Chapter 259: Yan Tiejun's Suggestion
Before every battle, having one more combatant always provides greater assistance in the fight, let alone when Ye Kailing is the leader of the Sky Cavalry.
Third Order aerial Apostles play a vastly different role from Third Order terrestrial Apostles.
Having received permission from Su Han, Ye Kailing immediately went to find Bai Qilan, who, along with Bai Qiuwen, had obtained blood and some tissue material from the Blood-Erosion Alligator Dragon. They then tirelessly worked in the laboratory to create an injectable serum.
Even though they were in the South City camp, it must be said that Bai Qiuwen's laboratory was more sophisticated compared to the Tree Domain Camp's lab building.
The personnel reserve alone, consisting of Bai Qiuwen, his students, and some other scholars and researchers, was already much better than that of the Tree Domain Camp.
As for the equipment, although the Tree Domain Camp had been continuously collecting equipment, in terms of information disparity, what Bai Qilan knew about pre-apocalypse laboratories were mostly connected with the Bai Yujing Group and were more famous labs.
But Bai Qiuwen and his team not only knew about these, they also had control over some classified, strong but less renowned laboratories and research institutes.
As time went on, they were able to acquire more experimental equipment.
With such well-equipped facilities and personnel reserve, coupled with the collaboration between Bai Qilan and Bai Qiuwen, the production speed of the serum was naturally fast.
In just one night, the injectable was produced. After some weakening, its potency was still around Third Order Intermediate, which was a test even for the Red Scale Lizard Monster.
Ye Kailing had already prepared, adjusted her and her Apostle's condition, and then selected a Second Order Beetle and a Second Order Inferior Demon from the dungeon.
After Bai Qilan confirmed that fusing the two monsters was feasible, Ye Kailing also wanted to achieve fusion through this method.
However, when Bai Qilan saw this scene, her eyebrows furrowed, "Kailing, I advise against fusing two monsters at the same time. The sheer mental pressure from both monsters' violent consciousness is too great and could very well overwhelm your own, leading to corruption at best, or death at worst."
Bai Qiuwen also frowned, "Commander Ye, Qilan is right, the risks are too high. Given the current resources of the camp, it's really not necessary for you to take such risks."
"The realm of consciousness is my home ground."
Ye Kailing said, "Although I do not have a Talent like Old Zhu or Old Gan, if my willpower can hold, then I will not die."
She showed more perseverance than Bai Qilan expected, but knowing she wouldn't die didn't mean she wouldn't get injured.
From various Divine Initiation Rituals, if one cannot quickly eliminate the monster's violent will, then one will be repetitively attacked, even tortured, needing to rely on willpower to continually revive and fight over and over until the monster's violent will dies out.
This is the advantage of being the home team, but it's also a kind of 'hell'.
When you can't quickly defeat the monster's violent will, repetitive fighting is just continuously tormenting yourself.
Bai Qilan seriously asked her once more, "Are you sure?"
Ye Kailing nodded, without a hint of hesitation — the Sky Cavalry needed even greater strength.
A new breed of the Blood-winged Tiger was already incubating, a total amounting to 3000. Such a vast number would make the Sky Cavalry even more formidable.
She also needed greater power to lead such an army.
The exploration battle in the west district of the city made her realize her own lack of strength, now naturally intensifying her desire.
Bai Qiuwen wanted to persuade the young woman again, but Bai Qilan spoke up, "Then proceed, but Professor Bai, we need to prepare the life-support equipment first, ensure the spiritual energy supply to prevent failure due to physical weakness, and I will monitor your condition with my spiritual perception. If necessary, I will stop the ritual."
"Understood, thank you, Qilan."
With that settled, the research team promptly got busy.
Su Han, near the military barracks, also received Bai Qilan's message through spiritual energy communication and nodded in agreement.
Everyone has the right to desire becoming stronger.
Meanwhile, as time passed, troops from the eastern and northern districts had already assembled. Several large factories became their gathering spots.
Weaponry placement, tent setup, Vine Giant Rats neatly arranged in one area, and vehicles were also parked in order.
Looking over, Su Han saw thousands of people stationed in different areas, a truly impressive sight.
The Nine-Snake Mother Tree remained in its Treant Form near this camp, and since action was imminent, it did not change from its mother tree form. However, its vines still extended everywhere, the Radiance of the Lamp Tree dispersing a lot of the fog.
The Fourth Grade Intermediate Treant Form, with its vine spread reduced to about 15 kilometers, was still sufficient to illuminate an area.
Su Han had also arrived at the conference room. Aside from Ye Kailing, who was breaking through, Zhu Xiong, Gan Xinglei, Guo Gang, and Li Ruikang were all present.
He walked into the conference room, everyone immediately stood up, but he waved his hand, "Sit down, please. Kailing is breaking through; she won't be joining this combat briefing."
Su Han sat in the center, then said, "She brought back the latest intelligence, which you all should have received. The Zerg "hatchery" is predicted to be near No.4 Middle School, with numerous incubating structures as barriers. The estimated number of the Zerg is in the tens of thousands, potentially doubling or more.
The number of Third-Order Bug Race is unknown, but at least one Fourth Order Monster is confirmed. I will handle the Fourth Order, but we need a plan for the rest to limit our losses."
"Leader, I want to know our current military supplies reserve."
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The first to speak was not Zhu Xiong and the others, but the camouflaged military man, Yan Tiejun.
He was just over fifty years old and, due to the recent exertion, most of his hair had turned gray. Nevertheless, his body remained robust, sitting upright on the wooden stool.
"Two hundred thousand spiritual energy bullets, ten thousand spiritual energy rifles, two hundred cannons, two thousand spiritual energy cannonballs. Due to the Nine-Snake Mother Tree joining the battle, the production of bullets and cannonballs will sharply decrease.
However, the stock in the Tree Domain Camp and East City Camp should still have about 100,000 bullets and approximately 500 cannonballs. If we utilize the spiritual energy mines we can produce even more, but I don't recommend using the spiritual energy mines."
As the chief steward, Yan Meiyu immediately reported the figures, but she knew well the significance of the spiritual energy mines to Su Han, as they were also the source of increased production of the Crystal Mine Fruits, thus they should not be used lightly.
She looked at Yan Tiejun and asked, "Vice Commander Yan, is this quantity sufficient?"
Yan Tiejun, who had been temporarily appointed by Su Han as the Deputy Commander to assist in managing the reserve forces—being the former chief of the Armed Forces—was capable of managing the Armed Forces well with Guo Gang.
Ye Kailing continued to serve as an instructor, but her focus would be on the Sky Cavalry. Soon, Zhang Xinxin should be reassigned as the deputy instructor from the city defense troops.
Yan Tiejun's pupils constricted involuntarily, a bit incredulous, "How much?"
He could hardly believe his ears. The most bullets South City Camp had ever scrounged up were only in the tens of thousands, and that was when the spiritual energy mines were not in short supply.
Since the apocalypse began, he had never fought in such a well-supplied battle.
"Is it too little?"
Stunned for a moment, Yan Meiyu heard Yan Tiejun quickly say, "It should be enough, it should be enough."
After a pause, Yan Tiejun said seriously, "I am an impatient man and speak my mind first. According to normal tactics, the location of No.4 Middle School is naturally divided by the river. To attack from the front, you have to either cross the river or go around. But whether you go around the west district or not, it essentially comes down to the size of the river.
In the fog, walking any extra distance is very risky. Therefore, I suggest covering the area with artillery first, then advancing step by step in a semi-circular encirclement, finally converging at No.4 Middle School to encircle and kill the bug nest."
Yan Tiejun drew three routes on the map, neither too far nor too close. Maintaining a connected status, they could cover each other and gradually encircle.
He really was a professional, and his actions were seasoned.
"That seems good, but if we coordinate with a vine attack..."
Zhu Xiong, stroking his chubby chin, suggested a supplement. If combined with pushing forward, the three teams would be completely coordinated.
"I do not recommend using the Fourth Order Mother Tree at this time."
However, Yan Tiejun shook his head. He looked at Su Han and said, "The leader's Fourth Order Apostle is our strongest card. We still do not know much about the other side's Fourth Order creatures. It shouldn't be used first without reserve strength."
His words made everyone realize, indeed, this was a major issue.
Zhu Xiong immediately turned serious and said, "I assumed too much, sorry."
Gan Xinglei raised his hand and said, "If that's the case, we should prepare an extra trick, like a bigger bomb?"
Yan Tiejun immediately looked at Gan Xinglei approvingly. This guy gets it; fire support is the key.
Yan Tiejun immediately said, "I agree."
Su Han smiled and asked, "Old Yan, elaborate."
"Since Steward Yan mentioned that other camps still have spiritual energy bombs, let's get them all here. Let Elder Tian's students modify them to at least make one high-yield bomb that can destroy the range of a school. Even if it does not reach some missiles' power, it should be strong enough to overwhelm ordinary Third Order and Fourth Order creatures.
Moreover, it's best if it's carried personally by a Third Order flying Apostle to avoid any accidents."
Yan Tiejun spoke earnestly, but besides Su Han and Li Ruikang, everyone else felt their heads ache.
Damn, they all thought this rigid old man was truly a tough old geezer.
To flatten a school and still not be satisfied?
It's good that it's South City and not a major city; otherwise, with enough firepower, would it really be completely flattened?
Li Ruikang asked solemnly, "What about our personnel? If the yield is too high, given the current attack system of the Apostles, close combat is very likely. If the explosion range expands, it might result in both sides suffering."
"This..."
Yan Tiejun frowned. This was an oversight on his part, planning combat with a modern warfare mindset.
Once the armies engaged, retreating was not so simple. Close combat wasn't something you could just walk away from.
"If that's the case..."
"How about setting it off early?"
Old Zhu's eyes lit up, his voice somewhat excited, "Fighting is tricky, so let's not do it then. As soon as we detect the enemy's Fourth Order or higher units, we launch before the combat starts. Kill or cripple them with one shot. If we win, then we can sweep up… cough, secure the victory. If unscathed, we should reconsider the attack possibilities. After all, our strongest card is our leader."
Everyone looked at Su Han, who slowly nodded and said, "Let's do as Old Zhu suggested. Two rounds of artillery coverage, the first to destroy the hatcheries and positions, forcing out their higher-order units, and the second for heavy damage. Regarding this task, Kailing will be responsible."
"Roar!"
Just as the words fell, a sudden roar sounded, a powerful presence swept through, and they all turned towards the sound, only to see a blood-red figure, fiery as the sky, streaking across the sky.
Ye Kailing had successfully broken through.