Chapter 27: Assassination
Within the First Line of Defense, over two thousand Sun Warriors were locked in a chaotic melee with nearly three thousand insectoids.
The frontal combat power of the Sun Warriors ranked second among the five tribes, with the top spot held by the Fierce Eater Warriors of the Hasaro Tribe.
"Bagu!"
A unified roar echoed from within the First Line of Defense. The Sun Warriors stood in a row, most of them wielding wooden spears with black metal layers cast around the tips.
Flames climbed up the wooden spears, the metal tips scorching red-hot. Compared to these spear-wielding Sun Warriors, those using oddly shaped blades were more troublesome. Their weapons were roughly made straight edges with barbed hooks at the tips.
These weapons looked difficult to use, but they were specifically crafted to combat insectoids. The serrated edges made it easier to pierce insect carapaces, and the barbed tips could hook onto the insectoids' armored legs or spines.
Putus didn't care how strong the Sun Warriors were. Their orders were simple: kill all enemies.
Dozens of Sun Warriors stood in a line within the First Line of Defense, their arms bent, the fire patterns on their chests beginning to glow intensely.
Whoosh!
A torrent of flame erupted, nearly filling half the First Line of Defense. The large swarm of insectoids ahead was scorched by the high heat, their carapaces cracking and popping open with a series of sharp sounds.
When the flames receded, piles of Putus lay on the ground. Some, half-burned to death, twitched their armored legs, looking like roasted giant spiders.
The dozens of Sun Warriors who had unleashed the flames collapsed in exhaustion, sitting on the ground. Other Sun Warriors helped them up and carried them to the rear of the battle line.
Whimpering sounds came from ahead, as dense bone spikes filled the valley of the First Line of Defense.
Sun Warriors fell one after another, but this couldn't stop their advance.
"Bagu!"
"Bagu!"
The Sun Warriors roared in unison, charging forward in formation. Behind them, two small giants, about four meters tall, clad in full vine armor and carrying metal giant clubs, stepped out from the crowd. These were the elite units of the Sun Warriors: the Flame Dika.
The insectoids within the First Line of Defense had just been wiped out when the next wave surged in.
Boom. Boom!
The Flame Dikas swung their five-meter-long metal giant clubs. With each strike, a large group of insectoids was crushed, turning into blazing fireballs.
From within the fireballs, red-hot light particles drifted out, flowing into the nearby Sun Warriors. Their wounds began to slowly heal, and they charged back into the insect tide as if injected with stimulants.
Inside the Mist Light Insect Tide, Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes tightly shut. The arm guard on his right arm, covered in connected wires, was particularly conspicuous.
Not far away, inside the consciousness transmission device, the Insect Queen, Mist Light, lay quietly. The Soul Crystal (Complete) embedded in the device flickered with light.
"Sun Warriors, indeed..."
Su Xiao didn't know that the Three Paradise Alliance could command the Sun Warriors. If he hadn't created this insect nest and instead chose to cultivate over 5,000 Demon Beasts to fight the Three Paradise Alliance head-on, his chances of defeat would have been high. The Sun Warriors, originating from the Sun Tribe, were more adept at dealing with insectoids than the contractors.
Now that he had lured out the Three Paradise Alliance's trump card, Su Xiao was satisfied. Over three thousand Putus were no match for more than two thousand Sun Warriors. Even fourth-stage combat insectoids would need over eight thousand to rival these Sun Warriors. Their flames and weapons were too effective against insectoids, and after killing enemies, they possessed impressive self-healing abilities.
Outside the valley at that moment, many contractors were watching the battle. They didn't care how many Sun Warriors died. Rushing recklessly into the battlefield and being surrounded by insectoids would mean certain death.
"This won't work."
Aphro looked at the Sun Warriors gradually advancing toward the insect nest. Despite the overwhelming advantage, there was no joy on her face.
"Indeed, this won't work."
Yaklo also spoke.
"Agreed."
Muyushi stared at the distant insect nest, seemingly worried about something.
"From the current battle situation, destroying that insect nest is only a matter of time. However..."
Aphro didn't continue. She believed Yaklo and Muyushi knew what she was about to say.
Aphro's meaning was simple: she feared that once the insectoid side was at a certain disadvantage, Su Xiao would take the Insect Mother and flee. If that happened, they would never have peace, constantly worrying about the enemy's resurgence.
"Long-range perception has confirmed it. It's that guy who uses the blade."
A male contractor spoke, showing an incomplete set of information to Aphro and the other two.
"Never had a chance to fight him back then, and now there's no opportunity either."
Yaklo shook his head. Su Xiao, who with one man and one blade had kept five Elemental Stars from getting close, was certainly unforgettable. Moreover, the fact that he had killed over a hundred contractors in one move was no longer just terrifying—it was horrifying.
"I don't want to fight a madman like that. Besides, I'm not an assassination type."
Muyushi shrugged.
"I'll do it."
A girl about one meter fifty tall stepped forward. She wore a half-length loose jacket, revealing the faint muscle contours on her fair abdomen, and ultra-short denim shorts so short they almost showed her underwear.
"Qianhua, I'll give you ten seconds to think. If you change your mind, tell me immediately."
Aphro looked at Qianhua. This was someone from their Holy Light Paradise, and not to brag, but among the Three Paradise Alliance, Qianhua's assassination skills were absolutely top-tier.
"36D, you're too wordy. Hesitation leads to defeat."
Qianhua tied up her long black hair with both hands, using a rubber band to make a ponytail.
"36D, give me buffs."
"The Insect Mother is the primary target."
Aphro extended her long staff horizontally, aiming it at Qianhua.
"You don't trust me?"
Qianhua tilted her head, her dark eyes flickering.
"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just... contractors who specialize in blade techniques have strong perception. And that's a blade madman. His close-range perception might be even stronger than a perception-specialized contractor."
"Tch, then I'll assassinate the mother. Hurry up, buff me."
"..."
Aphro didn't speak. A stream of golden energy gathered on her staff.
'Courage'
'Stealth Enhancement'
'Moon Empress'
'Hildin'
'Speed Boost'
'Speed Secondary Boost'
'Silent Walk'
'Guardian Spirit'
'Holy Armor'
...
...
At least twenty buffs were applied to Qianhua. A golden and a green little angel fluttered beside her, scattering light particles that provided continuous healing and defense.
"I'm off."
As soon as Qianhua spoke, she vanished from the spot. No one present could sense her aura. Her original assassination skills were already formidable, and with the buffs from the super healer Aphro, her strength had at least doubled.
Yaklo shook his head. He wasn't underestimating Qianhua's abilities; he was just envious of her buffs.
In reality, by the time everyone sensed Qianhua's aura, she was already standing beside the insect nest.
Qianhua's gaze swept around. The entrance to the insect nest was sealed. She crouched down, placing one hand on the ground.
'Transmission.'
Qianhua disappeared, and the next moment, she appeared inside the insect nest, touching the ground only with the tips of her toes.
Qianhua began surveying her surroundings. What met her eyes was the dark green inner wall of the insect nest. At the center of the nest sat a man, his right arm wearing a massive mechanical arm guard connected to numerous wires. A sheathed long blade lay flat across his legs.
With just one glance, Qianhua judged that her success rate in assassinating him was no more than twenty percent. The faint blood aura around him made her perception ache faintly.