What does it feel like to kill for the first time?
Some vomited uncontrollably, their bodies trembling with fear. Others stared blankly, as though their souls had left them. And then there were those who, caught in a frenzy, screamed and shouted to vent their adrenaline.
"Don't let a single one escape!"
Miles charged forward, gripping his gun tightly, and fired a burst of bullets toward the newsstand across the street.
Ratatatat!
Aaron suddenly appeared from the shadows, sprinting to join Miles.
Running alongside him, Aaron yelled, "Damn it! You've bullied me for so long, now it's your turn!"
Ratatatat!
Bang bang!
The two of them fired relentlessly at the newsstand from opposite angles. Inside, Elliott and the sergeant had no choice but to break cover and rush out.
Bang bang!
Elliott, clearly a seasoned soldier, raised his pistol in one hand and fired two precise shots.
Crack!
Aaron took a hit to the neck. Had he not instinctively tilted his head, that bullet would have ended him.
Ratatatat!
Blood gushed from Aaron's wound as he staggered but somehow managed to steady himself long enough to empty his magazine at Elliott. Only then did he collapse to the ground.
"Shit!"
Miles glanced at Aaron but couldn't stop to help—he was in danger himself.
The sergeant had locked onto him, his gun raised.
"Die, you bastard!"
The sergeant squeezed the trigger, but the next moment, his face froze in disbelief.
Miles sidestepped swiftly, dodging the bullets with inhuman precision.
"How… how is this possible?!"
At such close range, even a novice wouldn't have missed, let alone a trained soldier like him. Those two shots should have been fatal.
But Miles had shifted slightly, effortlessly avoiding them.
"He's a damn mutant! There's a mutant here!" the sergeant screamed in panic.
Bang bang!
Miles didn't give him another second to process his fear. Two quick shots ended him.
Elliott, wounded in the thigh by Aaron's final burst, sat slumped on the ground, staring at Miles in terror as he approached.
"P-please… don't kill me!" Elliott stammered.
"Hands up!"
Miles ordered sharply, forcing Elliott to surrender. Then, shouting over his shoulder, he called out, "Someone tie him up!"
A group of students rushed over, quickly binding Elliott like a trussed chicken.
With the immediate danger over, Miles let out a long breath and turned his attention to Aaron.
Blood had soaked through Aaron's clothes, and his body slumped limply in Miles's arms.
"Shit!" Miles shook him urgently, shouting, "You can't die, man! If you die, your sister's gonna kill me!"
The thought of Mary's furious face sent a jolt of clarity through Miles's mind.
He hoisted Aaron into his arms, gritting his teeth as he sprinted back toward the villa. "Someone help me! Get Aaron inside, now!"
The ambush had ended in just twenty minutes. The Southwest Base's twenty-man squad had been utterly annihilated, with not a single survivor escaping.
Twelve soldiers lay dead, riddled with bullets. Elliott and seven wounded soldiers had been captured.
…
In Mary's villa, a flurry of chaos erupted as a group carried Aaron inside.
The moment Mary saw her brother's bloodied body, she staggered, then rushed forward in panic.
"Aaron! What happened?! Someone tell me what happened to him?!"
Miles, clutching his arm where a stray bullet had grazed him, swallowed hard and explained, "Your brother got shot. The bullet grazed an artery."
"Miles!"
Mary erupted in rage. Gone was her usual composed demeanor. Her voice shook with fury as she shouted, "Is this how you repay me after everything I've done for you?!"
Miles didn't argue back. He sighed heavily. "He charged too fast. I couldn't stop him."
"You're heartless! He's just a kid!" Mary's eyes burned red with anger, her voice breaking as she yelled.
Ansel, who had also been injured and carried into the villa, weakly muttered, "Mary, can you shut up? My head's killing me."
Mary froze for a moment, taking a shaky breath to calm herself. "Where's the doctor? Where's the doctor?!" she demanded.
Miles hesitated, then picked up his radio. "Lisa!"
Inside their villa, Lisa clutched her walkie-talkie, instantly responding, "I'm here! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. Aaron's been injured. Bring the medical supplies over right away."
"I'm coming now!"
A few minutes later, Lisa rushed into Mary's villa. Her eyes darted to Miles, and seeing him alive and standing, she let out a breath of relief.
Mary, her hands covered in her brother's blood, grabbed Lisa's arm, her voice trembling. "Please, save him! I'm begging you—save him!"
"I will. Don't worry," Lisa assured her.
Opening her medical kit, Lisa quickly began to stop Aaron's bleeding. Once the flow was controlled, she looked up and said, "He's lost too much blood. He'll need a transfusion. What's his blood type?"
"O negative!" Mary replied quickly.
"Who here is O negative?" Lisa asked, glancing around the room.
The group exchanged nervous glances, but no one stepped forward.
"Fine, I'll do it myself," Lisa said, pulling out a clean syringe. She turned to Miles. "I need your help."
"You…" Miles hesitated.
"Stop wasting time!" Lisa snapped. "Saving him is the priority!"
Rolling up her sleeve, Lisa revealed her pale arm. The needle slipped into her vein, drawing blood into a collection bag.
Hiss.
A moment later, Miles connected the blood bag to Aaron's IV line, attaching the drip to his arm. Gradually, color returned to Aaron's pale face.
"It's not enough. He needs immediate surgery!" Lisa said, her tone grim. She turned to Miles, her gaze silently seeking his permission.
Only one place in the entire Cloud City had the equipment necessary for surgery—Miles's villa.
Mary noticed the exchange of glances and immediately understood. She clung to Miles's arm, pleading desperately. "Please… save my brother! I'm begging you!"
Miles said nothing at first.
In his heart, he wanted to help, but he couldn't ignore the implications. The students and fighters outside were watching, and letting Aaron into the villa—a place that had always been off-limits—might stir unrest among the others.
"Miles, please!"
Mary fell to her knees, her pride and dignity shattered, her face filled with despair.
She, who had once been unyielding and proud, now seemed so fragile, on the verge of breaking.
After a long silence, Miles stood and said, "Isaac, Ryan, come help me."
These were the two people he trusted most. Together, the three of them carefully lifted Aaron, with Lisa carrying the IV bag and Mary trailing behind, tears streaming down her face.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they entered Miles's villa.
For the first time, an "outsider" was allowed into what had always been considered sacred ground—Villa 104.
Among the crowd, Charles from the Nanshan Military Academy nudged Thomas, whispering, "What's the boss thinking?"
"Shut it," Thomas snapped, glaring at him. "Keep your little schemes to yourself. If you don't, I'll kill you before the boss even has to."
Charles flinched, then forced a nervous laugh. "I didn't mean anything by it!"
Thomas sneered. "You'd better not. Or next time, don't expect Miles to save you."
Miles was the last to enter.
Before stepping inside, he turned back and said, "Thomas, gather all the injured. Make sure they're treated immediately. Let me know if you need anything."
He pulled out several medical kits from his space storage, handing them to Thomas.
Thomas smiled and nodded. "You've got it, boss!"