Chapter 103: The Big Battle is Coming!
Even in the rear's propaganda, Shen Hao was no longer called a "Hero".
The title "Savior" was the most common, with some media even recklessly using names such as "Guardian God", "Human Guardian", "God Incarnation," and "God of Mankind".
From the high-level human authorities to the front-line soldiers and ordinary citizens, a common understanding had already formed in everyone's hearts.
Shen Hao was the most powerful trump card of their civilization! He was also their greatest confidence!
"For the Blood Demon to turn the tables under such a trend, the greatest possibilities are only two," Dong Gong emphasized in his report at the time, "One is that they have acquired a significant number of nuclear weapons, and second, there is a problem on your side."
Undoubtedly, both possibilities were not highly feasible.
The Blood Demon indeed parasitized many human scientists and also plundered half of the industrial capacity of the West State.
However, aside from the unreasonable support from the Point Mall, the development of technology and industrial production followed a basic logic.
When West State evacuated from the south, they took or destroyed a large amount of nuclear weapons, leaving not much to the Blood Demon, and these were protected under strict encryption, not just available for immediate use. The only way they could acquire nuclear weapons in a short time was to dismantle those unprocessed weapons, extract the raw materials, and then remake them.
This required time.
Moreover, during this period of war, those large industrial areas they had captured were mostly destroyed remotely.
As for dealing with Shen Hao...
"Some analyses believe that the Blood Demon increasing their offensive at no cost during this time is most likely to tie you down at the front line, seeking an opportunity," Dong Gong also mentioned this point, "Some high-level officers of the Global United Front think that when the advantages and disadvantages at the front line start to reverse, you could actually retreat to the rear to rest, or move to the Northern Alliance battlefield where the situation is easier to control."
This voice was actually not small.
Perhaps at the beginning, Shen Hao's personal strength had a crucial role on the frontline battlefield as an essential force to block the Blood Demon's offensive.
But now, as various new weapons were produced and deployed, Shen Hao's main purpose on the frontline had become to gain points, reduce sacrifices, and boost morale.
His significance in the development of civilization seemed even more prominent.
Realizing that the Blood Demon's final struggle might very well be aimed at Shen Hao, the voices hoping he could temporarily retreat from the West State frontline were indeed numerous.
The importance of the White Level 12 Point Mall to the development of civilization could not be compared to a frontline battleground whose outcome trends were becoming clearer.
However, Shen Hao refused.
"Upgrading the mall also needs a large number of points, and there's no place better than the frontline to obtain them. Moreover, once I leave the frontline, the Blood Demon certainly have other methods, and if they really target me, they will naturally create a situation that only I can handle," he said.
Indeed, many people in the rear were not aware of the terror of high-level Extraordinary Individuals.
But Shen Hao was aware.
The Blood Demon still had their trump cards, and just like humans knew how to concentrate points on one individual, the Blood Demon understood it too.
The growth rate of the Mother's strength was determined by the number and quality of its Subordinates.
If those tens of millions of Blood Demon Subordinates were all accumulated onto one Mother.
Then, what would the growth rate of this Blood Demon Mother's strength reach?
Shen Hao did not know.
But he understood that once he left the frontline, the Blood Demon Mother would definitely appear massively on the battlefield, and such a group of Extraordinary Individuals with strength at least at Level 8, perhaps even higher, would be enough to deliver a crushing blow to the already pressured frontline.
"Don't worry about my safety," Shen Hao spoke once more, "The decision I made is not based on confidence or arrogance but on reality. I am not without trump cards; in fact, I have more than one. If the Blood Demon places their hopes on me, I will bring them true despair."
"Understood, I will convey your stance," Dong Gong said no more.
In fact, as one of the closest people to Shen Hao, his confidence in Shen Hao was the strongest.
Many things were also only clear to him.
What Shen Hao showed to ordinary people was just the tip of the iceberg; his entire being was shrouded in great mystery, making it impossible for others to see even the tip of the iceberg despite their utmost efforts.
Dong Gong even suspected that Shen Hao's Talent was not just a Golden Legend but a myth!
As the Savior in all humanity's hearts, this sense of mystery rather provided a great sense of security.
However, just half an hour after finishing the communication, Dong Gong's communication was again connected.
"Captain, you were right, the Blood Demon indeed created a situation where you have to intervene—Hua Da Mountain battlefield is collapsing at an alarming rate!" Dong Gong's tone had become notably hurried, "Ten minutes ago, a group of extremely powerful Blood Demons appeared in various parts of Hua Da Mountain and led a large army to break through. Our frontline positions had no resistance at all.
Some of the footage transmitted shows that these Blood Demons individually overpowered the positions. They are definitely Blood Demon Mothers, numbering over fifty!"
This sudden turn of events indeed shocked those commanders of the Global United Front who had been very confident.
They were well aware that the Blood Demon Mother possessed extraordinary powers, but in their understanding, the Blood Demon Mother was utterly crushed in front of Shen Hao—they didn't possess the power to confront Shen Hao alone!
But obviously, this perception had been shattered.
Just a single Blood Demon Mother was able to defeat an area controlled by humans armed with new weapons and with a defensive position manned by thousands!
And it did so with ease!
Moreover, with a large number of level 5 and level 6 Blood Demons, the rate of collapse of the front line far exceeded their imagination!
"It's a bit faster than I imagined," Shen Hao slightly narrowed his eyes, "order the soldiers to conduct a comprehensive retreat, the Chosen One doesn't need to be sent out, they are targeting me. It seems they want to start the final battle ahead of time."
This was actually a wise choice, as the number of Blood Demon Mothers was rapidly being depleted at the frontline, and they still could not find new hosts to parasitize. This would inevitably slow down their growth in strength, whereas Shen Hao had been crazily harvesting points in the battlefield. With the continuous upgrades of the Point Mall, his power was only growing faster.
The Blood Demons could not afford to delay any longer.
"Yes!" Dong Gong did not utter any superfluous words, simply executing Shen Hao's orders with absolute precision.
The next moment, all soldiers on the main trunk of the battlefield in the Hua Da Mountains received the order to urgently retreat.
"What's happened?" Paddy was also among those retreating, but he was more perplexed, "We just repelled the Blood Demons' assault, why are we retreating? And there's no order to destroy the weapons, are we leaving these high-tech weapons for the Blood Demons?"
"The order is absolute, obey the order, Paddy!" The Major shouted, "Start up your exoskeletons at full power! Aside from ten units of ammunition and five microwave grenades, leave everything else behind. Don't make me repeat it! We only have eight minutes to retreat!"
The similarly bewildered soldiers nevertheless quickly began to move. The exoskeletons they wore gave them great support; with just a light jump, they could leap seven to eight meters, easily navigating the rugged mountain terrain.
With these devices, they were not even afraid of Blood Demons' assaults, as even in close quarters combat, they had a chance to turn the tables.
However, at this moment, they were only used to speed up the retreat.
But just then, a tremendous rumbling sound suddenly came from the ground.
Some soldiers even lost their footing and fell hard, rolling down the mountain slope.
"What's going on?"
"Was that an earthquake?"
"It doesn't sound like cannon fire!"
"Look over there!"
"God, what are those?"
"..."
A soldier, following the source of the rumbling and loud noise, looked towards the lower part of the nearby mountains.
There were gigantic rock giants, each at least twenty meters tall!
And there were easily over a hundred of them!
Despite their seemingly heavy bodies, they moved swiftly, some even taking the form of huge tigers, gorillas, and wolves, running wildly through the mountains at incredible speeds!
Though bullets and artillery fire continued to hit from various positions, they were utterly useless against these rock giants, which were not living beings. Whether it was freezing, microwaves, or even sound waves, the damage inflicted on them was extremely limited, and even when some of the artillery did have an effect, the shattered parts would reassemble right before their eyes!
"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!" The Major's voice even became shrill all of a sudden.
He didn't need to say anymore, everyone else already knew that they couldn't handle these creatures.
At that moment, an even more enormous roar arose, and the sound of warplane engines filled the air as jets carrying heavy weapons arrived to provide support, dropping bombs methodically.
They were obviously well-prepared, armed with relatively primitive weapons, the entire area erupted into a sea of flames in an instant; the massive explosions echoed through the mountains, causing a continuous ringing in everyone's ears.
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Had they resolved it?
Paddy and some of the warriors watched as they retreated.
But the next moment, a dark, laser-like beam of light shot from a far distance, hitting a warplane with terrifying accuracy, followed by a second beam, a third...
"What in the world is this?" someone couldn't help but scream.
"It's the Blood Demon Mothers!" the Major answered everyone, "This group of Blood Demon Mothers have broken through, more Blood Demons are following behind!"
"It's time for the final battle!" the thought resonated in the minds of Paddy and many others!