Interstellar Survival: Invasion

I did not like the Brotherhood, but I also knew the terrifying fate that would befall them after they were taken prisoner.
For some reason, pity rose in me.
Howls from the imperial army ’s battle-wolves could already be heard from the door.

”Canyue, go.
We ’re running out of time.
If we ’re late, they will blow apart the tunnel connecting to the bottom, ” said Zhang Bao ’er.

I ran toward the wounded thugs and gave two high-energy cluster bombs to a one-armed thug.
After nodding and saluting him, I turned and ran toward the bottom floor.
We ran down the stairs, going through three floors before reaching the bottom.
Two Brotherhood thugs were about to detonate the micro-atomic bomb they had installed at the entrance.
Right at that moment, I heard the explosion of the cluster bombs from above me.
The wounded thugs had detonated the bombs I had given them.

”At the very least, they are true warriors, ” Zhang Bao ’er said.

I stayed silent.
I had always believed that every life in the universe should be respected.
Although there were good and evil life forms, there would be a reason for why any individual would turn evil.

As the situation was urgent, I couldn ’t waste too much time thinking.
I could see the imperial army running down the stairs.
The Liyate thugs activated the bomb, and we quickly ran deeper into the tunnel.
A few seconds later, a deafening explosion erupted, destroying the stairs connecting several floors of the building.
The path to the college ’s lower floors had been destroyed.

Zhang Bao ’er and I rushed into a room.
The room was relatively spacious.
Hundreds of us were squeezed into it.
This was our final hope.
The crowd parted to give me passage.
When I ran to the front of the crowd, I saw Zhang Xingxing, Giorno, and the others facing a black square opening.
The black opening seemed to lead somewhere extremely deep, and the whistling sounds of wind could be heard from it.

”Is this the entrance to the Dark Hall? ” I asked Jeferun.

”Yes.
Every time we put the banned books away, we would use an iron chest to store the books before lowering the chest through this hole with a rope.
When we pull the rope out the next day, the chest would be gone, ” said Jeferun.

”Then wouldn ’t the stored books be gone forever? ” I asked.

”Yes, and not a single book has ever been retrieved from the Dark Hall, ” said Jeferun.

”Who ’s staying down there to collect the cases? ” asked Zhang Bao ’er.

”The one paid to do the work, ” said Domo with a sneer.

”Now ’s not the time to joke or argue, ” I stopped the two.

”This is our only path of survival.
Do you want me to scout ahead? ” Old Du asked.

”No, it ’s too dangerous.
We need to think of a way to go down safely.
Nobody can predict the dangers we will encounter down there, ” said Zhang Xingxing.

Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded from above us, followed by a pounding.

”There ’s no time.
Our enemies are clearing a path.
We don ’t have the time to think of something, ” said Old Du.

”Yeah.
This is urgent.
Let this warrior scout ahead.
All of us will be taking this path, ” urged Giorno, obviously harboring evil designs.

”I ’ll go with Old Du.
You come with us as well, ” I said while pointing at Aaron.

The team leader paled with hesitation written all over his face.

”I agree with the great explorer.
Aaron, I ’ll be troubling you with this task.
We ’ll be there with you shortly, ” said Giorno coldly.

Not capable of refusing his boss, Aaron could only agree unwillingly.

Zhang Xingxing still objected, ”Canyue, I still disagree.
This is too dangerous.
What if something happens to the two of you? ” 

”Don ’t worry.
The prophet said that I won ’t die so fast, ” I comforted her.

”I ’ll go with you! ” Zhang Bao ’er offered.

”You need to protect the leader and the others.
This is an order, ” I said.

”What order? Since when was your army rank higher than mine? ” scolded Zhang Bao ’er, but he no longer insisted on coming with us.

”Titan, fasten the rope somewhere firm.
I ’ll get ready to go down with Old Du, ” I said urgently as the noises from above were getting louder.

Titan immediately tied our ropes firmly to a pillar.
I exchanged my gaze with Old Du before jumping into the black tunnel.
Cold wind blew past me as I entered.
My heart was beating rapidly due to my nervousness.
After all, this was the Dark Hall where nobody had visited for tens of thousands of years.

After descending for about three meters, the wind vanished for no apparent reason.
My surroundings were still completely black.
Apart from the little bit of light from above me, I felt like I had entered a world of pure void, with no air, no energy, no light, and no time.
It felt like all of creation had been suspended.

I turned my shield to the maximum capacity and turned on my laser probe, allowing me to see Old Du and Aaron come down one after another.

Energy level remaining: 24 hours.