# 1806
Chapter 1806
The Exploration Fleet
On the bow of one of the exploration vessels, Hu Jia, wrapped in a black cloak, set down the stone flute and cast a casual glance at the three divine corpses.
"The trailing Lesser Gods have been dealt with."
On the central exploration vessel, a figure in deep crimson made a sound of acknowledgment.
The next moment, as if sensing something, he looked up at the sky. A shooting star streaked across the heavens, plummeting precisely toward his location!
Lin Qiye's eyes narrowed slightly. Without moving from his position on the bow, he slowly extended his palm toward the meteor descending in a straight line…
Boom—!!!
The meteor struck the bow, but those hands gripped it tightly, dissipating most of the terrifying kinetic energy with that single arm. The remaining force传导到脚下的探索船，将附近的海面震出数米高的浪花！
Fine white spray drifted through the storm, and a snow-white blade was now clutched in his palm.
Looking at this familiar blade, Lin Qiye's lips curved slightly upward.
"Long time no see… old friend."
【White Slash】 emitted a sharp hum, as if responding to Lin Qiye's call, trembling with excitement.
Lin Qiye sheathed it at his waist, hanging it alongside another black-and-gold blade in a crossed position… that was the supreme Magatsu Blade left behind by Yuzuri Takishiro, 【Divine Calamity】.
One snow-white, one black-and-gold, both radiating a chilling gleam beneath the wild crimson cloak.
Lin Qiye lifted his gaze, staring toward a certain direction within the mist. A killing intent brewed within the storm, rumbling thunderously.
"Let us depart… the last divine kingdom in this world shall be destroyed."
…
Olympus.
Beneath the blood-red setting sun, two tall armored guards carried a body like softened mud out of the palace.
"She's been much quieter today…" One of the guards glanced at the figure in his arms, surprised. "Wasn't she causing quite a ruckus these past couple days?"
"After so many days of continuous torture, she's probably gone numb."
"This human really can take a beating… If it were an ordinary Lesser God, they'd have been beaten to death long ago. She's actually still alive."
"Hmph, who told her to say nothing and keep courting death? Provoking Lord Hades has consequences."
"She doesn't look long for this world. Should we go easier on her tomorrow?"
"No need. There's nothing useful to extract from this woman anyway. She has one more day left before the people from Great Xia arrive. She'll die either way, so she can survive one more day of beatings."
"True."
The two reached the golden birdcage, tossed the motionless Xia Simeng inside, locked the door, and turned to leave.
Once they were gone, the members of the 【Phoenix】 Squad rushed to Xia Simeng's side, lifting her from the ground. Seeing the shocking wounds covering her body, they anxiously called out:
"Captain! Captain?!"
"What's with the wailing? Am I already dead?" Xia Simeng's eyes snapped open as she snapped back.
Seeing Xia Simeng awake, everyone finally relaxed.
"Captain, how are you feeling?" Cao Sha asked with a frown.
"Same as always. Their little hits are nothing more than scratches to me… Alright, alright, give me some space. I need to sleep for a bit."
Xia Simeng swayed as she tried to stand, losing her balance weakly and nearly crashing into the birdcage bars. Fortunately, Cao Sha's quick reflexes caught her and gently guided her to the edge.
"Captain, you…"
"How many people died today?" Before Cao Sha could speak, Xia Simeng cut him off.
Cao Sha fell silent for a moment before answering honestly. "Approximately… twelve hundred."
"So many??"
"Last night, the combined blood from the two of us could sustain only two thousand people. Today the wind is strong and the temperature dropped sharply. The remaining four thousand-plus have gone several days without food. They'll be hard-pressed to survive—tonight that number will probably double."
Xia Simeng lowered her head, sitting cross-legged facing outside the cage. Her expression was complicated.
"…I understand. Let me sleep for a bit."
Xia Simeng's eyes slowly closed. Her entire body became motionless, like a monk in deep meditation. As the sunlight vanished behind the mountains, her complexion visibly drained of color, turning ashen…
Tonight the clouds shrouded the sky, leaving not a single star visible.
The wind howled mournfully through the mountains. Within the pitch-black birdcage, countless figures huddled together in fear, their lives fading away silently in the silence.
The members of the 【Phoenix】 Squad sat at the edge of the cage, their fists clenched tight. Possessing Phoenix bloodline, they could even clearly sense each life extinguishing…
Once the last glimmer of light vanished from the Olympian mountains, Cao Sha rose from the darkness, a short blade in hand, and silently walked toward the crowd.
"Vice-Captain… let us help."
Several young women stepped out from the shadows, their expressions resolute.
"You girls should be resting. What are you doing tagging along?" Cao Sha frowned. "Move aside!"
"Vice-Captain! How many people can you possibly save alone? If we work together, we might save at least one more life!"
"That's right… The Captain is asleep. If we help you, it'll go faster."
"…"
The 【Phoenix】 Squad refused to be dissuaded, insisting on joining Cao Sha. Seeing he couldn't convince them, Cao Sha helplessly glanced back at the figure by the cage door—a silhouette with her back turned, head bowed in fitful sleep—and said quietly:
"Fine… remember, don't lose too much blood. If our Phoenix blood concentration drops too significantly, we won't be able to donate blood to new members in the future. Understood?"
"Yes!"
The group immediately scattered, moving swiftly and silently through the crowd. Just as Cao Sha quietly passed behind Xia Simeng, a hoarse voice spoke.
"Cao Sha."
Cao Sha froze and spun around. "Captain? You're not asleep?"
"…I woke up." The figure with her back turned slowly extended her arm, pushing a plastic basin brimming with blood forward from in front of her. "Take it…"
The moment Cao Sha saw the basin, his pupils constricted sharply. He rushed to Xia Simeng's side and seized her shoulders!
"Xia Simeng!! Are you out of your mind?!"
Cao Sha's furious roar echoed beside Xia Simeng's ear, but the figure acted as if she hadn't heard at all. In the dimness, he couldn't make out her expression, only a weak voice:
"Don't shout… let me… sleep…"
Xia Simeng's head drooped slightly. The next moment, there was no movement at all. In the dead silence, only the faint sound of a heartbeat remained, barely audible.
Cao Sha opened his mouth. The stream of curses and accusations on the tip of his tongue couldn't find their way out. He stared dazedly at the sleeping figure. A long time later, he finally trembled as he lifted the basin overflowing with Phoenix blood and stumbled toward the crowd…
Beneath the unlit night sky, the golden characters hovering above Olympus shifted once more.
—One.