Lixin and his classmates were practically stepping over the graduation threshold. For a year now, they’d faced real combat, spending the first half of this year on the battlefield—half warriors already.
But Lixin? Just thinking about the front-line rations and living conditions made him scheme to avoid terrible postings. Like right now.
“No! This is the school’s arrangement. You can’t switch places on a whim!”
The Principal slammed his desk, furious at Lixin’s request.
“But Principal, I’ve risked my life for this place lately. Can’t you treat it as a reward? Please?” Lixin forced a strained smile. Survival demanded it!
“Absolutely not!” A firm refusal.
Damn, so stubborn? Fine. Lixin had no choice but to sacrifice his dignity and shame—unleashing his ultimate move!
“Prin~ci~pal~ Sir~”
Dropping the act, Lixin whined in his natural voice.
“Ew…”
The Principal shuddered, covered in goosebumps, and tried to back away.
But Lixin wouldn’t let him escape! He grabbed the Principal’s arm, shaking it while pressing his advantage. “Principal~ Look at me—so thin and weak. I won’t survive out there~”
“Uh… Don’t lie! Last time’s assignment was way worse!”
Progress! Seeing the Principal waver, Lixin pushed lower. “But… I’m scared ’cause I’ve been there before…”
“No! Rules are rules! Do warriors demand rewards after risking their lives?!”
To avoid crumbling, the Principal yanked his arm free and shouted firmly. “If that’s all, leave now. Impossible!”
“Sob…”
Lixin deflated. A tiny sniffle escaped him as he turned to go, shoulders trembling slightly.
Oops—the Principal realized he’d gone too far. “Uh, Lixin…”
Ignoring him, Lixin kept walking… Was it his imagination? The sniffles grew louder. Was he really crying?
“How about this? I’ll transfer you to Cleyna’s unit. Better conditions, but bigger fights. Okay?”
A nod.
“Alright, alright…” The Principal typed rapidly. “Done. See? Submitted. Others are still pending. Satisfied?”
Lixin’s tear-filled eyes scanned the screen. Then—wipe—he instantly transformed from pitiful girl to deadpan stare. “Oh, thanks, Principal. Bye bye.”
“………………”
The Principal froze. Oh f**k—he’d been tricked! Damn it! The submission couldn’t be undone!
………………………………………………………………
“Boom!”
“Report! Line Three is lost! Enemy breach! Requesting retreat!”
“What? Didn’t you have Li Binze’s shield? How’d they break through?!”
“He couldn’t hold it. Artillery shattered his shield—he was blown to bits!”
“Retreat now! Everyone fall back to Line Two! Don’t die for nothing!”
By the time retreat was authorized, Lapthesis’s outermost defense on the Labrador Peninsula teetered on collapse. Vincent Kellam didn’t hesitate. “All units! Retreat during the enemy lull! Fall back to Line Two!”
Lapthesis Combatants paused, then obeyed. Some resisted, but orders came first here.
Before they fully withdrew, pale green-skinned giants—Preyas from another world—charged. Seeing retreat, they surged forward, intent on annihilation.
“Damn it!”
Kellam, covering the rear, realized escape was impossible. Fight while retreating it was.
“Shing!”
An ice blade struck the nearest Preyas. Damage done—but no kill.
“Tch.”
Truth was, Preyas were lifeforms leagues above humans. Their strength and vitality defied human imagination—why even superpowered warriors struggled to beat them.
One attack. One hesitation. Distance grew between him and the retreating forces. He couldn’t finish the Preyas—time to rejoin the group.
“Boom!”
A shell hit ahead. His ice wall blocked the blast, but not the shockwave.
Solo escape? Impossible now.
This three-year battlefield veteran chose desperation.
“Aaaah!”
Temperature plummeted. Ground froze. Snowflakes swirled. His power dropped the area below minus forty degrees.
Preyas began freezing over.
“Heh…”
Better than expected. Kellam spread his arms. Ice flowers fell—each hit harder than a sniper round. They pierced Preyas bodies, exploding from within.
“Roarrr—!”
Agonized screams tore through the air. Weaker Preyas detonated, frozen green chunks flying.
“Hahaha—! Thought they were tough. Wiped out by me?”
Before his laugh faded, a fist as big as his body slammed down. Kellam flattened instantly.
Behind that massive shadow lay piles of corpses—retreating Lapthesis Combatants. Not one survived Line Three…
