I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 281: 281:Leaving II

The realization settled over them with a weight heavier than the falling stone. Larry had not simply made a mistake. He had chosen the route deliberately, and now the massive section of rock separating Silver’s group from the others made the truth impossible to ignore.

The sounds of the remaining contractors were already becoming distant, swallowed by the maze of tunnels and the constant rumbling of the collapsing cavern.

Ravenna stared at the blocked passage.

”He wouldn’t... I ... This is... Silver?”

Silver didn’t answer.

He activated his Spatial Sense.

[Spatial Sense Lv2 Activated]

The surrounding tunnels unfolded inside his mind. He could feel the paths behind the collapsed wall, the route Larry had taken, and the countless passages branching through the colony. For several seconds, he followed the movements of the other contractors.

They were still retreating and hadn’t stopped. It was clear they weren’t coming back.

Silver’s jaw tightened.

”He did.”

Ravenna’s expression hardened.

”Why?”

”Because we’re expendable.”

Antony’s expression became unusually serious.

”That bastard.”

Silver looked toward the tunnel behind them. The queen was coming; he could feel its massive body moving through the earth.

It wasn’t rushing, it didn’t need to. The worms surrounding them were already doing enough.

They crawled from the walls and ceiling, filling the passages ahead and behind them. Every time Silver destroyed a group, another wave appeared.

He fired.

[Phantom Draw Lv3 Activated]

Three shots tore through the nearest worms. Ravenna stepped forward.

Flame Edge

Her sword ignited. She swept it across the tunnel.

Burning Arc

A crescent of fire tore through another group. Antony attacked from the opposite side but the numbers didn’t decrease but increased.

Silver’s expression became grim.

”We’re running out of time.”

Ravenna looked at him.

”We can still fight.”

”I know but...”

Silver raised his sword. Another worm lunged.

[Space Slash Lv2 Activated]

The creature was sliced apart.

”But we can’t keep this up.”

Ravenna didn’t respond.

She knew what he meant, their strength was limited but the queen and the colony wasn’t. Even if they killed hundreds of worms, thousands more could replace them.

Silver’s Spatial Sense showed him the reality they couldn’t see. The tunnels behind them were gradually collapsing, the route ahead was being filled with worms, and the queen was approaching from below.

There was no safe direction, only temporary ones.

”Antony.”

The orange-haired contractor looked at him.

”Yeah?”

”How far can you carry Ravenna?”

Antony frowned.

”What?”

”Just answer me!”

”Far enough.”

Silver looked at him.

”Good.”

Ravenna immediately understood.

”No no no no...”

Silver turned toward her.

”You don’t know what I’m going to say.”

”Yes, I do.”

She tightened her grip around her sword as she stepped a way from him.

”I’m not leaving you.”

Silver stepped closer.

”Ravenna.”

”No.” Her voice was firmer. ”If you’re staying, I’m staying.”

”You can’t fight the queen.”

”Neither can you.”

”I can buy time.”

”And then what?”

Silver didn’t answer. Ravenna’s eyes became wet.

”You think I don’t understand?”

Silver’s chest tightened. She stepped closer.

”We’re together.”

”I know.”

”Then stop trying to send me away.”

Another roar shook the tunnel. Dust fell from the ceiling. The worms around them became more aggressive. Silver looked at the passage, they didn’t have much time.

He activated Spatial Sense again.

[Spatial Sense Lv2 Activated]

The warning immediately appeared.

[WARNING]

[Mental strain detected.]

[Continued use of spatial abilities may cause severe cognitive fatigue.]

Silver ignored it.

He pushed deeper. The map of the cave expanded. Then he noticed it a narrow passage that led upward, but the tunnel was unstable. Most of it had already collapsed, only a small section remained open, and even that was closing.

Silver calculated the distance.

”Antony.”

”What?”

”There’s a path behind us.”

Antony looked confused.

”Behind us?”

”Thirty-seven meters.”

”You’re sure?”

”Yes.” Silver pointed. ”There’s a narrow passage hidden behind that wall.”

Antony looked at the solid stone.

”How are we supposed to get through that?”

Silver raised his sword.

”I’ll make the opening.”

Ravenna stepped forward.

”I’m coming.”

”No.”

She glared at him.

”Don’t start.”

”Listen to me.”

”No.”

”Ravenna. I’ll teleport to you, there is really nothing bad that’s going to happen.”

She shook her head.

”I’m not leaving you behind.”

Silver stared at her.

’This is all my fault. Why did I let greed get the better of me’

He wanted to argue, to tell her that this wasn’t about whether she trusted him, it was about survival but he knew she wouldn’t listen. She would fight until she couldn’t stand.

And if she stayed, he would be forced to divide his attention between the queen and protecting her. That would get them both killed.

Antony seemed to understand the same thing. He looked at Silver.

”What do you want me to do?”

Silver hesitated, then he said it.

”When I tell you, take Ravenna.”

Ravenna’s eyes widened.

”No.”

”Antony.”

”Understood.”

”Don’t you dare!”

Ravenna stepped toward him. Silver grabbed her wrist.

”Listen to me.”

She tried pulling away.

”Silver!”

”I need you to survive.”

”I don’t care!”

”I do!”

His voice echoed through the tunnel.

Ravenna froze. Silver’s breathing was heavy.

”I care about you more than I care about myself.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

”Hic...Then don’t make me leave you.”

Silver looked at her. For a moment, he almost gave in, then his Spatial Sense detected movement. The queen had entered the outer tunnel.

They had seconds.

”Antony.”

Antony moved.

Ravenna realized what was happening.

”No!”

She swung her sword toward him. Antony dodged.

”Sorry.”

He stepped behind her. Ravenna turned.

”Antony...”

He struck the side of her neck with a precise blow. Her eyes widened, then the sword slipped from her hand. Her body went limp.

Silver caught her before she hit the ground. For a moment, he simply held her. Her white hair fell across her face. Her breathing was steady. She was fullh unconscious.

Antony looked away.

”She was going to fight you.”

”I know.”

Silver carefully lowered her into Antony’s arms.

”Take her.”

Antony hesitated.

”You’re sure?”

”No.” Silver looked at him. ”But it’s the only way. I have to make this right.”

Antony shifted Ravenna onto his back.

His body changed. His orange hair shortened slightly as his physique changed with the transformation.

Genderless Transformation: Female Form

His body became lighter and more agile. He adjusted Ravenna’s weight.

”Where?”

Silver pointed.

”That wall.”

Antony stared.

”There’s no opening.”

”There will be.”

Silver stepped toward it and drew his sword. The stone wall was already cracked. He could feel the empty space beyond it.

[Spatial Sense Lv2 Activated]

Silver’s awareness expanded. He found the exact weak point and raised his sword.

[Space Slash Lv2 Activated]

The blade struck and the stone split. A narrow opening appeared.

Antony stared.

”That’s insane.”

”Go, the tunnel won’t hold for much longer.”

Antony stepped through. Silver looked at Ravenna one last time. She was still unconscious and her face was wet with tears.

Silver’s heart twisted. He wanted to go with them, more than anything but he couldn’t.

The queen was almost here. If it followed them into the narrow tunnel, none of them would escape.

Silver stepped away.

”Take her to the surface.”

Antony nodded.

”What about you?”

Silver smiled faintly.

”I’ll catch up, I’ll teleport out, don’t worry.”

Antony stared at him.

”You’d better.”

Then he disappeared into the passage.

Silver turned around. The worms were approaching in the hundreds and behind them... The queen.

Silver raised his sword. He fired his handgun once.

[Phantom Draw Lv3 Activated]

The shot struck the nearest worm, then he moved.

[Short-Step Lv2 Activated]

He appeared farther down the tunnel away from the small opening. He fired again and another worm died, then another.

He wasn’t trying to kill everything but drawing their attention, becoming the target.

”Come on.”