Chapter 30: Who Devours Whom?

Inside an unknown mountain cave,

a suffocating, almost tangible mist shrouded every inch of space, becoming the sole, oppressive melody of the place.

Facing the Sword of Damocles hanging perpetually overhead, even Ke Lu dared not let her guard down for a moment.

Now trapped within the Secret Realm like prisoners in a massive cage,

the most terrifying part was the uncertainty: could they rely on the Secret Realm's original safety mechanism, designed to teleport near-death students out, to function properly amidst such an anomaly?

Thus, every breath they took felt like dancing on a knife's edge, every clash potentially leading to true death.

"Rou Rou, how long can your shield hold? How many similar offensive and defensive measures do you have left?" Ke Lu whispered, nearly pressing her lips to Su Rou's ear to ensure their conversation remained unheard.

Silence hung heavy in the air, no response came, as if Ke Lu were performing a solitary drama.

"Rou Rou!" Ke Lu's heart skipped a beat. She slapped Su Rou's shoulder forcefully.

The crisp snap and the stinging pain jolted Su Rou back to reality. She shook her head violently, but the bloody scene lingered before her eyes, refusing to fade.

The blood had thickened, dripping from the protective shield onto the ground in viscous globs. The twitching flesh continued to writhe on the ground as if still alive. Animal viscera lay strewn across the ground, a gruesome testament to the carnage.

This bloody spectacle seared itself into Su Rou's mind, stabbing her nerves.

Blood... so much blood...

Even someone with more worldly experience than Su Rou would likely panic at such a sight.

Ke Lu snapped her out of it with a sharp slap.

Su Rou took a deep breath, suppressing the trembling in her body. "I'm sorry, I spaced out there for a moment."

"What were you... asking just now?"

Ke Lu quickly repeated the question.

Su Rou activated her Space Ring's permissions and began taking inventory. "Our cultivation levels are low. The only effective tools we have are single-use consumables—each one we use brings us closer to running out."

"This protective shield is stationary and can only hold for another thirty seconds."

Thirty seconds, Ke Lu noted the critical timeframe.

Expecting reinforcements within that time was wishful thinking.

"Get in," Ke Lu ordered tersely. She manifested her "Rook" and pulled Su Rou inside.

"Wait—I'll drive to evade while you use these weapons to retaliate."

The crimson blood spread across the earth like a virus.

In this moment, this small space became their only sanctuary.

Su Rou sat in the cockpit's co-pilot seat, fidgeting restlessly and turning her head frequently to look outside.

Though she believed she was holding it together, her anxiety and unease were plain for all to see on her face.

Seeing the nearly bloodied mark on her lower lip from where she had been biting it, Ke Lu finally snapped. "Su Rou!" she barked.

Startled by the sharp reprimand, Su Rou's shoulders jerked as she slowly turned around.

Ke Lu's brow furrowed deeply, her tone stern. "Panic won't solve anything. In times like these, staying calm is our only path to survival."

Softening her tone, she added gently, "With me here, you don't need to be afraid."

"I understand, I understand," Su Rou said, gripping the vehicle's handle tightly. "Don't worry about me. I won't hold you back."

"Don't worry about me... really... really." Su Rou drew her pistol, seeking a sliver of security in the weapon.

Ke Lu lowered her gaze and grasped Su Rou's trembling hand. In this desolate environment, the two women seemed utterly alone and vulnerable.

Was I too harsh? Ke Lu wondered inwardly.

Su Rou was different from her. In her past life, Ke Lu had experienced more excitement than most people could in several lifetimes, and she had even undergone the legendary experience of transmigration. Naturally, her mental fortitude was as solid as bedrock.

But Su Rou was just a young woman fresh out of college, having spent her first two decades growing up with a silver spoon in her mouth.

Even if we set her aside, could Ke Lu herself, at eighteen, have maintained composure in the face of a life-or-death crisis?

At that moment, Ke Lu suddenly realized that true strength wasn't just about weathering storms alone, but also about learning to provide shelter for those around her.

Seeing Su Rou's profile, strained yet trying to appear composed, Ke Lu felt compelled to say something to reassure her—partly out of compassion, and partly to ensure that their counterattack plan wouldn't be jeopardized by her anxiety.

Already at a disadvantage, panic would only push their fleeting opportunity further out of reach.

Yet, she found herself at a loss for words.

Having spent two lifetimes navigating the world alone, she had very little experience comforting others.

Hmm, perhaps all those self-help books I read in my past and present lives might finally come in handy.

While "chicken soup for the soul" couldn't directly solve real-world problems, it could offer brief psychological comfort, like a warm cup of tea when someone was feeling down.

Meanwhile,

Su Rou knew her state of mind was unacceptable. To make Ke Lu worry about her in this situation was inexcusable.

But she couldn't completely suppress her emotions like Ke Lu.

Guilt and frustration surged in her chest, making her feel suffocated.

Suddenly, she saw Ke Lu sigh, a mix of resignation and relief in her voice. "Let me tell you a secret," she said. "We're actually the chosen ones in a novel."

"Huh?" Su Rou was taken aback by this "defying-the-heavens" statement, and the tension eased slightly as she found herself torn between laughter and tears.

"You're... talking nonsense," she said.

To her surprise, Ke Lu insisted with unwavering seriousness, "It's true."

Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, she spoke with a soothing, calming power: "Your talent is already remarkable, and I possess the Imperator's aura. We are the darlings of the heavens, destined to endure hardships beyond ordinary imagination."

"Therefore, when Heaven intends to entrust a great task to someone, it first torments their heart and mind, strains their muscles and bones, starves their body, empties their resources, and thwarts their endeavors."

Ke Lu paused, then continued, "We were fortunate enough to receive that one percent of natural talent, but we must still expend ninety-nine percent sweat and effort to reap the fruits of success."

"The geniuses who falter and fade are the ones who collapse at this final step."

"Besides," Ke Lu said, her eyes sparkling like distant stars as she gazed at Su Rou, "I'm here. Trust me to be your brain. I'll lead you forward, fearlessly."

Though Ke Lu's voice was soft, it sent ripples through Su Rou's heart, like pebbles dropped into a still pond.

Su Rou opened her mouth, unsure why, but suddenly she felt no fear.

It was as if someone had raised an umbrella against a torrential downpour, or as if she had found a safe harbor amidst a raging storm.

She burst into laughter: "Ha, ha ha ha!"

"What's so funny?" Ke Lu raised an eyebrow.

Su Rou's expression returned to normal, now tinged with playful amusement. "Not bad, not bad at all."

She blinked, glancing at the countdown timer that was about to dip into single digits, yet a smile played on her lips.

"According to that novel I read, this is when the two protagonists meet, and the wheels of history begin to turn."

Ke Lu chimed in, half-joking, half-serious: "Or, 'Here begins the epic saga of ambition and conquest.'"

"Enough, time's running out," Su Rou reminded her, glancing at her watch. "Twelve seconds left."

"Are you planning to keep driving until the school teachers arrive?"

Su Rou reasoned that all Secret Realms were under constant surveillance. Moreover, Shi Lei and his team would undoubtedly report the situation immediately after escaping, making it safest to wait for reinforcements from the school.

"This is one option, but... never place your hopes solely on others," Ke Lu said.

Puzzled, Su Rou wondered if there was another way.

"We don't yet know the full extent of its powers. Let's probe its defenses first, then strike preemptively with a decisive blow," Ke Lu declared.

The "Rook" battle car began to hum with power. "Remember what the Mountain Tiger said earlier?" Ke Lu mimicked the creature's guttural voice:

"If I could devour you... perhaps... I could finally escape this cage!"

"Then," her voice shifted sharply, "what if I devour it instead?"

"No, you!" Su Rou's pupils widened slightly, her mind racing as she recalled the Mountain Tiger's colossal size compared to their own.

Yet this audacity and spirit stirred something within Su Rou, a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Perhaps, she thought, this is the true spirit of a strong warrior.

"Three... two... one."

Screech! The Rook tore across the ground, its wheels screaming in protest against the friction.

Behind them, the Mountain Tiger, who had been resting with its eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open.