Chapter 753: They Are Coming (1)

At the entrance of the canyon, only burning wreckage, twisted metal fragments, lingering gunpowder smoke, and a heavy stench of blood remained.

The Krieg vehicle formation was nearly paralyzed, and the surviving Krieg soldiers stood silently behind the Krieg Lieutenant.

Jaghatai Khan stood in the center of the battlefield, his Chain Saw held low, cooling liquid metal dripping from the blade's teeth.

He surveyed this battlefield forged of Steel, blood, and sacrifice, his gaze sweeping over the silent figures of the Krieg soldiers before finally landing on Lieutenant Suo'er.

"Task complete, Lieutenant." The Khan's voice was steady, carrying a trace of imperceptible respect, "You held the position."

The Krieg Lieutenant straightened his blood-stained back, gave a standard military salute, and his voice remained cold.

"Loyalty to the Emperor, it is my duty, my lord."

The soldiers behind him also silently raised their broken arms in a salute.

Jaghatai Khan nodded slightly.

He turned and walked toward his Assault Bike; the engine roared to life once more, and the white figure would soon vanish into the wilderness again to hunt the next batch of Cyberk Alien.

First Defense Zone Outer City garbage dump.

After a night of rest, Huo Ke specifically sought out Sherlock and his group, and seeing Dalton holding a toolbox and assembling something, he opened his mouth to ask Sherlock, who was to the side.

"Sherlock, is there any news from the Ninth Defense Zone? I have already sent people to contact nearby survivor teams today."

Sherlock manipulated his own right prosthetic limb, his chapped lips parted slightly, and he spoke.

"No, there is still no news from the Ninth Defense Zone, and besides, the Communication Device cannot be used to transmit constantly, or it will allow the Cyberk to lock onto our position."

Huo Ke nodded, his gaze sweeping over Dalton, who was buried in his toolbox clanging away not far off.

Dalton was assembling a pile of discarded parts into a device of unknown purpose.

At this moment, Sherlock raised his eyes to look at Huo Ke and asked, "Then, is there any response from the survivors here?"

"There is no definite news back yet for the time being."

Huo Ke sighed and wiped the grime from his face.

"Usually, for the sake of safety, everyone hides far away, minding their own business. But it's different now, Sherlock. The news you brought—the Giant Weapon Factory, and the hope of the Ninth Defense Zone—is both poison and antidote. Relying only on the two hundred or so people I have holed up in the Sewage Treatment Plant, plus you few."

He gestured toward Sherlock's squad and continued.

"It's not even enough to fill the gaps in the Cyberk's teeth. If they really launch a large-scale sweep, we won't even be able to organize a decent resistance. To survive until reinforcements arrive, we must band together; the more people, the longer we can drag it out, and the greater the hope."

Sherlock was silent for a moment, his expression complex.

He understood Huo Ke's worry, but the risk of gathering was equally significant.

"I know," he finally said, "the risk is great, but... there really is no better way. I only hope that the Ninth Defense Zone..."

His words were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching from afar and the sound of deliberately lowered conversation.

Huo Ke turned his head to look and saw Bamian walking over with a few figures.

"Captain."

Bamian walked up and said to Huo Ke.

"The people have been brought."

Huo Ke stepped forward, reached out his hand, and said with a smile.

"Huo Ke. Thank you for coming; the situation is urgent, so I'll skip the pleasantries. This is Sherlock, the intelligence was brought by him."

Sherlock nodded toward them.

A burly man just gave a grunt in response.

A thin woman lingered on Sherlock and the team members behind him for a moment, pushed up her glasses, and said in a low voice.

"H-hello."

"Bamian has probably explained it."

Huo Ke got straight to the point and said.

"Sherlock and his team have made contact with the Ninth Defense Zone; there might be a capable unit there considering support.

But we are like targets right now, there are too few of us, and we won't last until reinforcements arrive.

We need everyone's strength, combined together, to find a safer place or a place easier to defend, to stall for time."

As soon as Huo Ke finished speaking, the burly man spoke up.

"Ninth Defense Zone? Is it reliable? That place sounds even further away than ours! And the Giant Weapon Factory? A place like that, getting close is just asking for death!"

His tone was full of suspicion.

The thin woman crossed her arms and analyzed.

"The risk is high. The gathering target is too large, and it's easy to be wiped out by the Cyberk in one go.

But... if the support from the Ninth Defense Zone is true, this might be our last chance.

We need definite intelligence, Mr. Sherlock, what evidence do you have?"

The burly man also chimed in.

"Yes... yes! Communication records? Coordinates? Anything that can prove it! The unit from the Ninth Defense Zone... what is their designation? Who is the Commander?"

Sherlock was just about to explain the coordinate fragments and images he had sent out, as well as the commander referred to as "Father."

Just at this moment—

"Buzz... buzzzz... beep beep beep—!!"

A sudden buzzing sound erupted from Dalton's toolbox!

Everyone was startled, instantly falling silent, weapons raised subconsciously, nervously pointing toward the source of the sound!

Dalton himself also jerked his head up, his face full of astonishment, which was immediately replaced by wild joy!

He scrambled to push aside the parts on the top layer of the toolbox, revealing the temporarily assembled, rough-cased Data Transmitter/Receiver underneath.

At this moment, a red indicator light on it that had been dim was flashing and jumping frantically!

"It's it! The Communication Device! It has a response!"

Dalton's voice changed pitch due to excitement as he rapidly adjusted the knobs and connection wires.

"It's the communication frequency of the Ninth Defense Zone! They are responding! Good heavens, they responded!"

Sherlock's heart instantly jumped to his throat, and he rushed to Dalton's side in a single stride.

"Quick! Patch it through!"

The gazes of Huo Ke, Bamian, and the others all turned toward that crude instrument flashing with red light, and they held their breath.

The air was permeated with a sense of anticipation and tension that was nearly solidified.

Dalton's fingers were trembling; he pressed a button hard, then quickly plugged in a crude audio interface, shoved a pair of worn-out headphones into Sherlock's ears, and shoved another pair into his own.

After a brief burst of electrical static, a clear, steady male voice rang out in the headphones of Sherlock and Dalton.

"Survivors of the First Defense Zone, Sherlock squad, this is the Ninth Defense Zone support unit.

Your coordinates and intelligence have been confirmed, value assessment: highest level! Destroy the target!

We have already dispatched support to the edge of the First Defense Zone! Estimated time of arrival: 60 minutes! Repeat: 60 minutes!

Please hold on! Provide guidance! Provide a specific landing location."

Sherlock's blood instantly boiled! He looked up abruptly, looked at Huo Ke and the others, and light ignited in his eyes.

"They are coming! The Ninth Defense Zone troops! 60 minutes!"