NOVEL NEXT Chapter 129: Incoming!
The basin unfolded below them, a sprawling abyss of chaotic life, raw and corrupted. It wasn't merely a forest, but a pulsating wound upon the earth itself, fed by ancient mana runes warped and twisted beyond recognition.
Enormous mana trees surged skyward, stretching over three hundred meters high, their trunks gnarled and twisted, leaves glowing rhythmically like monstrous heartbeats.
Massive vines writhed and slithered across the terrain like giant serpents, relentlessly spreading in all directions, and towering fungi, colossal as buildings, released luminescent spores drifting into a darkened sky.
The terrifying thing was how swiftly it consumed the land.
Mere months ago, bustling towns stood safely on the outskirts, their streets filled with life. Now, all that remained were ghostly silhouettes half-swallowed by roots, bark, and foliage—structures melting silently into the wilderness.
The basin had already devoured fifty kilometers of territory in all directions, and it showed no sign of slowing down.
Inside the military transport, a heavy silence had settled over the team.
Damien was the image of perfect calm.
Death was his good friend even before he got his System. He had no qualms facing him then, and now that Death had decided to escalate their relationship from being mere friends to be life partners, he found himself even less concerned.
But the same could not be said about the other students.
Jiang Xiao Yu stared out the window with uncharacteristic tension in her shoulders.
The two elite students from War God College were even gulping audibly, only suddenly realizing just how small, how vulnerable they truly were.
Zhao Tianlei's knuckles tightened on the controls of Storm Widow, his voice strained. "This...this is beyond what we trained for."
Xu Meilin's usually composed expression flickered, her breath shallow. "We aren't equipped for an environment like this. Even our mechas feel inadequate."
"Training's not supposed to prepare you for this. It's supposed to teach you how to think when you realize nothing ever will." Captain Lu Jin said sagely.
Damien blinked.
That… was actually pretty heavy philosophical stuff.
"It gets worse, trust me." Lieutenant Han Jie comforted them with not comforting words.
"Blood. Limbs. Innards. Splattered brain matter. Maybe an eyeball or two." He continued in a flat tone.
Zhao Tianlei exchanged a worried look with Xu Meilin.
Gone were their easy confidence, swallowed completely by the fearsomeness of mana awakened nature and the soldiers' very… encouraging words.
Damien Bloodbane stared out the window silently. Beneath his stoic exterior, his pulse had quickened. But unlike his buddies, it wasn't due to fear, but excitement.
He could feel his death energy tingling with the sheer amount of dead beasts that he could actually raise up!
Zhao Tianlei finally voiced his thoughts once more, words filled with dread. "Why are we doing this alone with only ten of us? It's suicide."
A low chuckle broke the tension. Lieutenant Zhou Feng turned slowly, the red energy around his hands flickering ominously as his lips curled into a confident grin.
"The beasts down there are dangerous, boy," he said softly. "But so am I."
Before the lieutenant's words had fully faded, disaster struck.
A deafening shriek ripped through the air, followed by the violent eruption of an enormous vine, thicker than a fortress wall and covered with lethal, pulsating thorns. It surged upward from the treetops, slamming viciously against the transport's protective mana barrier with devastating force.
In an instant, the barrier shattered like fragile glass, sending the transport violently tilting. Warning lights flared red, alarms blaring across the cabin.
"A-RANK BEAST ATTACK!" shouted the pilot, fighting desperately for control. "It's directly beneath us, extreme mana readings! Brace yourselves!"
Captain Lin Zhong's eyes flashed with momentary surprise, quickly replaced by iron resolve. "At the forest edge already…?! Deploy now! All units, move out immediately!"
He turned sharply to his squad. "Let's rock and roll, team!"
The hatch doors blasted open in unison.
Tempest Fang leaped out first, with Lieutenant Zhao Lin astride its shoulder, glowing fiercely with electric mana.
Close behind, Storm Widow dropped swiftly, Meilin's expression steeling as she guided it expertly into formation.
Next, Titan Mourn plunged down, impacting the ground with a thunderous boom that rattled trees for kilometers.
Following rapidly, Verdant Razor and Red Hunter twisted gracefully mid-air, agile despite their considerable bulk.
The mana-awakened soldiers leaped confidently onto the descending mechas, each body pulsing powerfully with elemental energy, eyes sharp and focused.
Damien landed last atop Verdant Razor, black cloak fluttering like a wraith, his expression cold and ready.
Beside him, Jiang Xiao Yu touched down lightly, ice-blue mana swirling around her.
Damien glanced at her tense face and felt a flicker of concern stir in his chest.
She had definitely never faced death before. And those who hadn't, no matter how strong or skillful, often faltered when it finally came for them.
He'd seen it too many times. Talented fighters, brilliant tacticians, people who always seemed untouchable... crumble in that final moment. One slip. One hesitation. One silly mistake born from fear.
And that was enough to die.
"Stay close to me." Damien said to her. "I will keep you safe."
Jiang Xiao Yu turned to face him and nodded gratefully.
The forest roared again, this time with fury.
The moment their feet touched the tangled forest floor, Captain Lin Zhong's authoritative voice cut through their headsets.
"Form a defensive perimeter! All mechas facing outward. Mages, take positions on their shoulders! Stay alert! Conserve your mana and use only what's necessary. This will be a war of attrition, not a sprint!"
Immediately, the five towering mechas shifted into formation, backs facing together, creating a loose circle of protection.
They gave each other just enough room to execute heavy swings, but not so much that beasts can actually slip in and wreck their formation.
Damien balanced effortlessly atop Verdant Razor's sleek frame and Jiang Xiao Yu stood gracefully next to him, her ice-blue mana glowing coolly around her palms.
Across from them, Lieutenant Zhao Lin ignited arcs of electricity atop the hulking Tempest Fang, his eyes sparking with fierce anticipation.
Lieutenants Zhou Feng and Wang Yu anchored the opposite flank, earth and fire energies swirling gently as they steadied their breath, ready for battle.
For a breath, the only sound was their own steady heartbeats.
Then the forest exploded into motion.
From every direction surged a sea of monstrous insectoid beasts, drawn by the intruders into their corrupted sanctuary.
Winged wasps with serrated stingers buzzed furiously, shimmering with deadly venom.
Huge beetles armored in thick chitin shells lumbered forward, mandibles snapping with relentless hunger.
Spiders larger than trucks crawled forward, their multiple eyes gleaming malevolently, legs slicing through underbrush with frightening ease.
"Incoming! Mostly B and C-Ranks, insect-type!" Captain Lin Zhong shouted. "Stay tight and pick your targets wisely! Keep an eye open for that plant-type A-Rank, it is still hunting us!"
"Come and die you ugly bastards!" Lieutenant Zhao Lin roared as he unleashed a devastating barrage of lightning strikes.
"This is for the 649 victims! Burn in hell!" Lieutenant Wang Yu snarled.
Damien drew a calm breath, feeling his mana pulse steadily through his veins. His mind sharpened, clarity settling over him like a cloak as the first wave reached them.
The beasts hit like a tidal wave.