I don't know how much longer we can hold on, I don't even know if there's any point in holding on.
Success and failure are often just a hair's breadth apart, If Gao Yuan and the others could withstand the attack of the Serpent People, then the Serpent People would have no means to continue their assault, and Spark Squad could leave before the arrival of the Serpent People's mothership.
But even though humanity's latest technology has performed quite well, it still isn't good enough. Even with Xinghe's assistance, Spark Squad wasn't able to escape the full-on strike of the Serpent People.
Many things are beyond choice, followed by a struggle to do one's utmost. If it succeeds, it succeeds; if it doesn't, then it just doesn't.
Gao Yuan needed to face the remaining monsters. He had done well, but it still wasn't enough.
Holding on a few minutes longer, or a few minutes less, actually doesn't make much of a difference.