NOVEL NEXT Chapter 660: GS
"What's the plan?" Ty asked quietly, the question slipping out before he could stop it.
JJ studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she spoke.
"Rui believes that if we break the King's power at its source—whatever is granting him his abilities—the kingdom will collapse. The people will rise. The truth will spread. But we can't do it without you."
"Why me?" Ty asked, his voice flat.
"Because Rui thinks you're the key to everything," JJ replied softly. "And whether you believe it or not, so do I."
Ty sat silently for a moment, staring at the cracked floor beneath him. The air in the room felt heavy, the weight of JJ's words pressing down on him. He didn't want to believe her. How could he be the key to anything when he barely understood the world he was trapped in?
"You're wrong," he muttered finally. "I'm no one."
JJ knelt down in front of him, her expression soft but determined. "That's not true. You survived things most people can't even imagine. You've faced the King and walked away. Rui trusted you with his life, Ty. That means something."
Ty shook his head, rubbing his temples. He could feel exhaustion creeping in, every muscle in his body aching. He needed rest, but his mind wouldn't stop racing. The memories of the fight, of Rui's sacrifice, and of the deaths of those who had fallen weighed heavily on him.
"What about the others?" he asked quietly, changing the subject. "How many did we lose?"
JJ's jaw tightened, and she looked away for a moment. "Too many. Gerald, Xuán Wěi, Heiu… even Milo…" Her voice wavered, but she swallowed hard and pushed on. "We're still counting the cost, but it's bad, Ty. Worse than we thought."
Ty's chest tightened at the mention of Gerald. He had barely known the man, but his loss felt like a punch to the gut. Gerald had fought so fiercely, so selflessly, and now he was gone.
"They shouldn't have had to die," Ty said bitterly. "None of this should have happened."
"It's war," JJ said softly. "People die. Good people. But their deaths mean something if we keep fighting. If we stop now, then everything they gave up will be for nothing." Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire
Ty didn't respond. His hands curled into fists as he stared at the ground. He hated it. He hated all of it. The senseless violence, the endless loss. He had never asked to be part of this.
The sound of voices from the next room broke the silence. Ty glanced toward the doorway, where the muffled conversation of the remaining Black Bulls carried through. JJ stood up and gestured for him to follow her.
"Come on," she said. "You need to see this."
Reluctantly, Ty pushed himself to his feet and followed her. The hallway beyond the spa led to a dimly lit common room, where the surviving members of the Black Bulls had gathered. The atmosphere was subdued, the usual banter and chaos replaced by quiet murmurs and somber faces.
Osalf stood near the corner, his arms crossed as he spoke with a lanky man holding a wooden doll. The man's teleportation skill had been a lifeline during their escape, and now he gestured animatedly as he discussed their next move. Nearby, a woman with short, cropped hair—Rosana—was tending to the wounds of the man Ty had fought in the tundra. His severed stumps were carefully wrapped, though his glare at Ty remained as sharp as ever.
In the center of the room, a small shrine had been hastily assembled. A few candles flickered beside a stack of belongings—a tattered scarf, a broken gauntlet, and a cracked pair of glasses. Ty recognized them as Gerald's, Xuán Wěi's, and Milo's. The sight made his stomach churn.
"We do this for them," JJ said quietly, standing beside him. "For everyone we've lost."
Ty glanced around the room, taking in the faces of the survivors. They looked exhausted, battered, and broken, but there was still a flicker of determination in their eyes. They weren't giving up. Not yet.
"How do you keep going?" Ty asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
JJ's gaze softened. "We lean on each other. We grieve together. And then we get back up, because there's no other choice."
Ty didn't reply. He wasn't sure if he could do the same.
The conversation in the room shifted as Osalf cleared his throat. "We need to move soon," he said, his tone brisk. "The King's forces will be searching for us, and we can't stay in one place for long."
"Where do we go?" Rosana asked, tying off a bandage on the injured man's arm.
Osalf unfolded a crumpled map from his coat, spreading it across the table. Ty recognized it as the map from the bag they had retrieved during the bombing. It was marked with symbols and lines, detailing hidden routes and strongholds across the kingdom.
"There's a safehouse here," Osalf said, pointing to a spot near the edge of the map. "It's not far, but we'll need to move carefully. The King's patrols are getting more aggressive."
"What about him?" the lanky man asked, nodding toward the handless prisoner.
The prisoner glared at him, his expression defiant despite his injuries. Ty felt a pang of unease as the room fell silent, all eyes turning to the prisoner.
"We can't keep dragging him around," Rosana said. "He's a liability."
"He's also the only one who knows the King's plans," JJ pointed out. "If we're going to make a move, we need information."
Ty crossed his arms, his gaze hardening. "I'll handle him."
The others exchanged glances but didn't argue. Ty stepped forward, pulling the prisoner to his feet. The man winced but didn't resist.
"Don't think this means I'm helping you," the prisoner muttered.
"I don't care what you think," Ty replied coldly. "You're alive because I said so. Don't forget that."
The prisoner scowled but remained silent. Ty dragged him toward the edge of the room, keeping him out of the way as the others prepared to move.
Osalf folded the map and tucked it back into his coat. "We leave at dawn. Get some rest while you can."
The room began to empty as the Black Bulls dispersed, finding makeshift beds or slumping against walls. Ty stayed where he was, leaning against the cold stone and staring at the flickering candles on the shrine. His thoughts drifted back to Gerald, to the fight, to everything that had gone wrong.
"You should sleep," JJ said, sitting beside him. "You're no good to anyone like this."
Ty didn't answer. He didn't think he could sleep even if he wanted to.
"I meant what I said," JJ continued softly. "About trusting you. Whatever happens next… I'll follow your lead."
Ty glanced at her, searching her face for any hint of doubt. But there was none. Her steady gaze held his, and for a fleeting moment, he felt the weight of her words settle over him. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"You're too confident in me," he muttered.
"Not really," JJ said with a faint smile. "Just realistic. I've seen what you're capable of, Ty. Even if you don't believe in yourself, I do."
Ty's mouth opened as if to argue, but he stopped himself. He shook his head and leaned back against the wall, staring at the uneven ceiling above. The flickering light from the corner lantern cast shadows that danced erratically, making the room feel smaller than it was.
JJ shifted closer to him, her shoulder brushing against his. He tensed slightly but didn't pull away.
"Ty…" she started hesitantly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Depends on what it is," he replied, his tone dry but not unkind.
She hesitated, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "Do you remember, back in the old days… when we were still on the same side? Before all of this?"
Ty turned his head slightly, catching the faint wistfulness in her voice. "Yeah. I remember."
"And do you remember… that night when I kissed you?"
The question hung in the air like a live wire. Ty's jaw tightened, and he looked away, his fingers drumming on his knee. "I remember."
JJ's gaze dropped to the floor. "I know I shouldn't bring it up. I know you have someone waiting for you back on Earth, and I… I don't want to make things harder for you. But tonight, after everything we've lost… I just need…" Her voice broke slightly, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. "Can I stay with you? Just for comfort. Nothing more."