The tide of battle had turned.
Facing the combined assault of two Formal-level warriors, the rock lizard was no longer as resilient!
After a frenzied scream and struggle, Raine shattered its head with a single strike!
Next came the final two Formal-level rock lizards. Before they even realized what had happened, they were ambushed and slain by Raine and the veterans!
[Slaying Formal-level rock lizard, bloodstone +750]
With the leader and main forces swiftly defeated, the remaining rock lizards—already chaotic and frenzied—suffered a severe blow to their morale.
They let out fearful shrieks and retreated like a tide, soon disappearing into the jagged rocks.
The battle was reversed in less than a minute.
Except for the four soldiers from Squad One who unfortunately perished, the remaining 30 were mostly just wounded, with injuries not life-threatening.
The team quickly tended to their wounds and bandaged themselves.
Herbert, supported by his comrades, stood up and looked at Raine, feeling the energy fluctuations of a Formal-level warrior emanating from him. His tattoo twitched slightly.
He opened his mouth but only managed to say a dry, hoarse sentence.
"…Good kid!"
Raine nodded and looked toward Kyle and the others.
The four of them were also filled with surprise and excitement.
Raine's breakthrough had undoubtedly injected a shot of adrenaline into the entire squad.
Now, on the battlefield, the chances of Raine surviving had significantly increased!
If, one day, they encountered misfortune, at least Raine would have a chance of surviving, and by extension, they might too.
"You really did it, huh? Upgraded to Formal-level without a word?"
Pros, rarely displaying disbelief, made everyone laugh.
"I've been saying it, Raine's no ordinary kid. He's been secretly training on the side!"
"Wait, Raine, you were hiding your strength before, huh? You had me fooled!"
"It's all just luck," Raine casually responded.
"Well, if we survive this and make it back, you've got to buy each of us a barrel of rum!"
"Hahaha... at least two barrels!"
Just then, urgent footsteps echoed.
It was Black Falcon, accompanied by reinforcements.
Seeing the battlefield littered with rock lizard corpses, it seemed the fight had just recently ended.
In the distance, a rock lizard leader lay in a gruesome state. Black Falcon's icy expression softened slightly.
"Report, instructor!"
"We were ambushed by a mutated rock lizard swarm, but we've wiped them out. One Elite leader, seven Formal-level lizards, and several Trainee-level lizards killed!" Herbert reported.
"First, tend to your wounds." Black Falcon nodded.
He walked to the leader's corpse and examined the two fatal wounds.
One was clearly from Herbert, easily identifiable. As for the other…
He looked at Raine's blood-dripping Ironstrike.
The wound's position and angle couldn't have been caused by random hacking.
"Did you do this?"
Black Falcon looked at Raine, his tone unreadable.
"…I assisted in the kill," Raine nodded.
Black Falcon fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke.
"That incident at Anvil Village, that was you, right?!"
Though it sounded like a question, it was clear he knew it was Raine.
"And now, again, it's you!"
He stepped forward, pulling on the scar across his face and revealing a faint, unfamiliar smile.
"Good job, you did well both times!"
"On the battlefield, staying alive and ensuring your comrades stay alive is the best medal!"
"I'll remember you!"
This was probably the highest praise Black Falcon could give.
The surrounding soldiers, including Kyle and the others, cast envious glances at Raine.
"It's what I should've done!" Raine said solemnly.
Black Falcon gave a slight nod, his expression quickly returning to its usual coldness as he issued orders.
"Clear the battlefield, tend to the wounded, and we depart in ten minutes!"
It wasn't that he didn't want the wounded to rest more, but the environment wouldn't allow it.
In addition to the mutated Nex in the area, this polluted zone was also home to various other mutated creatures!
He had just received word that an unlucky squad had encountered an Expert-level beast and almost been wiped out!
The team continued to move through the hills.
The atmosphere was even more somber and oppressive than before.
The recent battle served as a reminder to everyone of the ever-present dangers of this ancient battlefield!
After another half hour of traveling, the scouts up ahead failed to send any signals, but Black Falcon suddenly raised his hand, signaling for the group to stop.
"Alert," he whispered, his voice carrying a rare seriousness.
Everyone immediately gripped their weapons, nervously looking ahead.
Through the thick mist and distorted light, shadowy figures slowly materialized!
They weren't solid beings but appeared to be made of light and shadow, barely recognizable as human forms.
All of them wore ancient-style leather armor and held various weapons.
They silently arranged themselves in formation, facing Raine and his team without moving.
There was no life energy, no energy fluctuations—only an overwhelming silence pervading the area!
"What is this…?"
A veteran's voice trembled.
"They seem like soldiers who died here long ago!"
In this ancient battlefield, tainted by mutated Nex, the lingering wills of the dead weren't impossible to exist.
But in such a place, such presences often meant unknown danger!
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Black Falcon slowly unsheathed his pitch-black long sword, the blade cold as ice.
He took several steps forward, standing in front of the squad, facing off with the grayish-white figures in the distance.
The two sides stood motionless in a silent standoff.
Only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Raine held his breath, sensing that the ghostly figures' gaze was fixed on Black Falcon.
More precisely, on his black and silver military uniform.
Just then, from within the ghostly ranks, a tall figure stepped forward.
The uniform it wore, though faint, was recognizable as an old-fashioned military officer's uniform.
It raised its hand and pointed toward Black Falcon, then slowly gestured toward the left side of the team's position.
That direction was where the warning signal lights had earlier illuminated!
At this moment, strange howls from mutated beasts could still be heard faintly from that area.
However, in the next instant, to everyone's astonishment, the officer raised his right hand and gave Black Falcon a formal salute!
Though the figure was ethereal, the firmness and resolution in its stance were unmistakable!
Black Falcon's body stiffened for a moment.
He stared intently at the saluting ghost officer.
After a brief pause, Black Falcon raised his own right hand, clenched his fist, and struck it heavily against his left chest!
"All troops…"
Black Falcon's voice was hoarse but carried an unshakable command.
"…Salute!"
In an instant, all the soldiers who could still stand, whether they understood or not, stood straight and raised their right fists, pounding them firmly on their chests!
They saluted the ghostly military formation composed of the souls of the fallen!
It felt like some sort of transfer had been completed, as the officer's ghostly figure slowly lowered its hand.
Then it turned, facing the left, where the strange beastly howls were emanating, and raised its long sword.
The entire ghostly formation turned with it, raising their weapons in unison.
There were no shouts, no charge—only an unwavering will to move forward!
The next moment, the entire spectral army scattered like dust in the wind, rapidly heading toward the left…
In the blink of an eye, the rocky slope was empty.
It was as if everything had just been a hallucination!
But the heavy sense of awe lingered in everyone's hearts.
Black Falcon slowly lowered his arm and remained silent for a long time.
When he turned back to face his team, his face had regained its usual hardened expression.
But deep in his eyes, there seemed to be something unspeakable.
"Did you all see that?"
His voice was low.
"This is why we stand here. Our mission… has never ended!"
"People have asked, what is the Great Wall?"
"This is the Great Wall!"
Black Falcon paused for a moment, then continued.
"It's me, it's you, it's every one of us fighting to protect humanity!"
The over 200 soldiers stood in silence.
A silent tremor began to stir within their hearts.
At this moment, many of the new recruits gained a deeper understanding of this war!