Author: M_W Cancer

Hearing Lu Ming's question, Commander Ava smiled as she said, "Actually, it's because an overprotective older brother asked me a favor to protect his younger brother."

"Huh?" Lu Ming dubiously replied. He really doesn't fully get what Commander Ava was saying. Base on her words, one of the 1st year students actually had an older brother that is capable of asking a Commander of Blue Fin Kingdom for a favor. For how long already he had lived in Silver Kingdom, he of course knew a lot of things about it, and no such person with the power to ask a favor to a Commander of another Kingdom exists. Not to mention a mere student. Unless of course if it is the King of Silver Kingdom that gave his sons the power to call for Blue Fin Kingdom's help. However, the King's four sons are old enough to become fathers already, so how could they become 1st-year students. The Fifth and Sixth Princesses is also impossible because the two of them were both homeschooled.

"You don't need to delve deeper on what I meant to say, since you're going to die soon anyway!" Commander Ava said.

"You...!" Lu Ming pointed his finger in disbelief at Commander Ava after hearing her boastful words.

"You are already surrounded, you don't even have any soldiers or remaining puppets and Fiends to help you. Also, the entire Floating Mountain is already covered in a Magic Array. So, it's much better for you to just give up and accept your fate of dying!" Commander Ava proposed. No matter what Lu Ming does, he wouldn't be able to escape alive anymore. Even if he could indeed escape this cave, he would still need to break the Magic Array to completely escape Floating Mountain.

"I don't believe that I can't really get away from this place!" Lu Ming rolled his eyes in response. Although he was weak, it is still a known fact that his a Galaxy level Mage. Hence, Magic Arrays maintained by Star level Mages should be something he can destroy easily. The only problem is how to destroy the Magic Array without getting caught by Commander Ava, since obviously she would chase after him the moment he flies away from this cave.

Looking around the cave, Lu Ming began mapping out the tunnels inside his mind using a Bat Ears spell, searching for the best tunnel that will lead him as fast as possible outside of this cave and at the same time hinder Commander Ava's path.

After a while, Lu Ming was finally able to think of a plan. He would choose the path where Commander Ava's soldiers retreated, specifically the more soldiers in that certain tunnel the better.

Lu Ming quickly began searching for what tunnel has more soldiers, and after a few seconds, he was finally able to find a tunnel.

Lu Ming didn't waste any more seconds as he deactivated his Magic Manifestation and flew towards that specific tunnel.

*Whooosh!

Lu Ming quickly opened the earth wall, blocking the tunnel in front of him. He then closed the tunnel the moment he passed through, which should be enough to buy him a few seconds to distance himself.

While going further down the tunnel, Lu Ming keeps on casting the Earth Wall spell in hopes of hindering Commander Ava's path.

After a while, Lu Ming finally saw the group of soldiers being led by 2 Generals. He easily went past them, stop in front of them, casted a Flaming Shot spell to burn them, and he quickly flies away once again.

"Arghhhh!"

The soldiers roared in pain as Lu Ming went further ahead.

In Lu Ming's mind, Commander Ava wouldn't just let her soldiers die if the opportunity to save them was presented just right in front of her. After all, she is the Commander of these soldiers, so she would obviously save them.

Arriving on a diverging road, Lu Ming decided to cast an Earth Wall spell in a tunnel opposite to what he had chosen, thinking of confusing Commander Ava.

Lu Ming continued going further ahead in the tunnel.

Putting his hand up in front, Lu Ming casted the last Earth Wall spell before finally getting out of the mountain.

Lu Ming quickly looked around in front of him to determine which path would lead him to the west direction, specifically the way back to the mainland of Silver Kingdom. He then flew in a specific direction soon after.

Moments later, Lu Ming could finally see the Magic array in front of him. Unexpectedly, it was also at that same moment that he saw Commander Ava flying in the air with a smirking face while looking straight in his direction, seemingly already knowing where exactly he was.

"How...?" Lu Ming stared in disbelief as he stopped in his path forward.

Commander Ava slowly flies towards Lu Ming and soon after arrived right above him.

"What's with that shocked face? Are you really that surprised that I arrived first, hahaha!" Commander Ava laughed mockingly. To be honest, she was actually long been watching how many troublesome things Lu Ming has done in hopes of hindering her path and buying himself enough time to escape.

"How?" Lu Ming repeated the same question again.

"I already expect where you were going. So, I just flew up the cave and waited for you in here." Commander Ava replied.

"But, how about your soldiers..." Lu Ming can't help but ask about those soldiers he had burned awhile ago. Commander Ava was a Commander, so she should have at least save her soldiers, right?

"Are you really a bad guy, or just an inexperienced bad guy?" Commander Ava dubiously asked as she soon after continued, "You should have already been long aware of the fact that on the battlefield everyone is responsible for their own lives and be prepared to die. Since those people came with me, if they die, then they die."

Hearing Commander Ava's words, Lu Ming really wanted to slap himself in the face. He really can't believe that he had forgotten about that. No, he didn't actually forget, he just didn't think that Commander Ava would really abandon her men since she looked like someone who wouldn't do such a heartless thing. Commander Ava had quickly ordered her men to retreat before when he had done the Magic Manifestation. Hence, he came to the conclusion that she isn't a heartless person and would definitely save her soldiers, not the complete opposite of that. Even if that order had a hidden agenda behind, it was still a fact that she had ordered them to retreat in order to protect them.

Suddenly, Lu Ming began laughing hysterically.

"HAHAHAHA! If you can do such a heartless thing, then what's the difference between the two of us?"

"Difference? Isn't it obvious, you have already abandoned your own race, while I on the other hand is doing all of my actions in order to protect my own race!" Commander Ava stated the obvious.

What Commander Ava had said was indeed correct. The moment Lu Ming decided to join the Black organization, an organization considered as a cancer of the Human race, he had already betrayed the entire Human race, henceforth marking all of his action as nothing but of pure self-interest only, even if he was serving the Dark God. On the other hand, Commander Ava's action of doing everything to kill Lu Ming, even risking a few of her soldiers in the process, would benefit not only herself but also the entire Mermaid, the other Merlfolks race, and the Human race.

Questioning Commander Ava about what's the difference between her and Lu Ming shouldn't even be considered as a question to begin with. If only she doesn't want to mock and annoy Lu Ming, then she would have instead simply rolled her eyes soon after she heard his question.

"HAHAHAHAHA! You are still the same as me since you have abandoned your fellow men!" Lu Ming finally went crazy.

Rather than calling Lu Ming crazy, it was more appropriate to say that he has already fallen into a hopeless situation at this moment.

And that is indeed the truth, since Lu Ming finally understands in his mind that he could only accept the fact that he was going to die. At first, he really thought he could still escape. But, seeing the situation right now though, he realized that there was no longer any way of escaping alive. He could clearly see now that what Commander Ava had said to him from the very beginning is the truth. No matter what he does, he would still die.

However, Lu Ming would obviously not accept such an outcome easily. He doesn't want to die in such a way.

Looking all over the place, Lu Ming suddenly glimpses Leo, who was still standing at the same location as before, but only this time he was looking in his direction.

"It is this young man's fault why I failed!" Lu Ming thought in his mind in full hatred. If only Leo wasn't in here, then things wouldn't have to turn out this way. He could have had his Leviathan. And maybe, just maybe, he would have started already his goal of cleaning the Celestial World of weak people.

Noticing Lu Ming's hateful gaze towards Leo, Commander Ava suddenly interrupted, "Just give up, Lu Ming. I will obviously not let you kill anyone anymore now that you are just standing below me."

"I know..." Lu Ming turned his head as he faced Commander Ava, "But that doesn't mean I can't bring the majority of you down to the grave with me!"

Hearing Lu Ming's words, Commander Ava's face quickly turned ugly. She was obviously quick to understand that Lu Ming wanted to do suicide by blowing up every Star in his two Galaxies, hence causing a massive outburst of Magic Power inside him which is capable of destroying a huge portion of the Floating Mountain land. Although the explosion wouldn't completely destroy the Floating Mountain, it was still enough to cause her soldiers to receive a lot of casualties and for Leo to also die, too.

Commander Ava obviously can't allow that to happen, especially to her soldiers. The King of Blue Fin Kingdom didn't even give her permission yet to send reinforcement to the Silver Mage Academy in Floating Mountain, not to mention what she had sent was a troops' worth of soldiers. To be honest, the King wouldn't really mind her sending some soldiers without his permission, since she was someone who has the power and rights to do such a thing. But, if she would lose a lot of her soldiers the moment she returned, then the King would obviously punish her, worst she could lose her position as a Commander.

"I'll be taking your men to come along in hell with me, Commander Ava!" Lu Ming said with a smile on his face before a blinding white light exploded inside of him and the light then spread throughout a huge place.

*Booooooom!