Chapter 562: The Onslaught
Chapter 562: The Onslaught
Chen Bitong's gaze lingered on Chen Chuan for a moment, and with a nod, he turned serious. He gestured towards the surroundings and asked, "Captain Chen, have you seen these?"
Chen Chuan's eyes narrowed as he looked down. From a distance, he had felt something strange, and now, upon closer inspection, he realized these creatures were not human but some kind of genetically modified organisms.
They were roughly the size of apes, hairless, and covered in a thick cocoon-like skin that felt remarkably resilient. Their eyes were small, and their mouths protruded outward, revealing sharp teeth designed for tearing and biting.
"These creatures are called 'White Plague,'" Chen Bitong explained. "They were frequently used as biological weapons by the former imperial court. Wherever the imperial army went, they brought these creatures along. On the front lines, we often encountered them. They don't pose much of a threat to us, but there are some things to be cautious about."
Chen Chuan, upon hearing his explanation, understood that these modified organisms were developed by the former imperial court to adapt to new warfare tactics. They typically accompanied large armies, and the imperial troops often used them to test fire zones, fill trenches, or carry explosives to blow up armored vehicles.
What was more nauseating was that these creatures carried a type of bacteria within them. Once they reached the rear, they could cause large-scale infectious diseases. Therefore, not a single one could be allowed to pass.
At this moment, Chen Bitong looked outside and said, "Captain Chen, they're coming again."
Chen Chuan took a few steps outward and peered through the rift. He saw the modified creatures charging out of the mist from various directions, heading towards the mountaintop. Their limbs were agile and powerful, making them incredibly nimble on the mountain path, and surprisingly, not a sound was made during the entire process.
He swept his gaze, and with just a glance, he spotted over a dozen White Plague creatures with swollen abdomens. These creatures had an abdominal sac typically used to carry explosives.
The high explosives could blow up armored vehicles, and detonating them at close range was no laughing matter. Therefore, they had to be dealt with promptly, and not allowed to get close. He immediately reached into his pocket and grabbed a few stones.
However, before he could act, Chen Bitong suddenly threw the long spear in his hand. In an instant, it traversed over a hundred meters, impaling one of the White Plague creatures to the ground. He then threw several more spears in quick succession, intercepting all the White Plague creatures carrying explosives without fail.
Chen Chuan released his grip on the knife and approached the edge of the rift. At this moment, several creatures had already reached him, leaping through the air towards the interior. Seeing this, he spun around.
A curved line of light flashed, and several White Plague creatures were sliced in half mid-air. A large amount of blood, carrying a putrid odor, poured down, leaving corrosive traces on the ground.
However, these modified creatures showed no fear. More of them continued to charge forward relentlessly.
These creatures were agile, fast, and numerous. On the battlefield, a moment of negligence could result in a breach, but for Chen Chuan, they were no match. In a flash of his blade, he covered a wide area, and within a few breaths, he had annihilated the oncoming creatures.
These creatures were essentially disposable, and the enemy seemed to have no intention of conserving them. After the first wave, another wave surged forward, still containing a few creatures with high explosives.
Chen Bitong took care of these with his throwing technique, ensuring they were eliminated before getting too close.
Using mental power to clear them would have been the most convenient method, as it would not allow the creatures to get close. However, using mental power on these creatures was not worth the cost, as mental power recovery was slow. They needed to conserve their strength for the subsequent attacks.
Physical exhaustion, on the other hand, was a secondary concern. With their resilience, they could endure high-intensity combat for days and nights without issue. The Spider Mother's breeding would not last that long, and it wouldn't be long before reinforcements arrived from the rear, setting up blocking positions at the rift.
Their task was to hold off the enemy's offensive during this time.
After about ten minutes, having annihilated over ten waves of attacks, the creatures finally stopped coming.
The mountain path and the rift above were now shrouded in a stench of blood and an unpleasant odor. The swarms of insects and small creatures that once filled the area were now nowhere to be seen.
Chen Bitong maintained his serious and vigilant demeanor. He warned, "Captain Chen, they were probably trying to figure out our strengths and weaknesses. Soon, skilled fighters will follow. Be prepared."
"That's perfect," Chen Chuan replied.
He was not afraid of facing humans in combat. In his eyes, all the enemies he faced were fuel for his mental growth.
In fact, after his recent battle with Chen Bitong, he had elevated his mental strength to a new level, far surpassing his previous improvements. At this moment, he eagerly anticipated facing skilled opponents, hoping they would help him reach even greater heights.
Meanwhile, in the military camp below, a general wearing exquisite armor and a helmet ornament rode on horseback. His deputy general by his side exchanged words from time to time.
Surrounding them were over a dozen duty samurai and hundreds of elite soldiers. In addition to these, there were seven or eight military councilors, while the general's personal standard-bearer sat proudly on horseback, holding a ceremonial flag that fluttered in the wind.
At this moment, they were discussing how to retake the rift.
If it weren't for the fact that the high ground ahead was the most suitable spot to open the rift, they wouldn't have chosen this location, as it would only bring trouble upon themselves.
And now, indeed, a situation arose.
However, since they knew that the rift led directly to the interior of the central city, there was no way they would give up.
Although the fog made it difficult to see the exact situation, from the previous attacks and the multiple attempts by the White Plague, they had confirmed that only two people's martial prowess was worth taking seriously.
The Jingbei Dao Central City was currently in a state of distress, with constant messages from the city reaching them. They believed that the central city could only spare two people of near-martial artist level to guard this place, and it was already pushing their limits. There likely wouldn't be any further reinforcements in the short term.
In other words, as long as they eliminated these two people, they would essentially open the door to the interior of the central city.
The previous assaults, whether by the siege vanguard or the duty samurai, had all failed. This clearly showed the formidable strength of the enemy, so this time, the deputy general decided to lead the team personally to secure this location.
After the discussion, the deputy general rode out, and with a wave of his hand, three of his retinue swiftly passed by and rushed ahead towards the mountain.
A few minutes later, Chen Chuan, standing at the front of the rift, sensed something. He glanced outside and, through the fog, could vaguely see two people appearing on the mountain path.
These two individuals were not wearing armor but were dressed in ancient clothing from a bygone era. They wore black underneath, with tight-sleeved jackets and high-collared short coats. One had a red silk belt tied around their waist, while the other wore a jade headband. Both looked very neat and tidy.
On the left was a woman holding two long sabers with tassels, her face appearing rather delicate. On the right was a man in his thirties, wielding a silver-plated spear.
Chen Chuan took a closer look at the two and confirmed their identities.
However, he sensed that there should be a third person here, hidden in the shadows, who he couldn't see at the moment.
Chen Bitong approached and took a look. He said, "This is the attire of the general's guard. These people are usually descendants of convicts, trained from a young age with strict and cruel methods. Only by making outstanding contributions can they reduce their sentences, and sometimes even their entire clan can be pardoned. Therefore, their fighting will is extremely strong. The presence of these people indicates that our opponent is at least an auxiliary general."
Although this was the lowest rank among generals, to hold this position, one must be a martial artist capable of manipulating external forces with their mind. But be cautious; when they strike, they won't hold back like we do."
At this moment, Chen Chuan suddenly had a question. He said, "Master Chen, I remember that most of the territories of the former imperial family were located in the convergence ground. If the 'pure substance' is blocked by the world ring, where do their martial artists come from?"
Chen Bitong replied, "They have connections with the opposing existence and believe in something that allows them not only to obtain the 'pure substance' but also to bypass this restriction through a certain ritual and method.
As far as I know, many corporations secretly support the former imperial family, obtaining what they need in return. Even some countries privately communicate with them to facilitate the cultivation of their martial artists, and they provide technological and resource rewards in return.
The fact that the former imperial family has not been eradicated until now, and that the former empires overthrown by countries worldwide can still exist in the convergence ground, is closely related to the support of these people. Because some people need them to continue existing."
Chen Chuan instantly understood, and at that moment, he heard the sound of horse hooves coming from the fog below the mountain. The sound of the horses' hooves on the mountain path was as if they were treading on flat ground, as if the riders and their mounts had become one, gradually increasing in speed and carrying an intimidating presence. Despite approaching from below, it gave off an unstoppable feeling.
Chen Bitong spoke in a solemn tone, "They're coming."
Before the rider appeared, the two attendants who had arrived earlier stiffened, and one after the other, they rushed into the rift.
Leading the charge was the delicate-looking woman, her twin sabers ringing as they were drawn. After entering the rift, she saw Chen Bitong and Chen Chuan, and with a flash of her blades, she immediately positioned herself in front of Chen Chuan, ready to strike.
Chen Chuan's gaze remained calm as he looked at the twin sabers. He reached out and grabbed the hilts but stood still, not moving. As the blades were about to fall upon him, he suddenly raised his eyes, and in that instant, a dazzling light flashed, and the woman was severed, along with her weapons.
The man with the spear, who had been behind her, now charged forward, seemingly unaffected by his comrade's death. As he swung his saber, the spear thrust forward.
However, Chen Chuan sidestepped forward, and as the saber was about to slash his neck, a thin sword suddenly thrust out from the shadows beside him, aiming straight for his eyes.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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