Apocalypse Transmigration - The Card Captor System

As Leo took his first step, a crushing weight bore down on his body. His knees buckled under the burden. The backpack felt like a small mountain strapped to his back, making even the simple act of breathing a chore. Still, he forced one foot in front of the other.

Beside him, Lia fought to move forward with her own pack. Though hers was lighter, the weight remained a challenge for her small frame. Together, the siblings made their way up the mountain.

Half an hour passed, and Leo’s breathing grew ragged. The wounds on his back, which had barely begun to heal, tore open once more. Fresh blood soaked through his clothes, leaving a trail of dark red drops on the white snow behind him.

Lia happened to glance back, the color draining from her face.

"Big Brother!"

"You’re bleeding!"

Leo smiled as though nothing was wrong.

"It’s nothing."

"Just keep walking."

Lia shook her head.

"No!"

"We should tell the instructor!"

Leo reached out to stop her.

"Don’t."

"It won’t help."

"It’ll only make things worse."

Lia bit her lip, knowing he was right. The instructors never showed mercy. To them, pain was simply another lesson.

The two pressed on. With every passing minute, Leo’s footsteps grew heavier and his vision blurred. Lifting his legs took every ounce of his strength until his knees finally gave way. With a dull thud, Leo dropped to one knee as the enormous backpack threatened to crush him against the ground.

Lia scrambled back in panic.

"Big Brother!"

"I’m fine..."

Leo pushed himself back up, his face deathly pale. Watching the scene unfold, the instructor approached.

"You."

"Keep moving."

Then he shifted his gaze to Lia.

"You too."

Lia shook her head in desperation.

"I’m staying with Big Brother!"

The instructor’s expression remained indifferent.

"If you don’t reach the summit before the time limit..."

"You’ll both be punished."

Lia froze. Leo looked at her, a gentle smile forming on his exhausted face.

"Go ahead."

"I’ll catch up."

Lia shook her head in protest.

"No!"

"I’ll wait for you!"

Leo reached out and rubbed her head.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"I’ll be fine."

"You just keep going."

"I’ll catch up soon."

Lia stared at Leo’s pale face before lowering her head. She knew she was the reason he carried such a heavy load. Staying any longer would only make her a bigger burden. Tears pricked her eyes.

"I’m sorry..."

She whispered the words so softly they were barely heard. Then, she turned around. One step, then another, until she disappeared farther up the mountain trail.

Leo watched her leave. Only when she was completely out of sight did his smile fade. He looked up at the mountain peak.

"So far..."

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself back onto his feet. One step, then another. Every movement sent sharp pain through his body. His wounds continued to bleed, and his legs trembled under the strain, yet he refused to stop.

Nearly an hour later, Leo collapsed face-first onto the rocky trail. His body refused to obey him any longer, pinned to the earth by the enormous backpack. As his consciousness slipped away, the last thing he saw was the distant peak, only a few hundred meters out of reach.

A splash of ice-cold water jolted Leo back to his senses. He opened his eyes to an orange sky. The instructor stood over him, eyes cold. Without a word, the man kicked the backpack aside.

"You failed."

Leo climbed back to his feet, his entire body shaking. The instructor pointed toward the camp below.

"You know the punishment for failing"

"You have broken many rules today"

"I hope you are ready for what comes next"

Leo offered a simple nod. Without speaking, he limped his way back down the mountain.

Night had fallen by the time he returned. The curfew bell was set to ring at any moment. Dragging his exhausted frame, Leo pushed open the dormitory door. The children inside glanced his way before ducking their heads. Only one small figure rushed to greet him.

"Big Brother!"

Lia threw herself into his arms. Leo caught her, ignoring the pain that shot through his body. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Does it hurt?"

Leo smiled gently.

"It’s nothing."

"I’ve already recovered."

"You worry too much."

Lia looked him up and down. Seeing his smile, she let out a breath of relief.

"I knew Big Brother was the strongest."

Leo chuckled softly.

"Of course."

"I promised I’d catch up, didn’t I?"

Lia nodded in happiness. For the first time in months, a bright smile returned to her face. Soon enough, the bell rang to signal curfew. The lights inside the dormitory went dark.

In the shadows, Lia tugged at Leo’s sleeve.

"Big Brother..."

"I’m scared..."

"I don’t want to sleep alone."

Leo looked down at the frightened girl and offered a gentle smile.

"Alright."

"You can sleep here."

Lia scrambled onto his bed. She curled up beside him, wrapping her arms around his own just as she used to do at the orphanage. Finding comfort beside the person she trusted most, she drifted to sleep in minutes. A peaceful smile rested on her tiny face.

Leo watched her sleep, his own smile softening. He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face and made a silent vow.

" Don’t worry , i have figured out what these people want "

" Soon , i will help you escape this miserable place "

He kept thinking in his mind .

No matter what happened, and no matter how much pain he had to endure, he would protect her. He would protect her smile. Even if he had to become a monster or walk through hell itself, he would never let anyone take it away from her again.

Outside, the freezing mountain wind howled through the night. Yet inside the small dormitory, for the first time since arriving at the Hall of Mercenaries, Leo felt that enduring everything had been worth it.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!