Jiang Yu leaned down and pinched Chinatsu’s cheeks with his hand, forcing her small mouth open.
Then, he tipped the can and poured the liquid straight in.
Chinatsu struggled, but her body was too weak.
After a couple of feeble movements, she was easily overpowered by Jiang Yu.
“Stop struggling.
I was hired to rescue you.
You can’t die here before I collect my commission.” *Kid, before my system pops up a notification of 500,000 Dennies entering my account, even if the Grim Reaper himself came to claim your soul, he’d have to ask my wealth-grabbing system first!* After forcing another small mouthful of coconut juice down her throat, Jiang Yu waited a moment before pinching her mouth open again to pour some more.
This time, she stopped struggling.
Perhaps thanks to the miraculous effect of the coconut juice, Chinatsu regained a bit of strength and stared intently at the unfamiliar boy with her bright eyes.
After feeding her a few more mouthfuls, Jiang Yu took out his canteen, emptied the remaining water inside, and poured the rest of the coconut juice along with the pulp into it.
They couldn’t stay here.
They had to leave this Hollow immediately.
Stowing the canteen away, he slung the protesting Chinatsu over his shoulder.
Under the guidance of Sean and Kim, they headed toward the Hollow’s exit.
Because the rebels had developed this Hollow to mine ether crystals, they had dedicated data posts and professional personnel to calculate the exit.
“Kim and I can only take you this far.
The Hollow’s exit is on that platform ahead.
There are too many eyes around, so please understand.” Sean offered an apologetic smile and pulled his tactical helmet over his head.
Jiang Yu nodded in understanding.
Letting the hostage go was already a massive sacrifice; if they were found out, they would be lucky to escape with their lives.
Finding such decent people in this day and age was rare.
He asked tentatively: “Why don’t you guys leave with me and live in the Inner Ring?” Sean smiled and shook his head.
“No, we carry too many sins on our backs.
The environment here suits us better.” Jiang Yu nodded again, choosing not to press further.
After a moment of silence, he cupped his fist in a traditional Chinese salute.
Though Sean and Kim had never seen the gesture before, they awkwardly cupped their fists in return.
Adjusting the scrawny girl on his shoulder and smoothing down her disheveled skirt, he gripped his hilt once more.
With a flash, he vanished from the spot.
Before they left, the girl on his shoulder looked back at the soldier named Sean with confusion.
She couldn’t understand why this man’s final smile looked sadder than crying.
—— On the large platform.
After casually taking out a few guards, Jiang Yu carried Chinatsu on his shoulder and was about to step into the spatial rift when he suddenly heard a sharp whistle of rushing wind.
Jiang Yu shifted his weight and swiftly darted away from his position.
Just as he did, a colossal sword slammed into the exact spot where he had been standing a moment ago.
Sensing something, he looked up.
A man clad in combat armor stood on the roof of a nearby building, his hands behind his back, his eyes as sharp as an eagle’s.
If Sean and Kim were still here, their jaws would have dropped.
The man before them was none other than the youngest former Major of the Defense Force—Myles Solomon, a young prodigy possessing both immense strength and a powerful background.
When the Hollow Zero disaster broke out, Myles, who came from an influential family, didn’t use his connections to avoid the deployment.
Instead, he led his elite squad to charge into Hollow Zero first.
Upon learning that no reinforcements were coming, he managed to carve a path of survival out of Hollow Zero while rescuing a group of citizens.
Following the incident, Myles was promoted from Captain to Major.
However, the Hollow Zero event had completely shattered his faith in the military.
Combined with a subsequent incident in the ranks, he eventually left the Defense Force on his own and joined the rebel faction.
Without any warning, Myles, standing on the rooftop, tilted his body forward.
Once he reached the perfect angle, his legs suddenly kicked off!
*Boom!* The rooftop fractured, and Myles shot toward Jiang Yu like a cannonball.
Facing the sudden assault, Jiang Yu didn’t panic.
He turned his body sideways to shield Chinatsu from the shockwave.
Bending his knees to absorb the impact, his right hand was already coated in a layer of black Haki.
In mid-air, Myles adjusted his posture and delivered a flying kick toward Jiang Yu.
The kick was incredibly swift and fierce.
Jiang Yu threw a punch with his Haki-clad right fist, pouring all his strength into meeting the cannonball-like kick.
The collision between the black Haki and the alloy armor sent violent sparks flying, accompanied by a piercing metallic screech that echoed through the air.
Still carrying Chinatsu, Jiang Yu was pushed backward, his feet sliding across the ground.
*Combat armor?
Where the hell did this guy spring from?
New Eridu has tech like this?* Veins bulged on his arm.
His body, which possessed strength comparable to a high-grade Ethereal, suddenly unleashed a terrifying burst of force, pushing the massive metallic leg back.
“Oh?” Myles executed a backflip and landed steadily.
He was deeply surprised.
This young man possessed such incredible strength at such a young age, even capable of unleashing power on par with a high-grade Ethereal in critical moments.
What intrigued him even more was the black coating on the youth’s right arm, which allowed him to take a flying kick barehanded.
Jiang Yu gripped the hilt of Wuming tightly, ready to draw his blade at any moment.
He wasn’t sure if this man was here to hunt him down or to retrieve Chinatsu.
If the guy was after him, that was simple—he would just make a run for it.
But if he was here for Chinatsu, then he would have to apologize, because he’d have to see if his sword agreed first!
However, looking at the current situation, Chinatsu was in terrible condition and couldn’t withstand any collateral damage from a battle.
Fighting was the worst option; fleeing was the best choice.
“I followed your trail all the way here, thinking you were an elite warrior from the Defense Force.
I didn’t expect you to be an Outer Ring resident here to rescue a companion.” Though Jiang Yu didn’t know why the man mistook him for someone from the Outer Ring, the misunderstanding was actually quite convenient.
It would save him a lot of trouble down the line.
Myles strolled over to his colossal sword and casually pulled it out of the ground.
“Kid, infiltrating our heartland alone just to rescue a companion is highly commendable.
To be honest, I quite like you.
After all…
those who don’t cherish their comrades are worse than trash.” Jiang Yu twitched his lips.
“Then how about you pretend you didn’t see me?” Myles laughed heartily, resting the colossal sword on his shoulder.
“If I just let you walk away without doing anything, those old geezers will give me a harsh lecturing afterward.” Jiang Yu’s mouth twitched.
Before he could retort, the man had already closed the distance, sword on his shoulder.
Before the man even arrived, the pressure from the colossal sword cleaved down toward Jiang Yu’s head with a sharp whistle.
*Clang!* His long sword instantly left its sheath.
A crimson flash sparked, followed by the screech of clashing metal.
Both Jiang Yu and Myles took a step back, then lunged at each other simultaneously.
Myles held the colossal sword with both hands, clashing with the youth once more.
The joy in his eyes was palpable, as if he had discovered a rare treasure.
Jiang Yu, however, was growing anxious.
If he kept tangling with this guy, it would be difficult to leave safely.
Adjusting the slipping Chinatsu on his shoulder, he swung his sword, sending a crimson blade beam slicing through the air.
Myles easily deflected the attack with a swing of his own sword.
But just as he was about to launch a counteroffensive, an incredibly powerful slash was already right before his eyes.
[Brave Bull, Unafraid of Difficulties] Activate!