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Chapter 59: A+A (VII)

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Rhine stood in front of Shang Ke, his grand and imposing aura hitting him straight on as he firmly confined him.

Shang Ke fell back a step, his back leaning onto the metal bed frame as he felt the chill. He was just about to speak to break the silence when his expression suddenly shifted and a potent scent broke past his defenses and entered his body.

Rhine extended one long leg between Shang Ke’s, leaning forwards slowly and tugging him up into his arms, pulling the other man’s body tight and flush against his own. The two were so closely knit, they could feel the warm blood flowing through each other’s bodies, both pulses beating strong and in sync.

Shang Ke raised his arms to resist so that Rhine couldn’t move forward, but he was unwilling to be pushed back. Rhine stood between his legs and placed his hands on his waist so he wouldn’t be thrown off. The intense pheromone carried boundless desire as ran went through Shang Ke’s body.

Shang Ke grunted and his eyes lit up like a flame as he glowered at the man. He did not believe that Rhine would dare to assault him at a training camp.

But Shang Ke had clearly underestimated an alpha’s rudeness, disregard for a reason, and privilege—it was a one-way caste system with them on top. Moreover, in the entire history of the Empire, there was never a record of an alpha being forced by another alpha. So even if Rhine really did do something, it was likely that no one would believe him.

Shang Ke glared at him with such fiery and passionate anger that it lit up Rhine’s lust like a fuse. He quickly took over Shang Ke’s lips and took away his breath.

Shang Ke was trapped against the bed frame. Every time he tried to resist, he would invite an even fiercer attack. His body was slowly being taken over by Rhine’s scent and both pleasure and resentment made themselves known in his mind at once. Shang Ke gradually began to feel powerless as he once again discovered just how wide the gap between their strengths were.

He wasn’t resigned to this!

Shang Ke clenched his fists and did everything he could to resist the pheromone in his body. Although Rhine has not physically entered him, his scent had already done him in once everywhere, in every position, every piece of his skin. His traces were everywhere.

This was even harder to endure compared to being actually done in. 

Shang Ke suddenly reverse-gripped the bed board and raised his body, legs rising and aimed toward Rhine’s chest. 

Rhine crossed his arms over in defense and was kicked squarely, causing him to retreat a step. 

It was a pity that the dorm room was so small that Shang Ke did not have enough space to utilize his abilities. In only a short moment, he was cut off again by Rhine’s offense and overwhelmed on the bed.

With his arms and legs restricted, the fury in Shang Ke’s heart burned and he bit down on Rhine’s neck. He bit down so fiercely he almost tore off a chunk of flesh.

Rhine’s gaze darkened and he turned him over, pulling off the clothes that had long-since loosened, exposing his scarred back. Rhine paused once when he saw the scars, but quickly pinned down his arms when he saw him struggling again. Slowly, almost languidly, Rhine lowered his head to trail down Shang Ke’s spine, his breath hot and sending electric sparks up and down his spine, before he stopped to lick and nibble and bite at his lower back.

Shang Ke felt goosebumps rise all along his arms He shouted, “Rhine, what are you doing?!”

“Marking.”

The burning hot breath followed the bite and permeated Shang Ke’s skin, pricking him with a needle-like pain. He couldn’t help but let out a small cry at this. 

“No!” Shang Ke struggled with all his might as his pheromone rushed crazily around his body in defense.

The scents of the alphas clashed causing Rhine’s marking to fail. Rhine’s expression darkened and he leaned over to Shang Ke’s ear, speaking to him in a low voice, “Do you want me to do you now, or let me mark you honestly?” 

“I don’t want either of them!” Once he was marked, the pheromone of the marker would be left behind. It would no doubt be an obvious sign for others that he, who was also an alpha, was a declared possession of another alpha. If he wore the scent of another man, how could he face ‘him’?

“Then I will make your choice for you.” Rhine pulled him up and turned him over again to press him against the headboard as he bore down on his body. 

Rhine stopped his motions when he looked up and saw Shang Ke’s expression. 

Truly, Rhine felt a kind of indescribable pleasure as he tried to conquer the alpha before him. But the humiliation and fury in his eyes, made him hesitate. Seeing Shang Ke so unhappy made him feel almost regretful and moody. 

In this world, only the strong alphas are entitled the ability to say ‘no’. Controlling and being controlled, conquering and being conquered, marking and being marked. It was the way of nature. Rhine did not feel he was in the wrong, however, what this wasn’t what he wanted… 

“You are still too weak.” Rhine’s finger gently brushed the tears from Shang Ke’s eyes, muttering to himself. If this man was an omega, he likely would have long been done in. He did not understand, why resist the instincts of their bodies? Do they not both feel pleasure?

“Give me time, I will become stronger no matter what!?” Shang Ke vowed. Even if it wasn’t a part of the mission, he would still become strong! This twisted world has no reason to be spoken of, identity and strength was everything! 

“I will wait.” Rhine slowly sat up, but his gaze remained on him coldly, “However, you will remember this. You are mine, I will not allow your body to be tainted by any other man’s scent but my own.” 

Shang Ke was speechless. 

“Tidy up a bit, prepare for training this evening.” Rhine straightened up his \ uniform then left Shang Ke’s room. 

Shang Ke felt naked, yet he was still immaculately dressed. But the scent left behind in his body still made him feel awful and guilty. 

F*ck! Ever since Shang Ke came to this world, the frequency of his cursing had risen. 

He decided to temporarily place the matter of finding his man aside in favor of taking the time to train. He needed to increase his strength until he reached the “whoever is strong is the boss” level. 

The following days, Shang Ke place almost all of his energy into training. He woke up earlier than anyone else, he trained longer than anyone else, the effort he put into every action was more than anyone else put in. Yet, his progress was still slower than anyone else’s. 

Countless people jeered at his weakness in secret and mocked him from time to time, but Shang Ke turned a deaf ear to it all. His silence only made them more scornful, while also disappointed, since such behavior matched perfectly the image of a “hero” the outside world made him out to be. He had no power, nor was he brave. It was entirely due to luck that he survived probably. 

Rhine did not help when he heard their criticism. That person has to be able to instill faith in others by himself, otherwise, the way forward would be hard.

“First Lieutenant, I have seen you in the video of the battle at Via City and greatly admire your strength. Since we hold the same rank now, would you mind if I ask for some advice?” An officer of the same rank walked in front of Shang Ke and asked in a sincere tone.

Shang Ke had just finished the daily training with his team members. The others moved easily, like it was something relaxing while only he showed signs of strain. Sweat flowed profusely and he looked just about on the brink of collapse. 

Shang Ke looked around at his team members who were waiting for a good show and slowly placed down the canteen in his hand, replying, “Sure.”

That lieutenant first looked stumped, but immediately pulled himself together and waved his hand with a smile, “Please.”

The two of them went to the arena. One held the standard military attitude while the other had difficulty walking and was half staggering drunkenly.

Low-pitch laughter came in fragments from outside the arena.

The lieutenant suddenly felt that asking him for a spar was a mistake. Wasn’t this just bullying? Even if he defeated him, what accomplishment would he feel from it? It’s better for him to end this as quickly as possible.

His eyes flashed and his figure moved, he charged toward Shang Ke and punched out, bringing a powerful gust of wind with the movement. The people watching could all sense the might of his punch. Once it landed, even if the other person doesn’t die, they would still be seriously injured.

Shang Ke did not show any sign of evading the punch. As they watched the fist whistle through the air towards its destination, everyone believed he was done for—until he suddenly disappeared from their sight. That lieutenant’s fist hit empty air while his steps became unsteady due to inertia. He hadn’t had the chance to balance himself before he felt his knees go numb. His legs couldn’t help but bend with a follow up hit to his nape. He underwent a feeling of vertigo while his body powerlessly collapsed to the ground. 

The entire event only lasted two to three seconds. Nobody had the chance to blink and the spar was already over.

Silence filled the area. 

Shang Ke’s back was towards the fallen lieutenant, his face still deathly pale and his body still weak with beads of sweat flowing down his forehead and slowly dripping down his temples. The drops of sweat eventually made their way to his captivating red lips and slid past. He wiped them away without care, his eyes drooping and his expression somewhat hazy. He stood alone in the spacious and empty arena, appearing weak yet he was strong—it was a unique and indescribable thing to observe.

He waited there for the lieutenant, but seeing how the other wasn’t waking up anytime soon, he turned around to make his leave.

“Holy crap, one move, it was barely a move and the other is just down on the floor!” Following Shang Ke’s departure, commotion bubbled up at the scene.

“Who saw him move just now? How could he be so fast?”

“The cameras should have caught it, we can go watch it later!”

Defeating a lieutenant wasn’t something special, but the way Shang Ke won was really too effortless, too relaxed, too fast. And yet, Shang Ke pulled it off even under his physically impaired condition. So ‘utterly shocked’ was the only way to describe anyone who saw.

After the unfortunate lieutenant woke up, his complexion was burning red as he muttered angrily, “I don’t accept this! I want another match with him.”

Someone else kindly told him that Shang Ke had gone to the medical room.

He immediately ran off to chase after him.

When he arrived at the entrance of the medical room, he was just about to knock when he heard the conversation through the door.

“First Lieutenant Filmore, I have to remind you, once again, that your body functions have suffered serious damage. The usual physical drills are enough to leave you in pain for three days and nights, let alone training for ten hours straight!” the doctor scolded him, utterly exasperated. This guy was already a frequent visitor of the medical room. The doctor would be filled with trepidation every time he inspected his body. Physical overdraft, muscle spasming, and he clearly couldn’t walk stably anymore, yet he still persevered with his training!

Shang Ke sat on the bed and smile, “Thank you for your concern, but I am fine.” He was currently the masochist spoken of only in legends—the more pain he was in, the harder he tried. Hehe.

“‘I’m fine, I’m fine’, you always say that!” The doctor gave him a bottle of medicine, and angrily rebuked, “You better listen well; you will rest tomorrow or I will force a sleeping pill down your throat.”

“Doctor, that is a blatant threat.” Shang Ke protested.

“Hmph, so what if I threaten you, you can go complain!” The doctor really wanted to throttle him, but he also couldn’t bear to do so, so he could only force down that bitter feeling. 

“Alright, in a bit, I will…” His words were suddenly cut off, as Shang Ke fell asleep, leaning against the bed while the doctor looked back at him.

Staring at his scarred body and his peaceful face, the doctor felt sadness well up within him uncontrollably. Outsiders could only see the hero’s honor, who else cares about the hardships they go through?

The doctor sighed silently and gently covered Shang Ke with a blanket.

Lieutenant Isaac who heard the entire conversation through the door lowered his head and silently turned around to leave, but he was utterly astonished when he saw Rhine standing behind him quietly, his face dark. He almost wet himself in fright.

Isaac quickly saluted and Rhine spoke, “Run for a hundred miles, fly the aircraft for five hours. Immediately.” 

Isaac left, his head hanging and his face full of despair, to face his punishment. 

Rhine’s entrance into the room was noticed by the doctor, who gave a salute and tactfully left the room. 

Rhine arrived by the bed and silently watched Shang Ke sleep for a moment, before leaning down and lightly pressing a kiss to his lips.

Shang Ke listened to his doctor’s advice for once and decided to rest the next day, so he went out to visit his mother and purchase a few necessities.

He had just walked out the training camp when he saw Ryan standing not too far away. Shang Ke thought he was here to find him, and was just wondering if he should call out a greeting when Ryan suddenly ran in another direction. So, he was here for an appointment with Zeka.

Shang Ke shrugged, there was no need for him to make a greeting anymore. He’ll go back to doing what he should be doing. He turned around and cheerfully walked away. 

Zeka raised his head as soon as Filmore turned around. He watched his figure disappear before looking back at Ryan, smiling, “Filmore has been training very hard recently, are you not going to go check up on him?” 

Ryan looked at him with a rebuking gaze, “You know that I don’t like him.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Zeka faintly smiled. He remembered that Ryan had had a rather close relationship with Filmore not too long ago; rumors even said they were together. He had planned to compete with Filmore for Ryan’s affection for a bit, but how did things change so quickly? When did Ryan lose his affection for Filmore? Oh, it seems to be when the rumors about Filmore’s weakening started making its rounds.

Zeka wore a smile like always, but his eyes were dull and mocking.

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