Chapter 201: This retreat is for a lifetime

Xie Xi immediately understood the signal, her Destruction Scythe erupting with even darker crimson light.A horizontal slash instantly sliced seven or eight of the drastically slowed beetles in half!

Liu Ziming and Feng Jue seized the opportunity to concentrate their firepower and clear the enemies in their respective directions.

The pressure immediately eased significantly.

After nearly ten minutes of intense combat.

Through the five-person team's seamless coordination and Su Zhan's crucial battlefield control at key moments, this wave of several dozen Infestant Bone Shell Beetles was finally completely eliminated.

The area outside the outpost was piled high with twisted, shattered insect corpses, green blood practically dyeing the entire ground.

All five were breathing slightly heavily, having consumed considerable spiritual energy.

But fortunately, no one was injured.

"Damn... these things are way more troublesome than Corrupt Claw Beasts..."

Through the five-person team's seamless coordination and Su Zhan's crucial battlefield control at key moments, this wave of several dozen Infestant Bone Shell Beetles was finally completely eliminated.

"Normal."

Xie Xi's tone carried some fatigue.

Xu Hao slumped by the doorway, face pale; the consecutive teleportations and precise assassinations had taken a massive toll on both his mental state and physical stamina.

Feng Jue silently wiped the filth and blood from his Startling Swan Sword.

Su Zhan stood at the observation port, frowning slightly as he gazed into the distance.

The second wave's intensity had clearly increased.

This was absolutely not a good sign.

Su Zhan immediately picked up the military communicator inside the outpost and connected to the fortress command center:

"This is Forward Outpost 7! Encountered a cluster attack by Mist Creatures, Infestant Bone Shell Beetles, approximate number fifty! Overall strength ranging from low-risk sixth to eighth tier, has been eliminated! Requesting instructions!"

The communicator was silent for a few seconds: "Outpost 7, received. Scattered assaults by Infestant Bone Shell Beetle swarms are normal occurrences. Maintain vigilance, defend according to the established plan, over."

Normal occurrences?

Su Zhan's brow furrowed tightly, but military orders were absolute; he could only suppress the unease in his heart: "Outpost 7 received, over."

He set down the communicator.

Liu Ziming immediately crowded over: "What did command say?"

"Said it's normal, told us to keep holding."

Su Zhan said.

"Normal? This is normal?"

Liu Ziming exclaimed: "Then what counts as abnormal!?"

Xie Xi said coldly: "It means this situation is very common on the front lines. Conserve your spiritual energy, prepare to deal with the next wave."

No one dared to slack off, immediately using the time to rest and replenish their spiritual energy.

But less than half an hour later!

"Woo—woo woo woo—!!!"

The alarm emitted a sharp shriek!

The entire screen was almost covered in glaring red!

"They're coming again! The numbers... the numbers are huge! Several times more than last time! And... the energy readings are mixed! Some strong, some weak!"

Su Zhan rushed to the observation port, his expression instantly turning extremely grave.

In the distance, it was no longer a single insect swarm, but a mixed group of Mist Creatures that could be called a small-scale army.

It was surging forward in a mighty tide!

Leading the charge were still the faster Infestant Bone Shell Beetles, but in greater numbers!

Behind them, followed a massive creature, like a moving mountain of flesh—a Loathesome Butcher.

It wielded a huge flail made of bone and rotten flesh, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Medium-risk level!

Circling in the sky was a shadow-like Shade Bat Demon, emitting piercing ultrasonic waves that disrupted people's minds.

Also medium-risk level!

Even among the crawling ground forces, there were several spider-like beasts that could spit sticky webs—Spider Beasts.

Their strength was at the high end of low-risk.

Various types of Mist Creatures formed this terrifying torrent, charging straight for the outpost!

"Damn! Medium-risk level! More than one!"

Liu Ziming cried out in shock, his face turning pale.

"Prepare for a fight to the death!"

Su Zhan roared, an unprecedented sense of crisis enveloping his entire body!

The battle erupted instantly!

Several times more brutal than before!

"Boom!"

Liu Ziming's Purple Thunder struck the Loathesome Butcher.

It only left a small charred mark, instead enraging it.

The massive flail smashed hard against the outpost's outer wall, shaking the entire concrete structure!

Xie Xi barely blocked the flail of another Loathesome Butcher.

The tremendous force left her arms numb.

She retreated repeatedly!

Feng Jue engaged a Shade Bat Demon in high-speed aerial maneuvers.

Sword light clashed with claw shadows, sparks flying everywhere.

He barely managed to force it back, but couldn't inflict a fatal wound!

Xu Hao didn't dare teleport outside anymore; any single attack from the medium-risk monsters outside could instantly kill him.

He could only hide behind the firing ports, using his dagger to deflect the occasional acid spray or web shot his way!

Su Zhan's Time Abyss Pupil operated frantically, his slowing field covering multiple directions simultaneously.

He had to resort to using both blades to parry deadly attacks up close!

His pressure was the greatest!

"There are too many! We can't hold!"

Liu Ziming was grazed on the arm by acid from an Infestant Bone Shell Beetle; his combat suit instantly corroded, the pain making him grimace.

"Su Zhan! This can't continue!"

Xie Xi shouted breathlessly, struggling to parry the flail.

Feng Jue forced the bat demon back with a sword strike and retreated into the outpost, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, clearly having sustained internal injuries.

The outpost's outer walls were already damaged in multiple places.

Cracks spread, looking like they were about to be breached any moment!

Su Zhan's eyes turned fierce. He abruptly pulled back, grabbed the communicator again, and practically roared:

"Outpost 7 emergency request for reinforcements! Under attack by large-scale mixed Mist Creatures! Confirm at least three medium-risk units! Outpost is about to be breached! Request immediate support! Repeat! Request immediate support!"

After a few seconds, the communicator transmitted an urgent voice: "Outpost 7! Hold on! Reinforcements have been dispatched! Estimated arrival within five minutes! Repeat! Hold for five minutes!"

Five minutes!?

Looking at the tide of monsters surging outside and the precarious state of the outpost, everyone's hearts sank!

"Did you hear that!? Five minutes!"

Su Zhan hung up the communicator and roared at his blood-soaked teammates: "If you don't want to die, hold the line for these five minutes!"

"Damn it! Let's go all out!"

Liu Ziming's eyes turned bloodshot, his thunder light surging violently again!

Xie Xi gritted her teeth, the dark red glow on her Destruction Scythe becoming unstable; she was already overdrawing her power.

Feng Jue wiped the blood from his mouth, his Startling Swan Sword emitting a hum, its sword intent growing even more resolute.

Xu Hao also screamed as he threw his dagger, piercing the eye of an Infestant Bone Shell Beetle trying to squeeze in through a breach!

The final five minutes, every second felt like torture on the edge of hell!

"Five minutes! Not one step back!"

Su Zhan commanded loudly.

They couldn't retreat. Retreating meant being deserters.

The consequences for deserters—see you in military court.

This one step back would mean a lifetime.

The Loathesome Butcher roared, its massive flail of rotten flesh carrying overwhelming force as it smashed towards the largest crack in the outpost!

"Don't even think about it!"

Xie Xi shouted sharply, gripping her scythe with both hands and stepping forward to block!

"BOOM!!!"

Scythe blade and flail collided violently!

Xie Xi grunted, the skin at the base of her thumbs splitting, blood instantly staining the scythe's shaft.

Her entire body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily against the wall behind her!

Almost simultaneously, a Shade Bat Demon dove through the opening Xie Xi had left, its sharp claws aimed straight for her heart!

"Get away!"

Su Zhan had predicted this attack. His body appeared in front of Xie Xi, both blades crossed and sweeping upward!

"Clang! Shriek!"

The twin blades caught the bat demon's claws.

But the bat demon's immense impact still pushed Su Zhan back half a meter, his feet sliding along the ground!

His wrists flicked, the blades sliding down smoothly and twisting towards the bat demon's wings!

The bat demon abruptly gained altitude, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Su Zhan had long since activated the future prediction aspect of his Time Abyss Pupil.

It could predict anything concerning him within the next five seconds.

Since his teammates were close by, he could also predict matters related to them.