Chapter 136: In Silence

"The train! The train to Aurora City!""They knew about Districts Two and Four long ago! They knew District Three was beyond saving, so they planned to escape to Aurora City by themselves!""How could this be... how could this be?! Has Aurora City abandoned us?!""Why is there only one train here?!""Don't you understand? From the very beginning, these enforcers never intended to take us with them! We are abandoned sacrifices!""I don't want to die, I really don't want to die... I need to get on the train! I need to get on the train!""Stop pushing, I can barely breathe..."

The crowd surged around the station, cries of alarm, curses, and pleas for help rising in a chaotic chorus. The scene devolved into complete pandemonium.

Bang!A gunshot cut through the night sky."Anyone who takes another step forward, I'll kill them!" an enforcer roared, pointing his gun at the sky while shouldering a massive bag.

The enforcers on the platform were stunned; they had never imagined things would escalate to this. They could only brandish their guns, threatening the surging crowd, but the pressure from behind forced them to continuously inch forward.

"Brother Jing, what do we do now?" an enforcer asked, retreating constantly, his hand trembling as he held his gun. "If this continues, they'll really storm the train."

Brother Jing, the enforcer, had bloodshot eyes. He gazed at the surging crowd, and a look of madness appeared in his gaze.

"...Shoot!""We're enforcers, are we really going to shoot civilians?""Even if we don't shoot, do you think they'll survive?!" Brother Jing roared. "The Grey World is merging, calamity is descending; they're all going to die eventually! But if they block our escape, then let them die sooner!"

ROAR—!!A thunderous roar echoed from a nearby street, followed by horrified screams. Amidst the swirling mist, a blurry, colossal shadow could be vaguely seen moving through the district.

"The Calamity from District Four has broken into District Three!""It's nearby! Quick! Get on the train!""I don't want to die... I want to go to Aurora City! I want to go to Aurora City!"

The terror of the impending calamity completely ignited the crowd's desperation. They swarmed onto the platform, and at the same moment, Brother Jing and the other enforcers' pupils contracted sharply!

Bang!Another gunshot rang out, but this time, it wasn't fired into the air.The forehead of an old woman at the front exploded, and she tumbled to the ground. Immediately, more people trampled over her body, surging forward, followed by a dense volley of gunfire.

Gunpowder flared, bullets whistled. Under the muzzles of more than twenty guns, countless civilians fell like cut straw. Crimson blood flowed like a red carpet, spreading across the desolate, cold steps. Bullets shattered the kerosene lamps people held for light, spilling fire onto the ground. The flames rapidly expanded as the oil spread, and shrill screams emerged from the inferno, igniting one figure after another.

This was a one-sided slaughter. Under the dark night, justice was no longer just, and blood and fire replaced duty and protection, becoming the sole melody of despair.

"Dad! Hold onto me!"Zhao Yi and Uncle Zhao were caught in the crush, frantically pushing through the crowd, desperate to escape this perilous place.

As soon as they saw the area was completely surrounded by people, Zhao Yi and Uncle Zhao abandoned their plan to get on the train. But before they could even turn around, the surging mob from behind pressed them relentlessly forward.

In this wave of bodies, Zhao Yi struggled desperately to swim out, but no matter how hard he tried, more and more people appeared in front of him, pushing him further forward. Their madness, their fear, their despair, and their countless raised, struggling hands were like tormented souls fighting for survival in a hellish cauldron of oil. All Zhao Yi could do was clutch his father's hand, unwilling to let go even if it meant death.

Zhao Yi's stubbornness and defiance reached their peak in that moment. Amidst the endless human tide, he did not despair but ferociously pushed the crowd aside, his face contorted.

Meanwhile, another figure pushed against the crowd, frantically trying to force his way onto the platform.

"Get out of the way... all of you, get out of my way!"Zuo Tong roared furiously through the crowd, one hand protecting his package, the other gripping a gun."I have a spot! I can get into Aurora City! Whoever stops me, I'll kill them!"

As he finished speaking, he aimed directly at the back of the head of the person in front of him and pulled the trigger. With a gunshot, the person's head exploded in a spray of blood, and they fell instantly into the crowd.

The gunshot in the crowd terrified those nearby, but they couldn't make way, as a continuous stream of people kept pushing towards them. Zuo Tong was trapped in the middle, his eyes turning red as he watched the enforcers rush onto the train one after another!

No... he shouldn't be left behind! He couldn't be left behind!

"Die! All of you, die!"Bang, bang, bang!Zuo Tong fired indiscriminately into the crowd in front of him. More and more figures collapsed, but even after emptying all his magazines, he hadn't advanced much. Gritting his teeth, he drew a short blade from his waist and began to fight his way forward.

He gradually carved a bloody path through the crowd, pushing forward with difficulty. Directly in front of him was a young man, steadily pushing against the current of people to move in the opposite direction.

Zuo Tong pulled his blade from the body of the person in front, the blade already crimson. Zhao Yi, approaching him, saw this scene and his pupils contracted sharply!

He wanted to avoid this madman, but it was too late. Zuo Tong, eyes bloodshot from killing, stepped forward, his blade thrusting directly towards Zhao Yi's body!

Just then, a figure pushed out from the side, throwing himself without hesitation onto Zuo Tong's blade!

Thud—"Dad!" Zhao Yi's eyes widened in horror as he saw the figure with temples streaked with gray!

Uncle Zhao had spread his arms—the arms that had prepared breakfast for decades, the strong, powerful arms that had supported Zhao Yi throughout his life. He held Zuo Tong in a death grip amidst the surging crowd, like iron, allowing the glinting blade to plunge into his body.

The blade in Zuo Tong's hand was deeply embedded in Uncle Zhao's waist, and crimson blood instantly stained his clothes. Yet, Uncle Zhao showed no sign of letting go. He stood unmoving like a nail in the churning crowd.

Because behind him was Zhao Yi.

After stabbing him once, Zuo Tong tried to break free from Uncle Zhao's grip and continue forward, but found he couldn't move an inch. He didn't know why this old man was holding him, only that he was rapidly losing his chance to get on the train to Aurora City...

"Old man! Are you trying to die?!" Zuo Tong snarled through clenched teeth. He violently pulled out the short blade and plunged it into Uncle Zhao's body again!

In the tumultuous, surging crowd, Uncle Zhao held him in a death grip, like a silent statue. Only a barely audible groan escaped his lips each time the blade was plunged in and pulled out.

Zhao Yi's eyes instantly turned red. He roared, trying to push forward, but Uncle Zhao shoved him back into the crowd. The surging tide of people pulled him further and further away from Uncle Zhao. His raised hand desperately tried to grasp that tall, silent figure, but only met empty air...

"Let us on the train! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!""I'm going to Aurora City! I shouldn't die here!""That spot on the train is mine! None of you dare to take it!"

One stab, another stab, another stab!Amidst the crowd screaming wildly for survival, no one seemed to notice the unusual struggle happening there. No one noticed that, while they were consumed by their own desperation to live, a figure with temples streaked with gray silently endured thirteen stabs.

"Why?! Why aren't you dead yet?!" Zuo Tong roared, his face contorted.

As crimson blood spread across the desolate ground and raging flames burned through the last vestiges of humanity, in this clamorous purgatory where all struggled for survival...

The old man's silence was deafening.