And as if sensing her hesitation, the Main Mother Body watching from beyond spoke with thunderous command. “Do not hesitate!”

“Hesitation only brings more death!”

“As long as we can make them part of our flesh, this price is nothing.”

“This is our destiny!”

Compared to the casualties suffered in previous Tides, the loss was indeed insignificant.

Feeling the Main Mother Body’s imposing will, Thea’s brief hesitation vanished instantly, replaced by madness and bloodlust.

Under its urging, it took mere moments for the surging Tide to break through the web of firepower.

Masses of Crunchers swarmed beneath the buildings, engaging the players stationed on the ground floor in brutal close combat.

Seeing its children finally storm the New Alliance line, the spores floating around Thea pulsed with a faint rhythm of relief.

But that feeling did not last long.

Those humans didn’t flee with their tails between their legs, instead, their fighting spirit exploded even fiercer in close combat.

Only then did it realize something it should have known all along, these people were different from the ones who lived behind the walls.

Under their hive-like discipline, they feared neither death nor the overwhelming tide that engulfed them.

It was as if what they were facing weren’t flesh-eating monsters, but walking bundles of experience points.

“Brothers! Grab your weapons!”

“Fight them! Fuck them up!”

“AAAHHH!”

Led by a squad leader, over a dozen strength type players in exoskeleton charged up the steps, forming a moving wall of steel across their chests.

One madman wielded a roaring chainsaw, bellowing as he dove into the swarm, hacking and slashing wildly. Each swing sent blood and grime flying like rain.

Covered head to toe in black gore, standing atop a mound of corpses, he let out a strange laugh. “Gahaha! This game’s damn therapeutic!”

Before he could finish, a hulking Tyrant came crashing toward him, roaring thunderously.

Startled, he swung his chainsaw, but the spinning blade merely skidded uselessly across the Tyrant’s armor with a screech.

Enraged by pain, the Tyrant lunged forward, grabbing his shoulders with both hands and yanking violently.

With a wet rip, the unlucky player was torn clean in half, blood splattering across the ceiling.

The Tyrant tossed the corpse backward to be devoured by the Crunchers, then stomped onward, its black armor now painted crimson with blood.

Any ordinary mercenary who saw that would have lost their mind in terror. But what stood before it were not ordinary humans, they were players who feared no death.

They were like berserk warriors of Khorne.

Instead of quenching their battlelust, the carnage only drove them madder.

Meanwhile, the broadcast playing in the background BGM carried the administrator’s solemn voice. “The enemy’s main force is attacking our line, those foolish creatures haven’t realized they’ve walked right into our trap!”

“Hold your ground! The final victory will be ours!”

In response came a chorus of roaring battle cries.

“AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

...

Gunfire and artillery shattered the stillness of Clearspring City’s night, the battle against the Tide had begun in full.

As the 10 positions of Defense Sector 06 turned into meat grinders, the Death Corps who were making their way to Boulder Town received new orders to turn around, immediately pivoting toward the north of the second ring.

In one armored truck after another, 3,000 high-spirited players sat packed together.

Their gear wasn’t fancy, but every one of them was meaner than the mutants they fought.

Because of their reckless fighting style, they rarely spent their limited supply points on expensive equipment. Their priciest weapons were the 200 silver coins LD-series rifles.

Next came bayonets, shovels, and grenades!

Originally, they were meant to reinforce the Storm Corps in Defense Sector 06.

But just moments ago, the New Alliance’s Biological Research Institution had analyzed readings from observation posts and drones across the battlefield, based on the density and flow of the spore clouds, and identified the most likely hiding place of Thea.

With that, the Death Corps received a new mission. With support from the Goblin Corps, they were to strike directly at the Tide’s command center!

Holding the radio in his hand, Sideline Slacking shouted into the communication channel.

“... The Storm Corps is under attack by the Tide! Brother Spring Water Commander has been cornered by the Mutant Slime Molds!”

“Our task is to help them, not by rescuing, but by wiping out those disgusting things completely!”

“They’ll soon pay a heavy price for their arrogance and stupidity!”

“Advance!”

...

By now, thick spores blanketed all of Clearspring City. Standing on its fungal carpet, Thea could hardly fail to notice the vast force marching toward it.

Its aura wavered with a flicker of panic.

Though smarter than its siblings, Thea had never imagined that the humans would abandon their Mother Body and come straight for it.

Most of its children were already fighting on the front lines, some attacking the wall-dwellers, others storming the nest of the northern humans, leaving few to guard it.

Wait... How had they even found its location?

“Mother... they’ve found me,” Thea called out toward the Main Mother Body in the city center. “I need your help.”

The Main Mother Body had also sensed the human forces abruptly changing course toward the north of the second ring.

After a brief pause, the Main Mother Body replied in a calm, soothing voice. “Do not panic. I’ve already dispatched reinforcements to your position. They won’t be able to harm you.”

Those were the Main Mother Body’s elite, its most trusted guards.

Even the humans from 200 years ago hadn’t been their match, let alone the degenerated descendants.

The earlier lost children weren’t worth its attention, but Thea was different.

The Main Mother Body was pleased with Thea, in every sense. Thea was the perfect pioneer to expand their kind’s dominion.

Comforted by the Main Mother Body’s assurance, Thea steadied itself and refocused on the two major fronts in the north and west of Clearspring City.

It could sense that both struggling defense lines were on the verge of collapse, especially those guarding the Great Wall.

Under the relentless assault, their cries of despair grew ever louder.

The Main Mother Body was right.

As long as they resolved to pay any price, they would drown those vile organisms in sheer numbers. The humans’ frail civilization could not withstand the advance of a higher lifeform.

And yet... a faint unease lingered in its heart.

Those creatures had fought the Main Mother Body for two whole centuries, could it really be this simple?

...

Atop a building by the second ring, two Viper transport aircraft descended, dropping off 20 fully armed players.

Each wore the latest Type 5 exoskeletons, carrying mostly light weapons.

20 assembled gliders were stacked neatly by the stairwell.

Old White picked one up, gripped it tightly, and handed it to Night Ten beside him.

Just as Night Ten reached for it, Old White didn’t let go. He grinned. “You sure about this? That gear of yours isn’t cheap.”

Their target was the very heart of Clearspring City, the city center that even the Post-War Reconstruction Committee had failed to capture.

For two centuries, no survivor had dared to venture there again.

Since the launch of Wasteland Online, it has been a hell-difficulty dungeon. Even the most fearless players only skirted its edges, never daring to delve into its depths.

Now was the best, and perhaps only chance to do so.

Most of the city’s sub-entities were pinned down by the New Alliance’s defensive lines.

But even if their mission succeeded, the odds of returning alive were slim.

Ignoring Old White’s warning, Night Ten rolled his eyes and snatched the glider. “Pfft. What’s the big deal?”

No matter how expensive their gear was, it had a price, but a story mission tied to the fate of the New Alliance and the main storyline only came once.

Missing it would haunt him for life.

Seeing Night Ten’s dead-serious look, Old White laughed and patted his shoulder. “Fair point, it’s just gear anyway. Oh, and if my axe drops, remember to pick it up for me.”

Beside them, Ample Time patted the bow in his hands and slung it over his back casually.

“And my Daybreaker, it’s been with me a long time. I don’t want to lose it either.”

Gale rubbed his nose. “My mechanical arm too... a friend from the Pioneer gave it to me.”

Night Ten gave them all an exasperated look. “Why do you all sound so damn sure I’m the one who’s gonna survive?”

Ample Time awkwardly looked away. “Dunno... Maybe it’s a gut feeling?”

Night Ten opened his mouth to retort, but Quit Smoking couldn’t help muttering, “You guys just planted so many death flags on him, even if he could survive, now he’s doomed.”

Old White roared with laughter, “HAHAHA, it’s fine. If we make it, we’ll bring his ashes back too!”

At that, Night Ten’s expression froze as a thought flashed through his head.

Motherf... these bastards are doing it on purpose!

Just then, a streak of light cut across the sky, arcing straight toward the city center.

It was Falling Feather’s Lofty Cloud jet, and their signal to attack.

Wiping the smiles from their faces, Old White raised his glider and walked to the southern edge of the rooftop. With a tap on his tactical helmet, his black visor shielded his face.

“Our ace is already in the air.”

“It’s our turn to move!”