Chapter 1321: Tidal Zerg (2)

In the sky, countless Zerg creatures are descending.

Their sizes range from a fist to a house, and their forms vary, but every one of them is lethal.

They are dropped from orbit by Bio-ships, pouring down onto the planet's surface like a torrential rain.

On the ground, the defense forces of the Canaan Star Alliance are resisting to the death.

General Merisi, Commander-in-Chief of the 41st Group Army, stands on the observation deck of the city defense headquarters, watching the dense black dots in the sky.

His gray military uniform is covered in dust and bloodstains, and the energy sword in his hand has already had its edge rolled.

"General! The East District defense line has been breached! Those Zerg have already entered the residential area!"

The Communications Officer's voice comes through the Communication Device.

Merisi's fist clenches.

"Order the 3rd Armored Division to plug the gap! Tell them, even if they fight to the last man, they must not let the bugs enter the city center!"

"Yes!"

He turns to look at another Communications Officer.

"What about the West District?"

The Communications Officer's face is deathly pale.

"General... the West District... the West District has fallen..."

Merisi's pupils contract violently.

"Fallen? What about the 21st Infantry Division?"

The Communications Officer shakes his head.

"The 21st Infantry Division... completely wiped out. The number of Zerg is too great; they burrowed out from underground, fell from the sky, and swarmed in from all directions. The soldiers didn't even have time to fire their weapons before they were submerged."

Merisi is silent for a second.

"What about the North District?"

The Communications Officer pulls up the data.

"The North District is still holding. The 4th Armored Division and the 72nd Infantry Division are resisting by relying on the building complexes. But the number of Zerg is constantly increasing; they cannot hold on for much longer."

Merisi grits his teeth.

"Notify them to hold on for another two hours. The Spaceport still has one last wave of transport ships; evacuate as many people as possible."

The Communications Officer nods.

"Yes!"

Merisi turns and looks out the window.

In the sky, a Canaan Transport Ship is taking off.

It is escorted by dozens of small assault ships, their Energy Beams carving blinding trajectories across the starry sky.

The Zerg's flying creatures swarm toward them like black clouds, getting shot down, only to surge up again—endless.

The transport ship's engine is struck by a massive Bio-Cannon, the light of the explosion blooming in the sky as debris scatters.

The civilians on board are instantly turned into Ashes.

Merisi closes his eyes.

"General! The civilian evacuation point in the South District has been surrounded by the Zerg!" another Communications Officer shouts, "At least five million civilians are trapped there!"

Merisi opens his eyes.

"Send troops to rescue them!"

"We can't spare any troops! All units are currently engaged; there are no reserves left!"

Merisi is silent for a long time.

Then he says.

"Notify them to organize the civilians to break out on their own. Run as many as can run."

The Communications Officer lowers his head.

"Yes, General."

South City District, civilian evacuation point.

This place was originally a massive logistics warehouse, temporarily converted into an evacuation center.

Over five million civilians are gathered here, waiting for transport ships to take them away.

But what they waited for was not transport ships, but the Zerg.

The first batch of Zerg burrowed out from underground.

They are Nydus Worms, snake-like in form, their massive Scything Talons tearing apart any metal.

They broke through the soil from beneath the ground, overturning the warehouse floor and Devouring hundreds of civilians who could not escape in time.

Screams, cries, and wails resounded through the sky.

"Bugs! The bugs have come out from underground!"

Someone shouts.

The crowd surges madly toward the exit.

Trampling one another, the elderly and children are pushed down and crushed underfoot.

Life is worthless here.

A Canaan infantry squad rushes over.

"This way! Go through the side door!"

The leading officer shouts.

The civilians turn toward the side door.

But the Zerg were already swarming in from all directions.

From the ground, from the sky, from underground.

Their numbers were too great, so many that guns and cannons could never finish them off.

The soldiers fired frantically.

Energy Beams struck the Zerg's carapaces, but more Zerg passed through the barrage, pouncing toward the crowd.

A Blade Bug leaped into the crowd, its sharp sickle-like forelimbs sweeping across, and over a dozen civilians were sliced in two.

A Cannon Bug spat out Bio-Plasma, hitting the crowd, and dozens of people were vaporized instantly.

A Brain Bug hovered in the air, releasing a Psychic Shock, and hundreds of people fell at once, bleeding from their seven orifices.

The officer watched this scene, their eyes filled with despair.

"Retreat! Retreat!" he roared, "Retreat to the North District!"

The soldiers shielded the civilians as they retreated toward the North District.

Behind them, the Zerg were Devouring those who could not run in time.

A young soldier stopped and turned to face the swarming Zerg.

"Run! I'll cover you!"

He raised his Armor-Piercing Gun and fired frantically. One shot, two shots, three shots.

One Zerg fell, ten more swarmed up.

He ran out of ammunition, drew his energy sword, and charged into the Zerg swarm.

He was submerged in an instant.

Dures, Spaceport.

This was the final evacuation point for the entire planet.

Massive transport ships took off and landed between the berths, sending survivors to the fleet in orbit in batches.

But the number of transport ships was far from enough, and the Zerg were getting closer and closer.

The Commander of the Spaceport was a middle-aged woman named Weilali.

"How many ships are left?"

She asked.

The Adjutant looked at the Data Pad.

"There are twelve transport ships remaining. But the Zerg have already broken through the North District defense line; they are expected to reach the Spaceport in twenty minutes."

Weilali fell into Silence for a second.

"Load the ships. Prioritize women, children, and the elderly. Soldiers will bring up the rear."

The Adjutant nodded and turned to relay the order.

Weilali walked to the window and looked at the burning city in the distance.

In the sky, the Zerg's flying creatures blotted out the sun like dark clouds.

The fighting on the ground drew closer, with the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and screams rising one after another.

"General, the North District defense line has fallen."

The Communications Officer's voice came through.

Weilali closed her eyes.

"Understood."

She turned around to face everyone in the Command Center.

"Everyone, prepare for battle. We must hold the Spaceport until the last ship takes off."

The officers stood at attention and saluted.

"Yes!"

Twenty minutes later, the Zerg reached the Spaceport.

They swarmed in from all directions: on the ground, in the sky, and underground.

Their numbers were too many to count, submerging every inch of land like an ocean.

The Canaan soldiers relied on the fortifications and resisted desperately.

Energy Beams exploded within the swarm, sending flesh and blood flying.

But the Zerg behind stepped over the corpses of their companions to continue forward, without fear, without hesitation.

A massive Executioner Bug broke through the first line of defense.

Its huge claws tore a gap in the fortifications.

The soldiers fired frantically, but the Energy Beams hitting its carapace left only shallow scorch marks.

The Executioner Bug's claws swept across, and over a dozen soldiers were flattened into meat paste.

Another Executioner Bug charged in from the side, collapsing the second line of defense.

The soldiers began to break.

"Run! We can't hold them!"

Someone shouted.

The soldiers turned and ran.

But the Zerg's speed was far greater than theirs.

The Blade Bugs caught up, their forelimbs waving, and the soldiers fell one by one.

The Cannon Bugs spat Bio-Plasma, which exploded among the crowd.

Weilali stood at the entrance of the Command Center, gripping an energy sword in her hand.

"Hold them back! Hold them back!"

She roared.

But there were fewer than one hundred soldiers left by her side.

The swarm surged over.

Weilali raised her energy sword and charged into the swarm.

"For Canaan!"

Her figure vanished into the swarm.