Chapter 111 – Opening

Volume 3: Rising Winds and Clouds

The Demon Seed's death meant the crisis at the Outpost had eased for the moment. At the very least, they could hold until reinforcements from other countries entered the city.

The disorder among the Bipedal Lizards had brought temporary relief, but it treated only the symptom, not the cause. Clearing every creature from the Outpost would still be extremely dangerous for the Military alone.

After considering the problem from every angle, Fang Wenhai took out his communicator again and requested casualty reports from each front, along with updates on Wen Yu and Kuangliu.

…

Wen Yu was circling through the sky on Xing's back with every surviving member of the Shadow Assassin Squad.

Slick tongues occasionally shot upward, but none could reach Xing more than a hundred meters above the ground.

Such was the importance of controlling the sky.

From time to time, Xing breathed Dragon Flame onto the swarm below. Wen Yu stood atop his head and fired downward without pause. Man and Soul Pet harvested Points together.

The Shadow Assassin Captain beside him was reporting to Fang Wenhai while watching the Bipedal Lizards from above.

Huge numbers were still pouring in from the distance. Their purpose was to carry out the Demon Seed's final command: kill the Shadow Assassin Squad.

Unfortunately for them, they could not fly. They could only trail Xing and be led farther and farther from the Outpost.

Wen Yu continued picking off Level 5 Bipedal Lizards. Their kin rapidly devoured each corpse, producing large numbers of lower-level offspring.

No matter how quickly he killed, the swarm below kept growing.

More troublesome still, the newborn Bipedal Lizards did not remain fixed on Xing. Instead, they headed straight toward the Outpost, where the scent of blood was strongest. Wen Yu estimated that these new creatures had never received the Demon Seed's final command.

After a brief discussion, he and Fang Wenhai quickly reached an agreement.

Wen Yu would continue killing Bipedal Lizards, but not too quickly. He would allow the newborn creatures to run toward the Outpost.

None of them had reached Level 5. They were scattered, leaderless, and few enough that the Class Holders remaining in the city could eliminate them easily.

Wen Yu was also happy to earn another favor from the Military.

…

The Outpost's reprieve proved far shorter than anyone expected.

After Wen Yu had led the enormous swarm away for roughly thirty minutes, violent disorder erupted among the Bipedal Lizards below.

Countless creatures croaked in a chaotic chorus. Those farther from Wen Yu abruptly turned and crawled toward the blood-drenched Outpost. Only a small number continued chasing the "delicacy" close at hand.

Wen Yu took out his communicator and opened a channel to Fang Wenhai.

"The original plan has failed. The Bipedal Lizards are returning to the Outpost."

Fang Wenhai was silent for a moment.

"It doesn't matter now… The reinforcements are almost here."

"Mm. Then I'll take care of my own business."

Wen Yu ended the call.

He had only one piece of business left: kill as many Bipedal Lizards as he could.

He turned toward the Shadow Assassin Squad.

"Everyone, it's time to reap the harvest!"

Xing plunged toward the ground like a meteor.

…

After ending the call, Fang Wenhai studied the drone feed with a solemn expression.

Bipedal Lizards of every level were advancing rapidly toward the Outpost. Their dense numbers filled the screen and made him frown.

"How long before the foreign reinforcements arrive?"

"According to Kaldor, a little over ten minutes."

Fang Wenhai calculated briefly and nodded.

Ten minutes was not long. Wen Yu had drawn the Bipedal Lizards out of the Outpost, and that amount of time would not be enough for them to return.

His objective-holding the Outpost-had succeeded.

Fang Wenhai released a long breath, turned, and walked outside.

…

At the Treasure Land entrance inside the Outpost, red and black blood covered the ground, slowly seeping into the earth.

These were the traces left by the defense.

After the Demon Seed's final command drew the Bipedal Lizards away, the heavily defended entrance had returned to Military control.

Large numbers of soldiers and weapons were entering the Outpost once more. The Mana Mage Special Operations Unit that had just withdrawn had also returned in full.

The second round of fighting was about to begin.

This time, however, the scale would change somewhat.

Fang Wenhai stood before the Treasure Land entrance, checking Bipedal Lizard movements on his tablet. The countdown to Kaldor reopening the Treasure Land had already begun.

Behind him, Cao Ling, covered in blood, spoke resentfully.

"If you ask me, there's no reason to let people from other countries in. We can hold by ourselves. Why let outsiders profit from it?"

Shen Yi teased him.

"Oh? Who knew a pig butcher like you was such a hot-blooded patriot?"

"Tch. Ever heard the saying, 'Those who are not of our kind cannot be trusted'? I can't stand those foreign bastards."

"Enough," Fang Wenhai cut in. "Letting the other countries send troops into the Treasure Land is necessary. Our casualties have exceeded projections. The last defense cost the Military dearly. If it happens again, what we gain from this Treasure Land will no longer justify what we lose. Letting others share the pressure is a good thing."

Cao Ling fell silent.

At least a third of the Heavy Shield Guard Special Operations Unit under his command had died in the last few dozen minutes. Another battle like that might kill every remaining Heavy Shield Guard in the Treasure Land-to say nothing of the other Class Holders.

Such losses would be an unbearable wound for the Military.

In the heavy silence, the Treasure Land exit suddenly expanded. From a height of nearly thirty meters, it grew to more than two hundred.

Then a slender, blue-eyed blonde stepped through the entrance.