Chapter 132: The Alienated Overmind

"Master, we can't go on like this, or that city will surely fall," Long Zhan said after cutting down a Corruptor.

"Then let's go find the source and take out the final boss," Ziyue replied, flying over on her giant eagle to join Long Zhan.

"Ziyue, that's easy for you to say," Xiatian remarked.

"Then what do you suggest we do? Although Dragon City still has hundreds of thousands of people, how many can actually handle the fifty or so Level 60 Ultralisk bosses? Our aerial forces are barely holding on. Once those Brood Lords start attacking the players below without restraint, even if we survive this wave, the fall of Dragon City is only a matter of time," Ziyue argued.

"You're right, but we don't even know where the final boss is. How are we supposed to find it?" I asked.

Huanyue spoke up, "If I'm not mistaken, I know where it is."

"You do?" I looked at her, incredulous.

Huanyue pointed toward the distant mountain range. I realized the direction she pointed was exactly where the Zerg air forces were emerging from. I slapped my forehead; I finally understood. The Zerg ground units could use Nydus Worms to reach the battlefield, but the aerial units had to fly manually. Their flight path had exposed the location of their nest.

Inside Dragon City, Ultralisks were rampaging. While the sheer number of players might win through attrition, if we couldn't defeat the final boss, it would be no different than abandoning the city.

I felt immense pressure. The safety of Dragon City now rested largely on the shoulders of our small group. If we could take down that final boss, our chances of winning this war would increase by at least 50%, if not more.

"Since we're agreed, let's move," Ziyue said. She brought Honglian over, whispered something to her, and Honglian leaped onto Long Zhan.

"What's this?" I asked, confused.

Ziyue replied, "You guys go. I'll stay to defend Dragon City."

"Why aren't you coming with us?" Xiatian asked.

"How should I put it... Dragon City needs someone capable left behind to hold the line," Ziyue explained.

"Fine. We're heading out. We'll give you a share of the loot later," I said.

"Suit yourself." Long Zhan carried me and the three women. I shouted, "Let's go!"

"Yes, Master!" Long Zhan roared and surged forward, ordering the Sonic Werewolf and Amaterasu to defend Dragon City at all costs. We raced toward the enemy's lair.

"Charge! Breakthrough!" Xiatian cheered. We dove into the mountains and soon spotted a towering structure resembling a high spire. Immediately, swarms of Mutalisks and Corruptors rose to meet us.

"Get out of my way!" Long Zhan unleashed a torrent of dragon fire. Mutalisks and Corruptors turned into experience points as they were caught in the flames. However, one Corruptor broke through the fire and sprayed a stream of purple liquid at us. "Hold the line!" Xiatian shouted, leaping onto Long Zhan's head with her shield raised. A massive magical barrier manifested, absorbing the hit. A dozen Mutalisks followed up with glaive wurms, but the shield held firm.

After blocking the attack, Long Zhan blasted more fire, and Huanyue unleashed a massive wind blade. I extended my Ruyi Staff and began swinging wildly. Many Zerg fell, but more continued to swarm us. "Damn it, this is endless," I cursed. Suddenly, the sky darkened. Above me, a massive Corruptor appeared, spitting a huge yellow projectile. Long Zhan tried to evade, but the impact sent him spinning out of control. Xiatian and Honglian were thrown off. Long Zhan recovered just before hitting the ground, but an Ultralisk appeared out of nowhere and struck him with its massive tusks, knocking me and Huanyue off as well.

As I stood up, I saw Long Zhan locked in combat with the Ultralisk, while Hydralisks, Roaches, and Zerglings surged around us. "Tear of the Peerless!" A cold voice rang out. I looked up to see the giant Corruptor being shredded by energy beams. Two shadows landed between us—Honglian and Xiatian. Judging by the voice, that attack was Honglian's.

The four of us carved a path through the Zerg army. As for Long Zhan, though it pained me, we had to leave him to hold the rear, or we would be drowned in the sea of bugs.

We sprinted forward and soon reached a spot within a hundred meters of the tower. To our surprise, there were no Zerg around the tower. But as we looked for the boss, the tower began to move. It bent over like a waist, and its apex split open to reveal a massive, hideous mouth filled with rings of white, jagged teeth.

*Evolved Hive, Level 66 Boss, Biological Building. Description: The Hive is the primary base of the Zerg; all Zerg warriors are hatched from here.*

"Everyone, prepare for battle!"

"Right!"

I gripped my staff tightly. But the boss seemed to ignore us entirely, acting like a mere building.

"Bastard, you dare ignore us? Take this!" Xiatian threw a red flask at the Evolved Hive.

"BOOM!"

"-1!"

"-1!" "-1!" "-1!" "-1!"

After a string of single-digit damage, Huanyue stepped forward, whispering, "Let me! Awaken, in the name of the contract, release the Wind King's power!" A cyan hurricane erupted from her blade, and she struck the boss's maw—4,000 damage appeared. The boss finally retaliated, extending a long, sharp spike from its body to stab at Huanyue with terrifying speed.

"Huanyue!" I screamed, but she had already been sent flying, taking 4,300 damage. Thankfully, she had nearly 10,000 HP, or she would have been one-shot. I rushed over to catch her.

"I'll go first, I'll block it, you guys attack!" Xiatian shouted, running forward. The boss thrust another spike down. Xiatian raised her shield, and though she took 10 damage, a blue light flashed over her—clearly a skill effect.

"I'm going too, let's do this together," Honglian said, hoisting her katana. I set Huanyue down. "Can you handle it?"

"No problem!" She gave a thumbs-up, and the two of them charged.

"King's Wind!" Huanyue unleashed wind blades, and I struck the ground, triggering a Lightning Storm. The boss let out a pained roar, sweeping its spikes at us. We dodged, ducked, and weaved, countering with our own onslaught of skills—Cloud-Leaping Strike, Smash, Assault, and Energy Explosion.

Honglian slashed repeatedly, her strikes seemingly effortless yet dealing over 30,000 damage. "Ghost Slash!" she shouted, her katana wreathed in purple-black energy, carving away another 4,000 HP.

The boss roared and thrust a spike at Honglian, but she parried it with her blade. Her technique was incredible; the Chinese server was truly full of hidden talents. I followed up with a Smash, an Energy Explosion, and a Holy Fist combo.

The boss let out a deafening howl, raising all five spikes before slamming them down at blinding speed. We couldn't dodge in time and were knocked to the ground, battered and bruised. Without giving us a second to breathe, the boss raised its five spikes high, ready to strike again.