509: Chapter 444: The Battle Situation Takes a Sudden Turn; The All-Out Offensive in the Chaotic Starfield Begins

Thirty days after the fall of White Clothes · Hidden Net, the Fire of Civilization of the New Universe had covered every town. The flames of one hundred thousand towns connected into a sea of stars in the night sky, and the offset rate of the Fear Halo reached 99.7%. The countdown to the awakening of the Lord of Nothingness was two years and nine months away, the location of the Gate of Guixu had been locked directly beneath the Expeditionary Force headquarters, and everything was advancing steadily in the planned direction.

But Lin Zhou's intuition told him that it was too quiet. The high-level members of the Void Sect had been wiped out, the pulse intensity deep within the Gate of Guixu was continuously decreasing, and the pollution level of the Anchor Point had been suppressed to below 10%. All data pointed to the same conclusion—the threat was fading. He had learned one thing in the Old Universe era: when all data points to the same conclusion, that conclusion is often wrong.

Late at night on the seventh day, his intuition was proven right.

The pulse deep within the Gate of Guixu suddenly increased tenfold. It was not a slow increase, but an instantaneous eruption. The waveform of the pulse changed from a regular sine wave to a sharp sawtooth wave, the frequency changed from once every seven days to once a day, and the intensity changed from a 1% pollution recovery per second to 5% per second. The Lord of Nothingness was accelerating its awakening, not because the Anchor Point had been repaired, but because its source of power had changed.

[Gate of Guixu Pulse · Abnormal Data]

- Original Frequency: Once every seven days

- New Frequency: Once a day

- Original Intensity: 2% pollution recovery per month

- New Intensity: 5% pollution recovery per second

- Energy Source: Unknown (Non-Anchor Point)

"Li Mo, what is this?" Lin Zhou stared at the data, his face ashen.

Li Mo's projection flickered wildly, his electronic voice carrying a rare sense of panic. "Captain, a new energy source has appeared deep within the Gate of Guixu. It is not an Anchor Point, it is not the Lord of Nothingness, but... a massive spatial rift. Behind the rift lies the deepest part of the Chaos Star Domain, where there are... countless Chaos Beasts."

"How many?"

"Preliminary detection shows at least one hundred million. Ranks vary from LV100 to LV1000. There are also more powerful energy fluctuations; they might be God King-level Chaos Lords, numbering... several dozen."

Lin Zhou's blood ran cold. One hundred million Chaos Beasts, several dozen God King-level Lords—this was a scale of beast tide that had never appeared even in the Old Universe era. The deepest part of the Chaos Star Domain had always hidden the true power of the Gate of Guixu. It wasn't that the Lord of Nothingness didn't want to wake up early; it was waiting—waiting for the Chaos Beast tide to assemble.

[Chaos Beast Tide · Preliminary Data]

- Scale: Approximately 100 million (continuously increasing)

- Rank Distribution: LV100 - LV500 approximately 80 million, LV500 - LV800 approximately 20 million, LV800 - LV1000 approximately 1 million

- God King-level Lords: Approximately 30 (Rank LV3000 - LV5000)

- Assembly Location: Deepest part of the Chaos Star Domain, approximately 50,000 kilometers from the edge of the New Universe

- Movement Speed: 100 kilometers per hour

- Estimated Arrival at New Universe Edge: Approximately 20 days

Twenty days. In twenty days, one hundred million Chaos Beasts would flood into the New Universe. The Seventh War Zone would bear the brunt, as it faced the deepest part of the Chaos Star Domain directly. The Iron Wall Fortress was the outpost of the Seventh War Zone and the first line of defense against the beast tide. If the Iron Wall Fortress fell, the Chaos Beasts would advance to the core area of the New Universe within three days.

Lin Zhou rushed to the command center, where General Rex's projection was already there. The old general's face was even uglier than his.

"Lin Zhou, the Command Headquarters just issued an order. All legions in the Seventh War Zone are to enter the highest state of alert. The Iron Wall Fortress must be held; even if it cannot be held, it must be held."

"It will be held."

Lin Zhou pulled up the defense data of the Iron Wall Fortress. The fortress walls were one hundred zhang high and ten zhang thick, with defensive runes flowing on the surface, capable of resisting attacks at the Mid-Tier Divine Power level. The Iron Wall Guardian Array was set up around the fortress, covering a diameter of ten kilometers, increasing friendly defense by 50% and reducing enemy attack power by 30%. There were one hundred rune turrets, each with an attack power at the Peak of Lesser Divinity. The garrison consisted of 12,000 soldiers, with a 100% coverage rate of the seed of civilization.

[Iron Wall Fortress · Defense Data]

- Wall Durability: 5 million points

- Iron Wall Guardian Array: Covers a diameter of 10 kilometers, friendly defense +50%, enemy attack -30%

- Rune Turrets: 100 units, each with attack power at the Peak of Lesser Divinity

- Garrison: 12,000 soldiers, average godhead Rank LV550

- seed of civilization coverage rate: 100%

Lin Zhou called for troops. Wang Meng, Qin Qing, Su Yueyao, Chen Xuan, and Iron Face—the entire Civilization Guardian Legion was to participate in the battle. Lei Zhan's heavy armor legion was also incorporated into the defense line, and three thousand Iron Rock Giants would serve as a mobile wall. Dragon Vein Golden Scale flew out from the Divine Kingdom, and the golden Dragon Breath traced an arc in the night sky.

[Defense Deployment]

- First Line of Defense: Lei Zhan's Heavy Armor Legion, 3,000 Iron Rock Giants, shield wall advancement

- Second Line of Defense: Wang Meng's Vanguard Battalion, 5,000 Civilization Sword Cultivators, frontal engagement

- Third Line of Defense: Qin Qing's Law Enforcement Team, 2,000 people, Net of Law coverage

- Mobile Reserve: Lin Zhou, Su Yueyao, Chen Xuan, Iron Face, and Dragon Vein Golden Scale

On the walls of the Iron Wall Fortress, 12,000 soldiers lined up. On their armor, the Fire of Civilization coating was burning. In their hands, their weapons were imbued with the Fire of Courage. In their eyes, there was no fear.

Lin Zhou stood on the fortress wall, looking toward the Chaos Star Domain. In the grayish-white mist, countless dark red light spots could be vaguely seen flickering—those were the eyes of the Chaos Beasts. They were still 30,000 kilometers away from the fortress, and at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, it would take 300 hours, or 12.5 days. This was seven days faster than the estimated twenty days.

"Captain, the speed of the beast tide is increasing," Li Mo shouted. "It has increased from 100 kilometers per hour to 150 kilometers per hour. Estimated arrival time: eight days."

Eight days. Lin Zhou was silent, then turned around.

"All troops, enter the highest state of alert. Rune turrets, standby 24 hours a day. Iron Wall Guardian Array, keep it active around the clock."

"Yes!"

Eight days passed in tense preparation. Every day, the distance of the Chaos Beast tide shortened. 30,000 kilometers, 25,000 kilometers, 20,000 kilometers... On the eighth day, countless dark red light spots appeared in the grayish-white mist. Those were not eyes, but the energy veins of the Gate of Guixu on the bodies of the Chaos Beasts. The light emitted by the one hundred million Chaos Beasts simultaneously dyed the entire Void Realm a dark red.

The vanguard of the beast tide, approximately 10 million, with Ranks LV100 - LV300, was only 1,000 kilometers away from the fortress. Lin Zhou stood on the fortress wall, the Sword of Civilization in hand.

"Rune turrets—fire!"

One hundred rune turrets fired simultaneously, and one hundred cyan-gold beams of light shot into the beast horde. Wherever the beams passed, Chaos Beasts were evaporated, and dark red mist permeated the air.

[Rune Turrets · First Volley]

- Kills: Approximately 500,000

- Remaining Beast Tide: 9.5 million (vanguard)

- Consumption: 1,000 Divine Power per unit

"Continue!"

The second, third, and fourth rounds... The rune turrets fired continuously, killing approximately 3 million Chaos Beasts. But the remaining 7 million had already rushed to within 500 kilometers of the fortress perimeter. Lei Zhan's heavy armor legion lined up in front of the fortress, and 3,000 Iron Rock Giants raised their giant shields simultaneously. The shield wall was one hundred zhang high and ten zhang thick, with dark golden defensive runes flowing on the surface of the shields.

[Steel Bastion · Data]

- Coverage: 5 kilometers in diameter

- Durability: 5 million points

- Effect: Friendly defense within range +50%

"Heavy Armor Legion—advance!" Lei Zhan roared. The 3,000 Iron Rock Giants marched with synchronized steps, charging toward the beast tide. The shield wall, like a moving Great Wall of Steel, crushed the Chaos Beasts in the front into fragments.

[Steel Bastion · Kills]

- First Wave: Killed approximately 500,000

- Shield Wall Durability: 5 million → 4.8 million

Wang Meng's Vanguard Battalion rushed out from behind the shield wall, and 5,000 Civilization Sword Cultivators ascended into the air, their cyan-gold sword light weaving into a net in the Void Realm. Wherever the sword net passed, Chaos Beasts were shredded into pieces.

[Vanguard Battalion · Kills]

- First Wave: Killed approximately 1 million

- Our Losses: 200 lightly injured

Qin Qing's Net of Law unfolded in the rear, pale golden law chains entangling the Chaos Beasts that broke through the defense line, pinning them in place. Su Yueyao's moonlight illuminated the entire battlefield, the silvery-white light suppressing the Gate of Guixu energy of the Chaos Beasts. Iron Face's Fire of Justice conducted existence judgments; the bodies of the Chaos Beasts judged as "non-existent" began to turn transparent and then dissipated.

The battle lasted for three hours. The 7 million Chaos Beasts of the vanguard were all killed. But Lin Zhou knew this was only the first wave. The main force still had 90 million, and there were thirty God King-level Lords. He stood on the wall, watching the dark red light flickering in the grayish-white mist in the distance.

"Captain, the main force of the beast tide has stopped," Li Mo shouted. "They are two thousand kilometers away from the fortress and have not advanced any further."

"What are they waiting for?"

"Waiting for the Lords. Thirty God King-level Lords are assembling."

Lin Zhou was silent. Thirty God King-level Lords, Ranks LV3000 to LV5000. His Civilization Guardian Legion had an average Rank of only LV550. The Rank gap was too large, and the suppression effect of the Fire of Civilization could not make up for it.

"Captain, should we fight?" Wang Meng's voice came through the communication link.

"Fight. But we cannot fight head-on." Lin Zhou pulled up the battlefield map. "The Formation of the beast tide main force is fan-shaped, thick in the middle and thin on the sides. We will break through from the two wings, cut their Formation, and then defeat them one by one."

"Yes!"

The second wave of battle began. Wang Meng led the Vanguard Battalion to attack from the left flank, Lei Zhan led the heavy armor legion to attack from the right flank, and Lin Zhou led the reserve force to pin them down from the front. The two wings of the beast tide were cut, and the Formation began to fall into Chaos.

But the God King-level Lords made their move. A LV3000 Lord rushed out from the back of the beast tide, and a grayish-white beam of light shot toward Wang Meng on the left flank. Wang Meng dodged, and the beam hit the fortress wall behind him, causing a crack one hundred meters long to appear on the wall.

[Fortress Wall · Durability: 5 million → 4.5 million]

"Wang Meng, fall back!" Lin Zhou rushed forward, the Sword of Civilization slashing toward the Lord. The sword light was blocked by a shield, and the shield vibrated. The Lord turned around, and grayish-white tentacles whipped toward Lin Zhou.

Dragon Vein Golden Scale flew out from the Divine Kingdom, and the Dragon Breath burned the tentacles off. Su Yueyao's moonlight enveloped the Lord, the silvery-white light suppressing its Gate of Guixu energy. Iron Face's Fire of Justice conducted an existence judgment, and the Lord's existence intensity began to decline. Chen Xuan's School of Names technique, Separating Hardness and Whiteness, stripped the Lord's "defense" attribute.

[God King-level Lord · First One]

- Rank: LV3000

- Time to Kill: Approximately 30 minutes

- Our Losses: 200 lightly injured

The first Lord fell. The second, the third, the fourth... The battle lasted for seven days and seven nights. Thirty God King-level Lords were engaged, and twenty-five were killed. Five were heavily injured and fled back to the depths of the Chaos Star Domain. The main force of the beast tide had approximately 70 million killed, and the remaining 20 million scattered.

[Battle · Summary]

- Chaos Beasts Killed: Approximately 80 million

- God King-level Lords Killed: 25

- Fortress Wall Durability: 5 million → 1.2 million

- Garrison Losses: 500 killed, 1,000 heavily injured, 3,000 lightly injured

- Lin Zhou Divine Power Consumption: Approximately 20 million

- Lin Zhou godhead integrity: 100% → 70%

Lin Zhou knelt on one knee on the fortress wall, gasping for breath. Su Yueyao's moonlight enveloped him, repairing the cracks in his godhead.

"Captain, the beast tide has retreated." Qin Qing's voice carried fatigue.

"They haven't retreated. They have just withdrawn temporarily. They will come back."

Lin Zhou stood up and looked toward the Chaos Star Domain. In the grayish-white mist, the dark red light spots were still flickering.

"Li Mo, what are the losses of the beast tide?"

"80 million killed, about 20 million remaining. Five God King-level Lords escaped with heavy injuries. However, the spatial rift deep within the Gate of Guixu is still expanding. More Chaos Beasts are assembling."

"How long?"

"One month. In one month, the second batch of the beast tide will arrive. The scale may be even larger."

Lin Zhou was silent, then turned around.

"Reinforce the walls, repair the Formations, and treat the wounded. We fight again in a month."

"Yes."