Chapter 115: A Stage All Alone

"Do you know why the Military Department always orders Guardians to retreat first when faced with unwinnable battles, yet the annual casualty rate for Guardians remains alarmingly high?" Hua Ze wore a playful expression. Without waiting for his team to answer, he suddenly raised his voice, his impassioned tone echoing through the surroundings: "Because they are Guardians. Because they are the ones who stay until the very end. Because they all sacrifice themselves to protect humanity."

"If we don't follow orders, we might all die here. Are you afraid?" His voice returned to a calm, indifferent tone as he asked the question.

"I am afraid. But even if I am afraid, I am still a Guardian," Man Yutong replied calmly.

"Afraid? I'm afraid those monsters won't be enough for me to kill," Du Qiying said with a smile.

"Afraid? I've never even heard of that word," Wang Mingyue said with an indifferent look.

"Afraid? I'm more afraid of being left far behind by Xiaoyuan," Wen Hui said, looking at Zhuang Xiaoyuan with a competitive glint.

"I am very afraid. I'm afraid of seeing people I know die in front of me again. I'm afraid of having to talk to a photograph of someone who was chatting and joking with me just yesterday. I'm afraid that if I hide, I will be the only one left in my world. I am truly terrified." A look of genuine fear appeared on Zhuang Xiaoyuan's face. Yet, behind this fear lay a persistent dedication to protecting others and a deep-seated hatred for the demons and evil gods that sought to destroy her world.

"Good. That is how one avoids shaming the title of Guardian. Now, first, protect the South Gate soldiers as they retreat to the Command Center defensive zone. A few of you stay behind to delay the demons; the rest of you go to the Command Center to hold off that Burrower-class demon." Having confirmed their resolve, Hua Ze gave a hearty laugh and began assigning tasks.

"Captain, I can handle this alone. You should all head to the Command Center. There's a Burrower-class demon there, after all." No sooner had Hua Ze finished speaking than Zhuang Xiaoyuan volunteered.

"You alone... very well. Let's move." Hua Ze hesitated for a moment, but upon noticing the pile of Soldier-class and General-class demons still blocking the fissure, he stopped wavering. He turned and led his teammates to join the retreating South Gate soldiers.

"Requiem." As her fingers danced across a keyboard of light, Zhuang Xiaoyuan cast a divine power recovery effect upon the Guardians. She watched as they and the South Gate soldiers retreated toward the north.

"Now, the stage is mine. My dear evil gods and demons, come and listen to my voice—the Diva of the Broken Army." She flew up to the intact section of the South City Wall. A massive pipe organ materialized once more, and an organ pipe extended before her like a microphone. "Solo." Countless yellow pipes erupted from the earth, plunging into the swarms of demons outside the city.

"Listen to me and halt." Zhuang Xiaoyuan's voice resonated through the pipes into the horde. Every General-class and Soldier-class demon, along with all the low and mid-level evil gods, froze in their tracks. Only the Chariot-class and high-level demons remained unaffected, continuing their charge toward the South Gate and trampling countless smaller demons in their path.

Because of the vast range of control, her influence was weakened, making it impossible to hold the Chariot-class demons as she had intended. But it mattered little; the Chariot-class demons were merely a drop in the ocean compared to the massive horde. This provided the perfect opportunity for the demons under her control to prove their worth.

"All you good children, destroy the disobedient ones. Tear apart their bodies, shatter their cores." Zhuang Xiaoyuan pointed her right index finger at the Chariot-class demons still charging the gate and issued her command.

*Boom.* The horde surged. Dense swarms of Soldier and General-class demons surrounded the Chariot-class demons. When their four arms failed to make an impact, they resorted to their teeth. As the sheer number of demons overwhelmed the targets, sharp fangs began to gnaw at the flesh of the Chariot-class demons—a feat even these stronger entities could not withstand.

"Awoo!" With a shrill cry, a Chariot-class demon, weighed down by two General-class and half a dozen Soldier-class demons, finally succumbed to its wounds. Its core crystal was exposed. *Crack!* A General-class demon seized the opportunity and bit down on the core. As the teeth clamped shut, the crystal shattered, and the Chariot-class demon perished at the hands of its lesser kin. This scene began to play out in multiple locations.

"Good children, you are all such good children." As several Chariot-class demons died, wisps of pale blue energy drifted into Zhuang Xiaoyuan, replenishing a fraction of the silver divine power that had already dwindled to a sliver.

"Now, it's time for your reward. But there's only one of me, and if I want to give a reward, I can only give it to one person. What should I do?" She wore a dangerously cute smile, tapping her cheek with her right index finger. Her eyes darted about with a hint of murderous intent, yet her voice remained sweet. "I know, why don't you start killing each other? The last one standing will receive my prize."

"Awoo!" A synchronized roar erupted. The demons outside the city, now under Zhuang Xiaoyuan's control, suddenly descended into chaos, attacking each other indiscriminately. With the riot in full swing, demon after demon fell in the fray.

"Come, come, join the slaughter. The survivor will receive my reward." The number of demons outside began to dwindle rapidly, but countless more surged from the horizon. Zhuang Xiaoyuan had to repeatedly use her "Solo" ability to force the newcomers into the infighting. Each use of the large-scale control drained her divine power rapidly.

However, this was where Miku Izayoi's strength against low-level enemies truly shone: whenever her power waned, she played her *Requiem* to rapidly restore it, then immediately resumed using *Solo* to control the new arrivals. In this cycle, the Soldier and General-class demons were being annihilated at a rapid pace. Yet, in the distance, the endless sea of demons kept advancing—a hopeless, seemingly infinite swarm.

"My, my, it really is endless. How can I manage to leave only one survivor? This is quite a dilemma." She tilted her head with a troubled expression and checked the time. It had been nearly thirty minutes; surely that was enough time for the Guardians and the South Gate soldiers to reach the command center. It was time to bring her solo concert to a close.