Xia Lei rolled off the laboratory bench. The military uniform on his back was already tattered by the broken glass and lab equipment but Xia Lei could not be bothered with it now. His attention was on the line of cylindrical containers. From what he could see, the containers were already filled with a pure white liquid substance.
He quickly stared at the gigantic vessel in the bottom centre of the underground laboratory. The six faceless warrior statues were gone! What remained were black mineral-like byproducts that looked similar to unrefined mineral rock powder.
Zhu Xuanyue had achieved her goal. All she needed was to escape this laboratory with the containers.
If the black-robed prehistoric chosen one did not show up, she would be unstoppable. There was no way of finding out how her plan would go with the former’s sudden appearance.
The prehistoric chosen one’s appearance was not a coincidence. Zhu Xuanyue had managed to get into Area 51 through hiding in Kestin’s helicopter. He was the existence of pure energy. There was no existing technology that could detect his presence, not even the all-mighty Tenshin AI system.
He was a changing factor that interrupted the current balance. Just seconds earlier, Xia Lei was struck with a severe disadvantage against Zhu Xuanyue. To make things worse, the woman had assistance from three people too. If the prehistoric chosen one had not done anything, Xia Lei most probably would be shot. Now, with the interference of the prehistoric chosen one, Xia Lei would be able to take care of Kestin, Charlotte and Eva while the other ‘man’ could help shield him from Zhu Xuanyue. Things wouldn’t be so dire anymore.
So, it was safe to say that the prehistoric chosen one’s presence was a turning point for Xia Lei.
The atmosphere in the underground laboratory turned incredibly tense.
The prehistoric chosen one stood still while Zhu Xuanyue mirrored him. Kestin did not dare to move a single muscle. Eva, on the other hand, dared not shoot at any target.
Xia Lei too was rooted to his spot. The Gust assault rifle in his grip was bent and deformed. The only weapons he was left with was a military dagger and a Viper pistol.
Both sides went into a standstill with the prehistoric chosen one as their focus.
It was only until ten seconds later that Zhu Xuanyue began moving towards the central control panel.
From underneath his black mask, the prehistoric chosen one spoke. “Xia Lei, stop her. I’ll block her while you kill off her people. Then, we’ll run away with the containers.”
With that, Xia Lei’s hard gaze was fixed on Kestin. He began to reach behind for his Viper pistol.
“Xia Lei!” Zhu Xuanyue called out in a lowered voice. “Don’t forget that he’s your enemy! He’s using you and he’ll kill you at the end of this!”
He looked back to the prehistoric chosen one. While he kept a calm facade, his heart was struggling from an unprecedented dilemma. It wasn’t that he had no stand of his own. The man was clearer than ever before that this black-robed prehistoric chosen one was not meant to be a friend and even more so as an ally. The prehistoric chosen one was a foe, a foe that would ultimately deliver Xia Lei his ‘judgement day’ about a year later!
He did not require Zhu Xuanyue’s reminder for this.
He now had two choices. One of them was to join hands with the prehistoric chosen one and launch Zhu Xuanyue’s plan into jeopardy. However, the aftermath would result in becoming Zhu Xuanyue’s sworn nemesis and it would be impossible for him to befriend the prehistoric chosen one. One year or more later, the prehistoric chosen one would kill him off. If he chose not to help the black-robed man, Zhu Xuanyue would succeed. But Xia Lei had an ominous feeling about it. From the fact that Zhu Xuanyue’s subordinate could become the CEO of Lockheed Martin, it was clear that her plan was something much deeper than what he knew.
“Do you know who she is?” The prehistoric chosen one asked.
Xia Lei’s curiosity was piqued. “No.”
“She isn’t from this world. Her world was already destroyed ages ago. She is a general who led her subordinates to this realm. The humans of this realm are nothing but food sources to her and her kind. This realm is nothing but a farm to them. She’s trying to extract energy from the six statues to build a bridge. When she succeeds, more of her kind will be coming into this realm. We won’t be able to stop them from destroying the world when that happens.” Pausing for a moment, the prehistoric chosen one continued, “Her name was never Zhu Xuanyue. Her true name is Isitabu, which means the Goddess of Suicides in the ancient Mayan language.”
So Isitabu was Zhu Xuanyue’s real name. The woman was general from another piece of ‘corn’ and the Goddess of Suicides.
While Xia Lei had long guessed that Zhu Xuanyue was not part of this world, it was difficult confirming it first hand. The information was hard to stomach even. The man was reluctant to refer to Zhu Xuanyue by her real name, Isitabu. Though he was aware that Zhu Xuanyue was an alias, it still was tied to irreplaceable memories and two women who loved and hated him, Ning Jing and Gu Kewen.
Zhu Xuanyue stared at Xia Lei. “Ignore his bullshitting. he is lying to you. You should be clearer than anyone about who I am. I’m not planning to build any kind of bridge. My kind had gone extinct. The six statues had arrived in this world with me, and they hold utmost importance to me. Do not even think about helping him.”
“You’re lying!” The prehistoric chosen one’s outburst blasted through the underground space like a hand grenade, shattering glass components on some of the machines!
“You’re the one who’s lying!” Zhu Xuanyue’s voice was even more piercing. While it had lacked the threat of the prehistoric chosen one, it was more penetrative. Under the torment of her voice, more glasswares were turned into powder.
Xia Lei had experienced this prior. As soon as the prehistoric chosen one opened his jaw, Xia Lei had quickly closed off his ear canal. While it wasn’t able to cancel all noise, it was able to avoid any more damage. He was unscathed but Charlotte and Eva had immediately sustained damage. Blood had begun to trickle out of their ears!
Surprisingly, Kestin seemed positively unfazed. Calmly, he continued to inch closer to the cylindrical containers carefully while Zhu Xuanyue faced off the prehistoric chosen one.
“Xia Lei, we’ll talk about us later!” The prehistoric chosen one’s tone was demanding and stern. “For the sake of world harmony and the survival of billions. You need to fight with me!”
“Hahaha…” Zhu Xuanyue chortled coldly. “Don’t you dare think that I know nothing about your filthy little plan. You have been using him since the very beginning! Do you even care about the lives of the humans of this realm? You don’t want peace.” She turned to look at Xia Lei. “Xia Lei! He has deceived you time and time again. Once bitten twice shy, are you going to let him play you like a fiddle forever? He’s not even part of this world. His world was destroyed long ago. Do you think he has a reason to care about this world’s peace and the people? Wake up! You can’t be fooled again!”
There was a beat of silence before Xia Lei questioned, “Then tell me. What are you trying to do with the extracts?”
Zhu Xuanyue shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. But you need to be clear. If you choose him and fight me, we will be complete enemies. You’re clear about what that entitles, right? I’m going to destroy everything you own in your life.”
His career. A wild ambition to push China to glorious heights.
His family. Four wives, four children and his dear Xia Xue. All of which he treasured deeply.
If he became Zhu Xuanyue’s nemesis, she’d destroy all of the above. He wouldn’t be able to protect the Thunder Horse Military Factory along with his family and friends. This was a price he could not afford even for the sake of saving humanity!
Was this even to save humanity?
Xia Lei had no fucking idea. He could barely tell if the prehistoric chosen one or Zhu Xuanyue was lying to him. Perhaps both of them were equally fake! He had gone through lies after lies. He had decided to no longer trust anyone. Xia Lei did not believe in either of them.
“What are you still hesitating for?” The prehistoric chosen one yelled. “If she gets what she wants, her kind will invade this realm and no humans will be allowed to live! Just think about your wives and children!”
“Xia Lei!” Zhu Xuanyue screamed. “He’s bound to kill you. After killing you, he will definitely not spare your children. Your offspring carry your genes. Think this through! Will he want to risk having four descendants of yours to hunt him down for revenge?”
Wow.
Minutes ago, he was someone anyone could kill. Now, Xia Lei was a key character demanded by both parties. His next words were about to tip the balance. No matter which side he was placed on, the other side was bound to lose.
How was he even supposed to make a choice?
After another tensed moment of silence, Xia Lei flat out laughed. “Hahaha…”
“What are you laughing at?” The prehistoric chosen one and Zhu Xuanyue asked in unison.
The man was laughing so hard he doubled over. “I’m just a pawn to you. It really is times like this that show the value you truly care about. In another setting with another timing, none of you would’ve cared about me. You would have taken me out with no regards to my future.”
The prehistoric chosen one and Zhu Xuanyue watched him in silence.
Xia Lei continued, his laughter finally dying down. His voice was filled with unhidden melancholy. “One side is about saving the world and the other is about destroying it. You’ve even resorted to threatening me into picking a side with my wives and children. I’m done with both of you. I’m fucking done.” He pointed a finger at the prehistoric chosen one. “I will not join you.” Then, he pointed at Zhu Xuanyue. “I will not join you either. Take your time and have fun, I’m leaving.”
Letting his sentence die, Xia Lei began to leave true as told.
“Hold it!” The prehistoric chosen one’s voice turned extremely menacing. “I saved you and this is how you repay my kindness? Are you not afraid that I will kill you?”
Xia Lei answered nonchalantly, “You gave me a time limit and you have your own plan. Unless you’re eager to ruin your progress, come kill me then. While I don’t know anything about your plan, I’m aware that it won’t work without me. I wouldn’t have survived to this day otherwise.”
“You…” The prehistoric chosen one’s glare was dangerously piercing.
Yet, Xia Lei felt no fear. He turned around and began climbing up the stairs to the hovering walkway and towards the emergency route without sparing them any more attention. Xia Lei couldn’t be arsed with the opposing parties at each other’s throat and the successfully extracted mysterious substance downstairs.
Xia Lei left. Zhu Xuanyue made no move to halt him and the prehistoric chosen one did nothing. To both of them, things were at a balance. However, things would be wobbly if anyone decided to attack Xia Lei and force him into taking the other’s side. That was something they did not wish to face.
And with that, Xia Lei disappeared into the stairway.