Even Ye Zhongming, who had conceived the idea and formulated the plan, found the number jarring.
Previously, many core members had estimated the maximum number of demon monsters Cloud Peak could handle. However, the outcome was uncertain since many things were being used in battle for the first time. They only had a rough estimate, and that number didn’t exceed four million.
In the past two days of monitoring, they had learned that the number was five million. Ye Zhongming hadn’t been without hesitation. If the battle proceeded as previously estimated, they might still suffer significant losses even if Cloud Peak could handle five million demon monsters.
He had to weigh the gains and losses.
In the end, Ye Zhongming’s choice was clear to everyone.
But now, with an additional 500,000, this number could turn victory into defeat.
“Let’s fight.”
Liu Zhenghong’s voice came from behind. The Sister Hong of Cloud Peak had rarely swapped her lab coat for an Earth Set specially crafted for her by Ye Zhongming. She was accompanied by Sheng Yuan and walked in from the rear of the battle formation.
“Don’t blame Shengyuan and the others. You know they can’t stop me from doing what I want,” Liu Zhenghong said, seeing the flicker in Ye Zhongming’s eyes. She knew exactly what he was thinking.
This was how she had convinced Ye Zhongming to let her and Le Dayuan come here.
Now, instead of staying behind the battle formation under the protection of Shengyuan and the Boulder Battle Squad, she had once again disobeyed orders and come here. This would undoubtedly make Ye Zhongming very unhappy.
Normally, she could treat Ye Zhongming however she wanted, but now they were on the battlefield. Ye Zhongming still carried the lingering aura from facing a level-nine lifeform. His decisive personality in critical moments made the King of Cloud Peak exude a powerful suppression even when standing still.
Liu Zhenghong sensed Ye Zhongming’s displeasure. While he might spare her face, Shengyuan, who was responsible for her protection, might be held accountable.
Without rules, there could be no order. This was undeniable. Even Shengyuan, whom Ye Zhongming had always treated differently, was no exception.
So Liu Zhenghong quickly took full responsibility.
“I just checked. The number isn’t just 5.5 million. It’s probably between 5.6 and 5.7 million.”
Liu Zhenghong possessed a visual-based job. She had just used it.
Another nearly 200,000?
The hearts of many core members also tightened.
“It’s dangerous but worth it,” Liu Zhenghong said, squinting at the distant sky. At the horizon, black dots had appeared—visible only to visual-based evolved like her. These were flying demon monsters, and perhaps in just over ten minutes, they would be the first to reach Cloud Peak’s defensive line.
Liu Zhenghong retracted her gaze, her entire being becoming extremely fervent.
“You’ve been sitting at the highest position in Cloud Peak for too long, so you’re used to considering things from an overall perspective. But this is the apocalypse, a chaotic world where people die every moment. Within the mountain villa, the only irreplaceable person is you. Even if Le Dayuan and I die, everyone else can be replaced. It’s just a matter of how well they can be replaced. But Cloud Peak will always exist and keep moving forward.”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and pointed at the black lines on the distant ground. “If we kill them all, Cloud Peak will take a huge step forward. We can gain half a year or even a year’s worth in one go. So what if some people die?”
“So let’s fight. Hesitation on the battlefield is already a major taboo. Besides, Zhongming, you’ve gone to great lengths to gather all sorts of good items for these guys. They’re not so easy to kill.”
Without waiting for Ye Zhongming’s direct response, Liu Zhenghong left with Shengyuan.
The others exchanged glances and let out light laughs. Only Sister Hong dared to speak to Ye Zhongming like that.
But there was no denying that Sister Hong truly had Ye Zhongming’s best interests. She had preemptively taken on the potential infamy that might come.
If too many people died this time, there would inevitably be grievances. After all, the warriors also had friends and family within the mountain villa.
These resentments would naturally be directed at the person who issued the orders—Ye Zhongming.
But if word of what just happened spread, the narrative would shift to Liu Zhenghong pressuring Ye Zhongming, forcing him to agree. Then, the resentment would fall on her.
All the core members, including Liu Zhenghong, knew what kind of status Ye Zhongming held in the hearts of all Cloud Peak warriors. Cloud Peak’s combat teams could habitually exceed their combat potential largely due to their worship and reverence for Ye Zhongming. That’s why any things done in the dark were always shouldered by Xia Lei and Xia Bai.
This time, Liu Zhenghong stepped up to take the blame.
“Boss, the first wave of monsters—around 70,000 in the air and on the ground—will enter the green swamp in one minute!”
A scout evolved relayed the information, drawing everyone’s attention to the front. The black lines in the sky and on the ground had thickened, surging toward them like a tide.
On the battlefield, Cloud Peak had divided the area into three zones: the swamp, which was the farthest and marked with green; the gravel ground, marked with white; and finally, the grassland beneath their feet, marked with red.
The three colors represented the danger levels. It would be time for close combat once the demon monsters stepped onto the grassland.
Ye Zhongming nodded and said in a deep voice, “Begin.”
With his command, all Cloud Peak teams sprang into action. Various weapons covered in black cloth were unveiled at the forefront, revealing their true forms.
“Thirty seconds to entry!”
“Twenty seconds to entry!”
“Ten seconds to entry!”
“Entering now!!”
As the messages kept coming, at a certain moment, the vanguard of the demon monsters officially stepped into the green swamp.
Ye Zhongming stared ahead as if waiting for something.
At the rear of Cloud Peaks’s battle formation, halfway up the mountain, voices were also constantly reporting positions. However, their reports were directed at Le Dayuan.
“First marker covered!”
“Second marker covered!”
“Third marker covered!”
Hearing this, Le Dayuan’s face suddenly flushed with excitement, and he roared, “Begin!”
In front of him were over a hundred massive crystal cannons, each as large as a small hill. With his command, they simultaneously emitted a deep yet earth-shaking sound!
The Annihilation Final Form Crystal Cannon made its official debut, kicking off the prelude to this battle.