Chapter Ten: The Flying Dragon Battalion (Part Two)

Country E, Saint Peter, Secret Battleaxe Fortress.

A man wearing a black trench coat sat on a bronzed sofa, and standing before him was Onizuka, who had just returned.

“Lord Black Fox, I…” Onizuka stammered, trembling with fear.

“Onizuka, you’ve had a hard time; there’s no need to be so nervous. This failure was beyond your control, so I won’t blame you,” Black Fox interrupted. “However, should this happen again, I can’t guarantee the safety of your wife and son in Saint Petersburg. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, my lord! Rest assured, there won’t be a next time. Please, don’t hurt them—I’ll do anything you ask!” Onizuka dropped to his knees, pleading.

“Very well. I’ll let it go this time. What I need from you is to keep a close watch on the Huaxia Forward Base, observe their movements, and act when the time comes. If possible, follow them to discover the precise location of the energy sample. You may go. If necessary, I’ll send reinforcements to assist you,” Black Fox waved him away.

“Yes, my lord. Rest assured, I’ll go at once.”

Onizuka scrambled to his feet and hurried out. As he closed the door and turned around, a fleeting, sinister expression crossed his face.

Huaxia Forward Base.

On the final night of the holiday, Yun Meng gathered Hua Feng, Wang Yue, and Shuang Ning. The four of them sat on an open-air terrace overlooking the training ground, gazing up at the starlit sky, enjoying a quiet, intimate gathering.

Countless stars glimmered faintly above. On a clear night after snowfall, sharing drinks with close friends, the cold air was warmed by the comfort in their hearts. Hua Feng played a song from his smart wristwatch—an insert from the anime “Super Warriors” called “Falling.” The lyrics, accompanied by the music video, were projected as a holographic image above them.

The sentimental lyrics brought back memories of past missions:

Under the setting sun, clouds are swallowed by the night
Dim lights flicker in shadowy streets
Wandering eyes, heaving chests, trembling
Even if, at the last moment, my heart is torn,
Facing the flames, there’s no need to shy away

Never let go, fight with all my might
Let my former self become fire
Burning ashes fall without end
Cast off the heavy chains
Struggle free, banish the demons within
Let you and I, in this moment, become fire
The soul that remains breaks through again and again
Shattering the clouds as we slowly fall together
Even if, at the last moment, my heart is torn,
Facing the flames, there’s no need to shy away
Never let go, fight with all my might
Let my former self become fire
Burning ashes fall without end
Cast off the heavy chains
Struggle free, banish the demons within

“Xiaomeng, do you ever wonder how people in the past had so much time to play games like ‘Honor of Kings,’ ‘Battlefield Mobile,’ or ‘Blade & Soul’? Didn’t they have to train or cultivate energy?” Shuang Ning asked.

“Perhaps in that era, the real crises hadn’t yet arrived,” Yun Meng mused.

“Or maybe those games were a way to fill the emptiness and bring them some happiness. I read that in a history book,” Hua Feng said, putting down his beer.

“I think they were seeking solace for their souls, unable to fight back against reality, yearning for recognition outside their everyday lives. It’s like people in our time who lose themselves in virtual game pods. There’s no right or wrong, as long as you stay true to yourself and don’t harm others. Life is your own—you decide how to live it,” Wang Yue added, speaking with the weight of experience.

After a moment’s silence, as they watched tanks and aliens flicker in the holographic light, Hua Feng suddenly felt a kind of sympathy for the heroes in the show, as if he saw himself in them at some point.

“If I could choose, I’d want all of us to live the lives we really desire. By the way, congratulations, Wang Yue! When you and Shuang Ning get married, remember to invite us old friends—we’ll be there for the wedding feast!” Hua Feng teased.

“Count me in too,” Yun Meng chimed in, a little tipsy.

“Absolutely, absolutely! I propose a toast—to new beginnings, and to us striving to become true Flying Dragons!” Wang Yue declared with a burst of passion.

“To the future! To us! And to our homeland—to this land of Huaxia beneath our feet!” Glasses clinked as everyone drank heartily, relishing the moment. The time had come to say a temporary farewell to the familiar barracks.

The lyrics continued to ring out, moving and melodic:

Let me, in this moment, become fire
The soul that remains breaks through again and again
Shattering the clouds as we slowly fall together
Let my former self become fire
Burning ashes fall without end
Cast off the heavy chains, struggle free, banish the demons within
Let me, in this moment, become fire
The soul that remains breaks through again and again
Shattering the clouds as we slowly fall together