The second-floor parking lot flickered with a brilliant cascade of lights, casting an eerie glow across the scene. The underground of the Cloud City store housed numerous abandoned vehicles, now proving to be a fortuitous asset as the military swiftly and deftly commandeered them.
Su Chen, having decapitated the second elongated ghost, swiftly withdrew his hand, witnessing the ethereal strands of black and white energy being drawn out from the black-scaled monster's body and merging into his own wrist. Raising his arm, he cast a piercing gaze towards the exit, where a horde of black-scaled monsters loomed.
The black-scaled monsters surged forward, driven by an unexpected surge of sacrificial energy that far surpassed their expectations. The approaching swarm advanced relentlessly towards their position.
Su Chen and Lin Mo had encountered a considerable delay in the lower levels. The absence of dark energy within Su Chen's body rendered him unable to activate his armor, rendering it effectively powerless. Consequently, the slaying of the three black-scaled monsters in the underground had been a protracted affair, causing significant delays.
Yet, amidst this realization, Su Chen's attention was abruptly drawn to a drastic change in the sky. The blood-red "lightning" crackled with an intensified brightness, while an ominous and colossal aura permeated the space.
As if summoned by an unseen force, the black-scaled monsters, instead of encircling them, surged forth in a charging frenzy.
They would not idly stand by and allow their primary sacrifices to be so callously slaughtered.
Su Chen's gaze locked with Lin Mo, who stood amidst the black-scaled monster carcasses, their eyes mirroring determination and resolve.
On either side, the soldiers stationed at the forefront of the Cloud City store valiantly traversed the flames, drawing closer to their position. Three operable heavy machine guns were hastily maneuvered across the rugged terrain. Further back, the second-floor parking lot reverberated with the roaring engines of several trucks and buses from the Yuncheng store. Leading the procession was Su Wenhao, accompanied by Professor Chen and Xia Chuwei. The bald boss, his comprehension of the situation unclear, had taken refuge in one of the vehicles, positioning himself defensively beside Xia Chuwei.
However, Su Chen had no time to spare observing the boss's dubious "loyalty." When the military convoy reached their designated position, he and Lin Mo swiftly disembarked.
Two shadowy figures surged ahead of the entire convoy, navigating the battlefield with unparalleled swiftness!
Having slain their way through, Su Chen absorbed the energy of five black-scaled monsters—five units of energy per creature, totaling a formidable 25 units. This infusion of energy saturated his armor, empowering it to its fullest extent. Despite the heightened energy consumption, the suit's defenses were markedly enhanced. As soon as an attack struck a specific area, the energy concentrated, skillfully mitigating the impact while minimizing the suit's own wear and tear. The surplus energy bolstered every aspect of the suit's functionality.
Of course, such intensive utilization of the suit came at a significant cost. Going all out would deplete a unit of energy within a matter of seconds.
Nonetheless, Su Chen remained composed, capitalizing on the concept of war supporting war.
The military convoy stretched out behind, with Su Chen and Lin Mo already darting forward like lightning, clashing head-on with the vanguard of encroaching black-scaled monsters converging from every direction.
Despite the black-scaled monsters gradually tightening their ranks, forming a ring-shaped encirclement around the sprawling Cloud City store, Su Chen understood that regardless of the direction he chose to break through, their intent was to seal the enclosure. The monsters' positions varied in proximity, making instantaneous encirclement impossible—a crucial opportunity for Su Chen!
No one could have anticipated that such formidable killers would suddenly emerge in Su Chen's hands, boasting a surge in strength. It was inconceivable that anyone would perceive him and Lin Mo as mere sacrificial pawns.
However, time pressed on, and the black-scaled monsters moved with astonishing speed. To break free from the siege, Su Chen and Lin Mo had to attack, attack, and attack again relentlessly!
Within the leading bus, Wenhao Su gaped in awe at the unfolding spectacle. Su Chen and Lin Mo forged ahead with unwavering offense and defense, venturing into the heart of the battlefield before the entire military contingent. The black-scaled monsters swiftly closed in, nearly engulfing the two dark figures.
Yet, their resilience proved astonishing.
Indeed, Lin Mo displayed extraordinary fortitude and strength. His right hand, grotesquely mutated, possessed the power to hoist a black-scaled monster effortlessly. Its mutation even granted it formidable defensive capabilities. Su Chen observed as a black-scaled monster's claws struck Lin Mo's darkened arm, only to tear through the skin—its attack thwarted!
The weapon in Su Chen's grasp wielded terrifying might. The left hand cannon of his battle suit possessed such raw power that it could obliterate the scaled coverings of the black-scaled monsters' skulls or rend their flesh with a single strike.
Lin Mo complemented Su Chen perfectly, their collaboration akin to an unrelenting killing machine. The former suppressed the monsters, while Su Chen delivered the decisive blow, their efficiency in dispatching foes proving nothing short of terrifying.
In the midst of the chaotic fray, Su Chen found himself immersed in the heat of battle, yet Lin Mo appeared invigorated and exhilarated—a complex individual. Ravaged by past events, he had fallen into a state of decadence and self-blame. Now, given the opportunity to contribute, fighting side by side, accepted by others, and becoming someone indispensable, his enjoyment resurfaced.
Amidst the chaos, the duo maintained a clear division of labor. Lin Mo lacked Su Chen's combat experience and fell short in terms of killing prowess. Relying on his formidable strength and the sheer intensity of his mutant physique, he would charge forward, defending Su Chen's rear like an impenetrable shield when facing a horde of black-scaled monsters. When their numbers dwindled, he would directly suppress them, allowing Su Chen to deal the killing blow.
Su Chen's battle strategy underwent transformation. With the battle suit augmenting his abilities, he became capable of withstanding the black-scaled monsters' assaults. Moreover, the hand cannon in his left hand, modified from a grenade launcher, now harnessed the pure energy of dark excitation. Each shot tore through the monsters' impenetrable scales, pulverizing their flesh and rending their bodies.
Energy depleted rapidly but replenished just as swiftly.
Su Chen's enhancements, including his newfound flying ability and the battle suit's integration, enabled him to match Lin Mo's monstrous physique more effectively. Confronting seven or eight monsters simultaneously, the duo fought back to back, alternating between coordinated kills and independent skirmishes. Rapidly acclimating to each other's fighting styles, their charge and assault proved fiercer than that of the black-scaled monsters. They weaved through the battlefield, leaving a trail of broken bodies in their wake, an unstoppable force carving a path through the advancing horde. The convoy pressed forward relentlessly!
In the trailing vehicles, a multitude of survivors and military personnel watched the unfolding spectacle with disbelief etched across their faces. Those who had previously doubted Su Chen, especially the soldiers and researchers, now found themselves consumed by a mixture of exhilaration and terror. Elation surged through their veins as the possibility of escape seemed within reach.
The two figures before them resembled heroic warriors on this brutal battlefield, defying the onslaught of numerous black-scaled monsters. They had become an indomitable force—a formidable army in their own right!
Professor Chen, his gaze ablaze with intensity, fixated on the figures that moved with the grace of death itself. He exclaimed with urgency, "These two individuals are no ordinary C-level or even B-level abilities. They possess at least A-level prowess. The information I received earlier suggested that only 'Rotten Wood' could attain such power. However, these two have never received any research or assistance from our military. It's incredible, unbelievable! And that Mr. Su—his battle suit defies comprehension. Its dark armor-like design, an unheard-of technology! I've never encountered anything like it!"
"I had mentioned before that this battle isn't directed at us, with the black-scaled monsters serving as a means to suppress these two main targets. Yet, whoever controls these creatures seems to have made a grave miscalculation. Their strength is beyond imagination!" Another researcher exclaimed in astonishment.
"Could the battle suit be some kind of new equipment? How did he come to possess it?" pondered another researcher.
Professor Chen shook his head, a mix of curiosity and bewilderment etched on his face. "Perhaps he possesses some unique talent we're unaware of. I don't know... I've dedicated my entire life to studying dark energy, gravity, and space, yet I've never encountered an advanced armor that integrates dark energy and technology in this manner."
The bald boss and his associates stood petrified, their minds spinning with confusion. They could hardly grasp the situation, but one thought permeated their consciousness: clutch this opportunity tightly, serve dutifully, and do whatever it takes!
In a military vehicle further back, Qiao Zheng silently observed the scene ahead, his heart a mixture of shock and envy. He had believed that the Blazing Sword's capabilities were limited to hunting injured black-scaled monsters. However, witnessing these two heroes carve their path through the battlefield shattered his preconceptions. The fearsome black-scaled monsters, once formidable, now appeared like mere beasts before these two individuals.
A talented individual could transcend the limitations of an entire army; their independence and power knew no bounds!
Qiao Zheng's heart swelled with boundless admiration and longing.
Yet, Su Wenhao had no respite to observe the unfolding battle. Black-scaled monsters, along with the elongated ghosts already converging on the Cloud City store, launched attacks on their convoy from the flanks and rear.