This battle for control of the side peak raged on for a full five hours.
Exhausted, weapons dulled, and with numbed hands from the constant swings!
Finally, the alien races were crushed.
Most were slaughtered, with only a handful of elite warriors managing to escape.
The 7th and 8th squads finally successfully joined forces with the remaining troops holding the side peak!
When Roderick and Aaron arrived at a hilltop, the soldiers both above and below the slope silently watched the scene ahead.
Atop the mountain of corpses, stood a figure almost completely covered in blood.
He was leaning on the Ironstrike, which had been dulled beyond recognition, barely holding his body up.
At his feet, layers of alien corpses piled up, seemingly ravaged by the most violent of forces.
Black Falcon opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but found that no words could capture the moment's weight.
Under Roderick and Aaron's leadership, everyone raised their right fists and pounded their left chests in a solemn salute.
Paying their highest respect to him!
At that moment, Kyle staggered over.
Matthew was supporting the severely injured old Gore, and Pros followed behind. The group made their way toward the bloodied figure.
As they passed Herbert, Raine barely lifted his head, his voice hoarse.
"Sir, I want to sleep…"
Herbert was momentarily stunned.
"You've earned it. Rest now! We've got the rest covered."
Black Falcon spoke firmly from beside him.
Only then did Pros and Matthew continue to assist Raine, leading him toward the makeshift military camp.
As they passed, both veterans from the 4th squad and the soldiers guarding the camp silently observed them.
Their eyes filled with respect, awe, and an indescribable fervor.
Five hours of bloody combat!
The young warrior had killed perhaps hundreds of alien races!
Many difficult Formal-level foes had also fallen by his blade!
Every corner of the side peak battlefield had borne witness to his blood-soaked struggle.
That sheer madness and ferocity were deeply etched in everyone's minds.
"Formal-level... he must've just broken through recently, right?"
An Expert-level warrior beside Aaron murmured.
Aaron's gaze followed the group carrying Raine and nodded slowly.
"He's a good prospect!"
"The 4th squad will nurture him!"
"Yes, sir!"
Black Falcon forced a grim smile.
...
In the humble military camp.
Pros and Matthew carefully placed Raine in a relatively clean corner.
"How is everyone else…?"
Raine gasped, his eyes filled with concern.
Pros quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, although they're all injured, Kyle and old Gore are in no danger to their lives and are receiving treatment."
Hearing that his comrades were fine, Raine's tense nerves relaxed slightly.
Immediately afterward, the tide of intense pain and exhaustion swept over him.
In truth, his injuries were severe.
The first claw strike from the Heartwitch Succubus had left a deep wound in his shoulder.
Later, he endured two attacks from Formal-level 9th tier shadowclaw beasts. Though his Stoneform Skin mitigated the claws, the impact still ruptured his internal organs.
In the subsequent chaos, he had also sustained several gashes all over his body, one of which was from a Formal-level spinepiercer's bone spike, almost piercing his side!
But in the heat of battle, pain had long been replaced by numbness and bloodlust.
Now, with the battle over, the injuries started to retaliate fiercely.
However, this was the perfect moment to level up!
His body teetered on the edge of destruction, needing a massive amount of energy for repair and strengthening.
He closed his eyes, sinking his consciousness into the system interface.
[Host: Raine·Valeri]
[Talent: Blood Devourer]
[Rank: Formal Level 1]
[Bloodstone: 8790]
[Abilities: Bewitching Eye (Intermediate), Stoneform Skin (Low-level)]
8790 bloodstone!
A harvest from a nearly insane massacre!
Worth it!
Although covered in wounds, these bloodstones were enough to elevate him to Formal Level 3.
He needed to reserve 5098 bloodstones for emergencies, to temporarily boost his rank to Elite-level!
On this battlefield where life and death were commonplace, he had to have a backup plan to save his life!
At this moment, Black Falcon and two other Expert-level warriors, along with Kyle, Gore, and the others, entered the camp.
Old Gore quickly approached and examined Raine's numerous injuries with a grim expression.
"You little brat… you used to be so cautious, always afraid of dying, what happened?!"
"Now you're charging recklessly like you're on something! You think your bones are made of iron?"
Beside them, Black Falcon had a strange expression, his face neither a smile nor a frown.
"I have a healing potion here, it should help."
Black Falcon pulled out a crystal bottle from his waist.
The bottle was semi-transparent, and inside it swirled half a vial of green liquid.
Even through the bottle, they could feel the life energy emanating from it.
Kyle carefully took the bottle, bringing the opening to Raine's lips.
Soon, a fresh scent, like a forest after a rain, filled the air.
The potion quickly turned into a warm flow of energy, spreading throughout his body.
Where the energy reached, his damaged organs were gently repaired. The wounds on his skin began to itch as the muscle tissues visibly healed!
Even his drained mind felt a wave of comfort.
Though it was not a cure-all, the momentum of his injuries had been completely halted, and his condition was visibly improving.
"This is some powerful medicine…"
Raine marveled at the changes inside his body.
It was clear this was no ordinary military supply, and it was of considerable value.
Raine silently took note of Black Falcon's kindness.
"You should rest here for now!"
"The battle on the main battlefield hasn't stopped, and our victory here is just the beginning. It's far from over."
Black Falcon's gaze swept over everyone in the tent, his voice returning to its usual cold tone.
"From the intelligence we've received, the 4th and 5th squads are bearing the brunt of the alien races' main attack, and the battle there will determine the outcome."
"We must integrate our forces quickly and rush to their aid!"
He paused.
"Everyone, treat your injuries, replenish your energy, and check your equipment."
"Be ready to move out and support the main lines!"
"Pros,"
He looked at Pros, "Raine needs to rest and recover. Stay here and watch over him."
"The rest of you, disperse and prepare!"
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone responded in unison, fatigue evident in their voices, but determination rekindled in their eyes.
They knew that many comrades still struggled in the frontlines, waiting for their rescue.