Volume One: When We Were Young Chapter 20: The War Is Not Yet Over

After her tears subsided, Alice suddenly seemed to remember something. She hurriedly rummaged through Hoye’s storage box, muttering to herself, “That’s right, the energy injector—my brother always carries one. His sub-type stem cells are so powerful; as long as there’s enough energy, he’ll recover.”

Few people knew that Eddie had once taken Hoye for an ability assessment. The results: sub-type stem cells, a rare treasure among individual abilities. Because this mutation occurred at the cellular level, with proper use it could mimic the effects of several different powers. Known abilities included: immense strength and rapid healing.

In her fluster, Alice finally found Hoye’s energy injector—a tiny automatic syringe containing barely ten milliliters of clear liquid, yet packed with over a thousand kilocalories of energy.

Alice pulled open Hoye’s shirt, pressed the needle to his skin, and slowly injected the energy serum into his bloodstream.

With the surge of energy, Hoye’s sub-cells, previously dormant, responded as if to a command, multiplying at a breakneck pace and differentiating into his own body’s tissue.

Before everyone’s eyes, Hoye’s left leg began to regenerate—skin, flesh, ligaments, bone—growing at a rate visible to the naked eye. In barely a dozen seconds, both his legs were whole again, the new skin delicate and fresh as that of a newborn.

Xiao Liu exclaimed in astonishment, “No way—is this an immortal ability? Is he a calamity?”

Alice shot him a glare. “Watch your mouth!”

“I just mean... he’s really strong. Yeah, really strong!” Xiao Liu finally managed.

Shangguan Yudie, seeing Hoye safe and sound, burst into tears of relief. Thank goodness he was all right—otherwise, she’d have blamed herself for a lifetime.

Hoye’s breathing gradually steadied, and soon he opened his eyes. Feeling a sharp pain in his chest, he glanced at the white-haired girl whose tears still clung to her lashes and couldn’t help but joke, “Silly sister, the injector is supposed to go into the jugular, you know. You’re not Cupid—why try to pierce my heart?”

He was still teasing—clearly, he was all right.

Alice pounded on his shoulder. “You’ve got some nerve! You scared me half to death!”

“What’s there to be scared of? When I was out training, I’ve had my heart pierced before. What’s one leg?” Hoye boasted.

Shangguan Yudie seemed as if she wanted to say something to Hoye, but the words caught in her throat.

Hoye, ever perceptive, sat up and smiled at her. “Xiaoyu, I know what you want to say. There’s no need to apologize—I’m fine, aren’t I? An S-Class? Maybe I can’t beat one, but kill me? Not so easy.”

While they spoke, the city’s resident Hunter Corps had already mounted the walls, driving off the last of the exhausted avian calamities. By now, the ramparts were clear.

The teachers leading the battle rushed around, informing the students that this was, in fact, an exam devised by Bancroft. Now that it was over, the Hunter Corps would handle the remaining calamities outside the walls.

“Now that the exam is over, any injured students should go to the infirmary immediately. Those seeking extra credit may join the Hunter Corps in battle, but remember to know your limits. Avoid engaging with calamities above A-Class, and students stationed on the southern front, keep at least two hundred meters from the battlefield where Captain Halls and the S-Class ultimate form are fighting.”

The Academy’s broadcast resounded throughout the city. Many students, having survived the ordeal, were tempted, but fear held them back. Even though they were enrolled in the most prestigious academy of all humankind, they were still too inexperienced. Whether in power or in battle sense, the battlefield cared for no one. They were told to avoid A-Class calamities, but if such a beast decided to kill, who besides the Academy’s elite could stand in its way?

Hoye could.

He stood up and said to the others, “I’m going down. I have a score to settle with that giant serpent.”

Alice rushed to block his way, arms outstretched. “You’re not going anywhere! Even if you went all out, at best you could take down an A-Class calamity. But that’s S-Class—an ultimate form. Dad’s there, that’s enough. Don’t go getting yourself killed.”

But Hoye’s expression was resolute. “Xiao Ai, you know it too—that’s a Bone-Chilling Sand Serpent. Against that species, I refuse to back down. If I retreat now, I don’t know if I’ll ever have the courage to face this again. I don’t know if I can make a difference, or if I’ll die trying. I only know I want to fight. I want to stand beside Dad. If I can’t fight with him now, how will I ever inherit the Reaper Hunter Corps in the future?”

His words were soft, his throat hoarse, as if something blocked it. As Eddie Halls’ son, he bore burdens no boy his age should. But he would never back down. When life threw challenges his way, he would face them head-on. Even if Eddie himself stood before him, blocking his path, Hoye would not simply obey.

Alice saw the determination in Hoye’s eyes and realized she could not dissuade him. She knew well how deep his love for Qingxue ran, and how bitter his hatred for the Sand Serpent was. Still, with Dad on the field, she was confident there would be no real danger.

She lowered her arms and let Hoye pass.

He sheathed his Demon-Slaying Blade, reached out to ruffle Alice’s hair, and said gently, “I’ll be back soon.”

He strode toward the stairs, but before he could take a step, two soft hands caught his arms. He turned—Shangguan Yudie and Alice were both clutching his sleeves.

Alice averted her eyes, face flushed. “Didn’t you say I should have your back? If you go too far, my sniper scope can’t cover you.”

“So... you want to come with me?”

“Dummy...”

Hoye turned to Shangguan Yudie. “Are you here to talk me out of it, or do you want to go down with me?”

Looking at Hoye’s gentle smile, Shangguan Yudie could still sense the rage beneath it—a fury she had rarely seen, the kind only born of hatred. Yet above that anger, there was a mask—a smile.

She knew the anger wasn’t directed at her, nor did she care about the reason. She only wanted to repay Hoye for saving her life, though she knew she probably never could. So she nodded. She would go.

Xiao Liu, seeing this, raised his hand. “Me too! We’re a team. If you’re going, I can’t just stand here and watch.”

“Good, let’s go together!” Hoye declared.

Everything had turned out as Hoye had expected. It was, indeed, just an exam. He hadn’t revealed his Dark Compatibility, and although he’d used Lightning-Fast Movement to save Shangguan Yudie, no one had seen the fleeting spark of lightning on his body.

Alice was right—Hoye was already one of the top students, but that was only within the student ranks. An A-Class calamity was his current limit.

But battle could not be decided by strength alone. Ordinary students could avoid the fight, for to join was to gamble with their lives, and no mere assessment was worth that risk. But Hoye was different—because down there was a Bone-Chilling Sand Serpent.

In Hoye’s dictionary, there was no such thing as retreat. If there was a fight, he would fight with everything he had.

The exam was over—but the true war had only just begun.