Chapter 1285: A Remote Bet
The 'Ants' had originally targeted the eye on her back, but the middle-aged woman began to resist violently in panic. Her entire body started to metalize, but she forgot that these 'Ants' also had strengthened physiques. Under the immense force of their suppression, she could only defend herself and had no way to break free. The leading 'Ant' touched the middle-aged woman's body as it gradually grew hard. He tried several different angles but could only touch metal; it seemed there was no weak point left.
In his fluster, his withered arm touched the woman's neck. The warm sensation confirmed that only this spot remained skin; all other organs had turned to steel. Seizing the last opportunity, he opened his mouth and bit down on her throat.
Before the middle-aged woman could even realize what was happening, her eyes instantly went wide. The metalization across her body rapidly receded, her throat was torn apart, and blood gushed from her mouth.
Seeing this, Yan Zhichun and Jiang Ruoxue hurried into the room and helped Earth Rabbit, who was on the floor, to his feet. The group had briefly met at Black Sheep's place, barely recognizing each other as comrades.
“This is...” Earth Rabbit looked at the horrifying scene before him, like a pack of wild beasts tearing apart a living person.
“This is the last army.” Yan Zhichun said, then glanced at Earth Rabbit and saw that he was already extremely weak.
He had old injuries to begin with, and now his body was covered in countless new wounds. A massive amount of blood had dyed his fur red, the blood-soaked strands clumping together, each hair distinct.
“Great...” Earth Rabbit staggered and leaned against the wall. His bloodstained grayish-red face revealed a relieved smile. “I was just worried whether I could take her down before I died... now it’s fine...”
Yan Zhichun felt that Earth Rabbit looked exceptionally exhausted—not just physically, but also mentally.
After seeing that Heaven Rabbit had completely stopped moving, Earth Rabbit's expression changed. He slowly took a breath, then spat out large mouthfuls of blood.
It seemed that with every breath, he would spurt blood. His face was now filled with helplessness.
“Cough... it really hurts...” He clutched his chest and spoke with difficulty. “Just now, all my thoughts were suppressing the urge to breathe... now that I've relaxed... my whole body feels wrong...”
Seeing him gasping for air as he spoke, Yan Zhichun was momentarily at a loss, not knowing how to help him.
“Don't make that face... ha...” Earth Rabbit looked up and said. “I was originally a dead man anyway... it's fine...”
Seeing Yan Zhichun's worried expression, Jiang Ruoxue stepped forward and gently grabbed Earth Rabbit's hand.
“Earth Rabbit, you need to understand the logic here...” Jiang Ruoxue murmured. “This is the ‘Land of Endings’. Even if you stop breathing...”
“No...” Earth Rabbit interrupted Jiang Ruoxue and pulled his hand back. “I don't know what you're trying to do, but stop caring about me... I don't want to live anymore...”
“You...” Jiang Ruoxue paused. “Don't worry, saving you isn't troublesome...”
“No need...” Earth Rabbit shook his head. “My plan for my life ends at this moment. Having accomplished all my goals, I no longer know with what mindset I should continue living in this beastly skin... What you are doing is not salvation to me, but a curse.”
He slowly walked out the door, leaving a bloody handprint on the doorframe.
“While I can still move, I want to see Heaven Mouse's corpse one more time...” Earth Rabbit said. “Don't bother with me anymore...”
Seeing his tall and lonely figure, Yan Zhichun and Jiang Ruoxue could only shake their heads helplessly.
At that moment, the 'Ants' crashed through another door. The two women ran out following the sound and found that the room ahead was larger, covered in black hair, making it impossible to see the situation clearly.
The many 'Ants' outside seemed to sense something and rushed toward the center of the black side, but they were violently counterattacked in an instant. Several 'Ants' had their necks snapped on the spot.
...
Earth Dog slowly stood up at this moment. He listened carefully to the sounds outside the door, then said to the others in the room, “It's about time. It's our turn to act.”
The expressions of Xiaoxiao, Lin Qin, Zheng Yingxiong, and the few remaining 'Jidao' members in the room had all become complicated.
“What exactly are you planning?” Xiaoxiao asked. “We've delayed so long already. No matter what's happening outside, they probably don't need us anymore, right?”
“Oh? So what?” Earth Dog asked lazily. “Even work allows tardiness. Why can't rebellion?”
“If the battle outside is won, what use is there for us to go out?” Xiaoxiao asked with an irritated expression. “If the battle outside is lost, going out would just be throwing our lives away.”
“How can you say that...” Earth Dog smiled and shook his head. “I have a feeling the battle is just entering its climax... Now is the perfect time to strike. If my judgment is wrong, then I'll have to trouble everyone to share the infamy with me.”
“You...” Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth. “We were unlucky to be acting with a ‘Zodiac’ like you. You'd better not be making excuses for your laziness and cowardice.”
“No need to rush to die...” Earth Dog stretched. “Everyone will have their chance to die.”
Lin Qin took several deep breaths to steady his thoughts, then walked up to Earth Dog and asked, “I really don't understand what role you are playing in this rebellion.”
“Me...” Earth Dog thought for a moment. “Theoretically, I am supposed to kill Heaven Dog.”
“Then why aren't you going?” Lin Qin asked. “If we leave Heaven Dog unchecked, the consequences will be troublesome, right?”
“No... precisely because I understand Heaven Dog... that I changed my strategy on the fly.” Earth Dog said thoughtfully. “This is a trivial little bet. If I win, it will add icing to the cake of this plan. If I lose, then we all will be branded cowards who provided no help in this operation.”
“What...?”
“I bet that the more Heaven Dog knows, the smaller his courage will become.” Earth Dog said. “I observed this plan from the sidelines... its meticulousness exceeded my imagination. Sadly, Heaven Dog knows even more comprehensively than I do. He will comprehensively judge in his mind which side is more likely to win this rebellion.”
Lin Qin paused after hearing this. “I think I understand...”
“If Heaven Dog believes we will win, he will resolutely abandon his current camp to save his life, and we will win without a fight.” Earth Dog said. “Conversely, if Heaven Dog can find a way to turn the tide and reverse the outcome of the whole affair, then no matter what we do, it will be futile. Therefore, I boldly guess that in this battle, Heaven Dog does not need to be killed separately.”