Chapter 169: Chapter 157: We Cannot Abandon Barto
Cyril, carrying Gu Ning, landed lightly and silently on the snow from the high-rise wreckage of a staircase.
Several Beastman soldiers followed, jumping down behind him with thuds of varying weight. Gu Ning couldn’t help but glance over.
Cyril had carried her down with one arm the entire way. He was far more agile than the average Beastman, with an incredible leaping ability. All he needed was the slightest foothold to launch himself a great distance. In just a few bounds, before she could even process what was happening, he had carried her from the hundred-meter-high wall down to its base.
Cyril scanned their surroundings vigilantly. Attracted by the potent female scent, the Mutant Species on the ground had all rushed toward the wall. In just a moment, they were almost nowhere to be seen in the immediate vicinity.
Once he saw their surroundings were safe, Cyril straightened up and looked at the little... female in his arms. He fell silent for a moment, losing his usual suave composure.
Though he’d had his suspicions about her identity due to her actions, the reality of it still left him too stunned to speak.
’And... her features... they’re so familiar. I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.’
A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted into Cyril’s nostrils, interrupting his train of thought.
Cyril’s nostrils twitched. Recognizing the scent as coming from the little female in his arms, he instantly understood the source of the lure Alex had used to attract the King Seed.
’The audacity of that man, to dare...’
Gu Ning turned and met Cyril’s eyes for a moment before pointing toward the main gate.
Snapping out of it, Cyril turned and called out behind him. A few giant beasts came running over.
Just as Cyril was about to jump onto the back of one of the wolves with Gu Ning, several giant wolves came rushing from the distance, snarling and baring their teeth at them.
"Seth?"
Seeing the familiar lupine figure, Gu Ning squirmed out of Cyril’s arms and jumped down.
Cyril raised a hand. Seeing that they knew each other, he waved off the soldiers who had moved to surround them and didn’t interfere.
He watched the little female’s familiar interaction with Seth, and a thought occurred to him. He glanced up, his brow furrowing slightly.
’Alex using the little female’s scent to attract the Mutant Species must have been premeditated. Regardless of his objective, he has seriously violated the laws of the Beast Alliance.’
Gu Ning hugged the little wolf, which was whimpering nonstop, to comfort him. Right now, Seth looked like he wanted to tuck Gu Ning under his belly and let no one near her.
"It’s okay, Seth. It’s okay." Gu Ning whispered in the little wolf’s ear. "I need you."
As she spoke, she gave his fur a gentle tug, signaling for him to lie down.
Seth licked her hand, barked twice toward a spot in the distance, and nudged her forward with his head.
"WOOF WOOF WOOF!!! Ning! Ning!"
Hearing that familiar bark, Gu Ning’s eyes flew wide as she stared in its direction.
Just like that, Cook’s furry figure appeared unexpectedly in her line of sight.
Seeing an unfamiliar Mixed Breed charging toward them like a cannonball, Cyril and his men moved to shield Gu Ning, preparing to attack.
Seth immediately dashed forward, placing himself between Cyril’s men and Cook. Cook was too worked up to stop in time and crashed into him, sending them both tumbling in a heap.
"Cook!"
Gu Ning squeezed past Cyril and his men and ran toward Cook.
"WOOF!"
Cook sat up in the snow and shook himself off before scrambling toward Gu Ning. He threw his arms around her and held her tight. "Ning, Ning..."
"Cook, you’re back, you’re really back," Gu Ning said. "I was worried sick about you."
Tears instantly welled up in Gu Ning’s eyes. She gently pushed Cook’s head back and cupped his face. "How did you get back?"
Seeing bloodstains on his face, her heart ached as she stroked his cheek, checking him for other injuries.
Cook whined and barked, but he seemed to be in good shape. Gu Ning couldn’t understand what he was trying to say, so she just assumed he was worried about her, too. Then she noticed Jite limping behind him and figured that Jite and the others had been the ones to bring him back.
Jite, seeing that Gu Ning was safe, let out a huge sigh of relief. He walked over and gave her a lick.
With Cook found, the tension coiling in Gu Ning’s heart finally eased. She rested her head against Cook’s chest, composing herself, then realized Barto hadn’t returned with him. Her eyes scanned the area for any sign of the fox, and she whispered to Cook, "Cook, where’s Barto?"
When Cook heard her ask about Barto, a few anxious noises rumbled in his throat. He looked like he wanted to tell her something, but he also seemed to want to avoid the subject.
Seeing his reaction, Gu Ning’s heart leaped back into her throat.
She grabbed Cook and asked him again. Cook just buried his head in her shoulder and mumbled, "Bar... go..."
Gu Ning considered his words, then tilted her head. "Barto told you to leave?"
Cook grunted in response.
Gu Ning asked, "Where is he?"
Cook flicked his tail but didn’t answer.
’This is very strange.’
But for Gu Ning, who knew him so well, his silence was an answer in itself.
Her tone turned cold. "You ran into Kuinan, didn’t you?"
As soon as Gu Ning spoke, Cook pulled her into a tight hug, repeating over and over, "Don’t... be... afraid... don’t be afraid..."
Seth and the others sensed something was off with Cook’s emotional state and moved to separate him from Gu Ning.
Cook reacted defensively, letting out a warning growl and refusing to let them near Gu Ning.
Cyril rested a hand on the gun at his waist, and the soldiers beside him prepared to attack at a moment’s notice.
Gu Ning hurriedly soothed Cook. ’He must have been terrified by Kuinan.’
Cook licked Gu Ning’s hand, his eyes filled with a rare, complicated expression. He desperately wanted to find Barto, but some part of him didn’t want to let Ningning risk her life.
When Barto came to rescue him, he hadn’t wanted to leave Barto behind, but Barto had insisted. He said Cook had to protect Ningning, that he had to stay by her side, so he had no choice but to return.
’Ningning is important, but Barto is an important friend, too.’ He didn’t know what to do.
Gu Ning held Cook’s head and comforted him for a moment, then looked back, searching for Cyril.
The moment her gaze shifted, Cyril stepped forward, keeping a careful distance—close enough to her, but far enough not to provoke the still-wary Cook.
Gu Ning’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting to Seth and Jite. She lowered her eyes in thought, then cupped Cook’s face in both hands and touched her forehead to his. Her voice was firm. "Cook, we can’t abandon Barto. Don’t be afraid. We can save him."
...
...
「Zone 19 Center.」
On the surface, Mutant Species rampaged wildly, but the Underground Arena was roaring with life. All the Beastmen had gathered before a single Beast Fighting Cage, their eyes gleaming as they watched the two figures dueling within, letting out sporadic cheers and boos.
"CLANG!"
Inside the cage, a hulking Beastman with muscles like slabs of rock swatted the pouncing red figure away with a single punch.
Barto slammed heavily against the edge of the cage and fell to the ground.
His Beastman opponent advanced on him with earth-shaking, thunderous steps, roaring, "I’m going to tear you to shreds!"
Outside the cage, half the Beastmen cheered while the other half hurled curses at the motionless fox on the ground.
"Get the hell up! Kill that bastard!"
"Did the potion already wear off?"
"Useless red fox! Hurry up and mutate! It’s your only chance to win!"
