My and Their Anime-Style Otherworldly Survival Adventure

After completing their disguise, the two returned to the crowd. A larger crowd gathered, many wanting to rush into the tent to find out what was happening. However, they were all stopped by the soldiers guarding the entrance, and under the threat of gunfire, a stalemate ensued.

Just then, the tent flap was suddenly flung open, and a man dressed as an officer stepped out. His face was extremely grave, but his eyes were unusually sharp. He scanned the surrounding crowd and then shouted, "Quiet down! Listen to me!"

Although the sound was already quite loud, it was like a pebble dropped into the sea, making no ripples in the noisy crowd. Left with no other option, the officer drew his pistol and fired two shots into the air.

Two gunshots rang out like thunderclaps, instantly silencing the noisy crowd. Everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on the officer. The camp's management staff promptly brought over a megaphone, and the officer took the microphone, cleared his throat, and spoke again.

"Everyone, please be quiet immediately! I am the adjutant of the commander of the 1st Brigade in this operation against Gastrea! My name is Masao Yamamoto, and this is my officer's ID."

To amplify the authority of his words, General Masao Yamamoto held his officer's badge high, ensuring it was clearly visible to the surrounding crowd. The badge, complete with his photograph, name, rank, and official seal, unmistakably confirmed his identity.

"I believe most of you have probably guessed that the situation at the front has become extremely unfavorable for our army. The Gastrea's offensive is unprecedentedly fierce, and our defenses are being gradually compressed. The air support we called for has also suffered heavy losses due to the sudden appearance of flying Gastrea. Although the soldiers are still fighting hard, the situation is not optimistic."

Masao Yamamoto's voice was clearly amplified throughout the camp, each word striking the hearts of the people like a heavy hammer blow.

"Therefore, after discussions at the higher command, it was decided to abandon this city and evacuate towards Tokyo. I know this news is undoubtedly adding insult to injury for everyone. But I want to tell you that no matter how difficult the situation, our army will absolutely cover your safe evacuation..."

These words immediately sparked a commotion in the crowd, like a deep-sea torpedo thrown into calm water, instantly creating ripples. Many angry citizens protested loudly, "Are you kidding me? You just give up like that? I just bought a house, the mortgage isn't even paid off yet, how are we supposed to live now that we're penniless?"

"Exactly! Where does all that military spending go every year? Now you just leave whenever you want. Is this how your army protects our lives and property?"

More questions and discontent flooded in like a tide, and such words and expressions of public discontent filled the entire camp, making it hard for the officer on the platform to breathe.

Masao Yamamoto was already sweating profusely, but he remained calm and composed, raising his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

"I understand everyone's anger and dissatisfaction, but please believe us, this is the best option we can make right now. Every penny of military spending has been used wisely, whether it's weapons development, soldier training, or frontline supplies—all require substantial financial support. And now, facing the Gastrea threat, we must concentrate all our resources to..."

At this point, a voice suddenly shouted from the audience: "Spended on the most important things? I think it was given to the moldy plants as protection money!"

These words instantly created a tense atmosphere in the camp, with the surrounding crowd turning their angry gazes towards the officer on the platform. Yamamoto Masao's face also darkened instantly; he hadn't expected anyone to make such a sensitive and highly inflammatory remark at such a crucial moment.

This is something we can all just keep quiet about, so why are you exposing it in public? Do you think the scene isn't chaotic enough?

"Sir, please watch your words. Don't make unfounded speculations and spread rumors! These are decisions made by Congress and have nothing to do with this operation!"

"I'm going to say this sternly," Yamamoto Masao said, while signaling to the guards around him to watch out for the man's movements.

However, that man's words were like a spark, igniting the discontent and doubts in the hearts of the people. More and more people began to whisper and murmur among themselves.

"Yes, we pay so much tax, but where exactly does the military spending go?"

"The army is supposed to protect us, but now they want us to abandon our homes. How can we trust you?"

Jiuxiao laughed. "At this critical moment of life and death, you're still arguing about military spending? It seems the masses have been harboring resentment about this for a long time."

Faced with the agitated and completely out-of-control crowd below, Yamamoto Masao was at a loss. He looked for help to an elderly man in a well-tailored suit standing to the side, who was the camp's highest-ranking official and one of the architects of the evacuation plan—Tendo Ichiro.

Seeing this, Ichiro Tendo nodded slightly, signaling Masao Yamamoto to calm down. Then, he slowly stood up, walked to the front of the stage, took the microphone, and began to soothe the public's emotions with his calm and magnetic voice.

"Gentlemen, please hear me out. The defeat at the front is now inevitable. Everyone should pack their belongings and retreat towards Tokyo under the cover of the army. The government has found a way to control the Gastrea. Tokyo is building large-scale fortifications and equipping them with the most advanced weapon systems to ensure everyone's safety. In a few years, we might be able to launch a counterattack against the Gastrea and reclaim our lost territory."

Ichiro Tendo's words carried an unwavering determination, attempting to bring a glimmer of hope to the people.

However, the public's emotions did not calm down. Instead, some raised even sharper questions: "Reclaim lost territory? With the current army, you expect them to launch a counterattack against Gastrea? Can they even launch a counterattack? They can't, they don't have the capability, you know? First they lost Kawasaki, then they lost Saitama, are they going to give up the whole of Japan in the end? Be realistic, first understand your own tactics and the concept of modern warfare. If you keep losing like this, I think your Self-Defense Forces have no shame left."

Ah, why does General Fan seem to be everywhere?

"Is Tokyo safe? What makes you think it won't become the next place overrun by Gastrea...?"

Ichiro Tendo paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, his eyes revealing an unyielding authority: "I understand your concerns, but please believe me, the government has made meticulous plans and arrangements. Tokyo, as the nation's capital, possesses unparalleled geographical advantages and a robust defense system. We will establish an impregnable defensive line there to protect the safety of every citizen..."

This back-and-forth dragged on for a long time, wasting a great deal of precious time, before the decision to evacuate to Tokyo was finally reluctantly approved. Despite the doubts and anxieties that filled the people, they had no choice but to pack their bags and prepare for an unknown journey under the military's forced evacuation.

Standing in the crowd, looking at the chaos and noise, Jiu Xiao couldn't help but tighten his grip on Fate's hand.

"Let's follow the crowd and evacuate to Tokyo. It wouldn't be bad to see Tokyo in this world. Besides, with all this chaos, the household registration system is probably completely paralyzed, which will make it easier for us to get a legal identity. We can buy a few houses in Tokyo then, and that will be a place to settle down in this world."

The Philippines nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Tokyo, as the capital, shouldn't be so easily captured, right? After we settle in, we can bring Sister Xiaoyuan and Sister Sania over as well. I will protect everyone; those who are not my match."

Through the cloak, Jiu Xiao patted Fate's head and kindly reminded him, "Don't be careless. There might be even more powerful Gastrea. We mustn't let ourselves be caught off guard, and the Gastrea virus is also a huge threat."

The two mingled with the crowd, following the main group as they retreated towards Tokyo. A few snowflakes began to fall from the dark sky, and the biting wind added to the bleakness and desolation of their escape.

On the streets, the transportation system was completely paralyzed, with abandoned vehicles blocking the roads. People moved slowly forward, shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand, carrying their belongings and packs. The cries of children, the sighs of the elderly, and the chatter of young people mingled together, creating a vivid scene of refugee fleeing the disaster.

The procession of over 100,000 people stretched as far as the eye could see. They walked from evening until late at night before finally resting at the arrangement of the staff.

Just then, the roar of airplanes filled the sky; it was the arrival of supply helicopters. Judging from their direction, they must have come from Tokyo. They formed a long, seemingly endless line in the sky, and after descending, they dropped batches of emergency relief supplies. These supplies were like a godsend, bringing a sliver of comfort to the exhausted, hungry, and cold people.

With the help of volunteers, the supplies were quickly distributed to the people. Armed soldiers maintained order, and no one dared to scramble for them. Jiu Xiao and Fate also received their own supplies. Although his system space contained plenty of food he had found in the mall, he figured he might as well eat what was free. They found a relatively clean spot and ate something simple.

"It seems that the Japanese government is not entirely inactive; it does have some merits."

Jiuxiao gazed at the helicopters coming and going in the distance and muttered to himself.

After finishing their late-night snack, the team rested in place. Many huddled together for warmth. Many complained that the snow had come at an inopportune time, making the rescue operation much more difficult.

The group didn't start moving again until the next morning, continuing their evacuation towards Tokyo.

P.S.: This chapter is full of references, I hope you all like it!

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Kogisara's Unchanted "Water Magic"

From that morning onward, the column was attacked intermittently by Gastrea that suddenly charged out. Fortunately, their numbers were small, and heavily armed soldiers were clearing the way ahead, so these attacks did not cause too many casualties. Whenever a Gastrea appeared, the soldiers would react quickly, using their superior equipment and excellent teamwork to kill them one by one.

However, as the column ventured deeper, the Gastrea attacks became more frequent, and their strength gradually increased. Some Gastrea were even able to evade the soldiers' resistance and charge directly into the group, causing waves of panic and chaos.

In a sudden attack, three flying Gastrea appeared in the sky. They had the appearance of dragonflies, but their forelimbs were as sharp as blades. They were huge, like fighter jets, and their wings created gusts of wind as they flapped.

These aerial Gastrea are not only extremely fast, but also very ferocious. They hover in the air, sometimes swooping down to harvest people with their sharp forelimbs, and sometimes letting out a deafening roar to terrify the crowd.

The soldiers' firearms were ineffective against them, and they couldn't use heavy weapons in densely populated areas. They could only watch helplessly as the animals slaughtered indiscriminately among the crowds, completely powerless to stop it.

The group was cut off here. Those in front tried to escape, while those behind tried to rush forward, creating utter chaos. Screams, cries, and curses mingled together, creating a scene reminiscent of hell on earth.

"What are those guys responsible for covering the rear doing? They can't even stop a few flying insects! Are their anti-aircraft guns just for show? What a bunch of useless trash!"

One of the middle-aged men, dressed as an officer, couldn't help but curse loudly, his eyes filled with anger and anxiety.

While dodging attacks from the Gastrea in the sky, Jiu Xiao anxiously searched for the little girl, Mu Xiao, among the crowd. Although she had successfully arrived in Tokyo in the original timeline, Jiu Xiao worried that their appearance had already affected the course of history to some extent.

The butterfly effect is something you should believe in, even if it's just a possibility. He couldn't imagine how history would have changed if the little girl Mu had met with misfortune here.

As for Rentaro Satomi, who is he? I really don't know him! Putting aside his character, just look at the events he was involved in in the original story—he didn't change any of the tragedies, and he failed to protect anything. Indecisive and insisting on procedural justice, he might be a qualified policeman in peacetime, but in a chaotic world where life is cheap, his methods are simply inapplicable.

The Gastrea were still wreaking havoc in the sky. Jiuxiao, leading Fate, deliberately slowed their pace, watching the panicked crowd pass by. His heart sank to the bottom. Unbeknownst to them, they had reached the back of the line, yet they still hadn't found their target.

Jiuxiao could only pray silently that she had escaped.

Fate had actually noticed Jiuxiao's unusual behavior long ago. She saw Jiuxiao retreating while searching for something. However, since Jiuxiao didn't explain, she didn't ask. She simply stayed close to Jiuxiao, figuring that nothing would happen to her with her strength.

Suddenly, Fate pointed in one direction and shouted, "Brother Jiuxiao, look over there!"

Following the direction Fate pointed, Jiu Xiao saw a young couple struggling to make their way towards the main group with a little girl. The little girl was the one Jiu Xiao had been searching for—Tendo Kisara.

Their situation was dire. The young woman, who bore a striking resemblance to Mu Geng, was carrying on the man's back, her leg bandaged and stained with blood. The man was clearly at his limit, moving very slowly and panting heavily.

The little girl, Mu, walked ahead of the two, occasionally turning back to look at her mother on her father's back, her eyes filled with worry and anxiety.

Jiuxiao was overjoyed and immediately pulled Fate to go help. Just then, one of the flying Gastrea that had previously chased after the crowd suddenly turned back and pounced straight towards where Kisara and the others were.

Seeing the Gastrea swooping down, the little girl, Mu, was terrified and collapsed to the ground, trembling and closing her eyes, completely losing the courage to run away or dodge.

The young couple were also terrified, their faces turning pale. The man instinctively tried to protect his wife on his back and his daughter in front of him, but the limits of his body and the heavy burden prevented him from moving. He could only watch helplessly as the terrifying creature approached.

Jiuxiao's heart tightened suddenly. Where's Rentaro? Come out and save him!

Without thinking twice, Jiuxiao shouted, "Monster, let go of that girl and come at me!"

While roaring, he threw out a ball of blazing flame—Nine Heavens' Fireball Technique. Fate also used "Lightning Movement" in time, instantly appearing in front of the little girl Mu Xiao and erecting an invisible shield.

Fate, who was already prepared for the attack, found that the monster's attack was delayed. It turned out that Jiuxiao's fireball spell had accidentally hit the monster's wing. The violent explosion broke off one of the monster's wings, and the monster spun and fell not far away with a deafening roar, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.

With the intention of striking while the iron was hot, Jiuxiao rushed towards the direction where the monster had fallen. It's safe to say that this Gastrea, even at only one or two stages of evolution, possessed remarkable resilience. Falling from tens of meters in the air, coupled with the explosive damage from Jiuxiao's fireball, had only temporarily robbed it of its ability to fly, and it was now struggling to stand up again.

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiu Xiao took out a fire axe from the system space, used all his magic power to strengthen his body, and smashed the Gastrea's head to pieces after it had temporarily lost its ability to resist.

A mixture of red and green unidentified liquids splattered all over Jiuxiao. The Gastrea, whose brains had been completely destroyed, lost its red light and collapsed to the ground, lifeless and unable to move.

Jiuxiao took a breath, looking at the monster he had defeated, a sense of accomplishment welling up inside him. Although it was only a small step, it was a giant leap on his path to growth. Jiuxiao was no longer the novice who trembled with fear when facing monsters.

He turned to look at Fate and Kisara, and saw that Fate was protecting Kisara and the little girl, while the young couple had expressions of relief and were looking at Jiuxiao and the others with grateful eyes.

Jiuxiao quickly walked over to them, smiled at Fate first, then looked at the man and asked, "Are you hurt? Do you need any help?"

The man nodded gratefully and said, "Thank you, thanks to your help, we weren't hurt. My wife injured her leg, and I need to find a safe place to treat her as soon as possible."

The woman also spoke up, "Thank you for saving our family's lives. We are very grateful. If possible, please come with us to Tokyo. Our family has some assets there, and we would be very grateful if you could help us repay this life-saving kindness."

Besides wanting to repay Jiu Xiao and his companions for saving her life, the woman also had her own selfish motives; she wanted to use their strength to safely reach Tokyo. She could tell that although the boy before her was just a teenager, and the little girl wasn't much older than her daughter, the courage and agility they displayed when facing the Gastrea surpassed that of most adults.

Moreover, she had clearly seen the little girl suddenly appear in front of Kisara, as if she had materialized out of thin air. Although she hadn't seen clearly what kind of explosive the boy used against the Gastrea, it at least proved that he wasn't a weakling. His subsequent finishing blow to the Gastrea made her think even more highly of the boy.

Most importantly, someone who lends a helping hand to a complete stranger is definitely not a bad person. Since they're almost at their wits' end anyway, they might as well take a gamble, hoping for a miracle – what if they find something valuable?

"Tomoya, put me down first, go check on our daughter. She's been sitting on the ground without moving since earlier, is she hurt?"

The man nodded, carefully placed his wife on the ground, and went to check on his daughter.

Approaching Kisara from behind, the man knelt down and gently asked, "Kisara, how are you? Are you feeling unwell or injured anywhere?"

As he spoke, he tried to help Kisara up from the ground, but Kisara refused, even though she was a little girl.

"I...I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me, just take good care of Mom."

Upon hearing this, Jiu Xiao immediately turned to look at Mu Geng. He saw that the little girl was still sitting on the ground, her eyes were somewhat evasive, her hands were tightly hugging her knees, and her small body was trembling slightly. She was probably frightened by the battle just now...?

Perhaps not entirely; he noticed a puddle of water under Komaki's crotch...

Jiu Xiao immediately understood. It turned out that Xiao Mu had used a water magic spell without incantation. No wonder he seemed so awkward when his father showed concern earlier; he was probably hiding the fact that he had lost control of his bladder in fright.

Kogisara, another dark chapter in his history.

Fate wanted to turn around to check on Mu Geng's condition, but Jiu Xiao pulled her back and whispered in her ear, "Don't look, he's fine. I'll handle it."

Jiu Xiao coughed lightly, deliberately raising his voice to divert everyone's attention.

"Don't worry, sir. Your daughter is fine. I think she was just frightened and should be alright after a while."

As he spoke, Jiu Xiao quietly took off his coat and gently draped it over Xiao Mugeng's shoulders. After all, the young girl had her pride, so he should try to cover her up as much as possible.

As Jiuxiao helped Xiaomu Geng put on her coat, he gave her a wink. Xiaomu Geng's heart skipped a beat; she knew she was exposed. Her cheeks instantly turned bright red, as if they could bleed. She lowered her head, avoiding Jiuxiao's gaze, and even more so, her parents'. She whispered in a barely audible voice, "Thank...thank you, big brother."

It's perfectly fine for someone who's only six or seven years old to call Jiuxiao "Big Brother".

Jiu Xiao smiled slightly, encouraging her with his eyes. Then, he looked up at the Zhiye couple and said, "Uncle, and this lady, the situation is very dangerous right now. We need to set off quickly, before the main group goes too far, and catch up with them. If you'd like, we can travel together and look after each other. My sister and I are also going to Tokyo, so we might need your help then."

Upon hearing this, Tomoya and his wife exchanged a glance, a hint of gratitude flashing in their eyes. The woman spoke first, her voice tinged with excitement: "No trouble at all, no trouble at all. You saved our whole family's lives, so we'll take care of this little thing. It's just... our current situation is indeed a bit difficult, and I'm afraid we'll cause you a lot of trouble on the way."

The man named Tomoya nodded repeatedly, thumping his chest loudly.

Jiuxiao shook her head and smiled sincerely, "Sister, you're too kind. Everyone has their difficulties when they're traveling. More people mean more strength, and we'd be happy to have you join us. As for trouble, there's no such thing. If we all work together, we can overcome it."

After a few simple pleasantries, Jiu Xiao felt the time was about right. Xiao Mu was sitting on the muddy ground; the water from her uninvoked "water magic" should have seeped into the ground, and with the wet patches everywhere, she should be able to fool everyone.

So he suggested, "Let's set off, or we'll have trouble catching up with the main group."

Everyone nodded and began packing their belongings, preparing to set off.

Little Wood remained motionless, still squatting on the ground, her small hands tightly gripping Jiu Xiao's coat. Seeing everyone's gaze fixed on her, she lowered her head and murmured softly, "My legs are weak, I can't stand up..."

Upon hearing this, the Tian Tong couple looked towards Jiu Xiao for help, their meaning self-evident.

Jiu Xiao scratched her head; she was well aware of Xiao Mugeng's current situation. Even if he didn't mind carrying the little girl on his back, the girl herself had to be willing.

Jiuxiao asked tentatively, "Um, Xiaomu is too, right? If you don't mind, I'll carry you."

Xiao Mugeng's cheeks flushed again. She glanced up at Jiu Xiao stealthily, then quickly lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "Really...really? Won't that be too much trouble for big brother? I...I..."

Jiu Xiao knew, of course, what she wanted to say but was too embarrassed to say, but seeing that she was about to cover it up, he certainly wouldn't let his previous efforts go to waste.

Crouching down, Jiu Xiao tried his best to make his back appear stable and reliable.

"Of course it's true, hurry up and get on, time waits for no one."

Seeing Jiu Xiao's determination, Xiao Mu hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered her courage, placed her little hand on Jiu Xiao's shoulder, and then gently climbed onto his back. Jiu Xiao felt the softness and slight coolness on his back, and he became very surprised.

Chapter Seventy Fate: So, love can disappear, right?

After carrying Xiao Mugeng for a while, Jiu Xiao felt her begin to get restless on his back. She would twist and turn every now and then, as if there were thorns on his back. The group walked along the path. Although the snow that had fallen overnight had not accumulated on the road, the melted snow had made the ground very muddy.

As Jiuxiao and the others walked ahead, he could clearly sense that Tendo Tomoya's stamina was rapidly declining. Reluctantly, he had to slow his pace and strike up a conversation with the couple. He wasn't exactly a talkative person, especially around strangers.