Starting from Douluo Continent, I've become a god through daily check-ins.

Chapter 277

"What the hell? They treat us like we're the ones who drag them down." On the way back to the dorm, Wanmu said with a lot of resentment.

"That's true, isn't it? After all, we're a hastily trained unit," Man said.

"But that statement is really unpleasant," Yu Nai said.

Goro stopped and said, "I also agree with the other side's opinion."

"Huh?" He turned around and looked at Goro in surprise.

Everyone turned to look at Goro, waiting for him to continue.

"Let's not let Strelitzia attack in the next operation..." Goro said.

"I'm definitely going to participate in the next battle. Let them see our strength! After being talked about like this, don't you want to get back at them? Instead of complaining here, let's use our strength to make them submit!" Zero interrupted Goro's next words.

Zero knew that if Goro hadn't seen that thing, he would never have opposed Strelitzia's attack. However, Strelitzia had to attack in the next battle. If they didn't, even with the addition of the Twenty-Sixth Division, they wouldn't be able to handle the situation at all.

"Oh! Yes, Goro, don't back down," said Miku.

Goro's spirits plummeted. He wanted to protect Zero, but the next battle would be the third, and Zero's body had undergone such changes. A third battle... he absolutely couldn't survive!

Goro looked at Ichigo and asked, "Ichigo, what do you think?"

Strawberry lowered her head, turned it forward, and said, "We need bird of paradise."

Hearing Ichigo say this, Goro was startled. Indeed, although Zero-Two was dangerous, and Zero would lose his life because of it, Strelitzia's strength was undeniable. Strelitzia was very strong, stronger than all of them combined.

Goro stopped struggling and turned to look at Zero, the guy at the front. Looking into Zero's eyes, it seemed like Zero was trying to tell Goro something through his gaze.

……

At night, Goro lay in bed with his back to Zero, unable to fall asleep for a long time. Apart from the faint sound of the wind, all he could hear was Zero's painful groans.

Zero was turned to the side with his back to Goro, his right hand gripping the pillow tightly, his forehead covered in cold sweat. The pain in his chest was unbearable, but he couldn't cry out.

Goro gritted his teeth, deciding to ignore it and pull the blanket over his head, hoping to block out the noise.

……

After a while, Goro came out of the room and took a walk in the corridor. Seemingly tired, Goro sat on the steps, one hand supporting his forehead, unsure of what to do.

Suddenly, footsteps approached. Goro looked up and saw Ichigo leading Zero-Two toward the flower room. Although surprised, Goro didn't follow.

"I have nothing to say about your dealings with Unit 26, but I hope you won't act unilaterally in the next operation. Please operate under my command," Ichigo said earnestly, standing in front of Zero-Two.

Zero Two yawned, looking to the side, showing no intention of looking directly at Ichigo.

"Are you going to order me around again? You're really arrogant." With that, Zero Two prepared to go back to her room.

As Zero Two walked towards her step by step, Ichigo took two steps back. Watching Zero Two walk past her, Ichigo grabbed Zero Two's hand. "Wait, I haven't finished speaking yet."

Seemingly losing her balance, Ichigo tripped and nearly fell. Zero Two glanced at Ichigo, who was holding her hand, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Mei held Zero's hand, lowered her head, and said, "Don't force Zero."

Zero Two withdrew his hand. "It was Darling who said he wanted to drive with me."

"I know, so at the very least, please don't do anything that would burden Zero," Ichigo said.

"Do you want me to give it to you?" Zero Two asked.

Hearing Zero Two say this, Ichigo paused, then looked up at Zero Two. Zero Two continued, "But, you and Darling tried it once and it didn't work, right?"

"It has nothing to do with me!" Ichigo said.

Ling Ertou turned to the side and said, "Then you shouldn't interfere in our affairs."

Ichigo was stunned. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Do you want to use Zero?"

"Darling is mine," Zero Two said.

Ichigo was startled and exclaimed in panic, "He might die!"

"Yes. His death proves he was nothing special," Zero Two said calmly.

Hearing Zero Two's emotionless words, Ichigo was shocked. Enraged, Ichigo gritted her teeth, walked up to Zero Two, and slapped him. The slap knocked off the limiter on Zero Two's horn.

"You beast! You really aren't human!" Ichigo practically shouted the last part of her sentence.

Enraged at being called inhuman, Ling Er's pupils appeared exceptionally bright red against the lamplight and the night.

"A person?" Zero Two slowly straightened up. "You actually called them people?" As she spoke, Zero Two looked at Ichigo and asked, "Then I need to ask you, what exactly are you talking about as people?"

Ichigo was terrified, staring fearfully at Zero Two in front of her. Under the light, Zero Two's horns and eyes emitted a blood-red glow.

A gentle breeze stirred, and Mei, looking at the person in front of her, instinctively took two steps back. At that moment, a drop of water fell from above.

Ling Er looked up at the glass dome above him. An artificial rainstorm was falling over the entire driver's living area, adding a touch of mystery to the forest in the night.

……

Ichigo returned to her dorm dejectedly, her hair completely soaked, and her clothes damp. Her shoes and the hem of her nightgown were covered in mud. As soon as she stepped into the hallway, she heard Goro's voice: "You'll catch a cold."

As soon as she finished speaking, a towel was thrown at Ichigo's head. Ichigo looked at Goro in front of her and said softly, "Thank you, I'll borrow it for a moment."

"Hmm," Goro said, turning to look at the rainy scene outside.

"Did you see it?" Ichigo asked.

"Yes," Goro replied.

Ichigo looked up at Goro, then lowered her head again and asked, "I don't know what to do. I'm the leader, we're childhood friends, but I can't let Zero pilot the FRANXX. I couldn't stop Zero." Ichigo's voice gradually began to tremble with tears. "But now that guy is here, and Zero is also with that guy... But... I feel so strange..."

As she spoke, Ichigo started to cry. "Ichigo?" Goro called out.

"I...I don't want to! No, my head is a mess, what is this? But, Zero, I hate it..."

Seeing Ichigo crying, Goro wanted to comfort her, but his fingers had just touched her shoulder when he suddenly pulled them back. Looking at his hand, he couldn't believe it. "What... is this?"

After the rain, the sky cleared and the morning sun began to appear.

Zero entered the forest and found Zero Two by the lake. Zero Two's hair and clothes were soaked. Zero walked towards Zero Two, who already knew Zero had come.

"The smell after the rain is really nice," Ling Er said.

"Let it go down again," Zero Two said.

As soon as she finished speaking, Zero Two realized, "Oh right, you can't do it, can you?"

Zero walked over to Zero Two and said, "I don't know, it's not certain yet."

Zero smiled and walked towards the lake. Zero hesitated for a moment and followed.

"We first met here," Zero Two said.

"I was here when I met Zero Two, and I also became able to pilot the FRANXX," Zero said.

"Yes, I'm the only one who is Darling's partner." Zero Two said, pulling open Zero's clothes to reveal the purple tumor on his chest.

"Darling already knows, right? I haven't had a single partner who's driven with me more than three times." Zero Two said, while gently stroking the purple lump.

"Hmm," Zero replied.

"It hurts, doesn't it? It's painful, isn't it? But it's incredibly beautiful." Zero Two tilted her head and looked at Zero, asking, "What should we do? If you want to get down, now's the time."

"I'm going to get on it," Zero said with a determined look in his eyes.

Ling Er raised his chin, then stepped back, laughing loudly.

(End of this chapter)