CH 259

We waited anxiously, and finally, Dodo was finally done using the recording to produce a map of a safe route to the center of the city.

"Temo, are you sure the worm colony brain is at the center?" I asked one more time.

"I'm not fully certain, but I believe you will be able to at least find some clues of the worm colony brain there. After all, traces of something that big won't be hard to find," replied Temo.

With the safe route provided, we immediately prepared to sneak in. Once again, Anxashe checked outside the fog with his telescope. At that point, the sky was already fully dark. The distant city of machines was filled with dots of light, presenting the sight of a bustling city. The area surrounding the city itself was still completely dark, creating an excellent environment for us to sneak through.

Up in the air above the blood pool, numerous flying machines patrolled around. These were probably the city scouts in charge of surveilling outside the city. During our sneaking mission, we must avoid these surveillance crafts.

"Deputy Commander Canyue, we're going to go through the area where the beasts are being fenced in. We need to be careful and not let the beasts detect us if we want to avoid the attention of the robotic patrols," reminded Anxashe.

"I have a different idea. These beasts are being imprisoned by the robotic beasts. I believe they don't really support the robotic army. We can probably use them to create chaos," I said.

"What do you plan to do? Share it with us," urged Zhang Bao'er.

"I plan to release all the fenced beasts after we get into the area. During the chaos, we'll sneak through the first defensive perimeter," I said.

Temo agreed. "This is probably the only feasible plan for us right now."

After checking our surroundings, we set off. Following the dark route, we moved rapidly toward the fenced beast area. To avoid the patrols in the sky, Zhang Bao'er made use of the black tarp. While hiding under the tarp, we advanced along our planned trajectory.

Sounds of the flying machines could be constantly heard in the sky. The concentration of the sound hinted at a number of patrols that caused all of us to be on edge. If we were discovered, we would basically fail our entire mission.

The black tarp displayed its usefulness, as we were actually able to smoothly approach the fenced beast area. The beasts were all kept within steel fences, with some of the larger ones among them being bound in thick steel chains.

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"Looks like bullying and inequality exist even in the world of beasts. How can that emperor's beast army be powerful with such treatment?" said Zhang Bao'er with derision.

As we approached, a disturbance spread among the fenced beasts after they smelled the approach of different organic life forms.

"Canyue, we need to make a move immediately. The disturbance among the beasts can easily attract the attention of those machines," reminded Old Du.

"Old Du, install some cluster bombs on the fence and blast it apart. Everyone else, move forward with me," I ordered softly.

"There are multiple fences here. Which should I bomb?" asked Old Du.

"The one with the buers. Those buers are strong enough. They might be able to destroy the other fences after they're freed," I said.

Following my order, Old Du moved away from the team. The rest of us continued moving forward according to our safe route. While moving, I was fully focused on Old Du. When the fenced beasts saw his approach, they became agitated.

The noise attracted the attention of a machine in the air. The machine stopped above the fenced area and started scanning below it, searching for the source of the disturbance. By then, Old Du had reached a pillar holding his target fence. Using the large steel pillar as cover, he hid his body from the scan. We all nervously stopped moving as well, preparing to assist Old Du if required.

"If the scanner finds Old Du, it will be troublesome. There is no hiding after that," said Zhang Bao'er worriedly.

While we prayed for Old Du's success, he rapidly fished out a cluster bomb from his backpack and installed it on the spot holding several parts of the fence together. The beasts were behaving rather surprisingly. After seeing what Old Du was doing, they might have realized that he was trying to help them. They immediately stopped creating a disturbance. At times, luck was important. After the beasts stopped, the machine in the sky left as well.

"The machine in the air is actually one of those robotic beasts. That is why it had slacked while scanning the area. If it were a pure machine, it would have completed the scan before leaving. This is a weakness of organic life forms," observed Temo.

"But a pure machine would have its codes hacked and altered, so the risk of defection is high," said Zhang Bao'er, never missing a chance to step on Temo.

Seeing that the machine had left, Old Du hurriedly returned to the team after installing his bomb. The team continued forward.

"How long is the timer on the bomb?" I asked.

"It will detonate in three minutes," answered Old Du.

When we passed by other fences, the beasts inside started making a lot of noise, attracting the attention of the patrols in the sky. The patrols started approaching the area one after another. During the critical moment, a deafening explosion erupted. The bomb installed by Old Du had erupted right on time.

The explosion accurately blasted apart the spot holding multiple parts of the fence together. An entire row of fences collapsed loudly onto the ground. The beasts behind the fence blanked out for a few seconds before realization hit them. Like a swarm of bees, they rushed out and madly ran in all directions.

Seeing the collapsed fence, even the beasts bound by chains erupted with immense strength and snapped their chains, rushing out of the cage with the other beasts. Sirens rang out in the city of machines. Noticing the escaping beasts, numerous flying and land machines headed toward the fenced area.

A small flying machine appeared above the escaping beasts and started shooting at them. Before long, several beasts dropped onto the ground. It was obvious this so-called air defense beast had much stronger firepower than a regular air defense drone.

Upon seeing how easily they could kill the beasts on the ground, the machines in the air started attacking the fleeing beasts in an unrestrained manner. The area turned into a hunting field.

The chaos had erupted directly ahead of us because the intense battle had happened right on the trajectory we needed to follow. Helpless, we could only move toward a different fence and wait for a better opportunity to sneak through.

The outskirts of the city had sunk into chaos. Beasts were running everywhere with machines hunting them down.       

"This is not working. The escaped beasts will soon be wiped out," said Zhang Bao'er worriedly.

"Let me blast apart a few more of these fences," said Old Du, offering to create even more chaos.

Suddenly, a massive figure leaped up ahead of us and clung to one of the air defense beasts in the air. With a swing, the machine was thrown at another fence and exploded.

With the explosion, another fence collapsed onto the ground. The beasts within rushed out, joining the chaos outside. When we paid closer attention, we saw that the figure that had destroyed the machine was a young buer.

Perhaps what the buer did had served as an inspiration for the other beasts. Six more buers copied its actions, blasting apart more fences and freeing more beasts, elevating the chaos to an uncontrollable level. Fearing more attacks, the flying machines soared into the sky.

The freed beasts took the lesson from the previous beasts, and a few more buers worked together to take down more fences. With their powerful strength, dozens of fences were brought down, releasing all the fenced beasts.

The scene turned into one of a victorious escape. Over 10,000 beasts were running in multiple directions, and some of them engaged the machines on the ground. A chaotic war erupted. Suddenly, a buer made an odd cry. The surrounding beasts instantly stopped, and they gathered around the buer that had made the sound.

"My god. That buer is gathering the other beasts. Looks like they're going to attack the machines. The intelligence of these beasts has reached a level far beyond what we can control," exclaimed Temo in astonishment.

Temo was proved correct—a few minutes later, the beasts finished gathering together. The buer then made a long howl and leaped forward. It instantly crushed several machines with its massive body. The other beasts swarmed forth like a tide, charging the machines in front of them.

The machines were utterly stunned by the orderly assault. The ones in the front row were instantly submerged in the tide of beasts. The ones behind appeared fearful as they started pulling back. Under the leadership of the buer, the beasts continued their attack, turning the tide of the battlefield.

"This is our chance. With me, everyone. Resume our mission," I ordered. This was the best opportunity for us because the machines' defensive perimeter had collapsed. We ignored the battle between the beasts and the machines and resumed our mission.

Everyone moved the moment I gave my order. We smoothly stepped onto dry ground. The beautiful sensation of finally stepping out of the filthy pool invigorated my heart. Borrowing the chaos of the battlefield, we slowly advanced under the cover of our black tarp. Before long, we arrived below a steel building. Ahead of us, the beasts had chased the machines deeper into the city and taken over the entire outer perimeter. Suddenly, an odd sound erupted from within the city.