Chapter 102: Turning the Tables, Tiger Bugs Emerge!

Humanity has never abandoned its "decapitation strategy" to target the Queen. Cheng Zhan's elite team was merely the Thirteenth Division's initial attempt to probe the hive's defenses and eliminate internal threats.

As awakeners' abilities grew, factions within the camp began forming, threatening high-level stability. Cheng Zhan's unexpected loyalty resolved these instability issues, especially since Major Qin was no longer fit to lead. The top brass urgently needed a powerful awakener who could command respect and follow orders—hence, Cheng Zhan's smooth promotion.

Beyond the Thirteenth Division's efforts, the Federation and the research institute collaborated on the cloudburst bomb decapitation plan. These bombs, akin to small nuclear weapons, were banned globally but were unrestricted for a major power like the Federation. Hundreds of cloudburst bombs in the arsenal were ready for use.

In underground spaces, the fuel-air mix created by these bombs far surpassed nuclear explosions in destructiveness. The aim was to kill the alien Queen, not destroy hive facilities.

Cheng Zhan, privy to this plan, needed to alert the Queen and prevent the deployment of Tiger Bugs against the defense forts. Yet, with the frontline fiercely engaged, he needed a reason to journey there.

After pondering, Cheng Zhan noticed his newly issued red armor—the "Red Armor"—delivered that morning, sparked an idea. This gear was made from the shells of lower-tier worker insects, and the research institute promised 10,000 units. Five thousand were allocated to the third defense line and the remaining half to the second.

Cheng Zhan knew the frontline needed these most, where close combat with insects was imminent. Five hundred sets of Red Armor remained with the awakener camp, stored in five trucks.

Delivering them to the frontline would strengthen the mixed battalions and reinforce defenses. This reasoning was unassailable and would likely earn commendation from superiors.

Decided, Cheng Zhan donned his Red Armor and led parasitized guards to commandeer a vehicle, driving overnight. The southern frontline was active, while the northern forts faced minimal attacks, only minor Black Spinal Bug skirmishes hindering reinforcements.

Navigating the cleared main roads, they reached their destination within minutes. Cheng Zhan handed the Red Armor to frontline troops, sent the truck back, and drove to the battlefield's edge.

Commanding nearby Red Beetles to summon Black Spinal Bugs, he transmitted vital information to the Queen, using a non-hatching egg to encapsulate the message.

Satisfied that the message was secure, Cheng Zhan pondered identifying the human soldiers carrying the trackers, suspecting the mysterious super bullet awakeners of this task.

Meanwhile, the Black Spinal Bugs carried the message through complex tunnels, returning to the underground hive 200 meters deep outside Wu City. Here, the Queen prepared to be moved.

As her massive body emerged under dim green lights, countless insects prostrated, bellies to the ground, to welcome her.

Sensing the familiar scent, the Queen summoned the Black Spinal Bug carrying the message, which regurgitated the egg containing vital information.

The Queen's tendrils extended, ingesting the fresh egg. Her numerous eyes flashed, releasing intense psychic energy for several seconds before subsiding.

The Queen, a biological supercomputer, quickly devised a counter-strategy upon receiving the parasite's message.

She decided to proceed with deploying Tiger Bugs as planned, allowing them to be tagged by human trackers. Once tagged, she'd send them beneath the human defense line.

This was a straightforward, strategic move.

Humans faced two choices: withdraw troops from the forts, leaving them vulnerable to Black Spinal Bug attacks, or risk annihilation by cloudburst bombs.

Either way, collapsing tunnels would undermine the fortifications, creating breaches.

Sacrificing a few Tiger Bugs was a small price for progress. Though Tier 2 insects were valuable, the Lv33 Queen commanded hundreds, with Tiger Bugs forming the majority, over 300 strong.

The Queen also sought to eliminate a thorn in her side—the isolated outpost south of Wu City.

Even if the Tiger Bug squad failed, human plans would force the enemy into open battle.

Outside the fortress, the Queen was confident her Tier 2 insects could eliminate the troublesome human awakener.

Devouring the outpost's awakeners and thousands more along the defense line, the Lv33 Queen could ascend to mid-Tier 3.

Her true goal was the defenders themselves. By assimilating their brains and unique abilities, she could enhance her control over insect units and spawn new Tier 2 species with novel abilities.

The blue-glowing egg sac behind her head was eager to hatch, promising new insect types that would render human technology obsolete. These eggs contained high-energy electromagnetic ions capable of EMP attacks.

Such power would thwart missile strikes, forcing humans from their subterranean refuge.

With her plan set, the Queen observed the battle nearing its end. Several forts breached, but with mid and late-stage awakeners donning Red Armor, they repelled the invaders.

To preserve the fortifications, they couldn't use large-caliber rifles on intruding Red Beetles, as bullets would damage the walls.

Instead, physically enhanced awakeners engaged the insects in close combat. The Red Armor, while vulnerable to Black Spinal Bug mandibles, was impenetrable to Red Beetles.

In narrow corridors, they stemmed the insect tide, barricading the breach with ammo crates.

Though the reinforced iron doors were breached, creating two-meter gaps, the dawn's light heralded the insect retreat.

"Seal it with quick-dry cement," advised a late-stage awakener, wiping insect ichor from his face. His companion nodded, eyes on the retreating swarm.

The first day saw the forts suffer losses, with ten soldiers down.

At the southern outpost, Lin Feng holstered his Lv19 grenade launcher after a night of combat, having engaged five times to cripple over 500 Black Spinal Bugs.

The recruits handled the rest.

The outpost, due to its unique location, faced larger assaults than the main defense line. Lin Feng's presence ensured heavy insect casualties, forcing a retreat.

By dawn, only sporadic Black Spinal Bugs emerged, wasting ammo against the infinite bullets of the heavy machine guns.

With the battle over, Li Ran ordered rest rotations and reported to Lin Feng.

There were no casualties, only a few recruits injured during ammo box transport, now mostly recovered.

The night saw not only Black Spinal Bugs but also Blue Wing Bugs, kept at bay by Chen Yanyan's aerial machine-gun defense.

The tense night ended safely.

While eating breakfast, Lin Feng listened to the report, nodding before abruptly setting down his bowl and returning to the fortress, gazing at the distant battlefield.

His psychic sense detected a familiar light flash across the terrain.

The awaited target had finally appeared.

The light's intensity, shape, and speed confirmed it—a powerful Tier 2 insect!

On the second day of the battle, the insects wasted no time deploying Tiger Bugs.

They were determined to breach the defenses.

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