Chapter Fifty-Seven: Nine Hearts!

“We did it!” Lu Kai exclaimed in delight.

Chen Yi stood atop the shriveled octopus corpse, gasping for breath. “At last, we’ve dealt with this monster…”

Everyone gathered around Chen Yi, relief mingling with exhaustion.

Hu Sanhan laughed, “Brother, you’re a genius! Without your decisions, we could never have beaten this creature.”

Chen Yi forced a smile. “Everyone shares the credit. Now, it’s time to reap the rewards.”

“You’re amazing, big brother!”

Chen Yaxi flew to Chen Yi’s side, leaping into his arms, her heart brimming with joy.

But at that moment, a team member let out a scream and collapsed heavily to the ground.

“What happened?”

The teammate standing beside him was startled, thinking he’d merely lost his balance.

Before he could react, another member fell, blood spraying everywhere as if struck by an unknown attack.

“Damn! Everyone, stay alert!”

Chen Yi’s senses sharpened, his cold gaze scanning the surroundings.

Lu Kai stepped closer to inspect, his expression instantly changing. “It’s the tentacles! These monsters are alive again!”

Chen Yi’s heart skipped—he realized the octopus must have feigned death, and the real threat was far from over.

A sudden thought struck him: octopuses have nine hearts; if mutated, they might possess nine crystal cores. They had only shattered one, nowhere near killing it completely.

“Don’t just stand there!”

Hu Sanhan shouted, “If you all want to die, keep standing still!”

Suddenly, more tentacles erupted from the floor and walls, rapidly closing in and wrapping around the team’s limbs, their frenzied strength inflicting unbearable pain.

The situation was dire; casualties were inevitable.

“We need to find the remaining crystal cores fast, or we’ll all end up dead here!” Chen Yi said urgently.

“But how?!”

Lu Kai looked around in panic, tentacles constricting him so tightly he could barely move.

Chen Yi took a deep breath and raised his twin-blade. “There’s only one way! Cut through them and force our way to the octopus!”

“That’s too risky…”

Lu Kai bit his lip, unwilling to accept it.

Chen Yi’s expression hardened, his voice grave. “It’s death either way. Let’s fight!”

At Chen Yi’s command, the group plunged back into the fray.

Hu Sanhan roared, wielding his golden saber with unmatched might, slicing through tentacles as if they were tofu. “Watch me!”

“Yaxi, cover us!” Chen Yi shouted.

Little Chen Yaxi soared upward, her mental shuttle spinning at lightning speed, sending powerful waves of energy toward the octopus’s hearts.

The tentacles rampaged again, knocking several teammates to the ground. Chen Yi’s nerves were taut.

He noticed the octopus’s body emitted a green glow—perhaps marking the crystal cores’ locations. He scrutinized every detail, refusing to let anything escape his notice.

He pressed forward, searching for any sign of a second crystal core.

“Look, over there!”

Hu Sanhan bellowed, pointing to the opposite side of the octopus.

Sure enough, amid torn flesh, something gleaming appeared.

“There it is!” Chen Yi’s eyes lit up. “Charge!”

They battled fiercely as they advanced, the tentacles acting as if sentient, disregarding their own defense, only to delay the team’s assault.

When they finally neared the crystal core, Hu Sanhan swung his saber, carving a bloody path.

Chen Yi leaped forward, stabbing viciously—his blow struck true, shattering the core.

Boom! Another thunderous crash, blood and slime spraying everywhere. The octopus’s movements slowed.

Hu Sanhan, breathing hard, looked at Chen Yi with admiration. “You’re incredible! How many are left?”

“Seven more. Stay sharp—keep fighting!” Chen Yi replied.

But in that moment of relief, the octopus seized its chance, rampaging anew. Its tentacles lashed upward like raging dragons, flailing wildly.

One struck Chen Yi with blinding speed and force, sending him flying before he could dodge.

“Brother!”

Chen Yaxi shrieked, her wings flaring, her eyes blazing with resolve as her mental shuttle battled the tentacles.

“Chen Yi!”

Hu Sanhan bellowed, rushing to shield him, golden saber meeting the frenzied tentacle.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice anxious.

Chen Yi nodded. “I’m fine. The fight isn’t over!”

He gripped his twin-blade tightly, his gaze burning like fire.

By then, Lu Kai had rallied the team, reestablishing their defensive line and suppressing the tentacles to buy time for Chen Yi and Hu Sanhan.

Chen Yi scanned the surroundings, seeking the next crystal core.

“The third one’s over there!”

He shouted, pointing to the opposite side.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Hu Sanhan cried, charging ahead.

The battle seemed to ignite their spirits.

Chen Yi followed close behind, darting between tentacles, then leaping high and striking at the third core with lightning precision.

The crystal shattered, its sound ringing clear.

The octopus let out a piercing scream, its movements sluggish yet still not defeated.

“Six left!” Chen Yi panted, reassuring his teammates. “Hold on, everyone. We’ll finish it soon!”

Blood and sweat mingled as the fight raged on.

Hu Sanhan kept swinging his golden saber, Lu Kai led the team as they emptied their magazines.

Chen Yaxi’s shuttle traced streaks of light through the air like lightning.

“The fourth one’s over there!”

Chen Yi spotted the next core.

He and Hu Sanhan charged toward it, the tentacles surging like waves.

With desperate effort, the team severed more tentacles, clearing a path for Chen Yi and Hu Sanhan.

They reached the fourth core at last. Chen Yi hacked down, shattering it. The octopus howled in agony.

“The fifth… sixth…”

The battle grew ever fiercer. As each core was destroyed, the octopus’s body weakened visibly, its tentacles no longer so violently wild. Hope for victory drew closer!

“The last one!”

Chen Yi’s voice rang out, his eyes blazing, fixed on the final flicker of green light.

He and Hu Sanhan joined forces once more, breaking through every obstacle to reach the ultimate goal.

“Go!”

With earth-shaking resolve, Chen Yi’s twin-blade and Hu Sanhan’s golden saber struck together, destroying the last core.

The octopus’s entire body trembled violently; all its tentacles dropped, utterly lifeless.

“We did it!”

Lu Kai cried, and the team erupted in cheers.

“Brother, you’re amazing!”

Chen Yaxi joyfully threw herself into Chen Yi’s arms, and he embraced her tightly.