Chapter 1679
Chapter 1679 - 1675: Sacrifice
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Malicious developments always deal a staggering blow with the unthinkable.
After privately inquiring, Lu Ping’an confirmed that not only were pensions and medical insurance a thing of the past in the Mountainous Country, their economy had collapsed to the extent that even currency turned into waste paper, and they had entered the eerie wartime economic model of "food tokens".
No more evidence was needed to prove that the nation was on the verge of collapse; a mere stroll down the streets was enough to witness all kinds of desperate scenes.
And yet, this was still the strongest and most resilient country in Southeast Asia...
"Begin the counterattack."
The cold words might be the most comforting help.
Easterners were running out of time; the limit of what they could accomplish in this kingdom had been reached... How much the Mountainous Country could gain from this battle depended on their own abilities.
When war erupted again in this different era, it was already very clear.
The counteroffensive began in the homeland’s plains, along the river and sea where people congregated.
The attack route was brutally straightforward; the first focal point of the counterattack was the Fishman Tribe that had occupied human Territory.
When the swarm of drones reappeared in the sky, the nightmare of the first encounter replayed, and the first group of Fishmen fell apart even before they could organize a counterattack.
After calming down, they still had no way to handle the lethal aerial swarm of Snakes.
"Boom!" Drones continued to burst into fireworks, but what did it matter.
This time, the Fishmen were prepared with plenty of javelins, stones, and even human firearms, some of which proved effective.
"Don’t come any closer."
"Spare us, you iron monsters! Don’t come any closer!"
Yet, such retaliation was still meaningless.
Facing the overwhelming swarm, there was effectively no difference between low-tier Extraordinaries and Mortals; faster reflexes, stronger bodies, better healing rates only prolonged their agony.
Numbers were the root of everything, and how could the Easterners possibly be easily surpassed with the wave they’ve held back for so long?
Occasionally, a Middle-High Tier Extraordinary Life would burst out and destroy a few, a dozen drones... then hundreds instantly swarmed, and with human Extraordinary snipers finishing them off, even the toughest fifth-sixth tier tough guys were taken down in an instant.
In the army, the main force wasn’t the Easterners.
The Mountainous Legion had finally stepped out of their fortresses, eager to start reclaiming lost Territory.
They were not alone; Dragon Moon Island from the Eastern Country sent a large number of battle-machinery, especially a multitude of Mechanical Dogs, to undertake the most dangerous vanguard roles.
But the main force on the periphery consisted of Magical Beasts, Elite Mercenaries, and Middle-High Tier Professionals.
They were the legions of the quasi-gods of Life, having completed initial integration, they marched towards the frontline, ready to prove themselves with their combat achievements.
However, everyone still underestimated the ruthlessness of the Mountainous People.
A large number of Wolf-men slowly emerged from the forest, their hungry and savage nature driving them forward without hesitation to the very front.
They seemed to be competing with the Mechanical Dogs for who could be the first to sacrifice themselves?
"Perhaps they believe that without paying a sufficient price, without securing enough victory, even if they reclaim their land, they won’t be able to hold it tightly."
The blood-red War Flag of the Wolf Fang waved mid-air as the desperate Wolf-men howled and charged into the battlefield.
They, or perhaps "it", vented the pain of being driven away like rodents over the years and also demonstrated their value to their "allies".
Maybe our economy has collapsed, maybe our industry is gone, maybe our food and living supplies rely on your support... but we can still fight.
"A valuable ethnic group will not be discarded, even if treated as cannon fodder, as quality soldiers, we still have value... Do you all think like that?"
Lu Ping’an scratched his head and simply couldn’t be bothered to say anything.
The Mountainous Country people desperately tried to reclaim their lost territory, which is only natural. As allies, the Eastern Country could only let them do as they pleased.
It was clear that the werewolves, a comprehensive species with an innate battle frenzy talent, were indeed the most suitable for Beastman Transformation in this terrain. However, clearly, some had gone too far.
"...Is it drugs? Using drugs to rip open their wildness, trying to turn them into beasts as much as possible."
Lu Ping’an’s Eye of Truth locked onto one of the cannon fodder and he was shocked to find that just a few days ago, this was still a mortal.
A cheap first-tier battle-profession, coupled with a purchased Beastification Talent, then using years’ worth of valuable life currency to buff their strength, ultimately creating a temporary third-tier combat power.
As for the price, it’s doubtful they’ve overcome the backlash of being forced to mature... Even if they managed to survive, a greatly reduced lifespan is just the baseline, whether they can recover their sanity is the key issue.
Perhaps, it is because they are already ’losers’, destined to lose control in the future, that they are being directly burnt out in this wave.
"After some time, this forest won’t be bothered by werewolves, will it..."
The inevitably true hellish joke really isn’t funny at all.
Lu Ping’an looked behind the werewolves, where a large number of humanoid Black Flames were spreading.
"Becoming one of the Burning Legion," which was also part of Lu Ping’an’s arms inventory, but he truly did not expect so many had taken a dead-end path.
There are so many long-term developmental abilities in his Courtyard; with proper planning, one can grow steadily and quickly... But clearly, these Mountainous People don’t have the time or patience to wait for their own growth.
Black Fire, Beastification Man, the wishes for power/strong limbs/accelerated growth – these double-edged swords like the "Sky Demon Disintegration Technique" are actually the best sellers.
Lu Ping’an wouldn’t refuse, nor could he... As the holder of "the trade," he was merely fulfilling his own World’s Reason, letting them trade their lives for the power to protect themselves, their families, their ethnic groups, their countries.
"This, then, is the value of life... Perhaps one’s own life is worth trading for the sake of others..."
Lu Ping’an never imagined that his "Rule" would actually be validated here.
A large number of sacrificers used their lives to exchange for the continuation of their race, these unhesitant sacrificers, like Lu Ping’an himself, repeatedly validated Lu Ping’an’s World’s Reason.
And among these, there were even more eye-catching figures.
Lights descended one after another, Children of God stepped onto the battlefield with the Divine Grace, and a large number of Saints began to burn their lives, with abundant Divine Power being bestowed upon their people.
While the Easterners’ reinforcements were still consumed by unmanned warfare machinery, the local Mountainous People had already thrown caution to the wind.
They seemed all too prone to extremes.
But, from another perspective, in their eyes of desperation, this might be their only chance.
After all, they could not expect the assisting Easterners to make sacrifices... Unmanned machines are quite powerful, but some things still ultimately have to rely on human effort to conquer.
Another village became history.
The past meeting halls and conference rooms had become hatching rooms for piling up fish eggs, where formidable Octopus Priests were hiding but got their walls directly blown open by swarms and then were ruthlessly dismembered by werewolves.
After that, flames purified everything; the stench-filled lairs were no longer wanted by the Mountainous People.
Their eyes were filled with the glow of revenge, not just blinded by hatred... They were clear that fighting for land was meaningless under the current situation; seizing the opportunity to inflict heavy casualties was the Main Road.
As long as they made enough contribution, the Eastern Country would naturally increase their investments, at least ensuring this "good dog" doesn’t die meaninglessly.
But soon, they still bit into a hard bone.
— End of Chapter 1679 —