Chapter 188 Last Days

*Chi!*

Within the defense perimeter, a device sprayed a purple-red biochemical gas, engulfing the entire area. Using gas attacks was the best way to deal with large-scale insect swarms of this size. This specially developed gas was extremely lethal. Even fire-resistant flying insects would fall to the ground, struggling and dying, within tens of seconds.

However, at that moment, thunderous roars of beasts rang out. Large beasts, averaging over ten meters in size, charged forward mixed with the insect swarms. Their momentum was immense. The intensity of the late-stage beast tide far exceeded the previous two phases. These beasts were all apex predators of Sunil, including bone-armored war elephants tens of meters tall and sulfur flame wyverns that breathed fire. It took a defense team at least twenty seconds of concentrated fire to kill one beast. The pressure they exerted was unimaginable.

The gas blanketed the entire field. It was a weapon to kill the insect swarms, but it was also a double-edged sword. If a beast tore a hole in a soldier's armor, exposing them to the gas, they would also be affected. Even though every soldier's armor was equipped with antidotes, they could only delay the onset of the poison, preventing it from being fatal but causing temporary paralysis. Sunil's technology couldn't develop a gene-specific gas that only affected insects; they could only use highly toxic biochemical gases.

The gas was a mutually destructive method, but it was also the only way to deal with the flying insects. A swarm of flying insects could suck a Sunil dry in half a second. They absolutely couldn't be allowed to enter the city; otherwise, it would be a terrible disaster. They had to be stopped outside the city, no matter the cost. In the final phase of the Calamity of the Hidden Star, everyone had to fight in the gas, making the conditions even more dire.

The outermost two lines of defense were almost completely destroyed after the ravages of the first two phases, which was also a disadvantage for the Sunil. The beast tide approached the defense team's position under heavy fire.

The ground trembled violently. A bone-armored war elephant charged toward the B12 defense team with overwhelming force. The pressure from its enormous size caused Niveler's almost steel-like resilience to tense up involuntarily. Just then, a large, lightning-sparking ball of light descended from the sky. It was moving so fast that the light appeared streamlined, blasting away half of the bone-armored war elephant's body, sending blood and flesh flying. Niveler looked up and saw the ball of light leaving a dazzling, zigzagging trail of electricity across the sky, its end connected to a warship in the sky.

The nine aerial warships, which had been spectating for half a month, finally opened fire. Electromagnetic railguns surged with blue light, firing projectiles wrapped in electricity, specifically targeting the oversized beasts, immediately reducing the pressure on the ground.

A fierce battle erupted. Cannons and electric light flashed across the field, deafeningly loud. The beast tide was endless. The stench of blood and gore was extremely pungent. The defense team fired frantically, the light of the flames repeatedly illuminating the bodies of beasts and soldiers on the ground. The losses were heavy!

*Crack!*

At the B12 defense team's position, a pure purple thunder leopard, over ten meters in size, moved swiftly like a purple lightning bolt, slashing a soldier's armor open with a single claw, cutting the soldier inside in half as well. Niveler ignored it, calmly ordering his subordinates to focus their fire. Only twelve of his men remained; they had suffered over fifty percent casualties.

"Don't waver! Hold the line!" Niveler's tone was stern.

Countless bullets struck the thunder leopard's thick hide, splattering blood. The thunder leopard roared and pounced, killing all the remaining soldiers, leaving only Niveler. The thunder leopard's vitality was still strong. The countless fresh life energies in the city were like freshly baked bread, stirring the thunder leopard's bloodlust.

The thunder leopard was about to cross the line of defense. Niveler immediately stood in front of it. He fired his defense machine gun. Having witnessed the thunder leopard easily kill the defense soldiers, he knew he was no match, but he still fearlessly blocked the thunder leopard.

The defense team's duty was ingrained in his bones. He wouldn't allow any beast to cross the line he was responsible for!

Unless he received orders from above, he would never retreat.

The thunder leopard roared and charged ferociously, its strength and speed overwhelming. Niveler controlled his officer-grade armor to fight it, rolling and dodging, leaving scars on the thunder leopard's body. He slid across the thunder leopard's abdomen, dodging a claw attack. As he was about to get up, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left arm. The thunder leopard twisted its head at an impossible angle and bit through his arm armor.

The poisonous gas poured in through the hole. Niveler felt a stinging sensation on his skin, quickly turning into a numb paralysis. He immediately held his breath and injected an antidote into his waist. A burning sensation circulated through his body.

"After injecting the antidote, the onset time is extended to about two minutes. I'll hold my breath and should be able to last another 10 seconds… I have to kill this beast in that time." Niveler's expression was cold. Even poisoned, he prioritized stopping the enemy. He had long since disregarded life and death.

The man and beast engaged in a fierce melee. Niveler abandoned the heavy defense machine gun and used his wrist saw, armor-mounted guns, and rockets to fight. After tens of seconds of intense battle, both sides were covered in wounds. Niveler began to feel his body stiffening and his head dizzy. The combined effects of blood loss and poisoning were beginning to take effect.

Niveler suddenly stopped moving. The thunder leopard pounced. He didn't dodge at all, allowing the thunder leopard to pin him down, its claws piercing his chest and abdomen.

"Puh…"

Foul blood spilled from his mouth. Niveler endured the severe pain, stabbed one hand into the thunder leopard's neck, using all his strength to cling to the thunder leopard, and thrust the other hand into the thunder leopard's mouth, firing wildly. Knowing his actions were slow, he used himself as bait, sacrificing himself without regard for his life.

The thunder leopard writhed in pain and snapped off the arm in its mouth with a *crack*, smashing down with a claw in a frenzy. Niveler was seriously injured, paralyzed on the ground, watching the huge claw rapidly enlarge in his vision. Yet, he felt very calm.

"So this day has finally come…"

Just as the claw was about to strike, Niveler saw a huge bolt of electric light descend, dazzlingly bright.

Then, Niveler and the thunder leopard were both engulfed in the light of the railgun.

…

The fierce battle came to an end. The first day of the Calamity of the Hidden Star's final phase was extremely costly. Dozens of fighter jets were shot down, and the energy shields of even two warships were nearly shattered by swarms of oversized flying beasts, resulting in severe energy depletion.

"What a terrifying battle."

"This is the first time I've seen such a big scene. I'm never accepting a large-scale commission again."

The participating mercenaries were still catching their breath, their hearts filled with lingering fear. Many of their comrades' bodies lay on the ground.

Han Xiao began repairing the armor piece by piece. He didn't need to directly intervene in the battle. In such a dangerous situation, he didn't have the confidence to remain unscathed. Applying for logistics repairs was also to avoid risks. He had come to earn commissions and help out as best he could, but he wouldn't risk his life for other factions for a bit of money.

During a rare lull in the fighting, another batch of off-site troops rotated back. All the players had returned, each with a relaxed expression, as if they hadn't just been on a dangerous mission but had gone on a picnic instead. Operating in dangerous areas didn't bother the players at all. They would revive anyway. Although there was a limit to the number of revivals, most of these people were professional players, so they naturally knew how to control their death count.

Now that they were all max level, losing a bit of experience didn't matter. Anyway, the mission rewards could make up for it, and earning Galaxy Standard Coins was more useful.

When Heixing's group gathered, the surrounding mercenaries immediately noticed, glancing at them with shocked expressions.

"Those guys don't seem to be missing anyone!"

"What? They all survived?!"

The mercenary comrades were shocked and curious, hurrying to ask other off-site team members, getting the answer that these people could revive. Their faces immediately turned to envy and fear. In the universe, immortal Supers were the most troublesome enemies, and no one dared to underestimate them.

"This mercenary group is full of immortals!"

"Unbelievable…"

The mercenaries all remembered the name of the Black Star Mercenary Group. A mercenary group with all immortal members. From their professional perspective, it wouldn't be long before this mercenary group became extremely popular.

The name of the Black Star Mercenary Group was reported to the military's high-ranking officers, who took it very seriously. Immortal scouts were best suited for reconnaissance and could greatly reduce off-site troop attrition. To this end, a military general personally approached Han Xiao, the group leader, with a very sincere attitude and humble demeanor, completely different from the way they interacted with other mercenaries.

The military's meaning was that they hoped the Black Star Mercenary Group would not rotate shifts and would re-enter the off-site reconnaissance. The Sunil needed them, etc. Most importantly, they promised to definitely increase the pay. Such useful helpers naturally deserved better treatment. The military took the initiative to request an increase in pay, fearing that the Black Star Mercenary Group would refuse.

The mission reward was increased to 12,000 Enas, a 50% increase. Han Xiao immediately agreed. The suffering players began a new round of reconnaissance again. According to the timeline, it was also the last round of reconnaissance.

The bodies of the dead on the battlefield were brought back for identification. Han Xiao discovered that Niveler had died, feeling slightly sentimental, as he was, after all, an acquaintance.

The family member who came to identify the body was a woman, wailing loudly. Han Xiao asked other soldiers and learned that this woman was Niveler's wife. Niveler also had a child of several years old.

…

Inside the City of Moraine.

The vast majority of people stayed in front of their televisions, watching the battle situation report. At this critical moment, the media didn't provide any false information but reported the most realistic situation. Now that the situation could still be maintained, everyone was on tenterhooks.

The bar was closed. Meros sat in the attic, watching the broadcast on television, constantly drinking wine. Images of the tragic battlefield flashed by. He suddenly felt disturbed, heavily placed his glass of wine down, left the bar, and strolled down the street.

The street was deserted, without any pedestrians.

After wandering aimlessly for a while, a faint sound of arguing entered his ears. As a Grade B Super, although he hadn't fought in many years, his keen senses wouldn't degrade. Meros acted on a whim, following the sound to the outside of a house, near the bar. The arguing inside became clearer.

"In a few days, I'll be old enough to be drafted. I want to join the army!"

The voice was a little familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere. Meros was a little curious, concealing his presence, jumping onto the windowsill, and spying on the scene inside through the window. He discovered that the speaker was indeed the same Lana who had caused trouble and beaten up a drunk in the bar a few days ago. He now had a look of impassioned enthusiasm, his tone passionate.

Arguing with Lana were his parents, who were dressed in rather poor clothing, from a lower-class family. Lana's parents looked anxious at this time.

"Joining the army is like courting death. I won't let you go!"