Bab 137: Chapter 137: Lin Feng's Strength, Responsibility, and the Visit from the Thirteenth Division
Under the guidance of the Land Cruiser Battleship, the fleet parked beside the insect tunnel entrance, ready to welcome the triumphant return of their sergeant. Faced with the 20-meter-long, 6-7-meter-wide battleship-like vehicles, Qin Hu and his team were speechless, standing in awe.
Along the fiery-patterned sides of the battleship lay numerous 200mm caliber cannons. The eight accompanying vehicles were similarly armed with multiple cannons and countless heavy machine guns.
A rough estimate revealed firepower comparable to an artillery battalion and an infantry regiment.
Yet, for Qin Hu, the most impressive aspect was the fleet's extraordinary mobility.
Judging by their arrival speed, they could easily surpass 100 km/h, faster than the top speed of Tier 2 Tiger Bugs. This meant Lin Feng's fleet could engage in hit-and-run tactics, eliminating insects from a distance.
Even in the ruined cityscape, their mobility was unmatched; it would be even greater in open plains.
With ample ammunition and sustained firepower...
Lin Feng's hundred-strong force alone could halt the insect invasion beyond the second line.
Realizing this, Qin Hu understood the city wasn't destroyed by a human-insect battle; it was the fleet's doing, mere hundreds achieving what seemed impossible.
It was clear weaponry and ammunition shortages were not a concern.
No wonder Lin Feng dared to venture into the underground nest with only one companion, and no wonder they encountered no resistance on the return journey.
The Black Spinal Bugs and Tiger Bugs had been suppressed by overwhelming surface firepower, forced to cower in their nests, trembling.
The queen didn't let them go easily; she was likely overwhelmed by the situation above.
Currently, only surface suppression was in play; with Lin Feng's return, the fleet could bombard the insect tunnels, sealing them underground.
Without air circulation and soil space, Red Beetles couldn't dig far or deep.
Ultimately, they'd return to the surface for a final showdown with Lin Feng's fleet.
While Qin Hu contemplated how best to utilize the fleet, Lin Feng ordered the biological materials transported to the surface to be stored in the battleship's hold.
The intact insect corpses Qin Hu needed were loaded onto a vehicle for transport back to the line.
The 7-8 kilometer journey passed swiftly.
During the ride, Qin Hu, accompanying the wounded, boarded Li Ran's vehicle, meeting many old subordinates who'd survived the front line's collapse. Many were listed as missing or dead, yet here they were, reunited under Lin Feng.
After exchanging greetings, Qin Hu shared his experiences in the underground nest, the difficulty of holding Wu City's defenses, and other grim news with Li Ran.
Li Ran, once his personal guard and now Lin Feng's battle commander, needed to be informed to prepare.
The future of the entire southern region depended on Lin Feng's forces.
Qin Hu found solace knowing Lin Feng planned to stay in Wu City to fend off further insect invasions, unbothered by the Thirteenth Division's previous misunderstanding due to Cheng Zhan's espionage.
With such a powerful fleet, the pressure on the second line's defense would significantly reduce.
As the fortress walls loomed ahead, Qin Hu squinted and informed Li Ran to tell Lin Feng to stop here; they'd proceed the remaining distance on foot.
Upon Lin Feng's command, the fleet halted.
He disembarked, approaching Qin Hu and his team as they prepared to leave with the insect corpses.
This might be their last meeting for some time, possibly forever.
The Federation Capital Defense Battle was uncertain even for Lin Feng; escaping potential encirclement by queens relied on luck.
But Lin Feng knew Qin Hu was resolute; persuasion wouldn't sway his "suicidal" determination.
The Federation Capital couldn't be abandoned; fleeing meant surrender. Without legitimacy, the Federation would crumble.
Even if the defense failed, slowing the northern front's insect invasion allowed time for industrial relocation and evacuation.
With Wu City's first line breached, all hope focused on the capital for humanity's first defensive victory.
The capital, with its millions, dwarfed Wu City, attracting queens from all directions.
Similarly, Lake Tai, between Jin City and Wu City, had become a battleground for multiple queens vying to evolve.
As he bid Qin Hu farewell, Lin Feng reminded him:
"The third-stage queen isn't the end of insect evolution. Their goal is the capital's millions of unrelocated survivors and awakeners."
"Haicheng's queen reached mid-Tier 3 just by breaching the first line, spawning new Tier 2 insects and controlling more Tiger Bugs..."
"If the capital falls, the victorious queen will grow unimaginably powerful. So if you're still there..."
Hearing Lin Feng, Qin Hu's eyes widened, a hint of madness flashing, interrupting hoarsely:
"Don't worry... I know what to do."
"In the capital defense, there are only heroic gene warriors, no survivors taken alive..."
Lin Feng nodded solemnly.
He watched Qin Hu and his surviving team drag the massive Pulse Scorpion corpse to the second line, armored vehicles escorting them into the city.
Lin Feng returned to the battleship, ordering a return to the insect heartland...
The nest expedition was fruitful.
He acquired new Tier 2 insect materials and a powerful melee weapon, adding defensive-breaking options against queens.
Upgrading the Tiger Tooth Chainsaw Sword to lv29, with 900 base damage and Hyper Speed Cutting, unleashed 4500 explosive damage.
Even if a queen's armor was a meter thick, it could be breached in seconds, followed by electromagnetic bombardment...
If there was a health bar, death was inevitable.
Even tens of thousands of health points were just a few more shots away.
Now wasn't the time to retreat.
As Qin Hu mentioned, suppressing the surface insect assault allowed them to seal the nest entrances.
Blocking air and food supply would force insects to repair tunnels.
Lin Feng found this sensible.
He ordered the fleet to advance into the insect heartland, firing upon every tunnel to ensure collapse.
Severing nest interconnections.
Depriving the Level 3 nest army of oxygen, they couldn't convert liquid hydrogen to maintain life.
It would also stagnate the deeper Level 2 nests and the queen's lair 500 meters below.
Lin Feng planned to revisit the depths, exploring Level 2 nests for Tier 2 eggs to expedite chainsaw upgrades.
But halting the insect expansion took precedence.
Hunter Warriors deterred solo ventures.
These monsters posed greater threats to awakeners than late-stage Tier 2 Tiger Bugs. Lin Feng preferred facing ten late-stage insects over ten Hunter Warriors.
Moreover, appraisals suggested the Hunter Warriors encountered were early Tier 2, below lv24. Mid and late stages hadn't been deployed.
Perhaps newly developed, not yet evolved, but absence now didn't guarantee future nonexistence.
Next nest venture needed a well-armed Tier 2 awakener squad to handle high-attack, low-defense Hunter Warriors. Shotguns with 190 power in defensive formations suited the task in the nest.
Lin Feng pondered the next expedition as artillery thundered again...
This time, targets weren't insect gatherings; every surface tunnel entrance faced bombardment, collapsing one by one.
As dusk fell, the sun dipped west, and a blue starry night with the moon shrouded the earth.
To conclude the day's work, Lin Feng ordered bombardment of the insect-riddled first line.
Dozens of shots buried fortresses and walls, like the forward base, into pits, sealing entrances below.
A hundred fortresses, 20 kilometers long, took two hours to obliterate.
With darkness setting and the vehicle artillery's ammunition depleting from the afternoon assault, time was needed to replenish.
Insect expansion was pushed back 10 kilometers from the city to the second line, allowing a breather.
Lin Feng commanded a return to camp for rest.
It was 7 p.m.
The anticipated tough battle had been eased by Lin Feng and Qin Hu's deep nest incursion, routing Tiger Bugs and dismantling new Tier 2 assaults.
In the insect nest, the queen couldn't thwart human awakeners, and wouldn't risk a surface swarm attack to be slaughtered.
Dusty and weary, they returned to camp.
Despite tired bodies, spirits were high after the intense combat—or rather, a thrilling drive—especially in front of the Thirteenth Division defenders and old veterans who'd once doubted them. The 150-strong fleet had effortlessly suppressed the encroaching swarm...
Who'd believe such results?
Outside, soldiers gathered in the vehicle-surrounded parking lot, lighting bonfires, discussing the day's gains.
Over half had reached late-stage Tier 1, just a Tier 2 insect or Lin Feng's Tier 2 egg away from awakening.
Lin Feng stood quietly at the prow, overlooking his soldiers, contemplating a reprimand against arrogance and complacency.
But reconsidering, he realized this was one of the few victories against Haicheng's queen, and morale shouldn't be dampened.
After a moment's thought, an idea struck him for dual-purpose action.
Turning, he asked:
"How many Tier 2 eggs left?"
Chen Yanyan, fresh from a shower, drying her hair, replied:
"Thirty-three for your upgrades, one for me, sixteen left. Why?"
Lin Feng's lips curled slightly, enough.
He stepped out, standing outside the battleship.
The soldiers gathering for the bonfire fell silent upon seeing the sergeant.
Lin Feng cleared his throat, first acknowledging their efforts in suppressing the insect invasion, then addressing the coveted Tier 2 eggs.
The soldiers' expressions grew serious, fearing missing a word and losing the precious awakening chance.
Lin Feng surveyed them, speaking slowly:
"Most of us have reached late-stage Tier 1, with others close behind."
"The next step is Tier 2 awakening, requiring a Tier 2 insect kill, like your Tier 1 awakening."
"Most common is the Tier 2 Tiger Bug, capable of flipping heavy tanks. Even shotguns can only suppress, not kill."
"Other Tier 2s—you encountered the new Pulse Scorpions and Tank Flame Armors today..."
"Pulse Scorpions hide in pits, and Tank Flame Armor's thick hide is impenetrable..."
"Killing a Tier 2 insect alone isn't easy for any Tier 1 awakener."
"The quickest way is with Tier 2 eggs I acquired from Jia City's queen."
"But you seem comfortable in the vehicles, lacking urgency, and eggs are limited."
"Today, only Shen Jie, who accompanied me underground, battling Tier 2 insects, deserves a reward. He repelled the attack and advanced to mid-Tier 2..."
"So, I'll reward him with an egg."
Hearing this, eyes turned to Shen Jie atop a vehicle lookout.
He was the strongest awakener after the sergeant...
Yet admiration shifted to the girl beside him, Zhang Liying.
The precious egg might be her promotion chance.
Shen Jie, now mid-Tier 2, could grow stronger just by fighting insects with Lin Feng.
Envy of Zhang Liying's luck and Shen Jie's courage filled the air.
Seeing the moment ripe, Lin Feng continued:
"You'll have a chance too..."
Eager faces snapped to their sergeant.
"And the chance is to shoulder your responsibility!"
"Becoming Tier 2, I hope you'll follow Shen Jie, venturing into nests, fighting the lurking insects."
"Don't forget our goal: to kill and drive out these alien insects, saving humanity!"
"With the insects beaten back, we must strike, paving the way to slay the queens with Tier 2 deaths!"
"Think it over before enrolling."
"Tier 2 eggs aren't just rewards; they symbolize the responsibility of Tier 2 awakeners!"
As he finished, Li Ran, the chief captain, rose, clapping.
Following his lead, the crowd applauded.
Amidst applause, many pondered and struggled internally.
The nest's danger was undeniable.
Colonel Qin Hu's elite team's ordeal proved it.
Despite excellent gear, they lost members, one losing a leg.
Without the sergeant's help, they'd never leave the nest, dead and forgotten.
Shen Jie had been severely injured, healed by awakening energy, yet his tattered armor silently spoke of the nest's terror.
Smiling, Lin Feng saw his message received, waving before leaving.
...
At 11 p.m., as most slept, several armored vehicles arrived, breaking the midnight calm...
Lin Feng frowned, dressing and exiting the camp.
Seeing his patrol aiming at the disembarking group, Li Ran negotiating.
Their appearance suggested Thirteenth Division members.
Lin Feng's gaze sharpened.
He spotted several with general ranks.
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone