Fang Senyan could see at this moment that despite the ferocious human firepower, it could not withstand the Zerg’s relentless, self-sacrificing attacks. In the mere minutes he had observed, the Zerg assault line had advanced at least twenty meters. If this pace continued, the human defense line would inevitably clash head-on with the Zerglings in less than five minutes!

Even in the real world, there was a well-known principle: once an enemy closes within two meters, firearms often lose their effectiveness compared to melee weapons. What was worse, these soldiers were facing the fangs and claws of Zerglings, creatures known for their pure, savage instinct?

At this juncture, a commander roared orders, frantically signaling to the rear, seemingly demanding a prioritized retreat. Yet, the vehicle being protected did not move; instead, several figures clad in white power armor began disembarking. Men and women alike, their armor bore a distinct red cross spray-painted across the chest. The medical packs they carried in their left hands were shaped like shields; the outer face was designed to deflect enemy blows, while the inner side held various medications, making them instantly accessible.

The leader of this group was a middle-aged man wearing spectacles; he wore no power armor, yet radiated an aura that was both gentle and authoritative. He spoke a few words to the surrounding machine gunners, whose faces were taut with anxiety—words likely akin to "I stand with you." In response, the gunners cheered, and a faint white glow enveloped their bodies, causing their firing rate to surge instantly. Fang Senyan was intimately familiar with this state; it was clearly the effect of the stimulant integrated into the standard armor system.

These figures in white power armor soon dispersed among the soldiers. A faint blue light shimmered in their hands, resolving into fine vaporous specks above each soldier’s head, slowly merging into their bodies. This appeared to be a process of vital regeneration. Mo Gansha, watching, expressed his astonishment:

“I saw this documented back at the Iron Outpost Base. These must be Combat Medics. Some humans in this world have experienced mild mental power awakenings. After training, they become excellent field doctors, capable of channeling their psychic energy into sustained healing effects.”

Thanks to the powerful boost from the stimulants, the Zerg line, which had been slowly advancing, was violently pushed back again, leaving behind a mess of ruined flesh and blood. The vanguard of the Zerg attack, which had closed to within fifty meters of the human front, was now repelled to a distance of around a hundred meters.

However, the Zerg suddenly altered their formation. They first retreated like a tide beyond the effective range of the tanks. Then, the dozen or so Broodlord-class Zerglings gathered together, adopting a dense, triangular wedge formation. It was evident they intended to spearhead the next assault, with the smaller Zerglings following close behind, charging forward with overwhelming force!

Mo Gansha urgently exclaimed:

“These bastards are going to be serious trouble!”

Fang Senyan looked at the few remaining Broodlord-class Zerglings scattered among the enemy force and declared resolutely:

“No, I have to go offer support.”

Mo Gansha considered this. “A standard Zergling’s attack power is only around 30 points. I heard if their Hatchery has metal ore nearby, their attack power can increase, but it likely won’t exceed 40. Their terror comes from their high attack speed. Given your special ability, you are practically invulnerable to their standard damage. The only concern is being hit by a critical strike. But there are simply too many Zerglings down there… I think you should bypass them and link up with the machine gunners first.”

“No, no. Joining up with them sounds like a good idea, but it’s actually far more dangerous. They will undoubtedly push me to the front line. If a few of those charging Broodlord-class Zerglings survive the initial onslaught, the pressure on me will only increase. More importantly, it won't leave a deep enough impression on them. I won't gain enough advantage.”

Mo Gansha was momentarily stunned:

“You plan to go around the flank alone?”

Fang Senyan nodded seriously. “Why not? Based on the data collected previously at the Iron Whip Base, the Zerglings’ attack power doesn't meet my threshold for penetrating defenses. As the lowest-tier troops of the Zerg, their strengths are staggering numbers, mobility, and attack speed. Therefore, besides low vitality, a low critical hit rate is also a flaw. Field tests show their crit rate is only about 1%—so it should be fine.”

Mo Gansha pondered. “If you put it that way, the risk is indeed lowered to an acceptable level. Ahem, although I am currently indisposed, I still have the capability to cover your escape. However, I must say, charging into that sea of bugs alone… it’s incredibly dangerous.”

Fang Senyan sounded utterly confident. “Don't forget I'll save the stimulant for an emergency escape. As long as I can break free from the immediate engagement while the stimulant is active, preventing myself from being surrounded, I can trigger the acceleration effect of another Soul Gear to flee. The main focus of these bugs is currently fixed on that embattled human unit. And the machine gunners on the distant emplacements, protected by these medics, aren't going down easily. If I can divert some pressure from the flank, I should be able to help them hold the line.”

With that, Fang Senyan swiftly downed a vial of the Flesh and Blood Bear gene serum, then donned the combat suit he had purchased. Although this garment was incredibly sturdy, its joints were reinforced, offering excellent sealing. While fine during combat, wearing it for ordinary movement was akin to wearing a wetsuit—stiflingly hot. Thus, he only wore it when immediate danger warranted it.

Next, he retrieved the Prometheus Model III Flamethrower. Because it possessed infinite ammunition, Fang Senyan had practiced with it extensively since acquiring it, becoming intimately familiar with its operation. He slung it onto his back, pulled down his helmet, and sprinted toward the flank of the battlefield.

At this moment, nearly every machine gunner was pouring suppressive fire onto the charging Broodlord-class Zerglings, and even the three Siege Tanks were focusing their fire, knowing the horror if these creatures reached point-blank range. However, a few perimeter machine gunners noticed Fang Senyan, bearing the fiery red Prometheus III, moving toward the fray. While continuing to rake the enemy with fire, they couldn't help but whistle and yell:

“Hey! Good news is we seem to have reinforcements. Bad news is the reinforcement looks like just one guy. Is he going for a suicide run?”

Indeed, in the soldiers' frame of reference, the Firebats (FIRERBAT), equipped with flamethrowers, were the natural predators of Zerglings (the small dogs). A coordinated charge by several Firebats, with their area-of-effect capabilities, could result in a mad slaughter of swarming Zerglings. The prerequisite, however, was that the Firebats had to arrive in sufficient numbers, and the enemy could not have ranged units like Hydralisks present, lest the short-ranged Firebats be incinerated by powerful acid before they could even close the distance.

Furthermore, Firebats possessed a fatal weakness: zero anti-air capability. Consequently, within the current organization of the Human Star Alliance, Firebats were typically deployed as a unified contingent, mobilized only where specific threats arose. In small-scale outposts like this, specialized units like the Firebat squadron were usually absent.

Just as the soldiers assumed Fang Senyan would be instantly swallowed by the swarm, he halted approximately fifty meters from the edge of the Zerg tide. Several Zerglings rapidly sprinting toward the main human line suddenly veered off course. As Fang Senyan advanced a few more steps, over a dozen smaller Zerglings detached themselves from the main force and charged forth, snapping and clawing. When they entered the effective range of Fang Senyan, he simultaneously triggered the launchers on both hands. Two searing torrents of fire, each over twenty meters long, erupted, completely engulfing the dozen or so Zerglings!

Abruptly scorched by the intense flame, the Zerglings burst into fire themselves. Amidst their agonizing shrieks, they desperately tried to scatter and flee. However, Fang Senyan’s high Perception score of 23 allowed him to accurately predict their evasive maneuvers. As a result, these Zerglings only managed to scramble five or six meters before burning to death! He couldn't even manage to spare one to test the attack power of the main wave, as he had intended.

“This attack power…” Fang Senyan was himself quite surprised. The Prometheus Model III Flamethrower was a weapon unique to this world; it could not be carried out, and would automatically self-destruct if the owner left this reality. Consequently, Fang Senyan had never seen its detailed specifications, like damage output! Now it appeared its range and power far surpassed standard Firebat equipment. Still, considering its acquisition difficulty, value, and the fact that it only targets low-tier Zerglings, it could only be described as excellent value for money.

After drawing another wave of Zerglings, Fang Senyan tested their attack power, finding it was approximately 35 points. This confirmed Mo Gansha’s speculation: this Zerg brood’s Hatchery must be situated near metallic ore, thus boosting their attack strength. However, for Fang Senyan at this moment, his armor’s defense threshold was set at 40 attack power. Therefore, an attack of 30 or 37 points made no difference—both resulted in a mandatory 1 point of damage bleed-through.