Waiting

In the district of Beicheng, the black-scaled monsters emerged from the darkness and the clustered buildings, only to be met with a meticulously prepared onslaught.

The ground quaked as smoke billowed, reaching heights of tens of meters. The military unleashed a volley of gunfire, successfully repelling ten black-scaled monsters and bringing them down.

Yet, it was not enough. The monsters swiftly reorganized their ranks, extending their front line and avoiding the densely packed areas. Instead, they descended upon the second half of the long convoy, which was hurtling forward at high speed.

The survivor convoy of the mixed seven battalions had become unwieldy, too bloated for the military to fully protect. In the face of this relentless assault, tanks and armored vehicles safeguarded the command car at the forefront and the buses carrying important personnel. Meanwhile, the Taotang forces led various units to the rear, engaging in a fierce battle.

Though the black-scaled monsters attacked in groups, they lacked the discernment to prioritize targets protected by the military. Unable to breach the heavily fortified head of the convoy, where concentrated firepower awaited them, they instead leapt into the vulnerable middle section. In an instant, the already chaotic convoy spiraled into further disarray and confusion.

Survivors and monsters intermingled, their identities indistinguishable amidst the carnage. The colossal fleet of tens of thousands grew lengthier with each passing moment. Those unfortunate enough to be targeted by the monsters fled in sheer panic, while others desperately pressed forward, striving to escape the chaos. The military forces, though numbering over a dozen, were but a drop in the ocean within this chaotic maelstrom.

Taotang's two special battalions and the sharp knife team displayed their prowess on this battlefield. The members of the sharp knife team, honed by their numerous combat experiences, proved exceptionally effective when supported by the specialized forces. In the chaotic clash between humans and monsters, their coordinated efforts surpassed the impact of heavy weaponry.

Taotang herself was an indomitable force, a fierce woman unyielding in the face of black-scaled monsters rushing towards her vehicle. She cared not for the survivors caught within, seizing the opportunity to slay the monsters even if it meant endangering the lives of those she was meant to protect.

Such actions instilled fear in the survivors, akin to their dread of the black-scaled monsters. Yet, it yielded surprisingly efficient results. Once the warriors no longer restrained themselves when dealing with ordinary survivors, the scattered black-scaled monsters within the crowd became trapped prey, easier to eliminate. From a certain perspective, more lives were actually saved under this approach, though it appeared less humane, even cruel.

Nevertheless, despite their valiant efforts, the convoy's speed gradually diminished, losing cohesion along the way.

The situation resembled a colossal ship, kilometers long, taking on water from all sides—a vessel that few could salvage.

The sheer number of survivors, the immense length of the fleet, the chaos wrought by both the monsters and the survivors themselves—no one could effectively manage such a battlefield under these dire circumstances.

The black-scaled monsters numbered over a hundred. Dealing with a single black-scaled monster required at least three members of the sharp knife team to utilize their exceptional talents, while tackling the rest demanded the involvement of seven or eight individuals. Thus, despite the military's commendable response, the fragmented teams grew exhausted, impeding their progress and plunging the convoy into a state of entanglement and pandemonium.

Amidst the turmoil, a few survivors took the initiative to push their companions towards safety, while others bravely shielded their fellow comrades. However, the majority of survivors, driven by desperation, continued to desperately push forward towards the front of the convoy.

At this critical moment, the head of the convoy, where the bus carrying elites and experts was located, remained the safest refuge. It housed more than half of Chen Bing's military forces and their heavy weaponry. However, due to the convoy's vast length and size, the hundreds of black scale monsters were unable to engulf the entire convoy. They redirected their onslaught towards the rear, perhaps in the hope that the military's defenses would weaken, allowing them to breach the ironclad protection at the convoy's head.

The monsters' true ultimate move might still be forthcoming.

The survivors bore the brunt of the monsters' wrath. Though their ship was taking on water from all sides, it was far from sinking. The monsters aimed to consume the convoy entirely, especially its well-defended head. There must be other contingencies in place!

Su Chen understood that his true mission lay hidden within those contingencies. Only by thwarting the monsters' long-awaited killer move could their fleet survive the impending disaster!

Yet, Su Chen had no intentions of remaining idle. The chaotic battlefield presented challenges in terms of reversing the tide, but chaos also provided an excellent cover. As long as he didn't draw too much attention to himself, it was unlikely that the monsters would easily detect him, allowing him to dispatch a few black scale monsters.

Meanwhile, the backup support team was on the move.

Instinctively, Su Chen cast a glance back at the city behind him.

The skies above Beicheng District were stained red with the continuous barrage of gunfire. Gunpowder smoke engulfed every corner of the city.

—Where is Lin Mo? Why is there no news from him?

Lin Mo's situation was dire, his confusion evident and his ability to conceal himself compromised. Without assistance, he risked becoming an easy target, strangled in the chaos.

Worry creased Su Chen's brow.

...

In Xicheng District.

Within the Jingyuan Community.

Kong Jiasheng's mind was in disarray as vivid images of his family together flashed before him. The grim scene unfolding before his eyes felt disorienting, causing the world to spin around him.

That ominous, dark creature—the likes of which he had never witnessed before—instilled a deep sense of terror. Its behavior defied all reason. After crashing to the ground, it abruptly launched its attack, but its target was not the humans; it was the black scale monsters rampaging on the rooftops.

Despite its immense power, the creature seemed to struggle against the tough scales of the black monsters. It resorted to tossing them off the roof, even hurling them at the colossal dark giants hovering above—an inexplicable sight to behold.

In that moment, Kong Jiasheng realized that this monster stood apart from its kin. It was not aligned with the other monsters.

At the same time, the remaining soldiers on the rooftop were astounded by the spectacle before them—the monster attacking its own kind?

While the remaining survivors fled in haste, Kong Jiasheng remained seated, his mind blank, until the black-winged monster descended before him once again.

Their eyes locked, and at first glance, Kong Jiasheng felt the creature's insatiable hunger, as if it intended to devour him whole. Yet, in an instant, it seized his collar and flung him away. In the distance, a non-human voice reverberated with a commanding roar, "Go!"

Supported by the military, Kong Jiasheng stumbled down the stairs, his consciousness growing hazier. The last image imprinted on his dazed eyes was the sight that unfolded on the rooftop.

Countless black monsters were falling from the sky, engaged in fierce combat with the black-winged monster.

Terrifying shadows writhed and clashed under the malevolent glow of the crimson sky.

In that moment, Kong Jiasheng's sanity wavered, and he clutched onto a nearby soldier, demanding answers. "Why? Why won't that monster look at me?"

A string within Kong Jiasheng's mind snapped, and the world around him blurred. All he knew was that he was being carried and that his feet burned with excruciating pain. Amidst the chaos, he heard a soldier's urgent cry, "I... Stay away..."

Then, suddenly, there was no one around him.

As a brief moment of clarity returned, Kong Jiasheng found himself sitting beneath a familiar street lamp in his neighborhood.

A horrific howl pierced the sky.

Raising his head, he witnessed a dark, shadowy figure locked in a frenzied battle with the colossal dark giants. It gripped the wing of one of the giants with an iron grip, tearing it apart. Its scarlet eyes glowed with a sinister light, and without hesitation, it sank its teeth into its prey...

A scream echoed through the air.

Could monsters scream too?

Kong Jiasheng, consumed by madness, laughed maniacally and pointed towards the sky. "Kill them! Kill them all! Go!"

But in that very moment, he caught sight of a desiccated figure on the other side of the Jingyuan Community, gradually edging closer. Its movements were peculiar, flickering through space with each step, as if transitioning from a two-dimensional image to a three-dimensional existence—a disconcerting convergence of reality and unreality.

Curiously, the withered shadow appeared to be observing not only the intense aerial battle unfolding above but also casting occasional glances towards the far reaches of Beicheng District. It bore an air of anticipation, as if awaiting some crucial news. It hesitated, unwilling to fully commit to the ongoing skirmish, torn between choosing which side of the battlefield to join.

What did it anticipate in Beicheng District?