So-called suicide squads were those carrying massive amounts of explosives, intending to detonate themselves close to the Beast Kings.
King-level demonic beasts were difficult to kill; the attacks from thermal weapons were easily evaded by them.
This was why Jiang Hai employed such tactics. Beast Kings had low intelligence and rarely refused humans who approached them.
Thus, in a short span, dozens of Beast Kings were blown to pieces. Some were ambushed and attacked by the suicide squads’ self-detonations, while others, after swallowing a human, were instantly pulverized by the ensuing blast.
To kill these dozens of Beast Kings, the suicide squads lost nearly five hundred of their own men.
However, an endless stream of Beast Kings still charged forward. Some, having witnessed the fate of their companions, had become wary and deliberately skirted around the approaching "little snacks."
Many of the suicide squad warriors could only sacrifice themselves in vain, but they had no other choice. If there was even a sliver of a chance to heavily injure a Beast King, they wouldn't let it pass.
"Ahhh!!!" Qin Tiance, watching this scene from afar, had his eyes turn red. He was filled with hatred! Hatred for the unfairness of heaven! For Da Qin having so little time!
Da Qin, with so many valiant warriors, should not be destroyed in such a manner!
On the city wall, Jiang Hai choked back sobs, his body trembling. So many good sons had perished, and his heart ached! He knew he was the one who arranged for the establishment of the suicide squads. Though the warriors went willingly, he could never forgive himself.
"Kill!!! Born as a person of Da Qin, destined to be a ghost of Da Qin in death!" a warrior shouted, then unhesitatingly detonated himself.
"Brothers, we'll be brothers again in the next life!"
Another roared. Half of his body was swallowed by a Beast King, yet he seemed to feel no pain, laughing heartily as he detonated his explosives.
"Damn you, Little Bamboo, for switching with another Beast King! I've made a profit, brothers! I'm coming to join you now!"
Someone shouted, tears streaming down his face as he laughed. He recognized the man who had just detonated himself.
"Heh heh, we'll take a slight loss. We're from the same dorm, we've been together for six years. The six of us swapping for one Beast King is enough!"
Someone said with a smile, then charged towards a Beast King with his five comrades.
Explosions echoed incessantly across the battlefield, each detonation marking the death of a human.
Yet, even with such sacrifices, the tide of the battle remained unchanged. More and more Beast Kings broke through the blockade, gradually closing in on the city walls.
One had to realize that once the Beast Kings neared the city walls, they wouldn't even need to siege it; they could simply leap over and enter the city.
At that point, the city would be filled with ordinary people, utterly incapable of fighting, ripe for their indiscriminate consumption.
"Team Two! Attack!!!" Jiang Hai shouted his command with all his might. After uttering these words, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength and collapsed onto the city wall.
In the distance, from the side of the Desolate Hall and other major powers, they witnessed ordinary soldiers fearlessly throwing their lives away. Even those with hearts of stone felt a pang of emotion.
However, they had no intention of intervening. The more fearlessly those soldiers fought, the more it solidified their resolve to destroy the people of the capital.
Da Qin could not be allowed to exist! If these people were allowed to grow, they would be a catastrophe for their own resurgent forces.
"Esteemed seniors, I implore you to intervene! For this, I am willing to take my own life, and Da Qin will bring about its own end!"
The Qin Lord arrived at the southern part of the capital, gazing at the over one hundred Imperial-level powerhouses in the sky, his face etched with supplication.
He knew what these forces were thinking. As the ruler of a nation, he had long been aware that he was a thorn in the side of these resurgent powers.
"Heh heh, Qin Lord, you jest. We are to guard the rear and will act when necessary," Liu Neng said with a smile.
"Indeed, Qin Lord, you may have some misunderstanding about us. Your suicide will not change anything and might lead to misinterpretations, as if we deliberately stood by and watched you die, forcing you to your death,"
The Heavenly Family's Old Ancestor spoke, a mocking expression on his face.
"Qin Lord, there are some things we cannot say explicitly. If you are a wise man, you should know what to do."
Someone's tone was grim, their meaning evident without being stated.
The Qin Lord's face was resolute. He let out a bitter laugh; perhaps it was heaven's will that Da Qin be destroyed.
With that thought, the Qin Lord took out a pistol and was about to put it to his temple.
"Unacceptable! Qin Lord, you are being foolish! Do you truly believe they will act if you die like this?"
"If you die, your people, your warriors, who will they resent? Do you think they will leave these hidden dangers behind?"
From afar, Jian Lin shouted loudly, jolting the Qin Lord awake.
The Qin Lord was suddenly startled, a bitter laugh echoing in his heart. Yes, for what purpose did those warriors fear not even death?
It was to protect Da Qin!
If he were to die, wouldn't that be a disappointment to them? Wouldn't those already fallen warriors have died in vain?
"The Son of Heaven guards the nation's gate. As the Lord of Da Qin, even if I must die, I shall die on the battlefield!"
The Qin Lord murmured, his gaze hardening. He then turned and rushed towards the northern city wall without looking back.
Even if he were to die, he would die alongside his warriors!
Less than an hour had passed since the battle began, yet in this short time, tens of thousands of Da Qin warriors had fallen, and King-level martial artists were fewer than one in ten.
Even two Imperial-level experts had perished. Humanity was in a steady retreat, now less than five hundred meters from the city walls.
Five hundred meters. For a Beast Emperor, it was an instant; for a Beast King, a few breaths.
However, they could not break through the blockade. The Human Imperial-level experts intercepted them with their dying breaths, and the suicide attacks from the ground squads, risking their lives, prevented them from breaking through the blockade.
At this moment, these demonic beasts had a shared illusion: these humans were even more frenzied than they were.
But they were not in a hurry. The humans were struggling desperately. Before long, they would breach the city walls, and inside, countless "little snacks" awaited them.
Inside the capital, countless ordinary people were clamoring to join the fight. They, too, were constantly monitoring the battle.
Though they were ordinary people, they could still move and run. They couldn't operate thermal weapons, but they could, like the heroes of the suicide squads, fight with their lives.
However, their requests to join the battle were not granted by Jiang Hai, nor by the Qin Lord, and certainly not by the fighting warriors.
Da Qin still had those who could fight. Even if they had to fight to their last drop of blood, they would not let ordinary citizens join the fray.
At this moment, the Qin Lord had arrived at the North City Wall. He was strapped with explosives, as were countless warriors on the wall.
If the blockade ahead was breached by the demon beast army, they would be the last line of defense!
"Esteemed seniors! There is no need to fight to the death. Da Qin thanks you for your assistance. At the critical moment, you may leave. This is Da Qin's tribulation, and you need not sacrifice your lives for us!"
The Qin Lord said to Jian Lin and the others. As resurrected ancient individuals, their efforts thus far were already quite commendable.
"Qin Lord, what Da Qin's tribulation? We are all human, and Da Qin's tribulation is our tribulation. Do not speak such words again!"
Jian Lin replied.