Chapter 63: The Burning Battle Qi —— A Exchange for Death

At this moment, Rod felt a strange sensation, as if his bloodline were connected to the Dark Dragon, forming a bond of life.
“Master, it recognizes you as its master! I wasn’t wrong—hahaha… It’s a precious sword!”
The cheers of the Xuanyuan Sword Spirit from within his body instantly dispelled Rod’s doubts and worries. He stood there, smiling foolishly as if he’d drunk honey.
“I don’t know how it works, but I sense it has a life of its own. There’s no doubt about it—it’s alive, just sleeping. If the master can awaken it someday, it will surely be a divine weapon!”
Another shock hit Rod, nearly making him grin. He inwardly marveled at his good fortune—truly incredible luck! He had stumbled upon a treasure through just one choice.
“Damn it, Rod! Why are you smiling like an idiot? Hurry up and kill them! Are you waiting to die here?” As Rod was lost in his thoughts, a furious shout beside him nearly scared him. Turning around, he saw Bit had appeared somehow and was glaring at him coldly.
“Cough… No… I’m not!”
Perhaps realizing he had done wrong, he felt guilty and said with a bitter smile.
Looking at the Dark Dragon in his hands, it remained dark, but now there was a faint shimmer of grace. A subtle glow seemed to signify that an ancient sword, after years of being hidden, was returning to the light.
“Boom…” Suddenly, a loud explosion caught everyone’s attention. They turned quickly to see Ada’s fire magic colliding with the mage’s wind magic. Fire and wind clashed against each other—fire amplified by the wind, the wind fanning the flames—a violent collision.
Countless flames scattered everywhere, creating a dazzling firestorm.
“Damn it, run!” The swirling firestorm posed an indiscriminate threat, pulling everyone below into its grasp.
Those who couldn’t react screamed in agony. Though the scattered flames weren’t extremely powerful, it was obvious they would cause severe burns.
“Boom…” Another loud noise erupted. This time, it wasn’t a collision but an explosion. Turning around, they saw Bruce, after exerting great effort, finally breaking through the blocked canyon, creating an opening wide enough for carriages to pass through.

“Go!” Bruce’s roar came next moment. Hearing his words and seeing the situation, the struggling fighters managed a faint smile. Under the orders of the officer from the Dark Legion, they retreated slowly toward the entrance of the canyon while fighting. “Kill them! Don’t let anyone get out!” Seeing the entrance broken through and the enemy preparing to retreat, the lead man in black grew anxious. He couldn’t afford failure. With a loud shout, his momentum surged again as he held off the officer from the Dark Legion before roaring at his remaining dozen or so subordinates. “Go!” Bruce rushed over and joined the battle, working with Randy to block the pursuing men in black as he shouted at those behind them. “You guys go! I’ll stay here to help!” After hesitating for a moment, Rod shouted at everyone to leave first. He knew the enemy’s target was just the two people in the carriage—perhaps, more precisely, just that lady. As long as she escaped and was safe, everything could be resolved. Their departure was only a matter of time, and there wouldn’t be any major danger. The protective wall formed by the three of them instantly proved effective. Rod’s power also soared thanks to the Dark Dragon at his side. Armed with it, he was full of confidence, swinging it wildly to fight his way through enemies. After making a decisive decision, though reluctant, everyone knew as mercenaries that the greater good must come first. As for the soldiers of the Dark Legion? It was in their nature to obey. Since their commander had given orders, they certainly couldn’t dawdle. The anxious man in black was at a loss, as the strong resistance meant their mission was doomed to fail. Watching everyone rush out of the canyon and their figures gradually fade away, those who had been buying time finally breathed a sigh of relief. All their efforts hadn’t been in vain; they had finally achieved something. “Let’s go!” After delaying for a while longer and seeing it was almost time, Randy shouted at the remaining few. “Don’t think you can escape! Hmph! If we can’t keep their key figures, how can we keep you?” Realizing their mission was doomed, the man in black roared in fury, shifting all his focus to those few people. Distant chaotic footsteps could be heard, and a group of people could be seen rushing toward them. “Men in black!” When those people got closer, everyone inwardly panicked. They were dressed in black just like these men—clearly, enemy reinforcements.

“Captain, haven’t we fought side by side for ten years?”
Suddenly, Bruce on Rod’s left and right said something baffling.
“Ten years, indeed ten years!” With a sigh, Landy spoke in a deep voice during a brief lull. A sense of foreboding spread through his heart.
Looking at the two people beside him in confusion, Rod felt as if something was about to happen, filled with an oppressive discomfort.
“Heh, well, ten years! Such moments are rare in life! Captain, I, Bruce, will take the lead first. Rod, you better do well—the future of the Swift Wind Mercenaries depends on you!” As he spoke, Bruce suddenly pushed off with all his strength and rushed toward the man in black, instantly diving into the crowd.
“Bruce, no…” Seeing this, Landy’s heart sank, and his foreboding came true as he cried out in despair.
“Go quickly! I’ll hold them off here—otherwise, we won’t have a chance!” He shouted anxiously at the three of them. Suddenly, Bruce heightened his combat energy, entering a frenzied state. His cyan-gray combat energy burned like flames as he swung his sword, slashing wildly.
“His combat energy is burning! That’s bad! Bruce…”
Seeing this, the expressions of those present changed drastically as they shouted in shock.
“Go! Don’t hesitate! Don’t waste the chance Bruce created!”
With a solemn expression, Landy shouted loudly, pulling Rod and rushing toward the canyon exit behind them.
The officer from the Dark Legion also sighed heavily after a moment of hesitation before turning and following Landy’s lead.
“Captain Bruce!”
Turning to look at Bruce, who was trapped in the siege behind them, Rod screamed loudly.
“Let me go, damn it! Let me go! Can’t you see the captain is still in there?”
Struggling violently to break free from Landy’s grip, Rod roared.
“Idiot! Bruce’s combat energy is burning—there’s nothing we can do. Even if we save him, he won’t survive. As a warrior, you should know the consequences of burning one’s combat energy. Go! Damn it! Bruce sacrificed himself to save us—do you really want to watch him die in vain?”
With a strong pull, Landy then slapped Rod hard. After a sharp sound, he roared, “Go!” Seizing this moment, the officer from the Dark Legion also rushed over, grabbed Rod’s other hand, and together with Landy, they dragged him outside.
What remained were Rod’s screams and cries.

“Brother, rest in peace!!” Hearing the voices behind him growing fainter, Bruce smiled faintly in relief and whispered to himself that his efforts had not been in vain.
“Kill!” A fierce roar erupted, boosting his momentum as he fought his way backward. When he reached the entrance of the canyon, he suddenly swung his weapon with tremendous force. A deafening crash followed, and the already chaotic slopes erupted into chaos—shards of rock flew everywhere, and dust filled the air!
Once the dust settled, the canyon entrance was sealed once again.
The voices behind them made the three of them pause. Turning back, they saw the canyon entrance closed once more, and the dust in the air made it clear what had happened.
“Captain…” A heart-wrenching scream rang out as Rod shouted. His cheeks suddenly felt wet, and he tasted bitterness—tears? He didn’t realize when, but he was already in tears.
“Brother, go well. Wait for me on the other side! I’ll join you in fighting fiercely!” Closing his eyes tightly, gripping his weapon, gritting his teeth, with veins bulging on his forehead and tears in his eyes, Lundy whispered to himself. A tear of a hero fell.
“Let’s go, there’s no time!” Sensing the two’s emotions, the officer from the Dark Legion felt immense weight in his heart. He took a deep breath, clenched his fist, looked ahead, pondered for a moment, then spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
Glancing back reluctantly one last time, the three of them rushed away. The voices behind them gradually faded until they could no longer be heard. But in Rod’s mind, Bruce’s last words kept echoing: “Heh, fine. Ten years! How many decades does one get in life? Captain, I, Bruce, will go first. Rod, you better do well—the future of the Storm Mercenaries depends on you!” Those words, filled with fighting spirit, showed how Bruce was risking his life to give them a chance to escape!
……
“If you want to pass here, kill me first!” Glancing coldly at the men in black across from him, after the chaotic footsteps, dozens more men in black arrived and joined the crowd. Outnumbered, Bruce showed no fear but instead a strange smile.
“Kill him! What can one person like him possibly do?” Facing this madman, the men in black were initially intimidated by his aura. After pondering for a moment, their leader shouted, and dozens of them rushed at Bruce, swords and blades flashing in the light!
One golden warrior against dozens of men in black—yet his face showed unwavering determination. To die in such a battle was enough for him in this life!