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thINKer: Quick thinking again from Chen Liu. The Zhong brothers need to be disciplined.
Yuyu: I'm getting tired of seeing them.
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Chen Liu surveyed the chaotic battlefield. Zhao Tinglong’s duel with the two-star Berserker was a blur of speed, untouchable by others. No one could help him. Ordinary soldiers crumbled against eight-star zombies, and Awakened fighters were pinned by nine-stars, leading to mounting casualties. They didn’t expect the foe to be this strong. The Nightingale Squad struggled most; their two fallen members were reduced to husks. Gao Xiaomei’s force field set up kills, but she couldn’t strike. Her limited ability strained against a nine-star and lesser zombies.
Soldiers’ timely aid saved them from collapse, but Chen Liu had no time for pity, diving back into the fray with Zhang Chong and Yu Na. Clearing the area around their Wrangler, they heard Nightingale’s desperate cry as another member fell. The Zhong brothers, nearby, ignored the plea, their grudge from the earlier clash fueling their indifference. They want them to fail, Chen Liu thought, disgusted. “Captain!” Zhang Chong said, uneasy. “Guard Yu Na. I’ll go,” Chen Liu ordered, prioritising his team’s safety but willing to help. Zhang Chong nodded, holding the Wrangler as eight-star zombies, wary of Chen Liu’s prowess, hesitated.
Rushing to Nightingale’s aid, Chen Liu felt Gao Xiaomei’s crushing force field, nearly stumbling before it lifted. She’s precise, he thought, impressed by her impressive ability to target only enemies.. “Thanks!” a Nightingale member gasped, relieved. Chen Liu tackled their nine-star zombie, easing their burden. Under the field’s pressure, the zombie slowed, its agility dulled against his combat intuition. Perfect support, he thought, marvelling at the field’s amplifying effect.
Zhao Tinglong, meanwhile, faltered against the Berserker’s overwhelming power. If he falls, we’re done, Chen Liu thought, urgency spiking. “I need an opening!” he shouted to Gao Xiaomei, trusting her instincts despite their first collaboration. The zombie lurched as the field vanished, then stumbled when it snapped back—a deliberate disorientation. “Now!” Chen Liu roared, unleashing “Mountain Cleaver,” severing the zombie’s arm. With Gao’s support, he killed it in under ten minutes. “Nice teamwork!” he said, giving her a thumbs-up, genuinely impressed. Gao smiled back, expressing gratitude and admiration.
“Let’s combine squads,” Chen Liu proposed, seeing the folly of fighting separately. Together, we cover weaknesses, he thought; Zhao’s shared defence line was a hint at this strategy. “Alright!” Gao agreed, moving Nightingale to the Wrangler. With Zhang Chong and Yu Na, their combined force dominated, slaughtering zombies freely. “Lure the nine-star here!” Chen Liu called to the struggling soldiers, confident with Gao’s field. Four soldiers had fallen, stalling it; they rushed over, desperate. Gao deployed her field, and Chen Liu intercepted the zombie. The unified Jinghu-Nightingale-soldier line surged, stabilising and pushing back. The Zhong brothers watched, torn by pride and necessity.