Chapter 332: One Step Ahead
Watching the drop in the barrier’s durability like a racing stock market ticker, it was clear: the barrier was not going to hold.
With this level of attack intensity, two hours of defense would be pushing it, and heaven only knows if the monsters had any extra strength up their sleeves.
Plus, they had to manage the monsters on the front lines.
Long-range attacks were limited in frequency and suffered from distance decay, hence the temporary standoff.
However, if those melee monsters all focused their efforts, they could tear down the barrier in mere minutes.
So the monsters in the back weren’t just lounging around—it was a full-blown monster support group, raining down AOE attacks on the walls and the hapless humans stacked on top of each other like a bad game of Jenga.
At this rate, keeping the defense intact was going to be harder than finding a needle in a haystack during spring cleaning.
They needed a plan—something to deal with the close-range attackers while disturbing the ones further out.
No one was expecting a miracle; just a distraction to bust down the attack frequency would do.
The previous decapitation squad was back in action, but this time they weren’t just dealing with any regular beasts; it was a BOSS, a level up that made them feel like toddlers in a grown-up’s world.
They were going to buzz around the BOSS like ants until they got squashed.
Once they walked out, it was basically a ticket to instant oblivion.
But hey, this d*ath wasn’t going to be in vain! Disrupt the BOSS, interrupt some spells, maybe snipe a monster here and there—those were their noble objectives.
Thanks to their antics, the fireworks of attacks from afar calmed down slightly.
But the melee assault? It was escalating faster than a cat meme going viral.
These monsters were packing some serious punch this round; their numbers might not match before, but each one was packing multiple times the vitality of their predecessors.
Players were struggling to clear out the monsters at the base of the walls—it was starting to look like a monster pileup.
The more they stacked up, the more incline they created—like a ramp leading up to the walls.
These monsters were working well together too. Some of the bulkier ones were happy to play base for the more agile ones to climb right on up.
Once that ramp was established, swapping defense meant the players could only pick off the top layer; the foundation would remain, immovable.
Just like that, a steady stream of monsters was stepping over their friends, climbing right up the walls.
Once they reached the walls, most players barely stood a chance against those level-thirty-plus elite monsters.
Lower-level players would just be squished with a few grazes, while slightly stronger ones managed a couple more hits before their inevitable doom.
Only the brave few who were also level thirty and up might band together in small teams to handle things.
But given that those higher-level players were already few and far between, along with some casualties from previous waves of monsters, they were even less in number now.
Every monster that climbed up required a ton of players—just drowning them in numbers.
Fortunately, these ramps weren’t springing up all over the place. Most instances were just simple monster stacking, and with enough focus fire directed at the right spot, they could scatter.
After all, building a ramp needed a ton of specific monsters as a base, stacking layer after layer.
So there were only a few critical points that needed attending to.
But those points were no picnic either. If they didn’t dismantle the ramps and allowed waves of monsters to keep climbing, the players would suffer disproportionately, and the barrier’s durability would drop like a bad stock.
“This won’t hold! We need to cut off the source!” declared one player.
“Are you nuts? There are monsters everywhere down there! Anyone who drops in will get swarmed and beaten to a pulp!”
Fiery Conflict Across the Sky listened to the bickering and let out a resigned sigh.
“Maybe there’s a way,” he finally suggested.
“What kind of way?”
“Use an undinterruptible high-damage AOE.”
“That kind of skill…” one player began but abruptly paused, “You mean…”
“Ah,” Fiery Conflict Across the Sky chuckled lightly and nodded, “I suppose it’s my turn to take a dive. If I make it out of this massive battle without kicking the bucket, won’t people say I was just loafing around?”
He snickered at the thought.
In theory, as the top commander and the highest level—essentially the strongest player—what he was doing ticked off all the boxes.
But in the face of no alternatives, he still took an extra step forward.
Even if dying this time meant he’d likely be outpaced by others.
“But I can only handle one spot, what about plenty of others…”
“I’ve got a way too,” piped up Can’t Sleep.
Everyone turned their gaze toward him.
He smiled, “Similar to your plan. I can handle a spot as well.”
While others weren’t sure, they didn’t delve deeper.
“And me!” piped up WZC, making an entrance.
“I have this! It’s bound to work this time, right?”
A familiar button appeared in front of everyone.
Fiery Conflict Across the Sky nodded, “This time it really can work.”
“But this baby packs a punch; we need to pick the right spot.”
Can’t Sleep added, “Plus finding the right location and getting help won’t be easy.”
The box’s attack radius was a kilometer—massive and powerful.
Which meant they needed to be at least eight hundred meters from the wall. Otherwise, they’d be wasting firepower.
And in such a precarious situation, wasting firepower was a crime!
Eight hundred meters wasn’t something you could just skip over; sneaking around the corner like everyone else was just as risky.
So… They figured launching a strong ally with the stuff to throw would be best—after all, nobody planned to come back alive!
Eventually, they made their way over to Edward.
Tossing someone was nothing for such a powerhouse.
Edward looked puzzled but agreed; it was no trouble for him.
With the plan set, Fiery Conflict Across the Sky and Can’t Sleep took action.
They each found a spot near the monster ramp, preparing to jump in.
With the time locked down, one push from behind, Fiery Conflict Across the Sky propelled himself forward, soaring through the air.
Watching the various shapes and sizes of monsters below, his mood suddenly lifted.
Sometimes you can’t be too calculative, clinging to titles. He was always chasing after Number One while others chased after him.
And then he discovered that ‘Wind’ was rather free-spirited; her patterns, her moves, all seemed carefree.
Only in moments like these could he truly enjoy the game—the world itself.
“Heh, at this moment, I do feel like her, that reckless leap feeling.”
The leap of belief.
He closed his eyes for a bit, savoring the fleeting time, calculating the timing in his mind.
Then he suddenly opened his eyes, raised his sword, and shouted, “Nuclear Slash!”
Moments later, a ferocious explosion echoed, spreading white light everywhere.
Almost simultaneously, from another direction, a red blaze erupted like a pentagram, surging outward.
(Today’s been a whirlwind; didn’t finish the third chapter—will catch up tomorrow afternoon.)
