In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 138 The Black Tide and the Emergency in Tuen Mun Military Town

The special counter-insurgency unit entered the outpost.

Lu Zhao immediately took Wang Tong to the warehouse to take inventory of the remaining supplies.

Warfare depends on logistics, and Lu Zhao had already filled the outpost warehouses at the beginning of last month.

But that's for logistical support for 30-60 people.

The outpost was originally designed for a 30-person structure, with two squads permanently stationed and three squads during the flood season. A reinforced platoon with six squads rotating in rotation is just enough to cope with the situation.

Now that the Special Counter-Strike Force has arrived with 120 men, logistics has become a major problem.

Especially after so many days of fierce fighting, ammunition is running low.

There are 20 boxes of 7.62mm bullets left, with 500 rounds in each box. There are 2 boxes of .50 caliber bullets left, with 100 rounds in each box. Including grenades, hand grenades, mines, and explosives, there are 10 boxes left.

Wang Tong expressed optimism, saying, "My men are all carrying three days' worth of rations and life-sustaining supplies, so we don't need to worry about food. As for ammunition, we can conserve it and let the soldiers practice more accurate shooting."

Lu Zhao shook his head and said, "I'm afraid that's not possible. At the latest, a large group of water beasts will attack the day after tomorrow, with a number of at least three thousand."

"How many?"

Wang Tong raised his voice slightly and said, "According to the data, the average number is only about a hundred per year, so where did you get three thousand?"

Lu Zhao asked Liu Qiang to bring the battle report, which was filled with the daily kill count and casualty figures.

On August 3rd, three water beasts appeared.

August 4th, 30 water beasts.

On August 5th, approximately 1100 aquatic creatures were present.

August 6th, 56 water beasts.

On August 7th, approximately 2300 aquatic creatures appeared.

No water creatures were seen on August 8th.

Lu Zhao explained to Wang Tong: "Monsters have an extremely strong need for food and reproduction, especially frogs, which are at the bottom of the food chain and often migrate outwards at all costs."

"Now, the only place in the world that is not occupied by other demon beast groups is Shenzhou. The water flowing out of us does not contain demon beast pheromones. So every year during the flood season, these demon beasts will rush here at all costs."

Wang Tong asked, "Why do they keep coming back the more you kill them? Aren't they afraid of dying?"

Lu Zhao replied, "Every living thing is afraid of death, but the need to reproduce outweighs everything else. The monsters we kill will be washed downstream by the river, and their corpses will attract more monsters. Once those corpses are all looted, the gathered monsters will head north together."

"So as long as the flood season continues, the water beasts will keep coming."

Upon hearing this, Wang Tong suddenly realized and praised, "Graduating from the capital city really makes a difference! You're truly both literate and skilled in martial arts."

This information is public, but few people bother to seriously understand or study it. Lu Zhao has read many books, learned a great deal about dealing with creatures from the Ancient God Circle, and is willing to conduct on-site investigations and research.

No wonder the leader told him to listen to Lu Zhao's opinions more; he is indeed a capable person.

"Station Chief Lu, what do you think we should do next?"

When Wang Tong sought opinions, his attitude showed more trust.

Lu Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "We need to first dig a passable road. It doesn't need to be very good, just enough to transmit messages. Secondly, we can have the rear build bamboo rafts, tie the supplies to the rafts, and float them down the river."

"We may also have to blow up another river channel."

Wang Tong looked puzzled and asked, "Why? You've already blown up one. If you blow up another one, the area behind it will become a reservoir. If the water beasts cross that line, wouldn't their range of movement be even larger?"

Lu Zhao said, "Please follow me."

The two left the warehouse and went up to the watchtower. The sky was overcast today, and it was already possible to distinguish between day and night.

The surrounding terrain and riverbed form a Y shape, and the outpost is positioned at the intersection where the two rivers converge into the main channel, providing a commanding view that prevents water monsters from entering.

If it were not the rainy season, the water level in the river would drop, exposing the riverbed and making it easier to defend.

Now, Lu Zhao has blown up the lower side of the terrain, and the landslide has blocked the river, creating a difference in elevation.

Lu Zhao pointed to the river channel on the left and said, "The mountains on both sides of this place are high. After we blow them up, it will create a height difference and prevent water beasts from swimming across."

Wang Tong nodded and said, "That's true, but you haven't answered my question."

"I don't think Captain Wang's question needs an answer."

Lu Zhao shook his head and asked in return, "If there are five thousand water beasts, do you think we can hold them off?"

After a moment's thought, Wang Tong replied, "It should be possible; the danger posed by the water beasts is halved once they are on land."

"What if we want to leave none of them behind?"

"I'm afraid that will be a bit difficult. I think we can consider letting a portion of it pass through."

"How much is a portion? Can you control that?"

Wang Tong fell silent for a moment.

Whether we can hold the line is another matter. If we openly announce that we'll release some of the water beasts, who will be responsible for any casualties that result? Who will take the blame?

Lu Zhao stated frankly, "Strategically, we cannot let any water beast escape; tactically, we must be flexible and adaptable."

"Not letting a single water beast go is too extreme."

Wang Tong shook his head in rejection.

Lu Zhao understood what the other party meant; he did not intend to hold out to the death.

This is also a choice, and it may also reflect Zhao De's attitude.

He asked, "If the water beast breaks through, are there any preparations in place?"

Wang Tongdao: "Mayor Zhao plans to encircle Ant Ridge, and has already begun to block the river connecting to Ant Ridge."

That would completely destroy Ant Ridge.

Lu Zhao merely frowned slightly, without saying anything more.

He wasn't the decision-maker, and Zhao De's choice had its reasons. One cannot completely disregard the overall situation just because their own interests are at stake.

Perform your duties diligently.

The defensive tactics to be adopted were communicated to the reinforced platoon soldiers.

Some were angry, some were understanding, and some breathed a sigh of relief.

If we don't continue to hold out, then wouldn't all the brothers who died before have been wasted?
If we continue to hold out, what if we can't hold on?
With differing opinions, a unified standard could not be reached.
-
At noon, the heavy rain turned into light rain.

With the addition of the special counter-insurgency detachment to the defense, the reinforced platoon soldiers were finally able to rest. Some of them, disregarding the festering sores on their skin, insisted on taking a hot shower.

When life development reaches 15 points, it is very difficult to get wound infections or fevers and colds; they are even more resilient than cattle and horses.

Lu Zhao also took a shower and felt like he was coming back to life.

At 1 p.m., Lu Zhao led twenty people to move the carcass of the second-tier armored crocodile.

The massive body, over thirty meters long, was dragged onto the shallows, attracting a large crowd of special agents.

Wang Tong also came over to take a look, raised his hand and tapped the hard scale, and asked, "Can you give me a scale as a souvenir?"

Non-frontline legion combat units generally do not encounter monsters of tier two or higher.

This was also his first time encountering it.

Lu Zhao nodded and said, "Captain Wang can take one if he likes it."

A single scale isn't worth much, so using it to build a relationship is making the most of it. As long as it's not a matter of principle, Lu Zhao is capable of being flexible.

Moreover, of the tens of thousands of scales on the body of the crocodile, the truly valuable parts are its flesh, skin, and bones.

Wang Tong immediately beamed with joy and returned the favor, saying, "I know someone at the recycling center. According to the federal purchase price, second-tier demon beasts are worth 2000-3000 per ton. I can introduce you to someone and raise the price to 2500."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhao immediately said, "If Captain Wang doesn't mind, you can take some more scales and have them made into souvenirs to give away. Just say that you participated in assisting the kill."

This second-order armored crocodile is estimated to weigh at least two hundred tons.

If we acquire it at 2500, then we can sell it for at least 500,000, and if we divide it equally among 30 people, that's 15,000 each.

Of course, these are just bonuses. Assisting in killing a second-tier monster is at least a third-class merit, and Lu Zhao himself should be able to get a second-class merit.

But it's a bastard not to take the money, and rewarding soldiers who kill monsters is also federal policy.

Wang Tong laughed heartily and said, "Then thank you very much, Station Chief Lu."

He was happy not because of a few scales, but because he had made contact with Lu Zhao; everything else was just an excuse.

The body was dragged away from the river, and soldiers used flamethrowers to cauterize the wounds to prevent further bleeding, then simply covered it with a waterproof tarpaulin. Supernatural beings are not easily decomposed, and the flesh and blood of demonic beasts are extremely poisonous, requiring special processing before consumption.

This toxicity is also effective against the flora in the human world, so a corpse can be left for one or two months without any problems.

Conversely, if placed in the ancient god's circle, human corpses would not easily decompose.

Like two completely different worlds, even the digesters are different.

3pm.

The water level of the main river leading to foreign countries has risen, and Lu Zhao recorded that it is half a meter higher than in previous years.

The special counter-terrorism unit began to carve out a mountain path with tools.

Communication was still not restored, but the situation was much better, and the soldiers of the reinforced platoon were all fast asleep in their sleeping bags.

A sharp whistle broke the brief silence in the dead of night.

Lu Zhao climbed the watchtower, where Wang Tong was also present. They gazed at the distant river.

The black tide rolled in against the river's flow, and in my spiritual perception, it was composed of round, spiky monsters.

Wang Tong asked, "Station Chief Lu, what is this?"

"Rock thorn sea urchin".

Lu Zhao replied, "It has happened in previous years as well, but not in such large numbers."

Rock-spinned sea urchin, an earth-type monster from the Water Beast Cave.

The Five Elements form the basis of the ancient god circle. The Five Elements generate and restrain each other. After the frog beast comes the rock thorn sea urchin.

These creatures move slowly and are unlikely to cause injury or death unless accidentally stepped on in the water.

In previous years, Lu Zhao would use his mental detection to find them and then kill them one by one with a bamboo pole.

Monsters do not necessarily mean powerful.

But with so many of them now, even using bamboo poles or explosives wouldn't help.

Lu Zhao was only stunned for a moment before he immediately came to his senses and loudly ordered, "Go get diesel fuel. If the rock urchins crawl up, pour in the diesel fuel."

The soldiers on duty belonged to the Special Countermeasures Detachment. Instead of taking immediate action, everyone looked at Wang Tong.

Wang Tongdao said, "Listen to Station Chief Lu, take out the diesel fuel from the warehouse."

As the soldiers began carrying barrels of diesel fuel up the wall, the Kuroshio Current, composed of rock urchins, surged ashore and climbed up the mountain.

Facing the beast tide for the first time, Wang Tong was so nervous that sweat beaded on his forehead. He asked, "What should we do next? Should we send the soldiers down to pour oil on them?"

Lu Zhao shook his head and said, "No, their spines are highly poisonous. Some rock urchins have the ability to launch themselves, so being pricked by one will definitely kill you."

"Wait until they get halfway up the mountain. Be careful, as some sea urchins might launch themselves into the hillside."

Ten minutes later, the Kuroshio Current crossed the shallows, reached the foot of the mountain, and began to spread up the mountain.

The steep slope formed by exposed rocks is being slowly covered by a creeping, black "tide".

These spherical, over 30-centimeter-diameter monsters, covered in thick, black thorns, rolled and climbed the slope. Though their movement was slow, it was extremely steady. Their sharp thorns pierced the soil or got stuck in the crevices of the rocks, and those behind them used their brethren to help them move upward little by little.

The densely packed scene put immense pressure on everyone.

boom!
With a strange sound, a rock urchin flew up and crashed into the wall.

Some special agents had already put their fingers on the trigger. Wang Tong urged, "Station Chief Lu, it's time to make our move."

"not the right time yet."

Lu Zhao stood calmly in front of the crowd, seemingly able to shield them from all danger.

The more dangerous the situation, the more a leader should remain calm.

boom!
Another rock urchin flew up, and Lu Zhao pulled out one of the two pistols from his waist and shot it in mid-air.

One was issued by the work unit, and the other was originally intended to kill Chen Qian.

Before coming here, Lu Zhao didn't leave a will, but inexplicably brought this gun with him. This pistol was very special to him; it was his only refuge when he was driven to the brink of despair.

Three more rock urchins flew up, seemingly capable of reaching the wall, and Lu Zhao fired three more shots to shatter them.

At this moment, a special operations soldier was extremely nervous, his finger completely gripping the trigger.

Lu Zhao glanced at him and said in a cold voice, "Soldiers, obey orders."

The special operations soldier instinctively snapped to attention, his extremely tense mind relaxing as he replied, "Yes, sir!"

The crowd's will seemed to be drawn away by Lu Zhao, and as they gazed at his back, they placed their complete trust in him.

When the rock urchins reached the mountainside, Lu Zhao remained unhurried, leisurely shooting down all the flying rock urchins with a rifle.

Another benefit of breaking through to the second tier is a significant increase in divine power, from fifty grams to one hundred grams, and from 'single-threaded' to 'triple-threaded'.

Lu Zhao was able to control three bullets at the same time, raising his killing efficiency to another level.

Half an hour later, the rock urchin arrived at the foot of the wall.

Wang Tong shouted, "Station Chief Lu, if we don't act now, they'll climb up!"

"Wait."

Lu Zhao seemed to be torturing a hawk, pushing everyone's mental state to the extreme.

Wang Tongdu forgot that he had command authority.

Their diesel fuel is limited, so they must make the most of it.

The Kuroshio Current piled up below, forming a small slope.

Lu Zhao commanded, "Down!"

The soldier hoisted the diesel drum and poured it vertically, the dark brown oil seeping into the writhing black tide below.

The viscous liquid instantly submerged the sharp spines of the surface rock urchin, seeping downwards along the gaps in the sphere.

Liu Qiang lit a strip of cloth and threw it into the Kuroshio Current.

boom!
The flames burst into flame instantly, with orange-red flames first shooting up from the thickest part of the oil film and then rapidly spreading along the diesel trail.

The hard spines on the surface of the rock urchin's shell burst open one after another under high temperature.

A series of crackling sounds followed as the stuck-together sea urchin balls rolled off like a fireball.

As diesel fuel was continuously poured out, a burning trail formed on the river.

----------

Ant's territory is a town near the city center.

Zhao Dezheng is setting up the quarantine area here; he must make all the necessary preparations before he can leave.

Now everything seems to be moving in a positive direction.

All residents of Ant Ridge have been safely evacuated and resettled. The wrangling between the upstream city and the federal central government has ended, and they have begun to cooperate with the flood discharge efforts.

The only thing to worry about is the outpost.

He asked, "Has the South China Sea Western Route Army Headquarters responded?"

Military disaster relief and rescue is a federal tradition, but in the past two weeks, no military presence has been seen in the city.

Because the South China Sea West Route Army Corps has all gone to Tuen Mun Military Town, the remaining garrison troops have to deal with special situations in various places, so they cannot be moved.

The other side had promised Zhao De that as soon as the situation on the front lines eased slightly, they would immediately airdrop a regiment to provide support.

Zhao De has been waiting ever since.

The secretary replied, "There's no news yet. Should I follow up?"

"no need."

Zhao De sighed and said, "It's bad enough already, I don't want to hear any more bad news."

Two hours later, a message arrived.

The Tuen Mun garrison is in dire need of assistance and is requesting support from available troops in various locations.

Before Zhao De could even go to ask for the people, the legion headquarters called to ask if the disaster relief was over.

(End of this chapter)