Chapter Twenty-Six: Staying True to One’s Original Intent, A Heart Without Regret

Everyone knows that a dog that bites doesn't bark, so I decided to lead my teammates toward the sound of gunfire.

The unknown is always frightening, always ominous; enemies lurking in the shadows are far more terrifying than those exposed in the open. Since they had already fired and revealed their position, it would be ungracious of me not to seize this opportunity and push forward.

Clearly, my teammates had reached the same conclusion, for none of them voiced any objection to my decision. Perhaps it was due to their blind trust in me.

With the battleground shrinking, our movements grew increasingly difficult. At the slightest rustle or whisper of wind, everyone would tense up, anxiously wondering if we had been discovered. The air was thick with nervous excitement and anticipation.

Everyone’s heartbeat quickened; the outcome of this battle would determine our fate.

"Eighteen, you have sharp eyes and keen ears. Take point," I said, aware that nerves were frayed and we needed some reassurance.

After countless drills together, I had discovered that Mao Eighteen possessed not only extraordinary vision but also remarkable hearing. Many times, before the rest of us caught a hint of sound, he was already aiming in the right direction—perhaps one of his unique talents.

He accepted my suggestion without protest, simply nodding before taking the lead at the head of our group. "I'll cover the rear, Xinru, you watch the flanks. The rest of you, stay calm and keep your pace steady." The orders were quickly carried out: Mao Eighteen moved ahead alone, scanning the surroundings, his ears attuned to every sound. Huang Xinru’s eyes darted left and right, while I brought up the rear, vigilant on all sides.

The others maintained absolute silence, ensuring we remained undetected by the enemy.

I was convinced that those who had just fired would not linger at their original spot, but would guard it from a vantage point. In other words, they were likely hiding somewhere with a clear view of their previous hiding place.

Surveying the terrain, I noticed our side was lower. I doubted they would choose such a low position. To the north, there was a small hillock—just the spot from which one could watch their previous location.

There were two such vantage points. I suspected the enemy was hiding behind one of those two small hills.

I shared my deduction with the others, and they nodded in agreement.

"So, what do we do now?" Huang Xinru asked, frowning.

After some thought, I decided to take a risk and split the team in two—one group to assault each hill.

This suggestion left everyone puzzled. Perhaps it was a lack of confidence—they felt safer sticking with me.

"We came here to fire our guns and have a good time. It's true, following me is safer, but don’t you feel that since entering this game, we’ve lost the thrill? That’s because I’ve always shielded you from the storm, and in losing your fear, victory has begun to seem certain."

"What was our original intention? To take up arms and fire every bullet."

"But now? Everyone is thinking about making it into the top hundred, hesitating, and losing that courage to fight bravely."

"Maybe this is the only chance in life you’ll ever hold a gun, but there will be many opportunities in life that require courage. If you shrink back now, what will you do next time you face a similar choice?"

"I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. That’s something you must consider for yourselves."

Reflecting on it, I realized my teammates saw me as the core of the team. As long as I was with them, they would charge ahead, but in doing so, they lost their own courage to strive.

That shouldn’t have been our purpose—each of us should be our own protagonist. Our original goal was simply to grab a gun and revel in firing those fifty rounds.

Now we each hold over a hundred bullets, yet everyone hesitates, afraid to shoot.

"What was our goal in the beginning? Just to fire off those fifty rounds, to savor the thrill of using a gun. Is making it into the top hundred really that important? I don’t think so. What matters is experiencing the process. If the journey is splendid, then whatever the result, it will be perfect for us."

"Now I’m giving the choice to you. If you want to stay in one group with me, we’ll go together. But if you want to truly feel the power of the gun, to experience the ferocity of bullets and leave no regrets, then I hope you’ll split into two teams and each ambush a different hill."

My intentions were clear—I sincerely hoped everyone could enjoy the game to the fullest, not cower for the sake of a ranking.

That was the realization I came to after each of us had collected over eighty bullets.

Why did that other team have so much ammunition?

Why did they use controlled bursts when shooting at us, instead of spraying wildly?

If they had sprayed, would the outcome have been different?

I didn’t know, but I understood that this was a factor.

I didn’t want my teammates to make the same mistake, nor did I want them to regret it for the rest of their lives—or perhaps not for a lifetime, but it would certainly be a lingering regret.

To be human is to be true to oneself.

We so often regret our actions because we didn’t fully commit, didn’t treat an event with the seriousness it deserved. When we make a choice, we should remind ourselves: this is my path, and I will never regret it.

There are not so many "what ifs" in life, and rare is the chance to make a grand gesture. If this is our opportunity, why not embrace it?

To stand with gun in hand, to ride out boldly, to be king amid the chaos.

"Good!" Mao Eighteen replied with a simple assent, though I couldn’t tell whether he meant he preferred to team up with me or to split into two groups. Knowing him, I suspected the latter.

"But I’m still a little scared," one of the girls admitted.

"But I really want to make it into the top hundred," another said.

"Let’s go out in a blaze of glory, burn with passion," exclaimed a girl, her face flushed.

Huang Xinru glanced at the others and said, "I want to try being reckless for once."

That was just like her, and I wasn’t surprised in the least.