Chapter Eighteen: The End of Iron and Blood

Chapter Eighteen: The End of the Iron Blood

“Assisting in the group kill of Iron Blood Warrior No. 1, received a C-level side plot and 500 reward points.” This was Shuster’s reward.

“Assisting in the group kill of Iron Blood Warrior No. 1, received 500 reward points.” This was Lolita’s.

The others also received varying rewards depending on their contributions.

“Huh? This is… a wrist blade!” Zhang Jie picked up one of the Iron Blood Warrior’s wrist blades.

Beside him, Dutch took up another wrist blade and sliced lightly at a nearby tree. The tree toppled without resistance.

“This is a good weapon!” Dutch couldn’t help but praise it.

“Task change: Help Dutch’s squad escape the pursuit of the adult Iron Blood Warrior team. If all members of Dutch’s squad survive, the reincarnation team will be rewarded with 800 points each. Upon completion, all reincarnation team members will receive a D-level side plot and 2,000 reward points. If Dutch’s squad is wiped out, all reincarnation team members will be erased, and the story will end with the team returning. Current number of Iron Blood Warriors: 4. Time remaining: 1:59:59.”

A guttural roar echoed from the depths of the jungle, startling countless birds.

Hearing the Lord God’s task, everyone was stunned at first, then Li Xiaoyi and Zhang Jie erupted in curses.

Each Iron Blood Warrior must undergo certain trials from childhood to adulthood. In “Alien vs. Predator,” it’s said that every adult Iron Blood Warrior must hunt down an Alien as their rite of passage. If killed dishonorably by another species, the remaining warriors will avenge them, as depicted in “Alien vs. Predator 2.” In the second film, the Iron Blood Warrior was forced to die, so, out of respect, the others merely collected his body.

“I think we should retreat quickly. This is no place to linger,” Li Xiaoyi said to Dutch.

“…Alright, let’s move fast. There’s definitely more than one of those things, and if we don’t run, we’ll all die,” Dutch replied. Everyone began to pack up swiftly.

“You should plant some booby traps on that thing,” Chu Xuan said as he sorted food supplies.

“I’ll go,” Shuster volunteered. Dutch’s squad, thinking Shuster was merely a scout and didn’t need much gear, had no idea he carried the most equipment of all.

Shuster packed two enhanced land mines with wet mud, converting them from pressure-triggered to tripwire-activated. These bombs could easily kill at least two Iron Blood Warriors.

Shuster: Why not let me just blow them all up?
Author: Then the story would end! It’s not about tormenting the protagonist, but solving things too easily isn’t my style, you know?
Shuster: You shameless god of coffee tables, you deserve to be struck down.

In less than two minutes, everyone was ready. At Dutch’s command, they began their escape.

Movement through the jungle was never fast, unless you were one of the protagonists who could leap rooftops.

A thunderous boom erupted—the site where the bombs had been planted.

“Killed Iron Blood Warrior No. 2, received a B-level side plot and 2,000 reward points.”

“Killed Iron Blood Warrior No. 5, received a B-level side plot and 2,000 reward points.”

Shuster flashed a gesture—two fingers—to the reincarnators, who nodded and kept running.

Twin roars resounded, different from before, announcing the Iron Blood Warriors’ fury and the beginning of their vengeance.

With the sense of death chasing at their backs, they finally reached the story’s single-log bridge.

“I’ll cover the rear, you all go!” Shuster suddenly shouted after the others crossed.

“What?” All were startled, including Billy, who had planned to stay behind.

“I’ll cover the rear, hurry up!! Go!!” Shuster drew Blood Dance Crescent Moon and stood in the middle of the bridge.

“…Go!” Dutch paused, then decisively led the retreat.

“Hey, you can’t…” Zheng Zha tried to protest, but Lolita cut him off.

“Let’s go. Don’t worry, he won’t die,” Lolita whispered, pulling Zheng Zha along.

With Lolita’s reassurance, everyone relaxed—she would never let her brother die.

Not long after the group left,

Shuster sensed a presence ahead. Focusing, he spotted a barely perceptible transparent figure emerging from the jungle.

Confronted by Shuster’s provocation, the honor-bound Iron Blood Warrior accepted the challenge, though it kept its camouflage active.

The bridge offered no room to dodge; only direct combat was possible. That was the Iron Blood Warrior’s analysis. But it was mistaken.

A sharp whistle from the left signaled both the direction and the strength of the attack. Based on years of Iron Blood experience, only a direct clash could counter this move—but today, it would meet its end.

Steel clashed as Blood Dance Crescent Moon met the enemy's weapon. But before Shuster could withdraw his blade, a second attack came—a wrist blade from the other hand.

As the wrist blade stabbed into Shuster’s body, he transformed into a block of wood embedded on the blade. Sensing danger from behind, the Iron Blood Warrior raised its left arm, hoping its armor would withstand a fatal blow.

Blood sprayed as green liquid splattered everywhere—an Iron Blood Warrior's arm was severed, the wound gushing. Blood Dance Crescent Moon’s curse showed its power again.

While Shuster fought, let’s look at the other side.

Dutch’s squad led the way, the reincarnator team close behind.

Lolita glanced at her watch: Dutch’s squad had six left, two Iron Blood Warriors remained, time left: 1:12:27.

They pressed onward…

“Hmm?… Everyone get down!” Lolita suddenly shouted and dropped to the ground herself—her shadow clone body would explode if critically wounded.

Dutch’s squad reacted instantly, hitting the ground. The reincarnators were no slower, following suit as a hail of arrows rained down.

Just as Li Xiaoyi was about to drop, a sudden pain pierced his chest. He looked down—a wrist blade had pierced through him, then…

He screamed as the wrist blade dragged him by the attached cord deep into the forest.

“Damn it!” Tyrant cursed, grabbed his RPK, and sprayed bullets at the woods. The others joined in.

A blast sounded less than a second after they stopped firing, about 200 meters off to the left.

“No need to try rescuing him. He’s used the Honorary Grenade,” Shuster’s voice came from behind. He was soaked, covered in leaves and mud.

“Is it handled?” Lolita rushed over, wiped dirt from his face, and asked quietly.

Shuster didn’t speak, just nodded, then flashed a hand signal from a concealed spot.

Everyone checked their watches: Dutch’s squad—six left, Iron Blood Warriors—one left, time remaining: 0:34:36.

“Keep retreating, quickly. That thing will keep chasing us. The extraction point isn’t far now,” Dutch checked the headcount and ordered.

No one wasted words; in silence, they moved toward the extraction point.

As they walked, Chu Xuan thought and gestured: he would attract the enemy at the rear, Shuster would handle it, the rest would provide cover.

Everyone nodded, quietly changing formation while Dutch’s squad was distracted.

They walked for a while—when the watch showed less than ten minutes remaining and everyone was starting to relax—a sharp whistling came from the shadows. An arrow with a spiral tip and barbed shaft shot toward Chu Xuan…

Blood splattered as the arrow sank into flesh.

Chu Xuan closed his eyes, felt blood spraying on his face, but not the pain he expected. Opening his eyes, he saw a fair hand gripping the arrow tightly. Blood dripped from the shaft and tip, bits of flesh caught on the barbs. The hand’s owner was Shuster, eyes locked on the jungle.

The arrow’s tail was attached to a taut cord.

“You… come out here! Hah!” Shuster roared, yanking hard. A towering figure was pulled out by the diminutive Shuster.

The figure flew toward Shuster—two human heads hung from its waist, Hawkins and Rehn, victims from before.

The Iron Blood Warrior was baffled by the strength of such a small body, but before it could process this, it saw a headless corpse—one it recognized from earlier. Before it could think further, darkness enveloped it.

A line marks the end of the battle.

Half awake, the rookie reincarnators found themselves in a plaza, a giant egg of light pulsing above them.

Zhang Jie suddenly laughed, “Ha ha ha, everyone, we made it back alive. Thanks to Shuster this time. Go rest, we’ll meet here tomorrow. The doors without names are empty rooms—pick one. Also, don’t redeem anything, except maybe creating a companion for yourself. Don’t enter the surrounding darkness—you’ll disappear.” With that, he scooped up his classical beauty and carried her into his room.

PS: Four more chapters to Death God. I’m frustrated—I’ve only written two chapters for Death God, my manuscript stock is running low. Woe!