By the third day, Luo Feng and Chen Gu departed from Mingyue Community. They met up with Gao Feng, Wei Tie, and Wei Qing at the HR Alliance Mall before heading toward the supply base of the Southeast Military Region.
The Southeast Military Region, in terms of sheer size, dwarfed the North Military Region of the Jiangnan Base City!
“This supply base is much larger than the one for the North Military Region, too.” After collecting their keys, Luo Feng and his group walked through the base, marveling at the sight. The entire complex contained far more residences than the North Military Region’s, and everywhere they looked, large numbers of martial artists were visible.
The caliber of the warriors here was significantly higher than those in the North Military Region.
“Of course, it’s much stronger!” Gao Feng remarked with a sigh. “City 003 is adjacent to the ocean. Countless monsters from the sea have carved up the continent, and along the Huangpu River, they already pose a threat to the interior. The military region here exists specifically to combat those ocean monsters. And the martial artists stationed here are primarily focused on dealing with the monsters within City 003.”
Compared to land-based monsters, ocean monsters presented a far more terrifying threat to humanity.
Because… the ocean covered vastly more territory than the land, and the ocean was entirely the domain of monsters. One could only imagine the sheer quantity of creatures lurking beneath the waves.
“Look, is that the ‘Poison Demon Spear’?”
“Tsk, wow, look! Isn’t that a War God? It’s rare enough to see one War God-level expert in the North Military Region, and here we run into one immediately.”
“Not surprising. City 003 is one of the premier monster strongholds on the entire Eurasian continent. Not just experts from our Jiangnan Base City, but masters from other base cities flock here too. So, a high concentration of experts isn't strange.”
The Fire Hammer Squad gazed down from the balcony of their assigned quarters, each member expressing their astonishment.
The martial artists here truly came from all corners of the world!
“Let’s eat. After lunch, we set out for City 003,” Gao Feng announced.
…
A moment later, the fully equipped five members of the Fire Hammer Squad left the supply base.
“It’s the Fire Hammer Squad; they’ve come here too?”
“I heard the newest addition to the Fire Hammer Squad, that madman, is quite formidable. He’s a low-level Warlord. His progress will surely be swift from here on.”
Some people at the supply base chatted knowingly as they watched.
“Madman?” Wan Dong, who was chatting with a friend under the shade of a tree, couldn't help but turn his head. At that moment, the five members of the Fire Hammer Squad were walking toward the base gate.
“Dongzi, Luo Feng was in the same batch as you, right?” the burly man beside him asked.
“Yeah.”
Wan Dong nodded. “He became a martial artist in the same intake as me. I ran into him during the Level Three Rat Tide outbreak last time. I didn’t expect him to be transferred to the Southeast Military Region as well.” During the last Rat Tide, Wan Dong’s original team captain had died. Consequently, Wan Dong and others had joined different warrior squads and ended up here.
“Keep it up, Dongzi. Don’t let Luo Feng outshine you,” the burly man playfully punched Wan Dong’s chest.
Wan Dong watched Luo Feng’s figure disappear through the main gate, a complex tangle of emotions churning within him.
They had both taken the martial artist practical assessment together, both recruited early by the martial arts halls! Yet, in the blink of an eye, he was still a newcomer needing to strive hard, while Luo Feng had already carved out a reputation within the martial artist circles. Now, when people mentioned the moniker, ‘The Madman of Jiangnan City,’ most knew exactly who they meant.
It was incredibly difficult to forge such a name!
Either through a single, earth-shattering battle!
Or through a series of peculiar achievements! Like Luo Feng, killing over ten thousand monsters in two months.
Or through years of reputation accumulation! Chen Gu, and in the past, Zhang Ke, all needed over a decade of reputation building to earn their titles!
And now, Luo Feng was already considered a figure with a known moniker.
“He was just like me back then, and now he’s a moderately famous figure among martial artists. I absolutely cannot be surpassed by him!” Wan Dong clenched his fists. With Luo Feng as a clear target ahead, Wan Dong dared not allow even a moment of complacency.
※※
Following the highway, Luo Feng and his team traveled for approximately two days before finally entering the boundaries of City 003.
The sky was overcast and dim. The Fire Hammer Squad advanced with extreme caution. “Inside!” Gao Feng barked a low order.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Luo Feng and the other four members swiftly darted into a street-front shop nearby.
“Screech~~”
“Caw-caw~~”
A sky darkening swarm of hundreds of flying creatures shot past overhead. Only then did the Fire Hammer Squad cautiously emerge.
“This is a concentration point for monsters, arguably the largest single base camp on the entire Eurasian continent. It’s not just terrestrial beasts; there are all kinds of avian monsters too,” Gao Feng stated gravely in a low voice. “And because we are near the sea, some amphibious monsters will also appear. Everyone must be cautious, cautious, and extremely cautious!”
“Understood, Captain,” Luo Feng and the others nodded.
They all knew how perilous this place was. A single aerial assault from that flock of flying monsters, even with advantageous terrain and Luo Feng’s bursts of power, would have been enough to cost them their lives.
“Our objective is the residential complex called ‘Vanke Dream City,’ about two li away,” Gao Feng whispered. “This Vanke Dream City covers a massive area; it was built to house nearly a million people. There are quite a few monsters there now, and since it’s on the outskirts of City 003, we’re less likely to encounter Lord-level monsters immediately. It’s a good place for us to test the waters first.”
“Okay,” the others agreed.
“Everyone, remain vigilant. Monsters could emerge from the sky, the ground, or even underground,” Gao Feng waved his hand. “Move out!”
Luo Feng’s Blood Shadow Battle Blade was already unsheathed, and Chen Gu’s RG112 heavy machine gun was ready to fire at a moment’s notice. The five members of the Fire Hammer Squad advanced cautiously, daring not to be arrogant in the slightest—a stark contrast to their demeanor in the small county town previously.
“Roar~~” “Awoo~~” “Die!”
A deafening roar echoed from dozens of li away, rumbling like thunder, accompanied by the furious shouts of humans.
“Damn, what kind of monster is that?” Chen Gu couldn’t help but turn to look in the direction of the sound.
“That’s toward the urban district. It’s a true melting pot where the powerful gather—great crocodiles, Lord-level monsters, and War God-level martial artists. Many of them are over there,” Gao Feng explained quietly. “If you don't have the strength of a War God, going there is suicide! In the urban area of City 003, there are not only experts from our Huaxia Nation but also powerhouses from countries like Russia and India!”
Luo Feng and the others nodded solemnly.
Under normal circumstances, covering that distance of two li by running would take less than a minute. However, it took the Fire Hammer Squad a full half an hour to reach the Vanke Dream City complex, which had been desolate for decades. In that half hour, Luo Feng and his team had already killed two snake-like monsters, over thirty regular Soldier-level monsters, and one low-level Warlord-level monster!
“I heard it was dangerous, but I didn't expect it to be this deadly! Even being this careful, we were forced into a fight with a low-level Warlord,” Chen Gu’s eyes shone with excitement. “It really is City 003.”
“Let’s go, up the building quickly!”
Gao Feng signaled, and the group swiftly and carefully rushed into an apartment building. The structure reached eighteen stories high. Luo Feng and the others fought their way from the first floor up to the twelfth, encountering over ten monsters en route.
In a roughly 100-square-meter apartment on the twelfth floor:
“For the duration of our time in City 003, this unit will be our temporary rest area,” Gao Feng stated.
Luo Feng agreed.
Unlike some county towns, City 003 had a massive presence of flying monsters, making resting on the rooftops absolutely impossible. To do so would be actively seeking death.
“Look, over there!” Gao Feng stood on the dusty balcony and pointed south. “Look, do you see that area completely shrouded in mist?”
Luo Feng and the others moved over.
Indeed, about ten li away, clusters of buildings appeared indistinctly through the fog, fading further in the distance until only a worn road sign was visible. That entire section was eerily blanketed in vapor, though the whole of City 003 generally possessed a dim, grayish atmosphere. The roars of various monsters and the cries of flying beasts were constant. The thunderous hordes numbering in the tens of thousands were too numerous to count!
“At the core of that area was originally a Carrefour supermarket, and a ‘High-level Lord’ monster has established its territory there,” Gao Feng said seriously. “Remember, under no circumstances are we to approach that region! Reportedly, that High-level Lord monster commands two Initial Lord-level subordinates, along with a large contingent of Warlord-level beasts and countless Soldier-level monsters. It is the overlord of the surrounding thirty li!”
Luo Feng sucked in a cold breath.
One High-level Lord and two Initial Lords? What kind of pack was that?
“Of course, they can only claim dominion in the suburbs. In the urban districts, Lord-level monsters are far more common,” Gao Feng waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, everyone rest for the night. Tomorrow, our campaign in City 003 officially begins.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Luo Feng and the others exchanged glances, smiles spreading across their faces.
“Screech~~”
Hundreds of flying monsters swept over the complex, some flying directly between the apartment buildings. The closest one passed within thirty meters of where Luo Feng’s group stood.
“Everyone get into the bedrooms to rest. The windows there are small, so the flying creatures can’t get in. Chen Gu and Wei Tie, you two will take rotating night watch duty today.”
In City 003, even while sleeping, Luo Feng and his team required a guard to be on duty!
No one dared to relax, because this place was the playground of monsters, a hellscape for humans, and the battlefield for warriors!
. . P: I went back to my hometown today to burn incense and paper money, so the update is late. My apologies to the brothers~