63: A surprise attack in the dead of night breaches the defenses; energy suppression reveals its divine power.

Chapter Sixty-Five: Night Raid Breaks the Defense, Energy Suppression Shows Its Power

The night fell like a heavy black cloth, completely enveloping the earth.

The Hilly Region outside Dawn City was eerily silent. Only the rustling of the wind through the wild grass and the heavy breathing of the soldiers intertwined in the darkness. Wang Hu crouched behind the bunker on High Ground No. 3, his finger tightly gripping the trigger of the Sonic Machine Gun. The night vision of his Bone Armor Power Armor rendered everything around him in a pale green hue.

Three Energy Suppressors were positioned at the core locations of the three hills. Their silver casings glinted coldly under the moonlight, and the indicator lights on the devices flickered on and off, awaiting the command to activate.

"Captain, Radar shows unidentified aircraft to the northwest! They're moving extremely fast, fifty kilometers away!" an urgent report from the scout came through the communicator.

Wang Hu's pupils constricted suddenly. "Notify all units, enter combat status! Stay hidden. Do not fire without orders!"

"Roger that!"

The three hills in the Hilly Region fell silent instantly. Soldiers ducked into their bunkers, leaving only the muzzles of their guns and the red glow of their night vision goggles staring fixedly at the northwestern sky.

Five minutes later, a low humming sound approached from the distance.

Ten pitch-black aircraft cut through the night, diving toward the Hilly Region like predatory bats. The aircraft's bay doors swung open, and transparent incubation pods were pushed out. The Mutant larvae inside were emitting piercing screeches.

"Now!" Wang Hu roared. "Activate the Energy Suppressors!"

Three bursts of pale purple light erupted from the three hills. An energy interference field with a ten-meter radius expanded like ripples on water, covering most of the Hilly Region.

The moment those deployed Mutant larvae touched the purple light, their bodies jerked violently. Their previously frantic movements became sluggish, and the screeches in their throats weakened.

"Fire!"

Wang Hu's command exploded like a clap of thunder.

Three Sonic Machine Guns spat fire simultaneously. High-intensity sound waves, like invisible blades, swept ruthlessly toward the Mutant larvae. The fleshy wings of the Scale-Wing Species were torn apart upon impact; the long hair of the Frenzied Fur Species was shaken off root by root; and the bone spikes shot by the Bone Spike Species were shattered by the sound waves before they could even travel halfway.

The Mutant larvae, which should have been incredibly fierce, were now like lambs to the slaughter under the dual assault of the Energy Suppressors and sonic weapons. They collapsed to the ground one after another, letting out wails of agony.

"Good hit!" Wang Hu shouted excitedly. "Increase firepower! Don't let a single Mutant near the defense line!"

However, the good times did not last long.

The ten aircraft suddenly pulled up, moving out of the sonic weapons' range. The hatch of the lead aircraft opened, and a figure in a white lab coat appeared—it was the Doctor from the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute.

The Doctor's golden mask shimmered with an eerie light under the moon. He looked down at the suppressed Mutant larvae and curled his lips into a cold sneer. "Energy interference? Interesting. Unfortunately, it's too weak."

He raised his hand and pressed a button on the remote control in his hand.

On the ground, the previously suppressed Mutant larvae suddenly began to twitch all over. Slits tore open in their skin, and dark green fluid gushed out as their bodies expanded at a rate visible to the naked eye.

"Not good! It's Forced Evolution!" Wang Hu's expression changed drastically.

In just a few seconds, the evolution progress of the Mutant larvae surged from 35% to 60%! Their bodies became more massive, their scales harder, and their claws sharper. The interference field of the Energy Suppressors' impact on them instantly dropped to a minimum.

"Roar!"

An evolved Scale-Wing Species violently flapped its fleshy wings and dived toward High Ground No. 3. Its claws cut through the air with a piercing whistle, lunging straight for the Energy Suppressor.

"Protect the suppressor!" Wang Hu roared and charged forward, his Bone-Spike Long Saber hacking fiercely at the Scale-Wing Species' wing.

"Clang!"

Sparks flew as the greatsword was deflected, leaving Wang Hu's arm feeling numb.

A hint of mockery flashed in the Scale-Wing Species' eyes as it swung its claws again. Wang Hu couldn't dodge in time; his shoulder was slashed open, a wound deep enough to see the bone, and blood instantly stained his armor red.

"Captain!"

Several soldiers rushed forward, firing wildly at the Scale-Wing Species. The sonic bullets hitting its scales only left shallow pits.

The Scale-Wing Species shook its head, ignored the attacks, and lunged for the Energy Suppressor once more.

Wang Hu watched the approaching claws, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.

Just then, a red light cut through the night sky.

"Bang!"

A crisp gunshot rang out, the bullet accurately hitting the Scale-Wing Species' cranial cavity.

The Scale-Wing Species' movement stopped abruptly, the light in its crimson eyes fading rapidly. Its massive body swayed and crashed heavily to the ground, motionless.

Wang Hu looked up to see Chen Hao standing at the edge of the highland, holding a modified sniper rifle with smoke still curling from the barrel.

"Why are you here?" Wang Hu asked, panting heavily.

"The Aerial Team has already shot down three aircraft; the rest are being handled by them," Chen Hao said calmly. "I'm here to help you hold the hill."

Just as he finished speaking, Lin Zhou's voice came through the communicator: "Attention everyone, the ground forces of the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute have departed from the Valley Base and are heading toward Dawn City! You must hold the hilly defense line. I'll take the Main Force to intercept the ground units!"

"Roger that!" Wang Hu and Chen Hao responded in unison.

The night grew even darker.

The sound of gunfire in the Hilly Region became increasingly dense. The roars of the Mutants, the shouts of the soldiers, and the roar of weapons intertwined into a tragic and heroic battle song.

The indicator light on the Energy Suppressor on High Ground No. 3 began to flash rapidly—its energy was nearly exhausted.

Wang Hu looked at the increasing number of Mutants and tightened his grip on his greatsword. His shoulder was still bleeding and his vision was starting to blur, but his gaze remained resolute.

"Brothers, hold the line!" Wang Hu's voice was hoarse but powerful. "Behind Dawn City are our families! The hope of humanity! We cannot retreat!"

"No retreat!"

The soldiers' roars echoed through the night sky.

They raised their weapons and charged toward the surging Mutants.

On the distant plains, Lin Zhou was leading the Main Force, racing toward the ground forces of the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute. Two massive torrents were about to collide.