Chapter 94: Awakening

"I'm going in... This dummy is trying to get himself killed…"

Sitting on the roof of the villa, Avi watched Liu Ye approach Tian to confront him on his own. She was so eager to just get down and fight against Tian on her own but Katherine was stopping her. 

"Wait in position. Xu Yue withdrew the Water Stone so he should have already awakened. Go in only if Liu Ye's life is in danger," Katherine ordered in her earpiece before reminding, "Your main job is still protecting Zhenzhen. We can't lose a potential healer." 

Avi rolled her eyes at Katherine's obsession with healing and was about to respond when the action became spicier. Liu Ye was stopped by Tian and ordered to strip. Avi couldn't help but lean a bit closer as she watched his muscular back. Only a split second later did her gaze reach the gun at the back of his pants. 

Why would he need a gun if he has already awakened?

Bang!

Avi's heart sank seeing Liu Ye shoot at Tian's legs and then withdraw. Seeing Tian just freeze the wounds and counterattack angrily, she immediately lifted herself up while lamenting, 'Why did I listen to her?!'

The ice bullets were already shot out and it was impossible to get down in time. 

"Stop!" 

A female scream came out from the villa and Liu Ye suddenly acted. The water from the freshly watered garden suddenly vibrated and rose up from the ground. It floated in front of Liu Ye like a wave and froze just in time for the assault of ice bullets.

Avi stopped herself from dropping down at the last second and watched Liu Ye in shock. 

"He awakened…" 

———

'I awakened...' Liu Ye thought in surprise only to see his weak ice wall crumble, sending sharp ice fragments all over him. He was forced to drop down on the ground to avoid getting hit in the face but his back suffered instead. 

It was the worried scream of Zhenzhen that echoed in Liu Ye's mind and caused something in his mind to click. He suddenly exploded with energy and the water listened to his summons. 

He looked to the side with his back bleeding from each cut and saw Zhenzhen meeting his gaze. She was horrified, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

"GET INSIDE!" Liu Ye yelled loudly but that didn't stop her at all. She shuddered and rushed towards him only to be stopped by Xu Yue on the last step of the stairs. 

"Let me go!" Zhenzhen cried out as she struggled to break free but Xu Yue was so much stronger and pulled her to safety. He sighed in relief but that wasn't the end. 

Tian is going to hurt everyone unless he stops him. 

"Motherfucker, even if you have already awakened, you are still going to die," Tian called out angrily as he stopped shooting and walked up with water wrapping around his body. "I'm going to kill you and those two bitches too." 

"No..." Liu Ye muttered soundlessly and pulled himself up like a zombie. His back burned like hell while his blood painted the grass red but he ignored everything. 

Liu Ye's empty gaze pierced through Tian like a laser beam and he extended his arm at the ground. His whole body trembled as the ice began to melt and traveled up his legs.

"You can't even lift the water without shivering and you plan to fight back?" Tian questioned and swung his arm, shooting a water jet straight at Liu Ye's chest.

It was so fast that Liu Ye had no time to dodge and his body was like a doll without any control. 

"Liu Ye!!" 

All he heard was Zhenzhen's scream as he got blasted back tens of meters. He momentarily couldn't breathe, feeling as if he was hit by a truck. Despite the pain, he tried to get up but his body was simply refusing to listen to him. 

"Useless piece of shit," Tian cursed as his voice got closer. "Do you think you can play the hero and save everyone on your own? Let me help you answer it. No, you can't." 

Huu... 

Each breath Liu Ye took was met with pain but that was the feeling he was used to the most. Lying down on the wet grass was the most comfortable position but he lifted himself up and gazed Tian in the eyes. 

"You are wrong…" Liu Ye replied, noticing some movement behind him. He smiled as he watched the fireball travel in the air and explode right on Tian's back. 

The shockwave from the explosion blasted Tian in the air despite having water armor around his body. 

"Leave my boyfriend alone!" Xu Yue yelled as her fists ignited again and she fired multiple jabs as she rushed to Liu Ye's side. Her voice was filled with anger as if she was about to explode. 

"I'm not alone..." Liu Ye muttered to himself and got up right when his girls came to support him. It wasn't shameful to receive help, especially while fighting an enemy above his league. 

"Big bro! Don't move!" Zhenzhen shouted worriedly as she placed both hands on his back. He immediately felt relief while the pain got replaced with light tingling.

"I am fine, don't worry," Liu Ye assured but Zhenzhen immediately scolded him.

"Shut up and stay still! Your whole back is ripped apart!" 

This was the first time he has ever heard Zhenzhen raise her voice on him. He had no idea he was in such a bad condition as adrenaline helped him ignore the pain. 

"Healing! You learned to heal!" Tian exclaimed as soon as he got up and completely disregarded Xu Yue who just blasted him away. "You are definitely coming along with me!"

He no longer held back and stomped on the ground, causing all small pebbles to fly in the air. He only glanced at Xu Yue as the pebbles shot at her like bullets. 

Liu Ye wanted to move, gather water once again to protect her but he couldn't do anything. His mind and body were already at the brink of exhaustion while the real battle didn't even start. Compared to the game, he was useless and wasn't strong enough to protect his loved ones. 

"That's enough."

Just when Liu Ye ran out of options, a female voice suddenly came from the sky and he saw a familiar woman land right in front of Xu Yue. She only extended her palm and a stream of flames stopped the pebbles in place.

It was no other than Avi who came at the right time to save the day. 

"How about you face someone of your caliber instead of bullying newbies?" Avi questioned as she reached out to her pocket and passed a round object to the shocked Xu Yue behind her. "Give it to him." 

"Thank you…" Xu Yue acknowledged and took a deep breath as she ran back to Liu Ye's side. Even the always strong Xu Yue was as pale as a sheet of paper. 

Using Elemental Power was mentaly draining and they just awakened. It was impossible for them to perform as well as Avi or Tian. Adding the fact that she just escaped from death, it was even a surprise she was still standing. 

"Water Stone…?" Liu Ye recognized the stone in Xu Yue's palm and realized it was much bigger than the one they used earlier. He didn't hesitate and ate it, hoping to regain some of his power. 

One thing he hated was being useless in the most important moments. 

"Well, well, well. Who do we have here," Tian called out as he halted his advance. "Isn't it Avi, the Blood Hunter? It has been a while since I fought you." 

"Fought?" Avi repeated with a smile. "Did you really call our last meeting a fight? You were simply running away while screaming like a little girl." 

Tian snickered at her comment. "I was simply respecting your strength by performing a tactical retreat." 

"Don't worry, I'm not going to let you run away this time," Avi assured as she covered her fists with two water whips and dashed forward. "Fight me bitch!"

Tian's confidence from before vanished as he momentarily launched himself back, escaping from two ice spikes stabbing where he stood just a second ago. They could no longer see them but Avi was definitely one of the favorites. 

Liu Ye finally felt the effects of the Water Stone as his eyesight blurred. He could feel the chill energy spread around his body and then travel up to his mind. The instant headache from all the energy gathering in his brain was horrible but it only lasted for a few seconds until his mind got used to it. 

"Are you okay?" Xu Yue questioned as she rubbed his cheek and he nodded after a deep breath. 

"I'm fine as long as you two are fine," Liu Ye replied as he squeezed her hand. The lift in his mood only lasted a second as Xu Yue's eyes widened and she rushed behind his back. 

"Zhenzhen!"

It was the moment she cried out when Liu Ye felt Zhenzhen's hands pull away from him and the pain on his back return. He swiftly turned around only to see Zhenzhen fall down into Xu Yue's arms, completely unconscious.