Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Reinforcements Arrive

"Boom!"

A massive, thundering impact resonated through the air. The sheer force of the collision sent a group of veteran soldiers flying. Immediately after, dozens of shadow cats leaped into the air, and before the very eyes of the students, they swung their claws with lethal precision, disemboweling the veterans.

Fresh, crimson blood rained down from above, splashing onto the students' faces and trickling down onto the ground. The mangled, dismembered remains of the soldiers fell everywhere.

"Ah!"

Many in the formation felt their scalps tingle at the sight, unable to stop themselves from screaming. Some, paralyzed with terror, dropped their weapons and began to tremble uncontrollably. The gory scene seared itself into their minds.

Su Qiqi was faring no better. Her face was deathly pale, etched with pure fear, but she made no sound, biting her lip until it bled. Sensing her trembling, Lu Jing pulled her into his arms. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Su Qiqi felt Lu Jing’s warmth and desperately tried to draw courage from his presence.

"Hold the line, everyone! Do you want your families to be presented with your corpses? You are all still so young—do you really want to die?"

The voice of Deputy Battalion Commander Gu Wu rang out like a reprimand, reaching every person’s ears.

He was right. Crying wouldn't solve a thing; tears couldn't drown the monsters. The group forced down their fear, gripping their weapons once more. A desperate, burning desire to survive sharpened their gazes.

"Students, we have to live!" someone shouted.

"Live!"

The cry stirred the hearts of everyone present.

"Watch out! The next wave is coming!"

Lu Jing gripped his Fallen Leaf Blade, his eyes locked on the monsters about to break through the defense.

"Little ones, it’s not your turn to die for us yet."

From the hospital building, a group of soldiers emerged, radiating a chilling bloodlust. Each was covered in wounds, wearing thick plaster casts that were already beginning to seep with blood. Some even moved with the help of crutches, their uniforms hanging loosely over missing limbs as they struggled to stand.

"Are you insane? Your bodies can't handle the impact of these monsters!"

The dean, trailing behind them in his white lab coat, shouted with reddened eyes.

"Dean, our lives aren't worth as much as these kids'."

"Exactly. If we let these children die in our place, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night."

"My hands have been itching for a fight anyway. It’s the perfect time for these demon spawn to help me sharpen my blade."

...

They stepped forward, one by one.

"Listen up, you brats. This is the backbone of our Huaxia soldiers."

They laughed wildly.

"Damn it."

Even the usually composed Gu Wu couldn't keep his guard up. He pulled a vial of potion from his tunic and downed it, feeling his spiritual energy surge. Many of the instructors followed suit, consuming their own stimulants. It was clear the time for a desperate, final stand had arrived.

"Kill!"

A ferocious roar echoed across the field. The soldiers' willingness to sacrifice their lives reignited the fighting spirit of the others.

At the same time, several students began to stand out. Though they lacked the power to slay the monsters outright, they coordinated with each other—one would harass and distract the beast, while another seized the opening to strike a lethal blow. Such shameless tactics were far from dignified, but the results were undeniable. Many monsters were left disoriented and confused, only to have their throats slit moments later.

Because the monsters that had broken through were of low rank and possessed little intelligence, this style of fighting proved highly effective, and the students quickly followed suit.

The rapid growth of the students finally began to stabilize the battlefield. Yet, at the same time, the number of fallen continued to rise. The air became thick with the suffocating stench of blood, rot, and corpses.

"Die!" A burly man, wielding a shield in one hand and a great axe in the other, hacked a monster to death in the heat of the melee. He was drenched in blood, his eyes glowing with red-rimmed intensity.

"Damn, my spiritual energy is almost drained."

Gu Wu looked at the instructors beside him—their faces pale, their energy spent, yet they continued to fight with raw physical strength. He looked at the human soldiers who were constantly being pushed back, only to surge forward again in a desperate struggle. Whether they were experienced soldiers, retired veterans, or raw students, everyone was fighting for their lives.

There was nowhere left to retreat. They had to fight.

"Zhao Yanran, I like you. If I survive this, will you be my girlfriend?"

Perhaps fearing he would leave behind regrets, He Lei boldly voiced the words he had buried in his heart.

"Okay, I promise." Zhao Yanran smiled, wiping the tears from her face, her expression bright and genuine.

"Hehe, you're buying dinner then!"

"Dinner's on me!"

"Dinner's on me!"

...

The cheers of the students became the most heart-stirring sounds on the battlefield.

"These little brats... they're so damn romantic. I never said anything that cheesy to my own wife," Old Ma spat out a mouthful of blood, laughing heartily.

"Old Ma, are you missing your tigress at home?"

"Get lost. I'm thinking about my kid."

"Watch out, Old Ma!"

A green, grasshopper-like monster with dual blades struck from a blind spot, its blade slashing deep across his chest. Old Ma collapsed, blood gushing uncontrollably as he fell to the ground. The second strike followed instantly.

"Old Ma!"

His comrades were too far away to intervene, forced to watch as the blade descended toward his heart.

*Clang.*

A figure flashed by. It was Lu Jing, who parried the grasshopper monster’s follow-up strike with his blade. The swift, explosive draw-strike, wreathed in cyan light, carried such terrifying power that the monster struggled to hold its ground. Fortunately, it had four arms; the dual blades barely deflected the blow, but the defense left it exposed.

*Slash.*

The second, more ferocious strike followed. The speed of the blade increased by thirty percent, slicing through the opening and severing the monster's head in a flash.

"Get him to safety!"

Old Ma was rushed to the rear by his comrades, where support teams were waiting to get him to the hospital immediately. Lu Jing’s power was limited; he could only save who he could.

"Thank you, kid."

Old Ma’s comrades looked at him with profound gratitude. Lu Jing shook his head and rejoined the fray. Thanks to his "cheat," though his stamina was draining, a constant flow of replenishing spiritual energy allowed him to maintain maximum output.

"Reinforcements are here! Everyone, hold on a little longer!"

Suddenly, Gu Wu’s clear voice rang out, and the dim, fading hopes of the group sparked back to life.

There was hope.

Lu Jing used his Spirit Eyes to see the vast sea of soldiers in camouflage uniforms approaching. He let out a long breath. They were saved.

"Brothers, kill them!"

The rear reinforcements charged through the monsters like a hot knife through butter. With such powerful support, the pressure on the students and veterans eased instantly. Caught in a pincer attack, the monsters were clearly overwhelmed. The slightly more intelligent ones tried to break out of the encirclement, but that was no longer an easy task.