"Boom! Boom!--"
Amidst the roar of artillery fire, one dark figure after another plummeted down the mountain.
In a trench atop the mountain, Zhou Dehou carried two boxes of ammunition and strode forward.
By now, the ammunition near the main weapon positions is almost exhausted. We need to move the ammunition that has been placed nearby to ensure that we can replenish our firepower as quickly as possible.
That was the task he was engaged in.
Suddenly, I seemed to hear the wind rushing close by, followed by a slightly urgent shout from the terminal in my ear.
" The Calamity Beast is attacking! Take cover!"
Without hesitation, Zhou Dehou immediately squatted down, holding the box of ammunition.
Almost the very next second after he crouched down.
"Boom--"
The earthen wall vibrated.
Then came several more explosions, and dirt and snow splattered all over him.
Without pausing, the moment the shaking of the earthen wall subsided slightly, Zhou Dehou quickly stood up, clutching the ammunition box.
The voice of the commander at this location was coming through the terminal in my ear.
"Quickly, push them back! We can't let them attack like this anymore, or they won't be able to fight back later..."
Zhou Dehou ignored it; it wasn't his business. Several figures had already appeared ahead of him.
Old Zhou hasn't...
"They're here!"
Zhou Dehou shouted at the top of his lungs, took two quick steps forward, and then skillfully bent down.
"Bang!"
The ammunition box was placed heavily on the ground.
"Hey, carrying two boxes at once! Why are you so slow?" A soldier who was loading shells into the cannon barrel turned around and laughed.
"Heh, that way we can use it for a little longer!" Zhou Dehou grinned as well.
"Okay, Old Zhou, you should go and rest for a while. Black Dog is just coming over, let Black Dog carry things for a bit!" the soldier said.
Beside him, a young soldier stood up and adjusted the brim of his hat.
Zhou Dehou smiled, did not refuse, and walked to the side.
Approaching forty, he was indeed finding it increasingly difficult to keep up, especially since he had already accumulated numerous military achievements and had no intention of investing them in himself.
In fact, he was already considered a veteran among veterans.
Since he first entered the Erosion Zone, he has participated in countless battles over the past year.
Logically speaking, after so many battles, he should have been promoted long ago and wouldn't be doing this kind of thing again.
Indeed, a high-ranking official approached him to discuss the matter, but he refused.
He was well aware of his own limitations. Given his age, even if he could be promoted, his future prospects wouldn't be great, especially since he didn't have much talent in cultivation.
Therefore, instead of promoting someone to a higher position and taking up a spot, it would be better to give other young people more opportunities.
The commander didn't say anything about his idea, but he promoted him in rank after he returned.
only...
Zhou Dehou found a relatively flat spot that wouldn't block the way and sat down.
He was still panting, but his gaze was already fixed on the soldiers who were shouting and attacking in the distance.
Actually, there's another reason why I don't want a promotion.
The more battles he participated in, the more he felt the cruelty of war. It was because of this that he refused a promotion. He was worried that he... could not bear the responsibility for the lives of the soldiers under him!
With a sigh, Zhou Dehou withdrew his gaze.
After resting for a while, he got up slightly, poked his head out of the trench, and his gaze naturally fell on the battlefield in front of him.
The air was thick with the sounds of gunfire and smoke.
One after another, the Calamity Beast surged upwards madly, many of them holding stones, Calamity Beast, tree trunks, and other objects to block the humans' weapons.
This does work, but it's not that useful.
Those who were already experienced would selectively fire their cannonballs at the land in front of the Calamity Beast.
The blasting debris will send the shield-bearing Calamity Beast flying into the air.
Although it won't kill you with an explosion, in this situation, once you lose your balance and fall to the ground, getting back up won't be so easy!
Zhou Dehou squinted for a while, but his heart sank even further.
Ammunition was being consumed quickly, and although the damage output remained high, the Calamity Beast still had more to go.
More importantly...
"Why haven't Captain Shen and the others made a move yet?"
A voice, seemingly unintentional, suddenly rang out from the personal terminal.
The team chat suddenly fell silent, as if no one had heard what had just been said.
But Zhou Dehou knew that everyone heard it.
Even if it's noisy outside, the terminal is right next to your ear; who wouldn't hear it?
Moreover, the person who just spoke did so intentionally.
After all, unless you specifically tell your personal terminal in advance, soldiers usually won't transmit their messages to the team channel.
But that's how it is; after those words were spoken, the team channel fell silent instantly.
silence.
No one responded.
Zhou Dehou stood in his seat, his fingers unconsciously rubbing together.
A few seconds later, another voice rang out, tinged with hesitation:
"Uh, I'm a little confused too..."
As soon as the words were spoken, it was as if words that had been held back for a long time had finally found an outlet, and the sounds came out one after another.
"Yeah, weren't we supposed to stay here and let them attack from below? How long has it been? Why haven't they come out yet!"
"Yeah, it's been going on for ages and there's not a single sound."
"Perhaps, we just haven't found the opportunity yet?"
"How long have we been fighting? Still haven't found it?!"
"Exactly, and what is an opportunity? It's not something we have to wait for..."
Some tried to refute this, but were immediately drowned out by even more voices, until...
"Do you think Captain Shen ran away with the others?"
After he finished speaking, the team channel fell silent once again.
A moment later, a response was heard.
I have my doubts too!
"Yes, that's right, that's what I think too!"
"To be honest, I've been wondering about this... They took so many people with them when they left, and most of them were high-ranking, but now..."
"It's not that I'm just imagining things, but the fighting here is so fierce, the Calamity Beast are almost charging in, but there's still no movement from over there..."
The sound grew increasingly intense, more and more intense.
Zhou Dehou sat down and listened silently.
No one asked the commander-in-chief if there was any news about Captain Shen, or when Captain Shen would take action; he wasn't particularly surprised by this.
People aren't stupid; at this point, a single message isn't enough to calm them down.
Even a message that indicates a connection but requires waiting will only add fuel to the fire.
What they really need now is not a message, but to actually see them.
The discussion gradually progressed until...
"Enough!" A reprimand rang out in the team channel. "What are you all talking about? Where did Captain Shen go? Wasn't it clearly stated when they set off? Now that the battle is halfway through, you're all starting to cause trouble?"
There was a moment of silence on the channel.
But only for a moment.
"Squad leader, we didn't mean anything by it, it's just..."
"What do you mean?" the squad leader's voice roared, "You think Captain Shen ran away? You think you're better than Captain Shen? Where were you when he was fighting desperately up front? When has Captain Shen ever retreated? When has he ever abandoned his own men?"
"I didn't say Captain Shen ran away..."
"So what do you mean? You think Captain Shen arrived too late? You think he didn't play according to your plan?"