The Cannon Fodder Became the Empire's Beloved Omega - Chapter 50.2

Yu Ruan’s heart sank slightly. He thanked Lin Fenghan. At that moment, Gu Yu seemed to have noticed something, his brow furrowing slightly as he reached for the wrist-mounted light computer on Yu Ruan’s arm. “Stop messing around.”

“No.” Yu Ruan withdrew his hand, then added, “Marshal Lin, thank you for telling me all this. I’ve decided to continue the competition with Gu Yu for now while waiting for your rescue. If everything goes smoothly, we might meet outside in less than two hours.”

“…”

Yu Ruan could almost picture Lin Fenghan’s furrowed brow, creased into a deep frown. But he gave the other no chance to persuade him. After quickly stating his thoughts, he pressed the communicator with a “beep,” cutting off the call.

“…” Gu Yu’s face was cold and expressionless as he stared at him. After a moment, he opened his own light computer, seemingly intending to call back.

On the screen, the communicator was shrouded in static, the signal bars completely gone. It was likely that the earlier message had been forcibly transmitted by the technical team breaking through the program’s restrictions. Thus, actively calling back had become entirely impossible.

Feeling guilty as he watched Gu Yu’s expression grow increasingly grim, Yu Ruan said softly, “I trust you.”

“Stay put.”

“I really do trust you!”

“Stay.”

“But staying here won’t be any better than moving forward if something else happens.” Yu Ruan sniffed the lingering sweet fragrance in the air. “This scent hasn’t dissipated yet. Even with the temporary mark, you won’t feel much better. Why don’t we keep going, at least until we’re out of this area that affects you so much, to avoid any unexpected situations.”

Gu Yu didn’t respond, but his eyes swept toward the far end of the secret passage, as if considering. After a moment, he let out a faint “Hmm,” returning to his usual indifferent demeanor. “Don’t run off.”

The secret passage they were in was dark and narrow, stretching endlessly into the distance.

After the earlier commotion, the remaining candles on the walls had burned down considerably, flickering on the verge of extinguishing. Gu Yu turned on the light system of his wrist computer and stepped forward, saying to Yu Ruan behind him, “Keep up.”

Yu Ruan nodded and quickly followed his steps.

By the faint glow of the light computer, the two made their way forward. The place they were in now resembled an underground prison. The deeper they went, the more prison cells appeared before them. Inside the cells, piles of dried bones lay in bizarre positions, evoking an eerie, spine-chilling sensation.

Yu Ruan averted his gaze, trying hard to ignore the faint, foul stench floating in the air. Watching Gu Yu’s gradually slowing steps ahead, his heart skipped a beat, fearing that Gu Yu might stop there. He couldn’t help but say, “Can we go a little further ahead?”

Gu Yu glanced at him. “Why?”

“The smell is a bit too bad,” Yu Ruan replied sheepishly. “And it’s unsettling to look at. I’m not really used to it.”

“You were the one who insisted on coming here.”

“…” Yu Ruan was left speechless. With that remark, he truly felt like he had brought this upon himself. He could only apologize, lacking confidence. “Sorry, I didn’t know.”

Gu Yu’s footsteps paused slightly. After a few seconds of silence, a rich scent of lime emanated from him, gently enveloping Yu Ruan and blocking out the smell of decaying flesh. He slowed his pace, stepping back to Yu Ruan’s side, and gazed straight ahead. “I’m not blaming you.”

“…Mm.”

“Don’t do something like this again.”

Yu Ruan froze for a moment, instinctively turning to look in his direction. Gu Yu’s expression was indifferent, the dim candlelight casting faint shadows across his deep-set eyes. Hesitantly, Yu Ruan nodded and whispered, “Okay.”

Stubborn on the outside but soft-hearted that probably described someone like Gu Yu. Seeing Yu Ruan obediently agree, the tension in Gu Yu’s brow eased slightly, and his expression softened. He took Yu Ruan’s hand and quickened their pace a little. As they reached a corner, they spotted a rust-covered iron chest lying quietly in a nearby nook.

Carved along the edge of the chest was an image of a sphinx holding a sharp blade, with a line of small text inscribed below: “Those chosen by fate may take what lies within.”

Chosen by fate?

Thinking of the Wheel of Fortune card he had drawn earlier, Yu Ruan glanced at Gu Yu. “Should we open it?”

Gu Yu gave a quiet “Mm,” walked over, and opened the chest. With a soft creak, the contents of the treasure chest were revealed to them. Inside the empty chest lay three items at the bottom a sword, a box of pitch-black paper cards, and a castle map made of parchment.

Seeing these three items, Yu Ruan was momentarily bewildered.

The sword and the map were easy enough to understand, but what was the point of giving them a deck of cards? Was the level designer expecting them to set up a tarot spread on the spot and plan their next steps based on metaphysics?

Gu Yu retrieved the items from the chest and handed the cards to Yu Ruan. Yu Ruan took them, his mind filled with questions as he opened the paper box. A instruction manual slipped out from the top, fluttering down to land on his shoe, revealing a dense block of black text.

Yu Ruan picked up the manual and skimmed through it, only to discover that it was actually a guide to using magic. The guide detailed the attributes and usage of each card and explained when the deck should be employed.

He was stunned for a few seconds: this deck of cards he’d gotten actually seemed quite useful?

Ever since he and Gu Yu had entered the game, they hadn’t encountered any positive feedback. Now, out of the blue, a grand prize had fallen from the sky, a surprise so abrupt it felt more like a shock.

But there was no use overthinking it now. Yu Ruan carefully read through the manual again, committing most of its contents to memory. Then, he put the cards away and turned to Gu Yu. “What about the map?”

“Seems to be genuine.” Gu Yu unfolded the map and lightly tapped a specific spot. “This is where we entered. Following this secret passage, it extends all the way down.” His finger traced a dotted line that led to the castle’s spire. “We can take this hidden staircase straight to where the treasure is stored.”

Was this actually a shortcut?

For a moment, Yu Ruan didn’t know whether to praise the level designer or express his fury at having been tricked by such a scheme.

With mixed feelings, he nodded at Gu Yu. “I see. Shall we go now?”

Gu Yu gave a soft “Mm,” then added, “Get the cards ready. What comes next won’t be easy. Just focus on protecting yourself, I don’t need them.”

“Alright.”

Suddenly, a series of eerie clacking sounds echoed from the distance. Yu Ruan instinctively turned toward the noise and saw the previously collapsed skeletons on the ground rising one by one, as if animated by some dark magic, struggling to crash against the iron bars of the prison cells. Gu Yu’s expression tightened. He swiftly tucked away the map and grabbed Yu Ruan’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

Before Yu Ruan could react, Gu Yu pulled him into a sprint toward a fork in the path. With the sound of their footsteps, rusted bars behind them were hacked apart by iron swords. In an instant, countless skeletal soldiers armed with blades surged out of the cells, chasing after them.

The creaking and grinding of bones echoed behind them as Yu Ruan, still held by Gu Yu, ran forward. He risked a glance back at the skeletal army and noticed a sinister black aura coiling around each skeleton, as if they were being manipulated by some unseen force, an unsettling sight.

After a moment’s thought, Yu Ruan pulled three fire-and-thunder attribute cards from his pocket and said to Gu Yu, “Warn me if there are obstacles ahead. I want to test if these will work.”

Gu Yu replied with another “Mm,” adding, “Be careful.”

Yu Ruan turned back, mentally reciting the incantation he had just studied. The rigid cards in his hand instantly transformed into leaping flames, igniting at his fingertips. He hurled them forward, sending the fire soaring into the midst of the skeletal army.

A blinding white light flashed across their vision. Gu Yu tugged Yu Ruan’s wrist, pulling him close. “Close your eyes.”

Yu Ruan shut his eyes instinctively as his Alpha lifted him into a leap, clearing an obstacle ahead. Countless skeletal soldiers were blocked by the fiery barrier, collapsing one after another with heavy thuds. The acrid smell of charred bones wafted from a distance, quickly filling the narrow, enclosed space.

Gu Yu came to a stop and set Yu Ruan down. Gazing at the raging inferno behind them, Yu Ruan’s heart pounded wildly. The adrenaline rush was overwhelmingly intense. He glanced at Gu Yu, still shaken, and said apologetically, “Sorry for making you help me again.”

“It’s fine,” Gu Yu replied, his eyes shifting to Yu Ruan’s pocket. “What cards do you have left?”

Yu Ruan thought for a moment. “Three light-attribute, two fire-and-thunder, and eight others.”

“That’s enough.” With that, Gu Yu headed toward the corridor on the right. “Once we pass through here, the castle spire is ahead. There’s an open area before the attic likely filled with monsters waiting for us.”

As they spoke, the two navigated a long, spiraling staircase and stopped before a dilapidated wooden door. Gu Yu reached out, glancing sideways at Yu Ruan. “Protect yourself.”

Yu Ruan nodded. “I will.”

Hearing this, Gu Yu lowered his gaze slightly and pushed the door open.

Pale moonlight spilled down, and a night breeze carrying the scents of earth and blood blew toward them. In the distance, devilish statues that had caught the scent of human flesh slowly opened their eyes, glaring ominously at the unfamiliar visitors below the attic.

Gu Yu drew his silver sword and gestured with his chin toward a corner. “Go over there.”

No sooner had he spoken than the stone statue opposite them raised its stone blade and brought it crashing down toward them!

Yu Ruan jolted awake and immediately dashed toward the corner Gu Yu had indicated. As he ran, he pulled out his cards, channeling the last remnants of his light-based magic into compact spells, which he frantically infused into Gu Yu’s blade without a second thought.

Having absorbed an immense amount of magical energy, the silver sword emitted a dazzling white light. Gu Yu leaped forward to meet the attack, the edge of his blade glinting faintly as he used the flat of the sword to block the stone statue’s descending strike. With a slight flick of his wrist, he redirected the momentum and thrust directly toward the statue’s eyes!

A sharp clang echoed as cracks spread across the statue’s face, followed by a tearing roar. Its moss-covered eyeballs flew out of their sockets and clattered to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Yu Ruan quickly called out to Gu Yu and threw the remaining magic cards in his hand: “Hurry back!”

Gu Yu paused, his brow furrowing slightly. He glanced at Yu Ruan’s anxious expression but said nothing, retreating several steps instead. Yu Ruan swiftly grabbed his hand and nervously pulled him back into the protective magic barrier.

In the next moment, a sky-shattering storm of thunderbolts descended.

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