The Creatures that We Are

Dr. Jia and Gao Yang saw the smile.

Dr. Jia snorted. “Poor girl. She lost it too.”

Gao Yang remained silent, his face dark.

"Gao Yang, you can't use Teleportation again, can you?" Liao Liao called out.

Gao Yang's silence confirmed her suspicion. His last attack on Qin You had drained him—he couldn't combine Teleportation with an attack in the next turn. He tried to conceal it, but Liao Liao had noticed.

"You can't use Teleportation next turn, Gao Yang. According to the rules, you may be considered slower than I am."

"So?" Gao Yang scoffed. "You don't have a gun. You can't kill me even if you move first. However, I can easily kill you."

"That's right." Liao Liao turned to Dr. Jia with an odd smile, drawing her Black Gold dagger. "But I can kill Dr. Jia."

Gao Yang's heart clenched. His worst fear was materializing.

After her forced rest, Liao Liao would recover some energy—not enough to kill Gao Yang, but more than enough to eliminate Dr. Jia, who was essentially defenseless. She could even attempt to reclaim the gun from him, gambling on surviving Gao Yang's next attack. If she succeeded and Gao Yang had acted this turn, he'd be forced to rest afterward. Then, with God of Firearms, she could end him.

But Liao Liao knew Gao Yang's capabilities. Surviving his attack would require Follow Heart, which would drain her recovered energy and force her to rest. Dr. Jia could then finish her with the gun.

Therefore, the possibility of Liao Liao turning the tide only existed in her imagination.

Liao Liao quickly went over her two options.

First, take the gun from Dr. Jia and try to survive Gao Yang’s attack. Kill Gao Yang during the turn after. However, the success rate was close to zero.

Second, kill Dr. Jia before meeting her death just to foil the Nine Scions’ plan. The success rate would be a hundred percent.

Liao Liao made a decision.

[Thinking Time ends.]

[The eighth turn begins.]

The gray barrier lifted.

Indeed, the pattern under Liao Liao’s feet lit up first. She would take her action now.

She remained still, glancing at Gao Yang before turning to Dr. Jia.

Three seconds later, the pattern darkened.

Gao Yang and Dr. Jia exchanged surprised looks. Liao Liao had surrendered her action.

"Why did you not move?" Gao Yang frowned.

"You know why." Liao Liao shrugged. "I can't win even if I do."

Gao Yang fell silent.

"But I can at least drag Dr. Jia with me. Is that what you want to say?" Liao Liao's voice carried no malice. "If killing Dr. Jia would ensure my survival, I would've done it, but that isn't the case." The dagger fell from her hand with a clang. "I don't like killing people. I only wish to live."

She drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Given I didn't kill Dr. Jia, Gao Yang, please make my death quick and painless. It may not seem like it, but I'm afraid of pain."

The pattern under Gao Yang's feet turned green.

He remained where he was, choosing rest over action.

"Gao Yang! You...you...what the hell?!" Dr. Jia sputtered. "Did you get water in your brain, too?"

"I'm only trying to be safe," Gao Yang replied with a bitter smile.

Understanding dawned on Dr. Jia after a moment.

Liao Liao had two options: take Dr. Jia with her in death, or gamble everything on reclaiming her gun and surviving the turn. If she chose the second option and Gao Yang failed to kill her, he'd be the one facing death next turn.

But by resting now, Gao Yang eliminated all risk. With recovered energy, he could use Teleportation and act first next turn. Even if Liao Liao tried to reclaim her gun from Dr. Jia, she'd move after Gao Yang, and he could end the game before she acted.

Yet Liao Liao had surprised them both by surrendering her action.

Fearing Liao Liao might still try to kill him, Dr. Jia chose defense. Paper-thin protection was better than none.

The turn ended in an absurd ceasefire—all three players choosing inaction.

This time, the gray barrier didn't appear. The domain's power continued to deteriorate.

The thinking time was shortened to 60 seconds.

"Ha." Liao Liao shook her head. "Didn't expect to live another sixty seconds. What a torture."

"Liao Liao." Gao Yang turned to her. "Are you not going to fight back next turn?"

"Please stop toying with me," she said. "You can use Teleportation next turn, and you'll act before I do. If I don't defend myself, I die. If I do, I'll be critically injured and only delay my death by a turn. Do you hate me so much that you'll drag this out just to torment me?"

Gao Yang shook his head. "You're not the hateable sort. I'll make it quick."

"Thanks." Liao Liao released a long sigh.

"Why don't I do it?" Dr. Jia offered, his voice oddly gentle. "I'll shoot you in the head. That'll minimize the pain."

"No!" Liao Liao's composure cracked. "If you use my gun to kill me, wouldn't that count as me killing myself? That's against my principle of choosing a pathetic life over a heroic death." A bitter laugh escaped her. "Besides, what if you miss? I'll be in even more pain then."

"Leave it to me, Dr. Jia," Gao Yang said. "Choose defense next turn just in case."

"Makes sense!" Dr. Jia quickly agreed. The closer they got to the finish line, the more cautious they needed to be.

The countdown neared its end. Gao Yang and Dr. Jia selected their actions.

…

[Thinking Time ends.]

[The ninth turn begins.]

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