The combined forces of Panshi Fortress and the Central Army's 7th Quick Reaction Brigade began to operate at high speed like a precise and ruthless war machine.
Large quantities of heavy equipment, ammunition supplies, elite soldiers, and espers were continuously transferred from the rear to the temporary front-line bases.
The air was filled with the thick smell of gunpowder and a chilling aura of death, as a decisive battle aimed at completely eradicating Hundred Forms Realm mutant leader Zhuang Han and his lair was about to begin.
Inside the command center, the atmosphere was tense yet efficient.
Gao Zhan and Brigade Commander Zhang of the 7th Brigade (via encrypted holographic communication) were jointly finalizing the ultimate battle plan.
"According to the latest reconnaissance and energy scans, Zhuang Han and his main forces are concentrated in the Linghui Academy main ruins area. Its outer defenses are primarily composed of low-level ghouls and a small number of Bone Eater Realm mutants, vast in number but relatively low in threat.
The core area shows intense energy reactions, suspected to be the stronghold of multiple Bone Eater Stage Peak leaders and Zhuang Han himself," Gao Zhan said, pointing at the 3D tactical sandbox, "Our army will adopt the 'Iron Wall Encirclement, Key Breakthrough' tactic."
"The 7th Brigade's armored Cluster will be responsible for the outer perimeter's clear-out and blockade, establishing a firepower screen to prevent any mutants from escaping and suppress their peripheral forces."
"Panshi Fortress Special Operations Bureau's Dawn Squad, and the Central Special Operations Bureau's Ash Squad, will form a joint elite assault team, codenamed 'Headhunter'."
Gao Zhan's gaze swept over Li Fan and Ling Chen.
"Your mission is to utilize your high mobility and individual combat prowess to penetrate the core area of the ruins from a weak flank, while the frontal assault draws attention, and directly target Zhuang Han!
You must kill him or severely injure him! Once the leader is decapitated, the mutant legion will surely fall into chaos!"
"The Knights Templar has agreed to provide 'Purification Support' on the periphery, primarily responsible for clearing residual death qi and potential mental contamination on the battlefield."
Gao Zhan added, with a hint of imperceptible helplessness in his tone.
The Knights Templar's involvement was a fait accompli; they could only try to limit them to a supporting role.
Li Fan's expression was stern, his dragon-transformed arms crossed over his chest, dark red scales gleaming with a metallic luster under the light.
He said in a deep voice, "Understood! Dawn Squad guarantees the completion of the mission!" His gaze was as sharp as a blade, filled with a resolve for revenge, yet deep down, a trace of wariness towards Ling Chen still remained.
Ling Chen stood ramrod straight, his expression calm, his eyes focused intently on the sandbox, as if fully analyzing the tactical details.
He saluted, "Ash Squad received. We will fully cooperate with Captain Li Fan to complete the headhunting mission." Inside, however, he felt a cold indifference.
Iron Wall Encirclement? Key Breakthrough? Truly standard, unoriginal tactics.
In the face of absolute power and bizarre evolutionary abilities, this level of encirclement was merely sending more blood offerings and whetstones to that mad dog, Zhuang Han.
Well, it's good. I'll use your hands to force out more of its potential, to see how far this degraded version of the Blood and Flesh Ascension path can go.
The operation plan was finalized, and all units began their final pre-battle preparations.
Ling Chen returned to the Ash Squad's resting area.
Su Qing, Chen Mo, and others were checking their equipment; the atmosphere was somewhat tense, but more so filled with eager fighting spirit.
"Captain, this mission..."
Su Qing looked at Ling Chen with some worry.
Zhuang Han's infamous reputation and Hundred Forms Realm strength put immense pressure on her.
Ling Chen glanced at her, his tone flat yet with a hint of reassurance (a disguise): "Proceed as planned, pay attention to coordination, and protect yourselves.
Our main mission is to assist Dawn Squad, not to engage in a frontal assault. Remember, survival is paramount."
Assist?
No, it's observation and guidance. I need to ensure Zhuang Han erupts with 'appropriate' power at the 'appropriate' time and 'appropriate' place, and then... is destroyed at the 'appropriate' moment. What do your lives matter to me?
You are merely necessary consumables to complete the mission.
He walked to a corner, seemingly closing his eyes to rest, but in reality, the will of the Soul Jade Physique once again transmitted an extremely subtle, distorted mental fluctuation through that faint, distant connection to the imprint remaining deep within Zhuang Han's consciousness.
It wasn't a clear command, but more like an emotional and instinctive provocation—hunger, anger, a craving for slaughter, greed for powerful flesh, and... a hint of crisis from being surrounded and the madness of a cornered beast!
He wanted to 'awaken' Zhuang Han's ferocity in advance, to make it more violent, more... unpredictable... Deep within the Linghui Academy Ruins.
Zhuang Han's massive, bone-armored body was sprawled on a 'throne' piled high with flesh and bones, frantically devouring the bodies of several human soldiers it had just hunted and brought back.
Endless hunger and brutality burned in its crimson eyes.
Suddenly, it sharply raised its head, letting out a low, confused roar!
An inexplicable, extremely intense surge of restlessness and killing intent erupted within its body like a volcano!
It felt the surrounding air was filled with the 'order' aura it detested and... the temptation of delicious flesh!
A premonition of being watched, of being encircled, made it anxious!
"Roar—!!!" It let out a deafening roar to the sky! The terrifying sound waves swept across the entire ruins!
All mutants, regardless of their level, instantly ceased their movements, then, as if receiving the highest command, they all let out bloodthirsty responses!
The mutants of the entire lair instantly entered their most frenzied state of readiness for battle!
Zhuang Han stood up from the throne, its massive body exuding suffocating pressure.
Its simple intellect couldn't comprehend the source of the sudden intuition, but it knew—the time for hunting had come! No, it was... war!
...Total assault time!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!
The 7th Brigade's heavy psionic tanks and self-propelled artillery arrays were the first to let out earth-shattering roars!
Countless high-explosive psionic shells, trailing azure blue exhaust flames, streaked across the dim sky like a deathly meteor shower, precisely slamming into the outer areas of the Linghui Academy Ruins!
Deafening explosions resounded continuously!
Flames shot into the sky, and dirt and rubble mixed with mutant limbs and severed arms flew everywhere! The dense tide of corpses was instantly torn open with huge gaps!
"Attack!" The front-line Commander gave the order!
The armored torrent began to advance steadily!
Heavy machine guns and autocannons spewed dense tongues of fire, like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, harvesting every mutant attempting to approach!
Soldiers, relying on armored vehicles, fired precise shots with their standard psionic rifles!
The battlefield instantly transformed into a meat grinder!
Low-level ghouls fell in droves, but there were too many of them, and they were fearless, still surging forward one after another, using their bodies to stubbornly slow down the advance!
At the same time, the "Headhunter" assault team also moved!
Li Fan led the charge, dark red dragon scales covering his entire body, like a humanoid tyrannosaur, directly smashing through a section of a dilapidated wall on the side and rushing into the ruins!
Li Mingyu followed closely, with Buli (Brute Force) fully activated, punching a Bone Eater Realm mutant blocking the way flying!
Lin Wei's Bianwei (Discern Micro) ability was fully active, constantly calling out locations and guiding the direction of advance.
Chen Xue followed the team closely, Silver Shepherd's Light always ready.
Ling Chen led the Ash Squad from another side.
Su Qing's wind blades precisely cut through obstacles, Chen Mo's shield blocked stray bullets and sneak attacks, and Wang Yuan's sense of smell and Zhang Hou and Li Xun's flanking support also played their roles.
Ling Chen, holding a runic longsword, his sword light flickering, moved with concise efficiency, each strike precisely eliminating potential threats; he appeared to be fighting with all his might, but in reality, he was at ease, most of his energy dedicated to sensing the entire battlefield and Zhuang Han's aura.
(It has begun. Kill, devour, Zhuang Han. Let me see, under pressure, to what extent you can push the potential of this body.)
The assault team advanced extremely quickly, soon penetrating deep into the heart of the ruins. The resistance here was noticeably stronger, with more Bone Eater Realm mutants and some leaders with special abilities appearing!
"Left side! Corrosive venom!" Lin Wei urgently warned!
A mutant resembling a giant toad spewed a large stream of dark green venom!
"Gray Shield!" Ling Chen barked.
Chen Mo immediately raised his shield, blocking the venom; the shield hissed with corrosive sounds!
"Liu Feng! Interfere with it!" Ling Chen ordered.
Su Qing waved her hands, and several wind ropes entangled the toad mutant, slowing its movements.
"Mingyu!" Li Fan roared!
Li Mingyu understood, roaring as he charged forward, his power gauntlets gleaming with dazzling psionic light, delivering a heavy punch!
Boom! The toad mutant was smashed apart!
On the other side, Dawn Squad also encountered a formidable enemy. Several extremely fast Shadow Thorn mutants launched a sneak attack from the shadows!
"Get lost!" Li Fan's dragon claw swung out, bringing forth streaks of bloody fierce light, tearing one Shadow Thorn to shreds! But another one strangely circled behind Lin Wei!
Just at this critical moment!
Whoosh—!
A scorching light arrow descended from the sky, precisely hitting the head of that Shadow Thorn! Holy energy erupted, purifying it instantly!
It was Zhou Yunguang! He stood on a vantage point, his face pale but his eyes firm, the light bow "Xi Guang" in his hand trembling slightly.
After emergency treatment and stabilization, he had barely recovered some combat power and was responsible for long-range support!
(Hmph, a dying struggle. However, this bit of holy light is just a tickle to truly powerful mutants.) Ling Chen thought disdainfully.
The battle was exceptionally fierce.
The assault team advanced with difficulty towards the core area, each step forward requiring immense effort and expenditure.
Finally, they broke through the last line of defense, piled high with countless mutant corpses and remains, and the view suddenly opened up!
It was a huge plaza, as if struck by a meteor! In the center of the plaza, mountains of white bones and flesh were piled up!
And right at the top of that mountain of flesh and blood, a massive, hideous figure, covered in dark golden bone armor and exuding monstrous ferocity, slowly stood up!
Zhuang Han!
Its scarlet pupils were locked onto the intruding assault team members, viscous saliva dripped from its mouth, and it let out a low, excited roar! It sensed it!
It sensed the powerful aura of flesh and blood! Especially the rich life energy from Li Fan and Ling Chen, which made its mouth water!
"Roar—!!! Food... powerful food... has arrived!" It let out a garbled but greedy shriek!
The terrifying pressure of the Hundred Forms Realm crushed down like a tangible force! Everyone except Li Fan and Ling Chen felt their breath catch, as if pressed down by an invisible boulder!
"Zhuang Han!" Li Fan's eyes burned with raging fury, his dragon transformation pushed to its limit, the dark red dragon scales seemed to drip blood! "Die!"
Without any superfluous words, he transformed into a bloody meteor and charged towards Zhuang Han! His dragon claws tore through the air, aiming directly for its head!
"Kill!" Li Mingyu also roared and followed suit!
Ling Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, and he ordered Su Qing and the others, "Spread out! Provide long-range support! Watch out for other leaders!"
He himself held his long sword, seemingly preparing to assist Li Fan, but in reality, the will of his Soul Jade Physique quietly fluctuated again, and an extremely subtle thought of provocation and disdain was precisely directed at Zhuang Han!
(Come on, you mad dog. Show your worth.)
Zhuang Han was indeed completely enraged! It ignored Li Mingyu, and its massive blade arm fiercely met Li Fan's dragon claw!
Boom—!!!
It was like two high-speed trains colliding!
A terrifying shockwave instantly erupted, cracking the ground! Li Fan grunted and was sent flying backward! While Zhuang Han merely swayed slightly!
The power gap was evident!
But Li Fan's combat experience was extremely rich; he flipped in the air, landed, and then surged forward again! Dragon claws, dragon tail (energy manifestation), and even dragon breath (weak) were used alternately as he fought wildly with Zhuang Han! Li Mingyu also attacked fiercely from the side, distracting Zhuang Han!
The battle instantly entered a heated phase! A clash of pure physical strength, each engagement shaking the earth!
Ling Chen moved around the periphery, his sword light occasionally flashing. He seemed to be looking for an opportunity, but in reality, he was calmly observing Zhuang Han's fighting style, strength characteristics, and... the operational mechanism of its devouring instinct.
(The strength is acceptable, defense is astonishing, and devouring recovery is extremely fast... but the technique is crude, energy utilization efficiency is low, and it relies entirely on instinct... it's indeed a degraded product. However, this pure flesh-and-blood power does have some research value.)
Just then, an unexpected change occurred!
Zhuang Han, unable to defeat them for a long time, suddenly let out a furious roar, abruptly opened its gaping maw, aimed at Li Mingyu who was fiercely attacking from the side, and a terrifying suction force suddenly erupted!
Innate Ability — Devouring Vortex!
Li Mingyu was caught off guard, his body instantly lost balance, and he was pulled by the powerful suction towards Zhuang Han's massive mouth! His psionic shield flickered violently, on the verge of shattering!
"Mingyu!" Li Fan's eyes were bloodshot, he wanted to rescue him but was firmly entangled by Zhuang Han's other blade arm!
"Be careful!" Lin Wei shrieked!
At this critical moment!
Ling Chen (Lin Chen)'s eyes flashed with a sharp light! An opportunity!
He suddenly took a step forward, his runic longsword erupted with unprecedented brilliant spiritual light (disguise), and he shouted, "You won't!"
A condensed and extremely powerful sword aura, imbued with the attribute of "exorcism" (the light-element ability effect he simulated), shot forth like an arrow from a bowstring, accurately striking the relatively fragile interior of Zhuang Han's wide-open mouth!
This strike was perfect in timing, angle, and force! As if he had predicted Zhuang Han's actions!
Pfft—!
The sword aura shot into Zhuang Han's mouth, exploding into a ball of holy light (disguised)!
"Aow—!!!" Zhuang Han let out a painful shriek! The devouring process was interrupted, and its mouth was injured! The suction instantly vanished!
Li Mingyu seized the opportunity to break free, tumbling awkwardly to the ground, breaking out in a cold sweat!
"Thank you, Captain Lin!"
Li Fan took the opportunity to launch several fierce claw attacks, forcing Zhuang Han back, and yelled to Ling Chen, his tone carrying a hint of gratitude and... complex surprise. That sword strike was too timely and too precise!
Ling Chen panted slightly (feigning excessive exertion), his face "grave" as he nodded, "Be careful! It has other abilities!"
(Saved him. Now, Li Mingyu owes me a life, and Li Fan's suspicion will be greatly reduced. More importantly... Zhuang Han, isn't it time to use some real skill? After being 'humiliated' like this by me, can you still tolerate it?)
Indeed, Zhuang Han was completely enraged! Its scarlet pupils were locked onto Ling Chen (Lin Chen); that "light-element" sword aura had caused it immense pain and... revulsion!
"You... deserve to die!!!"
It abandoned Li Fan, its massive body suddenly turned towards Ling Chen, and an even more terrifying, more violent aura erupted from within it!
The dark golden bone armor on its body actually began to squirm, thicken, and deform! On its back, two huge, tumor-like bulges even rose up!
Hundred Forms Realm Ability — Berserk Evolution!
In a state of extreme anger and injury, it could temporarily burn its life essence, forcibly evolving more powerful attack organs or defensive structures!
"Oh no! It's going berserk!" Lin Wei shrieked!
"Stop it!" Li Fan roared and lunged again!
But Zhuang Han completely ignored them; all its rage was focused on Ling Chen! The tumors on its back suddenly ruptured, extending two enormous, flesh-and-blood tentacles covered in bone spurs and suckers, like two terrifying giant pythons, striking at Ling Chen with astonishing speed!
Where the tentacles passed, even the air was blasted apart! Their power far surpassed that of its previous blade arms!
A flicker of "horror" flashed in Ling Chen's eyes as he quickly retreated, simultaneously shouting, "Ash Squad! Full defense!"
Su Qing's wind shield and Chen Mo's shield instantly stacked in front of Ling Chen! Wang Yuan, Zhang Hou, and Li Xun also desperately attacked the tentacles, trying to block them!
But the power of Zhuang Han after going berserk was too terrifying!
Boom! Crack!
The wind shield and psionic shield were instantly shattered like paper! Su Qing and Chen Mo both spat blood and flew backward!
The tentacles continued their momentum, striking fiercely at Ling Chen!
Ling Chen "struggled" to raise his sword to parry!
Bang—!!!
The runic longsword in his hand shattered with a clang! He was struck as if by a heavy hammer, flying backward and crashing heavily into a ruined wall, which instantly collapsed! Smoke and dust filled the air!
"Captain Lin!" Li Fan and Li Mingyu exclaimed simultaneously!
The members of the Ash Squad were even paler!
In the smoke and dust, Ling Chen (Lin Chen) struggled to his feet, a "trace of blood" oozing from the corner of his mouth, his combat uniform torn, appearing quite disheveled, but his eyes were still "resolute."
(The force is decent. Unfortunately, it's not even worthy of tickling me. However, the act must be played out fully.) He assessed coldly in his mind.
Seeing that one strike failed to kill Ling Chen, Zhuang Han became even more frenzied, waving its tentacles and lunging again!
Just then!
Rumble—!!!
The entire ruins suddenly shook violently! As if an earthquake had struck!
Immediately after, from several underground entrances at the edge of the plaza, dense, despair-inducing numbers of new mutated creatures suddenly swarmed out! These mutated creatures had even more bizarre forms; some resembled giant worms, others multi-legged spiders, but they all had one thing in common—they could all spray powerful acid or corrosive energy beams from their mouths!
At the same time, urgent alarms and explosions from the 7th Brigade's armored units could be heard in the distance! Clearly, the periphery was also under intense pressure! Zhuang Han had actually hidden so many ambushes!
"Report! A large number of new mutated creatures have appeared on the periphery! Intense firepower! Armored cluster requests support!"
"Air units are under ground-to-air corrosive energy attack! Unable to provide effective close-range support!"
The communication from the command center came through, filled with urgency!
The battlefield situation instantly reversed! The decapitation squad was caught in a heavy encirclement! And Zhuang Han, under the protection of its berserk state and massive army, was almost invincible!
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!" Gao Zhan's anxious voice came through the communicator, "Decapitation operation failed! All units break out! Repeat, break out immediately!"
Li Fan looked at the furiously charging Zhuang Han and the endless mutated creatures surrounding them, his eyes filled with unwillingness and anger, but he knew that continuing would only lead to complete annihilation!
"Dawn! Ash! Rally on me! Break out!" He let out a pained roar, his dragon claws tearing apart the mutated creatures blocking their way, trying to open a path to survival!
Ling Chen (Lin Chen) also "struggled" to converge with the other team members, fighting and retreating.
But inside, he was sneering.
(It's almost time. A tragic defeat, immense losses, and... Zhuang Han's display of far greater potential and hidden strength than anticipated. This 'battle report' will be enough to shock and make the old fellows at Shengjing Headquarters re-evaluate. They will pay more attention to the threat of the 'ancient devouring heritage,' and they will rely more on... me, this 'bravely wounded' and 'prescient' Captain 'Lin Chen.')
He looked at the furiously roaring, arrogant Zhuang Han, a trace of absolute coldness flashing in the depths of his eyes.
(Mad dog, your performance was excellent. Now, stay obediently in your cage, waiting for... me to personally come and take your life and... your final value.)
The joint offensive ended in a tragic failure due to Zhuang Han's astonishing hidden strength and sudden outburst. The decapitation squad suffered significant casualties and made a desperate retreat. The 7th Brigade also lost several tanks and many soldiers.
Only Ling Chen, in the chaos, quietly collected the data he most needed and firmly locked everyone's attention in the direction he had predetermined.
The chess game was steadily progressing towards the outcome he desired.