Chapter 2523 Martial Law (Part 3)
The two sat side by side to catch their breath, the only sound in the training room being the soft hum of the ventilation machine.
Zhang Yi looked down at his palm; the calluses resembled rings of a tree.
He suddenly remembered many people and many things, but then forcefully pushed those thoughts back into his heart.
Vibration of intelligent system equipment.
He raised his wrist to answer the call, and the projector popped up, showing a brown-haired man with thick shoulders and a heavy back appearing in mid-air. The background was snow, the wind was like a knife, and there was smoke coming from buildings in the distance, with red and blue warning lights flashing on and off.
"Alexei?"
Zhang Yi sat up straight, his tone softening.
Who else could that burly, polar bear-like man opposite them be but Alexei Ivanov, the Thor Peron of the Pantheon of Fremont?
"The wind is really strong over there, can you hear me?"
"can hear."
The man opposite him was breathing heavily, his cheeks were flushed, and his forehead was covered in sweat.
“Chaos, brother. I have to be frank! The Arctic Ocean has opened up, and something has come up. We initially thought it was just an unusually cold wave, but it turns out they… they’ve changed the entire weather.”
He turned the camera outwards, and in just a few seconds, Zhang Yi saw unnatural icicles forming on the high walls of Snow City, as if they had been carved by someone.
A dark shadow streaked across the sky, resembling a beast but not quite, moving at an extremely fast speed;
The street sign was covered in thick ice, as if frozen in another season.
“We discovered long ago that something exists beneath the ice of the Arctic Ocean. That’s why the Pantheon organized an operation before, and we benefited greatly from it.”
"However, I never expected that the races down there would be so powerful. They simply emerged from the glacier and instantly seized the entire Northern Region of Fremont."
"Kalen has fallen once again."
Alexei withdrew the camera, his face paler than snow, his expression incredibly somber.
"No, to be precise, they froze it into an ice city at their casual touch."
"They are too powerful; we didn't even have a chance to confront them head-on."
“We’ve been driven out. Fremont’s population was already small, and now only a few million people are on the run.”
"We've joined the convoy and are on the run. Chaos, I need support, and right now, you're the only one who can help us!"
He is Peren, the thunder god of the Pantheon, Alexei Ivanov, a name that has always been associated with thunder and heroism.
At this moment, he didn't beat around the bush, even saying "please" very quickly—at this point, asking for help was asking for survival.
Zhang Yi's gaze deepened. The ancient civilization beneath the Arctic Ocean seemed to be more terrifying than he had imagined.
This matter had already been foreshadowed when the Cangyuan Clan first appeared.
Zhang Yi was silent for a few seconds, then stared intently into his eyes: "Alexei, I know you're not someone who speaks lightly. Since you've come to me, I will never use sentiment as a mere excuse."
“But I must tell you, things are just as chaotic here in Huaxu. There are spying on the border, unusual activity at sea, and the frigid region you described has appeared in the north. The borders are temporarily closed, and I need to secure the lives of 100 million people first.”
He slowed down and spoke more steadily.
“I can’t bring the battle lines to your side right now; that would be an irresponsible decision for both of us.”
As he said this, he sincerely extended his hand to Alexei.
"But if you're willing, bring your family to Tianhai City, and I'll provide you with the safest place to live. Don't worry about the procedures or travel issues; I'll take care of everything."
"But if you don't want to leave, I respect your choice. You can send your family over first, and I will definitely protect them."
Friendship aside, Zhang Yi did not hesitate at all when it came to matters of principle.
He didn't know what the situation was like in Fremont, and he wasn't willing to risk his life for another country.
Alexei closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, his gaze fixed on something in the distance: "Thank you, brother. I'll remember what you gave me. But I can't leave. Behind me are not just my family, but also my comrades, my country, and my people!"
“My family isn’t leaving either. They say it’s better to stay here than to live elsewhere. That’s how we Fremont people are!”
He smiled gently: "Don't worry about me. You have your country, and I have my faith. We both have to safeguard our own countries and beliefs."
"it is good."
Zhang Yi nodded, his gaze remaining fixed on her. "I won't try to persuade you anymore. Ask me anytime if it's within my power. For example, maps, detection algorithms, energy supply plans, or—"
He paused, then made a very practical promise: "If you change your mind and decide to leave, I can use the dimensional gate to get there as quickly as possible!"
Alexei let out a heavy sigh: "That's enough. I owe you this favor. Let's have a drink together again when we've both settled things in the rear!"
"Waiting for your news." Zhang Yi raised his hand, as if giving a hug through the wind. "Survive."
The call is hung up.
The projected light faded, and the training room returned to silence. The sound of the wind still seemed to whistle in their ears.
Zhang Yi tightened the screws on the water bottle and remained silent for a long time.
Liang Yue didn't interrupt, but just watched him quietly and threw the towel over.
He took the towel, his smile subtle but clear: "I know what you want to ask. But I have to be clear—Tianhai City, and the people around me, are my top priority."
“Especially at times like these, we must not let our emotions get the better of us. Even if they are friends far away, I will not gamble with the lives of the entire city by taking advantage of their crisis.”
Is Zhang Yi capable of helping Fremont?
Without a doubt, yes.
But he still chose not to help Fremont; when faced with a situation he didn't understand, people prioritize loving themselves.
Although the situation in Huaxu Kingdom is temporarily safe, it is only temporary.
He didn't want to waste a single ounce of his strength. Because no one knew whether that ounce of strength might become a fatal factor affecting the survival of his family and friends in the future.
"Ah."
Liang Yue nodded.
"Hold the knife firmly before you talk about saving anyone. You did the right thing. You gave him a glimmer of hope to escape, which is already quite loyal, and you also upheld your boundaries."
Zhang Yi stood up, flexed his wrist, and gently tapped the back of his blade against his arm armor, producing a crisp metallic sound.
"Come on, let's continue! I was still a beat slow on the third move of that set. I need to train my body to the point where I don't need my brain to remind me, so I won't let you down on the battlefield."
"it is good."
Liang Yue stood up and resumed her stance.
"Remember, the knife begins in the feet and falls on the heart."
Under the lights, the two figures crossed paths once again.
The wind whistled through the underground corridors like a quiet yet resolute river.
The world outside is in turmoil, but at this moment, his strength and focus overlap and lock together in a small training room—this is where his sense of security lies.
