It Is the Candlelight They Lit in the Darkness of Countless Cramped Corners

However, this time, they wouldn’t be granted much rest.

The light barrier flickered erratically, alternating between brightness and dimness, on the verge of collapse at any moment.

Outside, the grotesque silhouettes of the Source Realm creatures were clearly visible.

This time, they didn’t retreat. Instead, they pressed closer, their claws scraping against the barrier with a grating sound, their massive bodies slamming into it and sending tremors through the ground.

The three terrifying ninth-tier entities loomed directly over the barrier.

The Burning Colossus slammed its fist into the barrier, causing the already dim light to warp inward, nearly shattering on impact.

The Shadowstalker Panther prowled along the edges like a phantom, biding its time without striking.

The Corrosive Swamp pressed itself against the barrier, the point of contact emitting a sizzling hiss as the light rapidly thinned.

Inside the barrier, silence reigned.

The faint glimmer of hope they had felt moments ago was swallowed by overwhelming despair.

They were like a lone boat caught in a storm, surrounded by raging waves, the vessel teetering on the brink of capsizing.

Sun Cheng stared fixedly at the energy indicator on the control panel, watching it plummet. His heart sank with it.

Two minutes at most—no, they might not even last that long.

There was a saying: "Defeat not by lack of skill, but by circumstance."

This time, his command had been nothing short of disastrous.

After all, all his strategies had been built on the assumption that both sides were evenly matched.

The only sounds were ragged breathing and the relentless impacts and scrapes of the Source Realm creatures outside—a quiet cacophony more suffocating than any roar.

Sun Cheng’s gaze shifted to the Black Knight, still standing unyielding despite being wounded and suppressed by three powerful foes, its indomitable aura undiminished.

Then, he looked at the examinees huddled in the corners, trembling with fear.

And at his exhausted teammates beside him.

A reckless idea took shape in his mind.

He took heavy steps toward Liu Yuan and Yun Huang.

The Black Knight was Liu Yuan’s trump card, while Yun Huang, despite her youth, carried herself with an unshakable calm.

"The barrier won’t hold much longer," Sun Cheng said quietly. "Once it falls, staying here means certain death."

He paused before continuing, "Twelve kilometers south is Shelter Seven. It’s larger and farther from the epicenter of this outbreak. Their comms might still be functional."

Yun Huang’s eyes sharpened, while Liu Yuan glanced uneasily between the Black Knight and Sun Cheng.

Sun Cheng met Liu Yuan’s gaze firmly. "My plan is this: I, along with any volunteers, will draw their attention. We’ll do everything we can to lure as many of them as possible in the opposite direction."

"Your Black Knight is our strongest vanguard. You had a way to break through the ash when you arrived."

"I’ll feign a breakout to the west. The moment I move, you take the examinees and any able-bodied teammates and sprint for Shelter Seven. No hesitation. No looking back."

A nearby teammate who could still stand gasped, "Brother Sun—"

Sun Cheng’s lips twitched. "Staying here means we all die. This way… at least some of you have a chance."

He turned back to Liu Yuan. "Without those three monsters in pursuit, protecting a small group for a breakout should be possible. Can it be done?"

Liu Yuan’s throat tightened. The Black Knight was powerful, but carving a path through the horde while escorting nearly defenseless examinees—and covering twelve kilometers—

Yun Huang spoke then, her voice cool but resolute. "If you can divert the main force, the Black Knight can clear the way. But—"

Sun Cheng finished for her, "But this is the only way. The only hope these kids have."

"I’ll signal you. The moment the barrier fails, I move. You must seize that chance."

Without another word, he turned to the remaining defenders, their eyes filled with grim resolve, and issued his final, heaviest command as the shelter’s leader.

"Those willing to cover our retreat—step forward!"

No stirring speeches. No grand gestures. Just a simple order.

In the silence, nearly ninety percent of them took that step forward.

Sun Cheng himself was only eighth-tier.

Most of these men and women were sixth or seventh-tier.

This wasn’t a gamble with slim odds—it was a death sentence.

Sun Cheng cursed. "Are you all idiots? Those who can still fight properly, fall back! Not all of us need to die here. Half is enough."

The group exchanged glances.

Another half stepped forward, merging into the ranks behind Sun Cheng.

Many were wounded, but not a single one hesitated.

Watching this, Liu Yuan felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around her heart.

Su Qi’s words echoed in her mind: "We are human."

"If you can’t save them, run. No guilt."

Then…

Why weren’t they running?

"BOOM—!"

At that moment, the energy barrier let out a final, mournful shriek—and shattered.

Countless motes of light scattered, marking the shelter’s last defense gone.

Deafening roars flooded in, carried on a wave of fetid air.

"West! With me!" Sun Cheng bellowed, his broken sword flaring with its last light as he charged toward the densest part of the horde.

The twenty-some volunteers followed without hesitation, their resolve unshaken.

"Now! East! Break through!"

The Black Knight moved.

Its greatsword swept horizontally, spraying dark green and black blood as it bisected several low-tier creatures blocking the path.

It didn’t linger, instead carving a bloody path through the tide.

"Stay close! Don’t fall behind!" Yun Huang’s voice was icy.

A slender blade had appeared in her hand, its edge gleaming as she cut down a creature trying to flank the Black Knight and ambush the examinees.

Screaming, sobbing, the examinees stumbled after the Black Knight, shepherded by the remaining officials toward their only hope of survival.

Behind them, the sounds of detonations followed one after another.

Liu Yuan pressed her lips together, her heart pounding violently.

Before today, they had been strangers.

Yet for the sake of duty, they had chosen to march to their deaths without hesitation.

Perhaps…

The future of Daxia had never lain solely with the children growing safely in the rear.

But in the countless candles they lit in the darkest corners.