The Most Powerful Brain in the Interstellar Space

Chapter 328 Gap
"No, they're moving too fast!" Jiang Hui heard the people below grit their teeth. They had turned to this path because they had suffered a mishap on the other side, their heads nearly being torn apart by the scattered fragments. So even though they knew this path was difficult, they chose it without hesitation.

They've now covered half the distance, and the remaining half is clearly much easier, as you can tell by looking at the two ahead of them—they're carrying someone on their backs.

Just when hope seemed within reach and they were about to escape their dire situation, reality suddenly played a cruel joke on them.

Damn it, why now of all times? Why did they have to pick this moment?! We should at least wait until they're on the exit platform and past the exit before doing anything, why now of all times?!
The group was filled with resentment, but their bodies betrayed them. They climbed up in a frantic, uncouth manner, not caring about appearances at all.

Looking at the two people ahead who were walking faster and seemed more likely to escape, they couldn't quite describe the feeling in their hearts.

The crevice from the left grew wider and wider, cutting across the landscape and gradually evolving into a terrifying "abyss." What was initially just a few meters long began to extend diagonally downwards in Jiang Hui's direction, seemingly poised to cut them off below as well.

This was the real reason for the panic among the crowd below. They had witnessed firsthand how people on the other side of the pedestrian walkway were unable to cross the gap to reach the exit platform because of this enormous opening. If this gap extended this way, completely cleaving their path, wouldn't that mean they couldn't return to the platform above, and thus, they couldn't leave the area...?

The only option now is to speed things up and get to the top before that horizontal crack extends to this side.

That's why they said 'it's too slow.' Because whether it's the interface between the uppermost plates or the current direction of the crack extending diagonally downwards towards them, it all looks like it's going to keep them below... while the two in front still have a bit more of a chance.

Damn it, why couldn't they have reacted faster, or chosen this path from the start like the two ahead? Otherwise, they would definitely be faster than those two. But it's too late to say anything now, and there's no going back.

Given this irreversible development, all plans and schemes have become mere illusions. Everyone can only accept this reality and strive tirelessly for their one and only life, racing against death.

In the eyes of the group below them who were a little behind, Jiang Hui and Clarence were undoubtedly in a more relaxed position and had already gained an absolute advantage.

However, for Jiang Hui and the other person, the current situation is equally critical.

Jiang Hui sometimes really "hated" this intuition of hers. She saw the crack—she saw its countless possible directions, she saw its process of being extended by countless forces, and she watched it grow larger and larger towards them like a gaping maw, pointing straight at their necks.

This gap will almost certainly fall in front of or behind them, and the distance between them won't be too far...

If they landed after them, that would be good; they'd still have a chance to get back to the upper section. If they landed before them, that would be bad; they'd probably end up like the group of people sharing their misfortune next door. And if they were even more unlucky… and accidentally fell into the crevice, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Of course, even the seemingly best outcome at the beginning hides immense danger. She hadn't forgotten that the gap didn't appear out of nowhere; it arose from the shift in the battleground.

The area of ​​chaos gradually expanded, affecting the surrounding environment and people—not just those waiting to climb up below, but also those crowded in the exit passage above. Weren't those people at risk of being hit by flying debris? Weren't they worried that the chaos might spread directly to their area? Could these people still calmly and orderly continue to exit after witnessing such a situation?

No, none of that will happen! Things will only get more chaotic up there. And crowds of people have always been the most uncontrollable scene of death and injury throughout history. Jiang Hui couldn't imagine what it would be like up there. Even if they got up there, whether they could get past the frenzied crowd into the passage, and whether they could safely cross that not-so-short passage... those were all questions.

Jiang Hui didn't know if she could do the above on her own, but it would be almost impossible for her to do it with Clarence by her side.

So either way is terrible, terribly terrible.

Countless harsh curses flashed through Jiang Hui's mind, but in the end she didn't let those emotions run wild, because she knew it was meaningless and would only bring more negative emotions to her other teammate.

"If...if I..." the other person suddenly said, his voice strained, as if he couldn't quite get the words out. It was indeed strained, because he was about to say something like, "Let my companions give up on me and give me more opportunities"—giving up his own life was unimaginable for a young man, yet he had done it anyway.

With her back to him, Jiang Hui couldn't turn her head to look at his expression. She could only feel that his hand gripping her shoulder was tight and seemed to be trembling slightly.

What could he possibly say at this point? Given the other person's arrogant and stubborn nature, Jiang Hui could guess what he wanted to say with a snap of his fingers, so he couldn't help but suddenly wiggle the other person around, who seemed to be startled.

"What? You're worried I'll leave you behind? How could that be? You carried me like this during the orienteering race before, and even though it was very difficult for me, you didn't abandon me..." So how could she abandon him now?
This is a life. To make such a sacrifice is not only abandoning gratitude and kindness, but also losing her bottom line and principles, and losing the most basic humanity.

And would doing this increase her chances of survival? Maybe, but it could also have the opposite effect. She would lose far too much if she did that.

Therefore, regardless of sentiment, reason, gratitude, or principle, Jiang Hui would never abandon Clarence, even if it was Clarence's own suggestion.

"Don't overthink it. Focus on your surroundings; that's important for us. I'll try to be as fast as I can, and we'll definitely make it up before the gap."

Sensing the silence behind him, Jiang Hui continued, "Don't worry, my luck... no, never mind, I've always been very lucky. Not to mention turning bad luck into good, you could say I'm destined to survive a great calamity. With me leading you, we'll definitely make it out safely and reunite with those guys."

"Let's go to the Natural Restaurant together tonight for a delicious meal to calm our nerves." So please don't give up yet—

After a while, the hands that had somehow withdrawn returned to the girl's shoulders and back. They were cool, but had a warm touch that made both of them feel inexplicably at ease.

(End of this chapter)