“Good heavens.

This time, we’ve really poked a Hell-level BOSS nest.”

Zhou Huai’s consciousness, residing within Gandalf, flashed with a cold, mocking thought.

No wonder the Purgatory Flame Dragon in the sky hadn't moved.

It turned out it was also waiting.

Feeling that splitting forces into two wasn't enough, it decided to split into three.

Using one Hell-level BOSS to tie him down, and then two other Hell-level BOSSes to tear open the defense line from the other two directions.

This was truly a clumsy, yet effective, tactic.

Zhou Huai’s consciousness instantly shifted to Da Yi.

He stood atop a dilapidated building near the East City Gate, closing his eyes.

“Star Dome Vision” activated.

Vast Mental Energy, like an invisible tide, swept towards the North City Gate.

Soon, the scene there clearly fed back into his mind.

Unlike the brutal fighting on the East and West city walls, the North City Gate direction appeared unusually “quiet.”

There were no earth-shattering beast roars, no violent energy impacts.

Only a deathly silence.

But beneath this silence, a chilling malice lurked.

Zhou Huai’s “gaze” pierced through the night and the ruins.

He saw it.

That wasn’t a beast tide.

That was a flowing “shadow” composed of countless tiny black dots.

They crawled along wall corners, through cracks, and drilled through sewers, silently infiltrating the city like a well-trained army.

Those were insects.

An endless swarm of insects.

Zhou Huai’s brows furrowed deeply... Meanwhile, behind the North City Gate defense line.

Compared to the other two city gates, which had already turned into battlefields, the situation here was much calmer.

The number of invading Strange Beast was small, and their strength was generally not high.

Under the layers of defensive Formations laid out by Zhuge Kongming, and the continuous skill bombardments from everyone, they were quickly cleared out.

At this moment, behind the defense line, hundreds of professionals and military soldiers were seizing this rare moment of respite to replenish their stamina.

The air was filled with a strange mixture of food aroma and a strong scent of blood.

Moria silently distributed bottles of stamina potions and food to everyone.

Her face was expressionless, her movements gentle yet swift.

A young Eternal Night Guild member, while wolfing down the dry rations in his hand, cautiously looked at the aloof figure not far away.

“Guild Leader Moria...”

He hesitated for a moment but couldn't help but ask.

“Do you think... we can defend Donghai City?”

This question voiced the thoughts of everyone present.

They had been fighting for a day and a night.

Both their bodies and spirits were already pushed to their limits.

Victory still seemed far out of reach.

Moria’s movements paused.

She recalled the spirit birds that were circling and scouting in the air, then turned around, her clear eyes, which always carried a hint of detachment, calmly looking at the young member.

She didn't offer any inspiring words.

She just shook her head, very honestly.

“I don’t know.”

These three simple words instantly froze the atmosphere around them.

An undisguisable look of disappointment appeared on everyone's faces.

Even the Guild Leader of the Eternal Night Guild said that.

It seemed Donghai City was truly beyond saving.

Moria took in everyone’s expressions, but she didn't explain anything.

Instead, she changed the subject, her voice, though not loud, carried an undeniable firmness.

“But I believe in the Lord.”

“As long as he is still here, we will survive.”

As soon as she finished speaking.

Moria’s expression suddenly changed! 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

She sharply looked up, gazing at the distant dark night sky, and for the first time, a grave expression appeared in her cool eyes.

Through the shared vision of the spirit birds, she saw it.

She saw the rapidly approaching, flowing “shadow.”

“Something’s coming!”

Moria’s voice instantly became cold and urgent!

“All personnel, be on alert!”

“Put down what you’re holding! Quick!”

Behind the defense line, all the resting soldiers were startled by the news.

Without the slightest hesitation, they immediately dropped the food and potions in their hands, grabbed their weapons, and quickly entered combat readiness.

They hid behind the cover provided by the defensive Formations, watching the dark ruins ahead with tense expressions.

They’re here!

“Rustle, rustle...”

A dense, teeth-grating friction sound came from all directions.

Immediately after, to everyone's horror.

Countless hideous beetles, about the size of a fist, completely black, with a pair of blood-red compound eyes, surged out from every corner of the ruins like a black tide!

They vibrated the thin wings on their backs, emitting a series of scalp-numbing hums, converging into a black torrent that blotted out the sky, sweeping towards the defense line!

“Fire!”

Someone let out a hoarse roar.

The next second.

The brilliance of magic and the whoosh of arrows erupted!

Hundreds of skills, like dazzling fireworks, exploded within the black insect tide!

Hundreds and thousands of beetles were instantly incinerated and torn to shreds under the skill bombardment.

However, it was all in vain.

Their numbers were simply too great!

The gaps left by the dead were almost instantly filled by their comrades surging from behind.

The black tide showed no signs of stopping, charging with an unstoppable momentum, violently crashing against the outermost ethereal blue energy barrier!

Buzz—!

The Level 6 Defensive Formation glowed brightly!

“Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!”

There was no earth-shattering roar.

Only a series of teeth-grating, dense crunching sounds, as if something was # Nоvеlight # frantically gnawing at glass!

Everyone looked closely, and all gasped.

They saw that the ethereal blue energy barrier was now densely covered with countless hideous beetles!

With their sharp mandibles, they frantically gnawed at the energy barrier, sending out a flurry of tiny energy sparks!

In just a few breaths, the entire ethereal blue barrier was completely covered by a writhing wall of black insects!

The seemingly indestructible Level 6 Defensive Formation's light began to dim rapidly at a visible speed!

“Damn it!”

“These insects are devouring the Formation’s energy!”

A Formation Master exclaimed, his face pale.

“Quick! Stop them!”

A plant-type professional quickly released a skill.

Rumble—!

The earth trembled violently!

Countless thick vines and tree roots burst from the ground, like wildly dancing giant pythons, frantically sweeping towards the energy barrier covered by the insect wall!

Vines swept, tree roots pierced!

Swathes of beetles were forcefully swept off the barrier and crushed!

But their numbers showed no sign of decreasing.

Instead, they grew more and more numerous!

...East City Gate.

Zhou Huai’s consciousness withdrew from Da Yi and returned to Gandalf.

The situation at the North City Gate was even worse than he had imagined.

Although the individual strength of those insects was not high, they excelled in terrifying numbers and possessed the characteristic of devouring energy, which severely countered the defensive Formations laid out by Zhuge Kongming.

At this rate, in less than half an hour, all the defensive Formations at the North City Gate would be devoured by these beasts.

By then, Moria and the others would face the fate of being completely overwhelmed by an endless tide of insects.

Zhou Huai glanced at Moria's resurrection time.

Only one hour left.

This hour was too long for the precarious North City Gate defense line.

Zhou Huai took a deep breath, a cold resolve flashing in his eyes.

It seemed that before Moria resurrected.

He would have to stage another 'Tian Ji's Horse Race' strategy.