Chapter 476 The Return of Darkness (Thirty-Eight)
There was no sound from the other end of the walkie-talkie for a long time.
Commander Zhong had already received confirmation from Xie Tu's silence.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the illusory ground, but left no trace.
He once stood on this land, full of lofty ambitions.
They vowed to protect every inch of Nanjing and the millions of people living there.
—There are regrets, resentment, and an inability to let go.
“Not only Nanjing, but all cities have fallen.” It was Yun Zhao who spoke.
She paused, then added, "But this is not the end."
Yun Zhao reached out and pressed the walkie-talkie in Xie Tu's hand, trying to make his voice sound calm, "The soldiers are still fighting, humanity is still resisting, and has never given up on this land."
At the foot of the mountain, firelight and smoke mingled, turning the dark night sky a deep red.
Although the people were afraid, no one shouted or yelled.
Instead, they went down to the base of the wall and spontaneously helped the soldiers move explosives and guard the defensive line.
"Everyone did their best, protecting this city with their lives and beliefs."
Yun Zhao: "True protection is not simply about defending the land from being trampled on, but about passing on the spirit of fighting for freedom and dignity."
History cannot be changed.
They must look forward.
“You are…” Commander Zhong’s hoarse voice came through.
Yun Zhao didn't want to hide anything from the old man, so she replied softly, "Your family's hot pot is delicious."
Commander Zhong smiled.
It was a smile of satisfaction.
He might not fully understand Yun Zhao's changes in his current state.
But children are hope.
Do you want to see the sun?
Yun Zhao looked up at the dark sky and said, "As a way of repaying that hotpot dinner, I'd like to invite you to see the sun."
“The sun…” Commander Zhong repeated in a low voice, hoarse and slow, as if he was savoring the meaning of the two words.
His gaze slowly rose, and the two men, in different places, simultaneously looked up at the sky above them, which was filled with dark matter.
“Okay…” A hint of longing and nostalgia flashed in Commander Zhong’s eyes.
At his age, he never imagined that one day a little girl would ask him to look at the sun.
Xie Tu sat beside her, his gaze fixed on her profile, remaining silent the entire time.
Upon hearing this, he looked down at the communicator.
5:30 a.m.
There's still an hour and a half left.
There was no further response on the walkie-talkie.
Yun Zhao released his grip on the walkie-talkie and asked listlessly, "Can he hold out until dawn?"
A flicker of emotion crossed Xie Tu's dark eyes. He gently put his arm around her shoulder and replied, "Yes, because the gatekeeper also wants to see the sun."
It's not the sun in a dream, but the real sun.
*
The darkness before dawn is the deepest.
The entire city's mutant species swarmed out, densely packed, and surged towards the defensive line at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain.
It seems they intend to completely eliminate the 'intruders'.
Howls echoed throughout the air, and the ground trembled. The air was thick with the stench of blood and the smell of burning.
Suddenly, a sharp screech came from the sky.
The soldiers looked up and saw countless winged mutants swooping down from the darkness, their wings spread like bats, moving at an astonishing speed.
"It's a flying mutant! Watch out for what's overhead!" a soldier shouted, his voice tinged with fear.
The firepower on the defensive line was instantly dispersed, and the soldiers had to direct some of their firepower towards the sky.
However, those flying mutants were simply too fast.
It's very difficult for bullets to hit the target.
The fire phoenix soared into the sky, blocking the monster that wanted to fly into the high wall.
Its enormous wings spread out, and flames instantly erupted around its body, yet countless black threads still managed to wrap around its wings and gradually seep into its body.
The rate of erosion is accelerating.
The flames felt uncomfortable, but they still stood in front, holding the southern defense line by themselves.
Just then, a commotion came from the west.
At one corner of the defensive line, the pressure suddenly increased.
There were countless monsters, but only one Fire Phoenix, which was simply not enough to stop such a large number of mutated species.
A flying mutant swooped down, its sharp claws slashing viciously at a soldier's shoulder, causing blood to gush out instantly.
"Ah!" the soldier screamed and fell to the ground.
"Medic! Quick!" another soldier shouted, but his voice was quickly drowned out by more shouts.
A large number of mutants broke through the fire network and rushed into the interior of the defense line.
Hearing the commotion from the west, Zheng Shao suddenly turned his head. His face was covered in blood and dust, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"The western defense line has collapsed! Come with me to provide support!" he shouted as he sprinted toward the western defense line.
"Group Eight, follow them!"
The sentries charged ahead, quickly adjusting their tactics, shifting some firepower to the west and leaving the south to Fire Phoenix and Group Eleven.
A huge gap has been torn in the western defense line, and a large number of mutants have poured in like a flood.
The soldiers guarding the walls were forced into close combat.
Amidst the flashing swords and slashing blades, blood splattered everywhere.
The sentinels no longer cared about the corrosion; whether they were sentinels from Dawn Base or Qinhuai Camp, they all unleashed their abilities.
Dozens of spiritual entities of various shapes appeared out of thin air, running wildly at the foot of the mountain, roaring like ferocious beasts as they pounced on the mutants...
"Run! Run to the mountainside!" The soldiers below fought desperately, shouting at the civilians hiding in the bushes.
The indigenous people living at the foot of the mountain dared not stay where they were. Some of them hurriedly climbed up the mountain in the dark, while others stood still.
If this place falls, everyone will die.
They wanted to do what they could for the soldiers...
They heard noises coming from all directions.
Yun Zhao pursed her lips tightly and raised her hand, but Xie Tu grabbed it with one hand.
"You can't expend too much mental energy right now."
Otherwise, when dawn arrives, how will she be able to dispel the dark matter with such a high level of pollution?
Yun Zhao looked up at him, and of course understood what he meant.
But given the current situation, if she doesn't intervene, it will be difficult for her to hold out until dawn.
Xie Tu had already stood up, drawn the Tang sword from the side of his backpack, and pulled Yun Zhao up from the ground.
"I'll go down and take a look first. If it really can't hold on, then you can step in."
Xie Tu was worried about leaving her alone, so he took her hand and led her away from under the tree to the mountainside defense line where Groups Nine and Ten were located.
The other two groups of sentries were on guard here, anxiously watching the fierce battle below.
But they cannot leave, lest the mutants break through the last line of defense and harm the defenseless ordinary people on the mountaintop.
Upon seeing Xie Tu and Yun Zhao approaching, the group quickly gathered around them.
"Captain Xie, what do we do now?"
"There's still over an hour left. At this rate of attack, can we hold out...?"
"We can definitely hold them off." Xie Tu left Yun Zhao there and told the sentries, "Protect her well."
Just as Yun Zhao was about to say something, Xie Tu gently squeezed her hand and handed her the walkie-talkie, saying, "Don't take it out of your sight."
She opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, only nodded.
Xie Tu didn't linger. He released her hand, turned around, gripped his Tang sword tightly, and ran without hesitation towards the area below where the fierce battle was raging.
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