Capítulo 38: Chapter 38: We Need a Victory!
Two hours earlier.
Under the highway toll station.
After dealing with a pursuing scout team, Qin Hu and his group had waited for nearly an hour.
Of the three squads used as bait, only the middle route successfully lured three Black Spinal Bugs.
Under the firepower of fifty people, they were quickly shot down, but the returning vehicle had only the awakened team leader surviving.
The other two followers were tragically killed by the bugs, with one's lower half still hanging from the window.
Now, another hour had passed, and the squad heading south appeared in the darkness, albeit moving slowly.
No scout bugs followed them, but their vehicle was filled with writhing Red Armored Beetles.
The awakened leader in the passenger seat approached Qin Hu, hands open in apology:
"We wandered for ages and didn't encounter a single Black Spinal Bug, so we decided to return."
Qin Hu nodded, looking north, where Lin Feng's camper had vanished, concern furrowing his brow.
Only their vehicle remained unaccounted for.
With Lin Feng's skills, unless facing multiple scout teams simultaneously, escaping should have been easy.
These civilian awakeners might not understand, but Qin Hu, with frontline experience, knew the power of an awakener with a superpower bullet.
Even a mundane handgun in their hands could become a heavy weapon akin to a cannon.
With teammates distracting the bugs, handling four or five Black Spinal Bugs posed no pressure, let alone escaping.
Moreover, Lin Feng's real strength was likely greater; his ability seemed more versatile, even crafting armor from Red Armored Beetles' carapaces.
So with his presence, there was no reason for them to be slower than the other squads.
It was nearing midnight, five or six hours since leaving the service area.
Given the first squad's return, another hour had passed. Waiting longer risked encountering a large swarm of Black Spinal Bugs investigating.
This group of fifty civilians wouldn't stand a chance against dozens of bugs, even ten would result in severe casualties.
The longer they lingered, the greater the risk.
The first returning awakened survivor, having caught his breath, began urging:
"We've waited long enough, we can't stay!"
"If, as Lieutenant Qin said, a swarm comes to investigate, how can we handle it with so few? It's a death sentence!"
"I bet Lin Feng's group already met their end."
"It's not that I look down on Mr. Lin, but what use is his flimsy camper against Black Spinal Bugs? One bite and it's done."
Others were similarly inclined to leave, but hesitated to voice it due to Qin Hu, the one who would judge their mission completion. Awakeners, however, enjoyed privileges wherever they went.
The vocal one, having completed the lure task first, was eager to leave, his merit secured.
With him speaking up, others chimed in.
Seeing the reluctance for further engagement, Qin Hu took a deep drag of his cigarette, hesitated briefly, then nodded.
"Let's give it ten more minutes."
Ten minutes later, Qin Hu ordered the retreat, boarding the jeep back to the service area.
He wasn't pressured by the ragtag group but was concerned that if the bugs did arrive, it would be a grave threat to the fleeing civilians and Wu City, untouched by conflict.
Qin Hu couldn't bear such responsibility.
Whether civilian casualties or the fall of Wu City, he'd face a military trial.
Dragging it out as long as possible, Qin Hu had done his utmost for Lin Feng.
With three pairs of bug mandibles as proof, their distraction mission could conclude successfully.
As the convoy departed, the toll station, like the surrounding wilderness, plunged into darkness.
Shortly after, a bright flash illuminated the provincial highway, followed by a resounding boom and a fierce gust.
Unfortunately, the convoy was miles away, unable to witness the miracle.
Yet some awakened in the convoy sensed the explosion, especially Qin Hu in the jeep. Having escaped the swarm in Haicheng's outskirts, he was acutely sensitive to loud noises.
"Stop, pull over and wait!"
Qin Hu instructed the driver to brake, parking on the emergency lane.
Exiting, he peered into the distance towards the noise, lighting another cigarette, and waited.
At that moment, his phone, now receiving signals, rang, breaking the silence.
Seeing the latest message, his hands trembled, and the cigarette slipped from his fingers.
"Let's return to base!"
…
When Lin Feng's group returned to the toll station, the dark highway entrance indicated the convoy had already left.
Lin Feng shrugged:
"Perfect, let's keep moving, no need to trail them."
Driving back to the traffic jam site, Lin Feng's Explosive Gun completed its Lv12 upgrade:
"Explosive Gun Lv12, Red Quality"
"Upgrade Points: 18/4, Damage: 70, Effective Range: 2 km, Remaining Ammo: 85/500"
"Extra Attributes: Bullet Recovery 1/s, Space Magazine 500 rounds"
The upgrade improved bullet recovery to one per second, still lagging behind the firing rate but mitigating the explosive scarcity.
With 500 spare rounds, it sufficed to handle small groups of Black Spinal Bugs, and the damage increased to 70, allowing two-shot kills.
Lin Feng didn't hesitate, initiating the next upgrade for the Lv12 Explosive Gun while also triggering his own synchronization upgrade to alleviate fatigue from the night's battle.
After a simple meal, warmth enveloped Lin Feng as he drifted into deep sleep.
But within minutes, a shout from the rear compartment jolted him awake. Liu Yueqi, holding her phone, excitedly approached the driver's seat:
"It's here! It's here!"
"They've announced nationwide!"
Groggily, Lin Feng saw the familiar face on Liu Yueqi's screen, somberly delivering a speech.
"Signal's back?"
Liu Yueqi nodded:
"Just refreshed. It's not live, posted about half an hour ago."
Yawning, Lin Feng showed mild interest.
Through Ding Chenghai's channels, he knew the coastal battles were a disaster, nearly every city falling by day's end…
Haicheng's situation was dire, with the Thirteenth Army encircled by bugs, struggling.
With such total defeat, revealing it would doom the federal president's reputation, his position precarious.
Unexpectedly, during the broadcast, a senior general handed over a crucial document.
Reading it, the president's expression shifted from sorrow to joy…
The Thirteenth Army, trapped in Haicheng, had been rescued, successfully regrouping with the state armed guard, now retreating to Wu City to regroup and prepare.
This was the Federation's sole victory.
The first defeat of the alien invaders!
Even as a successful retreat, it proved the invaders could be beaten!
"Humanity will never surrender!"
"God bless the Federation, humanity will prevail!"
After the inspiring words, the camera shifted to a press conference, detailing the withdrawal and reports of strengthening effects and superpower awakenings in battles with the bugs.
Watching, Lin Feng didn't share Liu Yueqi's exhilaration, instead frowning.
The timing of the broadcast and the turning point seemed to coincide with his gasoline explosion…
Could his explosive art have forced the Empress to withdraw her Black Spinal Bug army, freeing the Thirteenth Army?
Though mere speculation, Lin Feng found it increasingly plausible.
The explosion's power crippled hundreds of bugs, and if they lost psychic connection with the Empress…
From her perspective, seeing hundreds of her bugs wiped out at once would prompt her to recall forces to protect herself.
Lin Feng pondered, and the camper reached the jammed site, where cheers erupted, the convoy beginning to move.
After a day of gridlock, traffic finally resumed.
Good news spread, smiles abounded, but Lin Feng knew the situation hadn't truly improved…
The Federation needed a victory.
Even if it was a pyrrhic victory.
At that moment, Lin Feng's phone vibrated with a call.
The screen showed an unfamiliar number. Hesitating for a moment, Lin Feng answered:
"Yes?"
"Hello, Lin Feng? It's Qin Hu. That massive explosion in the suburbs—was that your doing?!"
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