Chapter 149: Taking on a Swarm of Star Beasts Single-Handed

The real-time footage detected by the Valkyrie fighter jet was synchronously transmitted to everyone's visual glasses.

Looking at the imagery before her, Huang Lili covered her mouth and couldn't help muttering, "This... this is too shocking. There are more fierce beasts here than I've seen in my entire twenty years."

"There's no time to lose. Deploy the defense system immediately!"

The battery life of the previously deployed portable high-energy power grids could only last for half a minute, and they couldn't withstand large-scale physical impacts.

This wave of star beasts was ferocious and overwhelming, numbering at least 30,000 according to preliminary estimates.

Therefore, before embarking on this mission, Fan Tianlei personally led several members into the Martial Arts Administration's armory.

Aside from standard equipment, each warrior was issued a rechargeable electromagnetic rifle paired with a one-million-milliampere high-capacity battery, capable of sustained firing for one hour and inflicting fatal damage on star beasts below rank eight.

In addition, according to Chen Tianxiang's strategic layout, the Qingcheng River Valley featured a long and narrow terrain capable of accommodating three layers of defenses.

The landing spot of Zhang Chu and the others was situated in the mid-to-rear section of the Qingcheng River Valley, with the valley exit lying twenty kilometers behind them.

The final defense system was set up right here.

When it came to deploying defense systems, Chen Long was the professional, considering this was what he trained for at the Martial Arts Administration.

Shortly after, Zhang Chu divided the team.

There were three defense points in total, with a defense system established every fifty kilometers.

Huang Lili and Zhang Xueying were tasked with setting up the defense system at the landing point, assisted by fifteen dual-force warriors.

The second defense system was located at marker point 415, fifty kilometers ahead, managed by Chen Long and Fan Dayong's squad.

The foremost position, marker point 515—the defense system near the entrance of the Qingcheng River Valley—was assigned to Zhang Chu and Wang Peng.

"Teacher Xiaochu, you must stay safe." Zhang Xueying instructed with a worried tone upon hearing that Zhang Chu would be responsible for the frontline defense system.

Everyone was well aware that the first defense system had limited setup time and would bear the brunt of the largest star beast tide.

"Zhang Chu, take this." Fan Dayong retrieved a high-energy bomb from his spatial ring and shoved it into Zhang Chu's hand.

Two high-energy bombs per person was standard issue for the vanguard team.

A single high-energy bomb had an explosive radius of five hundred meters and was immensely destructive—though equally exorbitant in cost, leaving the Martial Arts Administration with very few in stock.

As Fan Dayong made his move, the others successively pulled out their high-energy bombs and handed them to Zhang Chu and Wang Peng.

"We all need to make it back alive. I'll treat you to drinks afterward—the most expensive kind." Chen Long patted Zhang Chu and Wang Peng on the shoulders.

"Why are you getting all mushy for? Get to work. Aren't we all elites from Binzhou? There's no way these damn star beasts are going to kill us."

Before setting off, Zhang Chu and Wang Peng cast one last lingering glance at Zhang Xueying.

Moments later, the six individuals split into three groups, each leading a dozen dual-force warriors toward their designated zones.

Marker point 515 was 120 kilometers away from the landing site.

Traveling at Zhang Chu and Wang Peng's cruising speed of 350 kilometers per hour, they reached the designated location in about twenty minutes.

"Activate scout vision!"

Zhang Chu quickly used his visual glasses to connect with the high-altitude Valkyrie fighter jet.

The fighter's video feed was transmitted simultaneously along with distance markers: "Holy crap, these beasts run fast. They're less than 200 kilometers away from us now. At their speed, they'll enter marker point 515 in about 15 minutes."

"Brother Chu, setting up the large-scale high-energy curtain wall will take us at least 25 minutes," one of the dual-force warriors in the squad said at that moment.

The high-energy curtain wall was a defensive magic array system developed by the Martial Arts Administration specifically for mountain ravine combat, combining both offense and defense.

Setting up this system required twelve two-meter-tall square electromagnetic pillars arranged in a formation and activated using high-energy storage batteries.

However, the deployment took time—which was precisely why three layers of defense were necessary.

The high-energy curtain wall could generate a thirty-meter-high defense, and the high-voltage electrical current running through it could obliterate star beasts below rank eight.

In theory, the duration could reach forty-five minutes.

"Xiaochu, we need to buy ten minutes of time."

"I'll go!" Wang Peng gritted his teeth and looked toward the river valley entrance twenty kilometers away.

"Don't be a hero. With a divine battle skill like yours, going out there makes you cannon fodder. Wait here for me."

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Chu dashed at top speed toward the entrance twenty kilometers away.

This scene was also witnessed by Chen Tianxiang, Fan Tianlei, and others back at the Binzhou City Martial Arts Administration.

"Zhang Chu, kid, make sure nothing happens to you." Cold sweat beaded on Fan Tianlei's palms.

Even a Realm-Spirit Master would eventually exhaust their stamina when faced with such a massive horde of star beasts.

"Director Chen, half-beasts have suddenly appeared inside Binzhou City. We need reinforcements." At that moment, Luo Zhidong's figure appeared on the large electronic screen.

"Old Luo, surround those bastards and capture them alive!" Fan Tianlei hefted two gigantic iron hammers and charged out of the Martial Arts Administration with his men.

...

"Report the position of the star beast tide."

A few minutes later, Zhang Chu arrived at the entrance of the Qingcheng River Valley.

The entrance was only fifty meters wide, flanked by a rushing river on the right side.

"The star beast tide is 15 kilometers away from you, estimated to arrive in 2 minutes." The voice of the Valkyrie fighter rang out in Zhang Chu's mind.

"Damn it! You're forcing me to use my ultimate move!"

Zhang Chu wasn't a fool; he knew full well that facing the star beast tide alone was a losing battle.

One high-energy bomb every 3 kilometers.

Employing his Teleportation Skill, he rapidly deployed five high-energy bombs.

By the time Zhang Chu returned to the river valley entrance, he could already feel a slight tremor in the ground, with billows of dust rising in the distance like an approaching sandstorm.

"Activate the timer system."

"From farthest to closest, detonate one high-energy bomb every thirty seconds."

Through his visual glasses, Zhang Chu transmitted the command via the Valkyrie fighter jet to the high-energy bombs.

Boom!

At that exact instant, a deafening explosion echoed from the distance.

Everyone watched through their visual glasses as a high-energy bomb detonated, its powerful electromagnetic force forming a storm that blasted dozens of star beasts directly into the air.

Boom!

Rumble!

Every thirty seconds, as another high-energy bomb detonated, one to two hundred star beasts perished on the spot.

Seeing that the explosions were drawing closer, Zhang Chu concentrated his intent, gripped his rechargeable electromagnetic rifle, and began continuous energy charging.

Watching the endless stream of crazed star beasts charging forward through his visual glasses, it would be a lie to say Zhang Chu wasn't nervous: "Damn system, you promised me I wouldn't die here. Don't flake out on me now!"

"Warning, 906 star beasts are approaching. Distance: 4 kilometers. Estimated arrival in 20 seconds."

"Please prepare for combat."

Right then, the voice of the Valkyrie fighter broadcasted.

"Switch view, pull up Zhang Chu's feed."

Zhang Xueying, who was busy setting up the high-energy curtain wall, was burning with anxiety and instantly located Zhang Chu through her visual glasses.

"Roar! Roar!"

In a flash, hundreds of star beasts surged forward. The ground shook violently, causing rocks along the surroundings to tumble down.

Accompanied by continuous roars, the star beasts closed in to within five hundred meters of Zhang Chu.

"In range. Let's rip them apart!"

Zhang Chu instantly squeezed the trigger, and the rechargeable electromagnetic rifle began frantically unleashing electromagnetic rounds.

Batch after batch of star beasts collapsed to the ground under the barrage of electromagnetic fire.

Yet moments later, as if receiving some command, the star beasts grabbed the carcasses of fallen beasts to use as human shields, forming a massive defensive ring that aggressively closed in on the river valley entrance.

"Zhang Chu, be careful! These star beasts are being commanded. Fall back now!"

Seeing this, Zhang Xueying's heart leapt into her throat with anxiety.

The others also broke out in a cold sweat.

Once knocked down, survival was absolute zero!

At that moment, two giant-winged snow eagles soared from the midst of the star beasts and hurtled straight toward Zhang Chu, opening their beaks to unleash a dozen ice arrows.

Zhang Chu nimbly dodged out of the way.

"Holy crap, looks like at critical moments, you can only rely on yourself!"

Zhang Chu discarded the rechargeable electromagnetic rifle and drew the Dragon-Roaring Greatsword from his spatial ring.

"Thirteen Fiery Dragon Swords!"

With a wave, a dragon's roar resonated from the sword hilt.

Clad in his Light-Hong Battle Armor and brandishing the Dragon-Roaring Greatsword, Zhang Chu charged out of the river valley entrance...