Chapter 426

A long silence.

Translation: "A long silence." Could be "A lengthy silence." Keep concise: "A long silence."

An Jing Tian slowly sat back down in his seat, his voice slightly hoarse:

Translation: "An Jing Tian slowly sat back in his seat, his voice somewhat hoarse:" Need to keep punctuation? The Chinese line ends with a colon (：). We should keep colon? Probably keep as is. We'll output: "An Jing Tian slowly sat back in his seat, his voice somewhat hoarse:" (no extra spaces). Ensure single line.

"Can you confirm?"

The phrase means "Can you confirm?" and should be quoted as "Can you confirm?" in English.

"Could it be that Old Liang misjudged?"

If we can barely accept it within the Second Level, then one more is just one more.

As long as Lin Dui resolves the future event smoothly, Second-Level mutants are just bound to die.

At worst, we retreat a bit sooner, with everyone holding the core fortress.

Perhaps casualties will be even greater, given that it's a speed-type mutant.

But, if it's Third Level...

Unimaginable.

Translation: "At worst, we retreat a bit sooner, and everyone holds fast at the core stronghold." Let's translate: "At worst, we retreat a bit earlier, and everyone holds the core fortress." We'll output: "At worst, we retreat a bit sooner, with everyone holding fast at the core stronghold."

Even Lin Dui couldn't stand against a Third-Level mutant, right?

Translation: "Perhaps casualties would be even heavier, after all it's a speed-type mutant." We'll output: "Perhaps casualties would be even greater, after all it's a speed-type mutant."

Back in the Amoeba Worm instance, Lin Dui barely managed to hold off a Third-Level monster by relying on the Black Dragon to use the Causal Sequence, and retrieved Zhang Tie's arm.

As one of Lin An's closest associates, he of course knows that the Black Dragon has fallen into a dormant state.

Unless... unless Lin An forcibly uses the Causal Sequence again.

Translation: "Unimaginable." Or "Cannot be imagined." We'll output: "Unimaginable."

If that happens, Lin Dui is likely to lose control.

Translation: "Even Lin Dui couldn't stand against a Third Level, right?" We'll output: "Even Lin Dui couldn't handle a Third Level, right?"

The gap between Third Level and Second Level is like a qualitative change.

Chu Anping nodded calmly:

"The information is certain, there will be no mistake."

Translation: "As one of Lin An's closest companions, he of course knew the Black Dragon had fallen into a dormant state." We'll output: "As one of Lin An's closest companions, he of course knew the Black Dragon had fallen into a dormant state."

"I brought the transmission equipment researched by the Arms Test Institute for Liang Shaoguang, and he sent back a simple image."

Translation: "Unless... unless Lin An forcibly uses the Causal Sequence again." We'll output: "Unless... unless Lin An forcibly uses the Causal Sequence again."

"The image only captured a white afterimage of the mutant."

Translation: "But if that happens, Lin Dui is very likely to lose control..." We'll output: "But if that happens, Lin Dui is very likely to lose control..."

"It was extremely fast; even he only realized it was a monster after seeing the corpse left by the mutant's killing."

Translation: "The gap between Third Level and Second Level is like a qualitative change." We'll output: "The gap between Third Level and Second Level is like a qualitative change."

While speaking, Chu Anping steadily handed over the picture in front of him:

Translation: "Chu An calmly nodded:" We'll output: "Chu An calmly nodded:"

"The deceased were members of an unknown other faction, seemingly following the corpse tide closer."

Translation: "The information is certain, there won't be a mistake." We'll output: "The information is certain, there won't be a mistake."

"Upon encountering this mutant, everyone died."

I brought the transmission equipment researched by the Arms Test Institute for Liang Shaoguang, and he sent back a simple image.

In the picture, the corpse with its heart torn out is unrecognizable, appearing to have been brutally killed by hand.

Translation: "In the image, the mutant only left a white afterimage." We'll output: "In the image, the mutant only left a white afterimage."

Before Jing Tian and the others could react, Chu An continued:

Translation: "It was extremely fast; even he only realized it was a monster after seeing the corpse left from the mutant's killing." We'll output: "It was extremely fast; even he only realized it was a monster after seeing the corpse left from the mutant's killing."

"Things have come to this; we can only do our utmost."

Translation: "As he spoke, Chu An steadily pushed forward the image:" We'll output: "As he spoke, Chu An steadily pushed forward the image:"

"Perhaps the monster's ultimate goal isn't necessarily us, even..."

Translation: "The deceased were members of an unknown other faction, apparently having followed the corpse tide over." We'll output: "The deceased were members of an unknown other faction, apparently having followed the corpse tide over."

"This mutant might possibly clash with the armored division of the Wangjiang Military Region."

Upon encountering this mutant, everyone died.

"It's not necessarily all bad."

Translation: "On the image, the corpse with its heart ripped out was unrecognizable, appearing to have been beaten to death barehanded." We'll output: "On the image, the corpse with its heart ripped out was unrecognizable, appearing to have been beaten to death barehanded."

A pale consolation.

Translation: "Before Jing Tian and the others could react, Chu An continued:" We'll output: "Before Jing Tian and the others could react, Chu An continued:"

An Jing Tian gave a bitter smile and could only let out a long sigh.

Translation: "Things have come to this; we can only do our utmost." We'll output: "Things have come to this; we can only do our utmost."

If the mutant's route really is nearby, it's highly likely to be drawn by the gunfire of Long'an Base.

Translation: "Perhaps the monster's ultimate goal isn't necessarily us, even..." We'll output: "Perhaps the monster's ultimate goal isn't necessarily us, even..."

Such monsters are easily attracted by large amounts of flesh and blood.

Translation: "This mutant might very well collide with the armored regiment of the Wangjiang Military Region." We'll output: "This mutant might very well collide with the armored regiment of the Wangjiang Military Region."

After a moment, Wen Ya suddenly spoke up to Chu An:

Translation: "It's not necessarily all bad." We'll output: "It's not necessarily all bad."

"Have you told Lin An?"

Translation: "A pale consolation." We'll output: "A pale consolation."

Chu Daixiao shook his head, merely turning his gaze toward the corpse tide outside the city:

Translation: "An Jing Tian gave a bitter smile and could only let out a long sigh." We'll output: "An Jing Tian gave a bitter smile and could only let out a long sigh."

"It's unnecessary."

Translation: "If the mutant's route really is nearby, it's highly likely to be drawn by the gunfire from Long'an Base." We'll output: "If the mutant's route really is nearby, it's highly likely to be drawn by the gunfire from Long'an Base."

"All he needs to do now is hold the core."

Translation: "Such monsters are easily attracted by large amounts of flesh and blood." We'll output: "Such monsters are easily attracted by large amounts of flesh and blood."

"Nothing compares to this."

Translation: "After a moment, Wen Ya suddenly spoke up to Chu An:" We'll output: "After a moment, Wen Ya suddenly spoke up to Chu An:"

As long as we get past the time point of the future event, there is still hope.

Translation: "Have you told Lin An?" We'll output: "Have you told Lin An?"

Telling him this now will only distract him.

Translation: "Colonel Chu shook his head, merely turning his gaze to the corpse tide outside the city:" We'll output: "Colonel Chu shook his head, merely turning his gaze to the corpse tide outside the city:"

What we need to do is help him share the pressure.

Translation: "It's unnecessary." We'll output: "It's unnecessary."

Once we inform him of this, it's easy to cause Lin An to make a mistake in judgment.

Translation: "All he needs to do now is hold the core." We'll output: "All he needs to do now is hold the core."

Having said that, Chu An stood up and walked to the window of the command room:

Translation: "Nothing compares to this." We'll output: "Nothing compares to this."

"I've already told him that our situation is good."

Translation: "As long as we get past the time point of the future event, there is still hope." We'll output: "As long as we get past the time point of the future event, there is still hope."

Mo Ling hasn't acted yet, the electromagnetic cannon is still usable. Even the high-strength steel cables and sandworms used to restrain the mutant are useless.

Translation: "Telling him these things now will only distract him." We'll output: "Telling him these things now will only distract him."

"We can hold it off."

Translation: "What we need to do is help him share the pressure." We'll output: "What we need to do is help him share the pressure."

After saying that, Chu An suddenly turned his head and gave a stiff smile:

Translation: "Once we inform him of this, it's easy for Lin An to make a wrong judgment." We'll output: "Once we inform him of this, it's easy for Lin An to make a wrong judgment."

"Trust Lin An, and trust ourselves as well."

Translation: "Having said that, Chu An stood up and walked to the window of the command room:" We'll output: "Having said that, Chu An stood up and walked to the window of the command room:"

Around the tightly closed gate of the core fortress, the area has been cleared out.

Translation: "I've already told him our situation is fine." We'll output: "I've already told him our situation is fine."

Standing at the highest vantage point, Lin An remains motionless like a statue.

Translation: "Mo Ling hasn't made a move yet, the electromagnetic cannon is still usable. Even the high-tensile steel cables and sandworms used to restrain the mutant are useless." We'll output: "Mo Ling hasn't made a move yet, the electromagnetic cannon is still usable. Even the high-tensile steel cables and sandworms used to restrain the mutant are useless."

With eyes closed and breath regulated, his mental power envelops a radius of a hundred meters, leaving no movement unnoticed.

Translation: "We can hold it off." We'll output: "We can hold it off."

Chu An recently informed him that the situation is good.

Translation: "After saying that, Chu An suddenly turned his head and gave a stiff smile:" We'll output: "After saying that, Chu An suddenly turned his head and gave a stiff smile:"

Let him not worry.

Translation: "Trust Lin An, and trust ourselves." We'll output: "Trust Lin An, and trust ourselves."

Regarding this, Lin An believed it eighty percent.

Translation: "Around the tightly shut gates of the core stronghold, the area has been cleared." We'll output: "Around the tightly shut gates of the core stronghold, the area has been cleared."

The core fortress is less than two kilometers from the city wall, and from here he can hear much activity at the defense line.

Translation: "Standing at the highest point of view, Lin An stood motionless like a statue." We'll output: "Standing at the highest point of view, Lin An stood motionless like a statue."

Apart from the initial mutant charge onto the wall, the subsequent handling has been quite good.

Translation: "With eyes closed, regulating his breath, his mental power enveloped a radius of a hundred meters; any movement could not escape his perception." We'll output: "With eyes closed, regulating his breath, his mental power enveloped a radius of a hundred meters; any movement could not escape his perception."

He couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion and relief.

Translation: "Not long ago, Chu An informed him that the situation was good." We'll output: "Not long ago, Chu An informed him that the situation was good."

Don't let him worry.

Translation: "Let him not worry." We'll output: "Let him not worry."

Lin An was about eighty percent sure about this.

Translation: "Regarding this, Lin An believed it eighty percent." We'll output: "Regarding this, Lin An believed it eighty percent."

The core fortification is less than two kilometers from the wall, and from here he could hear plenty of activity along the defense line.

Translation: "The core stronghold is less than two kilometers from the city wall; from here he can hear much activity at the defense line." We'll output: "The core stronghold is less than two kilometers from the city wall; from here he can hear much activity at the defense line."

Apart from the mutants that initially stormed the wall, the subsequent handling was quite good.

Translation: "Aside from the initial mutant charge onto the wall, the subsequent handling has been quite good." We'll output: "Aside from the initial mutant charge onto the wall, the subsequent handling has been quite good."

He couldn't help but feel a mix of wistfulness and relief.

Translation: "He couldn't help but feel a sense of sigh and relief." We'll output: "He couldn't help but feel a sense of sigh and relief."

the Safe Zone that I personally led the team to build finally had a rough outline.

Under such a zombie tide offensive, he stubbornly held the line quite well without taking action.

Seeing that most of the facilities around had been repaired, Lin An couldn't help but smile.

This is his safe zone, the apocalyptic city belonging to him and his companions.

If it weren't for Mo Ling's matter, his mood would be even better now.

Gao Tian kid finally didn't disappoint me bringing him along when idle; the Awakened Ones trained by Jing Tian also cooperate quite well.

Wen Ya also worked very hard.

With nothing to do, Lin An couldn't help but think a lot.

If Zhang Tie were still here, that would be great.

To be honest, he kind of misses that bear-like simpleton.

If things go smoothly, he must revive that bear-like simpleton no matter what.

At night, the overhead sky was unusually bright.

Under the moonlight.

The inner core stronghold deep inside was somewhat quiet.

On the walls hidden in the shadows, shifting soldiers could be faintly seen.

It was less than an hour until midnight.

There was no abnormality, as if the scene Yun Lin had predicted did not exist.

Even Lin An specially had Yun Lin predict Gao Tian again, but they got no useful information.

Of course, it can't be said to be completely useless.

The foreseen vision was entirely distorted, dark.

In Yun Lin and Chu An's speculation, the future vision underwent a change.

This random fragment could be Gao Tian sleeping, or it could be death.

The former foretold that Lin An solved the problem and held the base.

The latter foretold destruction.

But in Lin An's view, uncertainty is a good thing.

That means Yun Lin's foreseen future is not necessarily unchangeable.

Just like a movie's ending, there are many possible outcomes.

But she saw only one of the higher‑probability outcomes.

As for predicting others to judge the situation's direction, Chu An chose to give up.

Most likely, the futures of others are similarly distorted.

Time passed, thoughts in turmoil.

As the zombie tide's total assault drew nearer, the future of Mo Ling entering the core stronghold also drew nearer.

He couldn't help but use the team channel:

"Gao Tian, is anything abnormal on Mo Ling's side?"

"Did you bring her with you?"

On the front line, Gao Tian glanced at Mo Ling closely following him, then hesitated and shook his head:

"Captain Lin, everything is normal."

"Mo Ling also has nothing special, except her mood is a bit low..."

"The zombie tide's total assault is coming soon, but you don't need to worry; we can still hold out for a while."

"Colonel Chu said we can definitely hold out until you act."

Gao Tian let out a quiet sigh, gazing at the distant black line.

The zombie tide's total assault means the final showdown.

So far, the drill‑like second‑level mutant has not yet acted.

Even the mutants hidden within the zombie tide, we don't know what they do.

If nothing unexpected happens, we can indeed hold them off.

But there are too many unknown factors...

After ending the team channel, Lin An rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Still nothing unusual?

During this period he had considered countless possibilities and potential problems.

But no matter how he thought, he couldn't figure out how Mo Ling could disappear right under Gao Tian and the others' noses.

And how did she get into the core stronghold?

Moreover, why would she attack the spirit‑energy core?

Perhaps all of this will be revealed in an hour.

Lin An silently stood up and couldn't help but move his limbs.

The alloy‑forged core stronghold beneath his feet looked like a silent castle in the night.

And he was the watcher in the darkness.

But as the moonlight gradually shifted higher, the unease in his heart grew stronger.

Is it nervousness? Or the fear of the unknown.

The sword hummed, dark‑red blood mist slowly floating beside his body.

12:59 AM.

Faint clamor and alarm shattered the brief peace.

Lin An suddenly looked up toward the distant defense line.

The earth trembled slightly.

The walltop was brightly lit.

As the illumination flare rose, swaying with firelight.

The corpse tide launched a total attack.

They came.