Zhuang Han's roar, filled with endless savagery and hunger, was like the bugle call for a general assault! The entire Linghui Academy Ruins completely erupted!
Thousands of mutated creatures, in various forms, surged like a black tide, carrying a suffocating stench of blood and the aura of death, desperately rushing towards Dawn Squad's temporary defensive position!
The ground trembled with a roar, and the sky was stained a murky yellow by the rising dust and violent psionic energy! The scene was like hell opening up, with all demons unleashed!
"Shrink the formation! Backs to the vehicles! Maximize long-range firepower!" Li Fan's furious roar cut through the earth-shattering shrieks. His eyes had completely transformed into cold, golden vertical pupils, and his cheeks, neck, and exposed arms were covered in a dense, menacing layer of dark red dragon scales!
The scales were deep in color, as if forged from congealed blood and lava, with sharp edges that gleamed with a metallic, cold hardness, exuding a terrifying dragon's might and killing intent!
The Bianwei (Discern Micro) ability was fully activated!
He no longer held back. His dragon-transformed legs pushed off the ground, and his dark red figure, like a cannonball, actively charged into the surging tide of corpses! His claws slashed out, leaving trails of bloody, fierce light that tore through the air!
Rip—!!!
The dozen or so low-tier ghouls at the very front were instantly torn to pieces, as if cut by an invisible blade! Limbs and severed arms, mixed with foul blood, splattered everywhere!
But even more mutated creatures fearlessly filled the gaps! A Bone Eater Realm clawed mutant pounced from the side, its sharp bone blades striking Li Fan's dragon scales with an ear-splitting scrape, sending sparks flying! Though it couldn't break his defense, the immense impact still caused him to pause slightly!
"Get lost!" Li Fan roared, his dragon tail sweeping horizontally (though not fully manifested, the power was infused), sending several mutated creatures flying, severed at the waist! At the same time, he opened his mouth and spewed a scorching Dragon's Breath, which, though not wide in range, instantly turned the area in front of him into scorched earth, incinerating several mutated creatures amidst their wails!
His fighting style was wild and efficient. Every strike contained the brutal power of a true dragon's fury, and the dark red dragon scales provided terrifying defensive capabilities, allowing him to charge through the tide of corpses like a meat grinder!
But the number of mutated creatures was simply too great! They surged forward, one after another, piling up corpses, and constantly wearing down his dragon scale defense and psionic energy with corrosive saliva and venom!
On the other side, Li Mingyu roared, pushing his Buli (Brute Force) ability to its limit, his fists pounding like pile drivers! Each punch could smash one or even several mutated creatures into a pulp!
He was like a human fortress, holding a direction steadfastly, with a small mountain of corpses already piled at his feet! But his heavy armor was covered in corrosive marks and deep claw marks, and his breathing began to grow heavy! Pure strength-based combat consumed immense energy!
Lin Wei and Zhou Yunguang stood back to back, unleashing their long-range firepower! Lin Wei's Bianwei (Discern Micro) always allowed her to find the most fatal firing points, her energy pistol precisely eliminating agile mutated creatures attempting to bypass the front line.
Zhou Yunguang's face was pale, and he was drenched in sweat, enduring the pain of backlash. Beams of holy light arrows shot into the densest areas of mutated creatures. Although their power was not as great as before, the holy attribute's restraining effect on death energy was still obvious, effectively slowing the advance of the tide.
Chen Xue stood in the relatively safe center, her Silver Shepherd's Light, like soft moonlight, continuously showered her teammates in front, healing their corroded and scratched areas, and calming the mental agitation brought on by the intense battle.
Her face also grew paler and paler; the consumption of her healing ability was equally immense.
The battle was extremely fierce!
Dawn Squad was like several stubborn rocks in a raging storm, sturdy but constantly battered, pounded, and eroded by the surging waves! Ammunition was rapidly depleting, psionic energy was plummeting, and everyone's stamina was approaching its limit!
"This can't go on! There are too many of them! We have to find a way to break through!" Lin Wei shouted urgently, her voice carrying a subtle tremor.
On her detector, the energy light points representing mutated creatures were still dense, as if endless!
"Zhuang Han hasn't moved yet!" Li Fan tore apart a Bone Eater Realm mutant with a claw, stealing a glance at the demon-like figure on the distant ruins, his heart heavy.
That Hundred Forms Realm monster leader was the biggest threat! It was waiting, waiting for them to exhaust themselves!
Just then, another unexpected change occurred!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several huge figures, covered in thick bone armor and spikes, suddenly burst out from behind the tide of corpses! They were the remaining Bone Eater Stage Peak leaders under Zhuang Han!
They were more intelligent, choosing this moment to launch a surprise attack!
A mutant resembling a giant scorpion, with a glowing blue venomous stinger on its tail, suddenly whipped its tail, firing a ray of venom directly at Zhou Yunguang!
Zhou Yunguang was fully focused on suppressing the corpse tide in front, caught off guard! He was about to be hit!
"Careful!" Chen Xue cried out in alarm. Almost instinctively, her Silver Shepherd's Light instantly transformed into a solid holy light shield, blocking in front of Zhou Yunguang!
Hiss—!
The venom ray struck the shield, emitting a violent corrosive sound! The holy light shield fluctuated violently, instantly dimming! Chen Xue grunted as if struck by a heavy blow, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, her mental energy instantly overdrawn!
Another leader, resembling a giant gecko with chameleon-like camouflage abilities, silently snuck to Li Mingyu's flank, suddenly flicking out its barbed tongue, which shot like lightning towards his neck!
Li Mingyu had just smashed an enemy in front of him, his old strength spent and new strength not yet generated!
"Mingyu!" Li Fan's eyes were bloodshot, wanting to assist but being tightly entangled!
At the critical moment!
Buzz—!!!
An extremely sudden, high-frequency sonic boom, so sharp it almost tore eardrums, exploded from high in the sky!
The sound did not come from any side of the battlefield! Its frequency was so high and its energy so concentrated that it far surpassed the ordinary! All creatures that heard this sound, whether human or mutant, experienced a momentary stiffness and pain!
Low-tier ghouls, in particular, screamed, clutching their heads, and lost their ability to move!
Immediately after!
Whoosh— Whoosh— Whoosh—!!!
Dozens of high-velocity kinetic armor-piercing rounds, trailing azure blue exhaust flames, descended from the sky with astonishing precision, like the gaze of death! They were not carpet bombing, but... precise strikes!
Target - all Bone Eater Stage Peak leaders currently launching surprise attacks!
Puff! Puff! Puff!
The gecko leader that ambushed Li Mingyu had its head explode like a watermelon!
The giant scorpion leader that sprayed venom was hit by three armor-piercing rounds simultaneously. Its thick bone armor was torn like paper, and its body was blasted into several pieces!
The other leaders that had charged out were also instantly killed by precise strikes from an unknown source, almost at the same time!
Clean and efficient! Highly lethal!
This sudden turn of events caused a momentary silence across the entire battlefield!
Li Fan suddenly looked up at the sky! He saw several small black dots rapidly approaching in the distant clouds! Those were definitely not Panshi Fortress's aircraft!
"It's... a high-speed assault cruiser! The Central Army's 'Peregrine Falcon-class'!" Lin Wei exclaimed, catching her breath. Her Bianwei (Discern Micro) had detected their unique engine roar and energy signature!
The Central Army?! Why were they here?!
Before anyone could react!
Rumble—!!!
The ground shook again! But this time, it didn't come from the charge of mutated creatures, but from... the flank!
On the horizon, smoke and dust billowed! A torrent of steel, consisting of over twenty heavy psionic tanks and armored personnel carriers, painted with the Central Army emblem, more advanced in design, heavily armored, and bristling with turrets, was charging fiercely towards the flank of the battlefield with an unstoppable momentum!
The tanks' main guns let out deafening roars! High-explosive psionic shells rained down into the densest rear areas of the mutated creatures! Each explosion cleared a large area, sending limbs, severed arms, and dirt flying!
The tops of the armored personnel carriers opened, and soldiers, dressed in Central Army standard black combat suits, well-equipped, moving in unison, and exuding a chilling aura, emerged. Their standard psionic rifles spewed a dense and precise net of fire, harvesting the chaotic mutated creatures like a scythe!
Their coordination was impeccable, their attack rhythm sharp and efficient, and the intensity of their firepower and tactical proficiency displayed far surpassed that of local fortress units!
"Central Army Seventh Rapid Reaction Brigade! Ordered to clear the area!" A cold and authoritative voice, amplified by a sound-amplifying artifact, resounded across the battlefield, "Panshi Fortress units ahead, please immediately retreat in alternating movements to the southeast! We will provide fire support!"
Before the words finished, several sleek, high-speed armed rotorcraft, covered in stealth runes, swept low like ghosts. The multi-barreled psionic autocannons under their bellies spat out deadly tongues of fire, tearing apart swathes of mutated creatures attempting to pursue!
The powerful fire support instantly shattered the flank of the mutated creature horde!
The pressure on Dawn Squad's members suddenly lessened, leaving them both surprised and doubtful, but their survival instincts made them immediately follow orders!
"Alternating retreat! Li Mingyu, cover the rear! Lin Wei and Zhou Yunguang, fire support! Chen Xue, keep up!" Li Fan quickly ordered, his dark red dragon scales covered in viscous foul blood.
He retreated while vigilantly watching the Central Army's direction.
Zhuang Han stood atop the ruins, letting out a roar of extreme fury! Its crimson eyes stared fixedly at the suddenly appearing Central Army, its massive body trembling slightly with rage!
It suddenly waved a hand!
The tide of corpses surged again, splitting off a portion, attempting to pounce on the Central Army's flank!
But the Central Army's tank formation immediately adjusted its gun barrels, unleashing a volley! The violent psionic explosions once again blasted the mutated creatures' charge, sending them sprawling! Their density and precision of firepower completely suppressed the mutated creatures' disorganized assault!
"Go!" Li Fan growled. The squad members covered each other, quickly retreating towards the southeast. Several Central Army armored vehicles swiftly moved forward to meet them.
As Li Fan was the last to leap onto a Central Army armored personnel carrier, he looked back at the battlefield.
The Central Army's torrent of steel had completely cut into the battlefield, like a red-hot iron slicing through butter, directly cutting and crushing the massive tide of mutated creatures! The efficient killing machines and the frenzied tide of flesh and blood formed a stark contrast.
Zhuang Han let out a roar of unwillingness but seemed to be full of apprehension towards this well-equipped, powerfully armed regular army. In the end, it did not personally enter the fray but slowly retreated into the depths of the ruins. The remaining mutated creatures also receded like a tide, leaving behind a mess and countless bodies.
The battle, in an unexpected way, came to an abrupt halt.
Inside the armored vehicle, Dawn Squad's members slumped in their seats, panting heavily, covered in blood and wounds, their faces showing the relief of having survived a disaster and deep exhaustion, as well as... undisguised confusion and shock.
The Central Army? Why did they suddenly appear here? And so timely?
The door opened, and a young man in a Central Special Operations Bureau uniform, with the rank insignia of a field officer, walked in with two soldiers.
The man had a handsome face, sharp and steady eyes, and a refined aura. It was Ling Chen!
His expression at this moment showed just the right amount of concern and seriousness. His gaze quickly swept over the disheveled group, lingering for a moment especially on Zhou Yunguang, who was pale and almost collapsed.
"Panshi Fortress personnel, are you all alright?" Ling Chen spoke, his voice steady and carrying an undeniable authority, "I am Lin Chen, acting captain of the 'Ashes' Squad, under the Central Special Operations Bureau. I was ordered to assist the Seventh Rapid Reaction Brigade in their clear-out mission. Fortunately, we arrived in time."
Li Fan deactivated his dragon transformation, the dark red scales slowly receding, revealing his scarred body. He took a deep breath, suppressing the numerous doubts in his heart, straightened his back, and gave a standard military salute: "Panshi Fortress, 'Dawn' Squad Captain, Li Fan. Thank you, Central Army, for your timely assistance!" His gaze met Ling Chen's, carrying a soldier's steadfastness and scrutiny.
Ling Chen (Lin Chen) returned the salute calmly, his gaze sincere: "It's our duty. Captain Li and everyone have worked hard. Zhuang Han and its nest have become a major threat; headquarters takes this very seriously. This place is not suitable for prolonged stay. Please return with us to the temporary forward base for a short rest and to report the detailed situation."
His gaze swept over Zhou Yunguang again, a slight frown on his brow. He took out a high-grade mental stabilizer from his medical kit and handed it over: "This brother seems to be seriously injured. Take this first; it can alleviate mental backlash."
Zhou Yunguang was startled, looking at the extraordinary field officer from the Central Special Operations Bureau in front of him. A inexplicable sense of gratitude arose in his heart. He took the medicine, and said in a low voice: "Thank you... Captain Lin."
Ling Chen nodded slightly, but in the depths of his eyes, a cold arc, imperceptible to anyone, flashed.