Chapter 1237: Long He’s Finale

A pitch-black mineshaft.

Long He, clutching the Banette, was desperately running for his life, his breath exceptionally ragged.

Suddenly.

He stepped on a piece of rubble and stumbled, slamming into the rock wall with a dull grunt.

“Chupeh!”

The Banette looked at him nervously.

“It’s okay, just a bit exhausted, let me catch my breath.” Long He forced a smile at the Banette, rubbing his blurry vision.

With the visibility already low, failing to see clearly could easily lead him to miss the escape route.

But.

There’s still hope!

He summoned his remaining strength and rushed forward again, suddenly detecting a hint of chill. But before he could ponder further, the faint barking from behind urged him to quicken his pace.

Mightyena’s sniff was too keen; the swirling dust of the mineshaft hadn’t hindered them, and after looping around for so long, they had still caught up.

If only there was a deodorant.

Long He found himself inexplicably distracted, even recalling many past events, causing his thoughts to become chaotic and his pace gradually slow.

The remaining explosives were already low.

If he couldn’t deal with the pursuers, how would he ensure they wouldn’t perceive the escape path?

Long He was somewhat anxious.

He suddenly lowered his head and spoke to the Banette in his arms, “Where are the Salamence and the others?”

“Chupeh!”

The Banette cautiously unzipped its mouth, revealing the rounded Pokeball inside. It seemed eager to show off but looked worriedly at Long He’s increasingly pale face.

Tired? It could get down and run alongside him.

“No worries, we’re not far now.”

Long He seemed to understand the Banette’s thoughts, exhaling tranquilly. Besides Banette, his biggest concern was his Three-headed Dragon.

If they were safe, he could be at ease.

After running through the complex paths of the mineshaft for a while, Long He noticed a minecart without a front, which might be useful?

With pursuers closing in, he had to utilize everything available.

Long He pondered as he approached the minecart, considering the possibility of placing explosives inside to turn the cart into a self-destruct cart.

The path they came from was mostly uphill; a strong push could send the cart far ahead, but the remaining explosives might not be enough to collapse the passage.

He found himself becoming indecisive, contrary to how he had been before.

All of a sudden.

Some sounds came from ahead.

Long He’s eyes widened; were there more pursuers ahead!?

“Chupeh!”

But the Banette jubilantly chirped a low sound, flying out of his arms and gesturing excitedly.

Long He easily understood its meaning, but instead of relief, fear struck him: “It’s Lidi and them? Yes, they’ve split into teams to search for the missing people.”

Things aren’t looking good.

So many footsteps would surely expose them to the pursuers; they needed a plan.

He held onto the minecart, a surge of weakness overtaking him, persistent aching from his back forced him to touch it—

His hand came back sticky; a hard object was embedded in his lower back.

Long He felt as though struck by lightning, turning to look at the path they came from, trying to find something on the ground, but everything looked blurry, indistinct.

No wonder… They have been catching up all along.

When did he get hit?

A Sharp Stone Attack?

Ah…

Long He remained silent, while the nearby Banette jumped excitedly and took off ahead, trying to encourage him to conserve his strength.

He managed a faint smile.

“Banette, come here.”

He beckoned to the Banette, which had run a short distance away, and said softly, “I can’t just pass through like this, there are pursuers behind me, I can’t involve them.

“So, just like last time, you go ahead and tell them to run quickly, run with them. I’ll try to blow this place up to block those people behind us, to gain time.”

“Chupeh!”

Upon hearing this, the Banette grabbed at his sleeve anxiously.

Long He patted its face, smiling: “Don’t worry, I’ll catch up, didn’t I just catch up earlier? You saved me, and I haven’t thanked you yet. But don’t look back this time, I’m afraid I can’t take care of you; the Salamence and the others are in your hands, you also have to take good care of them for me.”

“Chupeh…”

The Banette wanted to argue further, but Long He pushed it forcefully.

“Go quickly! If you don’t go now, it will be too late! Everyone’s safety and freedom are in both of our hands!”

“Chupeh!”

The Banette clumsily ran away, realizing despite its fear, its weakness the crucial importance of delivering the message, hurry, hurry!

Long He watched as it disappeared into the darkness, silently smiling, feeling the weakness surging again into his heart.

It seems he’s done for.

Can’t go anymore.

The strong scent of blood will ensure he’s caught, moreover, how much further could he really go in this state? Likely not out of the underground.

Is life about to end?

Long He was bewildered; he couldn’t believe he might die in this place, after imagining so many beautiful futures, so many smiling faces he’d leave behind.

If he died, what about the Salamence and the others? What about home?

There were still so many things he wanted to do!

Tears involuntarily flowed from the corners of his eyes, after not shedding them for twenty years, he’d nearly forgotten what it felt like.

“Huh…”

Long He inhaled deeply, collapsing on the ground, a strange sense of relief replacing the fear, leaving only a mild throbbing from his lower back.

He remembered the familiar faces.

“Lidi, you all must successfully escape.”