Cui

**Cui** (1920 - 1945), Chinese soldier, was a survivor of the Battle of Nanjing, where his pregnant wife, Wu, was tragically killed during the Bombing of Nanjing by the Japanese. Motivated by a deep desire for revenge, Cui joined the Phoenix Risers, a group founded and led by his comrade Kang. He embraced the group's nationalist views and their mission to stand against the Japanese Empire and protect Chinese interests.

## Third Raided of Ryūki and Stand against Kang and Phoenix Risers and Death

In the small town of Ryūki in Fukui state, Japan, the residents sought refuge in bomb shelters to protect themselves from the relentless air strikes conducted by both US and Soviet forces. However, their safety was compromised when the Phoenix Risers, a group known for their aggressive raids, targeted the town, As the Phoenix Risers scoured the area, determined to infiltrate the bunkers and seize control, two members of their group, Cui and Jack, made their way inside. It was within the confines of the bunker that they encountered a courageous Japanese soldier, fiercely guarding his vulnerable family consisting of his wife and their sobbing 3-year-old son. The soldier, in a desperate plea, urged Cui and Jack to keep a safe distance from his loved ones. Although Cui and Jack couldn't comprehend his words, they could sense the intensity of his plea and agreed to respect his wishes, Feeling the weight of their responsibility towards their comrades and their mission, the Phoenix Risers continued their search within the bunkers. It was at this critical moment that Kang, an imposing figure within their ranks, caught sight of the soldier and his family attempting to escape. Instantly, anger coursed through Kang's veins, and he charged past Jack and Cui, his eyes locked on the fleeing family.

With a thunderous voice, Kang bellowed orders to his comrades, instructing them to take the soldier's wife and child hostage. Panic ensued as the family desperately tried to open a hatch for an escape route. In a swift and calculated move, Kang and his accomplice finally captured the family, preventing their escape, In a desperate attempt to protect his loved ones, the Japanese soldier lunged at Kang, brandishing a weapon. However, Kang proved to be a formidable opponent, skillfully disarming the soldier and breaking his leg in the process. Fuelled by rage, Kang unleashed a series of relentless kicks and punches upon the defenseless soldier, subjecting him to a brutal beating. Throughout the ordeal, the soldier's wife and child trembled in fear, their pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears, Minutes stretched on as the violence persisted, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all present.

In the midst of the chaos, Kang left a Japanese soldier injured and bleeding, while another soldier's right eye suffered brutal damage at his hands. With a cold determination, Kang then commanded Cui or Jack to make an impossible choice: either kill a defenseless wife and child or a Japanese soldier who still clung to life. Kang's gaze fell upon Cui, silently conveying the weight of the order and compelling him to carry out this gruesome decision. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Kang handed Cui a gun, driven by a burning desire to make the Japanese pay for their savage acts and seek retribution for the injustices endured by their loved ones. In Kang's eyes, the Japanese did not deserve redemption, and he believed that Cui and Jack shared his conviction. Cui, however, was the only one sickened by the sight before him. He resisted Kang's goading to murder innocent Japanese individuals as a means of finding redemption for their loved ones. Although conflicted, Cui refused to carry out the order and returned the gun to Kang. He cited the reasons that Bai and Jaka had shared with him for leaving the Phoenix Risers, emphasizing their collective moral stance against harming women and children, similar to the atrocities they witnessed back home. Cui's emotions were heightened as he spoke of his deceased pregnant wife, Wu. In his native Chinese, he pleaded with Kang, questioning whether he truly believed that Wu would condone such disturbing acts of killing and harming innocent Japanese civilians. Cui argued that resorting to the same cycle of violence would only perpetuate the darkness that they sought to escape.

The weight of Cui's words bore down heavily upon him as he looked upon the terrified and traumatized wife and child, who pleaded desperately for their lives. The wife's pleas were in Japanese, begging for mercy to spare both her and her husband. Cui turned his gaze towards Kang, realizing that they had ventured too deep into Japanese territory. Overwhelmed by his emotions and the gravity of the situation, Cui made the difficult decision to leave the Phoenix Risers, his sobs echoing his inner turmoil. He resolved to return home, where he believed he could find solace and clarity. Kang, though taken aback by Cui's departure, understood his comrade's decision. In an act of empathy, Kang accompanied Cui outside, leaving behind the wife, child, and the injured Japanese soldier, ensuring their safety without resorting to further violence. He ordered his men, including Jack, to thoroughly search all the bunker's residents, ensuring that no one posed a threat. As Kang guided Cui to a balcony, he attempted to console his distraught comrade, providing a semblance of support amidst the grief and chaos. However, in a desperate bid to escape the haunting reality of their actions, Jack seized the opportunity to flee the situation. Enraged by Jack's betrayal and overwhelmed by the weight of his emotions, Kang impulsively hurled Cui against a nearby post, leading to his tragic demise. The rest of the Phoenix Risers watched in frozen silence, their eyes fixated on Cui's lifeless body, blood slowly pooling from his head. Jack, stunned by the sight, stared up at Kang from the ground below. Kang's expression mirrored his sorrow as he retreated back inside.

## Aftermath and Consequences of Cui's Death

### Jack Warrick

In final act, as Jack made the harsh decision to leave Kang and the Phoenix Risers party. He chose to escape and searching Bai and Jaka as he can joined in the E-Campaign. Jack disclosed the plans of the Phoenix Risers party to Bai and Jaka, and together they devised a strategy to dismantle and destroy the party. Jack, along with others who condemned the Phoenix Risers for their war crimes against unarmed and innocent Japanese citizens, as well as the loved ones of Japanese soldiers, united in this cause.

### Zho Hai Wen

Despite Cui's death and Zho Hai Wen's unwavering loyalty to Kang, he was appalled when he discovered the Phoenix Risers' plan to unleash nuclear devastation on Beijing, which was under Japanese control through their mechas. Zho saw Kang's plan as nothing short of lunacy, involving the massacre of innocent citizens and their own people. This realization made Zho question Kang's sanity and revealed the true extent of his brutal nature, When Zho voiced his concerns, Kang swiftly silenced him with a command. However, Zho couldn't suppress his own convictions and pleaded with Kang, revealing his knowledge of the real reason behind Cui's death. Zho confronted Kang, accusing him of throwing Cui off the balcony without remorse. Zho also brought up Jack's departure from the Phoenix Risers, citing Kang's behavior as the catalyst, The mention of Cui's name and the revelation of Kang's involvement in his death brought the room to a stunned silence. The weight of the truth became too heavy for Kang to bear.

Driven by anger, Kang grabbed Zho by the throat, his grip tight and unforgiving. Zho's horrified screams filled the air as Kang forcefully dragged him towards the sink. Zho pleaded desperately for Kang to stop, but Kang dismissed everyone else in the room as mere disturbances, consumed by his own twisted perspective, As Zho's screams resonated throughout the room, the rest of the Phoenix Risers recoiled in fear, deciding to keep their distance. In that moment, Kang's own madness became clear to him. The gravity of his actions began to dawn on him, but it was too late to turn back, In a final act of brutality, Kang raised his gun and shot Zho in the top of his head, ending his young life in the sink. The rest of the Phoenix Risers, frozen in silence, witnessed this horrifying execution, Following Zho's death, Kang resorted to lying to his father, fabricating a heroic story and presenting Zho's gun as a token of honor. Only Kang knew the truth, the dark secret hidden beneath the cover-up of his killing of Zho in the aftermath of Cui's death. Zho, at just 18 years old, became a tragic casualty of Kang's desperate attempts to conceal his own actions.