170: The fifth wave of fierce battles saw healers using their benevolent skills to save lives.

The roar from the central Abyss Fissure sounded like the gluttonous howl of Taotie from the deepest depths of Hell—greedy, tyrannical, and carrying a nauseating, sticky sensation of "digestion" and "recombination."

Following that roar, the remains of the demonic creatures on the battlefield that had not yet been fully purified or buried—whether it was the shattered flesh and bone of the Berserk Demons, the broken stone wings of the Gargoyles, or the ashes left behind by the dissipating Fear Shades—all seemed to be drawn by an invisible force. Wisps of filthy energy streams, a mix of dark red, grayish-black, and sickly green, steamed up and surged frantically toward the core of the fissure like a hundred rivers returning to the sea!

The dark red light of the fissure itself expanded and twisted violently. Countless phantom images of demonic creatures struggling in agony surfaced. They fused and deformed within the light, letting out silent wails before finally being swallowed by a deeper darkness.

[Abyss Fissure · Fifth Wave Gestation Mechanism (Observational Analysis)]:

Status: High-activity "Digestion" and "Recombination" phase.

Energy Absorption Source: Fallen units from the first four demonic waves (approximately 30% of residual energy recovered).

Absorbed Energy Composition: The "Brute Force and Frenzy" of the Berserk Demons, the "Stony Tenacity and Flight Characteristics" of the Gargoyles, the "Mental Pollution and Illusions" of the Fear Shades, and the "Quantity and Chaos Substrate" of the Lesser Demons.

Recombination Characteristics: Mixed energy, severe rule conflicts. Gestating units are expected to have multiple traits and high instability, but will be extremely threatening.

Predicted Unit Types: Hybrid Elite/Lord units, likely possessing composite abilities such as physical attacks with corrosion, continuous Mental Pollution, and shape-shifting.

Countdown: Approximately 50 seconds.

"Raising Gu... evolution..." Lin Zhou's eyes were icy. He wasn't entirely unaware of this characteristic of the Abyss, but encountering such an efficient and blatant "battlefield recycling and reuse" mechanism in the College Entrance Examination trials still sent a chill through his heart. This meant that delay and wars of attrition might be more beneficial to the Abyss side; they could use the "nutrients" of the fallen to spawn even more terrifying monsters.

"Fire Hammer! What's the status of the 'Logic Bombs'? Prioritize clearing the low-altitude Gargoyles to make space and firepower for intercepting the fifth wave!" Lin Zhou's Divine Thought rang out urgently.

"Logic Bombs have been deployed in the preset airspace! Activating now!" Fire Hammer's voice carried a hint of fatigue, but more of it was focus. Deep within Mechanism City, several inconspicuous devices resembling metal spheres were launched into the low altitude about three hundred meters around the territory's perimeter, floating quietly. Strange runes, neither energy nor matter, flowed across their surfaces. These were rule-perturbation devices built using Mohist "logical paradoxes" and "conceptual interference" as the core, combined with mechanism techniques.

[Mohist Mechanisms · Logic Bomb (Experimental/Area-of-Effect Type)]:

Type: One-time rule interference field generator.

Principle: Creates a brief, localized "logical contradiction field" that causes severe interference to enemies relying on strict logic, stable energy structures, or simple intelligent operations.

Effective Targets: Excellent against mechanical units, elemental lifeforms, low-intelligence constructs, and some magical creatures relying on stable energy circuits; effect is weakened against units with high intelligence, high Chaos, or those relying on biological instinct (non-logical).

Current Preset Effect: "Self-Contradiction" field—targets attempt to execute "attack" and "evade" commands simultaneously, leading to a collapse of behavioral logic.

Area of Effect: Spherical airspace with a 150-meter radius.

Duration: 15-20 seconds.

Activation Method: Remote control or proximity trigger (when enough targets enter the range).

Buzz—!

A low, strange hum that seemed to disrupt common sense radiated from those metal spheres. The invisible "logical contradiction field" expanded instantly!

Coincidentally, a large group of Gargoyles (about two thousand) that were dispersing to penetrate and bypass the front lines to attack the rear Ballista arrays and the Imperial Hospital, rushed headlong into this eerie force field.

In the next moment, a jaw-dropping scene occurred!

The wing-flapping movements of these Gargoyles suddenly froze, and the red light in their eyes flickered wildly and erratically! It was as if they had suddenly "crashed." Some hung motionless in mid-air, some began to spin frantically on the spot, and some even tried to grab their own heads with their claws (if those could be called heads)! More remarkably, two Gargoyles collided head-on; instead of dodging or attacking by instinct, they slammed straight into each other like two pieces of stone, both shattering and falling!

Their simple behavioral logic, based on Abyssal commands and predatory instincts, was completely scrambled by the contradictory commands created by the "Logic Bombs"! They fell into a brief state of "System Failure"!

"Now's the time! Ground anti-air, focus fire! Ballista arrays, extend your range and cover that area!" Fire Hammer roared.

The elven arrow rain, steam ballistae, and even some hunter kite crossbows that had adjusted their angles poured their firepower frantically toward the group of Gargoyles that seemed to have been hit by a pause button!

Puff puff puff! Boom! Crack!

The Gargoyles, having lost their mobility and effective defense, fell in swathes under this concentrated strike! In just ten seconds, over fifteen hundred Gargoyles were destroyed! The low-altitude threat was cleared away!

The "Logic Bombs" were exceptionally effective! However, they were one-time use and difficult to manufacture; the stockpile had only six, and three had already been used (the other three were deployed in other directions). Meanwhile, the total number of Gargoyles in the sky was still close to eighty thousand, they had just become more scattered and cautious.

"Li Mo! How much longer for your 'big guy'?" Lin Zhou connected to another area.

"Right away! Final calibration of the energy circuits! Dominator, this thing will make a huge commotion, and... it might need your Divine Power or Fire of Civilization for the final 'finishing touch' and stabilization!" Li Mo's voice carried uncontrollable excitement and tension. His Mechanical Goblins were busy in a heavily protected workshop, surrounding a massive silhouette covered by canvas.

"Understood. Notify me immediately when it's ready." Lin Zhou nodded. Li Mo had previously proposed a dangerous project combining the ideas of the Mohist "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature" and the Daoist "Enlightening Spirit." It had been in the theoretical and refinement stages until now. It seemed he had no choice but to risk using it.

His attention returned to the front battlefield. On the ground, after the "Concept Confusion" effect gradually faded and the defenders stabilized their positions through bloody combat, the battle with the remaining Berserk Demons and Warlord remained tragic. The hunting squad led by Rock Shield successfully ground the left-flank Warlord's health down to below 15%, but everyone was wounded, and Rock Shield's health was less than a third.

But the greatest shadow came from that Abyss Fissure, where the countdown continued and the energy became increasingly violent.

45 seconds... 30 seconds... 15 seconds... Finally!

The expansion of the fissure reached its limit, then suddenly contracted inward! Immediately after, accompanied by an ear-piercing shriek and an even denser, nauseating scent of decay, the fifth wave of the Demonic Tide gushed out!

It wasn't an overwhelming swarm, nor was it invisible Mental Pollution. Instead, they were... twisted, constantly squirming and changing monsters that looked as if they were forcibly stitched together from the features of various demonic creatures!

[Abyssal Stitched Evolution · Corruptor (Elite/LV35-LV40)]:

Quantity: Approximately three hundred. (Quantity has drastically decreased, but individual threat has surged.)

Appearance: Extremely unstable. Generally maintains a humanoid form, but various body parts exhibit characteristics of different demons: one arm might be the bone-club giant arm of a Berserk Demon, while the other is the sharp stone claw of a Gargoyle; the torso might be covered in the viscous skin and bone spikes of a Lesser Demon, while the back grows tattered Gargoyle wings or floating tentacles of a Fear Shade; the heads are even more bizarre, with multiple demonic faces twisted and fused together, letting out mixed roars.

Core Characteristics (Observed):

Multiple Attack Modes: Physical attacks (estimated strength 60-80), energy blasts (Chaos/corrosion attributes), and mental shrieks (weak but continuous) are all possible, with significant individual variation.

Unstable Evolution: The body undergoes continuous micro-adjustments and changes, potentially growing new attacking organs or changing traits suddenly, making them hard to predict.

High-Threat Characteristic—[Abyssal Corrosion]!

Physical attacks carry [Potent Corrosion]: If wounded by them, the wound will rapidly fester and suffer continuous shadow/corrosion mixed damage of 15-30 points per second (stackable) for at least 30 seconds, while reducing the target's natural health regeneration and healing effects by 30%.

Energy attacks/Auras carry [Mental Corrosion]: The chaotic energy field they emit will exert continuous mental pressure on units within range, slowly reducing sanity and concentration, with a low probability of inducing hallucinations, confusion, or fear (unlike the previous fear aura, this focuses more on continuous weakening rather than an instantaneous shock).

Possible [Corrosive Explosion] upon death: There is a certain probability that upon death, the corpse will undergo a violent Corrosive Explosion, causing area damage and corrosive effects to the surroundings.

Health: Estimated 12,000-18,000 points.

Defense: Physical defense approximately 55-65, energy resistance (except for Order/Holy) approximately 40-50, but low resistance to "Purification," "Order," and "Life" type attacks (approximately -20%).

Movement Speed: Medium-slow, but some individuals may possess short-distance dashes or gliding abilities.

Three hundred elite monsters above LV35—each one was like a mobile source of pollution and a killing machine!

They stumbled, squirmed, and roared out of the fissure. Their crimson or cloudy eyes immediately locked onto Lin Zhou's territorial defense line—where the light of Order and the breath of life were like torches in the dark to them, full of "attraction" and "destructive desire."

"The fifth wave... is here!" A shadow fell over the hearts of all the defenders. Although the previous Demonic Tides were massive in number, their characteristics were relatively singular, and there were always ways to counter them. These "stitched monsters" before them, however, gave off a lethal sense of threat that left them unsure of where to start and feeling they could be "polluted" at any moment.

Especially that [Abyssal Corrosion] trait! For a defense line that relied on formation, endurance, and healing, continuous damage and weakened healing effects were a nightmare!

"All units, take note! Avoid close-quarters combat with these monsters! Prioritize long-range attrition! Focus attacks on the head, energy core (if any), and the 'seams' where different body parts are joined—those are likely weaknesses!" Lin Zhou quickly issued commands, while his Divine Thought swept across the rear of the territory. "Imperial Hospital! Immediately activate the highest-level field medical emergency plan! All disciples of the School of Medicine, to the front lines! I need you to deal with the 'corrosion' damage!"

The moment the Order was delivered, the [Imperial Hospital (Miracle Building)], located in the relatively safe rear of the territory near the Lords Hall, suddenly lit up with a soft emerald green light! The ancient complex was permeated with a faint fragrance of herbs and the breath of life.

[Imperial Hospital (School of Medicine Miracle Building)]:

Building Level: Rare Grade (slowly growing toward Epic Grade with the spread of School of Medicine thought and the nourishment of Lin Zhou's Divine Power).

Core Functions:

[Hundred Herb Garden (Subsidiary)]: Accelerates the growth of spiritual plants and herbs (+200%), with a chance to mutate rare medicinal Materials.

[Alchemy/Pharmacy Workshop]: Can mass-produce various Medicinal Pills, ointments, and decoctions.

[Spiritual Qi Clinic]: Provides efficient treatment, accelerating injury recovery (base +100% recovery speed).

[Medical Study Institute]: Increases the skill levels of School of Medicine disciples and the probability of researching new medical techniques.

Current Presider: Hero Unit—[Benevolent Heart · Qing Lin (Converted from a Forest Elf Priestess)].

Hero Panel—Benevolent Heart · Qing Lin (LV28, Master of the School of Medicine):

Attributes (Primary Mental/Wisdom): Intelligence 35, Wisdom 42, Mental Energy 38, Physique 25.

Health/Mana: 2800/1800.

Talents:

[Healer's Benevolent Heart]: Healing effect +30%, consumption -20%. When casting Spells on friendly units, there is a chance to apply the "Peace of Mind" state (slightly increases mental resistance).

[Vegetation Affinity]: Identification, cultivation, and usage effects of medicinal herbs +50%.

[Consonance Needle Technique]: When performing acupuncture-type medical skills, accuracy and effectiveness are increased by an additional 25%.

Core Skills:

[Mass Rejuvenation (Intermediate)]: Consumes 150 mana to heal up to 20 friendly units within 30 meters, restoring (Wisdom × 3 + 100) health points, and applying a "Vitality Nourishment" effect for 15 seconds (restoring Wisdom × 0.5 health per second). Cooldown: 45 seconds.

[Purifying Acupuncture: Exorcism]: Consumes 80 mana per target, cast on a single friendly unit to quickly dispel one Intermediate or lower-level negative status (including toxins, curses, mild corrosion, mental disorders, etc.) and restore a small amount of health. Cooldown: 20 seconds.

[Hundred Herb Decoction (Preparation)]: Can command apprentices to quickly prepare decoctions with specific effects. Currently mass-producible: [Elementary Hemostatic Ointment], [Elementary Antidote], [Energy Potion]. Special decoction targeting [Abyssal Corrosion] is under emergency development.

Current Status: Fully operating the Imperial Hospital, commanding over fifty Medical Apprentices (converted from elves, some dwarves, and talented Pioneers) to conduct field medical aid.

"Members of the Imperial Hospital, follow me to the front-line support points!" Qing Lin, dressed in an elegant green robe with a gentle face but firm eyes, held a slender [Spiritual Pivot Needle] flickering with soft green light and was the first to step out of the Imperial Hospital. Behind her, dozens of Medical Apprentices, some carrying medicine boxes, some holding wooden buckets filled with decoctions, and others clutching acupuncture kits, rushed quickly and orderly toward several pre-set casualty collection points behind the defensive line.

The Corruptors have already made contact with the defensive line!

The battle instantly reached a fever pitch!

These monsters are indeed troublesome! A Corruptor smashed its Berserk Demon-like giant arm against the dwarven shield formation. Although blocked, the surface of the shields emitted a "hissing" corrosion sound, and their durability plummeted! The dwarven warrior shaken by the impact saw his wound quickly turn black and fester; the intense pain, accompanied by continuous health loss, turned his face pale.

Another Corruptor spat a dark green acid arrow from its mouth, hitting a Psionic Puppet. The Puppet's wooden shell and metal joints immediately began to smoke and dissolve, and its movements became sluggish.

Even worse, several Corruptors emitted strange cries mixed with various monster roars, forming a dizzying and unsettling Mental Corrosion wave. Although its intensity was not as strong as the Fear Aura of the third wave, it was like maggots on a bone, continuously weakening the defenders' concentration and fighting will. Bloodshot eyes and confusion began to appear in some warriors who were already wounded or mentally exhausted.

"Shield guards, rotate! The wounded, retreat immediately! School of Medicine, prioritize treating the corrosion wounds!" Rock Shield roared commands while maneuvering against a low-health Warlord.

The wounded warriors were quickly replaced by their comrades and staggered toward the rear. The Medical Apprentices who had been waiting there immediately met them.

"Quick, lie down! The wound has turned black; it's deep corrosion!" An elven medical apprentice quickly checked the wound on a dwarven warrior's shoulder carved by a Corruptor's claws. Black, foul blood continuously seeped out, and the surrounding flesh was necrotizing.

He first took a jade bottle from his medicine box and sprinkled [Elementary Antidote] powder, which emitted a crisp medicinal fragrance, onto the wound. The powder came into contact with the corrosive energy, making a "sizzling" sound and emitting faint black smoke, temporarily halting the spread of the corrosion, though the continuous health loss effect remained.

"Hold him down, I'm going to perform acupuncture to exorcise the evil!" Another higher-ranked dwarven medical apprentice (formerly a miner with resistance to rocks and toxins, specializing in treating trauma and foreign objects after joining the School of Medicine) took out several silver needles (embedded with subtle Law · Order runes) and steadily inserted them into several Acupoints around the wound.

[Purifying Acupuncture: Exorcism] (Apprentice Version, weakened effect) activated! The Law · Order runes on the silver needles glowed faintly, and combined with the faint "Qi of Benevolence" (a combination of School of Medicine philosophy and life energy) cultivated by the apprentice, began to expel the residual corrosive energy deep within the wound.

"Ugh—!" The dwarven warrior let out a muffled groan, feeling a strange sensation of heat and coolness intertwining at the wound. The flow of black, foul blood slowed and its color lightened; the bone-deep continuous pain and weakness also began to fade.

Meanwhile, in a nearby large pot, the boiling [Potent Antidote and Corrosion-Removing Decoction] was being distributed to the wounded soldiers. This was an emergency recipe adjusted and brewed by Qing Lin based on previous research against the lich plague and the current corrosive characteristics. Although it couldn't completely clear high-level corrosion, it significantly reduced its effects (reducing continuous damage by 30%-40% and shortening duration by 20%).

[Imperial Hospital · Field Medical Aid System Real-time Data]:

Front-line aid points: 4, each equipped with 1 Advanced medical apprentice (equivalent to an LV20 School of Medicine practitioner) and 5-8 Elementary apprentices.

Severe injury transport and evacuation channel: Established, managed by a small number of Pioneer stretcher teams, transporting the severely wounded to the core consultation room of the Imperial Hospital.

Current processing efficiency:

Mild corrosion wounds (continuous damage < 20/sec): Average treatment time 1-2 minutes, can basically stabilize the injury, clear most corrosion, and restore 60% of combat capability (requires subsequent rest).

Moderate corrosion wounds (continuous damage 20-40/sec): Average treatment time 3-5 minutes, requires combination of acupuncture, ointments, and oral decoctions. Can halt corrosion spread, clear some corrosion, and restore 30-40% of combat capability; requires withdrawal from the front line.

Severe corrosion wounds / multiple severe injuries: Immediate evacuation, handled by Qing Lin or Advanced physicians within the Imperial Hospital.

Core method effects:

[Purifying Acupuncture]: Dispel efficiency approximately 40-60% (depending on the practitioner's level and corrosion intensity), serving as the primary treatment method.

[Potent Antidote and Corrosion-Removing Decoction]: After consumption, provides a 25% resistance increase to Abyssal Corrosion-type continuous damage for 30 minutes and weakens existing corrosion effects by 35%.

[Elementary/Intermediate Hemostatic and Flesh-Growing Ointment]: Accelerates wound healing (+50% recovery speed), but corrosive wounds require debridement first.

Overall effectiveness (statistics ten minutes into the battle):

Casualties received: Approximately 450 people (including old and new injuries).

Successfully treated and stabilized injuries (can continue fighting or be safely evacuated): Approximately 420 people.

Failed resuscitation / nearing death due to excessive corrosion or urgent injuries: Approximately 30 people (mortality rate about 6.7%, and as the treatment system operates more smoothly, this ratio is rapidly decreasing).

Estimated mortality rate without a systematic treatment (for corrosion damage): >50%.

The actual mortality rate was suppressed to below approximately 1% (for treatable casualties)!

The intervention of the School of Medicine's power was like a gentle and resilient spring of life injected into the parched defensive line! Those warriors who might have quickly lost combat capability or even died due to corrosion damage received timely and effective treatment. Although it couldn't make them instantly vigorous again, it at least saved their lives and stabilized their injuries, greatly easing the pressure on the front line caused by continuous attrition.

More importantly, morale! Seeing wounded comrades quickly saved and their pain relieved gave the warriors still fighting a sense of reassurance and warmth, reducing the fear that injury meant death. The negative impact of the continuous Mental Corrosion waves seemed to be somewhat diluted by this belief in "Protecting Life."

However, the individual strength of the Corruptors remained formidable, and their numbers were still nearly three hundred. They Advanced slowly but steadily, constantly creating new casualties and testing the treatment limits of the Imperial Hospital and the resilience of the defensive line itself.

Qing Lin personally oversaw the largest aid point, her [Spiritual Pivot Needle] transforming into streaks of green light as she performed acupuncture on three severely wounded soldiers simultaneously, beads of sweat already appearing on her forehead. Her mana consumption was immense.

Just then, an elven medical apprentice ran over hurriedly, holding a stack of freshly drawn yellow Talismans that emitted a faint tranquilizing scent, excitement on his face: "Lord Qing Lin! Following the ideas provided by you and Your Excellency Su Yueyao, and combining our School of Medicine's 'Tranquilizing and Mind-Settling' decoctions with Talisman principles, the first batch of [Heart-Clearing Talisman (Experimental)] is complete! Fifty in total!"

[Heart-Clearing Talisman (School of Medicine/Experimental)]:

Type: One-time protective Talisman (must be worn close to the body or placed in the helmet lining).

Materials: Special Talisman paper soaked in the juices of [Tranquilizing Herb] and [Moonlight Flower], with "Tranquilizing," "Soul-Settling," and "Heart-Clearing" runes outlined with the School of Medicine's "Qi of Benevolence."

Effect: Once activated, provides a weak mental protection barrier for the wearer for 30 minutes.

Specific effects:

Immunity to "Intermediate" and lower intensity Mental Corrosion, Fear Aura, chaotic whispers, and other continuous mental interference.

For "Advanced" mental attacks, provides a 25% effect reduction.

Slightly increases the wearer's mental concentration and willpower (+5 temporary mental resistance check).

Cannot defend against powerful single-target mental impacts or illusion projections (such as the core attacks of the third wave).

Activation method: Tear it or inject a trace amount of Mental Energy to activate; the effect lasts until the Talisman's energy is exhausted.

Production capacity: Currently only Qing Lin and a few Advanced Medical Apprentices can produce them; each takes about 10 minutes, and Materials are limited.

"Excellent!" Qing Lin's eyes lit up. "Distribute them immediately to front-line commanders, key long-range units, and heroes who must keep fighting after being wounded! Prioritize Ballista operators and hero units!"

The appearance of the Heart-Clearing Talismans, though few in number, was like charcoal in the snow! Especially for key personnel who needed high mental concentration to control ballistae, cast Spells, or command battles, this layer of protection was crucial, effectively resisting the pervasive Mental Corrosion waves emitted by the Corruptors and allowing them to remain clear-headed and efficient in the cruel environment.

Supported by the power of the School of Medicine, the defensive line was like it had been fitted with a "health pump" and a "purifier." Although it continued to suffer damage and retreat under the Corruptors' onslaught (defensive line integrity had dropped to 65%), it never collapsed, like a candle flame flickering in a storm but refusing to go out, burning tenaciously.

Lin Zhou saw all this. The value shown by the School of Medicine's philosophy at this moment far exceeded simple combat bonuses. It protected the Foundation of civilization—life and continuity. This deepened his understanding of the word "civilization" by another layer.

But the crisis was far from over. Less than fifty of the three hundred Corruptors had fallen, the ground Warlord were still rampaging, and tens of thousands of Gargoyles remained in the sky. What made his nerves even more tense was that news had finally come from Li Mo's side, and at the same time, the Star Gazing Platform sent a warning of the sixth wave of the Demonic Tide, and... among those seven Observers, two seemed to have developed a special interest in the Imperial Hospital's rescue performance and were whispering something to each other.

"Dominator! The 'Big Guy' is ready! But it's extremely unstable and needs you to perform the 'Civilization's Finishing Touch' immediately!" Li Mo's transmission came with background noises of sparks and metal friction.

"Energy reaction of the sixth wave of the Demonic Tide is intensifying! Characteristics: Energy storm and rule turbulence! Estimated to arrive in three minutes!" The Star Gazing Platform's alarm sounded again.

Lin Zhou took a deep breath, looked at the figures fighting below amidst blood, fire, and medicinal fragrance, looked at the never-satisfied Abyss Fissure in the distance, and looked at the mysterious Observers in the sky.

"The Way of the Hundred Schools, is it limited only to slaughter and healing?" he murmured. His figure flashed as he sped toward the direction of Li Mo's Workshop.

It's time to reveal a corner of the true trump card. And a more violent storm is already on its way.