Chapter Sixteen: How the Captain Was Forged—The Birth of Authority

The main gate swung open, and Mingchuan led the group as they charged inside…

“Alright, we’ve finally found it—the control room for the bridge is just ahead.” After searching for some time, Mingchuan and the others spotted the control room.

“Wait, something’s wrong. There’s a Satan—looks like it’s trying to sabotage the controls!” Colt exclaimed in alarm, having spotted a Satan standing beside the control room.

Just as Colt was about to rush forward and take it down, Joey stopped him. “Wait! Be careful!” She raised her weapon and fired a shot right at the Satan’s head. As the creature fell, two “Iron Arms” burst out from the side.

“So it was an ambush! Wait a minute—hold on, you’re a woman?” Colt blurted out in surprise.

“I always have been. What, do you have a problem with that? Isn’t there a woman on your team as well?” Joey retorted.

“Exactly! You look down on women, huh? Mingchuan, say something! Mingchuan?” Wenxin, having overheard Colt’s sexist remark, could no longer contain her dissatisfaction.

“Hey, hey, hey! Are you guys going to fight or what? Two ‘Iron Arms’ just showed up and this is what you’re on about?” Mingchuan was already locked in combat with the two Iron Arms, but his blade seemed useless against their steel limbs.

“Alright, we’re coming!”

“Joey and Wenxin, you two handle the bridge. Let Colt take one on his own.”

“Why is it always me?”

“Cut the nonsense. Do you really think I can take on both at once? Making the girls do all the heavy lifting—are you even a man?”

“That’s our captain—always so overbearing,” Joey quipped as she worked the control panel.

“Mingchuan, just how tough are these ‘Iron Arms’?” Colt asked as he tried to hold one off. Before he could get an answer, the Iron Arm landed a heavy punch, sending Colt flying several meters even through his powered armor, and he crashed hard to the ground.

“Never mind, you don’t have to answer—I’ve found out for myself,” Colt groaned, clutching his stomach, “Now I just want to know—why do they always aim for the gut?!”

“You don’t need to know. As far as I’m concerned, they’re already ‘dead men’.”

“Dead men? They weren’t really human to begin with.” Mingchuan didn’t reply further. He hurled the blade from his right hand at the Iron Arm. As the creature batted the knife aside, Mingchuan darted in, ran up the wall, and with a backward swing of his left hand, hacked the Iron Arm’s head clean off.

“That’s the way! Well done!”

“Hey, hey, hey! Are you just showing off? If you’re done, how about giving me a hand over here?” Colt shouted.

“It’s just a minor Satan.” Mingchuan walked over, picked up his blade, and tossed it toward Colt.

The knife flew straight and embedded itself in the back of the Iron Arm’s head, the tip aimed right at Colt’s helmet.

“P-please, that’s way too dangerous. Couldn’t you just walk over?” Colt broke into a cold sweat; the blade had nearly struck his exosuit.

“Well, I’m walking over now, aren’t I?” Mingchuan scoffed as he pulled out the blade. “This guy’s tough, but your suit can take it. Wenxin, Joey, is your side done?”

“We’re good here. The rest is up to Winchester’s team. Once they clear out the Satans on their end, we can lower the bridge.”

“Alright, let’s head out and give Enert’s team a hand. The bridge should be connected in about ten minutes.” Mingchuan sheathed his blade and gave instructions.

Yet what they didn’t realize was that, while Enert was fighting desperately to hold the line, the Satans had already begun their assault on the bridge…

—Author’s Note—
The high school entrance exam is over and the Knight is now on vacation, so I’ve updated the latest chapter. In fact, I did have time to write before the exam, but for the sake of the test, I had to abandon my plan to finish the last few hundred words.

Here’s wishing everyone who, like me, just took the entrance exam, or is soon to take their final or college exams, the best possible results.

By the way, in July my new novel, “Prey,” will probably be released. I still need to do a bit more research, since it’s about legendary monsters from the real world.