Chapter 232: Breakthrough on the Battlefield
The map drawn by the warriors was simple. North of the center lay a pitch-black mountain range, and to the northwest, atop the highest peak, sat the Nightmare City. Their settlement was located in the southeast corner, juxtaposing the black Demon King's City like the polar opposites of gold and black.
"Departing from the settlement, crossing the ancient battlefield and mountains, charging into Nightmare City, and finally striking down Fansalar with a single blow—this is the route for the decisive battle." Chongming pointed to the Nightmare City. "The small fry along the way will pose no threat. The key lies in reaching Nightmare City. This is the enemy's home turf, and the four messengers—Night Walker, Spiderling, Burning Embers, and Cursed Thunder—will undoubtedly be deployed."
"No problem. We figured out their strength during the last battle. No one other than Mr. Nightwalker can pose a threat!" Qing Ye was full of confidence.
"Very good, you have ambition. Don't ask me to collect your body when you die. I have never led such stupid soldiers." Chongming said.
"You're talking like that again! Did I say something wrong?"
Chongming gave Chu Hengkong a look, and Chu Hengkong continued, "First of all, the limb spider was quite powerful when it was alive. It was a fallen being that could raise black rats in its stomach. I'm afraid it would be a very high-ranking creature in the First Abyss."
"Was it this fat in its prime?" Qingye exclaimed, "It would take a few cuts to chop it off..."
"Please pay attention to your strength rather than your weight, okay?!" Fander yelled, "The only one who can raise black rats is the Holy Son of Yingyue! Why would the Son of the Cradle of Oblivion be hanging out with Vansalar?!"
"Perhaps it was defeated by Fansalar." Chu Hengkong said, "The other two emissaries were at least Hong Nie in their lifetime. In their prime, they could crush Wen Yao to death with just one finger. Considering that Nightmare City is the enemy's home ground, I guess their strength will be even stronger during the battle in the city."
Everyone looked at Qingxia, the most experienced one, and the centaur girl thought for a while.
"During the last counterattack, the Emissaries were strengthened. Judging from the time the decoy troops spent... the Emissaries could probably be brought up to a power output close to 4."
"How much?" Gulibo trembled. "How close to how much?!"
"Particle 4~"
"Honestly, don't you consider waiting for a few months and then defeating the emissaries one by one when they come to investigate?" said Finder. "We are all ascended mutators, so it's not difficult for us to eat some dirt."
Chong Mingli ignored it and looked at everyone: "Can you deal with four Enhancement Envoys and one Vansalar?"
"It's difficult." Chu Hengkong said.
"So you must ascend!" Chongming waved his hand. "The Despair Wilderness only allows life below Sephiroth 3 to exist. Once you ascend to Sephiroth 4, you will be taken to the deeper levels of the Heavenly Hell. However, there is an exception to this rule, and that is within the Nightmare City.
The Nightmare City is the core of this perverse dream, housing the Evil God's immortal essence. Once inside, the immortal essence you perceive will disrupt the rules of the Celestial Prison. During this time, Sephiroth 4 Transformers can temporarily fight in the wilderness, providing the perfect opportunity to grow stronger.
"Anyone with potential will be promoted for me. I'll risk everything in this final battle and kill them all. This is the battle plan!"
"Sounds familiar. A charge to the death," Shax said. "I'm following."
"I'm not saying this, but your plan is a bit unrealistic," said Finder. "If you upgrade early and go to the next level of the Heavenly Prison, you'll have to upgrade after the battle begins, and you'll have to enter the city immediately after you succeed... Don't those emissaries know this? What are we going to do if they block the gate and won't let us in?"
"Everyone should complete the transformation of the settlement first, and then attack in one go after the success..." Ji Huaisu suggested.
"The enemy isn't stupid, okay? 3-4 makes such a big noise, and a few emissaries are leading the team to block the settlement." Finder drew a circle around the settlement on the map. "What should we do if they fight you right at your doorstep? Even if our Seismic Force 4 descends from the sky and defeats the emissaries, they'll be forced to go deeper, and they won't have time to fight Vansalar before they're done."
"So we need to split our operations into two groups: the front and rear. If the enemy is defending the city, they will inevitably mobilize their entire army to fight together. You, Ji Huaisu, and Chu Hengkong will lead the vanguard. First, you must attack the enemy and dismantle their arrangements, then break through the city gates as quickly as possible."
Chongming drew an arrow on the map pointing to the Demon King's Castle. "Shax and Qingxia will remain in the settlement as the rear guard. They will advance after the battle begins. Guang Shiqingye will join the front army if he can make it in time. If not, we'll both serve as the rear guard. Whoever advances first will enter the city to provide support. The front and rear armies will work together to defeat the messengers one by one, and finally, retain all our strength for the decisive battle against Vansalar."
"Is your plan for the decisive battle that we rush into the city gate first to withstand the pressure?" Ji Huaisu's mouth twitched.
"Do you feel pressured?" Chu Hengkong said, "Actually, it's not impossible for me and Fan De to hold on for a while. You can stay in the settlement to protect it."
"Fuck you, I'll follow you."
"I feel pressured!" Vander screamed, "Why did they just include me so naturally?! I think the second batch is more suitable for me!"
"You're our secret weapon, the decisive battle weapon. If we encounter any infernal things, it's all up to you to come up with a countermeasure." Chu Hengkong comforted him, "Let's deduce the battle situation. Assuming that all the rear troops are successfully upgraded, we successfully enter the Nightmare City, defeat the four messengers, and come before Fansalar..."
"I don't mean to argue, it's just that this battle scenario seems more like a delusion." Jie An interrupted.
"Since we've already made the deduction, let's just hope for the best!" Qingxia said, "We've come to Vansalar after so much hardship, what are we going to do now? Once the Kingdom of Despair is activated, we'll be killed instantly."
"With similarly high-quality forces, there's hope of countering it," Shax pointed out. "Ji Huaisu's sacred pillar core, and the knife Snake obtained."
"Those two can only save their lives for a short time. In the long run, they'll be cut into pieces." Chongming yawned. "So we need three people in the vanguard. The third person is the key to breaking the deadlock."
Everyone turned their heads and looked at Chu Hengkong... and the Fander in his pocket.
Vander's eyes were as confused as everyone else's.
"I, I'm going to attack the Nation of Despair?" It pointed at itself with its tentacles. "Really?"
"Don't you have a very powerful trick? Most people here have seen it with their own eyes!" Chongming smiled with gloating eyes.
"Ah?" Vander was confused, then realized, "You mean... Oh! Oh oh! It really is!!"
"The rest is just a matter of improvisation and countering each move." Chongming snapped his fingers, "This is the final battle, so brace yourself.
Operation codename 'Dawn' - let this dark wilderness see the light of day again, brave warriors!
·
After the meeting, Chu Hengkong threw a blueprint to Shax.
"I found it among Wu He's belongings," he said. "I guess it was your original reward."
Shax took the blueprint for the World-Splitting Wheel. The designer's signature in the lower right corner resembled two Vs. His thoughts went back to the afternoon Wu He had come to him. The calculating talismanist had wanted to kill two birds with one stone, unaware that this initial hesitation would cost him his life.
"If this blueprint had been in my hands earlier, many things would have been different."
"Is that so? Will you kill me in Jinye City?" Chu Hengkong laughed.
"That's not necessarily true." Shax studied the blueprint. "If I were already at Seismic Point 4 by then, the duel would be meaningless."
"Very much like you."
"If I were you, I'd be fine." Shax put away the blueprint. "From now on, don't bother me. Even if Vansalar comes."
He found an empty house and was about to lock the door when Gulibo slipped in through the crack in the door, carrying a small basket of fruit.
"You forgot to bring supplies." Gulibo raised the small basket, "Come on, Bo!"
Shax took the fruit and smiled at it.
"Thanks."
Gulibo was horrified: "Have you gone crazy?"
"Then get out."
He threw Gulbo out the window, closed it, locked the door, and deployed sound-absorbing and light-blocking devices. Automatic firearms surrounded the hut, creating a makeshift position. He wanted to ensure absolute silence while he worked. After completing all this, he drew out some of his inner self, combining the half-remembered blueprint with the one he had just obtained.
The Dustless Land's cutting-edge design was on full display. This World-Splitting Wheel was incredibly versatile, integrating hundreds of functional modules within a tiny, blocky footprint. It was truly a work of art. Shax admired it for a moment before pinning the design to the wall.
He took out a second drawing.
The interior design of the Shura Island Chill Sect prioritizes speed and stealth, its exterior resembling an elongated spindle. This was a gift from a certain Canxin after he helped complete a mission.
The third drawing.
Specially supplied by the Qimen sect of Longquan Township's Zhengxuan Palace, this wooden sword can draw lightning and pierce the air. Disciples who are unable to cultivate the path of unity but remain devoted to martial arts are accepted into the Qimen sect. Naturally, they will encounter grudges as they roam the martial arts world, and these grudges require assassins.
The fourth, the fifth...
Shax pinned the blueprints to the wall, reviewing his mission rewards from the past year. One advantage of being a renowned legend is that everyone assumes you're eager for a breakthrough, so everyone uses clues to the next particle as bait to lure you into danger. He always found his way to the most dangerous places, so life in Hell always had its share of fun.
Shax nailed down the last of the inventory. He surveyed the drawings scattered across the walls and floor, then began to formulate his own design.
He was a mercenary, not a designer. He didn't care about artistry or originality. His job was to modify and improve, just like modifying a firearm on the market, taking the best designs he'd ever seen...
Mount it on your gun.
·
"Mr. Chu, can you spar with me?" Qing Ye said, "I want to hone my sword skills before my transformation."
"If it's mild, it's fine."
"Mild."
Chu Hengkong transformed his wrist into a one-handed sword, while Qingye held the long sword overhead with both hands, assuming an upper stance. The blades traced a mysterious trajectory, colliding, clashing, retreating, and then colliding again. Both sides moved slowly, like a martial arts performance in a dojo.
The confrontation lasted for ten rounds. The two men kept their distance and Qingye closed his eyes.
"Comparing swordsmanship, I'm no match for Mr. Chu," she said. "Now I've found my direction. I need to practice swordsmanship, but the most suitable technique for me is Zanshinjutsu."
"What kind of technique did you think of?"
"It's a very powerful technique." Qingye said with a smile, "It can help everyone and also make me win!"
Qing Ye returned to the small building and locked herself in. She placed the long sword "Mian Sheng" on her knees, the blade that had fought against her ancestors gleaming with a faint light.
This sword holds the memory of the ancestors of the Guangshi family, but apart from the battle with Ye Xing, she has never successfully awakened it. Her awareness is enough, her faith will not fail, what she lacks is strength...
No, it's speed.
Fast enough to dodge attacks, fast enough to rush to the battlefield, fast enough to fight with Shura-like warriors, fast enough to flash across the battlefield like a meteor...
The speed of light.
Qingye closed her eyes and meditated. Amidst the gradually weakening breathing, she saw the past buried in the long knife.
·
I originally wanted to give her some advice, but it seems that it is no longer necessary now.
Chu Hengkong transformed his wrist back into a prosthetic hand, feeling a mixture of relief and despair. Everyone had changed after going through so much, and Qingye's progress was especially noticeable. That impetuous newcomer seemed like a long time ago, and by the time this battle was over, he probably wouldn't have the chance to teach the little girl a lesson.
On the contrary, the other one with huge changes is more worrying.
"Don't worry about me~" Qingxia said with a smile.
Chu Hengkong shrank his neck. This guy always maintained his habit of appearing and disappearing mysteriously, and would scare people quietly at any time. He looked directly into Qingxia's eyes: "You don't have to--"
"I've always believed in Chu Hengkong." Qingqing blinked, "Please believe me this time, okay?"
Chu Hengkong had nothing to say, so he nodded and watched her walk away. Qingxia returned to her home and took out the Qingkun Spear. The tip of the spear turned red again, and a drop of blood was forced out of the bone spear.
This was her achievement in the battle with Wen Yao. Before Chu Hengkong could successfully draw his sword, she pierced Wen Yao's heart, causing a drop of blood to flow out. This drop of blood was swallowed by the Qingkun Spear and remained until now without her realizing it.
The heart's blood holds the life essence of the lust demon, a powerful source of strength. If she swallows this drop of blood, she might gain the abilities of the Warm Harrier... but at the same time, she also risks having her body taken over by the demon.
A round blood drop, like a gem, fell on Qingxia's fingertips. There was a rustling sound near the window, and Silar leaned against it, watching her quietly.
"Qingxia, have you thought it through?" the old man asked slowly, "What kind of person do you want to be?"
"Well, Grandpa, I've thought it through." Qingxia nodded, "Whether it's the righteous path or the unorthodox path, whether it's a knight or a demon, these things are of no importance."
"The devil's wings can also become an umbrella to protect me from the wind and rain, and the demon's poison can also become a sharp blade to defeat the enemy. How I use my power is up to me."
She swallowed the demon's blood and smiled widely.
"I won't be a plague demon. I will be a warrior who protects everyone!"
·
The most intense battle is about to come.
This isn't just the Lost's final battle against their nightmares.
This is a continuation of the Heavenly Prison War hundreds of years ago, a war that never truly ended, and the first "end" that will come in the 3000th year of the Candlelight Calendar.
The warriors don't know yet that their choice will affect the direction of the battle in the Heavenly Prison... and will affect the fate of the entire world.
They only know that this is closely related to their own destiny.
So the soldiers did their best.
And on the other side of the distant wilderness, in the Demon King's City on top of the Black Mountain, the Nightmare King no longer observes the direction of the settlement.
It closed its eyes and fell into an ancient nightmare.
(End of this chapter)
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