Hen said seriously.
"Thank you for your concern. And you too, Captain Hen. You have a family, so please don't put yourself in too much danger."
"Hey, that kind of thing is hard to say."
Ying responded politely, but Hen just smiled, obviously not intending to pursue the topic further.
"Grace will miss you."
Xi Wang suddenly reminded him.
“…Let’s wait and see.”
Hen paused and did not continue the topic.
After all... who can say for sure what happens on the battlefield?
"Everyone, please note that we have arrived at our destination."
"Okay, enough small talk, it's time to go support our companions!"
The pilot's notice has been received, and you immediately dropped the topic and quickly gripped your equipment. As the hatch opened, the originally hazy sound of artillery fire suddenly became clear, and countless wailing, shouting, and roaring sounds mixed together, and then were quickly covered up by more intense gunfire. After that, there was the sound of sea waves, and the trembling sounds of countless monsters and countless Honkai beasts running and attacking.
Ah... the disgusting, terrifying and hateful smell of gunpowder that is unique to war lifted everyone's spirits, and then they acted silently and quickly.
Each other's tasks had already been assigned. Hen and other teams would go to the front battlefield to replace the teams fighting there, while Xiwang and Ying would conduct highly mobile operations, and when necessary, contain or eliminate threatening targets. At the same time, the teams led by the two would conduct mobile operations with them, assisting in the defense of the front line while ensuring subsequent support.
To be honest, when seeing this battlefield, many veteran soldiers and generals felt that it looked very familiar, except that the two sides in the war had changed from [people and people] to [people and Honkai beasts].
At the same time, should we say that this is worthy of being called a "war"? Xiwang and Ying felt constrained not long after they started to act. The way you two fight is not suitable for this kind of battlefield. The overly open terrain makes your mobility not as agile as in the city, and there is nothing to block your sight, which reduces your threat a little.
But...it's just "some".
"Ying, 300 meters ahead, at the ten o'clock direction, help."
Stepping lightly on the beach, Xiwang gave instructions while drawing out his knife.
"Ah."
After a simple response, the cherry-colored figure rushed out with Xi Wang. The speed was so fast that it was unbelievable. Some people even subconsciously moved their weapons, thinking that they had encountered some new type of Honkai beast.
After that, there was a flash of knife light as if in a trance, and the Honkai beast that was about to attack froze in an instant, and then its body was split into two pieces.
Xiwang was a little surprised. He didn't feel how sharp the blade was when he checked it, but when it hit the Honkai beast, it felt like cutting tender tofu. Although there was a sense of blockage, it was very slight.
Maybe this is [Honkai Energy].
Xi Wang didn't care too much, but just quickly cleared out the surrounding Honkai beasts. Although some of your strength could not be fully utilized due to the venue, the updated weapons were enough to make up for this slight deficiency.
While signaling the defending team at the back to drag the people back, Sakura turned around and joined the battle. Soon the pressure in this area was reduced, and the defense line that was about to break was quickly stabilized.
"Walk."
"Ah."
After confirming that the situation here had been alleviated and the defense line had been basically re-established, Xiwang and Ying immediately moved to another battlefield - there were many such critical places in the entire defense line, and they could not wait here until the defense line was completely stabilized, so they could only help them relieve the high-pressure state.
Relying on their super high mobility, the two quickly rushed to support nearly one-third of the defense line, reducing the defensive pressure a lot.
However, although it sounds like a lot, it all seems like a drop in the bucket in front of the Honkai beasts that continuously emerge from the seabed.
The two knew that everything was because of Gabriel.
It was a large Honkai beast flying in the air with six broken wings shaped like a horn. It was also the culprit that caused this Honkai beast tide.
Although Xiwang and Ying are not clear about the specialness of this Honkai beast, they will know it soon.
"Captain, the captain of the first team hopes you can go over to discuss countermeasures."
The adjutant's voice came over the squad's communications.
"Location."
"Just head two areas in the current direction. Someone will pick you up there. As for us, we will continue with our mobile mission."
"it is good."
After the brief and powerful conversation, Xiwang and Ying set off quickly, clearing out the Honkai beasts along the way while rushing towards the target point.
When you came here, you also met Hen and a beautiful figure with long fiery red hair—Himiko, the captain of the fifth team.
Apparently, the two of them were also called over to discuss countermeasures. You nodded to each other and then quickly exchanged information, which was about some matters concerning [Gabriel].
"So the Honkai beast tide here was actually brought about by Gabriel?"
"Yes, every time the Horned Honkai Beast makes a sound, Honkai Beasts will run out of the sea, and their number will definitely be greater than the last time the horn sounded, maybe even double."
Himi rubbed his brows and spoke with some distress.
"At the beginning, there were very few Honkai beasts. When we first observed Gabriel, we thought it was just a powerful Honkai beast that appeared with the Fourth Herrscher, so we only sent a small team to encircle and suppress it. But in the end, we didn't expect Gabriel's ability to be a legion. As a result, the team was trapped by many Honkai beasts, and finally... they were all wiped out before our support arrived."
"........."
"Then, as Gabriel blew the horn more and more often, the Fire Moths had to send more people to build a defense line. In the end, the original crusade turned into a situation similar to a small battle... By the way, from the beginning to now, Gabriel's horn has only sounded five times."
Himiko seemed somewhat helpless. This incident could be said to be the result of negligence or an accident. After all, if the top leaders of the Fire Moth had been a little more cautious and sent one or two more teams over, they might have been able to directly defeat Gabriel when the number of Honkai beasts was still small. But at this stage... it was a bit troublesome.
There were too many and too diverse flying Honkai beasts surrounding Gabriel, the battlefield on the ground was too intense, and the effectiveness of conventional weapons began to weaken. Now they were basically relying on the lives of the soldiers to build up the defense line.
"So there's only one choice now, right?"
Xiwang fed himself a candy and said softly.
"Yes."
A calm and slightly tired voice sounded not far away, and soon, a white-haired young man lifted the door curtain and walked into the simple meeting room.
He looked a little disheveled, with a lot of dust on his uniform and face, and even some fine sand in his striking white hair. There was also a smell of gunpowder around him, and it was obvious that he had just retreated from the battlefield.
"We must defeat Gabriel first before we can hope for victory."
He pulled himself together and saluted you in greeting.
"I'm sorry, everyone, I'm late."
"Kevin, the temporary captain of the Fire Moth First Squad, sends his greetings to you, all the seniors."
Chapter 17 The trumpet sound has come, and its number is six.
[Captain of the First Team] - This identity was a little surprising, but not unexpected. After all, with Kevin's ability, he would have this identity sooner or later. The previous captain recruited him because he valued his talent and ability.
But the word "temporary" is very intriguing, especially in this special situation. Having this identity for such a short period of time, plus the word "temporary"... it may mean something not so good.
The other members of the first team that Kevin was in - all died, most likely in the battle to subjugate the "Fourth Herrscher", leaving only him.
Perhaps I will need to learn more about the crusade against the Fourth Herrscher later...
Xi Wang thought about it subconsciously, then paused for a while and asked again.
"Is everyone here? And there's no need to greet each other like this in the future. We're all companions, there's no need to be so clear about the differences."
"I understand. As for the captain of the second team, Alicia, she is leading the team to subjugate the companion Honkai beast of the Fourth Herrscher. She cannot help us for the time being, but she will come to support us after completing the operation."
Kevin, who knew something about Xiwang, naturally understood who he was asking. He nodded to show that he understood, and then explained to those who were still unclear about where Alicia was going.
After all, Alicia had the merit of [single-handedly conquering the second Herrscher and leading a team to conquer the third Herrscher]. Although Kevin now also had the record of [single-handedly breaking into the storm to conquer the fourth Herrscher], that was only possible because other people had secured the prerequisites for him. In comparison, Alicia's reputation was undoubtedly more famous, and her name was more reassuring in this situation.
Of course, Xiwang's question might simply be out of concern for Alicia...
However, now that they knew where Alicia was going and that she would come to support them later, everyone temporarily put their minds at ease and began to discuss how to defeat Gabriel.
"So Kevin, what do you have in mind?"
Himiko asked first.
"……I?"
Kevin looked a little confused.
"Yes, after all, it was you who called us here. Have you come up with any solution?"
"...We take a flying machine and rush in from the air to kill [Gabriel]?"
"A reckless charge is not a good idea, and what about ground combat?"
"……Feel sorry."
Obviously Kevin didn't think too much when he gathered everyone together. He just hoped that someone could find a way to solve the current situation.
"It seems that you haven't adapted to your current identity yet. This is my problem."
Himiko said softly that, under normal circumstances, when calling other captains to discuss, it is the person who proposed the call who has the idea, and calling others together is to seek consent and obtain different opinions, and they should also speak first - this is a kind of unspoken rule.
But now it seems that Kevin doesn't know these things. Even if the former captain intends to train him as his successor, the world is unpredictable and the war situation is changing. Kevin has to take on this responsibility before he can learn the corresponding knowledge.
Even considering his battle record, he is likely to be portrayed as a character similar to Alicia, a powerful human who can [kill a Herrscher alone]. By then, he will probably officially become the [Captain of the First Squad of the Fire Moth].
Because he was particularly familiar with the thoughts of those people above, Xiwang also made a prediction about Kevin's future fate. Although he felt a little regretful, Xiwang could not change anything, so he just turned and asked.
"...Hen, Himiko, you have the most experience in commanding here, tell us what you think."
"As it stands, we can only organize a surprise attack from the air to kill Gabriel in one fell swoop. But we can't just go there with all of us. Someone must stay on the ground to guard and command."
Himiko said quickly.
"Wang, Ying, the fighting style of the two of you is not suitable for fighting in the air, and staying on the ground will be more helpful to the defense line, so you need to continue to stay on the ground, mainly to deal with areas with high defense pressure, and focus on finding high-threat targets to contain and annihilate."
"Okay/Understood." x2
Xiwang and Ying nodded, not surprised by this arrangement.
"Hen, you know more about the battlefield than I do. Can I ask you to command and provide support? If there is any emergency, I will need you to handle it."
"Although I'm glad you found a better excuse, there's no need to beat around the bush to assign me a mission behind the scenes. Although I'm married, I'm still a soldier."
Hen said helplessly, he always felt that since he got married, everyone was taking care of him - he was also a warrior! He was also a soldier!
However, he still fulfilled his responsibilities.
"But I understand. I will take responsibility. If there is an emergency, I will lead a team to respond immediately."
"Okay, and I will lead the team to attack from the air and try to clear out a gap in the Honkai beasts in the sky. Then I'll ask you to arrange for someone to launch a rocket to kill Gabriel."
Himiko nodded and made such arrangements.
"Wait, rockets? Didn't you guys try that thing before and it didn't work?"
Hen immediately frowned and asked.
"It was just brought here by someone from above. It's the experimental type. Do you understand?"
"…No, this is too dangerous."
Hen thought about it carefully, shook his head and rejected the proposal.
"A member of my team has already been injured due to the instability of the new weapon... You know, the new weapon is filled with [Honkai Energy], so it is natural that he was infected."
"........."
"But don't worry, I... took care of him. He is now lying with the fallen soldiers... I hope to bring him back later and record him as a sacrifice."
"It would have happened even if you didn't say it. I don't think the people above would be so ruthless in such a major incident."
Himiko sighed.
No, actually they will. After all, it is a Honkai infection, and it happened on the battlefield. When the time comes, they can just blame it on the Honkai beasts, and they can save an extra amount of compensation. ——Xiwang thought subconsciously, but didn't say it out loud.
Moreover, high-powered weapons like the "Honkai Energy Rocket" that have not been tested are directly brought to the battlefield for the soldiers to use without any hesitation. I don't know if the people at the top have lost their brains. By that time, the Fire Moth warriors will not die in the fight against the Honkai, but will die in their own weapons. The Herrscher will applaud and even the Honkai beasts will laugh if they know about it.
"...Okay, I understand what you mean. After all, weapons like rockets are different from individual firearms. If a Houkai of that scale could be detonated, the entire defense line might collapse."
Himiko agreed with Hen's proposal and modified her own operations in time.
"Then I will directly bring the Honkai energy bomb up. This type of bomb has a special safety device and should be more stable than a rocket. When the time comes, I will throw the bomb into the mouth of Gabriel's horn and detonate it. It should be able to kill him."
"But your mission would be much more dangerous then, Captain Himiko."
Kevin on the side suddenly spoke up.
"It is true, but it must be done, and the dangers faced by others are no less than mine."
Himiko just responded calmly.
Whether it is the Honkai beast tide and continuous high-intensity combat that Xiwang and Ying need to face, or Hen's coordination of the entire line of defense, analysis of the battle situation, and support preparation, everyone has their own dangers and responsibilities, which are things they cannot avoid.
