Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

Chapter 114 Unexpected Rescue

The radicals' planning logic is sound.

The swarm is large in number, but its lower-level insectoids are easily wiped out.

With some training, ordinary civilians can easily eliminate a single low-level Zerg unit.

Not to mention seasoned human soldiers with battlefield experience, and veteran scavengers.

As long as they have enough ammunition and maintain a safe distance, they can eliminate a significant number of low-level insect swarms.

Needless to say, the psionicists are even more so.

Therefore, the casualty ratio between humans and Zerg swarms on the battlefield is quite exaggerated.

Unless they run out of ammunition or are at a disadvantage in terrain, human defenders can often eliminate swarms of dozens of times their size.

However, due to their ability to kill swarms and devour living matter, the number of swarms is increasing daily. Their strength is also increasing, and more and more advanced swarms are being born.

Humans finally managed to eliminate a swarm of insects that numbered dozens or even hundreds of times their own size.

Next time, we might face swarms of insects thousands of times larger.

The destroyed shelters were all under relentless siege by the insect swarms.

It revealed a flaw and was thus torn apart.

After the swarm has hunted down enough humans, it begins to devour the corpses of its dead brethren and humans, and then more swarms are born!

Unless the swarm's ability to consume biological matter is completely severed, humanity will eventually be worn down. Ammunition will eventually run out, and physical strength and psionic energy will also be depleted.

For example, the War Bug, the Hunter Bug, the Abyss Worm, and the Strategist Bug.

These advanced and elite Zerg can be killed relatively easily by elite Night Scouts.

But if the number increases, ten, fifty, hundreds or even thousands appear together.

Even a captain-level expert could be worn down and killed.

If it really comes to that, even the Mad King's intervention will be futile.

Therefore, the radicals' idea was to eliminate a large number of Zerg swarms as quickly as possible before the swarms could develop, and to burn all the corpses of the humans and Zerg who died in battle.

This will involve a large number of reinforcements and psionicists from the border cities of No. 1 and No. 2, as well as the rear city of Lava Mine, in addition to the Disaster Fog.

This will reverse the balance of power between humans and the insectoid swarm within the fog.

Directly and aggressively attack the swarm with overwhelming force!
As long as the swarm cannot recycle biomass, they cannot keep growing stronger, and in the end, the Lord of the Fog will be left with nothing but a lone commander.

Humans can find it, circle and kick it, and suppress the disaster fog, or even capture a disaster fog master!
However, the cost of this plan was that most of humanity's power outside the world was trapped in the disaster fog.

The restricted area, which is being eyed covetously by outsiders, will not stand idly by.

There is a high probability that a large army will directly advance.

Maybe humans will suppress the calamity fog, and when they come out, they'll find that the giant city has been destroyed.

Therefore, conservatives believe that the radicals' plan is too conservative and too costly and time-consuming.

So this is what conservatives really mean?
Conservatives believe the plan requires too many people and is too risky.

Since there are risks involved, why not take a big gamble?
Instead of relying on external reinforcements, we should concentrate the human forces currently trapped within the calamity fog. Then, we should utilize all high-risk forbidden items, and, if necessary, actively distort them.

It should be understood that if so many forbidden things were to go out of control at the same time, they would wipe out both the humans and the insect swarms within the disaster fog.

Class B forbidden items are dangerous entities that can cause large-scale damage and even affect the entire city.

The Ice and Snow Witch, a Class B forbidden item that Li Yelai knew of, would turn the city in the disaster fog into a frigid ice field.

Certain dangerous taboos can even instantly reverse the form of organisms within their range.

This will force the swarm to launch a full-scale attack, and may even draw the intervention of the Mist Overlord.

Then we can ask Old Mad King to take action.

The core idea of ​​conservatives is: either we all die together, or before we die together, we kill humanity!
Even if humanity fails, it will deliberately lose control of all forbidden elements, dragging the insect swarm down with it!
Given the swarm's considerable intelligence, this plan could potentially evolve into a deterrent measure.

Of course, the conservatives also pay a heavy price.

Leaving aside the difficulty of the general offensive, just the sheer amount of manpower required to mobilize forces could lead to the breaching of more shelters due to the mobilization of these forces.

Moreover, the swarm will evolve rapidly, and it is very likely that it will develop resistance to forbidden substances.

Like the Ice Witch, once out of control, she will gradually freeze the surrounding space, reportedly lowering the temperature within her range to below -70 degrees Celsius, and even lower in the core area, to the point that even psionic barriers cannot stop her. However, if the Zerg swarm evolves into freeze-resistant Zerglings, then it will be all for naught, and only humans will be harmed.

This is a more risky plan than the radicals'. But at least it won't affect the giant human cities outside.

There are three results in total.

The best outcome would be for humanity to successfully lure out or coerce the Lord of Calamity Fog, allowing the Old Mad King to kill him in one blow!

The next worst outcome would be the annihilation of the main human force, with humans using uncontrolled forbidden items and perishing together with the insect swarm.

In the worst-case scenario, humanity is wiped out, the forbidden creatures are adapted to by the insect swarm, and the dominion of the calamity continues to grow.
Li Yelai was momentarily taken aback; to him, both methods seemed insane.

One carries the risk of the destruction of the giant city, while the other carries the risk of the complete annihilation of humanity within the calamity fog.

"So what plan did you ultimately choose?" Li Yelai asked.

"No decision has been made yet," Cheese replied, shaking his head. "Right now, we're more focused on using the Strategist Bug to pinpoint the exact location of the Mist Overlord. That's the current situation."

Li Yelai nodded silently. This was the safest option, and the cost was relatively minimal. However, the success rate was very low. If the situation didn't improve after a period of time, humanity would have to take the risk and try it.

Cheese continued, "By the way, after you faced the disappearance of the mountain dragon, your sister's emotions fluctuated wildly, and she successfully awakened as a psionicist."

Li Yelai was taken aback, then smiled wryly and said, "I've scared her. Does she even know I'm still alive?"

“She’s not the only one who’s terrified,” Cheese said softly. “Spark and the others are very upset, and the captain has even sent out multiple night watch teams to search for you.”

"I'm sorry," Li Yelai replied, "I don't have a good way to inform you either. How is my sister now?"

“An officer specifically informed Captain Yin Huo and relayed the message to her. She already knows you're safe,” Cheese replied. “Fortunately, Captain Yin Huo didn't tell her about your subsequent disappearance. Otherwise, she would definitely be in big trouble.”

However, Xinghuo and the others didn't know you were alive in time, and they had even arranged two offerings for you. Finally, upon hearing you were still alive, Xinghuo, angrily remarking on your constant jumping and sitting-ups, angrily ate all the offerings himself, resulting in an upset stomach.

These guys really do remember to prepare offerings for themselves.

Li Yelai smiled.

Then, out of curiosity, she asked, "What path and what ability did Yunyan awaken?"

Li Yelai knew his younger sister's character well; she was a homebody who longed for many spiritual paths.

The doll holding up an advertising sign replied, "[It's water temperature control for the zeroing path (*｀)]"
"Water temperature control?" Li Yelai raised an eyebrow. "Yes, it can boil water and vaporize it, or freeze it into ice. As long as there is water, she can adjust the temperature voluntarily with just a touch," Cheese replied.

[This is an incredibly convenient ability. Just pour in a tub of cold water, and you can have a hot bath with a simple touch. It can also be used to heat food. A handy ability for home and travel, hehe (**)]
Of course, the doll is just a metaphor.

This ability actually possesses considerable destructive power, considering that blood contains 85% water. If Li Yunyan could control the water temperature within her target's body, she could easily cook them or freeze them to a crisp.

Of course, this is on the premise that you break through the opponent's psionic barrier and touch their blood.

Furthermore, Li Yelai didn't want Li Yunyan to participate in the battle. If possible, it would be best for Li Yunyan to remain at the level of a first-stage psychic. As long as she didn't awaken, the probability of being distorted would be reduced.

Each time Li Yelai awakened, he was affected by the power of those illusory realms. He didn't want Li Yunyan to experience it too.

"Currently, the authorities have asked her to provide hot water for the shelter and have begun teaching her how to use the psionic barrier and aerial stepping." Cheese seemed to sense Li Yelai's concerns and said, "Don't worry, she's in a logistics position and won't participate in combat."

"That's good." Li Yelai breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterwards, Cheese and the doll left the ward. They still had their own tasks to complete and didn't have much free time.

After they left, Li Yelai did not stay in the ward any longer. Although his arm injury had not fully recovered, he thought he could still help out.

So, he found his armor and trident in the ward.

The extraordinary armor that Jing Lin gave him had many scratches and wounds on it after the previous battle.

The three-pointed double-edged halberd, however, showed signs of some chipping.

Li Yelai wanted to find craftsmen to repair this shelter, which was originally the East City branch.

The East City branch is located underground because the buildings on the ground are arranged in a circle.

It was intended to serve as a shelter when necessary.

Today, with underground bunkers and surface fortifications, this place houses more than 100,000 people and is also home to nearly 20,000 troops.

With over 500 psionicists guarding it, it is considered one of the largest and safest sanctuaries currently available.

Li Yelai walked through the somewhat crowded corridors and rest areas and found the equipment area within the branch.

He then placed his weapons and armor on the counter.

Instead of the staff member who had bargained with him and ultimately provided him with the molten ammunition for free, he saw another unfamiliar office worker.

"Comrade Night General, thank you for your hard work. We will repair your equipment as soon as possible. We can't retrieve your large black umbrella thermal launcher, but we will build you a new one as soon as possible. Don't worry, it's free." The civilian staff member chuckled and asked Li Yelai for his body measurements, intending to modify the lamellar armor that didn't fit him well.

Li Yelai hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What about employee number 872? Has he been given a break?"

The civilian staff member paused upon hearing this, then replied in a low voice, "When the disaster fog broke out, the escort team he was part of encountered a swarm of insects."

Li Yelai remained silent. Although the civilian personnel were civilians, they had all undergone rigorous training and were armed.

When the fog of disaster struck, this usually frugal man selflessly became a soldier. To escort civilians to shelters, he lured away the swarm of insects, ultimately dying surrounded by them. The authorities could only find his tattered clothes and blood-stained work badge.

"For the Great City, for humanity," the civilian clerk murmured.

"For the Great City, for humanity!" Li Yelai took a deep breath and responded firmly.

The equipment department didn't keep Li Yelai waiting long before preparing the equipment.

Li Yelai put on a more fitted suit of armor, put the brand-new three-pointed double-edged halberd into the new large black umbrella, and carried a bag of hot-melt ammunition on his back.

In the operator's standby area, awaiting orders.

Li Yelai saw Jing Lin, who was also wearing armor, here.

Jing Lin is now wearing an eye patch that covers his left eye.

With his full suit of armor, he looked like a general who had been shot blind. But in reality, Jing Lin had used his ability with his left eye and had temporarily lost sight in it.

When he saw Li Yelai, his face lit up with joy, but he immediately said with annoyance, "I just realized you were awake. Where are the cheese and the doll?"

"You're looking for them?" Li Yelai was taken aback. He thought to himself, Jing Lin shouldn't be very familiar with either of them.

"Tsk, still no show to watch. Damn it, I should have come back sooner!"

Jing Lin complained, his tone full of regret.

Li Yelai was completely confused.

These days, Jing Lin, a member of the Yaoqing Jing family, has been cooperating with the government. The relationship between the two sides is becoming increasingly close.

To solve the food problem, Jinglin and the official handlers went out to hunt swarms of insects and extraordinary creatures.

There was no other way; the disaster fog came suddenly, and with such a large number of people, the shelters couldn't possibly have enough food reserves, no matter how much they had.

Much of the food in the giant city was devoured by the insect swarm before it could be brought back to the shelter.

While it's possible to airdrop food into the fog, the insect swarms often get there first and provide sustenance.

In order to solve the increasingly serious food problem, the authorities began to target the insect swarms and supernatural creatures.

Insect swarms are edible too! Who says only insect swarms can eat humans? Humans can eat insects too!
But the swarm seemed to have sensed the humans' thoughts.

Within a few days, toxins that are not easily broken down by high temperatures have evolved in their bodies.

The authorities could only turn their attention to the surviving supernatural beings. A significant number of these beings from the Doomsday Forest had been swallowed by the swarm's fog. Although many had been hunted by the insectoid swarm, a considerable number had still survived.

This would both reduce the amount of biomass available to the insect swarm and alleviate the food crisis.

Therefore, the various groups launched successive attacks, hunting down the extraordinary creatures before the swarm could even reach them.

Just now, Jing Lin and a group of processors hunted down a Leia Flying Dragon that was close to the fifth level of perception.

They brought back a large quantity of dragon meat and extraordinary materials.

Although they are members of a prestigious family, they are now truly fighting for humanity.

Officials' opinions of Jing Lin have improved considerably. Li Yelai's opinion of him has also changed quite a bit.

While chatting with Jing Lin, Li Yelai heard a commotion.

It is said that the search and rescue team brought back a seriously injured comrade.

Thinking of his friends, Li Yelai hurried over.

However, he actually did see someone he knew.

Thunder!

(End of this chapter)