Chapter 24 : The Reverse Walkers!

“You guys… what are you going to choose… vigilantes…? Hehehe…”

Gantz deliberately dragged out the syllables of the word vigilantes.

The entire venue fell silent.

Everyone stared blankly at Gantz perched on the flagpole.

On the podium, the examiners were forced to kneel before everyone by the black-robed figures.

Their eyes were blindfolded, their mouths stuffed.

They trembled and whimpered…

“Relax, their eyes are covered. Run, just run—they can’t see who it is. Even if someone dies, they won’t come back as vengeful spirits to haunt you. Just run. There are so many people here, no one will know it was you…”

Gantz’s words slithered into their minds like a serpent tempting Adam and Eve—whispering poison that stirred their will.

“Coco… in a moment… stay right here, don’t move, okay?”

Inside the suit, Su Xinran had air conditioning.

Yet sweat still beaded on her forehead.

She knew—whether demonkind or humans—the darkness within all beings is the hardest test to endure…

Mei Keke gazed at Su Xinran’s tall silhouette.

She knew what Su Xinran was about to do.

That high-up Gantz was a threat ranked at least mid-tier ghost-god level… someone even many A-rank heroes couldn’t face alone…

Tears welled in her eyes.

It wasn’t that she was worried about Su Xinran.

She envied her.

Even felt a little jealous.

Part of it was envy of Su Xinran’s strength—but more than that, it was jealousy that Su Xinran could overcome fear.

She wanted to go too.

But she was scared.

Scared to death.

That woman’s agony broadcast over the speakers… the fear of dying… the terror of ghost-god level power…

Her teacher, Yan Xuan, was kneeling there now, her life hanging by a thread—and yet she, Mei Keke, was paralyzed, trembling with fear.

She wished she could be like Su Xinran, to make the same kind of decision.

But she just couldn’t…

She hated herself for it—so timid, so weak, so indecisive.

Always the one waiting to be told what to do…

“Um… Mr. Horus… I…”

“Hm?”

Su Xinran turned to look at the trembling Mei Keke.

“What should I do… I… I want to… but… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do…”

Tears blurred Mei Keke’s vision.

Her self-loathing peaked.

“Ah…”

Su Xinran looked at the timid Mei Keke.

With four years of experience as a girl, she keenly picked up on the conflict in Mei Keke’s heart.

That same feeling had crossed her mind when the broadcaster had been killed—when she’d seen Mei Keke overwhelmed by the panicked crowd.

Even though Su Xinran had almost instantly conquered her own fear—she still deeply admired Mei Keke.

Su Xinran had powerful gear backing her up.

No matter what, she wasn’t likely to die easily.

But Mei Keke wasn’t the same.

In front of the Wildborn faction, Mei Keke could be killed in an instant.

And yet, despite the overwhelming power difference, Mei Keke still couldn’t suppress her urge to help.

That side of her earned Su Xinran’s sincere respect.

“Coco, you don’t know what to do, right…”

Su Xinran rubbed her chin in thought.

Now wasn’t the time for some preachy nonsense about facing fear—Coco didn’t need that.

“If you really don’t know what to do, then… can I ask you for a favor?”

“Eh…?”

Mei Keke looked up through her tear-blurred eyes.

“I want to ask for your help—to save the people up on that stage!”

Mei Keke froze.

If she didn’t know what to do… but this was a request…

“If it’s a request… then I guess I have no choice… dammit…”

She wiped away her tears.

“So? Can you help me?”

Su Xinran smiled as she asked.

“Mhm!”

Mei Keke nodded firmly!

“I’ll help you, Mr. Horus!”

“Beep!”

The device on Gantz’s waist lit up with a red light!

“Yare yare… let me see… one, two, three… twelve… twenty?! As expected from you people—twenty have tried to escape. Any more and I won’t have enough people on stage left to kill…”

“Take them out!”

Gantz suddenly waved his hand.

“Coco, it’s time to move!”

“Yeah!”

Su Xinran dashed toward the podium, with Mei Keke right behind her.

Her thick tail wrapped tightly around her waist, eyes brimming with resolve!

But the black-robed attackers had already drawn out their sharp, dark rods—ready to strike down the blindfolded examiners and staff!

‘High-performance mode, engage!’

[High-performance module activated. Full-power preheat complete!]

[Overheat countdown: 2 minutes 59 seconds… 2 minutes 58 seconds…]

Su Xinran instantly turned into a streaking meteor, charging up the stage—each fist landing squarely on a black-robed attacker!

“Puh-wa!”

Two of them spewed blood, sent flying through the backdrop behind the podium—and still didn’t stop, tumbling dozens of meters away!

Must go faster!

Su Xinran’s fists became afterimages, one black-robed enemy down with each strike—four, six… eighteen!

But the black-robed assailants didn’t even pause in their attempt to pierce the examiners—they ignored Su Xinran entirely.

Only two left—and she wouldn’t make it in time!

Just a little more…

Blindfolded Yan Xuan seemed to feel something.

She bowed her head slightly…

A black-robed figure behind her raised his rod—it was about to stab straight through her heart—

When, in that split second—

A purple bolt of lightning struck—just barely grazing Yan Xuan’s hair—as it blasted into the black-robed attacker!

“I did it…? I hit him!”

Purple electricity crackled from Mei Keke’s horns, still sparking wildly.

“Nice one!”

Su Xinran followed up, smashing her fist into the convulsing black-robed figure—the 19th enemy!

But the last one—she definitely wouldn’t make it in time…

Damn it, she thought.

I never should’ve trusted people to resist the darkness in their hearts.

I should’ve charged up right away…

Su Xinran closed her eyes, regret flooding her heart.

“What kind of joke is this? Don’t underestimate us!”

A psychic barrier intercepted the stabbing rod!

A young man from the one-eyed tribe roared, his glowing hand forming a seal.

“That’s right! What kind of joke is this?! You think being ghost-god class makes you invincible? Brothers, let’s take him down!”

“YEAH!!!”

“GET HIS ASS!!”

The crowd erupted in shouts—everyone showing off their abilities as they charged toward the podium.

The darkness in all beings may be laughable and shameful—but the light in their hearts was just as blindingly brilliant!

“Oi oi oi… so eager to die, are we, you bunch of idiots?”

Gantz tossed aside his robe, black lightning surging in his palm.

“Thunderflame… ANNIHILATION!”

A cold gleam flashed in Gantz’s eyes as he hurled the black lightning toward the crowd!

BOOM!

Before the orb of black lightning could even reach the people, it exploded mid-air!

“Hmm?”

Gantz narrowed his eyes in confusion—when a massive fist burst through the smoke!

“Your opponent… is me!”

“WHAT?!”