Chapter 480 - 422: Resisting Fear and the Way Home (Part 2)

Chapter 480: Chapter 422: Resisting Fear and the Way Home (Part 2)

’When did my body get so tough that it can withstand large-caliber bullets?’

Yang Ran was dazed. The next second, he suddenly realized the meaning of a certain phrase:

The Black Piece, a boundary; the White Piece, a chain!

This was what Wenren Yizhi had said when she gave them the Black and White Chess Pieces. The White Chess Piece’s ability was to link all its holders and share any damage taken.

After realizing this, Yang Ran continued to fight the remaining Cultists with his flames while shouting into his headset, "I just got shot a few times, but it seems the damage was shared through the pieces. Is everyone all right?!"

Her Psychic Power depleted, Bai Xuewu, who was hiding behind cover, was the first to reply: "So it was you. No wonder my chest suddenly hurt. I’m fine, and Na is okay too."

Next came Silver Fox’s hurried voice: "I’m fine too!"

"Shangyuan, go help Yang Ran," Guan Tong said.

He knew Silver Fox was currently surrounded by enemies and in great danger. Suddenly taking shared damage would undoubtedly make her situation even more perilous.

But sending Shangyuan to help Silver Fox was not as sound a decision as having her help Yang Ran; after all, Silver Fox’s abilities were better suited for solo combat.

Upon hearing this, Shangyuan Zi immediately went to Yang Ran’s side, and together they held back the endless stream of incoming Cultists.

For a moment, the battlefield was split into three fronts. Guan Tong held back the largest group of enemies at the center with his Shadow Realm. Silver Fox took on one flank, while Yang Ran and Shangyuan Zi handled the other.

This balance was extremely fragile. With all four of them rapidly consuming their Psychic Power, they couldn’t hold out for long.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—

Just then, the sound of something tearing through the air came from the direction of the city. At the same time, Li Meng’s booming voice rang out in their headsets.

"The combat mechs are here as support! As soon as they’re deployed, guide them into combat immediately! The other Ascenders will be there soon. Victory is at hand!"

Finally!

Several transport aircraft appeared, using high-strength cables to fly in the Annihilators. Multiple planes worked in tandem to carry each one.

After reaching the designated positions, the transport aircraft retracted their cables. The war machines, each as tall as a small building, plummeted from the sky and crashed down among the enemy forces. The impact alone, which kicked up a massive cloud of dust, crushed dozens, even hundreds of Cultists to death!

[’Annihilator’ detected within Guiding Area. Device initiating self-start sequence.]

As soon as they landed, the remote control devices Guan Tong and the others carried immediately emitted a sharp voice prompt.

[Start-up complete. Ready for guidance.]

Without hesitation, the team used their devices to guide the Annihilators to attack the Cultist Legion!

Receiving their guidance commands, the war machines immediately bared their fangs, unleashing a saturation strike on the designated Guiding Area.

For a moment, the unending whir of autocannons and the roar of explosions sounded like a war march.

But while this music was sweet to Guan Tong and his team, to the Cultist Legion, it was a death knell. Especially on this open, suburban road with virtually no cover, they became living targets for the Annihilators.

In just a few seconds, over a thousand Cultists were obliterated by the dense firepower, completely powerless to fight back.

Guan Tong had already closed his Shadow Realm and retreated when the Annihilators arrived, lest he be attacked for being inside the Guiding Area. These steel Giant Beasts couldn’t distinguish between friend and foe.

As for the hundred or so Cultists around the cover, they were now caught between a rock and a hard place.

Retreating would put them in the Annihilators’ range of attack, but not retreating meant facing the combined assault of Guan Tong, Silver Fox, Yang Ran, and Shangyuan Zi.

Guan Tong didn’t want to expend any more Psychic Power, so he just used his Silver Hunter to blast them. With the four of them working together, the hundred or so Cultists were rapidly cut down.

When only a dozen or so remained, a few of the Cultists completely broke down. After exchanging a look, they all rushed toward the nearest person, Silver Fox, shouting, "If we’re going to die, then let’s die together!"

They ripped open their outer black robes, revealing the inside to be plastered with high-definition photos of Crimson Terra!

Silver Fox had been about to move forward and finish them off, never expecting something like this. The moment the photos flooded her vision, it was already too late!

The long, high-intensity battle had made her less sharp than usual, so she didn’t manage to look away in time. As the effects of the Crimson Fear took hold, she first felt a slight vibration from the inner pocket of her clothes—where she kept the Black and White Chess Pieces.

Then, the palm of her left hand grew hot. That was where Guan Tong had left the Shadow Anchor totem.

When the Crimson Fear struck, the "boundary" of the Black Chess Piece and the Mental Stability Anchor activated simultaneously. Silver Fox felt the numerous terrifying images forming in her mind get annihilated the instant they appeared, preventing her from being helplessly lost in fear.

She gritted her teeth, charged forward right at the images of "Crimson Terra," and slit the Cultists’ throats before their disbelieving eyes.

"N-No... impossible..." one of the Cultists stammered, clutching his throat as he fell to the ground. "Why... can you..."

Silver Fox knew what he was trying to say.

’Why can you look directly at the pictures of Crimson Terra with your eyes open and still kill us?’

She sheathed her dagger, touched her chest, then glanced at the totem on the palm of her left hand.

’I don’t know which one did more of the work... but to think they can actually resist the impact of Crimson Fear...’

She realized this outcome was crucial. It could very well be used to complete their exploration before the rules ended.

"Silver Fox, are you all right?" Guan Tong came to her side. He had seen what happened to her just now, but he had immediately averted his gaze.

"I’m fine," Silver Fox said. "Captain, the anchor you gave me and Wenren Yizhi’s chess piece both seemed to work. The terrifying images generated in my head by the Crimson Fear were completely blocked."