Chapter 20 – Please, help…kill me

The human teams were instantly scattered into disarray, but fortunately, several main forces were battle-hardened and, with great effort, barely managed to maintain the situation for the time being.

In the brief exchange of fire, everyone finally realized the most critical reason for the failure of the A25 series weapons.

“Damn! This isn’t just a problem of ineffectiveness; all their wounds are actually healing slowly? This is cheating. How are we supposed to fight this?!” Shen Wenyan watched the alien horde crash directly into the crowd, flailing to respond, nearly breaking into a tenor on the spot. “Rong Yun! Deputy Rong, help—! A defense shield, give me a spiritual barrier now, I can’t hold on!”

“What the hell are you whining about? Keep yapping, and I’ll throw you out to feed the aliens.” Rong Yun said impatiently, as a spiritual barrier from the Guide abruptly rose several meters ahead, solidly blocking the new wave of the alien horde.

She quickly glanced around, her brows tightly furrowed. “Don’t you really think these aliens look kind of familiar?”

Shen Wenyan clearly hadn’t caught on. “Aren’t they all the same ugly-looking things?”

Xiao Liu, beside them, reminded softly, “Qiufeng Community.”

Shen Wenyan paused for a moment. “Now that you mention it, they indeed do… but that’s strange. The ones we encountered back then weren’t this hard to handle. Boss tore one apart on the spot.”

Rong Yun fell silent for a moment. “That’s why I suspect they might have evolved.”

Everyone’s expression darkened.

Humans had yet to develop truly effective weapons, and now the aliens had evolved. This was certainly no good news.

Shen Wenyan gave a dry laugh. “I remember your conclusion back then mentioned some kind of mother body. Don’t tell me we’ve run into it now, just our luck?”

No one responded.

It was evident that no one wanted to entertain this jinx’s reckless flag-raising.

This wave of the alien horde had erupted far too suddenly.

After a massive number crashed directly into the front lines, they instantly tore a gap in the defensive formation.

The on-site Guides immediately raised spiritual barriers. Spread densely across the battlefield, they formed a layered defense, but could only serve as a temporary buffer, unable to alter the chaotic state of the battle.

Even the battle-hardened members of the Seventh Squad appeared momentarily helpless under the total ineffectiveness of their weapons, let alone the regular combat personnel.

At such a critical life-and-death moment, even the slightest trace of confusion could prove fatal. Just a few seconds of daze were enough to turn someone into food for these aliens.

Some did not even realize what was happening in those final seconds before death arrived.

As the massive alien horde approached, the entire ground began to tremble faintly.

Compared to the sheer overwhelming number of aliens, this human group, already heavily reduced during their journey two days prior, seemed utterly small and insignificant.

What’s more, there might still be other aliens lurking in the surrounding areas.

In such an environment, life appeared especially fragile.

Though it was only a distance of a few dozen meters, by the time Su Fengzhou fought his way back into the formation, his protective suit was already nearly drenched in thick green blood.

If not for the waterproof function of the specialized uniform, it would have long been completely soaked through, clinging tightly to his body.

A few meters away, an alien lunged with bared claws, attempting a sneak attack, only to be seized by the throat by the black wolf. With primal ferocity, the wolf tackled it to the ground, tearing into it savagely.

Under the overwhelming stench of blood, Su Fengzhou’s eyes, already bloodshot, were now entirely dyed crimson.

However, at this moment, the members of the Seventh Squad had no time to worry about their captain’s condition. They could only stare in shock as the vicious alien that had been attacking seconds earlier was struck down by a single slash from Su Fengzhou, disbelief written across their faces.

Under the immense strength of the Sentinel, the blade cut straight down from the shoulder, and amid the hideous scene of torn flesh, the alien collapsed to the ground as a pile of mangled meat.

There was no sign of the expected self-restoration. After a few spasms and twitches, it went completely still.

If not for the disgusting blood all over his hands, Shen Wenyan would have rubbed his eyes. “Boss, that thing… You actually kill it?”

Su Fengzhou pressed his tongue hard against his upper canine. “Everyone, split into two teams. Rong Yun, prepare defensive cover. Take all those useless, broken guns and put them away. Bring out every cold weapon you’ve trained with! Look closely at the shoulders and joints on those things—pay attention. Did you see those sticky tentacles like octopus arms? Pass it down—target those disgusting things and cut the hell down!”

The others paused at his words.

If they hadn’t looked closely, they really wouldn’t have noticed the tiny wriggling tentacles on the aliens’ bodies.

These things appearing at the joints of rigid alien-like limbs looked as if they had been forcibly grafted on, unnaturally mismatched, yet somehow coexisting in an eerily harmonious fashion.

If it weren’t well known that these alien forms possessed low intelligence, one might seriously suspect that some biological experimentation was secretly being carried out beyond human observation.

With a clean strike, Shen Wenyan swiftly eliminated two, his face lighting up with joy. “Comrades, field-tested and effective!”

The others wasted no time, directly moving in unison to follow the command.

The information regarding the aliens’ weak points spread rapidly. Once the firearms were all withdrawn, the battlefield reverted to a scene of close-range melee, reminiscent of primitive combat.

It was straightforward and brutal to the extreme.

The battlefield gradually transformed into a grand spectacle of slaughter.

The previously dire situation began to stabilize, yet soon started to shift once again.

After all, the number of aliens in this wave was far too great.

Su Fengzhou charged ahead into the alien swarm, wielding a custom-made special metal blade.

Though completely untimely, a scene filled with carnage like this was, to him, a source of immense satisfaction.

Like a sharp blade slicing through a stifling curtain, the sound of tearing flesh, accompanied by gut-wrenching howls, pierced straight into the eardrums, violently triggering the brain’s threat signals in relentless succession.

The sensation of ripping, the hoarse shouts of fury, the desperate struggle…

All of it—utterly, overwhelmingly intoxicating.

Su Fengzhou once again rescued a researcher who had nearly fallen prey to an alien, forcefully suppressing his increasingly unstable rationality. He shoved the person aside, his voice hoarse. “Head toward the vehicle convoy. Retreat with the main group, now!”

In the direction he pointed, scattered figures could be seen.

Non-combat personnel, powerless in this kind of situation, were retreating in an organized manner.

Su Fengzhou watched as the panicked researcher fled, his peripheral vision sweeping across the distant crowd.

In such a chaotic scene, he couldn’t spot that familiar silhouette.

Snapping back to focus, Su Fengzhou bit hard into the corner of his mouth, drawing blood to stabilize the increasingly dangerous spiritual fluctuation.

After cutting down two aliens in quick succession, he gave a casual glance around and swiftly headed to the following location to provide support.

The Ninth Squad was holding the foremost position, facing an overwhelming number of aliens.

Xu Xuefeng looked slightly disheveled. Catching a glimpse of Su Fengzhou entering the fray, he said nothing.

The captains of the Seventh and Ninth Squads rarely had the opportunity to fight side by side.

However, the previously disordered battlefield gradually began to stabilize under the silent cooperation of the two top Sentinels.

Finally catching a short moment to breathe, Xu Xuefeng wiped the disgusting alien blood from his face. Recalling the earlier kill report, he still couldn’t help but ask, “How did you know their weak spots?”

Su Fengzhou swept him a glance with crimson eyes, his tone laced with obvious irritation. “None of your damn business.”

Xu Xuefeng let out a cold laugh. “…Still the same stubborn bastard.”

Su Fengzhou replied, “Right back at you.”

The two turned and walked away almost at the same time.

The briefly allied front dissolved instantly, just as expected.

The process of holding back the alien horde had been arduous, but with everyone’s efforts, the situation had at least managed to reach a state of relative balance.

All the rescued personnel had already been sent to the rear.

In the distance, the spiritual beam of a Guide rose in the direction of the vehicle convoy, finally allowing those holding the front line to breathe a heavy sigh of relief.

Nevertheless, the occasional burst of gunfire continued to tug at their already frayed nerves.

Beyond the overwhelming number of aliens, the most pressing danger now lay in the continual alienation infections erupting throughout the battle.

More lives were lost to the muzzles of their comrades. Some, unable to bring themselves to act in time, ended up suffering a brutal backlash once the alienation was complete.

Shen Wenyan viciously hacked off the alien’s tentacle-covered forelimbs, venting his frustration with wild, furious slashes.

Only after confirming there were no remaining signs of life did he glance toward the teammate slumped nearby, his face filled with disappointment. “Xiao Liu, you’ve been part of our Seventh Squad for quite a while now. I’ve told you over and over to train more, but why won’t you listen? What’s with you now? Frozen stiff? Don’t tell me your legs gave out from fear?”

His teasing tone was an attempt to lift the heavy mood around them.

Usually, Xiao Liu would have at least shot back with a few words. But now, not even a single response has come.

Only then did Shen Wenyan notice something wrong, catching the slight tremble in his teammate’s shoulders. “Hey, what’s going on? If something’s wrong, hurry and tell me…”

But before he could take a step, the other called out sharply, “Don’t come any closer!”

As the head slowly lifted, Shen Wenyan saw the sidearm in Xiao Liu’s hand. Realization finally struck him, and his voice quivered slightly at the end. “…Xiao Liu, you—”

The face that once brimmed with youthful energy was now drenched in tears. The hand holding the gun had begun to twist in a strange, unnatural way, like a distorted symbol of something irreversible.

Both hands clutched the grip of the gun tightly, as if clinging to the last pillar of support. The muzzle was pressed firmly, almost with excessive force, against the underside of his own jaw.

Xiao Liu’s voice was choked. “Sorry, Brother Shen… I think I’m… I…”

Rapid cellular changes inside his body distorted his facial expression, and his pupils bulged outward at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His finger quavered on the trigger. At that moment, every passing second felt like an entire century to him.

However, in the end, the gunshot never came.

Through a flood of tears, Xiao Liu’s pleading voice was filled with desperate sobs. “I can’t… I really can’t do it… Can you…help me? Please, Brother Shen, help…kill me.”

Shen Wenyan took several deep, forceful breaths.

The scene before him plunged his mind into chaos, making it impossible to respond immediately.

A sudden gunshot rang out without warning, whistling past his ear.

Shen Wenyan could even feel the sharp gust of wind as the bullet skimmed his cheek.

Bright red blood exploded before his eyes in an instant. After a momentary sway, Xiao Liu’s body collapsed heavily to the ground.

Only then did the gruesome wound on his back come into view.

The monstrous alien limb that had been writhing, ready to emerge from within, gradually fell still as its host died.

Shen Wenyan turned his head slowly, in time to see Su Fengzhou calmly reholstering his sidearm.

“Boss…”

“There’s still a brutal fight ahead. Stay focused.” The mint cigarette clamped between Su Fengzhou’s lips had already been chewed almost out of shape. In a way, it seemed more like a useless form of spiritual comfort.

With that calm and indifferent tone, he casually brushed his fingers over the hilt of his special metal blade.

His expression was hidden beneath the strands of hair hanging over his face, and from his even tone alone, it was nearly impossible to read any emotion.

The chilling, manic aura surrounding him made him resemble a Shura[T/N: Shura is a Japanese way to call the Buddhism demigod of war Asura.] who had just walked out from the depths of hell.

Since the formation of the Seventh Squad, many had come and gone. Only now did Shen Wenyan recall that Su Fengzhou had always been the one to act first whenever a teammate showed signs of alienation.

Their captain had never allowed any of them to point their guns at a comrade.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from the distance, instantly seizing everyone’s attention.

Su Fengzhou lifted his gaze.

At the very moment the spiritual beam in the direction of the convoy completely vanished, a faint crack finally appeared on his otherwise composed face.

Sounds from near and far reached their ears, and the scene that had only begun to stabilize was once again thrown into chaos. “Something’s wrong! Quickly support the rear! The convoy stop has also come under attack by a swarm of aliens!”