Chapter 111: Blood and Tears

Imagine a man who has worked himself to the bone, day in and day out, sacrificing everything for his job. He arrives home, breathless and hunched with exhaustion, having finally paid off his mortgage, filled with the beautiful expectation of a happy life ahead with his wife. He pushes open the door, only to find his wife naked in bed with the neighbor, and discovers that even the house, held in her name, has been transferred to the other man. What expression would be on that man’s face?

That was the expression on Monks' face right now.

"I’m going to kill you! Come out! Come out!"

Monks roared, hurling the smoking RPG from his hands. His eyes were bloodshot, tears and snot streaming down his face, his facial muscles twisted into a mask of pure, frantic rage, like a maddened lion. But Monks didn't care. He didn't care what anyone thought of him. He was driven to the brink of insanity. He snatched up another RPG from the side and viciously pulled the trigger, aiming at the spot where Faren had vanished. A rocket propelled grenade streaked out, blowing another vehicle into smithereens with a thunderous boom.

"Get the hell out here! Do you hear me?! I’m going to kill you! You bastard! You piece of trash! You godforsaken son of a bitch! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill your whole family! I’ll wipe you and those damn bugs of yours off the face of the earth!"

Monks was beyond livid. The fluctuations caused by Faren using the energy chips were so obvious that everyone present felt them. That was the final string in Monks' mind, and it snapped with a deafening twang. He had hoped to capture the doctor and reclaim his energy chips, but he never imagined that the man would be so cavalier, using them up just like that! He used them! He actually used them!

The feeling of having your daughter, raised for years, elope with someone else; the feeling of discovering your son, raised for years, isn't actually yours; the feeling of being dumped by your girlfriend as she drives off in a luxury car; the feeling of your wife cheating with the neighbor while you’re away; the feeling of finally going to a spa only to be raided by the police, leading not only to failure in finding pleasure but also to being fired, fined, and detained; the feeling of your mistress selling your house and car to run off with her "true love"; the feeling of buying stocks only for them to hit the limit down, leaving you with nothing overnight... At this moment, the depths of Monks' heart were a swirling vortex of bitterness. If his rage could be rendered visible, it would surely manifest as a towering, raging pillar of fire reaching into the heavens.

If he could, Monks would destroy the entire world just to kill that bastard!

"..."

The surroundings were silent, with no response. Monks, breathing heavily with bloodshot eyes, turned his head and glared viciously at the Caesar Legion commander before suddenly waving his hand.

"Men, take the cargo!"

"You dare!?"

Hearing this, the Caesar Legion commander shouted, raising his gun to aim at Monks. "I haven't received the money! No one is touching the cargo!"

"Bang, bang, bang!"

This time, faced with the commander's roar, Monks said nothing. He simply raised his gun and fired wildly at him. The commander rolled to the side, dodging the attack, but for both sides, that was enough.

"Attack!"

"Seize it!"

With the roars of both sides, the Federation forces and the Caesar Legion, already primed for battle, immediately plunged into a chaotic melee. Gunfire, shouts, and screams merged into a cacophony, punctuated by the occasional sound of grenades and heavy machine guns.

"What on earth is going on?"

Staring blankly at the fierce battle in the distance, Eluka’s eyes widened in surprise. Although the area was shrouded in mist, with the help of Kurona’s [Mind Sense], she could clearly grasp the situation. When she saw the Federation convoy attacked earlier, she thought it was her turn to act, but she never expected that these two sides would start fighting each other.

What exactly happened?

At the same time, the Federation troops led by Monks were also being intercepted by the Caesar Legion. Once Faren used those five fine-grade energy chips, Monks knew there was no longer any chance of a peaceful resolution. Those chips were the entire foundation of the Federation’s unit; since they had been consumed, there was no choice but to seize the goods by force.

But now, Monks couldn't immediately charge in to recover his goods. While the Federation troops were well-trained and well-equipped, the Caesar Legion had the advantage of numbers and were composed of desperate outlaws. A stalemate ensued, but this couldn't go on!

Monks knew clearly that if this continued, the Federation would inevitably fail as their numbers dwindled. But to retreat like a coward? That was absolutely impossible!

"Sir! Sir!"

Just then, Monks’ adjutant rushed to his side, shouting. "The enemy's fire is too heavy, we can't hold them off! Sir, let’s leave here, gather more soldiers, and come back... besides, you’re wounded!"

"Bang!"

Before the adjutant could finish, he stared wide-eyed at Monks and collapsed to the ground. Monks, his face ashen, held a smoking pistol, a flicker of savagery in his eyes. Beneath his chest, a bloodstain began to spread. During the initial clash, a bullet had pierced his chest. Although it hadn't hit his heart, Monks knew he didn't have much time left.

*No... I won't end like this. If I’m going to die... I’m taking you all with me!*

With that thought, Monks reached into his pocket and pulled out a small syringe. Enduring the agonizing pain, he twisted the top open to reveal a sharp needle. He stared at the syringe, hesitated for a moment, and then roared as he slammed it into his own neck.

"——!!!"

A strange, eerie howl erupted from the depths of the soul, enveloping the entire battlefield. Whether they were Caesar Legionnaires or Federation soldiers, everyone who heard the cry felt their vision blur and stopped in their tracks. Not just them, but Faren, Eluka, and Chris all looked up in astonishment toward the center of the mist.

What was happening there?

Faren narrowed his eyes. The information the mist fed back to him was unexpected. He had assumed the Federation and the Caesar Legion would fight to the death, but the situation seemed to have spiraled beyond his predictions...

Something seemed to have changed.

"Waaaah!"

Just then, a shrill, piercing scream rang out, shattering the silence.