CHAPTER 369: CHAPTER 173: EARTH-SHATTERING UPHEAVAL

On the sixth day after arriving at Base 011, Jin Zhong finally received the mission assigned to him.

The monsters at Shijiu Lake had made landfall, not just one, but two.

Two massive Level 4 monsters.

Moreover, these monsters were surrounded by a large number of Blood Skull Terror Demons and a few Water Ghosts, numbering no less than a hundred.

Chen Jian issued an order, instructing him to lead the 80 trained soldiers of the Guard Brigade, advance to Taiping City to intercept and eliminate the monsters.

The moment he received the order, the first thought that flashed through Jin Zhong’s mind was "refuse".

After all, in his view, relying on just the mere 80 Guard Brigade soldiers at his disposal to eliminate so many monsters felt practically impossible.

No heavy weapons available, just relying on rifles and a few rocket launchers and grenade launchers?

If only the monsters were that easy to destroy!

Even if they could win, most likely this mission would be one with no return.

Expected casualties would be at least 80%, and whether the monsters could be eliminated might even depend on luck...

Throughout the journey, Jin Zhong’s expression was serious and heavy as if he could squeeze water out of it.

The Guard Brigade soldiers around him were just as nervous and uneasy.

"...Do we really have to go? We are only cooperating with them, if it’s a task that can’t be completed, we can refuse it, right?"

Someone spoke softly, and the soldier facing him shook his head in response:

"We have to go, they saved us at Jingkou, even if we’re just repaying them, we must go."

"Those injured brothers are still in Jinling New City, if we run away, they’ll die."

"No matter what we abandon, we cannot abandon our brothers..."

"I know... I know... I just feel that this mission is no different from being sent to die."

The soldier speaking had a hint of a bleak look in his eyes, pausing for a moment before continuing:

"If there was only one Level 4 monster, I’d be fully confident in taking it down."

"Even if there were two Level 4 monsters but not appearing simultaneously or from the same direction, we’d still have a chance."

"But now it’s two Level 4 monsters attacking from the same direction in a coordinated manner, accompanied by an unknown number of Terror Demons and Water Ghosts..."

"I really don’t know how to fight such a battle... do they really know?"

"Those Huaxia Army, they..."

"Of course they know how to fight!"

The person opposite interrupted his grievance.

"They’ve fought more than once before, even in Han Shui City, at their weakest, they’ve fought more than once."

"Stop complaining, instead think about what you’ve learned these past days!"

"No matter the stance, what they taught is surely useful, or they wouldn’t have gotten this far!"

"Shut up and prepare well!"

With that, the initially speaking Guard Brigade soldier let out a long sigh.

He said softly:

"I’m just afraid this is their plot..."

"They wouldn’t use such lowly and shady methods."

Jin Zhong suddenly stood up, quelling all the discussions with one sentence.

At this time, the transport truck had also come to a halt.

He grabbed the bomb gun that Chen Jian had specially handed him, then spoke:

"Everyone off the truck."

"Deploy according to what you’ve learned."

"The enemy will arrive in half an hour, we must hold them off."

"This battle concerns the honor of the Holy Temple Guard, victory belongs to us!"

With that, Jin Zhong jumped off the truck, swiftly directing everyone to disperse around.

The slightly cold electronic voice on his radio headset continually reported the monster’s location without stopping.

Meanwhile, he continuously adjusted the Guard Brigade’s formation, arranging the team in a trapezoidal ’frontline’ facing the monster, distinct from any conventional formation, as Chen Jian had specially instructed him to do.

"...Your unit’s individual combat strength isn’t weak, your spirit of sacrifice is stronger, but in terms of tactics, it can only be described as laughable."

"For this interception mission, don’t use your usual triangle formation or line formation."

"Follow my advice, try the trapezoidal formation, with diagonal tactics."

"This will produce unexpected results, especially in facing the opponent’s mix of large and small monsters, the effect will be even more pronounced..."

Chen Jian’s simple words of caution echoed in Jin Zhong’s mind. He still didn’t fully understand whether such a tactical arrangement would achieve the desired effect, but he was willing to give it a try.

In the distance, the rumbling sound of the monsters’ movement crashing against the ground gradually grew louder, with each boom seemingly striking heavily on Jin Zhong’s heart.

He used the compass to identify directions while referring to the information coming through the radio, picked up the rifle, fired a tracer bullet, and simultaneously ordered:

"Squad One, turn 30 degrees to the right, facing the direction indicated by the tracer bullet!"

"Squad Two, Squad Three, follow the turn!"

"Squad Four, Squad Five, move forward 50 meters!"

"Squad Six, Squad Seven, Squad Eight, maneuver to the flank of Squad Five, deploy in a loose double-file formation!"

"The monsters have reached two kilometers away, they won’t change direction anymore!"

"This is our first line of defense, and also the last!"

"Ignite the flames! Throw grenades! Draw the monsters’ attention!"

"Get ready! The battle may start at any moment!"