The Creatures that We Are

“How’s Nine Frost doing?” Gao Yang asked.

“He was quite badly injured, but he’s recovering well. He’s been making final arrangements for his team members the past few days.”

Gao Yang sighed inwardly. Nine Frost was the sole survivor of the fourth team. He could only imagine how heartbroken and guilty the man felt.

Ironically, Nine Frost had boasted to the fifth team about their zero mortality for the past three years. How would he feel when he remembered his own words back then?

Fate was indeed a fickle mistress.

“By the way, Nine Frost is in the White Tiger branch right now,” said Gray Bear. “I saw him in the training room.”

“Should we give him the uniforms?” Can perked up. “We haven’t welcomed him to the team officially! We should remedy that!”

“It’s better to give him some time on his own,” Gao Yang disagreed.

“I’m on Can’s side this time.” Gray Bear smiled shrewdly. “He’s been wallowing for long enough. It’s time he picks himself up.”

“Alright. Let’s go then.” In matters like this, Gao Yang followed the majority.

Dressed in their uniforms, the group left the room and took the member elevator to the 48th floor.

There were a variety of training facilities for the members, including gyms, sparring rooms with different setups, and soundproofed gun range.

Since most awakeners had a mundane identity to maintain during the day, and they didn’t need as much sleep as regular people, it was a common occurrence for Guild members to be active at night.

Even though it was midnight, there were still quite a lot of awakeners training here.

Gao Yang and his team entered the boxing ring. Wearing a black boxing outfit and a pair of red gloves, Nine Frost was punching a sandbag the size of Gray Bear.

Pop, pop pop, pop.

Nine Frost only had eyes for the sandbag as he swung his fists, his back drenched in sweat.

“Nine Frost,” Gray Bear called out to him.

Nine Frost stopped and looked up at Gray Bear, his gaze blazing with intense emotion.

“Catch.”

Gray Bear threw him the uniforms. Nine Frost didn’t catch it with his gloved hands. Instead, the uniforms landed on his chest before dropping to the floor.

“You’re a member of the fifth team now, and like me, you’re a vice-captain…”

Bam!

Before Gray Bear could finish, Nine Frost suddenly sprang into action, making a swing at the punching bag and sending it flying toward Gao Yang. Gao Yang easily dodged it with a step to the side, but immediately, Nine Frost dove into his space.

Gao Yang raised his arms to take the punch and jumped two meters backward. His arms were numb.

“Are you out of your fucking mind, Nine Frost?!” Gray Bear yelled and moved to stop Nine Frost.

“Gray Bear.” Gao Yang stopped him. “Let him.”

Nine Frost must be overflowing with hate and pain with nowhere to direct his emotions. A sandbag wasn’t going to be enough.

Then come after me, Gao Yang thought. I’d like to see how far I’ve come as well.

Nine Frost took off the boxing gloves, his gaze fierce. “If you want to be my captain, beat me first!”

“You’re really insane!” Gray Bear’s face darkened. “What are you doing? You’re gonna use your Talent? This counts as an internal strife. Aren’t you worried about the punishment?”

Nine Frost rushed toward Gao Yang like he hadn’t heard anything.

[Warning, Luck acquisition rate increases to 2700 times.]

Gao Yang startled. Nine Frost was actually trying to kill him!

Nine Frost made a straight punch, which Gao Yang avoided with a sidestep. Then a hook came for his chin. He took a step back. He could feel a sharp pain under his chin, left by the air current brought about by the punch alone.

Gao Yang considered Nine Frost and confirmed the killing intent in the man’s eyes.

He tapped into his energy and prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Scowling, Gray Bear gave Can a look. “Quick. Grab a fire extinguisher.”

Then he turned to Ronnie. “Scream if things look bad, you hear me?”

Ronnie nodded with a grave look on his face.

Lithe Snake watched the fight with his arms crossed like he was enjoying the show. It wasn’t every day that two Protectors would go against each other with their lives on the line.

Nine Frost dashed toward Gao Yang and made a flurry of quick jabs.

Gao Yang retreated as he dodged, focusing on Nine Frost’s two fists.

He didn’t dare to block the punches carelessly. Any contact would leave him marked, and if the same part on his body got hit again, the force would be five times stronger, which was already difficult to bear.

If the same part was hit for the third time, the force would be 25 times greater!

Three punches to the limbs would basically cripple him. And if he was hit in an organ or the head, he would die.

“Seven Shadow! Is this all you’ve got?!” Annoyed by Gao Yang’s passive defense, NIne Frost attacked with increasing intensity.

Gao Yang couldn’t just keep dodging. He splayed his right hand to shoot flames at Nine Frost.

Nine Frost quickly backed away, satisfied. “Now we’re talking!”

“I’m game if you just want to vent, Nine Frost, but I won’t pull my punches if you’re trying to kill me.” Gao Yang decided to give Nine Frost another chance.

Before their mission at the Eleventh High School, Nine Frost might be a little stronger than Gao Yang, but things were different now.

“You’ll die at my hand!”

Nine Frost howled and rushed at Gao Yang with renewed vigor, picking up his pace and moving without reservation.

A powerful straight punch came.

Instead of dodging it, Gao Yang crossed his arms and blocked the hit with his left arm.

Replicate…

Gao Yang was caught off guard. The contact was too brief for him to replicate the Talent!

Nine Frost had made a quick jab and pulled his fist back in less than 0.8 second before making another punch at the same target. Although he had sacrificed raw power for speed, with Weak Point activated, the impact was buffed five times, leaving Gao Yang’s left arm numb.

Now came the third jab.

Gao Yang had already shifted his arm, preventing Nine Frost from hitting the same spot.

Fire!“

Gao Yang shot flames from his right hand at Nine Frost.

Shielding his head with both hands, Nine Frost jumped backward. As soon as he landed, a fireball flew toward his face, which took him by surprise. He had never seen Gao Yang cast his fire from a long range.

In truth, Gao Yang’s fireball was quite weak, but not knowing that, Nine Frost jumped sideways on instinct, and due to poor form, he had to make a roll on the floor to get back to his feet.

That took him 2 additional seconds, enough for Gao Yang to get into Nine Frost’s space. When Nine Frost recovered, there was less than half a meter between them.

“Fire!” Gao Yang opened both hands and moved to activate Fire.

“Ah!”

Nine Frost wasn’t going to give him the chance, and he threw a powerful heavy punch at Gao Yang’s chest.

Gao Yang’s lips curled up.

Nine Frost realized to his shock that Gao Yang hadn’t shot fire from his hands, but simply shouted the move. Instead, he had crossed his arms before his chest to take the hit.

Bam!

The heavy punch landed on Gao Yang’s right arm, pushing him a few meters backward.

However, Nine Frost’s fist ended up in contact with Gao Yang’s body for more than 0.8 second.

[Detected one replicable Talent: Level 5 Weak Point. Do you wish to replicate it?]

—Replicate!

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