Chapter 687: Blood Plant Activation Program, Tucker's Trump Card

The appearance of Tak's High Tower was quickly brought to the attention of Yu Yuan and Xiao Xi.

Studying the photo of the tower transmitted by Alpha, Yu Yuan's sharp instincts immediately detected something extraordinary about the massive crystal perched atop its peak.

That enormous crystal, after firing two beams of light to annihilate the two Bat Knights, showed no signs of settling down.

It flashed with brilliance once more, commencing a fresh round of energy condensation.

As the energy coalesced, the crystal transformed into a miniature sun, bathing the underground world in blinding radiance.

Even from their distant vantage point, Yu Yuan and Xiao Xi could clearly see the intense glow emanating from afar.

"What is that?" Xiao Xi gasped, her gaze fixed on the distant light.

Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"Quite the spectacle..."

Evidently, Knight and his group's arrival had severely hampered the Twisted Tree Spirits' assault. After they had incinerated a portion of the creatures with overwhelming force, they had also stirred up considerable trouble for the enemy.

This was a sign the opponent was preparing to unveil their trump card.

"Leader, shall we attack?" Alpha issued his final inquiry.

Though unclear what Tak was planning, Yu Yuan had no intention of allowing him to complete his preparations.

"Lock onto the target. Direct long-range precision elimination."

"Understood!"

Alpha's response was crisp and resounding.

Receiving the command, the Pioneering Group's soldiers within the launch vehicles locked onto the coordinate points the moment they were relayed by the reconnaissance drones.

They locked onto the coordinates without a moment's delay.

"Launch Vehicles 1 and 2, enter firing sequence. Commencing long-range nuclear strike in 1 minute, 15-second intervals."

"Understood!"

The dust covers on both vehicles' launch tubes snapped open, direction calibrated, entering the firing sequence.

The pitch-black muzzles emanated a bone-chilling aura of power.

Watching the launch tubes rise once again, the Pioneering Group's Warriors understood instinctively that this battle was nearing its conclusion. They were brimming with absolute confidence.

But inside the Command Armored Vehicle.

Alpha stared at the screen, his brow furrowed as he observed the tower shrouded in an Energy Shield.

Recalling the situation that had arisen during the last attack on the Black Ice Express, he gave another solemn order.

"Launch Vehicles 3, 4, and 5, enter firing sequence. Stand by, awaiting my command. Prepare for immediate launch."

"All other launch vehicles, enter long-range support sequence. Await my command."

"Understood!"

This time, even the Pioneering Group's soldiers sensed the difference in this engagement.

The entire launch vehicle convoy—Vehicles 1 through 5 were loaded with tactical nuclear missiles, while the other 15 vehicles were equipped for long-range support and anti-air strikes.

The entire formation being placed on standby launch status was a first.

Habaar watched the towering launch tubes, then glanced at Baku beside him, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

"This enemy is even tougher than the last one! First time I've seen Alpha this cautious."

Baku extended his middle finger, habitually pushing up his glasses, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Isn't this great? If every enemy were a walk in the park, wouldn't we become obsolete?"

Habaar shrugged noncommittally at Baku's words.

Not that he cared either way. As long as he could fight and eat his fill, that was all that mattered.

Inside Tak's High Tower.

[Blood Plant Activation Procedure fully charged. Please select release coordinates.]

Tak stared at the prompt on the Virtual Light Screen, a gleeful grin spreading across his face.

"Hahahaha, Moon Shadow's Breath, let me show you the pinnacle of my Blood Energy research!"

"Even if you have Molten Demons backing you, so what? As long as I can eliminate you ahead of schedule and secure victory in this war, the ultimate winner will still be me."

A virtual map materialized on the Light Screen—it was the Civilization War map between him and Moon Shadow's Breath.

It clearly displayed the city where Moon Shadow's Breath was currently located, along with the surrounding terrain.

Six zones on the map glowed red, pulsing persistently.

These red zones were all vast primeval forests, every single tree within them towering ancient giants, their roots entangled, standing in majestic grandeur.

Their canopies blotted out the sky, their trunks thick and massive, bark cracked with age and weathered strength, as if forged from iron.

These were all timber resources Tak had scouted exhaustively ever since entering this world.

To others, these ancient trees might only be seen as wood for construction.

But in his eyes, these ancient trees were priceless, top-grade materials for Tree Spirit transformation.

Their quality was so exceptional it nearly drove him to madness.

His original plan had been to secure Moon Shadow's Breath first, then develop this treasure trove at his leisure.

But now, due to the appearance of the Molten Demons, he was forced to activate these precious base materials ahead of schedule—a colossal waste in Tak's estimation.

A flagrant squandering of resources.

"Fine. Even if these hastily transformed Tree Spirits have short lifespans, as long as I take down Moon Shadow's Breath, there are bound to be plenty more ancient forests like this elsewhere."

Tak tapped on the Light Screen, his target set on those six ancient forests shrouded in red light.

[Blood Plant Activation Procedure Initiated!]

The moment Tak made his selection.

Another prompt appeared.

[Warning: Fire-control radar sweep detected. Long-range strike incoming.]

"Hmph. Plenty of tricks, aren't there."

Tak paid it no mind. Behind him, the twisted sapling radiated an eerie black-red glow, the light absorbed entirely by the collector hovering above the sapling, then channeled toward the massive crystal atop the tower.

The colossal crystal at the tower's peak shifted from its brilliant white radiance to a dark crimson.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—

Six consecutive beams of black-red light shot forth from the tower's crystal, each one aimed directly at those six ancient forests.

The beams streaked across the entire battlefield, drawing the eyes of everyone present.

They arced over the forests, then burst apart like fireworks, dissolving into specks of red-black light that merged into the woods and vanished from sight.

Watching those beams disappear, everyone sensed something was wrong.

"Knight, speed it up..." Yu Yuan's voice echoed in Knight's ear.

"Everyone, full speed clearing these Tree Spirits!" Knight bellowed.

"Understood!" The Molten Believers all accelerated their advance.

They too had witnessed the beams crossing the battlefield moments ago.

They knew new changes were afoot.

"Drone squad, investigate those beams immediately." Alpha issued the order simultaneously.

Then he noticed that the massive crystal atop the tower, after firing eight beams, was once again gathering blinding radiance.

Alpha glanced at the screen, pondered briefly, then immediately commanded.

"Launch Vehicles 6, 7, and 8, cruise missiles, triple volley. Fire!"

"Understood! Cruise missiles, triple volley. Fire!"

With the roar of igniting thrusters.

Nine cruise missiles in succession blasted free from their launch tubes, trailing tails of orange-red flames, billowing white smoke behind them.

They tore through the air with a deafening thunder, like arrows loosed from a bowstring.

Tak watched the prompt on the Virtual Light Screen.

A smile curled at his lips.

"Ridiculous. You think these little toys can breach my tower? An utter fantasy."

[Tower Automated Defense Activated.]