Chapter 42: The Plan Has Changed

"Provide fire support to that area." Yingzhou calmly issued instructions to the newly summoned Krieg Artillery.

As soon as Yingzhou's voice fell, those Krieg Artillery immediately sprang into action. They operated the Self-propelled Artillery quickly and skillfully, loading the Rune Bullets into the breech while carefully adjusting the firing angle and distance to ensure every Rune Bullet could accurately hit the target.

After completing a series of preparations, the ten Self-propelled Artillery roared in unison, emitting a deafening boom. The Rune Bullets poured out like raindrops, flying toward the enemy positions in front of the First Defense Line.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Dense explosions rang out, dust flew, and smoke filled the air. The swarms of Swift Zerg charging toward the First Defense Line suffered heavy losses instantly; they were blown to pieces by the Rune Bullets before they could even react, leaving not even a complete corpse behind.

Yingzhou watched the scene before him and breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. He knew that although this round of shelling had successfully repelled the Swift Zerg, it could not completely wipe them out. Therefore, he decisively ordered: "Intermittent fire support."

Following Yingzhou's order, the Krieg Artillery became busy again. They continuously adjusted the angle and firing rhythm of the artillery, launching a round of Rune Bullets at intervals to maintain suppression of the enemy.

After ensuring the First Defense Line was temporarily safe, Yingzhou turned and returned to the trench. He needed to replenish the vacant defensive forces as soon as possible to avoid being exploited by the Swift Zerg. Thus, he began summoning more Krieg soldiers, preparing to meet the intense battle to come.

Under Yingzhou's command, this batch of Krieg soldiers quickly headed to the Second Defense Line and made preparations for battle.

With the fire support, the First Defense Line was finally held against the Zerg's offensive, but nearly half of the Krieg soldiers guarding the First Defense Line had already been lost; a few more attacks, and the Zerg would break through the first line of defense.

"Yingzhou, quite a few survivors fleeing the Zerg pursuit have arrived here. They want to come to our camp. What do you think..." Ajie had just gone out and, upon returning, explained the situation to Yingzhou, wanting to see Yingzhou's opinion.

Yingzhou did not hesitate in the slightest and said directly, "Let them go to the Second Defense Line."

"Alright, no problem." Seeing that Yingzhou had arranged for these survivors to go to the Second Defense Line without a moment's hesitation, Ajie had no objections and turned to go out to make arrangements.

Kent asked in confusion, "I don't quite understand, why send these survivors to the Second Defense Line? The First Defense Line is clearly about to collapse."

Yingzhou looked at the smoke-filled battlefield in the distance and said steadily, "The Second Defense Line is a trial for our soldiers after training for so long. As long as they go through the tempering of the battlefield, they will become qualified warriors. The same goes for those survivors. I want to shatter the fact that Humans cannot resist the Zerg."

Upon hearing Yingzhou's words, Kent nodded, "You're right. Since we've already done this, we'll have to face the Zerg sooner or later. It's just that, at this rate, there won't be many people left alive, right?"

"I won't let them all die there, but at the very least, they must realize the cruelty of war."

After Ajie placed these nearly 100 survivors into the Second Defense Line, some commotion clearly appeared in the crowd.

"Why bring us here? It's very close to those Zerg!"

"Let me leave! I want to go to the rear!"

But those few people who spoke out hadn't said more than a few words before they were dragged out by some slightly stronger survivors.

Ajie also spoke slowly at this time, "The people of our camp are all here. Since you want to take refuge in our camp, then contribute some effort. No one will help you for free. If you want to survive, then fight the Zerg. If you want to cause trouble, then your fate will be just like theirs."

The two people who had just been causing trouble in the crowd had their necks snapped and were thrown aside, motionless.

Seeing that these people no longer spoke, Ajie nodded to the few people who had drunk the Gene Enhancement Serum and went back to report to Yingzhou.

Seeing that not a single Krieg soldier at the First Defense Line was frightened by these Zerg, the warriors at the Second Defense Line also felt a surge of determination.

Although those soldiers wearing gas masks didn't usually speak much, their performance on the battlefield made these survivors feel admiration.

The Zerg surged toward the First Defense Line like a tide again, and this time, the Swift Zerg swarm was mixed with some small, green-skinned Zerg.

These Zerg looked relatively fragile, and the Krieg soldiers easily blew them apart. However, when the bodies of these green Zerg ruptured, their blood splashed onto the ground and immediately emitted wisps of white smoke.

Seeing this new type of Zerg, Yingzhou's mood became heavy. Originally, he had planned to let the survivors at the Second Defense Line deal with the Swift Zerg to hone their combat ability and courage.

But now, the appearance of this Zerg with corrosive blood had completely disrupted his previous plan.

Yingzhou had the Krieg Artillery continue to provide fire support to the First Defense Line; he himself did not have many people here.

Yingzhou turned to Geerman and Marie, who were hiding in the trench, and said, "You two hide here properly. I'm going to the Second Defense Line with the others to provide support; the Zerg are going to play hard this time."

"Brother Yingzhou, you and Brother Charlie must be careful." Marie looked at Yingzhou with worry and said in a low voice.

Yingzhou nodded and headed to the Second Defense Line with Ajie and Kent.

"Yingzhou, this is a bit different from what you planned before." Kent followed behind Yingzhou, confused.

"The plan has changed. We must stop the Zerg at the Second Defense Line." Yingzhou quickened his pace and said in a serious tone.

Soon, the three of them arrived at the Second Defense Line and saw that the Krieg soldiers at the First Defense Line had suffered heavy casualties. Fortunately, there was fire support, otherwise, this wave of Zerg would have reached the Second Defense Line.

Yingzhou arrived at the Second Defense Line and found that the trained survivors showed no signs of low morale, but the survivors just brought over by Ajie were sighing in low voices in the trenches.

Yingzhou turned on his Chainsword. The "buzzing" sound drew most people's attention. Yingzhou's strong body combined with the oppressive feeling of the Chainsword made these survivors hold their breath, not daring to sigh.

"Did you come here now expecting us to use something to protect you? Why should we do that? Listen, if you want to survive, then pick up weapons, use whatever is available around you, and show these Zerg who persecute you and treat you like livestock a thing or two!"

Yingzhou paused and continued, "You were able to survive in the Hunting Ground; I believe your survival instincts are no weaker than anyone else's. Although there are the corpses and blood of our fellow Humans in front, there are even more of those Zerg! They are not much stronger than us! If there is anyone who still feels they cannot fight, leave immediately; I will not stop you."

As Yingzhou's words ended, a commotion arose in the crowd.