26: Chapter 26, 12% completion

The outline of the mountain pass was already clearly visible.

However, the shadow of death behind him was also right at his heels!

The foul, reeking breath of the High-level Demon seemed to be spraying onto the back of Chen Aoyun's neck, and the suffocating pressure turned his face pale.

"I was delayed by [Fukushima Masanori], and now it's hard to say if I can reach the mountain pass before being caught by the High-level Demon!"

I had calculated which heroes and wonders to use, and I had also calculated which skills to adapt for those heroes and wonders, and I even accounted for potential [Forbidden Move] cards, but I still failed to calculate that Sakura Country would directly use a hero duel to delay my escape.

I underestimated the complexity of the Game of National Destiny!

There are many bizarre tasks and items in the Game of National Destiny that cannot be observed from the live broadcasts, and this current crisis is the price I pay for underestimating the Game of National Destiny!"

The existence of various magical entities in Huaxia was Chen Aoyun's source of confidence.

But the Game of National Destiny is ultimately not just a simple competition of heroes; every Game of National Destiny has complex rules and mechanisms, and if one underestimates these rules and mechanisms, suffering a loss is inevitable.

"I must push harder, otherwise if I get caught by the High-level Demon, I'll be done for!"

But how can I push harder?

My previous consecutive moves had already exhausted most of my Construction Power, and the little bit of Construction Power left was meant to be saved for the two exclusive skills later...

Could it be that I have to use up this last bit of Construction Power?

No!

If I use up the remaining Construction Power now, what will I do later?

Besides, even if I used up this Construction Power, I don't have any suitable options to intercept the High-level Demon behind me!"

In the few seconds Chen Aoyun spent thinking, the High-level Demon behind him had already caught up to him.

Cavalry units were continuously split off by Chen Aoyun like moths to a flame, attempting to slow down the demon's pace, but they were easily torn apart like paper under the terrifying claws and teeth of the High-level Demon!

One hundred... eighty... fifty... ten...

The units by his side were rapidly decreasing, and finally, Chen Aoyun became truly alone!

Ahead lay Chen Aoyun's layout, and his hope, while behind him was a soul-reaping demon!

There was still some distance to the mountain pass, and the demon's sharp claws could almost touch the flowing horse tail!

Despair, like a cold tide, instantly engulfed Chen Aoyun.

Was he really going to fall short of success? Was the light of hope for Huaxia's rise about to be extinguished at this moment? Was he going to die here?

Just as his mind was shaken, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a faint, almost ignored, glowing white light point, circling around him like a loyal firefly.

"What is this? This thing seems to have been following me ever since I killed [Fukushima Masanori]! Is there some rule in 'Hero Duel' that I don't know about?"

There was indeed a rule regarding 'Hero Duel' that Chen Aoyun did not know.

[Rule 18: After a Hero Duel, the victor can receive a brief enhancement. The stronger the defeated hero, the greater the intensity of the enhancement and the longer the duration of the enhancement]!

And the small orb floating around Chen Aoyun was the means to activate the enhancement.

Chen Aoyun did not know [Rule 18], nor did he know what this floating small orb was for.

But at this moment, Chen Aoyun was already in a desperate situation, "Whatever you are, I don't care!"

Chen Aoyun didn't hesitate, reached out and grabbed it, crushing the faint fluorescent light!

Hum—! As the fluorescent orb shattered, a strange power of rules seeped into Chen Aoyun's body, and upon feeling the effect of this power of rules, Chen Aoyun's eyes instantly brightened.

"Enhancement? It's an enhancement! Heaven does not want me dead!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Aoyun decisively applied the enhancement to speed!

"It's effective! With the Dharma Image's blessing, enhancing the hero's speed value equals enhancing my own speed! Although I didn't pull away from the High-level Demon, this speed is enough to keep me from being blocked by the High-level Demon! The mountain pass is right before my eyes, as long as I'm not blocked, everything will be fine!"

With the clone no longer in danger, the main body on the star disk let out a long sigh of relief.

Utilizing the authority of the [Strategist], the voice of Chen Aoyun's main body appeared in the ears of Fan Ling and Zhao Hongxiu.

"[Roleplayer] Fan Ling, have the Engineers evacuate the construction area immediately, I am going to activate the [wonder]!"

"[Roleplayer] Zhao Hongxiu, Swordsman Legion, assemble and stand by! Once the [wonder] is activated, enter the formation immediately! Block the enemy!"

As Chen Aoyun's voice rang in their ears, Zhao Hongxiu leaped off the city wall like an arrow released from a bow, a dull military horn sounded within the mountain pass, Zhao Hongxiu drew her sword, and shouted sharply: "All troops! Form up—!!"

A murderous sword aura instantly permeated the area. Fan Ling was also directing the Engineers to evacuate the construction area.

However, Fan Ling's expression was somewhat grave; he knew that Chen Aoyun had escaped the crisis of being caught by the High-level Demon, but the current completion rate of the mountain pass still left him feeling unconfident.

Fan Ling quickly reported through the dialogue mechanism between the [Roleplayer] and the [Strategist], his voice carrying undisguised heaviness and shame: "Mr. Strategist, time is too tight, I only have one 'Engineer Legion' here. Although Hongxiu's 'Swordsman Legion' is also helping, the Swordsman Legion is not good at construction under these rules. With the cooperation of the 'Engineer Legion' and the 'Swordsman Legion', the completion rate of this mountain pass is currently only 12%!"

The 12% construction rate made it hard for Fan Ling to speak, and even the calm-minded Zhao Hongxiu frowned into a 'river' shape upon hearing this figure.

The completion rate was too low! The completion rate of a building is directly linked to the intensity and duration of the [wonder].

With such a low completion rate, how could the [wonder] hold back that endless army of demons? How could it withstand the fiercely flaming High-level Demon?

One must know that ordinary High-level Demons are extremely dangerous and troublesome existences, let alone in this Game of National Destiny, where the High-level Demon is also blessed by the 'Grand Rules'!

"How could it be so low?" Zhao Hongxiu asked, "The construction of buildings in the Game of National Destiny is different from the real world; it should be built very quickly. Even if Mr. Strategist didn't give us much time, it shouldn't be below 40%, it's only 12%!"

Fan Ling made a bitter face, "It's due to the interference of Sakura Country's items! Sakura Country used a 'Grand Strategy' type item to interfere with the construction efficiency of all buildings in this 'Chess Square'! Affected by the items activated by Sakura Country, the 'Engineer' construction speed is reduced to 70%, the building formation speed is reduced by 30%, the environment's impact on the buildings is increased by 10%, and the error probability during construction..."

Zhao Hongxiu gripped her sword hilt tightly, her bones creaking from the force, her face covered in frost, and she gritted her teeth: "It's Sakura Country again! When did Dragon Country provoke Sakura Country? Why are they targeting us like this! With only 12% completion, Mr. Strategist, what should we do..."

Chen Aoyun's voice rang in their ears, "Only 12% completion? That's enough! The plan remains unchanged. Zhao Hongxiu, once I activate the [wonder], enter immediately! Fan Ling, retreat to the safe zone!"

Enough? Facing that overwhelming tide of demons, facing that 12% completion rate that was like a joke... Mr. Strategist actually said... it's enough?!

Zhao Hongxiu and Fan Ling exchanged a look, both seeing the unbelievable shock in each other's eyes. But the resolute and decisive tone in Chen Aoyun's words was like a stabilizing needle, forcefully suppressing their worries.

Zhao Hongxiu took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing all doubts and unease, her gaze becoming sharp as a knife again, staring fixedly at the approaching figure in white robes, and the rolling, all-consuming darkness behind him. "Understood!" Zhao Hongxiu's voice echoed over the mountain pass.