Mu Zhong naturally trusted Wei Huan. Wei Huan always kept his word. If he said he had a plan, then he certainly did.
Mu Zhong continued. "From what we can see so far, the distance we can push forward is limited. Today is the fifth day. The dark beast lords' territories are close to reaching Level 4. Their domains will expand until they connect into a single sheet. Our room to maneuver will shrink smaller and smaller. Once we enter territory warfare, things will become very troublesome."
Wei Huan nodded. "I know. But that only happens after they reach Level 4. At our speed, we still have one more day. We can charge into the 80-line. By then, we will stand in an invincible position. There will be no rush."
"One day is still tight. They may already be able to upgrade to Level 4 territories."
"We must take some risks. Breaking through all the way poses no problem."
"Understood."
When it came to combat, Mu Zhong only analyzed the situation. He never spoke unnecessarily. He believed Wei Huan had a foolproof plan. His own role was simply to offer unconditional support.
After leaving this blockade net and abandoning a field of wreckage behind them, the war vehicle accelerated once more.
They had not driven even ten minutes before encountering another blockade net.
The new blockade was likewise unable to stop the vehicle. Yet facing ever-denser blockades was hardly good news.
"Shall we change routes?"
After consecutively smashing through five or six blockades and discovering that the frequency of battles was gradually approaching the recharge limit of the protective shield, Mu Zhong offered a suggestion.
The suggestion was optional.
Dark beast lords did not build cities only along a single straight line. To defend against Wei Huan, they would inevitably adopt a comprehensive combat net starting from the endpoint.
With the possible exception of the most dangerous areas at the world's edge, no matter which direction the vehicle took, it would encounter dark beast lords' territories.
The moment they stopped and were forced into combat, they would be dragged into a quagmire of endless enemies, just like on a grand battlefield.
Other cities' dark beast lords would spare no cost to support the "primary combat city." At the same time, they would discover that the primary combat city would develop to its highest level in the shortest time, possessing the strongest troop types and an endless supply of war vehicles.
Dark beasts had fought humanity for seven years. They had long since developed an effective method for dealing with flexible, mobile war vehicles.
"Let us try." Wei Huan nodded anyway.
The battles along the forward route were simply too dense. If they slowed down, the pursuing sea beasts might catch up. Being attacked from front and rear was not what Wei Huan wanted.
Wei Huan thought for a moment and said, "Head toward the world boundary."
Mu Zhong considered this. For a time, he felt puzzled. How was Wei Huan going to fight a group of sea beasts at the world boundary, where there was no land—only deep sea and raging waves?
Yet compared to facing simultaneous pincer attacks from sea beasts and dark beast lords, this choice seemed necessary.
They needed to eliminate the pursuing sea beasts first. Only then could they focus on confronting the dark beast lords.
The Housekeeper piloted the vehicle according to Wei Huan's instructions, veering diagonally toward the world's edge.
They still encountered some dark beast territories along the way. Because of the sudden route change, however, the dark beasts could not quickly form a defense net. The combat situation gradually eased, and the crisis to the protective shield diminished.
Continuing to weave unpredictably through the middle of dark beast territories might not be a bad strategy after all.
Mu Zhong glanced at Wei Huan twice. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, Mu Zhong knew Wei Huan did not wish to use this method.
That only made Wei Huan's plan all the more intriguing.
Unknowingly, afternoon arrived.
Around three o'clock in the Challenge World, not long after they left the last territory built amid ocean waves, they finally reached the world's edge.
What an apocalyptic scene the world's end presented.
The ocean's might seemed to erupt fully here. Gale-force winds and torrential rain raged. Towering waves rose like mountains.
The sky appeared to have sprung a leak. As rain poured down, thunder cracked overhead. Lightning bolts struck the sea from time to time, sending visible currents flowing far across the surface.
It was terrifying.
Wei Huan had seen the edge scenery of nearly every world.
Yet the boundary of the Archipelago World truly instilled a strong sense of unease. It felt as though something utterly horrifying lurked in the inky depths of the ocean, watching them. An unbeatable power that carried the threat of utter annihilation.
As for the howling winds, pouring rain, and lightning, Wei Huan's vehicle could handle them. They were not a major issue.
The deployed protective shield isolated all harsh weather. Conditions inside the vehicle remained normal. When the Housekeeper judged that even a vehicle of their level was no longer suitable to proceed, Wei Huan decisively ordered a halt.
A lone white war vehicle floated like a solitary falling leaf in the heart of the storm-tossed deep sea.
Hundred-meter waves curled up from behind, crashing down with ferocious force. Fortunately, the protective shield held. The waves were burned through like cream sliding over a red-hot spherical griddle, leaving a gaping hole.
The natural environment could not harm Wei Huan. That did not mean the pursuing sea beasts could not.
Those sea beasts that braved wind and wave closed in with overwhelming momentum. One could not help but worry. In this environment, how were they supposed to fight?
There was no foothold. Let alone human challengers who lacked flight capability, even Wei Huan's undead would likely have limited effectiveness here.
The crew, who had been relaxed these past days, grew tense in such a hostile setting.
When Liu Chengzhi carried coffee toward the cockpit, he saw the warriors standing as if facing a great enemy.
He glanced at the large projection screens above the plaza. The environment was indeed harsh. Still, he said, "Relax. Since the boss came here on his own initiative, he definitely has a way."
The captains standing at the front of the formation followed Liu Chengzhi's figure with their eyes. Finally, Captain Xue asked, "What way could the boss have?"
Liu Chengzhi paused, thought seriously for several seconds, and replied, "How should I know? Just trust that the boss can handle it."
Captain Xue considered this. "You are right. Next, we watch the boss perform." Only after speaking did he realize he had followed Liu Chengzhi in calling him "boss." It was not the legion's custom. Yet on second thought, it felt fitting. On this vehicle, Colonel Wei was indeed the boss.
The conversation had just ended when the atmosphere suddenly shifted. The warriors around them seemed to hold their breath for an instant.
Captain Xue and Liu Chengzhi turned simultaneously to the projection screens.
On the screens, the war vehicle—hovering about thirty meters above the sea—suddenly lost power and began to plummet vertically.
It was about to fall into the ocean.
War vehicles could operate underwater, but only in pond-like submerged environments, not swimming in the open sea.
A war vehicle could not even cross a wide river on the seabed.
The reason their vehicle could fly thirty meters high was that most vehicles had been upgraded with aerodynamic tires. Each level allowed ten meters above ground.
They could not truly fly.
A Level 5 war vehicle was called a Terrain Fortress.
Its function was limited to ground travel and combat. It possessed neither true flight nor seafaring capability, let alone submarine functions.
A Level 5 war vehicle could not travel on the open sea.
Unless the vehicle sank to the deepest seabed and borrowed the ocean floor, it could continue traveling at roughly thirty meters above "ground."
In the vanguard forces, Level 5 vehicles had used this clumsy method to cope with harsh sea-surface conditions.
Doing so, however, halved the advantages of a human war vehicle.
Whether in terms of field of view or facing sea beast assaults, the power of deployed sentry turrets and cannon fire would drop significantly.
Worse still, in excessively deep ocean environments, challengers found it difficult to leave the vehicle to fight. Unless absolutely necessary, war vehicles rarely entered the deep-sea seabed.
Thus, when the vehicle fell and entered the sea, everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.
Sudden darkness enveloped everything. The world seemed to fall silent.
"Glug-glug…"
The plaza broadcast played the sounds from underwater.
"Glug-glug…"
The vehicle continued sinking. Darkness deepened. On the projection screens, nothing was visible. Only occasionally, in the depths of the blackness, a rolling bubble or strange glow appeared.
Even Liu Chengzhi could not help holding his breath this time.
This was the deep sea, after all.
They were being pursued by a horde of sea beasts.
Sea beasts were inevitably stronger in the ocean.
Could the boss's undead swim? How were they supposed to fight sea beasts?
Speaking of swimming, Liu Chengzhi suddenly had a flash of insight.
"Wait! I get it!"
He shouted aloud. In the overly quiet environment, he startled the others.
At that exact moment, a change occurred.
At the edge of the darkness, something white and enormous approached.
It resembled a colossal marine beast rising from the abyss.
Were they about to be swallowed by a gigantic sea beast?
"Eeee~~~"
A resonant cry rang out. In the deep sea, it did not weaken. On the contrary, it carried extraordinary penetration.
This was a sound they all knew extremely well.
Liu Chengzhi cheered joyfully. "How could I forget Dot Mom! After evolution, Dot Mom can float. She can swim even in air. In the sea, this is her home!"
As if responding to Liu Chengzhi's words, the projection screens began to fill with countless Burrow Beast Mothers.
They resembled a school of jellyfish. Though skeletal and white-boned, their bones gleamed like jade.
The evolved float ability coated their surfaces in a thin, transparent bubble layer.
Now, in the pitch-black ocean, these bubbles reflected the fluorescent green of the death flames behind them. They became glowing green jellyfish.
Like streetlamps, they suddenly illuminated a vast expanse of sea ahead.
The watching warriors simultaneously witnessed the undead legions—some clinging to Facehuggers, others riding their backs—charging forward in dense formation.
The scene was simply too shocking.
An overwhelming undead tide pressed forward from the rear. Facehuggers had become the optimal mounts in this undead ocean.
Their movement speed in water far exceeded that in air.
Eight legs retracted and then snapped forward like highly compressed water bubbles. They left clear trajectories as they shot toward the battlefield.
Jet-black and majestic Shura Horses either rode on their backs or gripped their mouthparts, charging to the front lines.
Combat had already begun.
Farther away, beyond the projection screens' view, churning currents and the ceaseless emergence of undead revealed the battle's intensity.
Rarely, Wei Huan employed not only Dou Lin's judgments but also clearly applied the shaman's attribute blessings to a portion of the undead.
Fighting in the sea was ultimately less effective than on land.
The extra step made combat cumbersome.
To avoid capsizing in the gutter, Wei Huan prepared thoroughly for this engagement. For the first time since entering the assessment world, he utilized the auxiliaries' enhancements.
This sea beast king was an enormous sea turtle, its size comparable to an island—excessively vast.
From the moment it descended and attempted to swallow the war vehicle in one bite, Wei Huan had been contemplating how to kill it.
A creature renowned for defense posed a significant challenge to Wei Huan, whose siege combat power was a relative weakness.
At the very least, ending the fight quickly was difficult. It was impossible to deal with this sea beast king while simultaneously handling dark beast lords.
Thus, after being forced to the world boundary, Wei Huan finally decided to employ the auxiliaries' strength.
The assessment had entered its fifth day. The Challenge World's difficulty was rising. He himself could not yet reach this world's combat ceiling. The only option was to integrate the vehicle's full power and complete battles as efficiently as possible.
Speed is precious in war had been the strategy from the start.
It was also the best way to counter the dark beast lords' encirclement and interception.
Against a thick-skinned monster like this, there was no need to tangle. Reach the endgame quickly. Strike the dark beast lords decisively before their territories reached maximum level.
Civilization wars were brutal. They were contests of wits and courage. Knowing one's weaknesses were exposed, the proper course was to turn the tables and alter strategy.
Luck was with them this time. They might even kill a few dark beast kings that threw themselves into the net.
Wei Huan mentally reviewed the plan once more. It was thoroughly sound.
"Mu Zhong," Wei Huan said.
"Here." Mu Zhong stood at attention. During combat, they were superior and subordinate.
Wei Huan instructed, "Apply Bloodlust to one hundred Facehuggers. I must ensure they latch onto the sea beast king's body. Only by blasting openings in its shell can we end this fight."
"Understood!"
Mu Zhong touched the colossus with one hand and flicked the azure earring in his earlobe with the other. A clear "ding" rang out. Then a deep "thump-thump" echoed from the ocean depths, accompanied by indistinct yet sacred and primal ritual chants. Finally, streaks of red light descended upon the Facehuggers waiting ahead.
Bloodlust blessing arrived.
Tenfold attribute enhancement for three minutes meant even Facehuggers could possess Sequence Five combat power temporarily.
Wei Huan was about to order the Facehuggers to launch when Xu Qingqiang's voice came from behind. "I am going too."
Wei Huan turned, started to speak, then stopped.
Xu Qingqiang said, "That turtle shell is insanely hard. Blasting through may not work. Siege like this needs me. Tie a few more monkeys and green lights on me. The greener my head, the better."
The last sentence was clearly a joke. In that instant, Wei Huan emerged from his momentary worry. He trusted that if Xu Qingqiang requested it personally, he surely had a way to handle the environment.
Deep-sea pressure was not the greatest threat to challengers who had already transcended humanity.
Soon, Xu Qingqiang—adorned with peacock-like monkeys and a head full of green lights—stepped out of the war vehicle under everyone's gaze.
Outside the vehicle was not seawater.
The protective shield isolated the water first. Additionally, Dot Mom's surface bubble layer was enormous. Even just the bubble enveloping her allowed a person to walk inside comfortably.
Xu Qingqiang leaped directly onto Dot Mom's carapace, tested the feel, then suddenly jumped and raised his hand.
His palm passed through the bubble and contacted the external seawater.
The icy sensation was neither good nor bad. The environment was simply thus. Like it or not, one had to face it.
Xu Qingqiang's expression gradually turned ferocious. Demonic patterns began rising across his skin. His body deformed. From a mouth lined with fangs, he emitted a "heh-heh-heh" eerie laugh.
Then he sprang from the spot like a cannonball, diving straight into the sea. Smoothly, he seized an elite "grandson-generation" Facehugger.
The "grandson-generation"'s abdominal slit opened and closed, emitting "da-da-da" rallying cries. Its eight legs thrust simultaneously, carrying Xu Qingqiang as it plunged into the depths.
Wei Huan watched the entire scene clearly through a Demon Eye Lord's vision.
At the same time, flying cameras deployed from the vehicle. Placed on various Burrow Beast Mothers' backs, they used the surface bubbles to isolate air while swiftly swimming forward. The battlefield appeared before everyone's eyes.
Combat footage against a colossal sea beast in the deep sea resembled a horror film.
In the boundless abyss, darkness pressed from all sides. Only a small area was visible. No one knew from which corner a monster might emerge.
Sea beasts fighting in water were stronger. They moved faster. Their power was greater. Their bubble attacks became silent.
At the densest concentration of undead, explosions suddenly flipped undead legions. Massive deaths produced surging white foam like blooming snowflowers. They swirled upward to their zenith before vanishing.
Countless undead disappeared with them.
Occasionally, severed limbs or undead separated from Facehuggers sank toward the seabed. Unable to swim, they did not even struggle.
Immediately afterward, sea beasts darting from the side snapped them up. Under powerful chewing and tearing, they vanished into darkness once more.
Farther away, green firelight bloomed similarly. Death power and flames—utterly unlike the sea's chill—flowed among the sea beasts.
Powerful death energy pierced souls. Sea beasts too close showed visible panic in their eyes. Their bodies stiffened as if their souls were frozen.
These slowed sea beasts invariably became undead harvest targets.
Shura Horses were not the primary combat force here. Sprint Wolves and Zombie Berserk Bears did not appear at all.
The true reapers were surprisingly the Facehuggers.
Many ants can kill an elephant. When swarms of Facehuggers enveloped a body, the victim soon became a white skeleton—dead beyond dead.
The ocean became a paradise for Facehuggers and Dot Mom's domain.
She bore Wei Huan's war vehicle on her carapace. Her abdominal cavity continuously released Burrow Beast Mothers. Her ability to produce and revive them nearly matched Wei Huan's.
Especially on this battlefield, Facehuggers outperformed Wei Huan's recruited undead.
Especially deeper in the battlefield, over a hundred Bloodlusted Facehuggers clung to an incomparably massive beast.
Its jet-black, long-furred body resembled a lump of iron. When it focused solely on defense, its shell was unbreakable.
Numerous sea beasts parasitized its body. When undead legions attempted approach, they faced fierce attacks.
The Bloodlusted Facehuggers still managed to land on the giant beast under cover from other undead.
They alighted amid slick, drifting moss that resembled a forest in water. Claws frantically burrowed beneath the sludge, drilling as deep as possible to contact the shell.
Then they carefully pressed the underworld fire bombs hidden in their abdominal slits against the carapace. "Boom-boom-boom" explosions followed.
"Moo——"
A distant, low, terrifying sound echoed through the sea. Too vast to locate, it seemed the ocean itself roared.
Green flames detonated densely in one spot. Mud and moss flew. The giant beast rolled, sensing crisis.
Countless sea beasts abandoned ongoing fights and returned to defend their king.
The undead legions naturally refused to yield. They fought desperately to hold them. The war's intensity visibly escalated.
Yet clearly, though the bomb attacks were formidable, directly killing a Level 5 world king was impossible—especially a shelled sea beast renowned for defense.
Nearly a hundred underworld fire bombs merely shook the sea beast king's body heavily. They inflicted no true damage.
Its shell was simply too hard. Only tiny cracks opened. The body beneath remained unharmed.
This calmed the startled sea beast king once more.
It continued emitting distant howls. Its body swam forward like a million-ton freighter bearing down on a small fishing boat, charging into the battlefield.
It seemed enraged.
Its seemingly clumsy, colossal frame revealed its terror only when met head-on. Irresistible force accompanied a subtle suction. Once caught in its aura, escape was impossible until crushed to pieces.
Not only undead suffered countless casualties. Even sea beasts too slow to evade were pulped.
Cameras could not capture the sea beast king's full body. Every warrior watching the projection screens was stunned by the sense of scale.
It was hard to imagine that in the Level 5 world, humanity's vanguard faced monsters like this—or even stronger ruin and relic monsters.
No wonder humanity could not kill king-tier dark beasts before the first Level 5 war vehicle appeared.
With such power, how many heroes' sacrifices would it take to truly slay one?
The Level 5 core materials Wei Huan provided gratuitously had saved too many lives.
Just when everyone believed even Wei Huan's undead legions were helpless against such a behemoth, in a corner the cameras could not see, one person and one insect arrived atop the giant beast.
Xu Qingqiang had arrived.
Gripping the "grandson-generation"'s abdominal slit, he silently reached the area bombed earlier. He pressed close to the shattered turtle shell, searching for something.
Suddenly his scarlet eyes flashed. He dug his fingers into the grandson-generation and soon reached a visibly deep wound ahead.
Standing at the wound's edge and looking down.
He knew it was merely a gigantic sea turtle's carapace. Still, gazing into the abyss evoked terror.
Pitch-black. Profound. Vital, surging life force welled upward.
Xu Qingqiang smelled fragrance.
Exactly the right amount—saliva-inducing yet not so overpowering as to scare him away.
Descending was somewhat dangerous. He should be able to handle it, though.
With that thought, Xu Qingqiang finally confirmed the nine Flying Monkeys trailing behind his neck and the ten green light clusters atop his head.
He patted the grandson-generation's carapace. It leaped downward with him, diving toward the wound's depths.
A faint bloody scent surged up. Simultaneously, the giant beast's pressure arrived.
Xu Qingqiang completely ignored the suppression from a higher life tier. He immersed himself in the sweet aroma. His pupils turned vertical slits.
Finally, he reached the deepest point.
Ahead lay a ten-meter-long flesh wound, roughly one meter deep. To this sea beast king, it was merely a skin scratch. Yet it became Xu Qingqiang's perfect breach.
"Heh-heh-heh!"
He emitted a sinister laugh. His scarlet tongue licked his lips. His ten fingers formed claws and raked viciously into the wound.
Flesh and blood splattered.
He scooped up a chunk larger than his head. His mouth—teeth interlocking, lips tearing to his ears—swallowed it whole.
Exquisite!
Rich power exploded within his body, transforming into pure energy that gradually bolstered his physical qualities.
One bite followed another.
With each continuous ingestion, the jet-black unicorn horn on his forehead visibly thickened and lengthened, curving upward into an arc.
Small bulges appeared on either side of his forehead, as if something else was about to grow.
Xu Qingqiang sank into gluttony, unable to extricate himself. The deeper he dug, the more he consumed.
Occasionally, he surfaced briefly from the frenzied state and noticed his changes.
Since they were positive changes, he quickly allowed himself to continue.
He ate deeper, about to pierce skin and reach organs. Finally, he enraged the sea beast king.
"Moo——"
Another prolonged cry. Sea beasts received the summons and surged toward the wound.
Xu Qingqiang ate happily. Sensing movement behind, he turned to see a gaping maw.
An unnamable, hideous deep-sea beast lunged to bite.
"Heh-heh-heh!"
Xu Qingqiang—body surging with power, nowhere to vent—laughed eerily and met it head-on.
"Boom!"
The two instantly clashed.
Behind him, protected, were the grandson-generation and a small kobold it had carried.
The kobold could not withstand seabed pressure. It huddled inside the grandson-generation's abdominal slit, shielded by a bubble.
It squatted in the bubble, hooked fingers, squinted, and laughed. Then it opened its mouth: "Ptoo!"
A long-awaited Facehugger appeared deep in the wound…
Looking further in was truly scalp-numbing.
Unknowingly, hundreds of Facehuggers had already gathered inside. They gnawed the sea beast's flesh until it was a bloody mess.
The wound grew larger until it met a certain threshold.
"Heh-heh-heh!"
Amid Xu Qingqiang's frenzied, monstrous laughter.
A jet-black Shura Horse with three heads and six arms emerged, its claws gleaming golden.
More terrifying, this Shura Horse bore the dual effects of judgment and Bloodlust.
Its first casual strike inflicted damage equivalent to hundreds of Facehuggers.
Such Shura Horses continued appearing.
One. Two. Three… Excavation speed multiplied hundreds, thousands of times—like late-stage cancer cells spreading wildly.
Pain finally entered the sea beast king's cries. More sea beasts answered its call. Ignoring external undead threats, they only wanted to extract the source of its agony.
Under the king's urging, sea beasts swarmed downward like mad. No tactics. No fear of death.
Xu Qingqiang gradually struggled. Only two monkeys remained behind his head. Green light clusters had lost most of their glow.
One kobold's teleport speed was too slow. If only he could bring two more.
Unfortunately, a Facehugger's abdominal cavity held only one. Now he could not hold. Undead attacks on the sea beast king from behind were far from lethal.
Abandon the plan?
He refused.
Yet he truly could not resist alone. If another came…
"Boom!"
A tentacle whipped from the side. Xu Qingqiang, with no limbs free to block, knew he was about to lose another life… One remained. Retreat?
The thought of withdrawal had just arisen. Before he could decide, a figure appeared and intercepted the tentacle.
He turned. A steel figure stood before him, shielding him.
Their Warrior King had arrived.
The Warrior King came. Next was Captain Xue. Only Sequence Four, merely Soldier King, yet he still stood in front of Xu Qingqiang.
Warmth.
Even Xu Qingqiang's frenzied eyes calmed for a moment.
The next second, they turned wild again.
Danger.
The Warrior King had no Flying Monkeys or green light clusters. He relied solely on his own strength against these Sequence Five sea beasts.
Let alone Captain Xue, only Sequence Four.
This battle was indeed unusually difficult.
While Xu Qingqiang's chaotic mind tried to think whether to drag these two back and temporarily abandon the mission.
A pale, clearly jointed hand gently rested on his shoulder.
He looked back. Wei Huan's bespectacled face—cold yet refined—met his gaze.
This glance rounded Xu Qingqiang's vertical pupils in shock.
Holy crap!
The summoner came to the front line!!
Yet Wei Huan, rarely deploying personally, gave Xu Qingqiang no time to react.
The instant he emerged, eight portals opened.
Endless undead poured out like fountains. In a flash, they repelled the ferocious sea beasts.
Demon Eye Lords fired black beams that pierced sea beast bodies.
Gut-Bro personally charged, engaging the largest, fiercest octopus sea beast in tearing combat. Behind him, disciplined Sprint Wolf legions advanced to every battlefield.
Moji mingled among the Shura Horse legions. Small yet razor-sharp, it leaped like a dancer, effortlessly reaping sea beast lives.
Zombie Berserk Bears, upon appearance, immediately encircled and protected Wei Huan, Xu Qingqiang, and the other three. They built walls of flesh, shielding them from danger.
Amid churning, restless currents, Xu Qingqiang looked helplessly at Wei Huan and emitted strange sounds. "Heh-heh-heh, you want to die, heh-heh-heh…"
Wei Huan ignored the complaint. He simply savored the rare sensation of standing on the battlefield.
In his previous life, awakening the farmer sequence, he had always led from the front, never fearing combat.
In this life as a summoner, it seemed he had not stood here in far too long.
Hard to describe. His blood seemed to boil, searing his nerve endings, bringing an uncontrollable tremor.
He was excited.
He loved this bloody scent.
Every cell in his body stirred, urging him to charge out and fight.
Ultimately, he restrained himself.
He took the opportunity to recruit three more small kobolds, hiding them in Facehuggers' abdominal cavities, staying close behind Xu Qingqiang and the others.
This ensured a retreat route anytime.
With escape secured, he surveyed the battlefield.
Opening eight portals directly at the front line was indeed the best method.
They did not need to kill all sea beasts. Holding until the sea beast king's flesh was fully excavated was enough.
Crimson blood sprayed continuously from behind. The sea beast king howled in pain yet was powerless.
Driven mad by agony, it finally turned its gaze toward the distant vehicle.
With do-or-die ferocity, it charged.
Useless.
The war vehicle was faster.
Controlled by super AI, if it could catch up, it would not have been lured here for isolated elimination.
The Housekeeper AI evaded the sea beast king's pursuit while staying within Wei Huan's summoning range. This distance allowed Wei Huan to teleport back anytime.
After roughly fifteen to sixteen minutes of chase, the sea beast king finally emitted a wail. Its speed slowed.
It began twisting its cumbersome body in the sea, bombarding its own wound with bubbles. In death throes, it uttered piercing screams.
The struggle lasted another ten-plus minutes before ceasing entirely.
Wei Huan had long since returned to the vehicle with his people.
The moment he returned, Liu Chengzhi grabbed his hand to inspect it. More nervous than Mu Zhong, he finally shot Mu Zhong a resentful glance, as if saying: Mom, how could you let my frail dad go to war?
Mu Zhong looked helpless under the glare. Could he stop Wei Huan from doing what he wanted?
He was not particularly worried. No one understood Wei Huan's close-combat prowess better than he did. Martial skills at Soldier King level. Defense at Warrior King level. Add equipment defenses—he would not be easily harmed.
Of course, allowing a summoner—and their leader—to charge the front line was clearly incorrect.
If anything happened to him, the vehicle would collapse. All 100 people would likely perish with him. Theoretically, even if all 100 aboard fought, he should be among the last surviving batch.
"Is there another way?" Facing everyone's hesitant expressions, Wei Huan asked thus.
They were veterans who had followed him for a long time. He could not maintain distance like with new crew. Necessary explanations were due.
He had departed too hastily, consulting no one, teleporting via kobold to the front. He knew everyone had worried greatly during that time. Now returned, he owed them clarification.
"I assessed the danger before setting out. Warrior King, Captain Xue, Xu Qingqiang were there. Zombie Berserk Bears would accompany me."
Liu Chengzhi shrugged in the end. "Nothing much. You did right. Just made us look particularly useless."
"…" Yin-yang sarcasm. Yet Wei Huan felt no anger. Even someone as good-tempered as Liu Chengzhi said this—he must have been truly anxious.
"Alright. I will judge timing." He understood inwardly yet could not say so aloud. As leader, Wei Huan could compromise with no one. His every decision might not be perfectly correct, but it must never be regretted.
This deployment—he harbored no regrets.
Had he not rushed over, not only would Xu Qingqiang be in danger, the favorable situation might shift.
He had not forgotten. His greatest enemies in this world were not these sea beasts but the dark beast lords coming to kill him.
Battles could not drag. They demanded swift resolution.
"Boss."
Wei Huan turned, eyes cold and sharp, expecting criticism. Instead, he saw Captain Xue.
Captain Xue said, "I saw the item that just dropped. It is exactly the Warrior King core material. I request to exchange for it. I am advancing."
The sternness on Wei Huan's face faded. "Battle insight just now?"
Captain Xue nodded. "I was one foot short. Finally, I can ascend."
"Good. We need more Sequence Fives."
Captain Xue's advancement brought joy aboard. Everyone tried not to mention Wei Huan's personal deployment.
Yet every heart burned with resolve. Their uselessness forced the leader to act. They must train harder to improve!
Xu Qingqiang's sortie this time achieved "break-even." Neither starving enough to raid the kitchen nor sleeping from overeating.
Amid continuous cheers for Captain Xue, he stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette and stood. "Heading up."
As primary combat personnel, Xu Qingqiang's sole duty aboard was fighting on the most dangerous front lines. Apart from necessary military classes and coordination drills, he participated in no routine training. He reported to no one except Wei Huan.
Wei Huan assumed he would rest after combat as usual. Xu Qingqiang continued, "To the training room. Set a portal. Send a couple Shura Horses in when free."
Wei Huan raised a brow.
Xu Qingqiang explained, "I want to test if gluttony can accelerate cultivation."
Wei Huan understood. "Good method. But your talent enhances recovery while clearly absorbing energy. I mean, you absorb too much death power."
Xu Qingqiang replied, "Balanced nutrition is merely your hypothesis. No research proves excessive death power absorption is bad. Anyway, I need massive energy to improve now."
Wei Huan lowered his gaze in thought. "Understood. Report any issues promptly."
"Will do."
Xu Qingqiang left. Congratulations for Captain Xue ended. Captain Xue took the still-warm core material and returned to his room.
Perhaps living together long influenced qi. Advancements affected one another. Or the timing simply arrived.
After Wei Huan resolved the dark beasts, he advanced along the world edge. New monsters spawned—he killed them on-site, leaving no pursuers.
Speed slowed, but safety prevailed.
Night had just fallen. Wei Huan dispatched undead and challenger squads to cooperate. In the ocean, they eliminated a small sea beast batch.
Suddenly, Mu Zhong pushed open the cockpit door and approached Wei Huan. Before speaking, Wei Huan sensed the breakthrough aura on him.
Natural power. The advancement Wei Huan most anticipated.
Mu Zhong said, "I must return to advance. The rest falls to you."
Wei Huan nodded, brushing his cheek. "Do not force it."
"No force. I have been very steady. Thick accumulation for thin release. Remember, I awakened dancer half a year before entering the Challenge World. Without dual professions hindering me, I should have advanced faster."
"Yes. I look forward to it."
Mu Zhong gazed at Wei Huan for several seconds. Suddenly he raised his arms, embraced him, and whispered in his ear, "Today you were stunningly handsome. I do not support it, but I like it."
"…" Wei Huan, kissed on the forehead at the end, laughed speechlessly. Seeing only the old ox Cousin Mu remained in the cockpit, he pulled the man back for a kiss.
Cousin Mu: "…"
Mu Zhong took the cockpit elevator directly to the residential stairs. He collided with Xu Qingqiang emerging from the training room.
Demonic dark power and death power intertwined on Xu Qingqiang. Even untransformed, he evoked a descending demon.
The two locked eyes. No excess words. A simple greeting, then they parted.
Yet from that glance, urgency was evident.
The Level 5 world proved they were no longer the strongest.
Xu Qingqiang could not stand alone. Wei Huan had to personally rescue him. What about fighting diamond level with him?
A true diamond level appearing—he would die without recovery chance.
Mu Zhong was worse.
Dual professions sounded impressive. In reality, he was merely Sequence Three.
Sequence Three in Level 5 world could not even leave the vehicle. World pressure would suffocate him. Combat was out of the question.
Urgency hung like a blade overhead, forcing them to grow stronger or fall behind Wei Huan's pace.
Though Wei Huan himself could not reach this world's ceiling, even front-runners like Captain Fang could not solo a sea beast king horde.
He remained absurdly strong.
To find value aboard, to avoid dragging Wei Huan, they had only one path: train desperately.
Mu Zhong and Captain Xue secluded themselves a full day and night. Xu Qingqiang emerged once midway, told Wei Huan to close the portal temporarily, then returned to the training room.
The following evening, the Twins exchanged advancement materials one after another. Zhou Yong came later.
Veterans advanced in succession. Some new members sensed Sequence Five breakthrough.
Most had been challengers for three to four years—mid-tier pillars in their legions. Sent here to become combat power, nearing upgrade was normal.
This pressured Wei Huan.
So many challengers awaiting advancement. How many kings must he kill?
Excluding logistics, he had to support 50 warriors. Kill 50 kings… Suddenly he did not want to leave.
"Minister Mu." On duty in the vehicle were only Wei Huan and Cousin Mu. Wei Huan called out. Cousin Mu lifted his panda eyes.
"Speak." Cousin Mu opened.
Wei Huan had grown accustomed. He gradually discovered a "Zhou Skinflint" gene in himself. Expressionless, he met Cousin Mu's dark circles and said, "I suddenly have a crazy idea."
"Yes. Speak." Cousin Mu's mood was stable.
Wei Huan said, "I want to kill dark beast kings. I also want to kill as many sea beast kings as possible."
"Ah?" Cousin Mu thought for seconds. "You are the boss. You decide. We all support you."
Wei Huan chatted into loneliness.
He expected "why." Instead, unconditional support.
Yet his resolve solidified.
"External resources are scarce. Nations expand territories, competing fiercely. Yet the highway assessment refreshes one king daily. Ten kings outside would spark bloody competition."
Hearing this, Cousin Mu nodded. "True. National demand is greater. We cannot compete with them. Highway resources are ours. Still, shall we develop roadside ruins?"
Wei Huan shook his head. "Reach the endgame swiftly. Launch war before dark beast kings fully develop. Always priority one."
As if echoing Wei Huan's words, the forward large screen suddenly lit. A massive gold medal appeared top-left.
[Champion Challenge] activated.
They had successfully entered the 80-line.
Tonight was their sixth day in the Challenge World.
They had thought reaching 80-line would take longer. Their speed was truly swift. Wandering monsters compressed and killed simultaneously advanced them ahead of schedule.
Good news.
Dark beast lords' territory development time shrank further.
They at least secured baseline success. Full crew safe.
The war vehicle raced forward. News of reaching 80-line spread.
Taut nerves briefly relaxed. Crew members spread the word, smiles blooming.
Liu Chengzhi delivered coffee to Wei Huan and Cousin Mu, patting his chest and laughing. "80-line already? Only sixth day. We are awesome."
Xu Qingqiang descended later. "Not bad. 80-line. Arrange me out after the king spawns. Bones rusting from inactivity."
"Brother Qiang tired of undead. Wants seafood change?" With teasing laughter, Mu Zhong stepped from the elevator, heading straight to the cockpit.
Hearing the voice, Wei Huan's gaze locked on Mu Zhong.
Finally Sequence Four, Mu Zhong radiated vitality. Dense natural power enveloped him.
Natural power embraced all. Even dark-aligned Wei Huan felt affinity.
Now Shaman High Priest, Mu Zhong carried an ancient, profound aura. Approaching slowly evoked walking onto an altar. Part of him fused with ancestral souls—ancient, vast, wise distance.
Yet all vanished when Mu Zhong reached his side and embraced Wei Huan.
Wei Huan instinctively wrapped arms around the man's waist, gazing deeply into his eyes.