The air in the forest was dense and cold, a heavy silence enveloping the place after the battle. The echo of gunshots still resonated in the men's ears, but the fury of the fight had already faded. Only the sound of the trees swaying gently with the breeze and the crunch of leaves under the slow steps of the soldiers remained.
Ye Han walked among them, his face hardened, but his mind still processing what had happened. His eyes scanned the terrain cautiously, as if fearing something else might emerge from the shadows of the forest. In the distance, a new squad was helping the wounded, among them a Vesper who had fallen in the fight with the cultivator.
His name was Bo Xian. Born in a small coastal town, he had been a mercenary, and his life had never been destined for peace. Though filled with physical and emotional scars, it was guided by the idea that a better world was possible, one where people like him could have a worthy place.
The blow had been devastating. The cultivator, with the strength of his qi-covered fist, had launched a direct attack, one that couldn't be avoided, not with armor. The energy had pierced everything, shattering internal organs, bursting bones, and leaving the Vesper with no chance of survival. At first, his breath had still been strong, his breathing labored but persistent, almost defiant.
But the qi was unstoppable. The steel-scaled armor, designed to withstand attacks, had yielded with a single impact. It had become dented, the force of the blow reflected in the visible marks, but that was the least of it. What really mattered was what couldn't be seen. The internal damage was irreversible.
In the previous battle, with the cultivator advancing relentlessly before him, the Vesper, knowing that the retreat of his comrades depended on every second, raised his bayonet. A weapon practically useless against a cultivator, but he didn't hesitate. With his heart full of determination, he wielded it forcefully, even knowing the strike would have no effect on his opponent. It was a nearly desperate act, a last attempt to buy time. However, he didn't do it in the hope of winning, but for the courage to give his life in that final effort, intending to stop the cultivator who advanced mercilessly.
The Vesper had fallen with honor, with the dignity that only those who understand the true value of sacrifice can comprehend: giving his life to protect others.
Now, Ye Han approached the body of the Vesper. The other soldiers in the squad watched him in silence, respectful, not daring to make a sound. Ye Han's eyes glowed with a mixture of pain and rage. No one would forget the one who had given everything, even when there was nothing left. It was the kind of sacrifice that defined the Vesper, but that did not ease the weight of the loss.
The Vesper lay on the ground, his breath having stopped several minutes ago. The others had tried to stabilize him, but it was useless. The damage caused by the qi had been too great. Ye Han closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before looking at the soldier who was nearby, watching the scene.
"We'll take him with us," Ye Han replied in a deep voice. "We'll make sure he gets back to Omega Zero. He deserves a proper burial."
Ye Han looked at his squad. The faces of the men were marked by anger and sadness, but also by the determination to move forward. No one had stopped fighting, no one had given in to fear or death, and that was what made them different.
Moments later, a group returned, their expressions grim. "No trace, sir. We found nothing," one of them reported, his voice heavy with frustration.
Ye Han nodded and decided to leave.
The way back was silent. The forest, which had so recently been the scene of a fierce battle, now seemed quieter, almost unreal. The leaves slowly fell from the trees, and the wind gently moved the branches.
In the midst of the dense forest, the mountains rose with majesty, hidden under a thick layer of vegetation that camouflaged their paths between rugged rocks and centuries-old trees.
The leader of the cultivators advanced with quick steps, his breath broken by desperation. The cold humidity clung to his skin, but his mind was completely fixed on what had happened. He had failed. How had it been possible for a group of mere mortals to achieve such resistance? The situation had escalated beyond any expectation, and the strength of his men had been surpassed by a group of soldiers with weapons he did not fully understand.
"I must inform the patriarch... Immediately," he thought, his mind struck by urgency. Every second counted.
A crackle echoed under his feet. He looked around, the sensation of being pursued ran down his back like a snake, but he could not stop. Every thought was focused on a single goal: escape. He had to inform the patriarch. Only he could understand what was happening. Who were those mortals? Why could their weapons hurt them? The blow to his pride was stronger than any physical wound.
His thoughts sped up, more frantic with each step he took through the underbrush. The death of his subordinate still resonated in his mind. The impact of the bullet had been lethal, and even the qi had been unable to save him.
A chill ran through his body as he remembered the confrontation. He had never heard of such weapons. On the battlefield, qi was god. Nothing could challenge it. But those mortals...
His steps grew faster, frantic from the fear that had begun to cling to him.
The trees passed quickly beside him. The breeze grew stronger, and so did his thoughts. The image of his subordinate collapsing under the impact of a bullet kept spinning in his head.
The walk to Omega Zero was an echo of silence, a solemn step marked by the solemnity of sacrifice. The fallen Vesper's body was carried with reverence, and as they neared the base, the stillness of the night enveloped everything, as if the very earth held its lament.
The biting night air seemed to whisper among the trees, while the stars shone, cold and distant.
A separate cemetery had been erected, a sanctuary for the fallen, in a quiet, secluded corner. Others organized the ceremony, the place surrounded by oil lamps flickering faintly, casting shadows that danced like witnesses to an eternal sacrifice.
Ethan advanced steadily among his men, the gravity of the situation reflected in his impassive demeanor. He reached the place where the body of the Vesper rested, and his eyes, deeply serene, fell upon it. His gaze, unyielding as always, was the only one that did not falter before the tragedy.
"Today," Ethan began, his voice resonating with the same strength as a military command, but with a deep sense of respect, "one of ours has fallen. A man who, like us, rose to fight for freedom, safety, and respect for all. A man who gave his life for the cause that has united us: the pursuit of a world where mortals do not live under the yoke of the cultivators."
The wind carried away the stillness, and a crunch of fallen leaves echoed in the air, like a sigh from the world itself.
"But this cause," Ethan continued, his gaze fixed on the horizon, "does not end with his fall. The freedom we fight for, the struggle for the oppressed, will not perish with him. The victory will be ours."
As a signal, gunshots rumbled three times in the darkness, a blast that cut through the air, the echo of a final farewell, an eternal tribute to the courage and determination that the Vesper had shown.
"May his sacrifice not be forgotten," said Ethan, his voice now deep, filled with a steel solemnity, "for freedom. For Astralis."
One by one, the soldiers lined up in silence. In a wordless ritual, each man and woman approached the fallen body and placed a flower—an offering that symbolized both respect and the promise to move forward. The wind, as if understanding the significance of the moment, whispered among the trees, while the echo of their steps blended with nature itself.
Ethan silently approached the Vesper. Without a word, he bowed his head in respect. Then, with an almost imperceptible gesture, he signaled for them to step away. One by one, they withdrew, leaving behind a place that, from that moment on, would become an eternal sanctuary.
Under the watchful gaze of the stars, Omega Zero continued its relentless course. As long as Astralis remained strong and united, nothing could stop them. The fallen became legends, and their cause, more alive than ever moved forward with strength. They fought for a better future, a world forged by people like them, where freedom and safety would stand as the legacy of their struggle.