NOVEL WEB Chapter 129: Resolve
[Some hours ago.]
Sunny lay on the ground, his gaze fixed on the stormy clouds above, utterly motionless and silent.
"Brother!!" Star rushed to him, shaking his body with desperate urgency. "Get up!!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face.
Sunny blinked, staring at her without a word.
'I lost both my parents and my baby sister in an accident... I later found a girlfriend, but she died because of my stupidity... I locked up my heart and focused on myself. Then, all of a sudden, I was given a second chance and placed in this body... After some choices, I met Josephine. Although back then I planned on using her, I later found out I loved her... Then I met Ellen. I don't know why, but she reminds me of my baby sister, and I vowed to protect her... and without hesitation, I took her as my daughter... But now... will I lose her? Just like I lost my sister?'
He thought, his eyes fixed on the chaotic clouds.
'I was horrified when I got the news of Josephine's near-death experience, but I rushed over and saved her in time... This is different.' He finally blinked.
'Rushing over will only endanger everyone's lives.'
He moved his gaze to Star, who was watching him with tears in her eyes. Then he turned his head to David and the others, who were frantically trying to heal Vancouver.
'No... No matter what happens, I must save Ellen!' He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He turned his gaze back to Star.
"I am alright," he said, sitting up.
"What should we do? Ellen has been taken, and we aren't in our best shape--"
"---No." Sunny cut her off, rising to his feet. He looked down at his chest, which had been crushed only moments before, and saw that it was completely healed.
'Thanks,' he said, a silent message to the system.
{No worries, Master.}
"How is he doing?" he asked, stopping before David, with Star standing close behind him.
"Bad. None of us have enough energy to help him," David replied, tears running down his face.
Sunny stared at Vancouver and sighed.
{Master's Celestial energy has been used up, only 10% is left.}
Sunny exhaled, got down on one knee, and placed a hand on Vancouver's shoulder.
'If I try to heal him, will it work?' he asked the system.
{Master's 10% celestial energy will keep him alive for two days, but the system advises medical help.}
Sunny nodded. 'More than enough.'
The group watched as Sunny's palm glowed for a few seconds before the light faded. They turned to Vancouver, whose pained expression had softened into a calm and peaceful one.
"I lost most of my celestial energy in the battle, so all of you must head south. Keep going until you see the gate. Make sure to leave this zone," he said.
"Wait... What about you?" Star asked, surprised by his words.
"Don't ask such a stupid question," Sunny said sharply. He continued:
"Lead them to the gate... and find a way to get off this planet... I will make sure to destroy it before leaving."
The group looked at one another, and after a moment of hesitation, they all nodded in agreement.
Star walked towards Alexandra and placed her palm on her shoulder.
"Their lives are in your hands now... You must help them get to that gate. No matter what... You must succeed."
Alexandra blinked, clearly taken aback by Star's words.
"Commander?"
"Come on, help David... And if you're asking about my well-being, don't worry... I can't leave my brother and niece behind, can I?"
The four soldiers looked at one another, then in unison, they saluted her, placing their right fist on their chest. "Yes! Commander!!"
Star nodded at them and used all her remaining Celestial energy on Vancouver, which instantly woke him up.
Vancouver blinked, staring at David for a second before turning to Sunny. He growled in frustration:
"First the daughter, then the father, and now the sister... It seems I owe you three favors." He said, his gaze fixed on Sunny.
"Yeah, you do," Sunny said, stretching out his hand to help him up.
Vancouver took Sunny's hand and stood with his help. "I heard everything... And I'm guessing you won't let me stay."
"Yes... I said you weren't useful, but I was wrong... You should help them get to the gate. Follow Alexandra and the others to my second planet and stay low... David, once I get off this planet, I will send you the money so you can start your invention." Sunny said, staring at the two of them.
They both nodded gratefully.
"Go now," he said.
Vancouver nodded and turned around. With one last look at the two of them, Alexandra turned as well.
"Alexandra, tell the Queen I will be late…" Sunny said.
Alexandra nodded and followed the five, leaving Sunny and Star behind.
"Why did you stay behind?" Sunny asked, turning to Star.
"Last time, I lost you... This time, I won't…" Star said, her voice filled with quiet determination.
Sunny nodded and turned around, staring at the horizon.
"What rank are you, Star?" he asked.
"Half Heavenly Rank, Stage 5," Star answered.
"What about we push our rank and bloodlines forward." Sunny snapped his fingers as a pile of celestial energy stones appeared before them. "These are for you… You have a mission; make sure you enter the celestial rank. I am sure these stones are enough," he said.
Star blinked, staring at the stones before her in shock. "You? What about you?"
"They are useless to me," Sunny said, staring at the millions of EXP on his system screen. He frowned, seeing a message icon with 999+ messages.
'What is this?' he asked in confusion.
{These are messages Master muted.}
'Muted? I have only muted the Mercenaries' kill notifications… Wait, are these?!'
With a thought, he opened the messages, and a sea of kill notifications appeared before him.
{Congratulations Master, Mercenary number 1,000 killed a Grand Master Rank, Stage One warrior, gained 2 EXP.} x3,670
{Congratulations Master, Mercenary number 503 killed a Master Rank warrior, gained 2 EXP.} x5,679
{Congratulations Master, Mercenary number 10,040 killed a Half Heavenly Rank warrior, gained 2 EXP.} x1,089
Sunny listened to the thousands of notifications, his expression growing darker with each one.