"And a Rank Three Abyssal Tide erupts once every few decades, requiring large-scale defensive equipment to withstand, and it will also attract powerful Abyssal beings to attack. It is the Legion's most difficult time."
"I've never encountered a Rank Three... and now..."
The roars behind them drew closer, and countless hideous Abyssal Creatures revealed themselves within the tide, among which top-tier Abyssal Creatures like the Black Empress and Abyssal Creatures were not lacking.
Long Yuxue's heart had sunk to the bottom; such a terrifying Abyssal Tide.
She would have believed it if someone said the Abyss was launching an all-out general offensive.
Could the Blood God Legion hold it off on such short notice?
Arthur looked down at her.
Long Yuxue had a mournful face as if her own mother had died... perhaps it was close, as her whole family was in the Blood God Legion.
"Don't worry," Arthur comforted her. "I will act."
Long Yuxue felt even worse. "You big talker, what time is it? You're still in the mood to brag!"
"The shield can only last for... recalculating! Recalculating! Estimated duration..."
The voice on the broadcast paused for a moment.
"Thirty seconds."
Long Yuxue closed her eyes.
"Run to the Second Defense Line!" She opened her eyes, her voice finally regaining the decisiveness of a soldier. "Fast!"
Arthur responded.
A golden stream of light pierced through the gloom, with the all-consuming Abyssal frenzy behind them.
Long Yuxue didn't let go of his collar.
Thirty seconds.
Her mind was racing with calculations: the distance to the Second Defense Line, Arthur's current flight speed, the speed of the pursuing Abyssal Tide. She couldn't calculate it all. But she knew the probability of outrunning it was low.
Arthur looked down at her.
"You're gripping so tightly I can't breathe."
Long Yuxue ignored him.
"Fine, don't be scared later." His voice carried a hint of helplessness.
Dragon Transformation!
The Dragon Kings' Spirit Bones inside Arthur's body began to roar.
Because she was gripping Arthur tightly, Long Yuxue was pressed close against his chest.
She clearly felt an indescribable, terrifying aura suddenly explode within him!
That surging and roaring torrent of blood and Qi was like a sleeping giant Dragon Awakening.
She clearly felt Arthur's bones roaring and his meridians trembling.
Every inch of his flesh and blood was boiling, as if countless giant Dragons were roaring, crashing, and Awakening inside him!
The hum of the Spirit Bone resonance pierced through his skin and passed directly into her perception through their touching bodies.
Long Yuxue's pupils suddenly contracted, and her fingers gripping his collar stiffened.
This... what kind of power is this?
She had been in the military for many years and had seen Jiang Wuyue's Tyrannosaurus Rex Martial Soul and countless Beast Spirit Soul Masters, but they were all insignificant compared to the roaring sound of these bones.
In the next second, golden light exploded before her eyes.
Then her waist tightened as she was pulled closer into his embrace.
Long Yuxue didn't dare look back, but she heard the howling sounds behind her growing distant. It wasn't that the tide had slowed down, but that they had become faster.
"You mentioned Rank Three," Arthur's voice came from above her head, steady as if he weren't running for his life. "How many people usually die?"
Long Yuxue was stunned for a moment.
"...In a Rank Three tide, the Legion's casualty rate is five to eight percent. There are no records for Rank Four."
"Is that so..."
Long Yuxue was a bit confused and looked up at him.
Arthur didn't look at her; he was looking ahead.
The blue light curtain of the Second Defense Line had already lit up at the end of their vision.
"We're here."
The broadcast was still blaring.
"Estimated shield duration..."
"Recalculating, unable to determine. Repeat, unable to determine!"
"Everyone retreat! Fall back to the Second Defense Line!"
Long Yuxue's legs went weak when she landed, and she only avoided kneeling because Arthur grabbed her back collar.
People were everywhere.
Mecha Masters, Battle Armor Masters, and soul guidance cannon platforms were surging into the depths of the tunnel like an alarmed ant colony, but they were not in chaos.
Jiang Wuyue stood at the edge of the defense line, shouting something, and pointed his hand this way as several messengers rushed over.
"Captain Long! Captain Arthur! Rejoin your units!"
Long Yuxue subconsciously snapped to attention, only then remembering she had been gripping Arthur the whole way, her palms slick with sweat.
Arthur, however, was natural. He nodded to the messenger and then turned to look at that layer of blue light curtain.
The shield of the Blood God Heart.
A metal sphere with a diameter of over three hundred meters was slowly descending in the rear, supported by hundreds of light beams. Countless metal walls extended into the cave, connecting to every spirit tool.
The Blood God Heart, just like its name, was responsible for the logistics of the Blood God Legion.
A super spirit tool second only to the god slaying missile.
"Is that the Blood God Heart?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Yes." Long Yuxue followed his gaze, wanting to ask why he was asking that, but the question didn't come out.
Arthur didn't speak again.
He just looked at the metal sphere for a while.
Long Yuxue didn't know what he was looking at.
But she suddenly remembered what Arthur had just said about how he would act.
Jiang Wuyue rushed over.
"Captain Arthur!" He strode over, his voice loud enough to drown out the alarm. "What are you doing here? Yuxue took you for Actual Combat?"
Jiang Wuyue was now a Major.
Arthur gave a military salute, his posture so perfect that no fault could be found.
"Reporting, sir. We encountered an Abyssal Tide and retreated."
Jiang Wuyue gave an 'en' and looked him over.
Then he lowered his voice.
"About what happened that day, I'm sorry. I was a bit impulsive."
Arthur blinked.
"I didn't take it to heart, sir."
Jiang Wuyue grinned and patted him hard on the shoulder.
"Alright, brother, follow me. After this battle is over, I'll guarantee you a promotion to the rank of Major."
Long Yuxue's brow twitched as she listened from the side.
She wanted to say that he could punch the life out of you, and he's going to follow you?
Arthur had already nodded.
"Then I'll follow you, sir."
He turned and met Long Yuxue's gaze.
"Will you be in the rear?"
Long Yuxue nodded.
"Long-range." She paused. "Be careful."
Arthur smiled.
"Don't worry."
Jiang Wuyue looked back and forth and said in a low voice, "What about me?"
Unfortunately, Long Yuxue had already left.
Tragically... Outside the blue light curtain, the howling had turned into roars.
The soldiers from the First Defense Line were withdrawing, the light shields were being extinguished one by one, and the shield of the Blood God Heart grew blindingly bright.
Then, the grayish-black torrent slammed into it.
Boom!
The entire mountain range shook.
The broadcast was still blaring, but the voice now carried an unmistakable tremor:
"Shield energy is dropping rapidly! The enemy's impact intensity far exceeds Rank Three standards!"
"All melee units prepare for engagement! Long-range units, open fire with everything!"
Boom—!!
Another mountain-shaking impact as the grayish-black Abyssal surge smashed violently against the blue light shield held up by the Blood God Heart.
The entire mountain shook violently, rubble tumbled down, and dense ripples appeared on the surface of the light shield, its light flickering as if it would shatter in the next second.
Jiang Wuyue's face darkened as his one-word battle armor roared into place, black scales covering his entire body, his Battle Intent soaring: "It's here! Everyone, hold your ground!"
The surrounding Mecha Masters stepped forward in unison, raising their giant shields. The sound of metal clashing was synchronized and deafening.
The Battle Armor Masters' auras surged, their spirit rings shining brilliantly. Everyone understood.
In this battle, they could only die; they could not retreat.
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