C26 Conflict

"Ant tide!"

Pei Anhan's voice rang out, laced with shock.

The soldiers around him were equally stunned.

In the distance, the ground was a dark mass, like a black deluge. It was composed of tens of thousands of ants!

"Run!"

Pei Anhan bellowed to the troops and Jiao Yuanju's team.

Over two hundred people recoiled in terror. Under Pei Anhan's orders, the seasoned soldiers instinctively formed a protective ring around the Phantom Team.

For Jing Haokuo, Jing Junbo, and the rest, who had never ventured beyond Krukshire in their lives, the sight was utterly incomprehensible.

"Boss, are all these ants Mutant Beasts?" Jing Haokuo asked, his fear palpable. Jing Dehai and the others were equally stricken with panic. Despite their talents, they were just teenagers, seventeen or eighteen years old, and had never witnessed such a spectacle.

Trees toppled one after another. Though the ant tide was slower than them, it left a trail of fallen timber. Every living thing in its path was gnawed to the bone.

A sheen of cold sweat coated Jiao Yuanju's face. He caught a glimpse of the fatty and others being hauled away by soldiers and a realization hit him hard. The comfort and ease of city life had caused humanity to forget the struggles of the past. Yet, this was still a world in chaos, reeling from a great cataclysm. Mutant Beasts dominated eighty percent of the planet. Ever since the meteorite struck, humans had been dethroned from the apex of the food chain.

The group of two hundred had no choice but to flee back the way they came. They had barely embarked on their journey when they encountered this disaster. The ammunition and firearms they had brought were no match for the ant tide!

"We can't let the ant tide chase us down like this. We need to get a clear picture of their path and size!" Jiao Yuanju urged Zhen Heyi, who was gasping for breath as she ran alongside him.

Turning to Hong Yangqiu, who trailed the main force, Jiao Yuanju instructed, "Your Combat Pet is a flyer, isn't it? Could you check the direction of the ant tide for us?"

Without a word, Hong Yangqiu complied. A black hawk soared from his Combat Pet Bag. As the hawk's bonded master, Hong Yangqiu could tap into its sight.

"It's okay!"

Pei Anhan's face lit up with joy, drawing everyone's attention. He asked urgently, "Kid, what's the situation?"

Hong Yangqiu replied with composure, "This ant tide isn't targeting us. Even if we stand still, they won't follow."

Xie Ziyu let out a cold snort. "That's because their destination is the city wall. It's made of metal, but we're dealing with an earth ant tide. They can chew a hole right through the wall. It's only a matter of time!"

"What!" Pei Anhan exclaimed in anger. "Everyone, about-face and charge with me. We cannot allow the ant tide to reach the city wall!"

Their mission was to eliminate the Mutant Beasts outside the city. Naturally, they couldn't let the ant tide anywhere near the wall.

"How many bombs and flame guns do we have?"

"Each of us has a bomb, but there are only three flame guns."

While they spoke, they positioned themselves in front of the ant tide, with the city wall just two miles behind them!

Soldiers hurled bombs into the swarm, blasting open a large clearing in an instant.

"The ant tide is heading our way!"

The ant tide halted its advance. The hundred-meter-long swarm enveloped the two hundred people like a flood.

Flame guns roared, spewing fire that kept the ant tide at bay.

Jiao Yuanju's voice was firm. "It's our turn now. Elemental Combat Pets, you're up first. You have the upper hand!"

A single ant was no match for a human, but thousands together were formidable. Ordinary Combat Pets stood no chance.

Jing Dehai stepped forward, volunteering, "I'm on it!"

He surveyed the troops and released his flame tiger, commanding, "Fire Charge!"

In an instant, the flame tiger's fiery breath wiped out every ant within a dozen meters.

Wind Blades sliced through the swarm in a frenzy, the work of Lei Sheng's Black Wind Wolf and Hong Yangqiu's black hawk, but to little effect. The ants, as if enraged, continued their relentless assault.

Before long, members of the group were bitten. Dozens of ants swarmed over them, and the ordinary person was no match for the onslaught, quickly becoming covered in bites.

"Retreat! We can't stay this close to the ant tide!"

Zhen Heyi's voice rang out sharply, and she swiftly mounted a Lightning Leopard, charging into the ant tide.

Jiao Yuanju gasped in alarm, "Zhen Heyi!"

A fearsome bolt of lightning erupted from the Lightning Leopard, accompanied by a fierce cry, "Wrath of Thunder!"

The devastating lightning instantly engulfed an area of several meters, annihilating all the ants beneath its crackling fury!

Jing Haokuo shouted with excitement, "I'm joining the fray!"

The Earth Boar lumbered forward, a goofy expression on its face, and executed Groundbreak, tearing fissures through the earth.

Jiao Yuanju and Xie Ziyu were the only ones who held back. Their Combat Pets lacked any area-of-effect attacks. Eoldrai's abilities couldn't even scratch the ant tide, so they both stood still.

In no time, the ant tide was wiped clean.

Pei Anhan watched their fight and burst into laughter, "Well done! We owe you one!"

Lei Sheng boasted, "We had to step in; it was our duty to defend the city. But how on earth did that guy become captain?"

He cast a scornful glance at Jiao Yuanju. To him, Jiao Yuanju was nothing but a greedy mercenary, only willing to fight for money, always putting on an air of wisdom. He had little regard for Jiao Yuanju.

Though Jiao Yuanju hadn't lifted a finger, he had noticed something far more crucial. The ant swarm was clearly being manipulated. His mind flashed back to the black-robed figure they had encountered before.

Jiao Yuanju warned with grave concern, "Stay alert, everyone. This isn't over. There are definitely people out here targeting us!"

Lei Sheng responded with a cold sneer, "People? This wilderness is home only to Mutant Beasts. Stop making excuses for your laziness, you spineless coward!"

He scanned their surroundings and mocked, "And what about your insects? Why did they scurry off first?"

His words were cut short as the ground began to tremble.

"What's happening?"

From the distant woods, dozens of massive lions with jet-black fur and a wild aura emerged, encircling them slowly. Clearly, these lions had been lying in wait for quite some time.