The center of the surging tide, where the world's eyes converge.
Transport planes flew in from afar, landing at the base city's airport, from which figures clad in complete gear emerged.
Numerous volunteers moved through the airport, cooperating with personnel from the Investigation Bureau and various departments, facilitating the transport of supplies and equipment.
"Reinforcements from Baiyun Province are here. I've seen the leader on television, known in the mysterious world as Master Ma. He's a top expert!"
"Who are those reinforcements over there? Their team uniforms look different from the investigators', but I think these people are even more formidable."
"Your intuition is spot on. They're from another mysterious department in our Donghuang, the Special Operations Team. This department has very few members, but they undertake dangerous missions, often venturing deep into gray fog zones to fight and kill malevolent spirits. Naturally, they are formidable."
Among the volunteers were those with extensive knowledge, capable of naming renowned figures in the mysterious world, the 'insiders'.
This caused many young people, unfamiliar with the mysterious world and only aware of the Investigation Bureau, to exclaim in surprise.
"Then, what about those people with flame patterns embroidered on their robes? They look quite strong too?"
"Flame patterns? I haven't heard of that. People wearing those are also few. It might be an obscure small branch department within the Investigation Bureau."
"Whoa, whoa, the strong fighters from White Bear Country have arrived! We even have foreign reinforcements this time?"
"Not only that, but the leader is the Ice King, one of the Three Kings of White Bear. This carries significant weight."
"A team from Sunset Country arrived earlier. I heard they're from the Sunset Royal Family... Oh, and there's a piece of gossip: Princess Anna, the jewel of Sunset Country, is already in our Shuize Base City and will join our Investigation Bureau's warriors in defending against the tide of malevolent spirits."
"Seeing these strong individuals from all over has ignited my spirit!"
"Mine too! It's a shame I'm not an awakened one, otherwise I could be on the battlefield fighting enemies."
"We will surely achieve victory!"
...
...
Above Shuize Base City, the broadcast echoed.
"Shuize Base City is about to be assaulted by a tide of malevolent spirits, but citizens need not worry. The Investigation Bureau, in cooperation with various departments and organizations, will block the malevolent spirits from destroying our home."
"Now, please proceed into the various shelters under the guidance of the staff in your respective areas."
"Repeating, please enter the corresponding shelter according to your location."
Before Shuize Base City was built, potential future scenarios, with combat being the most likely disaster, had already been foreseen.
Therefore, during the construction phase, sturdy shelters were built in various areas of the base city.
The crowds flowed orderly towards their designated locations.
The elites from Splash Flower Country and Sunset Country, who had come to provide support, widened their eyes.
So many people, yet not a single incident of chaos. This seemed unbelievable to them, but they were unaware that the vast majority of the residents here had migrated from various places, having experienced fleeing to Shuize City under attacks from malevolent spirits.
Compared to then, merely heading to a shelter now would not cause them to panic.
And how could they panic!
The warriors on the front lines were facing terrifying monsters, and these people could do nothing. All they could do was to not cause trouble and pray for the warriors.
"Let's go. Now, we shall witness how fierce the tide will be."
...
...
Outside the Shuize Base City's defense line, more than a hundred kilometers away.
Shi Yunxi waved her water blades, which sliced a three-star malevolent spirit in two with a 'whoosh'. She glanced at the mission notification in her mind and said to Anna and the others, "Let's go, it's time to head back."
"Back?"
"Yes. According to the organization's forecast, the tide will reach the outer defense zone of the base city in just over an hour, and it will likely reach us in less than thirty minutes."
Meadysha couldn't help but look into the distance.
The sky remained dark and gloomy, with wisps of gray mist still visible, and the faint outlines of monsters beneath the mist.
The tide was not yet visible.
But the entire world seemed more oppressive, as if darkness was surging forward, causing one to instinctively clutch their chest, feeling a sense of suffocation.
"Aren't we going to kill a few more malevolent spirits?"
Meadysha asked.
It wasn't just about the points. She had heard that the tide would gather and grow like a snowball by engulfing all the malevolent spirits it encountered along the way.
The more they killed now, the smaller the scale of the tide would be.
Especially those two or three-star malevolent spirits with ranged attacks, like bone spurs and strange lanterns. Otherwise, once they joined the tide of malevolent spirits, killing them would come at a much higher cost.
Seeing Meadysha's gaze, Shi Yunxi shook her head slightly.
"Time is tight. If we delay any longer, we might run into the vanguard of the tide, and then it will be difficult to leave."
"Besides, these we're killing now are just appetizers. The real battle is yet to come. Before the main battle begins, we need to rest and adjust our condition to the best."
She glanced at her phone. "Let's go, the car is waiting for us."
...
Outside the base city, within a radius of tens to a hundred kilometers, various clearing teams, like Shi Yunxi's, had received the information and were rapidly returning.
A special operations team of six, their captain said with a smile, "Take it easy, don't wear yourselves out. The main course hasn't started yet."
Elsewhere,
Yang Chang, the Sword Master from the General Bureau, recalled his three standard-issue swords.
In the distance, two two-star and one three-star malevolent spirits crashed to the ground.
He checked his watch, then looked at the sky, beckoning to his teammates, "Let's go. Let's head back and welcome the arrival of the tide."
...
Luo Sha spread his crimson and black wings, his figure darting through the low altitude.
With a sudden dive, he impaled a three-star malevolent spirit on the ground, tearing it apart.
Suddenly, Luo Sha stopped and pressed his ear, "I know."
He looked into the distance, where faint, towering figures some dozens of meters high could still be seen. He frowned, "I'll spare you for now, humph!"
He soared into the sky and flew towards the base city.
...
On the outer edge of the base city,
Defense Zone 1, this was the point predicted to experience the fiercest impact of the tide, and thus, the most defensive forces were deployed here.
Yin Ling, dressed in a white physician's uniform, walked along the defense line where final preparations were still underway.
"This war is truly quite intense, forcing even us medical personnel to the battlefield."
She strolled among them, naturally showing no signs of nervousness.
However, many young girls who had come with Teacher Yin Ling were quite nervous.
Seeing their state, many of whom were still tender-faced, Yin Ling chuckled, "You don't need to be nervous. Although it's the battlefield, you'll mainly be on logistics, treating injured awakened ones. Just remember how to use the potions."
"Other than that, there's not much danger. If the defense line falls and we all perish together, it will be very quick, and painless."
After hearing this, many young girls who hadn't experienced large-scale battles began to tremble even more.
"Teacher!"
Xu Yun said reproachfully, then turned to comfort the others.
She herself was a young girl, of middle school age, but as Teacher Yin Ling's first student, Xu Yun gradually took on the role of 'senior disciple'.
She was no longer the little girl who used to hide behind her brother.
Among the medical personnel, there were also those who were fearless, eager to engage the malevolent spirits with real weapons.
The one speaking was a tall young woman named Man Xiaoyue, who possessed a valiant aura. However, her awakened ability was very suitable for the medical department, so she reluctantly accepted the assignment.
Yet, she had not forgotten her dream.
However, Man Xiaoyue also remembered her identity and combat strength. If she rushed forward to fight malevolent spirits head-on, she might be instantly annihilated.
"Teacher, I want to apply for an explosive firearm. Besides saving people, I also want to kill malevolent spirits! Every one counts!"
"Is that so..." Yin Ling tapped her chin with her slender hand, glancing in the distance.
"Go. The rough men from the equipment department are over there, and there are several crates of newly delivered equipment. If you want one, go and get it."
On a small hill not far away, Wang Chui was shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Hurry, hurry! The tide of malevolent spirits will arrive soon, and these giant cannons must be calibrated perfectly, without any mistakes!"
"What? Applying for an explosive firearm? Have the logistics department handle that, don't bother me."
"Those low-level weapons are just for show. If you want to kill malevolent spirits on a large scale, you still need my old Wang's giant cannons!"
A giant cannon, much larger than the strange crystal cannon from before, with a thick and long barrel measuring over ten meters, was positioned on this small hill.
The craftsmanship looked a bit rough, and Master Old Wang was meticulously calibrating it.
Not far away, and in other defense zones, many official workers from the equipment department were conducting final tests on various strange crystal cannons.
Fang You walked over, not disturbing them.
He walked several hundred meters away, ascended a wooden bud tower, and performed a brief inspection.
Then he moved to a more forward position, where he met Liu Shang, Liu Ji, and others.
"Mentor."
Liu Ji, Liu Ru, and Liu Meng, the three plant-based demon plants, bowed slightly.
They were still planting, just as they had done that day in Mist City, but this time the scope was wider, the intensity higher, and the preparations... also more extensive.
Sweat beads dampened their clothes.
But Liu Shang smiled.
"We have fulfilled our mission. The deployment is complete."
"You've worked hard."
After a few words of concern, Fang You sent them back to the secret realm to rest. After all, they would have to exert considerable effort in the upcoming battle, and they couldn't be exhausted then.
He walked to an observation post and gazed into the distance.
Xing Jinglei, Yi Luoxi, Pei Hongjing, Roland, Gou Ping'an, Luo Rui, Xu Tian... and so many others, named Spark warriors, successively arrived at the defense zone.
Clad in battle suits, holding swords, they stood ready with solemn expressions.
Whoosh~
The wind grew stronger.
In the far reaches of the sky, gray mist churned. The heavy, dark clouds that enveloped the area beyond the Dawn District were slowly, bit by bit, devouring the light of dawn.
The sky grew darker.
Dark clouds pressed down on the city, threatening to destroy it.
From the end of the horizon, a black tide revealed its ferocity, rolling forward.
-- Author's Notes --
Seeking votes at the beginning of the month~!