Meanwhile, on the other side of the desert planet......

When Major Yang Xiao opened his eyes, it was already dawn.

The dawn of the morning was so mild that one almost forgot the slaughter of Shura's hell. The peculiar fragrance of the morning sun overshadowed the aftertaste of gunsmoke, the sound of gunfire, the neighing of the zerg, and the shouts of humans...... These all seem to belong to a world, and the ears are so quiet that you can't even hear the wind.

The sand in front of me was still hot, but it had a slight dampness to it—it was soaked in so much blood.

The smell of blood filled the air, and he knew in his heart that he was still in the trenches......

This is a fact that cannot be changed.

After hesitating for a moment, Yang Xiao tried to drive his stiff and sour hands to stand up. Looking around, after yesterday's storm, they had a rare moment of rest. Many of the soldiers were similarly crouched in the trenches, seizing the little time to rest to regain their strength after the fierce battle.

Because they all know......

The wind and sand have passed.

So those damn reptiles are coming soon-

to defeat humanity's last line of defense on this planet.

He glanced again at the dark cavern behind him......

With the glow of the stars, he could faintly see the cave, and hear the painful groans of the wounded and the desperate wails of the dying from time to time......

Today......

Can it still be held?

He didn't know.

It was the third day since he took refuge in this cave, and in the past three days, he had successively gathered many soldiers who had escaped from the rout, and built a temporary defense line to hold the last position of mankind.

But......

What is the end of the entrenchment?

Although he kept cheering up the defeated soldiers, telling them that as long as they held this place, then soon the "Ark" would send rescue troops to take them home, throw them into the arms of their wives and lovers, and drink steaming milk and coffee...... But in fact, even he didn't believe it.

After all, now he has realized that the Zerg are smarter and stronger than they imagined, and he knows that the bridge of the "Ark" must have seen all this, so in the absence of perfect preparation, no matter how many troops are sent, it is just a senseless sacrifice......

But he had to say it and do it.

Because he was the highest-ranking officer here, he had to give his soldiers hope......

People always have to rely on hope to survive, don't they?

But with the passage of time, this hope has become more and more slim.

Because......

"The Zerg are coming up." A sergeant next to him handed him a telescope.

Yang Xiao reflexively threw himself on the trench, raised the electronic binoculars, and focused on the black line that was surging towards the cave.

There must have been a dozen of them, like creatures from some undiscovered past. But they were reptiles, each with blood-red red eyes, each the size of a man, with six knuckled legs alternately drawing a trajectory in the sand.

Ready to fight?

Yes, it is a must. But......

"How much ammunition do we have left? Sergeant? Yang Xiao asked without looking back.

“…… Not much. The sergeant was concise and to the point, paused at the end, and then added, "Defending is not the way, we have to break through." ”

"Look over there." Yang Xiao pointed to the sand on the other side, "It's full of monsters hidden under the sand, and the sharp claws of the upper thorns can penetrate the tank, and now even if we rush over, we can only use it as a live target, so we can only defend it." You tell me? ”

He asked the sergeant.

The sergeant's name is Wu Chenfeng, an authentic veteran, and he is Yang Xiao's direct subordinate in this improvised patchwork team, and he has been with him for three years.

Unlike Yang Xiao, an officer from a formal academy, Wu Chenfeng seems to have experienced a lot of wars, and Yang Xiao has always had some respect for these non-commissioned officers of the practical school.

Although he didn't know much about his past, his instincts told him that this was a real soldier, and unlike those soldiers who always liked to chatter, he was not a man of many words, and since he came to Yang Xiao's hands, he had rarely seen him say anything outside of battle. But at critical moments, he can always show a different kind of experience and quick wit.

But at this moment, he seemed to be distracted, and he kept looking down on his own, as if counting the ants on the ground, and when he heard Yang Xiao calling him, he raised his head, looked at him, and looked at the mountain again: "I have no idea." Suffice it to say that it's a bit difficult to keep going. ”

Yang Xiao was silent, what Wu Chenfeng said was the same as what he was worried about, he originally expected him to tell them some solutions to the problem, but now it seems that he is doomed to be disappointed.

"It's nothing." Wu Chenfeng glanced at him and seemed to understand Yang Xiao's thoughts, "Guarding is definitely guarding, we are soldiers-do our best, listen to the destiny of heaven......"

Yang Xiao nodded.

That's all there is to it.

So......

"Prepare for battle!"

The order was confirmed, and there were no extra words, and this time everyone went into action. The warriors ran to carry out their duties, carrying a variety of weapons on their shoulders and weaving through the trenches.

Then the swarm came up......

Thick black slime began to shoot out of their gaping membranes towards the trenches......

It's a "soldier ant"!

Yang Xiao's heart tightened.

In the previous battle, most of the reptiles who came up were crawlers who did not have long-range attack capabilities, and they had already defended it with great difficulty, but now......

Although most of the splattered slime fell into the sand due to the distance, and did not cause much damage, the overwhelming momentum was really chilling. The warriors nervously aimed their weapons at the walkers, each feeling some cold, unseen finger piercing their bodies.

300 m ......

The swarm began to concentrate on the fire again, and this time the "rain of arrows" had already landed on the wall of the bunker without incident, and the holes that were suddenly eroded into honeycombs were desperate......

200 m ......

Can't wait any longer!

"Fire!" Yang Xiao shouted in a low voice, his left hand clenched the handguard, his shoulder pressed against the butt of the gun, and his right hand naturally exerted force, and a series of bullets shot out with red light.

On the machine gun position beside him, two double-barreled electromagnetic machine guns also began to lick out tongues of fire, and all kinds of light and heavy weapons suddenly rang out, pouring barrage towards the swarm.

"Save ammo! Aim to hit! Yang Xiao roared.

However, the bravery of the reptiles was really not covered, and one of the "soldier ants" that rushed to the front was shot into a sieve full of holes by the crossfire, but immediately two or three more rushed up with its corpse!

They hissed and screamed, casting a cacophony of metallic sounds with scrapings, friction veins, and articulation mirrors on their wings, as if shouting some signal of a charge, as they weaved through the human web of fire.

Ground...... The corpses of the insects began to accumulate more and more, and it looked as if they had suffered heavy casualties, but Yang Xiao knew that this was just the appearance!

Because the follow-up "soldier ants" have begun to use the corpses of their companions as cover and return fire at them.

And the shooting of the slime is simply terrifying......

100 meters. The swarm's return fire began to concentrate, dense slime splattered everywhere, the screams of the warriors came and went, and one soldier couldn't dodge and was splashed in the face by the moth, his entire face decaying at a speed visible to the naked eye. He screamed and clawed with his hands, but he scratched off only pieces of carrion......

"Kill me! Kill me! He roared.

Yang Xiao had no choice but to raise his hand and give him a shot, ending his pain.

But the greater pain has only just begun......

A thunderous roar suddenly came from the front of the position, Yang Xiao raised his head, and then almost stupidly froze there.

It's a thunderbeast!

The behemoths that hunted them down in the Great Rout! The deepest nightmare in the hearts of all the warriors, the "tanks" of the insects......

Emerge from the sand!

Scient-horned fangs, green saliva dripping from the mouth, red scales all over the body, and jagged blades with claws! Yuan's cold eyes, which looked like two orange flames, rushed up with murderous aura!

The ground, as if frightened by the monstrous killing intent, began to tremble......

"Bazooka!" Yang Xiao shouted. Ordinary electromagnetic bullets could not deal effective damage to such a monster at all, and only rocket artillery could penetrate its armored exoskeleton.

But......

"No ammo!" The soldier with the launcher on his shoulder shouted at him.

Then it was drowned in countless flying slime......

So the thunderbeast quickly rushed through the human defenses, tore a huge hole in the stretching bunker, and then waved its claws and began to reap life wantonly!

The two huge claw blades don't have any fancy changes, and they don't even have a fixed target, just to be able to touch as many human beings as possible. The soldiers' feeble strafing and backfire could only leave shallow white spots on its body, and could not hinder these two terrifying weapons in the slightest. The thunderbeast frantically swung its claws like a killing machine, constantly crushing and shattering all the flesh and blood it could touch.

"Withdraw! Retreat to the back! Yang Xiao ordered loudly.

Senseless casualties are simply meaningless.

The soldiers began to run towards the second line of depth, a thin line of improvised defense made of discarded tanks, tattered mechs, and rubble, but with what little concrete was used, and in the course of a few days, the soldiers dug improvised foxholes, adjusted the deployment of machine guns that could have caused blind spots, and even the corpses of the previously dead Zerg were dragged to make a fence erected diagonally in front of the fortifications......

It is also the last line of defense of mankind.

If even this line of defense is broken......

Yang Xiao didn't dare to think about it anymore, and she didn't have time to think about it anymore.

Because countless reptiles have already followed the footsteps of the thunder beast, they have passed the first line of defense and rushed towards them!

Suddenly!

The swarm is stunning! And then a piece collapsed in the middle!

The trap worked!

There is hope!

"Hit me hard!" Yang Xiao shouted.

All kinds of light and heavy firepower roared again, and the soldiers were in a hurry, and they didn't care about saving ammunition, because everyone knew that this was already their last barrier!

Behind them is the cave where the wounded rest......

There is no way back for them!

There is nowhere to run!

A soldier with an electromagnetic machine gun stood on a high place and roared desperately in a hoarse voice, ignoring the mucus whistling around him, a drop of corrosive liquid flying from nowhere splashed on his shoulder, etching more and more terrifying holes, and he ignored it completely as if nothing happened, just shooting at the swarm of insects in the smoke, as if venting his despair......

Yang Xiao stretched out his hand, and just wanted to drag him down, but was dragged by Wu Chenfeng beside him.

He raised his head, and a dark red light suddenly enveloped him......

"This, this is?

"Reply, there is no need for it!

Because in the next second, he saw the thunder beast open its huge mouthparts, and then the red smoke began to expand along the ground, like a wall of smoke with shape and quality, and everywhere it passed, all the corpses, even the damaged turrets, quickly withered, and then completely vaporized......

"Poison, poisonous mist?"

He turned his head and looked around, and all the soldiers were looking at him with the same eyes, and there were only three words in them:

"What should I do?"

"Remember what I told you?" Wu Chenfeng shouted.

"What?" Yang Xiao was stunned, and didn't react to the other party's meaning for a while.

"We are soldiers with a mortal life, but we are also human beings, and we also have the right to live." Wu Chenfeng said without looking back, "So, you have to take everyone and live!" ”

“…… Staff sergeant?! ”

"Because these people follow you, we are putting our lives in your hands!"

Then Yang Xiao remembered it impressively!

It was a very brief small talk between two people reclining in the cave to take shelter during yesterday's storm.

But this veteran who has been following him has said the most to him......

"I joined the Earth Defense Force very early." The veteran who looked at the raging cyclone outside the cave said calmly, "It was when we were in Israel, and we fought for Jerusalem with the *** resistance group, and our mission at that time was to block the 301 heights for 1 hour. ”

“…… And then? ”

"The terrorists rushed several times before they could bring in a heavy artillery piece, and I told the captain and company commander that our position could not withstand a large-scale shelling, but the company commander said: 'Our task is to hold the high ground, and we cannot retreat.'" He spoke eloquently, as if he had opened the floodgates.

……

So the shelling began, and the whole team was blown away and torn apart...... The company commander ran away, and the entire company was fully reimbursed, and if it weren't for Corporal Duncan who knocked me down at a critical moment and exchanged his life for mine, I wouldn't be sitting here now. Wu Chenfeng said, sighing as if he were in another world.

These things must have been suppressed in his heart for too long, too long......

"But the captain didn't die, he ran away early. When I went back, I heard that he was promoted because of his heroic fight against terrorism. ”

……

"Do you know why I'm willing to follow you?"

Yang Xiao didn't answer, he knew that the other party didn't need to answer.

"Because you're different. You're the only officer I've ever seen willing to soak in the trenches with us soldiers......"

"That's why I've been following you." The sergeant was still chattering, "As a soldier, from the moment I joined the army, I already had the consciousness of death. But in any case, I still hope that my life is in the hands of an officer who is worthy of our desperate efforts......"

……

"So, when we follow you, we put our lives in your hands......"

Time comes back to the present.

"When we follow you, we are putting our lives in your hands." Wu Chenfeng repeated the same words in a low voice.

It's just that......

Last time, it was a gossip chat......

And this time, it means goodbye......

Although his face blackened by sand and gunsmoke could not see his expression clearly, Yang Xiao still intuitively felt that he seemed to be smiling.

He did smile, smiling softly—smiling at the vague outline of the hole, but it seemed incomparably clear.

Incomparably clear—

Mortal will!

Yang Xiao was shocked!

I'd rather see the veteran cry than see the veteran laugh!

"Sergeant, you ......"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence, or even drag it up......

Wu Chenfeng, a battle-hardened veteran, had already rushed into the red fog ahead.

With two, cluster grenades from nowhere!

With a hoarse voice, but roared out a generous voice:

No hesitation, for that banner of victory!

Enthusiasm for that great dream!

Action action! Towards that glimmer of light!

Forward, forward, forward! Behind me stood my comrades-in-arms!

Step! Condenses our indomitability!

The mighty Earth Defense Force song muffled the sound of the claws entering the body, as well as the creepy sound of the claw blades rubbing against the bones.

Yang Xiao knew that it was a veteran who was composing the final tragedy with his life, and he also knew that this was Wu Chenfeng trying his best to rush through the sea of insects and lean towards the unstoppable giant beast......

In the thick fog, he could still see the looming figure of the other party......

In the thick fog, he could still see at least ten sharp claws constantly beckoning the sergeant......

In the thick fog, he could still see the eyes that had long been smoked by the poisonous gas, but still did not twitch in the slightest......

His body was constantly corroded by the poison, and he didn't know where to go in an arm, and countless holes kept bursting open in his body......

Finally he rushed to the feet of the behemoth!

But he was also stabbed to the ground by several "soldier ants......

The sharp limbs of the "soldier ant" trampled on his body, stabbing down and pulling it out, and then stabbing it down and pulling it out again......

One of his hands was spread out, his head was thrown back, and his face covered in blood was facing this way......

Yang Xiao couldn't tell whether he was crying or laughing, but he could clearly see that he was using his only remaining arm to put the cluster grenade into his mouth, trying to bite the ring open with his teeth......

Boom –

There are no rhetoric, no rhetoric, not even last words......

Only a dull explosion echoed in the air for a long time......