Chapter 113

Ye Lingxi, Ling Zhantian, Wang Shichen, and Lei Lie were also seated, their gazes fixed on the holo-map.

Akatsuki Yue adjusted her glasses, speaking concisely.

“Captain, Wang Teng, Itachi’ve arrived just in time. The beast surge has begun.”

She tapped the map; dozens of red dots flashed across the vast region beyond Shanhai Pass, rapidly merging into a tidal line surging toward the wall.

“According to data from the Tianji Pavilion and forward outposts, this beast surge is catastrophic in scale, with the vanguard primarily composed of third- to fifth-tier beasts, interspersed with a few Wang-tier individuals.”

“Estimated arrival at the first alert line: three hours.”

Ling Zhantian clenched his fist, knuckles cracking: “Perfect timing! Just broke through and needed somewhere to stretch my limbs!”

Wang Teng leaned close to the screen, clicking his tongue: “Catastrophic? That’s a big one! More work to do!”

Jiang Xia stood, walked to the map, and stared calmly: “Akatsuki Yue, open the public channel. Request combat orders.”

“Understood.”

Soon, a steady, authoritative voice echoed through the briefing room via speaker—General Lei Zhan, now one of the frontline commanders.

“All combat units, attention: Beast surge alert confirmed! Execute Plan One, enter Level One Combat Readiness!”

“Team [Eagle], Itachi are assigned to the Third Mobile Response Group. Responsible for defense support and flexible counterattacks in sectors D7 through D9.”

“Itachi are authorized to launch preemptive strikes to eliminate high-tier beasts within the surge and disrupt their offensive rhythm!”

“Repeat: D7–D9 sectors, flexible defense, focus on elimination. Maintain communication, report battlefield status at all times!”

“Team [Eagle] acknowledges!” Jiang Xia replied firmly.

He turned to his team, eyes sharp: “Itachi all heard that? This is our first real battle since forming. Wang Teng, your curse-range control, coordinate with Lei Lie’s heavy firepower coverage.”

“Ling Zhantian, Itachi lead the vanguard and hold the front line. Wang Shichen, have the spatial coordinates been set?”

Wang Shichen lightly tapped the air; several tiny spatial beacon models floated into view: “Three in D7, two in D8, two in D9. Enough for emergency retreats or tactical jumps.”

“Lingxi, Itachi handle area control and eliminate any high-tier beasts that slip through. Akatsuki Yue, Itachi manage global intel support and electronic suppression.”

“Understood!” the team replied in unison, without hesitation.

“Check your gear. Departure in five minutes!”

Shanhai Pass, D8 Defense Sector.

The towering alloy wall, its runes glowing faintly under infused spiritual energy.

Above the wall, energy shield generators had begun preheating, emitting a low hum.

Jiang Xia’s armored troop carrier screeched to a halt behind the designated defense position. The team disembarked swiftly, taking their posts.

A faint stench of musk and sulfur hung in the air—the unmistakable sign of a massive beast congregation.

On the distant horizon, dust rolled like a sandstorm; the muffled roars of beasts drew nearer, growing clearer.

Wang Teng crouched behind the parapet, watching the beasts approach.

“Tch, this is way more intense than the training camp simulations. Old Xia, how many Wang-tier beasts do Itachi think we’ll take down today?”

Jiang Xia didn’t turn; his Sharingan eye had already activated, crimson pupils fixed on the distant surge.

“Don’t get distracted. Watch three o’clock—beneath that dust cloud, the energy signature is abnormal. There’s something big down there.”

Ye Lingxi stood atop a slightly elevated sniper perch, her ice-crystal longbow forming, radiating frost. Her crisp voice came through the team channel.

“Confirmed. Three o’clock, suspected concealed Wang-tier mid-stage Cave Demon Spider—specializes in ambush and corrosive slime spitting.”

Ling Zhantian rolled his neck; his heavy spiritual armor clicked as he grinned.

“Leave it to me! Perfect chance to test my new techniques!”

Lei Lie had already set up his custom six-barrel spiritual explosive cannon, its massive muzzle aimed at the vanguard, voice rumbling.

“Captain, fire coverage zones marked. Just waiting for them to enter range!”

Akatsuki Yue’s voice remained calm as ever over the channel: “Detected faint psychic interference waves within the surge. Countermeasures activated.”

At that moment, a piercing alarm blared across the wall!

“Beast surge within first attack range! All units, prepare for contact!”

“Boom—!”

Like a dam bursting, a dark tide of beasts slammed into Shanhai Pass’s energy shield and front-line physical barriers!

Explosions, roars, and the shriek of energy beams slicing through air merged into chaos!

“Fire!” The frontline commander’s order echoed through speakers.

Instantly, hundreds of guns roared from the wall! Dense beams of energy, spiritual missiles, and bursts of elemental abilities exploded into the surge, spraying blood and fire.

“Lei Lie!” Jiang Xia barked.

“Got it! Try this! Thunderfire Storm!”

Lei Lie pulled the trigger; six barrels spun wildly, unleashing a wall of searing thunderfire that instantly cleared a vast swath of his sector.

“Fatty, left flank—those burrowing worms are yours!” Jiang Xia commanded swiftly.

“Watch this! Five Elements Secret Spell: Entangling Vines!” Wang Teng swung his Soul-Eating Scythe; emerald vines erupted from the ground.

Instantly, dozens of giant burrowing worms charging forward slowed to a crawl, then were obliterated by follow-up firepower.

“Lingxi, eleven o’clock—that shadow cat preparing to leap!”

“Shhh!” A concentrated ice-blue arrow shot silently, freezing a Wang-tier early-stage Shadow Cat mid-leap into an ice statue, which then shattered.

The battle erupted into white-hot intensity. The beast surge seemed endless, crashing relentlessly against the line despite the ferocious firepower.

“This won’t last—we’re draining energy too fast!” Ling Zhantian smashed a fifth-tier Clawed Ape off the wall, shouting.

Jiang Xia’s Sharingan spun rapidly, instantly pinpointing several unusually strong energy signatures deep within the surge.

“Found the command nodes! Wang Shichen, teleport me there! Lingxi, Wang Teng—cover me!”

“Coordinates locked. D7 sector—spatial jump ready!” Wang Shichen formed hand seals.

“Understood!” Ye Lingxi’s bowstring snapped repeatedly, firing ice arrows to clear Jiang Xia’s path.

Wang Teng slammed his Soul-Eating Scythe into the ground: “Hundred Ghosts Night March!” Countless spectral shadows howled forth, momentarily blocking beasts surging from the flanks.

Jiang Xia’s figure vanished in a flash.

The next instant, he appeared nearly a hundred meters behind the surge, directly behind a Wang-tier late-stage Spirit Monkey roaring to command the surrounding beasts.

“Pthsh!”