Source had, for the moment, closed its “mouth.”
Qi He stood still, drenched through. His spiritual energy had been depleted countless times and refilled again. Now, in this fleeting pause, it was boiling—at its peak.
He asked through the headset, “How much have we destroyed?”
Guan Shangchun’s voice came through: “Twenty percent.”
Four hours, and the loss had more than doubled.
But their own consumption was just as rapid: though they were fighting “from range,” once the Source stood up, none of them were truly safe. Everyone fought while alternating between covering each other and constant movement.
Qi He took a deep breath—but it still wasn’t enough.
After surpassing 3S-rank, every step higher demanded a steeper price.
Breaking through to 5S-rank was far from easy.
“I’m back in the game!” Gong Lianyu shouted, bursting out from behind the shield with full health restored. He called out to Qi He, “What’s next?”
What’s next…?
Qi He looked toward the Source before him. The massive mass of flesh had ceased its attacks, standing still. Between them, the cracks across its surface began to squeeze together… forming something like a smile.
A mocking one—ridiculing their overconfidence.
Qi He narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled as well.
He fixed his gaze on the faint opening between the seams—inside lay the Source’s weak point.
Now, there was only one option left before everyone was drained dry:
“Let’s gamble one more time.”
[…Gamble on what?]
The system asked carefully, [What are the odds of success?]
Qi He didn’t answer. He only issued his next command: “You all handle the exterior.”
“…Exterior?” The others froze.
Qi He finished speaking, the long blade at his side tilting down as a brilliant battle light reignited in his eyes.
The others froze for a split second—then suddenly realized what he meant.
“Wait!”
“No! Qi He—”
“…Qi He.”
A quick, low voice came from behind him.
Qi He turned and saw Yan Chuanbai.
In the depths of those black eyes surged a thick, suppressed emotion. His gaze locked tightly on Qi He, chest rising and falling sharply.
Qi He felt his own heart skip slightly. Then he turned sideways, revealing the badge glowing faintly on his chest.
“I’m the commander-in-chief.”
Yan Chuanbai stood rooted to the spot, as if nailed there.
No matter what decision was made, they had to obey.
To question it would be to show doubt—and disrespect—toward Qi He.
Having given his orders, Qi He turned back.
Then, facing the Source, he charged!
The monstrous mass loomed before him as he leapt high. Below, its gaping mouth opened wide—but this time, he didn’t dodge.
He dove straight in.
The instant the seam closed—
Qi He suddenly tore off the small smart watch from his wrist and threw it outwards.
[!]
The system froze for two seconds, then suddenly understood:
[Qi He—]
The seam sealed shut, swallowing him whole.
—
The watch arced through the air—then was caught mid-flight by a thin vine.
Yan Chuanbai caught it in his hand and glanced down at the screen.
For a moment, he and the system stared at each other.
[…]
Then Yan Chuanbai tossed it toward Zhuge Dun and said, eyes fixed ahead, “You hold onto it for him.”
He looked at the fully sealed mass of flesh before them, forcing down the flood of emotion beneath his gaze. His trembling hand clenched tight—an icy blade flared into being in his palm once more.
Taking command, he issued the next order:
“All units—target the vine system! Drain its regenerative power!”
…
Inside the Source.
The uneven inner walls closed in the instant they swallowed him. Qi He pushed back with raw force, holding himself suspended in midair, the metal blade still clutched in his hand.
He plunged it straight into the mass of flesh below—
And wrenched it hard.
The Source convulsed in agony, thrashing wildly as the fleshy lumps all around rippled in violent waves.
Qi He steadied himself.
While the long blade tore apart the inner structure, he forced the surrounding flesh outward with sheer strength—
All the mental energy he’d once used for coordination was now channeled entirely into attack.
A gleam flared in Qi He’s eyes.
…The outer shell of the Source was nearly indestructible—but if his mental power rose just a bit higher, he could rupture it from within.
Meanwhile, the external assaults continued to rain down.
The Source’s depletion was climbing fast—
22%… 25%… 28%… Yet no matter how fiercely they attacked from both inside and out, its “mouth” never opened again.
It was clever.
It wouldn’t let the prey it had swallowed escape.
…
Time trickled by, second after second.
No one knew how long it had been—Qi He’s own expenditure was multiplying.
Drip. A bead of sweat fell—
And was swallowed by the flesh below. His face had gone pale; his spiritual energy was nearly spent. Around him, there was nothing but the sound of squirming. The system was gone, the radio signals cut off by the Source’s interference.
Only the faint remnants of amplification kept him barely upright.
Here, he was utterly alone.
—
Splatter. Another lump of flesh burst apart.
Qi He finally stopped for the first time.
…How much had they destroyed now? Forty percent?
He lifted his gaze upward, but his spiritual energy was already exhausted. The Source seemed to sense it—it grew ecstatic, the entire mass writhing with a crazed hunger, desperate to devour him completely.
Gurgle, gurgle… gurgle, gurgle…
Slash! Qi He swung cleanly, severing it in one motion.
He pulled his hand back, steadying the tremor in his wrist.
He couldn’t die here—if he did—
His thoughts stalled.
Suddenly, Qi He realized something.
A quiet, almost inappropriate laugh slipped from him, his lashes lowering to hide the glint in his eyes.
Now he understood why, in the original storyline, Yan Chuanbai had chosen to self-destruct.
It wasn’t truly about dying together.
It was to keep his 5S-rank spiritual energy from becoming nourishment for the Source.
—Yan Chuanbai must have entered the Source’s body as well.
…
Outside, the attacks continued relentlessly.
But the Source was cunning—no matter how fiercely they struck, it refused to open its “mouth” again.
Time kept dripping away.
Qi He used what little spiritual energy he had left to keep the encroaching flesh at bay. His metal blade had been completely corroded, and his soaked clothes clung to his skin.
At this rate, he’d be consumed sooner or later.
Calmly, he calculated his teammates’ remaining strength; a flicker of resolve flashed in his eyes.
If this was how it would end, then he would—
Suddenly, a thin seam of light split through the airtight shell.
Just a flicker—open and shut in an instant.
A shadow shot through it like lightning!
Qi He’s heart skipped violently.
A familiar figure landed in front of him, eyes like frozen stars locking onto his.
—Yan Chuanbai.
Every decision Qi He had made up to that point unraveled in an instant.
He stood there, stunned. “You… how did you—?”
Yan Chuanbai gave a small smile.
An icy barrier kept the surrounding flesh from corroding him.
“This was the only way to open it. Add one more over–4S-rank mind, and I don’t believe it could resist the temptation.”
Qi He’s breath hitched. “I told you not to—”
“The chief commander has lost command authority. From this moment on, I’m taking over.”
Yan Chuanbai’s gaze locked onto him, dark and bright at once.
“This is my strategy—”
“My choice, too. All in.”
Qi He’s heart jolted violently.
He had accounted for every contingency, every possible move—except this.
He hadn’t imagined Yan Chuanbai would break in after him—
With the same reckless resolve to risk everything.
There was no time to stop him. Whoosh, whoosh—
Several vines unfurled from behind Yan Chuanbai, burrowing deep into the inner walls around them. He stood before Qi He, veins of violet-blue spreading slowly across his cheek, creeping outward.
“I have the devouring ability too.”
His second power—vines, derived from a mutated strain.
They rooted themselves within the Source’s body, beginning to devour its spiritual energy bit by bit.
The “Mother Body’s” spiritual energy was being consumed madly. Almost visibly, the vines swelled and thickened, growing monstrous, their oppressive aura surging through the space—
Yan Chuanbai’s rank rose—5S-rank.
He lifted his eyes, gaze fierce and invasive, pinning Qi He in place.
After a pause, he said softly, “Don’t look at me like that. Don’t look so sad.”
Sad? Was that really what his face looked like right now?
Qi He met his eyes.
He had remained perfectly calm while planning his own fallback routes.
But the moment he saw those vines bury themselves into the Source, it was as if his mind lost the ability to calculate altogether.
“I won’t truly die if I become a zombie.”
Yan Chuanbai lowered his gaze slightly.
“Compared to watching the person I love sacrifice himself before my eyes… I’d rather wander alone outside.”
As he continued to devour the Source from within, a pained roar echoed through its body. The walls of flesh twisted and convulsed violently.
Qi He let out the breath he’d been holding.
But in the original storyline, the Source that required Yan Chuanbai’s 5S-rank self-detonation had already surpassed 5S-rank itself.
Just this alone—was far from enough.
Before him, Yan Chuanbai’s gaze grew darker, more turbulent.
The vines he had unleashed were buried deep within the Source’s body, binding him at its center. His true nature was completely unleashed—when he looked at Qi He, his eyes held a raw, undisguised intensity of love and desire.
“…Qi He.”
His voice was hoarse. He lowered his head, wanting to kiss him—
But at the very edge of contact, he restrained himself again.
Qi He felt it. He looked up at him.
Yan Chuanbai’s handsome face was now covered in violet-blue veins; his skin had turned pale, almost bluish.
Their eyes met.
And in that instant, Qi He’s heart stirred—violently, unreasonably.
He whispered, “…Yan Chuanbai.”
Then, under the other’s startled gaze, he raised a hand and gently touched that vein-covered face. His eyes were clear and bright.
“I told you,” he said softly, “don’t say things that sound like final words.”
“Let’s make a bet together.”
From death, we’ll find life.
He had found the way to break through 5S-rank.
Qi He leaned forward slightly—and kissed Yan Chuanbai first, lightly biting his lip until it broke.
——————————————————————
Author’s Note:
Qi He: Kissing—
Yan Chuanbai: ! [🎆][🎆][🎆][🎆][🎆][💖]
