156: Giant Lizards Descend

Soon, the middle-aged Minister's orders were dispatched to the team members in the field. Although the Defense Department does not interfere in the internal affairs or conflicts of various countries, its members are also human, with their own emotions and desires. Therefore, as long as they do not expose the organization's existence or their own strength, members are free to move about as they please.

Upon receiving the orders, Defense Department members hidden throughout various regions of Japan began spontaneously heading toward Mount Fuji. They included people of various races and were not limited to any single ethnicity, showing that the Defense Department had indeed succeeded in uniting all forces that could be united to protect Blue Star.

However, Ethereal Energy absorption requires talent. Ordinary people only have the lowest F-grade absorption for Ethereal Energy, and the cost to convert it into combat power is too high. Therefore, the personnel recruited by the Defense Department every year undergo talent testing, and only those whose talent reaches the acceptable D-grade are absorbed into its ranks.

Shortly after, the first batch of Defense Department warriors from the branch arrived at the area where the Great Lizards were about to descend. They traveled in a silver-gray circular craft, which was one of the advanced technologies left behind by the Great Lizards. Utilizing advanced light-sensing technology, it could achieve a cloaking effect. With Blue Star's current radar, satellite, and other technologies, its presence could not be detected, which was why the Defense Department had been able to remain hidden in the shadows for so many years.

After the craft landed, a team of members quickly disembarked. These members had silver long blades strapped to their backs and were carrying suitcases. Then, under the command of the Captain, the members opened and activated the suitcases within a thousand-meter radius of the Great Lizard descent area. Suddenly, this thousand-meter area seemed to be shrouded in a thin mist; although people were moving inside, they could not be seen from the outside at all. This was the visual cloaking device developed by the Defense Department based on the advanced technology left by the Great Lizards, capable of achieving invisibility to the naked eye... Over at Mount Fuji, the Defense Department was making final preparations, while Sun Hao remained at the branch, watching his comrades' busy work with the Minister.

"Minister, should we notify those three? This would also be a good opportunity for us to test their strength," Sun Hao asked.

The Minister pondered for a moment and said, "No rush. Let's see the grade of this Great Lizard descent first. If they're ordinary Great Lizards, we'll handle it ourselves. phantom energy stones are precious, and you know the situation of our branch. If we can solve it ourselves, we can't let outsiders take advantage."

"Understood. If there's an Iron Head, I'll call them. However, their weapons aren't good enough; we'll need to provide them," Sun Hao nodded and replied.

"That is fine," the Minister replied.

Time passed quickly in the tense atmosphere.

At Mount Fuji, as the time for the Great Lizards' descent drew closer, the intensity of the Ethereal Energy within the area surrounded by the visual cloaking devices also grew higher.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, a crack suddenly split open in space in one area. Subsequently, a vehicle identical to the craft used by the Defense Department to transport personnel flew out of the crack.

Seeing this scene, everyone's heart trembled. This was because every time a Great Lizard craft descended, it meant they were accompanied by a Great Lizard commander—specifically, a Long Tail. Only General-level warriors could handle a Great Lizard of this level.

"Sun Hao, call for help! I'm going to the site right now. Also, notify Headquarters to send reinforcements," the Branch Minister ordered quickly upon seeing the Great Lizard craft. He then strode out of the branch and headed toward the Great Lizard descent site.

Hearing this, Sun Hao hurriedly pulled out his phone and dialed the number he had exchanged with Qin Gang.

On Qin Gang's side, after reporting to Qin Yang, the three of them had lain down to rest again. In their daze, they heard the phone ring, and Qin Gang picked it up.

Sun Hao's anxious voice immediately came from the other end of the line: "Big shots, the Great Lizards have descended. We request your support."

Hearing this, Qin Gang instantly became alert and replied, "Where?"

"At Mount Fuji. I'll send you the location in a moment. Head to the coordinates, and we'll send someone to meet you."

"Alright, send it over. By the way, prepare weapons for us. Didn't you say ordinary weapons can't hurt them?" Qin Gang replied.

"No problem. Thank you, big shots!"

With that, both sides hung up the phone.

The Li Huaishan and the Fourth-level Death Warrior had both woken up while Qin Gang was on the phone. With their hearing, they had naturally heard the entire conversation.

"That kid is fast to call for help, isn't he? It couldn't be a trap, could it?" the Fourth-level Death Warrior asked.

"Heh, if there's a trap, then we'll just kill everyone who set it!" the Li Huaishan smiled nonchalantly upon hearing this... The three of them soon went downstairs and took a car to the location Sun Hao had sent.

On the other side, after the Great Lizard craft descended, a squad of Great Lizards emerged from within. Each Great Lizard was over two and a half meters tall, walked upright, carried a barrel-like object on its back, and held a giant silver blade identical to those of the Defense Department members.

"They're out. It's just as estimated: one Great Lizard leader, a Long Tail; two Iron Heads; and thirteen ordinary Great Lizards. A standard Great Lizard squad!" the Defense Department warriors hidden around the area communicated with each other.

"Crossbowmen, prepare to focus fire for a wave. There are too many Giant Lizards; let's see if we can take out a few first!" a Captain-level Warrior ordered.

"Roger!"

"Roger! Ready!"

"Fire!" Under the Captain-level Warrior's command, dozens of crossbow bolts with bright silver arrowheads were fired from all directions toward the craft in the next second, targeting the ordinary Great Lizards that were scouting around.

Even the ordinary Great Lizards reacted quickly to the incoming bolts. However, facing the incoming projectiles, these ordinary Great Lizards acted as if they hadn't seen them. Instead, they raised their giant blades and charged toward the direction of the crossbow fire with a roar.

By this time, the crossbow bolts were close to the ordinary Great Lizards. But contrary to expectations, the bolts did not hit the Great Lizards' bodies directly. Instead, they caused ripples to spread around their bodies, as if something were blocking the bolts. Neither the Great Lizard Clan nor the humans present were surprised, because this was the phantom energy field that the Great Lizard Clan took pride in, and the barrel-like objects on their backs were the triggering devices for these phantom energy fields.

Of course, the Defense Department wouldn't waste their efforts knowing the Great Lizards were protected by phantom energy fields. Soon, the bright silver arrowheads of those crossbow bolts showed their power at the critical moment. After contending with the phantom energy fields for less than a second, they instantly tore through the ripples and struck the charging Great Lizards.

Immediately, several ordinary Great Lizards were hit in their physical bodies. Unfortunately, these few Great Lizards were lucky and were not hit in any vital spots. Dragging their bodies, which were bleeding pale green blood, they continued to charge toward the Defense Department warriors.

"What a pity. But being able to wound them and reduce their combat power is also a good thing. Go, men! Support will arrive soon. Our task now is to stall for time for the reinforcement team!" a Captain-level Warrior said with some regret, though his tone quickly became very firm.