The person fell silent.
But as soon as the issue was suppressed, someone else spoke up.
"That's not quite right..." a soldier at an unknown location said hesitantly, "Everyone's worried too. We've been fighting for so long, and there's still no movement from Captain Shen's side, and the Calamity Beast below aren't in any disarray either..."
Before the words had even finished, a reprimand followed.
" Luo Yunfan!! This is war, not your village gossip! Whatever you have to say, talk about it after the fighting is over. Now, all of you, shut up!"
"Class monitor, I know, I only managed to reply when I had a spare moment!" came the interrupted voice.
"Make time? You actually have time...?"
The sound stopped and never came again.
The team chat channel fell silent.
Just as someone was about to try speaking again, a voice that sounded like that of the class monitor rang out once more.
"Alright, alright, let's all shut up. It's fine that everyone has their own opinions, but this is a war. What kind of nonsense is this, arguing like this in the channel? We can talk about anything else after the battle. Let's focus on winning the battle right now."
"That's right, stop arguing and get back to what you were doing."
"I just feel..."
The sound that had just stopped came again, along with the roar.
"What do you think? Is now the time for you to think? The battlefield, the war, even war can't shut you up, is it?"
The sound faded again.
This time, there was no sound in the channel.
Amidst the rumbling sound, Zhou Dehou sat silently on the Stone, his mind replaying the conversation he had just had in the team chat.
To be honest... he had those thoughts before.
There's nothing I can do, and I can't even think about it.
When Captain Shen was about to take people out, he probably already had some sensitive thoughts about this, but he didn't say it because of the influence of authority.
Just because it wasn't said doesn't mean it wasn't thought about.
If it happens again later, that would be fine, but the battle has gone on for so long, and as time goes by and the Calamity Beast get closer, this thought is growing bigger in everyone's mind.
That was just an outburst...
Zhou Dehou didn't know what would happen if things continued like that, but he knew it wouldn't end well.
but...
Thinking of the discussion that had just been almost forcibly suppressed, Zhou Dehou sighed.
It's not a good method, but in situations like this, we probably have no choice but to suppress it.
Just then, a voice sounded again from the personal terminal that had fallen silent.
"I know what everyone is thinking. If it were me, I'd probably think the same thing."
Is this... Commander Xu?... Zhou Dehou glanced at the mountain behind him, though he couldn't see anything.
Xu Ruiyu's voice continued to play from the terminal.
"I believe many of you already know what my purpose is by now, but... well, I can chat, but to lecture you on profound principles in a way that you'll believe... sorry, I'm not Captain Shen, I don't have that ability. I'll just ask you two questions!"
"The first question is, even if Captain Shen really abandons us, does that mean we should stop fighting?"
"The second question is, what exactly is our purpose in entering the Erosion Zone?"
After he finished speaking, the team channel fell silent.
Zhou Dehou sat on the Stone, his fingers rubbing together again without him noticing.
The first question, needless to say, is that even if they were truly abandoned, all they could do was fight.
As for the second one...
A voice replied in my ear.
"I know that even if we are truly abandoned, we will still fight, it's just... we don't want to be betrayed! If you were going to abandon us, you should have said so from the beginning, and I would have stayed!" The voice replied, slightly choked with emotion.
"Yeah, right! Do you think we're the kind of people who're afraid of dying? If Captain Shen wants us to stay behind to cover his retreat, he should just say so! If I, Liu Zhiqiang, say no, I'm not a man!"
"Haha, count me in Chen Jiawei!"
"I, Wang Junjie, am included too!"
"And me, Lin Zhipeng..."
One voice after another rang out.
No one discussed the second question; it seemed the first one was sufficient.
"Count me in too, Xu Ruiyu. If the Calamity Beast charge up later, I'll be the first one to go!" the commander-in-chief said with a laugh.
"Haha, Commander-in-Chief, you'd better come down, otherwise you won't be the first one to go up when the Calamity Beast come up!"
"That's right..."
As Zhou Dehou listened from his seat, he felt that the laughter around him was much more pleasant than the previous discussions.
The commander-in-chief's voice rang out again in the team channel.
"Alright, stop talking and start fighting!"
"Exactly! Damn it, kill these beasts! At worst, we'll just die here."
"Yeah, I've already thought it through. Killing three isn't a loss, killing five is a bonus!"
"Haha, Hu Kaiwen, you said the same thing last time, and you only killed two, right?"
" Song Wenbo, you son of a bitch, why do you remember my business so clearly?"
"Haha, remembering it so clearly just to laugh..."
Zhou Dehou also smiled.
He stood up, stretched, and looked at the horde of beasts ahead.
He recalled the second question the commander-in-chief had just asked.
Why enter the Erosion Zone?
Ah... of course, it's to protect their world and their families!
Without thinking, he turned and strode quickly toward where the ammunition was stored.
After resting for so long, it's time for him to start moving the ammunition!
Mountain top.
Xu Ruiyu frowned, his gaze fixed on the ground below.
He just racked his brains to complete his responsibility, and even mentioned what would happen to him at the end, but...
Have they really been abandoned by Captain Shen?
Xu Ruiyu's breath hitched slightly.
He remembered what Captain Shen had said before he left.
"You might become an excellent general."
When he heard that, he felt a warm glow inside, knowing that Captain Shen recognized his abilities and that his efforts had not been in vain.
But now...
Were those words also meant to make it easier to lead others away later?
Was it all planned out in advance by Captain Shen, who offered him empty promises to keep him here and allow himself to leave with the truly useful people?
Xu Ruiyu's hands trembled slightly.
He recalled the expression on Captain Shen when he said those words; it was calm, serious, and showed no flaws.
But if Captain Shen really wanted to deceive him, how could he possibly let him see through it?
If that's the case...
He looked down at his hands pressed against the stone wall.
If I had known beforehand, would I still have stayed?
This question was like a bucket of ice water poured over my head.
Xu Ruiyu stood there, stunned.
He realized... he seemed unable to answer some of the questions.
He replied that way simply because he knew he had no other choice.
If he had a choice, would he still stay?
He didn't know...
Xu Ruiyu stood there for a long time before suddenly raising his gaze to observe the situation.
Never mind.
Regardless of whether Captain Shen truly abandoned them, and regardless of whether those words were sincere or feigned, he is now the commander-in-chief here and must fulfill his responsibilities.
"Attention all locations..."
The roar of cannons filled the air, and smoke billowed everywhere.
One after another, the Calamity Beast Calamity Beast fell, and yet another surged forth.
Despite the continued heavy artillery fire, the Calamity Beast was drawing ever closer...
Three hundred meters, two hundred meters, one hundred meters...
The warriors at the very front could even see the fangs in the Calamity Beast's mouth.
One soldier couldn't help but take a half step back, but then gritted his teeth and held on.
Looking at the ferocious faces of those Calamity Beast, Xu Ruiyu suddenly felt a sense of absurdity.
Is that all?
As he was about to go down and do as he had been told, his gaze suddenly froze.
He wasn't the only one frozen in place; many other soldiers who had been watching closely or had caught a glimpse of him by chance also remained motionless.
Without exception, they were all looking down.
They weren't looking at the Calamity Beast that were so close at hand.
Instead, they were looking behind them.
Behind that dark, swarming beast tide, in that forest they thought would never see any more movement.
" Captain Shen, it's Captain Shen!"
Someone shouted something, and then one figure after another looked over.
Immediately following was that roar without surprise.
"Damn it, I knew Captain Shen wouldn't abandon us!!"
"That's what I said too!"
" Hu Kaiwen, don't talk nonsense! Who was that just telling me...?"
"Hahaha..."
A lively discussion filled the channel.
Xu Ruiyu ignored him and just stared intently at that spot.
Flames exploded behind the horde of beasts below.
Immediately afterwards, the commotion spread like ripples from behind the beast tide, layer by layer, forward.
Xu Ruiyu felt a sudden heat well up in his eyes.
My throat felt like it was blocked by something, and I couldn't say a word.
He opened his mouth, wanting to shout, but found his voice was hoarse.
He swallowed hard before finally shouting it out:
"Everyone... attack!!"