Chapter 79: The Special Frontline! (First Update)

More than a day had passed since the first wave of monstrous attacks. These creatures were far more aggressive during the night. In daylight, most would lie dormant, granting everyone a brief respite.

Lin Grapevine and her companions camped at the edge of a lake, where the terrain was open and connected to several patches of woodland. The entire encampment housed about a hundred or two people, tasked with monitoring a defensive line stretching five or six kilometers.

The situation at Peach Blossom Cove differed from other guilds. Internal factions were scattered, resulting in two additional strongholds—one near Anqing, and another with Qi Gu Yi. These three outposts formed a single defensive line, which Peach Blossom Cove was truly responsible for.

Zhao Nanxing’s camp was poorly positioned. If monsters wanted to breach their defenses, they merely needed to circle the lake, after which a long stretch of plain lay open before them. Yet, when Moonlight Land was first discovered, this site served as one of Peach Blossom Cove’s frontline bases. Nanxing, aspiring for the guild’s presidency, had to shoulder the heaviest burdens.

No one had foreseen the sudden surge of energy fluctuations in Moonlight Land. Now, circumstances had escalated beyond their control; the reformation of Peach Blossom Cove was under close scrutiny, and their every action needed to inspire confidence.

Now, the growing numbers of monsters were apparent to the naked eye.
Creatures poured forth even from other dimensional gates.

Official reports detected traces of a purple energy fluctuation above a bridge in the northern part of Jingmen Safety Zone, suspected to signal a new anomaly. Some believed this fluctuation had birthed something that attracted monsters.

The frequency of attacks increased, tension mounting throughout Jingmen Safety Zone.

Reinforcements had arrived in several teams, mainly from the Hanzhong Safety Zone and the southern Dongting Lake Safety Zone, dispatched by the major guilds.

Another night fell.

A light rain misted the air, lending it a palpable dampness. Suddenly, an alarm blared from somewhere along the defensive lines. Without warning, the monsters launched a second wave of assault!

This onslaught was fiercer than before.

Above the great bridge, the purple aura tore open, revealing a curtain of white light!

Boom!

Boom!

This time, both the number and size of the monsters surpassed all expectations. As they crashed against the lines, the ground itself shuddered.

From a bird’s-eye view, thousands of monsters charged in separate groups toward the defenses. Hundreds more soared through the skies, destroying every reconnaissance drone in their path.

Battle was imminent.

The strongest fighters from each outpost rushed to intercept the monster packs.

Yet, perhaps because Jingmen Safety Zone hadn’t seen such entrenched warfare in ages, within barely half an hour, at least seven or eight outposts lost contact, including members from the major guilds like Jingbei Industries and Jianghe.

The monsters’ levels were overwhelmingly high. Explorers below level forty were virtually useless.

Already, criticism of the strategy was mounting; some argued that the defensive line should not have been stretched so thin, but instead allowed monsters closer to the city, with fortifications built around its perimeter.

But the reality was set; there was no room for regret.

Battlefish personally intervened, rescuing several besieged outposts. Veteran bigwigs, long absent, emerged to bolster morale.

Peach Blossom Cove faced monster assaults for the first time. Zhao Nanxing’s new team included many veterans who had escaped from the larger groups, bringing some combat experience. The authorities, aware of their situation, sent a thirty-strong squad from Dongting Safety Zone to assist, barely managing to hold the line.

Unexpectedly, Anqing fared even worse. At least three elite monsters appeared there, and a team of twenty was routed almost immediately, forced to rely on the hills to maneuver against the creatures.

“Damn it, why are you chickening out? It’s not like we can’t beat them!”

“If you’re so brave, go ahead. What’s your problem?”

“Can’t even hold a tiny breach? If you can’t handle it, why claim such a prime spot?”

“Stop bickering. If you keep it up, everyone’ll die here. Hold on, the monsters’ health is running low.”

The battle at Anqing was even fiercer than at Zhao Nanxing’s camp.

The front lines were held by Old Black.

Unexpectedly, Old Black, who had come from outside, dominated the Peach Blossom Cove Anqing contingent these past two days.

Then, a shadowy figure emerged behind Anqing—a stealthy infiltrator.

Anqing cursed, “Damn it, I told you to lure the monsters, not bring so many here!”

“I didn’t expect their reaction to be so intense,” Fan Xitiao replied, shaking his head in explanation.

“We’ve almost used up the Moonlight Grass, maybe seven or eight batches left. Should be enough to divert the next wave.”

“Forget it, it’s fine,” Anqing managed to steady himself. Given how turbulent the situation was, they’d managed to hold out.

He picked up his communicator, coordinating the surrounding teams.

The defensive line was slowly pulled back, and he announced they would focus on defensive tactics. There was no need to kill monsters outright; driving them off sufficed, as long as the position was held.

This adjustment seemed reasonable, but in truth, it served little purpose.

Even if driven away, the monsters would likely return, or attack neighboring defenses.

“Stick to the original plan—lure as many as possible toward Zhao Nanxing’s sector,” Anqing instructed Fan Xitiao.

Fan Xitiao hesitated, almost voicing his concerns: “There are more monsters than expected, and at least ten elite ones in the rear. If we lure them all, our western defenses might collapse; not only will Zhao Nanxing’s group be overwhelmed, we could lose many as well.”

According to Anqing’s deployment, the major high-level groups were now concentrated in the east, forming a diagonal defensive line. The closer to Zhao Nanxing’s side, the weaker the defenses; it was almost inevitable the monsters would break through.

“Their lack of strength is their own problem. As long as our main group is safe, if you delay any longer, everyone dies here,” Anqing pressed Fan Xitiao.

The battlefield was chaotic, monsters already drawn in.

Even if too many had been lured, the plan had to be followed.

Fan Xitiao quickly slipped into the fray.

Though only a level fifty-five infiltrator, he navigated the monster horde with little pressure. Only a few elite monsters could sense him; the rest were distracted by the Moonlight Grass he scattered.

Gradually, the monsters’ formation shifted.

On the plains, their advance was much faster than in the hills.

In less than thirty minutes, over eighty monsters surged into the combat zone!

More followed, charging alongside the main horde, and in a short time, Zhao Nanxing’s defensive line faced ten times the pressure.

Another three or four minutes passed. The right flank of Zhao Nanxing’s camp and the left flank of Anqing’s were shattered by the monster swarm.

Anqing lost about twenty explorers.

Zhao Nanxing lost more than ten scouts and rangers.

This wave of monsters was almost entirely redirected.

They charged straight for Zhao Nanxing’s outpost!

(End of chapter)