Chapter 17 — Beyond the Milky Way: The Miner Who Became a God of War

The sixth, penultimate round of the Grand Trial, announced to take place in just three days, is called "Ultimate Confrontation" - a duel between the remaining contestants, with a knockout competition to select the eight best people to advance to the final round.

During those three stressful days of preparation, Lam Vũ, Tinh Nhược and Bốc Vấn Sơn decided to hold an important meeting to plan access to the Antiquities Archive, which was expected to be more feasible if Lam Vũ reached the final round. The meeting location this time was chosen at another material warehouse, farther away and more private than the familiar maintenance room, according to Tinh Nhược's cautious suggestion after the incident with Tiệp Phong.

But just as the three people started the meeting, a strange noise rang out from the warehouse door. Before anyone could react, the door opened, revealing a large group of Saint Guards led by Cung Thien Ung himself, energy weapons pointed straight at all three people.

"No one is allowed to move," Cung Thiết Ưng announced, his voice full of triumph. "We've been watching you for a long time."

Lam Vũ stood dumbfounded, his mind racing, trying to figure out how they were discovered. His eyes unintentionally swept across the crowd of Saint Guards, and in that moment, he saw a familiar figure standing among their ranks - Niep Tiệp Phong, wearing a logistics worker's outfit, but his eyes were now completely cold, with no trace of the friendly smile left.

"Tiệp Phong," Lam Vũ whispered, his voice full of pain and betrayal. "Is it you? You told them?"

Tiệp Phong stepped forward, his eyes never avoiding that question. "Sorry, Lam Vũ. But you have to understand, I was never really your friend. I was installed in the Black Stone Mine by the Holy See fifteen years ago, right after they discovered that a survivor from Tà Huy Village escaped there. My mission is to monitor any unusual signs related to the War God bloodline."

The whole space seemed to freeze. Bốc Vấn Sơn looked at Tiệp Phong with eyes that were both indignant and extremely painful. “Fifteen years,” he whispered. "You've been living with us, eating on the same plate, working in the same nest for fifteen years just waiting for this opportunity to betray you?"

"That's my job," Tiệp Phong replied, his voice without any remorse. "I have had no other choice since I was assigned this mission when I was a child secretly raised by the Holy See. But I admit, over the years, I have truly considered Lam Vũ as a brother. That is why I reported as late as possible, trying to delay this moment as long as I could."

"That's enough," Cung Thiết Ưng interrupted, his voice impatient. "Arrest them all immediately."

In the chaotic moment when the Saint Guards entered, Tinh Nhược reacted as quickly as lightning, launching a series of precise attacks at the nearest Saint Guards, creating enough space for Lam Vũ and Bốc Vấn Sơn to escape in an instant.

"Run away!" She shouted, continuing to hold off the Saint Guard team with the skillful fighting skills of a former elite pilot.

"No, I won't leave you behind!" Lam Vũ shouted, even though he was strongly pulled towards the emergency exit by Bốc Vấn Sơn.

"Go away, Lam Vũ! She can take care of herself!" Bốc Vấn Sơn shouted, using all his strength to pull him away from the material warehouse, wriggling through the narrow corridors that he had memorized from his days as a logistics officer.

Behind them, the sound of fighting continued fiercely. Lam Vũ, even though he was being dragged away, still kept looking back, his heart felt like it was being torn apart when he had to leave the person he loved behind in the middle of a siege of enemies.

Finally, when the two of them exited an emergency exit leading to the area outside the Abyss Arena, the sound of fighting behind them had completely subsided, replaced by an eerie silence.

"Tinh Nhược," Lam Vũ panted, trying to turn around. "I have to go back and save her."

"No," Bốc Vấn Sơn held him tightly, his voice filled with pain but determination. "If you go back now, you will only get us both captured. She sacrificed herself to give you a chance to escape, you must not let that sacrifice be in vain."

Lam Vũ stood there, clenching his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white, tears rolling down his dusty face. He knew Bốc Vấn Sơn was right, but his heart still ached from the pain of loss and extreme helplessness.

"We have to find a way to save her," he said, his voice choked but filled with determination. "At any cost." Bốc Vấn Sơn nodded, his eyes also shining with an equally indignant expression. "I promise, we will find a way. But first, we need a safe place to think things through, and need to know clearly what her fate has been after the recent confrontation."

While Lam Vũ and Bốc Vấn Sơn found a way to hide through the intricate logistics corridors, behind them, the battle in the material warehouse was finally over. Despite fighting tenaciously, Tinh Nhược, surrounded by the overwhelming number of Saint Guards, was finally controlled after being hit by a high-dose sedative injection shot from behind.

"Take her to the isolated cell," Cung Thiết Ưng ordered, his voice filled with pride as he watched Tinh Nhược's unconscious body being carried away by the Saint Guards. "As for the other two, search the entire logistics area, don't let them escape the Abyss Arena."

Tiệp Phong stood looking at that scene, his face flashed with indescribable complexity before quickly regaining its usual cold expression. "Chief supervisor, I can assist in tracking down the remaining two people. I know the secret passageways in the logistics area better than anyone here."

"Okay," Cung Thiết Ưng nodded. "But remember, your main mission is still information gathering, not direct action. Leave the capture to the professional Saint Guards."

No one in the search team knew that, in Tiệp Phong's heart, a fierce struggle was going on. Even though he betrayed, he still deliberately led the pursuit team in the opposite direction from the escape route that he guessed Lam Vũ and Bốc Vấn Sơn might have chosen, a final small act to redeem some of his conscience.

That night, hiding in a remote corner of the logistics area, not far from where Tinh Nhược was detained but still out of the patrol team's direct control, Lam Vũ could not sleep. His mind raced with images of Tinh Nhược fighting alone against an entire group of Saint Guards, with the painful betrayal of his best friend, and with the ultimate fear of what the Holy See might do to her once she fell into their hands.

"We have to find out where she is being held," Lam Vũ said, his voice hoarse from exhaustion and pain. "I can't sit idly by while she could be being interrogated, tortured right now."

Bốc Vấn Sơn placed his hand on his shoulder. Although his eyes were tired, he still shone with determination. "I understand your feelings, but we need to act wisely, not rashly. If the Holy See discovers that she is a former pilot of the Freedom Fleet, the situation will be much more complicated than just a prisoner helping candidates cheat. We need time to find out exactly where they are holding her and what their next plan is." Lam Vũ nodded, although in his heart he still burned with an unquenchable determination: at any cost, he would find a way to rescue Tinh Nhược, even if he had to face the full power of the Holy Light of Quang Nguyên.

"The sixth round will still take place as scheduled in the next three days," Bốc Vấn Sơn said, his voice thoughtful and calculating. "I think you should still continue participating, even though your heart is troubled. If you give up now, you will lose your only chance to get closer to the center of the Holy See's power, where Tinh Nhược may also be imprisoned."

"I don't know if I'm alert enough to compete in this condition," Lam Vũ admitted, his voice full of self-doubt.

“You have to do it,” Bốc Vấn Sơn said, his voice becoming firmer. "For Tinh Nhược, for your mother, you need to turn this pain into strength, not let it drown you. She sacrificed her freedom so you could have a chance to survive and continue on the path forward. Don't let that sacrifice become meaningless because you fall."

Those words were like a bucket of cold water, helping Lam Vũ regain some composure. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the pain and fear swirling in his heart, replaced by a new fire of determination, colder and sharper than ever.

"I'll play," he said, his voice gradually regaining certainty. "I will make it to the final round, I will find where Tinh Nhược is being held, and I will bring her back safely, no matter what I have to sacrifice." Bốc Vấn Sơn nodded, his eyes shining with a firm belief in his adopted son who had grown beyond what he had ever dared to dream of. "I will do my best to find out information about her whereabouts, no matter how much it means risking myself. We don't have much time to hesitate anymore."