The Creatures that We Are

Nine Frost nodded. "Given these reasons, Qilin would welcome our challenge. He doesn't care how many will die in an open war. He only wishes to quickly achieve his goal."

"An open challenge offers us several advantages. If we attempt a siege on the base or try to catch them by surprise, Surnamed Li would be at risk, enabling her to foresee and prepare for our actions. In a direct confrontation, however, Surnamed Li's abilities become less crucial. We simply need to avoid targeting her during the fight."

"Moreover, we can choose terrain that favors our attack and retreat, potentially limiting our enemies' Talents."

"That's about it." Nine Frost turned to the others. "I've completed my analysis."

White Rabbit had a newfound admiration for Nine Frost. She eyed War Tiger doubtfully. "Uncle Tiger, you're not claiming you considered all this, are you?"

"Of course." War Tiger smiled shrewdly with a hint of mischief. He shot Nine Frost a wink. "See? That's why he's my deputy!"

"We will be able to make better preparations with an open challenge, but the same is true for the enemy," Zhong He said. "Can we really defeat the Ocean River Union by fighting them head-on?"

"Not in a duel, but a group fight is different. Let's break it down." War Tiger slapped his thighs and strode to the blackboard. The chalk whined as he wrote.

The others in the room shifted their focus to War Tiger, many moving closer.

War Tiger wrote down "Twelve, Nine" and "Union" first. Then he listed six tiers underneath: T0, T0.5, T1, T1.5, and T2.

"For T0, there's Qilin on the Union's side, and Dragon on the Twelve, Nine side." War Tiger wrote the two names as he spoke. Then he struck through Dragon's name. "Unfortunately, Dragon's charging."

War Tiger continued to say and write, "For T0.5, there's none in the Union, and three on our side: Gao Yang, me, and Wang Zikai."

"Bullshit! How can I be anything less than T0?" Wang Zikai protested. He had thought War Tiger would put him in the separate category of God.

"You're the chosen one and will one day become God, Wang Zikai," Gao Yang, unflinching, smoothly lied. "It's only that you've awakened much shorter and need time to come into full power. This tier list is meant to analyze the coming fight. Don't take it too seriously, or it'll be your loss."

"Tsk, fine, fine. God or not, it's all technicalities." Flattered, Wang Zikai let it slide.

"I get Gao Yang at T0.5, but you, Uncle Tiger?" White Rabbit's face scrunched up. "When’s your Killing Expert reaching level 7? We've got this Damage Rune Circuit you can't merge with. Talk about wasted potential."

War Tiger slapped his thigh, eyes gleaming. "Hey, I've got an idea! How about I kill all of you? Might just level me up. Killing Expert's gotta do what a Killing Expert's gotta do, right?"

The room fell silent.

"It's a joke. Just lightening the mood." War Tiger guffawed, but no one else laughed. The atmosphere was suddenly awkward and strange.

"Right, moving on!" War Tiger spun back to the board, striking through Gao Yang's name. "Bad news is, Little Yang Yang's got a date with Dr. Jia as his kidnapper. So it's just me and Wang Zikai holding down the fort as T0.5 combatants."

"Why don't we wait until Gao Yang's done with kidnapping and joined us?" Qing Ling asked a question many were wondering.

“Have your hubby explain to you later.” War Tiger was too lazy to repeat Gao Yang’s reasons.

Qing Ling glanced at Gao Yang and stopped asking after meeting his eyes.

"Uncle Tiger, I have another question." Lying Wood held his hand of cards in one hand and adjusted his glasses with his other. "Azure Dragon's body should count as T0.5, too, right?"

"What a great question!" War Tiger praised. Then he explained to everyone. "That's true in theory. However, Qilin won't be able to join the fight himself while manipulating Azure Dragon's body. That was the case when Gao Yang fought Black Tortoise."

Gao Yang added, "Even if Qilin's reached level 7 with Puppeteer and can move while controlling Azure Dragon, neither will be at full strength with his attention divided. Alternatively, Qilin could use Azure Dragon's abilities, but then he'd be one person, not two."

"Exactly," War Tiger twirled the chalk in his hand. "So Qilin's one T0 combatant, not a T0 and a T0.5."

"I have no other question," Lying Wood said.

"Then the T1 and T1.5." War Tiger narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Only Yan Liang and Colorless are considered T1 on the Union's side, and with Yan Liang being crippled by Gao Yang in the last fight, he's probably a T1.5 now. Liao Liao will be T1.5, too. The rest of the Union members are T2 and trash."

Zhang Wei felt insulted vicariously. He was going to say something, but decided to keep his mouth shut in the end.

"Now let's look at the Twelve, Nine. There are many T1 and T1.5 combatants. Most of you belong in the two tiers." War Tiger sounded quite proud. "It seems that we're at an advantage!"

"We can't take that for granted." Nine Frost was cautious. "The Ocean River Union has more numbers, and they may comprehend powerful Talents before the fight."

"Right, we need to factor in the variables too." War Tiger scanned the crowd, eyes landing on Gao Xinxin. "Gao Yang's sister?"

Gao Xinxin stood up reluctantly. "What now?" Nothing good ever came from War Tiger singling her out.

War Tiger grinned. "We're having an all-night strategy session. Mind whipping up some late-night snacks and chilling some beer?"

Gao Xinxin's lips twitched, a resigned sigh escaping. "I'll get Cute Little Lamb and Yanyan bathed and in bed. Then I'll see what's in the fridge."

"If nothing else, you're one hell of a caretaker!" Gregor chimed in. "Gao Xinxin, how about some braised pork knuckle noodles?"

"Eat your ass!" Gao Xinxin snapped. "And come help me later!"

"Seriously...?" Gregor frowned. "Why me?"

"You're not fighting, are you? What's this strategy meeting got to do with you?" Gao Xinxin scoffed. "Unless you're heading to the frontlines? Do that, and I'll make you pork knuckle noodles and dragon foot noodles and whatever you want to eat."

Gregor changed his tune immediately. He rolled up his sleeves, grinning. "Prepare to be amazed by the culinary prowess of the two Chef Gs!"

"Alright, you've got some free time. Meeting's at midnight," War Tiger announced. "And nobody leaves without my say-so, no exceptions. Anyone who does gets treated like a spy."

A chorus of "Yes, sir!", "Understood!", and "Okay" rang out before the group dispersed.

Just then, Heavenly Dog's eyes snapped open on the beanbag. He removed his headphones, staring into space for a moment as if hearing something beyond others' perception.

His eyes reddened as he leapt to his feet. Scanning the crowd, he seemed unsure who to approach with his news.

Finally, he turned to War Tiger. "Uncle Tiger, I just comprehended a new Talent."

"That's fantastic!" War Tiger's face lit up. "Which one?"

Heavenly Dog hesitated before uttering, "Sixty-six."

War Tiger's smile froze. White Rabbit's and Dead Pig's faces fell, their eyes filled with sorrow.

Every Zodiac member knew that number. Serial number 66, Psyche-type: Requiem.

"Good, good. That's... good..."

War Tiger nodded mechanically, his words hollow. He plucked the cigarette from behind his ear and strode towards the study. "I need a smoke."

Gao Yang, however, was pondering something else entirely upon hearing Heavenly Dog's revelation.

He headed for the storage room. "Heavenly Dog, come with me."

"Oh, okay." Heavenly Dog followed without question.

At the door, Gao Yang called out, "You too, Zhang Wei."

Zhang Wei froze, thinking he'd misheard. He pointed at himself. "Me? You sure? I'm in the useless tier..."

"Come," Gao Yang repeated, his tone brooking no argument.

"Right away!" Zhang Wei's face split into a grin as he bounded over, metaphorical tail wagging.

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