Global Survival: I Got the D-Rank Personnel Simulator-Chapter 89: The Cube

"Oh? A change of hosts?"
Cao Wenting immediately noticed the shift in Qin An's demeanor. Having encountered many people, he recognized how individuals carried different auras.
After this period of adaptation, Lin Ye could now briefly take control of Qin An's body.
"Your ritual seems rather sloppy. It took me a moment to figure out how to handle it."
Lin Ye never wasted words on enemies - friendly conversations only happened after victory.
Right now, he needed time to inscribe runes on Qin An's body, an operation only possible during his control. These runes wouldn't last long either.
With such poor materials, Lin Ye had limited options.
Which left him no choice but to engage in awkward small talk.
"Can't be helped. I'm self-taught after all, with rather basic foundations."
Cao Wenting still refrained from attacking, sensing a trap in the opponent's posture.
Whatever tricks this opponent had, letting them strike first would give him the advantage.
"That energy barrier comes from the object in your coat, doesn't it? The ritual seems connected too. Destroy it, and everything ends."
Lin Ye relaxed his body, making final preparations.
"Correct. But with 59 seconds left, how will you break it?"
Cao Wenting tensed as the seconds ticked by. Victory was near, yet he dared not lower his guard.
Instead of answering, Lin Ye activated speed and strength runes on his legs, darting to Cao Wenting's side. His right arm aimed for the head while the left struck at the chest.
Enhanced by power, speed, and cutting runes, these attacks surpassed first-tier limits.
Cao Wenting twisted aside, avoiding fatal blows but suffering a gash across his chest. A gray cube of unknown material tumbled out, which Lin Ye promptly kicked away.
Yu Jing caught the cube and fired several shots at it, yet the bullets left no marks.
Lin Ye and Cao Wenting engaged in close combat. Both were melee experts, but Qin An's physical limitations and fading rune effects forced Lin Ye into constant defense.
"You've delayed doomsday, but to what end? They can't break the cube. After killing you, the rest will die!"
Cao Wenting growled through clenched teeth.
"Really? Then try harder."
Lin Ye paid no heed to threats. He always considered all possibilities beforehand. The ideal outcome would have been killing Cao Wenting during the surprise attack, but failure didn't matter - he'd planted a collapse rune on the cube when kicking it away.
Though incredibly durable, the cube was ultimately a spiritual energy item capable of generating barriers and conducting doomsday rituals - packed with unstable, highly compressed energy that would make bombs seem polite by comparison.
Naturally, the Doomsday Cult wouldn't carry around an imminent explosive, so it possessed some stability. The collapse rune couldn't trigger immediate detonation.
But continuous gunfire at an already destabilizing system? That changed the equation.
The gunshots continued - Yu Jing wouldn't stop until exhausting all options.
"I appreciate thorough people. She's rather adorable, isn't she?"
Only upon sensing unstable energy fluctuations did Lin Ye "kindly" warn Cao Wenting.
"Impossible!"
Feeling the cube's energy leakage, Cao Wenting abandoned the fight and charged toward it.
Several corpses mutated by mutation runes intercepted him - the dead's final vengeance. This brief delay let Lin Ye reach Yu Jing first, scooping her up to flee.
The explosion was inevitable now that the energy barrier collapsed. Their only chance was distance.
After dealing with the mutated corpses, Cao Wenting ignored Lin Ye entirely, lunging for the cube to restart the ritual at the field's center.
But when he turned, every remaining corpse had mutated. His ritual had failed.
"Ahhhh!"
In the cube's final moments, Cao Wenting roared and charged at Lin Ye with it, only to be shredded by the raging energy.
"Drop me! Alone you might survive!"
Seeing the visible energy storm behind them, Yu Jing shouted desperately.
"Shh. No need for despair - it can't catch us anyway."
Lin Ye activated his special skill: Safe Route.
A green path materialized in his vision. Following it precisely, the chaotic energy passed harmlessly by as the school building disintegrated around them. Lin Ye navigated through flying concrete and steel, carving a survival path through the collapsing structure.
"Good vantage point here. Keep your eyes open - the show's spectacular."
At the safe zone marked by his skill, Lin Ye set Yu Jing down and relinquished control to Qin An.
His task was complete - the rest belonged to the younger generation.
Debris and wild energy currents swept past as if doomsday had truly arrived. Only trust in his deity kept Qin An from kneeling in resignation, while Yu Jing watched excitedly, committing the spectacle to memory.
Lin Ye glanced regretfully at the girl. Given choice, he'd prefer partners like her - things would certainly be more interesting.
Lin Ye: I should withdraw now. Don't you have something to say to her?
Qin An: Thank you, Divine One. I wish to become your follower. What must I do? What are our creed's teachings?
Having no better way to express gratitude, Qin An opted for conventional piety.
'Creed? I don't even have followers... whatever.'
Lin Ye: Do as you wish.
Qin An: Huh?
Lin Ye: That's the creed. Act on your desires - eat when hungry, sleep when tired, kill when angry, confess when in love. No regrets. Never look back.
Qin An: ...What if I fail? Will you punish me, Divine One?
Lin Ye: I won't. But if you neglect what you could have done, life will exact payment someday.
Qin An: I understand.
As the explosions subsided, sunlight touched the ruins where fleeing teachers and students gathered in the distance.
Qin An turned to the dust-covered yet exhilarated Yu Jing. He didn't confess - with the deity departed, he felt unworthy still.
Lin Ye: Oh, that long-haired male teacher might be a terrorist mole. I lacked time to deal with him, and killing him in your body seemed improper. Stay alert - if needed, tell your girlfriend. She can handle it.