Firelight!

As instructed by the Nine Splendor Art,

Lin Ye's cultivation of Gene Energy had gradually entered a better state, and his absorption of cosmic energy continued to accelerate.

At the same time.

In the wilderness four hundred kilometers from Shelter No. 057.

Across the desolate land, forty enormous Silver Moon Giant Wolves were charging madly through the open plains, kicking up bursts of piercing wind.

Thick clouds obscured the moon, leaving the land shrouded in darkness.

Under the heavy curtain of night.

The pack raced at full speed like shadows, as though chasing something.

Amid the flying dust, every time the giant wolves' limbs struck the ground, they left deep marks behind, trailing a long gray plume.

If Lin Ye had been there, he would have noticed that every Silver Moon Giant Wolf here was excessively huge.

Compared to the giant wolf he had slain before, they were anywhere from twice to more than four times its size.

Even the weakest among them was a Primary Beast General.

Meanwhile,

Five kilometers ahead of the wolf pack, three men and one woman were also sprinting through the darkness.

Night winds howled in their ears. From the identical War General badges on their arms, it was clear that this was an elite War General squad.

Yet at this moment, this elite squad seemed to have suffered some great calamity. Their momentum had weakened considerably, and they no longer possessed their former peak condition.

Both men and woman bore injuries of varying severity, blood dripping from their wounds onto the ground.

The once formidable Mid-tier War Generals were covered in blood as they fled in disgrace beneath the pursuit of the Beast General wolf pack.

As their stamina rapidly drained, they slowed further and further... while the wolf pack drew ever closer.

Yet even under such circumstances, they did not give up.

Every second, they ran forward with all their strength, allowing themselves not the slightest reservation or slackness.

Crossing barren ground, passing through small woods, leaping over earthen hills... the four Martial Artists raced through the seemingly endless depths of night...

"What do we do now?"

While running, one lean Martial Artist tore off a strip of clothing and bound his bleeding severed arm. Gritting his teeth, he said, "At this rate, those beasts will surround us sooner or later!"

The darkness could conceal their figures, but it could not hide the scent of blood on them.

Following that scent, the Silver Moon wolf pack could pursue its prey to the ends of the wilderness.

"Don't panic. What matters most right now is getting the news back to the Human Base and telling them that the Silver Moon Giant Wolves are secretly gathering in groups.

Their target is most likely Shelter No. 057, Shelter No. 070, and the surrounding human shelters.

They may even be planning to attack South Bank Fortress after taking the shelters."

"We can die, but the message must get through so the military can prepare in advance!"

"Otherwise, a massive Beast Tide led by three Lord Monsters will become another enormous disaster for Shan City."

"We absolutely cannot allow such a tragedy to happen."

The oldest member of the squad, a bald War General, spoke with every word ringing like steel.

He had a brawny build and carried an enormous iron hammer on his back, looking every bit like a blacksmith.

"Cough... cough cough."

"Second Brother is right. We have to get the news back." Another male War General agreed. Blood continuously seeped from his mouth, clearly indicating that he had suffered severe internal injuries.

The female Martial Artist said nothing.

In truth, they all knew very well that these Beast General-level Silver Moon Giant Wolves, whose intelligence was no less than that of humans, would never allow any of them to leave alive.

The reason they had managed to flee until now, aside from the slim chance at survival bought by many squad members risking their lives, was that these Beast Generals had entertained the thought of toying with their prey.

As if by unspoken agreement, the four looked at their Communicators, already shattered into pieces, and could not help thinking of the squad members trapped in the encirclement, fighting to their deaths.

A deep grief and indignation inevitably rose in every heart.

As expected of the Silver Moon wolf pack that had produced two Mid-tier Lords and one Primary Lord. They had actually chosen to lure their enemies deep in before setting up a group ambush and waiting at ease for exhausted prey.

Most crucially, these Beast General-level monsters had deliberately destroyed the human Martial Artists' communication devices during battle, playing with them as though it were a game.

Such intelligence truly was beyond that of ordinary monsters!

As the distance between them and the wolves shrank, they could even hear the excited howls.

The group paused briefly atop a small hill.

A flash of determination passed through the depths of the bald man's eyes, as if he had already made a decision.

"Little Sister, go first. Your Second Brother, Fifth Brother, and I will hold these beasts back."

"No! If we die, we die together! I've already lost Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother. I can't lose you too!"

Third Brother let out a furious roar.

"Why aren't you leaving?! Do you want to die here with us, then let the Beast Tide destroy several shelters and the fortress too?!"

"Awwooo...!"

Behind them, the distant yet clear howls sent a chill through everyone's body.

At that moment, the lean man, whose stamina was nearly spent, barely had the strength left even to gasp.

He reached out toward the woman and called weakly, "Little Sister... run... as long as you live... our Sharp Blade Squad... will still remain... go... don't worry about us... go!!"

"..."

For an instant, there was silence. The female Martial Artist looked deeply at her three brothers before swiftly turning away... Behind her came the bald War General's final words: "Little Sister, don't die! Live... and avenge me and all the brothers who died!!!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The wolves' pounding footsteps drew closer and closer. Even their howls were right at hand, steadily closing in...

"Brothers, are you afraid?" Fifth Brother, the one-armed War General, asked with a smile, one that was incomparably cold and carefree.

On the hillside, three figures stood against the wind. Facing the pursuing Beast Tide, they were like three impregnable walls standing firm in place.

"Afraid my ass. If we fear these beasts, will they let us go?" The bald eldest brother spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, his eyes growing even more resolute.

He planted the massive iron hammer from his back into the ground, looking like one man holding a pass against ten thousand. "Even if we die, we'll take some monsters down with us and kick them around on the road to the underworld..."

"I'm not afraid either. The moment I chose to become a Martial Artist, I had already cast life and death aside.

"Besides, our Sharp Blade Squad has already left behind a spark to carry on. There's nothing to fear anymore."

"It's just a pity..."

The lean man gently wiped his Battle Saber, as tenderly as if he were treating a newlywed wife.

The night was dim, and the Battle Saber reflected a dull black gleam. Strands of devouring killing intent seeped from its blade.

He glanced back in the direction the female Martial Artist had fled and sighed softly. "It's just a pity we won't get to see our Little Sister get married. I wonder which unlucky brat will end up marrying our family's ice-cold beauty."

"Hahahaha!!!"

The three men's hearty laughter scattered with the wind.

After laughing, the three Mid-tier War Generals looked toward the Beast General wolf pack drawing ever nearer and quickly set up a minefield around them.

After burying every high-explosive grenade they carried, the three stood shoulder to shoulder, exchanged a glance, and calmly stepped into the center of the minefield.

The vibrations of the giant wolves' footsteps were almost at their ears, and the excited howls came closer and closer...

"Kill!!"

"Kill!!"

"Kill!!"

Amid sky-shaking killing intent, the three male Martial Artists raised their weapons toward the wolf pack.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Explosions erupted, and flames shot into the sky. Several giant wolves that had charged into the center of the minefield were blasted off their feet, their limbs severed or bodies torn apart.

Many Beast Generals nearby were stunned in place by the suddenly erupting shockwaves.

Amid countless cries of pain, the surrounding dead grass rapidly caught fire, gradually engulfing everything around it in an ever-expanding sea of flames.

The young woman did not stop even once. Two long trails of tears silently slid down her face, which was usually covered in frost...