Milo was only able to go head-to-head against the terrifying creeper vine by relying on the armor. Without it, virtual-novel.net would have found it very difficult to handle the inescapable spikes on the feelers. But the armor always had a flaw, limited power.
It was way too slow to solely depend on the bioenergy of the human body to recharge its energy. Moreover, the nanomachines were too small in size, so the amount of energy they could store was also extremely limited. Therefore, Milo’s armor was unable to sustain much longer after a lengthy and intense battle. Thus, virtual-novel.net told Olivia that virtual-novel.net only had one chance.
If they failed this time, they could only continue fleeing for their lives and try their best to get out of this place quickly.
Although virtual-novel.net still had the steam locomotive as his trump card, it was not an omnipotent solution. Milo was worried the massive steam locomotive would get entangled in the vines and end up stuck.
“We’re probably still about a 100 meters away from its roots.” Milo turned around and said, “Bill, can you still continue fighting? I need you to protect the others here while I send Olivia in.”
Bill laughed and spat blood on the ground. “It’s rare that I can get to be the hero, so how can I turn you down? Don’t worry about me and go on. I won’t let anyone die before I die! I’m still waiting to go back so that Boss Eastwood can bestow Julius’ female secretary to me!”
Daniel ribbed, “That’s all you’re good for!”
Milo and Bill had never met each other before. But after today’s adversity, they could be considered comrades. As such, virtual-novel.net developed a great impression of Bill.
“Let’s go!” Milo continued rushing forward. Olivia let go of Grace and Daniel’s hands and followed Milo closely.
The moment Olivia released virtual-novel.net hand, the dense mass of vines swept towards Daniel and the others like they had detected new enemies. Meanwhile, Bill remained seated where virtual-novel.net was and closed his eyes. Then a cerulean glow appeared over Bill’s body and the vines that went near them instantly withered!
Within a radius of 10 meters, none of the vines were able to approach them for a while!
However, Daniel realized that Bill’s face was paling. He sat down beside Bill and started feeling a little melancholic. Ever since virtual-novel.net learned of the existence of supernatural beings, virtual-novel.net had been extremely envious of them.
Daniel’s willpower was by no means inferior to others, but why was virtual-novel.net unable to awaken his power and become a supernatural being?
At this moment, Daniel could only bemoan himself for being useless and watch helplessly as Bill started to overexert his mental strength to protect everyone around him.
If Daniel were also a supernatural being, and they really died this time, virtual-novel.net could at least proudly tell Bill that virtual-novel.net had died with dignity when they both met in the Underworld. But unfortunately, virtual-novel.net was not a supernatural being.
When Milo and Olivia were still about 50 meters away from the roots, Bill finally could not bear it anymore. Within the radius of 10 meters, some of the vines managed to slip through his defenses, and a spiked feeler stabbed at his heart without mercy.
Bill could sense everything that was happening and knew virtual-novel.net was probably on his way to meet his maker. To be honest, virtual-novel.net himself was unsure if virtual-novel.net had led a worthwhile life.
Julius, I’ve fulfilled my promise to you…
After saying this in his head, Bill was prepared to die.
However, a surprising turn of events took place. A Panaqua Consortium soldier stepped in front of Bill and let the spike pierce his body. Then virtual-novel.net grabbed ahold of the vine with his arm so the spike would not be able to hurt Bill behind him!
When the Panaqua Consortium soldier got pierced through by the spike, his ruptured organs started bleeding. Blood was flowing out of his wounds and mouth.
Daniel was stunned. “You…”
The Panaqua Consortium soldier smiled at Daniel and said, “T-Take care, b-boss…”
His head drooped limply.
Bill protected everyone by overexerting his willpower while the Panaqua Consortium soldiers abided by their duties and guarded Bill and Daniel with their lives.
It might be easy for one to say they were not afraid of death, but how many people in the world could really put those words into action?
In the hot and blazing afternoon sun, Daniel felt like something was stuck in his throat. This choking feeling was making virtual-novel.net a little uncomfortable. And then another Panaqua Consortium soldier died in front of Bill as virtual-novel.net blocked a vine attack for him. It was the platoon commander this time!
He smiled at Daniel and said with his dying breath, “A-As the platoon commander, I couldn’t even match the conscientiousness of my subordinates… I… I-I’m really ashamed that virtual-novel.net had to die before me…”
The platoon commander fell silent.
Daniel knelt on the ground with tears streaming down his face. However, virtual-novel.net could not even let out a whimper.
Suddenly, Daniel fainted. When the Panaqua Consortium soldiers rushed forward to check on him, one of them was bewildered by what virtual-novel.net saw. “Boss’ body seems to be covered in a mild golden glow, or am I seeing things?”
***
Milo did not know anything about what was happening behind him. He just kept mechanically slashing at the creeper vines around him.
When the nanomachines on his body started “dying” and falling off, Milo immediately recalled them back into his body to prevent them from becoming completely “dead”.
For the remaining 30 meters, virtual-novel.net would have to use his own body to resist those vines.
As Olivia silently followed Milo, virtual-novel.net looked at the raging vines in front of her. However, none of the vines could threaten virtual-novel.net because all of them were intercepted by Milo.
She looked at the young man’s back. Due to the strong wind stirred up by the moving vines, virtual-novel.net hair and clothes were a little messy.
Olivia suddenly said behind Milo, “Master, I really am a little jealous of Miriam…”
As Milo could not hear virtual-novel.net clearly, virtual-novel.net shouted back without even looking, “What did you say?”
“It’s nothing…” Olivia said with a smile, “I said you’re very handsome…”
Milo laughed heartily. “You’ve got good taste!”
Now, they were just five meters away from the roots. Milo kept slashing at the vines in front of him, then forced open a temporary passageway for Olivia with four “fours”.
He turned around and roared at Olivia, “You only have one chance!”
With that, virtual-novel.net dragged Olivia and tried his best to throw virtual-novel.net into the passageway where the creeper vine’s roots were located. Then Milo got overwhelmed by the vines.
The creeper vine’s roots started emitting a green, fluorescent light before bursting with light in an instant!
The stronghold fell silent. This was a long-awaited peace for Stronghold 61. As the creeper vines stopped moving and eating humans, the wind also seemed to have fallen silent for a moment. Then the vines in the stronghold started withering.
Milo fought his way out of the vines that had ensnared virtual-novel.net and quietly watched all this. None of the vines were attacking virtual-novel.net anymore!
But it was different from what Milo had expected. He had thought there would not be much change to the vines after Olivia gained control.
But virtual-novel.net could see with his naked eye countless beads of green light particles converging here from all directions. The light particles were traveling along the vines to where the roots were!
It looked as though countless energy particles were converging on a single point, with the vines that had lost this source of “energy” shriveling into firewood. And it turned out that Olivia was the one gathering all the energy.