Chapter 242: Chapter 216: Go for Broke, Fly

...

City of Hope, Eastern District Fortress.

The students from the four major military academies were resting under the supervision of their respective teachers. According to the plan, they would be leaving tomorrow. Right now, they were on the fortress’s battlements, soaking in a history lesson.

Teacher after teacher passionately recounted the heroic deeds of the Alliance, occasionally pointing out marks on the battlements to remind the students of the battlefield’s cruelty.

This battle had shown the military academy students what a real battlefield was like. In the future, they would be tempered on the battlefield, all in preparation for the great war in two years.

Fang Tangtang was also standing on the battlements.

However, her mind wasn’t on the lesson. She was gazing into the distance.

The sky was gradually growing colder. In a few more hours, dusk would fall, and the battlefield would be bathed in a residual crimson glow, like spilled blood.

’Gao Neng, are you really never coming back?’ For the first time, a look of desolation appeared on Fang Tangtang’s proud face. She had a strong urge to jump down right then and there. ’But can I even sneak into the Elf Royal City?’

"Tangtang, don’t dwell on it. It’s almost dusk. If he was going to come back... he would have been back by now." Gui Zian stood beside Fang Tangtang, his expression just as grim.

Gao Neng hadn’t been at the Eastern Capital Military Academy for long.

And honestly, Gao Neng was hardly an obedient student. From the moment he enrolled, he’d been causing trouble... pushing his luck to the absolute limit.

It was safe to say that Gao Neng’s personality and style were completely different from Gui Zian’s.

But for some reason, the person Gui Zian was most reluctant to lose was the very one who gave him the biggest headaches.

"If only he could have survived..." Gui Zian sighed. "I specifically taught him to run if he couldn’t win! Why wouldn’t he listen?!"

"Teacher Gui, have you told Sister Ning’Er?" Fang Tangtang asked, tilting her head back.

"Not yet... But the Military Department knows, and Vice Commander Shen is aware of the situation. I expect Shen Ning’Er will find out soon enough," Gui Zian said, shaking his head.

"She probably doesn’t know yet..."

"Hm?"

"If she knew, she’d definitely come. And she’d definitely go to the battlefield to search. Teacher Gui... can we really not go look for him...?"

"Tangtang, it’s a military order! I... I can’t disobey it!" Gui Zian shook his head, then glanced at the fortress gate. "I don’t think Shen Ning’Er would go looking even if she knew. She’s a soldier, just like me. Tangtang, don’t say any..."

BOOM!

A roar suddenly erupted from the fortress gate.

Then, a black, heavy-armored mecha motorcycle shot out. The roaring sound it made caused all the students on the battlements to turn and stare.

At the same time, Gao Xiaomeng, who had been lying on Fang Tangtang’s shoulder, opened her eyes.

"MEOW!"

Gao Xiaomeng cried out, then leaped from the battlements, landing perfectly on the shoulder of the figure riding the black, heavy-armored mecha motorcycle.

"It’s Sister Ning’Er!!!" Fang Tangtang’s eyes went wide. Her chest heaved. "Sister Ning’Er, wait for me!"

SWOOSH!

Fang Tangtang leaped down too!

"Tangtang... Tangtang, wait!" Gui Zian tried to stop her, but it was too late. The person on the motorcycle only paused for a moment before speeding off with Fang Tangtang and Gao Xiaomeng.

It all happened so fast that even now, Gui Zian couldn’t quite process it.

"Shen Ning’Er?! She... She actually came! And... and she’s riding a motorcycle onto the battlefield to find someone?! What... what on earth is she thinking?!"

...

「Dark Night Elf Royal City.」

The city gates opened.

Gao Neng stopped five hundred meters away from the Ancient Elf Tree.

"Why’d you stop walking?" Mu Feifei asked coldly.

"This is close enough. You should know what to do next," Gao Neng said with a smile, glancing back at the Ancient Elf Tree behind them.

"Heh, you’re quite cautious, aren’t you?" Mu Feifei nodded and casually took out a silvery-white chain, binding it around her hands. "An Elf Chain. Is this sufficient?"

"Is it sturdy?" Gao Neng asked, prodding it with his hand.

"Not really. If I wanted to break free, I’d only need five seconds."

"Hm, five seconds is enough," Gao Neng nodded.

Meanwhile, the princes following behind them were all completely bewildered.

’Mu Feifei actually put an Elf Chain on herself? What’s going on?’

"Thirteenth Prince, what are you two..." one of the princes couldn’t help but ask. He really felt something was off. ’This doesn’t look like an escort. It looks more like she’s offering herself as a hostage, right?’

"Shut up!" Mu Feifei snapped back.

"..." The Prince immediately shut his mouth. ’What a cold, cruel world. I was clearly just concerned about Mu Feifei, but I got yelled at for it? And the Thirteenth Prince? First, he rejects the Seventh Princess, and now Mu Feifei is sticking to him... What has the world come to? Is it really just because he’s handsome?’

The other princes just looked at each other. However, after one of them was so bluntly rebuffed, the rest naturally didn’t ask any more questions.

Gao Neng, of course, had no intention of explaining anything to these princes.

He started walking forward again.

One step!

For some reason, he felt a chill down his spine. It had only been a single step.

’Is there something I’m missing?’ Gao Neng quickly pulled his foot back. Mu Feifei had willingly become his hostage. ’This should be a sure thing, right? But why does it still feel wrong?’

"Where is the Prince of the Lizard Race?" Gao Neng suddenly shouted.

"This Prince is here. What is it, Thirteenth Prince?" The Lizard Race Prince stepped forward, a look of confusion on his face. He’d been following along the whole time.

"Where are your guards?" Gao Neng had remembered something very important.

"Some of them were lent to the Dark Night Elf Clan for a task. Something about discovering a spy?" the Lizard Race Prince said after a moment of thought.

"Call them back!"

"Huh?"

"You’re about to leave, aren’t you going to call them back?"

"Oh." Though he didn’t quite understand, the Lizard Race Prince whistled. Before long, more than thirty Lizardmen came running from all directions.

"What about the Wing Race? Where did the Wing Race go?" Gao Neng once again scanned the princes and guards behind him.

"The Winged Race Prince died, so his people left a day ago. They’ve probably already returned to the Winged Race’s territory by now," one of the princes explained.

"Oh..." Gao Neng nodded. The Winged Race Prince had died by his blade, so that part, at least, should be trustworthy.

’What now? Do I go? The city gate is... still some distance away. I have to risk it! I’ll break out at top speed!’

Gao Neng had considered taking the Seventh Princess hostage. He did have that thought at one point, but he later dismissed it.

He didn’t believe that Mu Feifei would be 100% certain to show mercy to the Seventh Princess.

If it were just to capture an elf impersonating the Thirteenth Prince, Mu Feifei probably wouldn’t sacrifice the Seventh Princess. But if it was to capture a "Super Energy Warrior" like him... then it was a possibility!

That was why he ultimately decided to keep only Mu Feifei as a hostage.

"Time to go for broke!" No longer holding back, Gao Neng grabbed Mu Feifei by the waist. His tone turned icy. "If you dare make a move, I’ll kill you without hesitation!"

"Heh." A smirk played on Mu Feifei’s lips.

"Actually, there’s something you might not know. I have wings too. Believe it or not," Gao Neng said, pressing closer to Mu Feifei, his own lips curling into a smirk.

"Huh?!" Mu Feifei was clearly astonished. Because right before her eyes, a pair of enormous wings had actually appeared on Gao Neng’s back.

Composed entirely of black iron energy!

It was, of course, the Flying Earth Dragon.

However, because Gao Neng was blocking her view, Mu Feifei didn’t immediately get a clear look at the Flying Earth Dragon that had appeared. Suddenly, several claws seized her body.

"Energy manifestation!" Mu Feifei instantly realized what was happening, but it was too late. The moment the Flying Earth Dragon grabbed her, she and Gao Neng were already taking off.

SWOOSH!

They shot straight into the sky.

The other princes were stunned by this sight.

"What is that thing? It looks like a beetle from the Insect Race..."

"Insect Race? I thought he was a Wood Elf?"

"Doesn’t matter, after them!"

"Charge!"

"..."

The princes were unaware of Gao Neng’s human identity, so their minds jumped to a connection with the Insect Race, whose bodies were as hard as steel.

So, after a moment of shock, they and their guards flew off in hot pursuit of Gao Neng.

Meanwhile, the Great Elf who had been presiding over the event from atop the Elf Royal City wall was also stunned. He was forced to lower the bow he had already drawn.

That was Mu Feifei, the Ninth Princess of the Celestial Race!

If he shot her dead with an arrow in the territory of the Dark Night Elf Clan, the consequences would be more than he could bear.

Helplessly, he watched as Gao Neng and Mu Feifei flew over the city gates and off into the distance.

"Why can’t I feel any energy fluctuations from you? Can you conceal your energy signature?" Mu Feifei asked, having quickly regained her composure after the initial shock.

An energy manifestation, and such a high-level one at that. She had no doubt that Gao Neng’s strength was above the intermediate-tier, possibly even reaching the high-tier.

’But why... couldn’t I feel any energy fluctuations?’

"You guessed it. I can. Have you forgotten? I’m a Super Energy Warrior, different from other Energy Warriors!" Gao Neng nodded.

"Is that so? A pity... you no longer have any way to threaten me!" A cold smirk appeared on Mu Feifei’s lips.

Gao Neng knew what that meant.

’Fuck... she’s about to make her move!’

’But we just left the city! What’s the big rush? Can’t you be a bit more of a sweet, naive girl and let me fly a little farther? Say, to Wild Battle Mountain for a... wild battle?’