Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Hero, Gunning Down a Tier 4
Tick tock, tick tock.
The cave ceiling hung densely with stalactites, with water droplets constantly gathering at their tips, dripping into the cold pool below, creating ripples.
Bearded Dai Jun was tied to a cross, his left hand severed, his ripped clothes revealing numerous wounds, one eye gouged out, leaving a hideous bloody hole.
"Mr. Dai, have you not yet made up your mind?"
The Poisonous Snake-man Egger walked up to Dai Jun, a slight smirk on his lips, speaking in perfectly standard Empire language:
"I value your abilities greatly. If you are willing to join my Snake-man tribe and diligently train the Snake-man warriors, I can procure a portion of Life Spirit Liquid for you."
"Life Spirit Liquid not only can help you regrow your severed hand and eye but also can change your constitution, making your Spiritual Cultivation smoother."
At these words, Dai Jun slowly lifted his head, his hollow eye socket facing Egger, the other eye filled with hatred, speaking hoarsely:
"Little snake, remember this, I am a Royal Soldier, a war hero; in this life, I will only kill Beastmen, and never surrender to them."
"Tsk tsk, Mr. Dai, stubborn people like you are really rare."
Egger said, with a gentle yet sinister smile on his face, placing his scaly hand lightly on his bald head: "Mr. Lin Chao, maybe you should persuade him; my patience is limited. If he still refuses, then I will have to bestow upon him the most painful way to die."
"Alright! Alright!"
The bald man scrambled to Dai Jun’s side, stood up, his eyes red with emotion, and said:
"Brother Dai, just surrender, your body...."
"Da Chao!"
Dai Jun suddenly shouted coldly, interrupting the bald man’s words.
"Brother Dai."
The bald man grabbed Dai Jun’s right hand, tears streaming down the corners of his eyes, his voice trembling.
"Surrender... please, everyone... has surrendered."
Upon hearing this, Dai Jun slowly lowered his eyes, a dark sigh in his heart. After a long while, he spoke in a low voice:
"Da Chao, I remember telling you my father was a Royal Soldier who sacrificed himself when I was very young, killed by Beastmen."
"My mother died over a year later from overwhelming grief."
"Because of the Beastmen, I lost my parents at a young age and became an orphan; it was the Empire that raised me and nurtured me into a Spiritualist."
"After enlisting, my squad leader who treated me like a brother got killed by Beastmen, and one by one, my comrades died under the Beastmen’s claws."
"Da Chao, anyone else in this world can surrender to Beastmen, but not me, Dai Jun."
Dai Jun looked up, staring straight at Egger, the solitary eye burning with the flames of hatred.
"My parents, my brothers were all harmed by Beastmen. In this life, I only have one wish — to kill all Beastmen in the world."
"Brother Dai."
The bald man tightly held Dai Jun’s hand, his heart torn by pain and guilt, not even daring to lift his head to meet Dai Jun’s eyes.
Not far away, Qin Tian looked at the scene below with a complicated expression; previously, his impression of Dai Jun was negative, seeing him as a reckless soldier with a corrupt nature.
However, as the scene unfolded before him, he had to admit, Dai Jun was the toughest man he had ever seen, worthy of the title of war hero.
...
"Mr. Dai, it seems we cannot reach an agreement."
Egger leisurely approached, speaking with a tone of regret: "I admire Mr. Dai greatly, your will is like iron, deserving of everyone’s respect. It’s a pity that your hatred runs too deep."
"In that case, I can only send you on your way, but before you die, I will let you experience this world’s ultimate pain."
"Pah!"
Dai Jun spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm dismissively: "If I surrender to you, I’ll be your grandson."
"Ha, so stubborn."
Egger’s eyes flashed coldly, raising his hand ready to grasp Dai Jun’s face.
At that moment, the bald man, stepping back, suddenly surged forward, his fist gathering fiery Spiritual Energy, striking at the back of Egger’s head.
Pa~
The thick snake tail shielded Egger’s head like a barrier. He turned around, his murky snake eyes staring at the bald man, his tone eerie:
"It seems there are more foolish people than just him. Since you wish to die, I will grant you the wish."
"I’ll fight you to the death!!!"
The bald man’s eyes were bloodshot, shouting angrily, gathering all his Spiritual Energy into his right fist, like a burning fireball, hammering toward Egger.
Pa~
Egger’s palm gleamed with a dark green light, clutching the bald man’s fist, while the other hand swiftly thrust out, gripping the bald man’s entire face.
Purple mist erupted from his palm, spewing onto the bald man’s face.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle~~~
The bald man’s face burned as if splashed with acid, emitting corrosive sounds.
"Aaaaah!!!"
The bald man screamed miserably, struggling in agony, yet Egger’s hand gripped his face like iron pincers.
"Da Chao! Da Chao! Damn you!!! If you have anything, come at me!!"
Dai Jun’s eyes widened in fury, roaring angrily, his body twisting wildly, the chains clanging loudly, scraping sharply against the cross.
Despite Dai Jun’s desperate struggle, the chains seemed as if they were part of him, unyielding.
With every struggle, the chains dug deeper into his flesh, blood trailing down his arms and legs, pooling in an ever-growing puddle on the floor beneath him.
The stalactites above still dripped rhythmically, "tick tock, tick tock," the sound mocking his powerless resistance.
"Don’t worry, your turn is coming soon."
Egger said with an icy smile, the purple mist in his palm growing denser.
In no time, the blood and flesh of the bald man’s face were corroded away, revealing biting-cold white bones.
"Da Chao! Da Chao!"
Dai Jun cried out in agony, his once steel-like resolve now unable to contain the despair and sorrow in his heart, tears freely streaming down his blood and sweat-streaked cheeks, leaving grimy trails behind.
Dai Jun knew, it was his words that had affected Lin Chao.
Lin Chao must have known that with his strength, he couldn’t possibly hurt the Poisonous Snake-man.
But Lin Chao still resolutely launched the attack.
When he acted, Lin Chao didn’t plan to survive; he wanted to die alongside Dai Jun.
Pa~
Egger released his grip, and the bald man’s body fell to the ground.
Horrifically, his lower body remained intact, but above the neck, only a skull remained, all the tissue and flesh corroded by toxins, unimaginable the pain he endured in that process.
"Next, it’s your turn."
Egger slowly approached Dai Jun, purple mist rising from his palm.
"Little snake, even as a Ghost, I won’t let you go!!"
Dai Jun roared, his voice full of hatred and fury.
"Then I’ll be waiting for you."
Egger’s lips curled into a cold arc, lifting his hand to grab Dai Jun’s face, ready to act again.
Boom!!!
At that moment, the sound of an explosion rang out, Egger turning his head instinctively toward the sound.
But as he turned, an immense sense of danger surged, the scales on his neck standing up.
His body reacted before his brain, Spiritual Energy automatically activated, appearing on his surface.
A high-speed rotating bullet came shooting from behind, with unmatched penetrating power, piercing through the Spiritual Energy shield, precisely hitting the back of his head.
Bam!
That arrogant and cold face exploded in front of Dai Jun, spraying sticky liquid all over him, his pupils contracted, briefly stunned, then he turned to look in the direction the bullet came from.
In the small cave entrance, a figure slowly stood up, tall and straight, holding an extraordinarily exaggerated sniper rifle in both hands.
And recognizing the face of the person, incredulity filled Dai Jun’s eyes.
How could it be him!