Chapter 657: If I Lose Her Again…

Darius let out a bitter, shaky laugh. “So that’s it, huh? We’re all going to be buried alive.” He gave a short, humorless chuckle that sounded more like surrender than sarcasm. “Wonderful.”

The atmosphere was grim now, thick with dust and the quiet dread of people who suddenly wondered if their lives had meant enough. No one spoke, but the silence was heavy with regrets, dreams left undone, words left unsaid.

Nnenna felt the weight pressing down on her chest, not just the collapsing arena, but everything else she hadn’t yet made right. Was this really how it would end? Unconsciously, her gaze drifted toward Arthur… then away again. This wasn’t the time. It couldn’t be.

She forced herself to focus on the debris, scanning every inch as if sheer will could open a path. But she didn’t notice she wasn’t the only one lost in thought.

Arthur’s eyes lingered on her, conflicted, tense. His jaw flexed as he swallowed hard. “I can’t…” he whispered under his breath. “But if we all die here… if I lose her again without telling her…”

He hesitated, then spoke louder. “Nnenna, do you have a minute? I… need to talk to you.”

She blinked, pulled from her thoughts. “Is it urgent?”

Arthur hesitated. The words caught in his throat. Maybe this wasn’t the time after all. “No,” he said finally, voice low. “It’s not.” He exhaled and straightened a little. “You seem like you have a plan?”

Nnenna nodded faintly, her eyes narrowing as she studied the debris again.

After a few tense minutes, she turned back to the group, her voice steady this time. “No one’s getting buried alive on my watch.”

Everyone looked at her, startled, but before they could ask what she meant, she moved forward, stepping closer to the pile of wreckage as if daring it to defy her.

“Love System,” Nnenna called out silently, ignoring the curious looks from behind. To everyone else, she looked like she was just standing there, staring blankly at the blocked exit, but inside her mind, she was already mapping every possible move.

If I strike this point… she analyzed, pointing to the far edge of the debris filled entrance. With the right amount of force, I could destabilize it and open a path for us.

“Would you like to confirm this before proceeding?” the system asked calmly.

“No need,” Nnenna replied, confidence threading through her tone. “I need to preserve my points. The debris is too thick for Arthur to punch through, and I can’t tell how deep it goes unless I scan it. But I would rather use those good points to get enough strength to break it than waste them scanning. I do have mad skills, you know. My major in strategy isn’t for decoration.”

“I suppose you’re right,” the Love System admitted after a short pause. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah,” Nnenna replied with a determined grin forming on her face.

Ding!

5,000 Good Points Deducted!

“Everyone, move back,” Nnenna said firmly.

They all looked at her, confused but trusting. No one questioned her tone, it carried quiet certainty. One by one, Arthur, Carl, Darius, the soldiers, even George stepped back, watching as Nnenna planted her feet before the mountain of debris.

Arthur frowned slightly. “Nnenna, what are you—”

“Trust me,” she cut him off, her gaze steady on the target point she had analyzed earlier.

A hush fell over them as she drew in a deep breath. Her fist tightened, light flickering faintly around it as her energy built up. Then, with one clean motion, she struck.

Bam!

The impact roared through the arena like thunder.

Dust exploded outward as massive chunks of debris shifted, grinding against each other before sliding to the sides with a heavy crash.

When the dust finally cleared, a narrow but stable path stretched before them, just wide enough to move through safely.

No one spoke for a few seconds. Arthur stared at her in disbelief, the corner of his mouth twitching, half impressed, half speechless. Darius blinked several times, muttering, “Remind me never to get on her bad side.”

Carl exhaled softly, eyes lingering on the cleared path, then back at Nnenna. He didn’t even try to hide the admiration in his gaze.

And George, still weak and supported by two soldiers, couldn’t help but think, If I had really fought her during the exams… I probably wouldn’t have stood a chance. That level of calculation and strength… no, I wouldn’t have lasted a minute.

Nnenna dusted her hands and looked over her shoulder. “Well? What are you all waiting for, an invitation?” she asked sharply.

Her voice broke their stunned silence.

“Move him first,” she instructed, gesturing at the soldiers helping George. They nodded quickly, guiding him through the tunnel framed by the displaced debris.

Once he was safely inside, she turned to the others. “Go,” she told the remaining soldiers. Then to Darius, “You next.”

“And you.” she gestured to Carl.

Carl started to move but then stopped, frowning. “You first,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument as the rumbling of collapsing concrete from the destruction going on behind them echoed closer.

Nnenna hesitated, but one look at Carl’s face told her arguing would only waste precious seconds. She sighed and moved into the tunnel. Arthur followed right behind her, then Carl brought up the rear.

Inside the dark passage, Carl switched on his phone flashlight, the soft beam bouncing against the walls of shattered stone. They moved quickly, the ground trembling underfoot, the sound of seats and stands crashing behind them like a beast devouring the arena.

After several tense minutes, a rush of fresh air hit them. They burst out from the other side of the debris and stumbled onto open ground.

“Keep moving!” Arthur shouted as they ran, the deafening roar of collapsing steel and concrete echoing behind them.

They didn’t stop until they were far enough away to turn and look back, just in time to see the entire arena cave in completely, swallowing everything in a thunderous cloud of dust and ruin.