12: Chapter 12 Abandoning Companions

Chen Aoyun had only entered the game after the previous Dragon Country [Strategist] had died.

Entering the Game of National Destiny late, his disadvantage was obvious. Not only had the only two ultimate items, the "tree of eternity," been snatched away by [Strategists] from other countries and brought back to their Home Bases, but all other usable items, resources, and tasks on the Starlight Chessboard had also been wiped clean.

The only things remaining were the constantly respawning 'tree of dark twilight' and 'tree of morning light'.

"I must seize these two trees!"

"There are thirty countries selected by the rules to participate in this Game of National Destiny."

"To avoid being executed by the rules after the game ends, one must squeeze into the top twenty!"

"These two trees are vital items. Without these two vital items, even with T0-tier [General Zhang Fei] and [Zhao Yun], the Dragon Country, having no resources on hand, can only hover around the top twenty."

Realizing this, Chen Aoyun decided to risk crossing the bridge, intruding into the corrupted zone of the Calamity Demons to snatch food from the hands of the High-level Demons.

As for the risk.

Having entered the game late, Chen Aoyun had been watching the live streams before joining.

He was naturally clear about what stage the Game of National Destiny had reached, how many resources were left on the board, and the strength of the High-level Demons in this game.

Information control was the only advantage the rules granted Chen Aoyun for entering the game late.

Therefore.

How could he not know that after snatching the 'tree of dark twilight,' the High-level Demons would launch a relentless pursuit against him?

If he did not know this, with so many available Heroic Spirits, why was the Heroic Spirit he 'placed' on Xiao Zhenghong [General Zhang Fei]?

If he did not know this, why would he have engraved words on the bridge pier of that rushing river earlier?

Therefore.

When Chen Aoyun, carrying the 'tree of dark twilight,' rode past Xiao Zhenghong, and Xiao Zhenghong displayed a look of facing death unflinchingly, vowing to defend the bridgehead with his life, yet worrying he would not be able to hold on for long.

Chen Aoyun did not reply, simply riding past Xiao Zhenghong in a leap.

The sound of hoofbeats faded into the distance. For a country, the Game of National Destiny is war, and war inevitably entails sacrifice.

Xiao Zhenghong was left behind to block the demon pursuit. He knew deeply that he would certainly die, yet he felt no resentment whatsoever.

"You brat, don't let me die in vain!"

"I have felt the power of the Huaxia Civilization's Heroic Spirits, but that is not enough. You must let more Dragon Country people know the power of the Dragon Country's Heroic Spirits! You must let the whole world know that the Dragon Country can handle the challenges of the Game of National Destiny even without the authorization of foreign Heroic Spirits!"

Chen Aoyun carried the 'tree of dark twilight' across the bridge without activating the remaining 'Four Entries and Four Exits,' his figure slowly disappearing from Xiao Zhenghong's field of vision.

Watching Chen Aoyun leave, Xiao Zhenghong turned his head to look at the endless army of demons. Among the demon army were seven or eight towering figures, and Xiao Zhenghong knew those were the High-level Demons.

"Come on! You sons of bitches!"

"Unless you step over my corpse, no one is allowed to touch a single hair on our Dragon Country's new [Strategist]! He is the hope of our Dragon Country!"

In times of crisis.

The Dragon Country will always have heroes who step forward.

This was true in the old era, and it is the same in the new era!

Xiao Zhenghong stood at the bridgehead, with the Heroic Spirit troops beside him forming a tight defensive formation.

The manifestation of the Heroic Spirit [General Zhang Fei] shone brightly behind him.

At this moment, the manifestation of the Heroic Spirit [General Zhang Fei] still looked like that inconspicuous butcher.

But after a roar from Xiao Zhenghong, the temperament of the butcher-like [General Zhang Fei] changed. Although he still had that look of a rough man wearing an apron, at this moment, the muscles of the [General Zhang Fei] manifestation were knotted and solid like iron blocks. Glaring with wide, angry eyes, he fully displayed the style of a tiger general!

Bang—!!

Endless demons surged over, colliding with the Heroic Spirit troops led by Xiao Zhenghong!

The troops bolstered by the Heroic Spirit [General Zhang Fei] were very strong. A Martial Power value as high as 72 was a wealthy battle Xiao Zhenghong had never fought before.

One demon after another fell. Whether on Xiao Zhenghong's own body or on the bodies of the troops beside him, they were soon stained with the demons' eerie, crimson blood.

It was a wealthy battle Xiao Zhenghong had never fought before, but unfortunately, the number of Calamity Demons was still too great; they simply could not be killed off. Troops kept falling beside him, and those towering High-level Demons were getting closer and closer!

"That new [Strategist] from the Dragon Country is quite ruthless, abandoning his own [Roleplayer] just like that!"

"It's just a pity that such decisive and ruthless abandonment has little meaning. It hasn't even been five minutes, and this Dragon Country [Roleplayer] is already about to collapse!"

In the live stream chat, everyone could see that Chen Aoyun snatching the 'tree of dark twilight' was to stabilize his 'mid-tier' ranking, avoiding being at the bottom and having Chen Aoyun, as a [Strategist], executed by the rules.

At the same time, everyone also knew that a 'mid-tier' ranking could only ensure that the survivors were not executed by the rules. Wishing to resurrect companions who died in the Game of National Destiny was a privilege only countries ranked in the top ten were qualified to enjoy.

"Although one could say he is striving for a ranking for the Dragon Country, isn't this new [Strategist] from the Dragon Country too ruthless and too cruel for abandoning a companion without any emotion?"

Planting mines.

The appearance of a [Strategist] in the Dragon Country who could manifest native Heroic Spirits was something many countries did not want to see.

Although in the current situation, Xiao Zhenghong seemed unable to hold on any longer, and that new [Strategist] of the Dragon Country would soon be caught and killed by the High-level Demons.

But these viewers who did not want to see the Dragon Country do well were still instigating, still planting mines.

One could imagine that Chen Aoyun, intentionally labeled as 'ruthless' and 'cruel' by others, even if he miraculously survived, would face criticism from people within the Dragon Country in the future.

However, did Chen Aoyun really abandon his companion?

Not at all!

"After snatching the 'tree of dark twilight,' it's not just the relentless, endless demons chasing me, nor just the High-level Demons biting at my heels, but even that damn corruption is actually chasing me too!"

"The corruption attracted by the 'tree of dark twilight' turns into vines emerging from the ground, tangling the horse's hooves; it manifests strange spores to spray poison gas at me..."

"What the hell is this stuff!"

"Is it Mana Ecology?"

"I had absolutely no time to greet Xiao Zhenghong when we met; I could only quickly get away from the polluted area, away from that bridge!"

The clone of Chen Aoyun complained.

Chen Aoyun on the Starlight Chessboard was not idle either.

"I've already said it, the Huaxia Civilization is an existence capable of handling any situation!"

"Although I entered the game late, before I became a [Strategist], the situation on the chessboard was already clear!"

"Do you really think those few consecutive 'moves' I made earlier were just random?"

No one could hear the muttering words of Chen Aoyun on the Starlight Chessboard.

But Chen Aoyun's actions were clear and distinct!

Seeing this, Chen Aoyun on the Starlight Chessboard once again brought his two fingers together, forming a 'placing' gesture!

Some viewers noticed Chen Aoyun's action and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Fuck, this action again!"

"What is this guy trying to do?"

"Is he trying to manifest a new Heroic Spirit or construct a new exclusive skill for a Heroic Spirit?!"