As long as you have the courage, fierce ghosts go on maternity leave.

Chapter 368: Don’t worry, wait for my return

Amidst the soldiers, a wave of unrest suddenly erupted. Kalin was the first to step forward, his voice filled with agitation:

"How can the command center issue such an order? Behind us lies the plantation that sustains the entire base! Without our defense, the base would be left to consume its resources until depletion. Even if we manage to hold back the beetle tide, we’d likely starve to death sooner or later."

The beetles here, although of a lower level, were not much different from the real black beetles, relentlessly attacking any greenery they encountered.

Defending the base was not actually about protecting the survivors’ main camp in the rear. In reality, if it were solely about defense, concentrating the population would be the best strategy.

But humans need to eat, and the base’s food reserves, however plentiful, were limited. Without food, there was nothing left to defend.

Fortunately, the black beetles had a characteristic: they prioritized attacking living beings over plants and lacked intelligence and discernment. Within a certain distance, they would first charge towards human settlements.

Leveraging this trait of the black beetles led to the establishment of ten defensive bases, encircling large planting areas to grow food for the survivors in the rear.

This method, despite causing significant casualties, was deemed worthwhile.

Now, the rear command center unexpectedly ordered the abandonment of the ten defensive bases. The planting areas would be swiftly overrun by the beetle tide, an act akin to digging one’s own grave.

"Everyone, quiet down!"

Atos raised his voice and spoke:

"The command center had this contingency plan for some time now, hesitant to implement it due to the same concerns as everyone here. After all, we were uncertain when a method to counter the beetle tide would be developed, and no one dared take the risk."

"But now, things have changed. Alexander has discovered a way to turn ordinary people into awakened beings, and the absorption of beetle corpses has become faster and more efficient."

"So, the command center has reactivated this plan. We’re not just abandoning the ten defensive bases, but also the main base in the rear! All surviving humans will take refuge deep underground, in a natural giant cavern a hundred meters below the surface of the main base."

"There, we’ve prepared enough food for two years, along with a wealth of supplies and countless beetle corpses. This temporary retreat is to prepare for a stronger counterattack in the future. Right now, each one of you is invaluable; we can’t afford to lose more lives at these ten defensive bases."

"One day, we’ll emerge from underground. By then, we’ll have the strength of at least level seven or even eight (Prince or King rank). Only then can we better defend our land!"

Atos spoke passionately, clearly moved.

Alexander frowned slightly and asked: "Commander Atos, tell me, what exactly do you need me to do?"

"Captain Alexander, these are my elite troops, the veterans who first came to this base with me. With the method you provided, they all possess at least level four (Ferocious) strength."

Atos gestured towards the thousand soldiers standing at attention and said to Alexander:

"The main base has plenty of supplies to last one or two years, but that might not be enough! I need you to lead a team to an abandoned camp thirty miles away. It was once a survivor base for a million people. Half a year ago, we retreated from a massive beetle tide, and of those million, only thirty thousand made it here!"

Atos’s voice choked up as he recalled the bloody journey. He looked up, taking a moment to compose himself before continuing:

"We left in such a hurry that many supplies were loaded but couldn’t be transported in time. Recently, one of our drones managed to enter the base and found that the beetle tide had completely receded. Your mission is to enter that base and transport back a thousand modified heavy trucks loaded with supplies to our rear base!"

"Understood! I’ll take on this mission!"

Alexander nodded. He didn’t know if this was a test in this world, but even if it was just a scenario, faced with the survival of his entire race, he wouldn’t refuse.

In such times, bolstered by the will to survive as a species, even the most cowardly person might find the courage to give everything. It’s an instinct.

"Good!" A smile appeared on Atos’s face as he said earnestly: "I’ll be here with the rest of the defense base, waiting for your return!"

"Don’t worry! I’ll bring back the supplies!"

Alexander nodded, then turned to face the thousand elite soldiers. Without any superfluous words, and in the presence of these true soldiers, there was no need for the kind of extensive speeches necessary for the ghost citizens of Horror World. He simply uttered one word:

"Depart!"

The thousand soldiers turned in unison, their steps firm, as they marched towards the city’s outskirts.

These were real soldiers, both before and after the apocalypse. Adherence to military orders was their absolute duty, then and always.

Because they were soldiers.

"Master!"

Behind him, Sophia’s exclamation rang out. Alexander turned to see the young girl, her face streaked with tears, choking out: "I’m coming with you!"

Alexander shook his head and caught up with the main force, his faint voice reaching Sophia’s ears and those of all the soldiers and Atos back at the base:

"Don’t worry, wait for my return."

There were no grandiloquent phrases, no resolute vows, just a simple, plain tone, but those seven words deeply imprinted themselves in everyone’s minds.

For some reason, everyone present, even those soldiers who had little contact with Alexander, harbored the same thought at that moment.

He would keep his promise. He would return.

Outside the base, the world was desolate and bleak, scarred everywhere by the ravages of the beetles.

A glance revealed what was once lush greenery now cruelly stripped bare, like wounded, curled skin, exposing the barren, ugly earth.

Unobstructed winds raged across this broken world, whipping up clouds of dust and sand, like a curtain obscuring the sky.

A thousand-strong procession moved with determined steps through this dusty curtain, advancing step by step towards their goal.

They carried with them the expectations of all humanity, and what they sought to retrieve was immense hope.