There are still 50 minutes until nightfall.
Large numbers of war vehicles, belonging to various countries, have continuously poured onto Five Star Island, gathering there to collect intelligence.
With Wei Huan's bold and aggressive landing, how could Aosam possibly resign itself to defeat?
This battle must be fought. How could they not participate in such a spectacle?
Too many war vehicles are on Five Star Island, including allies and, of course, competing nations. Aosam, preoccupied with Wei Huan, has no capacity to worry about them.
Aosam is a major power on Blue Star, but the Tier 5 world has only been open for half a year. Coupled with the number of people engaged on the main battlefield, Aosam's total population in this world is less than 100,000. They cannot manage everything at once. When the radar map shows non-allied vehicles appearing, and they are contacted, the other parties frankly say they are just here to observe. They are only watching; they aren't helping, so Aosam can't just drive them away. Doing so might even create more enemies.
Fortunately, their side currently holds the advantage, so it's not entirely embarrassing.
On the battlefield, the blood servant resembling Yake has transformed into a flying Vampire, charging like thunder toward the nearest Burrow Mother Beast. A red flash cuts through the air, and a full-power strike successfully blasts the Burrow Mother Beast, scattering a handful of broken bones across the ground.
'Killed it!'
The Aosam contingent briefly thought of cheering, but a moment later, upon seeing the thousands of Burrow Mother Beasts still floating in the sky, they felt a headache coming on. Clearly, the Burrow Mother Beast's defense is significantly higher than the Dread Eye Lord's. The blood servant can only kill one at a time.
The battle is escalating. Low-tier Bats and Ghost Crows have retreated, and Facehuggers only serve a minor binding purpose. For this battle to conclude, further changes must occur.
Aglis presses her hand firmly on the Colossus, her neatly trimmed, beautiful nails digging into the stone, a thin layer of sweat already beading on her forehead. Every transformation of the Blood Clan consumes her spirit power, and casting the Plague effect further increases this consumption. Her spirit power cannot fully support sustained full-power combat transformations. She opens her eyes and sighs. Alas, under the scrutiny of so many eyes, she must still push herself.
Thinking this, she purses her lips, and more spirit power surges out like a dam opening its gates.
On the battlefield, hundreds of blood-colored monsters vanish consecutively, ultimately converging into six handsome, varied, yet universally graceful and captivating Vampire servants. The moment they appear, they scatter like sparks, leaving afterimages as they ignite one Burrow Mother Beast after another. White fireworks bloom. In less than a minute, the number of Burrow Mother Beasts floating in the sky is reduced by one-third.
The blood servant resembling Yake licks the corner of its mouth with its scarlet tongue, as if savoring the deliciousness of its prey. A greedy light flashes in its eyes, and its blood-red gaze finally lands on the massive Burrow Beast guarding the war vehicle, and the war vehicle nestled atop its carapace. The blood servant represents the will of its master. Clearly, after slightly gaining control of the situation, Aglis arrogantly intends to make a move against Wei Huan.
The next second, this blood servant erupts, charging toward the giant Burrow Beast.
Wei Huan, standing high atop Dot Mom's carapace, naturally sees this. His expression remains calm, but as his eyes slightly open and close, the Undead army, which had been slow to teleport out, returns to its normal speed. Through the eight Portals, Dread Eye Lords surge out as if strung together, their dense numbers floating in the sky. Black beams weave into a net, raking the ground and the sky.
The blood servant, crashing into the net, is immediately knocked back by a black beam. Before it can regain its footing, it is bombarded by a succession of attacks that leave it disoriented. By the time it returns to the battle zone covered in Burrow Mother Beasts, it is utterly disheveled, its clothes torn, revealing its scorched body.
However, the blood servant's clothing is an illusion created by its own power. If it could hunt and consume blood at this moment, its body and clothes would quickly heal and restore themselves. Unfortunately, the Dread Eye Lord's blood is foul, and the Burrow Beast has no flesh at all. The severely injured blood servant can only remain in its tattered state.
Moreover, the battle in the Burrow Beast zone has not significantly improved despite the simultaneous appearance of the seven blood servants. Within a blink of an eye, the Burrow Beasts they killed have reappeared from the giant Burrow Beast's abdomen, filling the battlefield in even greater numbers than before. The Facehuggers released by these Burrow Beasts are so dense that there is almost nowhere left to land.
This scene makes everyone gasp in shock.
Indeed, Wei Huan's Undead are not particularly strong. A Facehugger can be easily taken out by one punch, and a sweep kick can kill twenty. But are there only a few hundred Facehuggers? Or a few thousand? No! There are tens of thousands, and they are tens of thousands of Facehuggers that can resurrect and constantly return to the battlefield! The Challengers may have to face millions, or even tens of millions, of Facehuggers. A single person, let alone swinging their arm and kicking their leg a million times, would be utterly exhausted after just ten thousand.
Not to mention that among these Facehuggers are a large number of Burrow Mother Beasts with offensive capabilities, Ghost Crows with mental attack capabilities, and Dread Eye Lords constantly sniping from afar. Wei Huan's usual main battle forces—Shura Horse, Berserk Bears, and Wolves—have not even been deployed yet, nor has he summoned the Flying Monkeys and Green Wisps of Light for buffs. If he were to add Gnolls for teleportation combat... Just imagining the Undead army fighting at full power is enough to induce despair and fear.
"I'm done fighting."
Suddenly, Aglis removes her hand from the Colossus and relaxes her body, saying with a touch of petulance: "Whoever wants to fight, go ahead. I can't beat him. Why should I fight a war vehicle that can kill Diamond-tier monsters? Whoever wants to completely offend Wei Huan, you do it. I'm certainly not fighting anymore."
Having said that, Aglis stands up and leaves her driver's seat. She looks at the official military officer in her war vehicle and finally at the Aosam general who is connected on the projection screen. As the general's eyes widen in fury, a hint of self-mockery flashes in Aglis's eyes.
When she first acquired her Profession Training Ground and was recruited by the government, she had no foundation and mediocre strength. As a result, she was surrounded entirely by government personnel, leaving her with very few people she could truly trust. Aosam, which touts freedom, never intended to grant her any. Why should she risk her life for a cage built on distrust?
Aglis has resigned herself to failure. After her primary blood servant was severely injured, she ordered the other blood servants to stop attacking. They all dissolved into a puff of black smoke, instantly reappearing around Aglis, guarding her closely.
This timely move also caused the young, handsome military officer—who was officially Aglis's deputy but actually took direct orders from the Aosam government—to halt his little maneuver. Instead, the deputy's eyes filled with affection. With a gentle smile, and an air that somewhat resembled Yake, he softly said: "Facing Wei Huan is indeed stressful. I will explain to the commander. You should rest well."
Aglis merely smiles at this "fake." The feigned loving persona is utterly repulsive, but she cannot openly oppose him, as he is the grandson of Aosam's highest-ranking councilor. Marriages between second/third-generation elites and powerful individuals are common within the Aosam military.
Aglis curls her lips: "You're right. I'll leave the rest to the commander. I'm exhausted from the consumption of my spirit power. I'm going back to my room."
Without waiting for a reply, Aglis turns and enters the elevator that leads directly to her room. The seven handsome and fierce-looking blood servants also transform into seven streaks of black smoke, following Aglis.
Everyone left in the cockpit watches her retreating figure with a mix of respect, awe, and a hint of jealousy. Especially the councilor's grandson, whose expression turns ugly. He has already viewed Aglis as his woman, but she not only denies him any opportunity, but is also surrounded by blood servants who are superior to him in both strength and looks. No man can tolerate his woman being surrounded by so many males, even if they are only manifestations of her power. He still hates it.
"An."
The councilor's grandson, hearing the call, immediately turns to the projection screen. The commander on the screen, who is his uncle, exchanges a look of mutual displeasure with him. The commander then says: "Go comfort Aglis. If she's upset, take care of her. If she's sad or angry, console her well. You don't need to worry about things here anymore."
A flash of dejection crosses the grandson's eyes, but he nods and leaves the area.
After watching his nephew leave, the Aosam commander suppresses his anger and looks back outside the war vehicle. With Aglis's sudden withdrawal, the battle is over. Just as they arrived, Wei Huan has woven a massive net of bones and Facehuggers covering the entire area, with countless Dread Eye Lords and Burrow Beasts floating within.
So far, Wei Huan has only deployed three types of Undead forces, and he has easily counteracted Aosam's strongest individual. Although the battle ended because Aglis suddenly gave up, they all know that even if Aglis had more tricks up her sleeve, she would definitely not have been Wei Huan's match.
But can they just admit defeat like this?
Of course not! They are Aosam, the number one superpower on Blue Star, and they should be the number one superpower in the Challenger World. To fail repeatedly against Wei Huan, and now to be directly landed upon and occupied—this is an insult to Aosam! Every one of these older-generation generals rose up fueled by the pride of Aosam being the world's number one superpower. Now, to be asked to bow their heads, to accept that a change in rules allows him to crush them, is impossible!
Compared to the unwilling-to-fight Aglis and An, who is less sentimental about Aosam's past glory, this Aosam commander is far more ruthless. With a cold expression, he tells his deputy: "Since he wants to play this way, don't blame us for being absolute. Now, it's time to use it."
The deputy's eyes flicker. It's hard to describe whether his expression at this moment is more excited or more confused. But undoubtedly, he is his superior's absolute supporter. If his superior says east, he will not go west.
Soon, the deputy returns, holding a stack of scrolls. The scrolls have gold handles at both ends, engraved with incomprehensible divine runes. The outside of the scrolls is platinum-gold, each about the thickness of a thumb, and there are five of them. As they are handed to the Aosam commander, the data glasses he is wearing display the name: **[Angel's Spear Scroll]**.
That's right, the very same [Angel's Spear Scroll] that Yake used to defect to Wei Huan, trading it for the [Platinum Magic Flute]. The [Angel's Spear Scroll], which a private organization in a small country like Haisang could afford, is merely routine strategic reserve for a major power. Taking out five at once puts absolutely no strain on them.
The Aosam commander takes the scrolls, weighs them in his hand, and smiles.
"No matter how great a person's individual bravery is, they cannot ultimately stand against a nation. It's time to let Daxia see that the genius they take pride in will be destroyed by their own arrogance."
As he speaks, the Aosam commander decisively slams the scrolls onto the war vehicle's control panel. A slot that perfectly fits the scrolls opens up on the panel. The scrolls are quickly teleported to the war vehicle's armory, and under the control of the AI butler, they jump the queue to the front of the vehicle's ammunition. With a single command, these scrolls will be launched by the war vehicle, like firing a weapon, to traverse the two-kilometer distance and land in the middle of the Undead army.
Five scrolls launched consecutively... The Aosam commander can already imagine how spectacular the scene will be. Back then, they used devastating weapons on Haisang Country, exchanging millions of lives for an obedient "dog." This previous war also taught him: if you strike, strike like thunder, strike hard, strike painfully!
"Fire!"
The Aosam commander issues the final command.
At this moment, Wei Huan, inside his war vehicle, feels a faint palpitation. His eyes scan every part of the battlefield, but he cannot detect the source of the anomaly. Aglis's sudden stop and retreat were somewhat unexpected for Wei Huan, but considering her apparent close relationship with Yake, this sudden choice is not entirely surprising upon reflection. If not for Aglis's relationship with Yake, Wei Huan would not have indulged in this training duel, essentially feeding her moves. Following his policy of lightning-fast strikes, not only the vampires but also Aglis and the hundred war vehicles she brought would have long been annihilated by his Undead army.
So, where is the threat coming from?
Wei Huan is a seasoned veteran who never ignores his intuition. Since a premonition is warning him of danger, he won't be arrogant enough to do nothing. Flexibility depends on the situation. Since he is using one war vehicle to challenge Aosam's Pioneer Corps, he must be extra careful.
The Undead, whose rate of appearance had slowed down in the eight Portals, accelerates again. Moreover, this time he sends out the Wolves and Shura Horse legions, interspersed with Flying Monkeys and Green Wisps of Light. He also alerts Dot Mom to increase her vigilance. The influx of more Facehuggers visibly thickens the interwoven net they have created.
Finally, Wei Huan spots the anomaly.
First, the AI butler flashes red and quickly alerts: "Warning! Massive energy detected! Suspected Angel's Spear Scroll! Warning..."
Immediately after, Wei Huan's eyes lock onto a war vehicle in the Aosam convoy that has revealed its weapon port. A golden light sprays from the weapon port on the war vehicle's roof. No trajectory is visible, but the next second, the sky seems to be pierced. A golden light explodes in a dazzling brilliance, as if penetrating from outer space, and a golden, sharp spearhead appears in everyone's sight.
Everything seems to slow down. Wei Huan clearly sees the moment the spearhead coalesces into form. But his eyes and brain are captured by this celestial phenomenon, unable to react in any way. It's not until the spear is completely materialized, stabbing down violently as if teleporting.
Wei Huan's pupils contract sharply.
The next second.
The spearhead seems to be pressing against Wei Huan's eyeball, ready to pierce his head.
Then, with a deafening "Boom!"
Wei Huan snaps back to reality and sees the tip of the Golden Spear has struck Dot Mom's carapace. Their war vehicle has been protected by Dot Mom all along. When Wei Huan realized the danger, Dot Mom had already moved their war vehicle beneath her carapace and protected it with two white bone legs. Now, the Golden Spear hitting Dot Mom's carapace is like a small knife piercing a brick. Although the brick crumbles, the knife's attack is halted.
"A-yieee~~!!!"
Dot Mom lets out a long groan. Her six long legs bend under the force, showing signs of buckling. The hard carapace is covered in cracks that spread outwards, and the area pierced by the Golden Spear continues to plunge deeper. The spearhead points directly at Wei Huan's war vehicle.
"A-yieee!!!"
Dot Mom's cry carries anger. Two long legs curl onto her carapace, grasping the spear's shaft. Her remaining legs push up fiercely. The piercing force is finally arrested.
Wei Huan shifts his eyes from above and looks at the war vehicle that launched the scroll. It seems Aosam truly intends for him to die. The most powerful offensive scroll available in the current phase's store has been purchased to deal with him.
And... watching the command war vehicle's weapon port spray golden light again, with a new golden spear condensing above his head, Wei Huan's expression turns completely cold.
Mutual competition is the norm within humanity. Except for certain countries, Wei Huan always held back during battles. Now, the opponent's absolute hatred has completely crossed his line. With a thought, the Shura Horse group and Wolves transform into a wave of Undead, charging toward the Aosam convoy. As they advance, their bodies suddenly swell. Undeniably, Mu Zhong's Blessing has landed. The first hundred Shura Horse glow red, having been afflicted with Bloodlust. They become a streak of black light, reaching the center of the Aosam formation in an instant and leaping up!
Of course, the speed of attack on Wei Huan's side is even faster. The opponent's desire to kill him is intense. Seeing that the first strike failed, they simultaneously release four more scrolls. It looks like they are determined to leave him here.
Wei Huan commands the Undead army to attack, while also ordering the Marching Berserk Bear legion to assist Dot Mom in defense. Of course, he could order the butler to drive the war vehicle away now, using speed to evade this static-like output. But if he leaves, the construction team's war vehicles he is protecting would be exposed to danger. Moreover, in this kind of territory battle, while there are no explicit rules, if you are defending a city, you must defend within the territory. Once you leave, things become complicated.
Wei Huan can only withstand the attack for now. He has already experienced the power of the Angel's Spear Scroll, which is roughly equivalent to a strike from the Dark Beast Royal Race's Dragon Head Aspect. That is the Dragon Head Aspect, not the Half-Body Dragon Aspect. The power is significant, but a buffed Dot Mom can barely block one strike.
Not to mention the defensively specialized Big Bear. Big Bear, now an Epic Hero, is terrifyingly "meaty." As it stands on Dot Mom's carapace, charging toward the Angel's Spear, the spear tip pierces Big Bear's body, but the remaining force hitting Dot Mom's carapace only causes a small crack. The power is significantly less than the first strike.
And this is only Wei Huan's fastest reaction. Immediately after, one Berserk Bear after another rushes out of the Portals, leaping forward like moths to a flame, actively colliding with the Angel's Spear. Even as they are torn into fragments by the immense force, with all Berserk Bears turning into scattered bones and rotten flesh, they cannot be stopped from their leap. The power of the Angel's Spear is rapidly being consumed, but the Berserk Bears are dying too quickly, and the speed of their resurrection cannot keep up.
Dot Mom is hit consecutively by the third, fourth, and fifth Angel's Spears. She finally lets out an "A-yieee" wail and begins to break apart.
"Commander, the Undead army..." the deputy on the command war vehicle urgently warns. However, the Aosam commander completely ignores him. His eyes are locked on the collapsing gigantic terrestrial beast and the war vehicle that is completely exposed as it dies.
Victory or defeat hinges on this! Until the final result is determined, he doesn't want to hear or see anything else. He wants to personally witness Wei Huan's death! He wants merit! As long as Wei Huan dies, he will become Aosam's true power holder, instead of risking his life in the Challenger World.
Die! Die!
Finally, the spear tip lands on Wei Huan's war vehicle. But it stops three meters from the war vehicle, unable to plunge further.
The Aosam commander's bloodshot eyes widen suddenly. How could he forget that there is still a protective shield? And Wei Huan's shield is Tier 6.
Can a Tier 6 shield, used to defend against the Tier 5 [Angel's Spear Scroll], truly be broken? The Aosam officer involuntarily has a bad premonition.
The next second, reality confirms his guess. The scrolls he launched simultaneously hit, overlapping their attacks. While this should have increased the power, it also resulted in an unexpected flaw.
Wei Huan's war vehicle's Tier 6 shield finally breaks under the combined bombardment of three scrolls. But before the Aosam commander can rejoice, an equally powerful Tier 6 counterattack erupts from the broken shield, surging toward the sky like a colossal, ascending indigo-purple dragon.
"Crack!"
The spear is entangled. After a brief struggle, lasting less than three seconds, it gradually dissipates.
Dis... disappeared?
The Aosam commander's expression is still fixed in a look of savage excitement, but his eyes now hold a trace of confusion. Theoretically, the grade of such high-tier scrolls should be superior to the war vehicle's combat capability. One Angel's Spear can break a Dark Beast Lord's Tier 5 shield, but a Tier 5 war vehicle cannot break the scroll. He used five scrolls at once. Even with Wei Huan's Tier 6 shield, it shouldn't be able to destroy three Angel's Spears in one go, right?
But the fact is happening right before his eyes. Wei Huan truly used the shield's counterattack power to destroy the Angel's Spears. Why? Was it because too much energy was consumed by those Undead prior? Or is the attack power of a higher-tier shield that strong? Or is it...
"Commander!! Look out!!"
Just as the Aosam commander is about to contemplate more, a sharp, urgent voice interrupts his train of thought. He turns back in annoyance, about to say something, but his vision instantly goes dark upon seeing the situation.
Unbeknownst to him, they have been completely surrounded by the Undead army.
Unlike the previous skirmish between Wei Huan and Aglis, Wei Huan is truly serious this time. His core combat forces, the Shura Horse, are all deployed, each with Attribute Blessings. Some even have bodies glowing red, indicating the Bloodlust state, which grants ten times their attributes. These Shura Horse are massive, seven or eight meters long. With a single leap, they can grab a war vehicle. Tier 5 war vehicles can only float a short distance above the ground and cannot truly fly, making them easy prey for the Shura Horse.
The Shura Horse has four horse legs and a three-headed, six-armed human torso, giving it ten claws. Once they latch on, it's difficult to break free. The Shura Horse faithfully execute Wei Huan's orders, showing the deepest hatred for the command war vehicle. Four Bloodlust Shura Horse surround the war vehicle, clawing frantically. Right before the Aosam commander's eyes, the Tier 5 shield shatters with a "bang!"
The darkness, wrapped in blood-red light, falls upon the war vehicle. The Aosam commander instinctively screams: "Attack! Attack! The shield! The shield!!"
In fact, the war vehicle's attack and shield defense never stopped. But the determined Wei Huan gives the opponent no chance to breathe. The moment a Shura Horse dies, it is immediately resurrected and returned to the front line via a Gnoll's mouth. Not to mention the ceaseless Undead army, surging toward the Aosam convoy like a massive wave. At any given moment, every war vehicle is surrounded by hundreds, even thousands, of Undead. They are everywhere, in the sky and on the ground. Kill one, and a hundred more are waiting. They are inexhaustible.
And Wei Huan's Undead army, as long as they cannot be utterly destroyed, means the enemy is destined to be overwhelmed. Countless high-tier monsters, including Diamond-tier monsters, have been annihilated by Wei Huan using the same tactic. What right does this Aosam convoy, whose combined forces couldn't even kill a single Gold monster, have to be arrogant in front of Wei Huan?
In a blink of an eye, the first war vehicle is torn apart by a raging Shura Horse. As the destroyed war vehicle bursts open like popcorn, hundreds of Challengers are ejected. Some immediately flee the battlefield, while others form small groups to fight the Undead army. The Undead army does not pursue the fleeing Aosam Challengers, but under Wei Huan's command, anyone who dares to resist or attack is killed without mercy.
Wei Huan is truly enraged this time. Aosam used the scrolls on him, trying to replicate their victory over Haisang Country. He knows this all too well. But why should he be the chicken killed to warn the monkeys? He should, instead, kill the chicken to warn the monkeys against him!
Blood instantly stains the ground. The Aosam Challengers, without the protection of their war vehicles, are even less of a match for the Undead army. Even the defensively renowned Gardener and Farmer sequences are quickly swallowed by the giant wave of Undead and reduced to rotten flesh in the meat grinder.
Another war vehicle is destroyed. The third one is the Aosam commander's war vehicle. The disheveled Aosam commander, acting as if his brain has been taken, faces the massive, seven-to-eight-meter-long Shura Horse. He acts not like a Challenger, but a coward who only covers his head when attacked.
"Help! Protect me!! Soldiers, protect me!!" he screams hysterically, his voice almost breaking.
Fortunately, someone shouts loudly at this moment: "Don't attack the Undead! Stop attacking! Everyone leave here! Don't attack the Undead!"
The Aosam commander pauses his defensive action, then realizes something. "Don't attack" and "leave here" are just euphemisms for running away. Under his leadership, his soldiers are fleeing without a fight. What does this mean? It's humiliation!! It's Wei Huan's malicious counterattack!!
Argh!
"Don't go! Fight!!" he screams, tearing his throat.
However, the "Ho ho ho" and "Kaka kaka" sounds, along with the stampeding and fighting, drown out his voice. Only his close guard detail hears him and raises their weapons again. But the moment they raise their weapons, the surrounding Undead army seems to hit a terrifying switch, turning their heads simultaneously to look at them.
The pairs of eyes are cold and emotionless, filled with endless death energy, staring fixedly at them. Then, he can almost see all the details of the Undead's muscles tensing, ready to strike. An extremely powerful sense of danger descends. He feels the coldness of the Grim Reaper's scythe on his neck.
"Wait, wait! Everyone wait!" The Aosam commander can no longer care about honor or pride. He commands nervously: "Put down your weapons! Put down your weapons! Stop attacking, stop attacking!"
He is incoherent. The terror of the Undead army can only be truly felt when faced directly—the despair. Especially without the war vehicle's protection, it's too terrifying, too terrifying!!
However, what the Aosam commander cannot imagine is that even though he commanded them to put down their weapons and stop resisting, the Undead army looking at them does not decrease. Instead, it seems to grow larger, as if all the Undead on the battlefield are looking at him at this moment.
In the distance, Challengers escaping from other destroyed war vehicles have clearly understood that they can leave safely if they don't resist. They have completely abandoned the idea of fighting and are fleeing far away. Some war vehicles, severely damaged and about to explode, choose to flee with the entire vehicle. Even some war vehicles that could still resist are gradually reducing their firepower, seemingly opting for passive resistance.
Wei Huan has given everyone an escape route. But not him.
Realizing this, the Aosam commander's face turns pale. He then violently draws his sword and shouts: "Follow me, attack!"
The close guard detail next to him all have ash-gray faces, having already guessed their fate. Alas, their loyalty is etched into their bones. Even though they know there is a better way out, they cannot make that choice.
Then... let them be buried in their faith.
Countless Undead surge toward the Aosam commander under Wei Huan's command. As they are gradually overwhelmed until their figures completely disappear among the Undead army, Wei Huan's gaze shifts away.
The Undead army has completely taken control of the battlefield. Under Wei Huan's command, the Aosam convoy is forced seven kilometers away. The Undead army, either floating in the sky or running on the ground, has established a clear boundary. They silently warn everyone with their fierce appearance: Intruders will die!
The Aosam convoy, having lost its commander, is now a scattered mess, daring only to stop outside the boundary, unwilling to take another step into forbidden territory. This scene leaves all onlookers sighing with emotion. Although Aosam's glory had long since faded, seeing Wei Huan, with a single war vehicle, block Aosam's hundred war vehicles is still complex and thought-provoking.
The times have fundamentally changed. Aosam has proven the decline of its empire with this battle. The fighting ends here.
As for the external evaluation of this battle, Wei Huan does not care. He is indifferent whether people call him overbearing, arrogant, or if his strange admirers sing praises of his strength on the world channel.
After scattering the Undead seven kilometers out and establishing a defensive line, the construction of the city resumes. Working all night, the Tier 2 mechs operate frantically as carriers. Finally, before dawn, a standard small city appears on this land. On the tallest building, a Daxia national flag flutters in the wind under the sunlight.
Subsequently, the notoriously aggressive Wei Huan surprisingly and dutifully uploaded the City Construction Mandate to the Challenger System, marking the city's territory coverage in full compliance with regulations, along with the planned expansion during the second phase of construction. This point makes everyone who witnessed Wei Huan submitting the mandate marvel.
"Wei Huan is too complex. With his ability, even if he ignored this rule, no one would say anything, yet he chose to follow the rules."
"Yes, but if you call him rule-abiding, Aosam lost over three hundred people yesterday, including several high-ranking military officers, and even the councilor's third son. With such a massive blood debt, Aosam won't let him go."
"I think he's smart. Following the rules is a reassurance for countries other than Aosam—a peace of mind. But taking action against the Aosam commander is a deterrent to us. By balancing the two, Wei Huan only needs to deal with the threat from Aosam."
"Between Aosam and Wei Huan, or Aosam and Daxia, I will remain neutral. This confrontation is not over yet; there's more drama to see."
"No, I think the outcome is already decided. Daxia will withstand all pressure from Aosam. Wei Huan alone can currently counter an entire nation. If he wants to cause trouble, Aosam has no way to stop him. Don't forget he also controls the channel for advancement. Aosam, unable to defeat him, will inevitably compromise sooner or later."
"In that case, should we consider his alliance pact?"
"Yes, I was considering the same thing. Given Wei Huan's strength, he won't stay in this world for long. Achieving the strategic level set by the alliance pact will likely take some time. I want to follow him to the Tier 6 world and see."
"Understood. Then we shouldn't hesitate. I'll contact Wei Huan now."
"Good."
Similar conversations take place in war vehicles across the island. The Captains of major powers are tempted, but constrained by their countries, they cannot proceed. However, several second and third-tier nations, after discussion, completely shift their national attitude toward Wei Huan and form an alliance with him.
Wei Huan accepts everyone. This was his original goal.
He doesn't care about the ulterior motives of the newcomers. Because no matter how many intentions they have, as long as their ultimate enemy is the monsters of the Challenger World and the Dark Beast civilization, they share an inherently consistent position. In the end, they will always unite as one, fighting for humanity.
Subsequently, after the Daxia White Tiger Army officially settled into White Tiger City on Five Star Island and the handover was complete, Wei Huan, along with all the war vehicles that signed the alliance pact, set off once again.
This time, Wei Huan is very high-profile, directly announcing his route. He stretches his war vehicles out into a thousand-kilometer "plow" convoy, with an interval of 35 kilometers between each vehicle. He intends to utilize the advanced AIs on the allied war vehicles to sweep clean all Treasure Chests within the planned area, opening only Silver-tier chests and above. To facilitate this, he implements a detailed DKP (Dragon Kill Points) system, where different tiers of chests yield different DKP. Those willing to participate not only increase their alliance contribution count but also earn DKP.
As for whether opening a Gold-tier chest will expose the true face of the War Race, after successfully building a city on Five Star Island and repelling the Aosam army, the initial plan to corner Aosam has become less important. Rather than wasting time playing mind games with Aosam, Wei Huan now only wants to upgrade to a Tier 6 war vehicle faster.
The advance of the thousand-kilometer convoy lives up to Wei Huan's initial expectations. On the first day, he opens six Silver-tier chests and one Gold-tier chest. On the second day, he opens eleven Silver-tier chests, one Gold-tier chest, and one Gold-tier ruin. Among these discoveries, he finds a Data Glasses and a Super Energy Storage Unit. The harvest is considerable.
His war vehicle's Tier 6 Balcony and Tier 6 External Arrows are successfully upgraded one after the other. The [War Platform] becomes larger, doubling its capacity for combat positions and doubling the buff provided to ranged units. With the [External Arrows] reaching Tier 6, Wei Huan's war vehicle gains the ability to attack proactively, no longer needing to rely on the shield's defensive counterattack for combat.
On the fourth day, intelligence reports that several war vehicles have gathered along their intended route, snatching some Bronze, Iron, and a few Silver-tier chests.
"Do we need to drive them away?" Mu Zhong asks Wei Huan.
"No need."
Wei Huan is not arrogant. The real him is calm and rational, clearly knowing that even though he is strong enough to have no rival, there is no need to provoke too many enemies. And at this stage, only Gold-tier chests and above offer a true upgrade for him. If those people want to open the Silver-tier chests, let them. Of course, if they deliberately try to annoy him by constantly following in front of them, Wei Huan wouldn't mind warning them to leave. In a severe situation, he might even resort to targeted killing.
Five days pass this way. After they enter an uninhabited area and kill another Gold-tier monster, the secret is finally exposed.
What? The Tier 5 alien race uses mental attacks? Their physical attack power is generally weak, and they can be killed as long as the illusion is overcome?
I knew it! How could Wei Huan possibly kill a Diamond-tier monster? It must be because he already knew the true nature of the alien race and found a way to overcome the illusion to achieve the kill.
Damn it! If we had known earlier, we would have acted too!
Furthermore, information about the environment where the alien race appears, particularly its connection to water—the fact that ruins resembling an underground river will certainly yield the alien race—is also leaked.
As a result, two separate teams are quietly assembled outside Wei Huan's "plowing" range. One is Big Bear Country's convoy. The other is Aosam's convoy. Within their controlled regions, both find Gold-tier ruins that fit the criteria, featuring underground rivers.
Both nations dispatch their truly strong Pioneer Corps, forming combat teams with firm willpower specifically against the alien race's combat characteristics. They overcome all obstacles and finally arrive at the Gold Treasure Chest.
However, at this moment, the Big Bear Country's general thinks it over carefully and makes a decision he later feels incredibly fortunate about. He uses a personal connection to contact Mu Dehao, sincerely asking: "My ally, I am currently in front of a Gold Treasure Chest. I sincerely ask you, can we open this chest?"
Mu Dehao is momentarily stunned: "Are you sure it's an alien race chest?"
"Yes, it meets all the conditions we've gathered about the alien race chest."
Mu Dehao sighs: "Daxia does not deceive its allies. If the alien race chest were so easy to open, we would certainly inform our strategic partners. If you trust my words, it's still not too late to retreat now."
"Why? You can do it, but we can't?"
"Because of the anchor point. Do not engage the alien race until you find a suitable anchor point," Mu Dehao says after a thought. "If I remember correctly, you have deployed a small number of Criminal sequence individuals in your legion, right? How about a trade?"
In contrast, Aosam is deeply jealous of Daxia, compounded by its persistent obsession with its past glory. The team standing in front of the Gold Treasure Chest directly places its hand on the chest.
As a brilliant light flashes! A blurred shadow, actually a cluster of scarlet, worm-like roots, instantly emerges from the chest and buries itself into the ground. In a short time, its mental power sweeps through everyone's minds, intertwining with the racial memory in the void, finally transforming into a human female with a pale complexion, black hair, black eyes, beautiful features, and wearing a tattered but sexy robe.
Then, as the Aosam team attacks, six Portals identical to Wei Huan's appear behind her. Wolves, Berserk Bears, and Shura Horse—the forces that the Aosam army has learned to dread—leap out from the Portals.
"Necromancer!?" The combat team's captain, who ranks among the world's top five in combat effectiveness and had undergone extensive psychological preparation before the mission, still cries out in surprise upon seeing this: "Wasn't it merfolk? Why is a Necromancer appearing? Is this a new species?"
The other team members bravely face the Undead army, though fear grips their hearts. But they quickly notice a difference.
"She's weaker than Wei Huan!" "That's right! Everyone hold steady! It's not that every Necromancer is the strongest. We can defeat her!"
A battle that is almost "evenly matched" erupts in the ruin.
No one notices that the scattered white bones, upon hitting the ground, grow tiny red, worm-like roots that quickly drill into the soil, spreading toward the ruin's exit. Meanwhile, the Necromancer, who is the main focus, constantly draws the combat team's power. She gradually shifts from evenly matched to struggling, until a Challenger's greatsword reaches her forehead. At that moment, she sheds tears of fear. Even though they know this might be a trick, the hand holding the knife still hesitates.
The Challenger, completely unaware that he has been mentally invaded, holds the knife to the woman's neck and turns to say: "She's different from the intelligence report. Is the alien race really only about mental attacks?"
Yes, all the intelligence was unsubstantiated rumors. The alien race before their eyes isn't a merfolk.
"And she's a Necromancer. Wei Huan is so strong precisely because he's a Necromancer. I think this is an opportunity to learn about Wei Huan. We shouldn't kill her directly."
Unbeknownst to them, the mental attack works on more of their minds. Their thoughts become muddled by the invasion, gradually being led in a completely different direction.
"You're right. She is a Necromancer. If we can replicate more Necromancers, that would be great! We're going to achieve a great feat!" "And she's truly beautiful. I've always thought Eastern beauties were both mysterious and gorgeous." "Look, she's nodding! She says she can help us learn about Necromancers, as long as we don't kill her." "Let's take her back! Even if we can't figure out the secret of the Necromancer, we can train her to be a Necromancer to fight Wei Huan!"
In their conversation, they have completely forgotten their original mission. The memory of the alien race as deceivers seems to be blocked by a fog, gradually disappearing into the depths of their minds.
Only the team's deputy captain, a high-spirit-power Scholar, has a constant tension pulling at her mind. She holds her forehead, shaking her head, and struggles to say: "Wait, everyone. Don't be fooled. The alien race specializes in mental attacks. It is the enemy. Kill it directly."
The next second, the deputy captain is locked onto by a pair of pitch-black eyes. They are bottomless eyes. She feels like she is being pulled, falling straight into the depths, tumbling and spinning. Gradually, she seems to forget something.
What was it?
"You're all right. If we can subdue her and train her to be stronger, she will become Wei Huan's enemy. I can already imagine the scene of Necromancer fighting Necromancer."
The deputy captain's shoulders relax. A smile returns to her face. She follows in the middle of the team, speaking with an air of absolute victory.
But in reality, their faces and bodies are crawling with red worms. These are the roots of the alien race, buried deep in the seabed. But who said they can only live in the soil? Biological bodies are the best fertilizer for their vigorous growth.
Food... Food... Food...
A vague, greedy voice murmurs in the void.
The red worms on the team members become exceptionally active. One bites into the flesh and drills inside. The deputy captain's eyeballs are being gnawed by the red worms, which bore all the way into her brain along her optic nerves.
Just like that, her last flicker of doubt vanishes. She stumbles out, following her companions.
They are already dead. But they don't know it themselves. And the roots parasitic on them follow them out of the ruin.
Outside the ruin, war vehicles are waiting in formation, along with Challengers ready to receive them after leaving their vehicles. Initially, they only see the team members walking out unsteadily, with unnatural postures, like drunks.
"Careful! What's wrong?" "Stop! Stop! Or we will shoot!!"
The Challengers and war vehicles detect the anomaly and enter combat status, staring intently at the team standing in the shadows of the ruin's entrance. They fail to notice the tiny red worms drilling out of the ground as they appear, crawling up their shoes and into their clothes.
Finally, after these red worms enter their bodies, the bizarre appearance of the group from the ruin suddenly seems normal to them.
"My god, you're injured! Quickly! Bring them back to the war vehicles for treatment! Their injuries are too severe! We must treat them immediately! Get the Priests!"
The terrible attack spreads rapidly through the Aosam Challenger army in a manner without visible smoke or fire. Some people notice the anomaly, but due to a lack of intelligence, they cannot avoid the proliferation of the red worms. Soon, the things that seemed abnormal become completely rational under the alien race's invasion.
One war vehicle after another is invaded and infected. Simultaneously, these war vehicles, carrying an inexhaustible number of red worms, head toward headquarters…