Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 297: Chapter 139: Rangers, Charge!_2

Mocking ’Orchid’ for flirting with the young ones, another team leader had come over to complain.

Sarcastically blaming ’Mi Hu’ for cooking food that could poison even the King of Restricted Zone to death.

The rest were not to be outdone, each taking their turns mocking the risks involved in the Ben Lei plan.

They shifted from mundane chit-chat to battles, and then on to the most recent newcomers.

The atmosphere in the room was harmonious and enviable.

They even mentioned the codename of Li Yelai.

They discussed Night General’s monster-luring ability, speculating on the viability of the plan.

Indeed, Ben Lei had utilized Li Yelai’s cursed ability to lure monsters in their several collaborations.

Li Yelai felt a bitter taste in his heart and silently gave a wry smile.

The others in the corridor outside room 420 felt a chilling eeriness grow around them.

Judging only by their voices, they all seemed to be alive, yet clearly, they were already...

Everyone listening to the sounds from the room gradually sank into unease.

However, for some reason, the voices in the room suddenly ceased.

The heartbeats of those outside abruptly quickened.

Huang Tu quickly raised a hand, signaling for everyone to remain calm.

The next second, the door slowly opened.

The Heavy Knight beside Li Yelai instinctively wanted to draw her hammer.

But Li Yelai tightly gripped her wrist, his muscles bulged, forcefully pressing down her wrist and preventing her from drawing her weapon.

A look of astonishment crossed the Heavy Knight’s eyes, but Li Yelai slowly shook his head.

And there was Ben Lei, dressed in a patient gown, appearing at the door.

His original hair had been completely shaved off, and his twisted skull had recovered. But his maimed legs and fingers, now turned into crimson muscle masses, stood puzzled at the doorway, looking at the group.

Immediately after, Ben Lei smiled and asked, ”What’s everyone talking about?”

Seeing this scene, Huang Tu forced a smile uglier than a cry and responded, ”Gossiping... What are you chatting about?”

Her hands fell to her sides, ready to use some ability at any moment.

But Ben Lei cheerfully replied, ”What a coincidence, we’re gossiping too...”

Then, he saw Li Yelai, looking slightly stupefied, and then joyfully exclaimed, ”Night General, you’re here too.”

Confronted with Ben Lei’s appearance, Li Yelai felt a profound bitterness but managed a smile, ”Of course, I came to check on you. Seeing you had visitors, I didn’t want to interrupt.”

”That’s nothing, you’ve met the Flying Hero and the others before.” Ben Lei gestured nonchalantly as his tumorous arm flailed, ”Come on in, let’s chat. We were just talking about you.”

Huang Tu and the others’ expressions shifted subtly as the muscles of the people in the corridor tensed in an instant.

They naturally didn’t dare to let Li Yelai enter the room alone, as Ben Lei seemed twisted, not even aware of it himself.

It would be far too dangerous for Li Yelai to go in there.

But they dared not refuse aloud, fearing it would worsen Ben Lei’s condition further.

After a brief hesitation, Li Yelai nodded, ”Alright!”

He didn’t want to provoke Ben Lei further, so he accepted the invitation.

He picked up the Big Black Umbrella and followed Ben Lei into the room.

Sure enough, aside from Ben Lei, there was no one else in the room.

But Ben Lei sat on the bed, gesturing for Li Yelai to sit anywhere.

So Li Yelai pulled over a stool and sat down at the bedside.

Then, Ben Lei really resumed ’chatting’.

Suddenly, a face squeezed out from his neck, bulging under his skin, its mouth opening and closing, speaking.

”Look, backbiting the Night General, and now when he comes to see, what have you got to say?”

”What’s the big deal?” A face emerged from Ben Lei’s shoulder, ”The Night General himself doesn’t care, why are you bitching and moaning?”

”So rude!” a voice came from Ben Lei’s abdomen, ”Sorry, Night General, we didn’t mean any harm.”

Ben Lei nodded too, ”We were just analyzing your curse, taking a further look into it.”

Watching the bizarre scene, Li Yelai did not act rashly but nodded slightly, ”I know. You always want to use me to lure monsters... I don’t mind. Just don’t call me the Monster Brushing Cage, it’s too unpleasant.”

After that, Ben Lei and those several faces continued chatting as if those people were still alive.

Li Yelai nodded from time to time, occasionally responding with a few words.

If one only listened to the voices, the atmosphere seemed very harmonious.

Until... Ben Lei suddenly fell silent, he looked at Li Yelai and said, ”Night General, am I... ugly now?”

His tone was neither hurried nor slow, yet it seemed to carry endless pain. Those few human faces were also silent at this moment.

Yes, he was in great pain.

After becoming a Spiritual Ability User, he had been in close contact with these teammates day and night.

Upon becoming an Awakened Spirit User, he had formed the initial Ranger group with these close friends.

They had already become like family to him.

But... it was all over.

In the plan he had devised, within that dangerous Insect Swarm Maze, all of them had sacrificed themselves, only he, the plan’s leader, had survived alone.

And they, these comrades with whom he had spent day and night, had met with an end without a trace left behind.

They died amongst the Insect Swarm, torn and devoured by countless insects before their deaths.

It was all because of him!

He was in immense pain, he didn’t want to believe this fact, refused to accept this outcome.

So, he heard the voices of his teammates.

Some kindly presence promised him Eternal Life, promised that his teammates would live forever with him! Never to be separated!

”Calm down, Ben Lei, they would never wish to see you like this,” Li Yelai responded softly.

”If Cheese, Doll, Starfire and those other close friends of yours...had also passed away, or twisted...” Ben Lei sat up on his sickbed, his gaze turning towards Li Yelai, ”could you stay calm?”

Li Yelai fell silent, if they were twisted, he didn’t know what he would do. Could he conduct their funerals? Could he really bring himself to do that? Li Yelai dared not think of that scene.

”This is the fate of a Processor...” tears streamed down Ben Lei’s face, yet he smiled.

His body twisted rapidly, lumps surged within, he swung himself up from the sickbed: ”Night General, don’t be like me...don’t end up like this.”

Suddenly, he asked softly, ”Has the scene been cleared?”

A deep voice resounded from Li Yelai’s Communicator: [Yes, Lord Ben Lei.]

”That’s good... I’ve caused you all trouble.” Ben Lei spoke softly, ”I can’t hold on anymore...”

Immediately afterward, his body seemed to be twisted by an invisible force, muscles undulated like waves, each rise and fall threatening to burst forth. His skin turned abnormally rough, as if made up of countless tiny particles, something seemed to wriggle within his pores.

Suddenly, his body erupted with protrusions all over, resembling human faces. These faces became clearer, with distinct features, the faces of his teammates engraved in Ben Lei’s memory!

At that moment, these faces let out a unified cry: ”Your opponent is the East City Branch, Ranger Team Three!”

”Flying Hero!”

”Copper Elephant!”

”Orchid!”

”Mi Hu!”

”Ben Lei!”

Li Yelai, in anguish, closed his eyes, but drew the long spear from the Big Black Umbrella, his left hand brushing across his face.

A majestic Overlord Face appeared on his visage, blending perfectly with his features.

When he opened his eyes again, they were fearsome Heavy Pupils!

Black, ethereal Scale Armor emerged on his body, a giant four-eyed tiger with black fur roared behind him!

Li Yelai twirled the long spear single-handedly, the surging will to fight seeming to want to burn the entire world to ashes.

”Your Funeral Attendant, Champion Team One, Night General!”

The sound was deafening, making the whole hospital tremble in response to the challenge of the Rangers!

”Very good!”

Ben Lei laughed wildly, as if he had returned to the time when the Ranger group was first established, his hopeful teammates standing with him to attack the enemies of Humanity!

They fought side by side, advanced and retreated together, never giving up on any companion.

That time, that moment, just like, this time, this moment!

The Ranger group would reunite once again to combat the enemies of Humanity!

As always, no one was left behind!

”Rangers, Charge!”