Chapter 97: For the Team!

“Rose, throw the corrosive grenades, quickly!”

“Alice, fire the flash rounds!”

In the dim cave, Wang Xiaoqian shouted nervously, issuing urgent commands. The third wave of bats was both numerous and powerful; after two minutes of firefight, only one fifth had been eliminated, and not a single one of the large red bats had been wounded.

Take note: each of them was armed with assault rifles or semi-automatic rifles, their crossfire was formidable—yet...

“Xiaoqian, I’m out of flash grenades!” Alice shouted frantically.

“Xiaoqian, I’m almost out of ammo!” Rose hurled the corrosive grenade high, yelling as well.

“Damn!”

Their hearts sank. Though they'd brought ample equipment, most was left in the vehicles; the ammo carried in personal backpacks was limited. The spare magazines and throwable weapons were restricted too. If the bats weren't wiped out before they ran out of supplies, it would be disastrous.

The Black Storm regiment’s charge and sharpshooting skills were useless against the flying bats.

Wang Xiaoqian fired at the corrosive grenade, and behind her, Tina, catching on, threw a firebomb as well. In a flash, flames filled the upper passage; bats screeched, black smoke billowed, and strings of numbers flashed: 224, 354, 184, 401...

A small-scale area attack at least.

Then, corpses rained to the ground, and the members of the Thorn Rose squad saw their experience slowly rise.

Game's main settings: 1. “A soldier who doesn’t aspire to be a general isn’t a good soldier”—everything is based on rank and promotion. Combat power determines rank.

2. Personal level is auxiliary. Personal level dictates overall attributes, which in turn determine leadership and command ability, as well as equipment compatibility. Players must figure it out themselves.

These two mechanics seemed innovative, but were actually quite tricky. There used to be a comprehensive attribute index—now it’s gone; everything must be discovered by trial and error.

Trial and error, but the road ahead was unclear; their exploration felt as if they’d fallen into a pit.

Everything was a maze...

But enough digression—back to the battlefield. Rose and Sunshine’s ammunition was about to run out; the squad had to withstand the wave after wave of bat bombardment, forcing them to change formation.

Tina and Liisa on either flank raised their rifles and switched positions with Rose and Sunshine.

Just then, several crimson streaks shot through the air, striking Wang Xiaoqian dead-on.

558, 602—two numbers floated up. Wang Xiaoqian lost more than half her health; she staggered, nearly collapsing, and their formation wavered.

“Xiaoqian!” The girls cried out in shock.

Wang Xiaoqian’s combat power was 3130, defense value 1380. The crimson streaks were clearly attacks from the red bat leaders. Judging by the damage and her gear’s defense bonus, their attack power was about 2200–2400.

“They’re level 30 elite monsters!” The vice-captain, Wanqing, exclaimed.

She was a top student in mathematics, quick with mental calculations; her conclusion was beyond doubt.

Ten level 30 monsters—this was trouble!

Wang Xiaoqian steadied herself and spoke quickly, “This isn’t working. There shouldn’t be any monsters behind us; Wanqing, defend alone. Rose and Sunshine stay on the flanks with shields. Everyone else, focus on offense.”

“And Alice, your weapon is a sniper rifle—take shots at the red elite monsters whenever you get the chance!”

“Got it!” The girls replied, their eyes resolute. If they couldn’t handle these bats, what hope was there of earning military merit, defending Bero Village, or discovering the origin of these unknown creatures?

The battle instantly reached a fever pitch. The Thorn Rose squad’s average combat power was 2100; a single bullet could take out a regular level 18 bat. Of course, that was because the bats were small and had little health—other level 18 monsters would not be so easy.

For example, the hungry prairie wolves solved by Li Xin were about level 20, with over 6000 health—tough-skinned, thick-furred creatures. He managed headshots only by relying on his cross-slash and universe skills, plus advanced personal stats; anyone else would have failed.

Bang! A larger bullet shot out, striking a red bat directly—3300.

Triggered the fifty-percent kill rate of sharpshooting, instantly killing the red bat. Alice rejoiced, the team rejoiced; their tactics had worked.

The bat swarm screeched, louder than before; sonic attacks continued, and nine health bars above their heads dropped repeatedly. Though they had healing potions, their health kept decreasing.

“Damn, these bats are hateful! There are still over four hundred left; at this rate, we’ll be deafened before they’re dead!” Sunshine gritted her teeth, furious.

“Xiaoqian, Wanqing, let’s hold out a bit longer—give Alice more time with the machine gun. If we can’t last, you two charge ahead with your rifles, I’ll blow myself up with the explosives!” Rose’s eyes were resolute, her words shocking.

“No!”

“There’s no other way—I’ll do it too!” Liisa declared.

No one protested further; at this point, saving even one was better than losing all. If a few made it in to find Naples’s tomb and complete the quest, the team would at least accomplish something.

Perhaps the girls’ resolve moved the heavens; Alice, as if divinely inspired, landed five consecutive one-shot kills, taking out five red bats.

The ordinary level 18 gray bats were down to about two hundred.

The remaining five red bat leaders gathered together, chittering incessantly, seemingly discussing strategies. The Thorn Rose squad took the opportunity to recover, downing large healing potions.

Seconds later, the bats let out a long cry, their sonic waves stacking up, amplifying their ultrasonic attack.

455, 601, 357… Though their numbers had dwindled, their damage had increased.

“Shit!” Liisa, the American girl, cursed, pulling out her only explosive pack from her backpack. On the other side, Rose, the German girl, did the same. Sunshine, Fuxue, Tina—one after another.

Some still had plenty of ammo, yet chose to risk everything, to die fighting.

“It’s up to you now!”

Under the fierce suppressive fire of Wanqing and Meimei’s dumpling, five young women smiled at each other, pulled the detonators, activated their charge skills, and rushed forward like meteors.

Boom!

The explosions overlapped, tongues of flame erupted, beautiful as fireworks. Black smoke curled, bats screeched, and the massive blast wave swept through, tearing countless bats to pieces. The earth shook, rocks flew, sand and gravel scattered, and suddenly a thunderous rumble echoed.

“It’s collapsing! Quick, grab your gear and get inside!” Wanqing shouted, dragging the stunned Wang Xiaoqian along, scooping up items from the ground as she ran.

Meimei’s dumpling and Hebe weren’t far behind, grabbing the brightest loot.

As the explosive packs detonated, the mountain passage collapsed in a roaring cascade, blocking the entrance and exit.

Farther away, in Bero Village, villagers gathered on the heights west of the village, gazing into the distance, their faces bleak.