Chapter Seventeen: The Time for the Motherland and the People to Test Us Has Come!

Once all the bizarre creatures from an anomalous invasion are eradicated, the black mist dissipates, as it is no longer being sustained by their energy. The "nutrients" these creatures provide to the mist are limited, with higher-ranking anomalies providing significantly more sustenance. Global intelligence has long established that every invasion contains one to three "leader-class" high-ranking entities, known as Bosses. Once a Boss is eliminated, the black mist retreats rapidly, as the remaining low-level creatures cannot sustain its presence.

Consequently, all nations share a consensus: locate and eliminate the Bosses as quickly as possible. Even if there are three Bosses, killing just one causes the mist to recede noticeably, widening the field of vision and improving tactical conditions. For instance, during the last invasion in the Southwest Theater, there were three Bosses. The unit Ji Ling was part of identified one within four days of entering the mist. After three days of relentless firepower, they killed it; the mist covering the mountains of the Southwest border receded like a tide, exposing all the low-level creatures. The difficulty in that campaign lay in the remaining two Bosses—who were incredibly durable—and the sheer number of low-level creatures, which dragged the conflict out for three years. In truth, the combat difficulty was not high, and casualties were minimal; had the second Boss not triggered a catastrophic avalanche that scattered the troops, the war would likely have ended much sooner. The vast majority of casualties in that campaign resulted from that single avalanche.

However, the situation in the Eastern Theater is different. Three months have passed, and there is no trace of a Boss. No matter how many creatures they kill, the dense black mist only grows thicker, eventually cutting off their retreat and trapping them entirely. Before the awakening of the Yinglong, the twenty-thousand-strong army had already braced for total annihilation. Furthermore, these creatures are far stronger than those in the Southwest; as General Xu noted, it now takes an average of over three thousand rounds of ammunition to take down a single low-level anomaly.

The military deployed three hundred thousand troops to the Eastern Theater. In just three months, they have suffered one hundred thousand combat casualties. The massive entity that Ji Ling just obliterated with his "Thunder Moves the Heavens" technique took another one hundred thousand young lives with a single, earth-shaking roar. This level of intensity is unprecedented globally. Worst of all, that creature, which could kill one hundred thousand people with one cry, was not a Boss. Its death brought only a minor and sluggish retreat of the mist—proof enough that it was not a high-ranking entity.

While they have secured an abandoned military base with ample supplies, the situation remains dire. Two hundred thousand lives lost in three months; only one hundred thousand soldiers remain from the original three hundred thousand. If the full force couldn't conquer this invasion, how can the survivors hope to hold out?

Standing up, Ji Ling turned to General Xu. "General, we cannot sit here and wait for death. The giant creature we just killed was not a Boss. If the Bosses remain, the mist will not retreat; it will only intensify, and a counterattack is inevitable. I have a suggestion."

General Xu looked at Ji Ling and asked, "You want to take a team and operate independently, don't you?"

Ji Ling nodded, startled. General Xu smiled slightly. "Actually, Old Lin and I were discussing this tonight. Our traditional combat model, relying on overwhelming firepower, is effective but slow. This invasion is simply too powerful, and our ammunition is running low. If we continue like this, total annihilation is certain. But you God-Contractors are different; your attacks can inflict actual, effective damage on these anomalies."

General Lin’s plan is for the twenty-eight of you who have contracted with gods to spread out across eight directions: north, south, east, west, and the four cardinal diagonals. Each God-Contractor will be assigned a fifty-man heavy weapons squad to provide cover as you push the edges of the mist to locate the Bosses’ hiding spots.

Ji Ling nodded enthusiastically. "General Lin’s idea matches my own! Although the risk is high, it is indeed our best option."

"Go gather the other twenty-seven God-Contractors and assemble here. I will go find Old Lin," General Xu commanded.

"Yes, sir!" Ji Ling saluted and turned to run.

Ji Ling had his own motivations; by slaying these creatures, he could obtain energy to ascend his God-Contract level and expand his Chaos Space, strengthening himself in the process. Yet, this was not purely selfish, as every increment of his strength increased the survival odds for the remaining one hundred thousand soldiers. He had considered going alone, knowing that separating from the main force exponentially increased the danger. While the other twenty-seven were also God-Contractors, they were new to their contracts. Regardless of their affinity with their gods, they severely lacked combat experience in wielding divine power. But with General Lin’s approval for a joint operation, he no longer had to worry.

Soon, all twenty-eight God-Contractors were assembled on the training ground. General Lin stood before the unit, took a deep breath, and shouted, "At ease! Attention! Stand at ease! Comrades, the situation is grim! The Bosses of this invasion remain elusive. Although the black mist has receded slightly, its counterattack is only a matter of time. We cannot sit and wait for death. Now is the moment when our country and our people test our resolve!"