Xu Ruiyu, also carrying a long spear, swept downwards.
The sudden attack startled the Ridged Beast, which instinctively retreated, but after only a few steps, the ground beneath its feet suddenly sank.
The enormous figure tilted and fell downwards.
The next moment.
"Laugh--"
A few faint piercing sounds rang out, accompanied by the pained roar of the Ridged Beast.
Before the initial attack was over, several more attacks rapidly approached from a distance and fell into the pit.
A clanging sound rang out from inside.
The next instant, a huge figure crawled out of the pit.
His already wounded body looked even more grotesque, with blood flowing freely down his face.
The Ridged Beast raised its eyes, looking at the figures rushing towards it, and opened its mouth.
"Roar--"
The battle was intense from the very beginning.
The Ridged Beast's attack was stronger than anyone else's, but there was only one of it.
Although the other warriors were much weaker than it, their coordinated attacks made them a formidable opponent for it.
Some drew attention from the front, some harassed from the sides, and some seized the opportunity to attack when it showed a weakness.
"Damn it, these humans, these humans, these humans..."
The Ridged Beast gnawed at the ground, its gaze sweeping intently over the humans around it.
The injuries on its body were rapidly increasing.
Accompanying this was the rapid depletion of Origin Power.
The Origin Power, which was already difficult to control, became even more difficult to control with these expenditures.
But the Ridged Beast's gaze continued to sweep over the humans around it, trying to find a way to break through.
But every attempt to break outwards was blocked by those humans.
Once, twice, three times...
"Roar--"
The roars grew increasingly violent on the battlefield.
One figure after another attacked the Ridged Beast while simultaneously covering the retreat of their wounded teammates.
The battle lasted for quite some time, until...
"Bang!"
The immense force sent a figure flying.
The Ridged Beast stared bloodshot at the figures surrounding it.
One warrior after another looked at the Ridged Beast, at its crimson gaze, and their muscles involuntarily tensed up again.
Beside him, Xu Ruiyu was also looking at the Ridged Beast, at its pair of scarlet eyes.
We can't keep fighting like before. The Ridged Beast will probably break down soon and start to Distortion. We have to kill it before the Distortion is complete!
Thinking of this, he opened his mouth and shouted:
"Everyone, right now, use..."
The words were abruptly cut off.
A hurried and tense voice suddenly rang out in the team channel.
"Commander! There's a Fourth Tier... no, that's not right! It's a Fifth Tier Calamity Beast! A Fifth Tier Calamity Beast heard the commotion and is rushing this way!"
The sound echoed throughout the channel, reaching everyone's ears.
"No, Old Liu, are you sure? Fifth Tier?" a soldier asked instinctively.
"It's true, Fifth Tier bird! I saw its appearance; it's a Azure Feather Bird!" The voice announcing the news grew increasingly urgent.
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts sank.
The one shouting was their reconnaissance personnel left outside.
His detection range is limited to only a few kilometers, which means that the Azure Feather Bird is probably only a few kilometers away from here now.
At this distance, even Fifth Tier Calamity Beast wouldn't have to travel long, let alone Fourth Tier Calamity Beast.
But if that's the case...
Everyone's gaze shifted and landed on the Ridged Beast surrounded in the middle, their teeth clenching together involuntarily.
Damn it, this operation went much more smoothly than they had anticipated, and there weren't even any serious injuries.
But just when success seemed within reach, this unexpected incident occurred...
hateful!
Gritting his teeth, one of the soldiers suddenly looked at Xu Ruiyu and said:
"Commander, forget about that Fifth Tier one! Let's use our strongest attacks to kill this Calamity Beast instantly, then we'll retreat!"
"Yes, Commander..."
Some people echoed the sentiment, but most remained silent.
They knew what the consequences might be if they made different choices.
Xu Ruiyu remained silent, his gaze fixed on the Ridged Beast.
Other soldiers could think that way, but he couldn't.
Despite the Ridged Beast's apparent descent into madness, its armored body still effectively blocked most attacks.
Killing it wouldn't be a matter of a few seconds or even ten seconds; it would take at least a minute or two, but a minute or two...
That's enough time for that Fifth Tier Calamity Beast to arrive!
Gritting his teeth, Xu Ruiyu spoke...
"Ignore that Calamity Beast, just do what you're supposed to do."
A voice suddenly rang in my ears.
Xu Ruiyu was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized what was going on.
He opened his mouth and shouted:
"Quick! Kill this Ridged Beast before the Calamity Beast arrives!"
The sound echoed through the woods.
One soldier after another froze, their eyes instinctively turning to Xu Ruiyu.
Even the person who had just made the suggestion couldn't help but look towards Xu Ruiyu.
Although Commander Xu is usually a bit talkative, he doesn't seem like the type to make such a decision at a time like this.
Before they could react, the roar rang out again.
"What are you standing there for? Go!"
Before he finished speaking, the brigade commander had already charged forward with his rifle.
Despite some lingering doubts, instinctively, one figure after another began to look for an opportunity to attack the Ridged Beast.
The interplay of light and shadow in the forest intensified.
The Ridged Beast and they weren't on the same wavelength; even if they were, they wouldn't understand what these humans were saying.
All it saw was that these humans had escalated their attacks to a new level, clearly intending to kill it.
At this moment, it realized that if it continued to concern itself with the restless Origin Power within its body, it would only lead to its futile death.
Without hesitation or doubt
It raised its paw and swung it.
A dense surge of Origin Power enveloped the claws.
The battle quickly entered its most intense phase.
Because it no longer had to worry about anything, the Ridged Beast's attacks were much stronger than before, but the inexplicable pauses in its attacks severely affected its efficiency.
Nearby, one soldier after another was also fighting desperately.
After all, if they could kill the Ridged Beast a little earlier, they would have a better chance of escaping!
Both sides are racing against time.
The clanging sound echoed continuously through the forest.
Suddenly.
At a certain moment.
"Clang--"
A crisp metallic clang rang out.
Everyone looked towards the center.
There, the brigadier general stood atop the Ridged Beast, his spear pressed against its head.
Then, in the next instant, the pent-up energy surged down from the gun barrel.
With a violent tremor, the Ridged Beast collapsed heavily to the ground.
Everyone gasped for breath as they watched the scene unfold before them.
Normally, they would probably be very happy, but now...
"Commander! Quickly retrieve the Origin Crystal, we need to run!" a soldier shouted suddenly, turning around to prepare to flee.
Xu Ruiyu straightened up, wanting to speak, but the people around him didn't give him a chance.
"Yes, that's right!" another soldier chimed in.
"Quick, the Tugou is injured! Someone come here..."
"Over here, over here..."
One voice after another echoed through the woods.
Without needing to be told, everyone instinctively began to act.
only.
" Old Liu, how far away is that Fifth Tier Calamity Beast?"
Upon hearing this question, everyone paused instinctively and began to listen.
"This..."
Old Liu's dry, hesitant voice came through the channel.
"Speak quickly!" the man asked again anxiously.
This time, Old Liu finally replied.
"... It's only about two hundred meters."
As the sound faded, the previously noisy scene instantly fell silent.
Before they could figure out what to do, in the next instant...
"Whoosh--"
A strong wind swept through the forest, causing the grass and trees to bend low.
Everyone looked up at the figure flapping its wings above.
Some soldiers instinctively looked toward the brigade commander's location, hoping to hear the order to "run!"
Then, he paused.
Before anyone knew it, a figure had appeared next to the brigade commander.
The young man, dressed in a standard military uniform, stared calmly at the corpse of the Ridged Beast lying on the ground.
Nearby, one figure after another looked over.
They had originally intended to find orders, but upon seeing that figure, they too froze in place.
"Roar--"
A roar echoed from above.
Deep and violent, carrying an undisguised air of dominance.
Under everyone's gaze, the young man seemed to only then realize what was happening and slowly raised his head.