Chapter 866: Advance to Retreat

Chapter 866: Advance to Retreat

Beep—

While the others stood paralyzed, Liao Liao lunged for the emergency door release. As Gao Yang's flames gathered, one thought blazed through her mind: Fuck, I'm not dying here!

The metal doors parted with a hydraulic hiss. Through the first crack, Liao Liao's throat convulsed as she unleashed an otherworldly cry.

"Yiyayiyayiya..."

The sound pierced their skulls like needles, flooding their minds with chaos. Even Gao Yang's concentration fractured, his wing of flame wavering and dissipating.

Gao Yang's features tightened as he fought to stabilize his energy flow, determined to complete the Fire Punch. He knew Disorientation could disrupt a Talent but couldn't silence it completely like Mute or Wave of Serenity.

Reading his persistence, Liao Liao instantly switched tactics. Her hands became a blur as she drew her guns, firing six shots in rapid succession. Black Gold bullets, each enchanted with poison, paralysis, and weakening power, streaked toward Gao Yang's vital points—forehead, eyes, throat, and heart.

Forced to abandon his Fire Punch, Gao Yang diverted his power to Absolute Defense, armoring himself against the enhanced bullets.

"Please have mercy! Don't kill me!"

In the same breath, Liao Liao dropped to her knees, kowtowing as Follow Heart took effect. Despite himself, Gao Yang's resolve wavered. For a crucial moment, his target transformed from an enemy into a helpless creature, like a pregnant kitten abandoned in the wild.

Though Psychic Armor quickly stripped away the manufactured sympathy, that split-second hesitation was enough. The air around him turned lethal.

Spatial Blender!

Recognizing Sir Jiang's signature move, Gao Yang teleported sideways—directly into Qin You's trap. A dozen vines erupted from the ground, having anticipated his escape route.

Liao Liao's desperate gambit to save herself had snapped everyone back to reality. They poured out of the laboratory, fighting for their lives.

Ignoring the scientist's enthusiasm, Gao Yang verified Dr. Jia was within his Absolute Defense’s range before bringing his hands together and reaching toward the ground. The full picture of his plan was thus revealed.

Gao Yang had known the Union would protect Dr. Jia, but he'd calculated that anyone short of Qilin, Surnamed Li, or half the Union's forces would be manageable. When the bridge battle drew away their strongest defenders, he struck.

The true challenge wasn't defeating the guards—it was preventing them from killing Dr. Jia in desperation. While Dr. Jia's death would be acceptable, it wasn't optimal. A living genius could become a powerful asset against the Union.

So Gao Yang had advanced to retreat, attacked to defend. He showed up openly and pretended that he was going to kill everyone with his attack.

Indeed, people could rarely think rationally when survival instincts kicked in.

Liao Liao's defensive reaction had catalyzed the others, none able to see past their immediate peril. Gao Yang’s double managed to draw them out, allowing his true self to slip inside.

What he had to do next was simple: conjure a small Absolute Barrier to protect Dr. Jia. The man would be safe for certain in the next ten minutes unless he suddenly committed suicide for whatever reason.

During those ten minutes, Gao Yang could focus on going after the enemies outside.

Sir Jiang and Qin You had to die. The others might be spared if they surrendered sincerely. Gao Yang was confident he could eliminate them without depleting his power, then, if possible, he would conceal Dr. Jia before rushing to support his allies at Qingyang Bridge. Despite their contingency plans for escape, the battlefield was ever-changing, and things could derail easily. Gao Yang couldn’t stop being concerned.

Clap. His hands met the ground, but no energy manifested. No golden telebooth appeared.

The silence from beyond the door grew oppressive. Why weren't they trying to break in?

What's happening?

A shudder ran through Gao Yang as the air around him stilled. An invisible forcefield materialized, its presence solemn, dignified, cold, and sacred. The energy signature sparked recognition—he'd felt this before.

The realization hit like a physical blow.

Judge's realm!