Chapter 173: Reinforcements From the Central Base

Cain had no idea that the Zombie Race was already preparing something far more troublesome behind the scenes.

While one of the highest military authorities in their Main World was gathering powerful 3rd Echelons because of the Heavenly Dragon, Cain was standing in the ruined Southern Anchor Town with his attention fixed on something much closer.

The loot piled across the plaza.

Dozens of boxes had been dragged over from the surrounding military buildings after the battle ended, and nearly all of them were already filled.

Hundreds of Mana Cores lay inside.

Most came from 1st Echelon soldiers, though there was also a considerable number belonging to the 2nd Echelons who had failed to escape when the others chased the retreating forces through the town.

Quite a few enemies had still managed to flee, but Cain could hardly complain after seeing what had been left behind.

The Blood Crystals were even more ridiculous.

He had stopped trying to estimate the exact number after looking through several boxes, but there were definitely more than eleven hundred scattered among the piles in front of him.

Cain stared at everything for several seconds.

"This is getting ridiculous."

Ron walked past him carrying another box and dropped it onto the ground.

"You’re complaining even in this situation?"

"I’m appreciating the problem."

"What problem?"

Cain pointed toward the loot.

"I don’t have enough space."

Ron looked at the mountain of resources before glancing at Cain.

"...That’s the kind of problem I want."

Cain ignored him and opened his System.

His Inventory had become increasingly important since entering the Invasion Corridor.

Six cubic meters had once seemed enormous.

Now, after collecting Cores, Blood Crystals, food, drinks, equipment and various other supplies, the space no longer felt nearly as impressive.

"System, expand the inventory to ten cubic meters."

Cain looked at the inventory information.

The response appeared immediately as he heard the notification from the system before his eyes.

[Ding! 480,000 System Points have been deducted.]

[Ding! Inventory Space has expanded to 10 cubic meters.]

Cain smiled faintly.

"Much better."

Ten cubic meters gave him far more freedom, which was exactly what he needed considering how many resources they were accumulating inside the Corridor.

He crouched beside the nearest box.

The Cores still contained contamination from the Zombie Race, so nobody could safely absorb them before Cain purified everything.

The True Ruin Energy immediately gathered around his right hand.

He had barely begun guiding the energy toward the first Core when his head suddenly turned toward the northern road.

The change in his expression immediately drew Elara’s attention.

"What is it?"

Cain remained silent as he focused on the distant movement reaching his senses.

Something was approaching from the road leading toward the central region.

He detected several presences that were strong enough that Cain instantly lost interest in the Cores.

He stood up.

"Put everything down and prepare for battle."

The relaxed atmosphere throughout the plaza disappeared.

Nobody wasted time asking questions as weapons came out as Cain swept his hand toward the boxes, storing every Core and Blood Crystal inside his newly expanded Inventory.

Nathan already had an arrow resting against his bowstring by the time Cain began walking toward the road.

Professor Irina moved closer to Cole, while Ron lowered the spear from his shoulder.

Cain narrowed his eyes toward the northern entrance.

"Their reinforcements finally arrive."

Golden-white flames suddenly erupted above him.

The Origin Sun manifested beneath the fractured crimson sky, bathing the ruined settlement in a completely different light as waves of heat spread across the nearby buildings.

At the same time, Cain’s right arm began transforming as black scales emerged across his skin and continued spreading until they stopped slightly below his elbow.

His fingers lengthened as sharp dragon claws replaced his nails.

The True Ruin Energy flowed through the transformed limb before spreading throughout the rest of his body.

Cain flexed his right hand, dark energy compressed around the claws until the air near their tips began distorting faintly.

Elara drew her sword and looked toward the road.

"How many?"

Cain focused on the approaching presences.

"Enough to make this battle an interesting one."

Figures soon emerged beyond the damaged buildings ahead.

Zombie Race soldiers.

Their formation remained organized despite the destroyed settlement visible in front of them, but Cain barely cared about the soldiers farther back.

His attention immediately settled on the two zombies leading them.

3rd Echelon Zombies.

Behind those two were forty 2nd Echelon soldiers, with several weaker zombies following farther back.

Cain’s golden pupils brightened, Dragon’s Eyes revealed the information he wanted.

He read through it briefly.

Then a meaningful smile appeared on his face as he raised an eyebrow.

Cain finally spoke.

"Go all out. Kill them as quickly as possible and don’t let any escape."

The two commanders at the front finally noticed the enormous Origin Sun hanging above the ruined town.

Their pace immediately slowed.

Cain gave them no time to think as the Origin Solar Flame gathered around him and golden-white lances began taking shape in the air.

More continued appearing until twenty hovered around Cain.

The temperature across the road rose sharply.

Several Zombie Race soldiers reacted immediately, and powerful Mana erupted from both commanders.

Cain reached toward the closest lance, his clawed hand wrapped around the shaft.

Instead of controlling this one through Magic, Cain intended to throw it himself first.

His arm drew backward as his body shifted naturally into a familiar stance.

Then he threw the lance in his hand.

BOOM!

The ground beneath his foot cracked.

The lance disappeared from Cain’s hand and tore through the air toward the front of the formation.

The Level 90 commander barely managed to react in time.

Mana surged around his weapon as he swung.

CLANG!

The collision forced both of his arms backward.

His feet left the ground and his body was thrown several meters away, but the angle of the lance had changed enough for it to miss him.

The golden-white lance continued forward.

Two 2nd Echelon soldiers that were behind the level 90 Commander didn’t have enough time to escape.

BOOOOM!