Chapter 485: Chapter 305: Star Association Envoy (2)
He may have been almost instantly killed by Andre, but Jonas was actually quite strong. His ability was perfect for warfare. All he needed were a few Enhancing Artifacts to unleash an earthquake, and most of the Seventh Military District’s soldiers would be dead before anyone else even had to lift a finger.
On the battlefield, an Earth Type Ascender was a veritable superweapon. They could shatter mountains and split the earth from above or travel underground to launch surprise attacks from below. A single move was a wide-area-of-effect killing blow, capable of dealing devastating damage to an army camp.
It was precisely by relying on Jonas’s Extraordinary Abilities that the group had been able to relocate from Bear City to the Seventh Military District in such a short amount of time.
Andre’s Nanometer Soldiers arrived with them as well. They had received orders to flee Bear City ahead of time, so most of them had escaped the Government Army’s encirclement. After leaving the city, Zhou Chen and the others had made a point of finding them.
Meanwhile, the fifteen hundred soldiers from the Poisonous Sore Gang were already not far from Bear City. After receiving the Plague Doctor’s message, they immediately changed course and headed for the much closer Seventh Military District. The groups rendezvoused in less than twenty minutes.
Before long, the pre-battle meeting concluded.
"The Poisonous Sore Gang has brought fifteen hundred soldiers," the Plague Doctor said. "Even including the Nanometer Warriors loyal to Andre, we have just over seventeen hundred men in total. The Seventh Military District is heavily fortified, with at least six thousand people stationed there. At first glance, the disparity in our forces seems huge, but that’s not actually the case.
"With Enhancing Artifacts, Jonas can unleash a Level 6 earthquake. This will be enough to deal a severe blow to the Seventh Military District. If we’re lucky, we might be able to eliminate a third of the enemy forces.
"And when the earthquake is over, the chaotic environment will prevent the Government Army from regrouping quickly. We must seize this opportunity to attack, catch them completely off guard, and swiftly take the Seventh Military District.
"Do you all understand?!"
"Understood!" Catherine, Ted, Andre, and the others nodded. They would serve as the army’s commanders.
"Senior Xing Wu, I’ll be counting on you." The Plague Doctor looked at Xing Wu, who was sitting in the corner.
Xing Wu nodded, rose to his feet, and vanished in an instant.
「Beneath the Seventh Military District, in the secret laboratory’s containment area.」
As if strolling through a garden, Xing Wu effortlessly passed through the countless restrictions and wards set up by the Alchemists. He appeared brazenly in the containment area and saw a giant sphere sealed and surrounded by countless luminous matrices. A dangerous red light flickered from the gaps between its modules.
Even someone like Xing Wu could faintly sense a threat emanating from it.
As a strategic deterrent weapon, the power of the [Return Ball] went without saying. Once detonated, the entirety of North Carolina would cease to exist, reverting to a primitive state in just over ten minutes. The poor, the rich, the lower class, the upper class... no matter how wealthy, powerful, or noble, everything would be reduced to nothing in an instant.
"So you’ve come after all."
A hoarse, aged voice rang out as a hobbling old man, leaning on a cane, slowly approached. He looked to be in his eighties or nineties, his back hunched and his face covered in age spots. Most of his teeth were gone, and his body trembled uncontrollably even when he stood still. He also exuded the musty smell peculiar to the very old.
"You old fossil. I can’t believe you’re still alive." Xing Wu’s gaze was ice-cold.
North Carolina had once been a Restricted Area. Before it was unsealed, it was a Monarchy, and this old man had been a member of the North Carolina Royal Family. After the Restricted Area was unsealed and connected with the outside World, the Royal Family initiated reforms to integrate into modern society. They abolished the Monarchy, replacing the King with a president.
In reality, however, those rulers had merely put on a new face. They had changed the system on the surface, but in truth, members of the Royal Family still ruled North Carolina. Several subsequent uprisings did have some effect, though, allowing a few non-royals to enter the core echelons of the government.
During the last revolutionary war led by Havier, this old man had advanced to Tier Four and caused considerable losses for the Salvation Army. He was later gravely wounded by Havier, suffering damage to his Life Origin. Logically, he shouldn’t have had many years left, so it was a surprise he’d managed to cling to life until now.
"Not many years left, indeed." The old man chuckled and waved his hand. "Havier damaged my Life Origin and Soul back then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so useless, forced to guard a door in this sunless pit."
"If you don’t have many years left, then hurry up and die. Or I can help you on your way." As the saying goes, old enemies see red when they meet. Without another word, Xing Wu attacked. He flash-stepped in front of the old man, an ancient longsword materializing in his hand. A cold light rippled from the blade, which let out a clear, ringing hum.
CLANG!
The old man lifted his cane and blocked the descending blade, still chuckling. "No need to be so fiery. We’re old friends who haven’t seen each other in years, after all. Why not sit down and reminisce?"
Xing Wu remained silent and slashed out again.
"You young people are always so quick to fight and kill. Can’t you show a little consideration for an old man like me?"
The old man swung his cane, blocking the flash of the sword. The corners of his mouth lifted in a slight sneer. "And here I was, hoping to tell you how Havier died."
"Goading me is useless."
Xing Wu’s eyes were calm, but his assault was relentless. He constantly shifted positions, slashing at the old man from every possible angle. Cold flashes of sword light crisscrossed the air as a bone-chilling killing intent filled the space. The Alchemy Matrices on the walls and floor couldn’t possibly withstand such a terrifying attack; they shattered layer by layer, revealing deep sword marks beneath. A piercing alarm blared as red lights began to flash.
Faced with such a fierce assault, the old man’s smile vanished, and he began to fight in earnest.
「Meanwhile.」
Outside the Seventh Military District, Jonas—now equipped with seven Enhancing Artifacts—unleashed his Extraordinary Ability.
The Essence in his body was instantly drained, triggering a violent, earth-shattering tremor!
The earth roared as if struck by countless artillery shells, sending dust billowing into the air.
The ground shook violently as spiderweb cracks spread across its surface. The buildings within the Seventh Military District swayed back and forth, but their solid construction prevented them from immediately collapsing.
But then, Jonas—having just replenished his Essence by taking an Alchemy Potion—activated his ability once more. He slammed his hands onto the ground, unleashing his full power.
In an instant, an even more violent earthquake swept through as if dragons were rising from the earth. The ground split apart; some areas jutted upward while others collapsed. It was as if a slumbering Giant Dragon deep underground had awoken and rolled over. Its seemingly minor movement brought devastating destruction to the tiny living beings on the surface.
Inside the Seventh Military District, buildings crumbled like clay tiles, turning into a field of ruins in the blink of an eye. Countless soldiers who couldn’t escape in time were buried beneath the debris.
When the earthquake subsided, all that remained was a scene of utter devastation. Long, deep, bottomless fissures scarred the land like open wounds. Dust from the countless collapsed buildings hung thick in the air, and heart-wrenching screams echoed endlessly, shaking the will of the survivors.
And in the midst of this utter chaos, the Poisonous Sore Gang launched their attack.
·
The battle proceeded with incredible smoothness. Over a thousand Government Army soldiers had died in the earthquake alone, with countless more wounded. They were unable to arm themselves in time, let alone mount a counterattack. The Poisonous Sore Gang seized this golden opportunity to charge into the military district like a pack of wolves descending on a sheep pen. Facing the fully-armed gang, the unprepared Government Army was doomed.
In less than half an hour, the Poisonous Sore Gang had successfully conquered the Seventh Military District, killing those who resisted and taking the rest prisoner.
The battle between Xing Wu and the old man had moved from underground to the surface. Intentionally guided by Xing Wu, the fight drifted farther and farther away. Many onlookers saw the clear look of astonishment on the old man’s face; he apparently hadn’t expected the Government Army to fall so quickly.
After occupying the Seventh Military District, the Poisonous Sore Gang swiftly stormed and captured the underground laboratory. Finally, they broke into the containment area and laid eyes on the massive [Return Ball].
This would be their most important bargaining chip!
「Meanwhile, in the distant south.」
A man appeared before the leader of the Salvation Army and smiled politely:
"I come from the Star Association, and I would like to speak with the leader of the Salvation Army."
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