Chapter 539: Snatched From the Jaws of Death
Translator: Liu_Kaixuan Editor: Valvrave
The minibus' appearance, as well as disappearance, was so fast that the spectators wondered whether their eyes had played tricks on them.
Wei Feifei's eyes were wide open in astonishment. The minibus had just passed by her, and its momentum had created a gust of wind, blowing her hair upward.
"Captain Jiang?" Wei Feifei felt it was unbelievable.
Tang Cangyun was also shocked, but he recovered quickly. "Oh, my God! What idiots! It's a good chance to flee. Feifei, run!" shouted Tang Cangyun. But to his surprise, Wei Feifei stood still.
"What are you doing? Run! They may be looking for death, but what about you? Since they rushed into the Black Hole on their own volition, not even their bones will remain. Do you possibly want to rescue them?" said Tang Cangyun viciously.
Wei Feifei's body swayed, while her face turned pale. She felt sorrowful as Tang Cangyun was right. No matter who or what the Black Hole swallowed, they would all disappear forever. Even such a big minibus was not an exception.
"You saved me again..." Wei Feifei couldn't help but cry.
"Come on!" shouted Tang Cangyun again.
Upon seeing that Wei Feifei wasn't responding, he shook his head and turned toward the convoy's direction, walking with a limp.
"F*ck! Go to hell!" cursed Tang Cangyun.
Although Tang Cangyun's dreams had been shattered, he didn't want to see Wei Feifei acting suicidal. But, in the end, he cherished his life more than others.
…
In the battle tank, Wan Yiling could help but reveal a wide smile. "Excellent! I only feel bad that we lost such a great minibus," said Wan Yiling while shaking her head.
Han Yuan nodded in agreement. "It's indeed a pity." In reality, he didn't take it to heart as it was just a minibus. Compared to getting their hands on the Black Hole, the minibus was nothing.
After swallowing Jiang Liushi's minibus, the Black Hole momentarily stopped. Han Yuan saw the opportunity at once and ordered coldly, "Attack!"
He wanted to thank the Shi Ying Squad for its sacrifice from the deepest part of his heart. If not for them, he would not have found such a good opportunity to attack. In fact, the real purpose of the Assault Team was to exhaust the Black Hole. Unfortunately, his plan had failed as most of his members were too afraid to fight it head-on. But who could have thought that the Shi Ying Squad would show unparalleled courage in such a critical juncture, facing the danger in their stead?
"After returning, we'll report about the Shi Ying Squad's outstanding service. After all, they contributed a lot, especially their boldness," said Han Yuan calmly.
Wan Yiling didn't say anything. Instead, she picked up the walkie-talkie and ordered, "Attack the Black Hole!"
At that moment, the Black Hole suddenly froze, and then a deafening muffled sound came from its body! In the next instant, a devastating airwave tore its body, rushing out of it.
Everyone could see that an eye-catching hole had appeared on the Black Hole's body. Then, the Black Hole trembled violently, and it seemed on the verge of collapsing.
"This- What is going on?"
Everyone, including Han Yuan and Wan Yiling, was astounded and myriads of questions bombarded their minds. Was the minibus still intact? Were Jiang Liushi and his teammates still alive?
It was inconceivable! This had completely subverted everyone's cognition!
Bai Jianyan was the only one who believed what he had just witnessed. 'The Black Hole may be able to swallow everything, but…this minibus is different…maybe, they're still alive…' He had to admit Jiang Liushi's minibus had its way to shock him every single time.
After launching the air-cannon, Jiang Liushi followed with his attack and pressed on another button. Next, a raging flame started wreaking havoc in the Black Hole's body.
Everyone could clearly see the situation inside the Black Hole through the big hole that the air cannon had opened. The blazing inferno shocked yet again the spectators. They could even vaguely see the minibus moving inside!
"Amazing!" Bai Jiayan took a deep breath.
Wei Feifei was shocked at the beginning, but then she revealed a happy smile.
"What happened?" Wan Yiling was annoyed. She was under the impression that the Shi Ying Squad were no longer among the world of the living. In her mind, the moment the minibus was swallowed, it should have disintegrated and turned into nutrition for the Black Hole. But her speculation was wrong.
What Wan Yiling didn't know was that Jiang Liushi possessed Starseed. His minibus wasn't a simple refitted minibus, but instead, it was a powerful MCV. At the same time, Jiang Liushi his air cannon had started accumulating power before rushing into the Black Hole.
As Jiang Liushi had been observing the battle earlier, he had come under the conclusion that the Black Hole was not a living organism. Its body was not made of flesh and blood, but it was the condensation of Black Light Energy. That energy could assimilate other creatures and objects, turning them into new Black Light and making them a part of it.
When they rushed into the Black Hole, Starseed had started sending notifications that the minibus' shell was being damaged. In response, Jiang Liushi had calmed himself down, and he came up with the crazy decision. That decision was to launch the air cannon and the flamethrower inside the Black Hole. At the same time, he had ordered Ran Xiyu to create a layer of mental power around his minibus to protect them from mental attacks.
"Zhuying!" shouted Jiang Liushi.
Jiang Zhuying, who was long prepared, opened her hands without any hesitation and released her power to the maximum extent. Then, the destructive electrical current raged inside the Black Hole.
From the outside, the Black Hole looked like a huge black cloud with countless electric snakes dancing inside it. The spectators felt like they were watching a sci-fi blockbuster movie. What shocked them, even more, was that the Black Hole was constantly deforming, as if it was struggling in pain. They all felt that the Black Hole before them was a fake.
Earlier, no matter what methods they had used, it was an easy feat for the Black Hole to fend against them and swallow them. Everyone had been feeling depressed and useless. Even Han Yuan had started thinking of running away. But that changed the moment the minibus appeared. It had rushed inside the Black Hole like a thunderbolt, and it was currently wreaking havoc in it. The spectators' spirits were lifted, and some of them could not help but praise the Shi Ying Squad. How could they not? The Black Hole had almost driven them to the edge of insanity, and the Jiangming area was in grave danger because of its existence.
Currently, Jiang Liushi and his teammates were doing what they couldn't. Naturally, Han Yuan lost his calm as the upper echelon of the Jiangning Safety Zone was also witnessing the spectacular battle.
After the Assault team had departed, Commander Huang, Commander Luo, and General Zhang, as well as other leaders of the Jiangning Safety Zone, had gathered on the city wall. They had been watching everything through binoculars or their naked eyes; Commander Luo was such an example. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, so he had firmly locked on the Black Hole in the distance. He had also witnessed the scene where the Black Hole had merged back after the explosion, which had scared him a lot. Actually, all of them had witnessed that scene through their binoculars, but it had left a stronger impact on Commander Luo.
Commander Huang, unable of watching further, had put down his binoculars while sighing. General Zhang had felt a heart-wrenching pain, while Commander Luo had closed his eyes, shaking his head.
The Assault Team's failure was a heavy blow to the Jiangning Safety Zone and the residents' morale. From the prior experience, the Black Hole was intelligent. As its sneak attack had failed, it would probably be more prepared for its next attack. It would not approach the Safety Zone easily again. Maybe, it would send hordes of mutant zombies and beast one after another to attack the Safety Zone. A war of attrition was their worst nightmare.
"Alas, we should prepare in advance. We have to do whatever we can to stop the damnable Black Hole," said General. The sadness in his voice could not be hidden.
Suddenly, General Zhang's next words were stuck in his throat while an expression of amazement appeared on his old and experienced face. Then, his hands began to tremble due to excitement.
"Look at the Black Hole! Quickly!" shouted General Zhang.
"What is there to see? Watch it as its swallowing our comrades? It's unknown how many members of the Assault Team will return safely," replied Commander Luo.
At first, he thought that a nightmarish scene had caught General Zhang's attention, but he soon realized that something was wrong as General Zhang was laughing like a madman.
Commander Luo opened his eyes and looked toward the Black Hole's direction. Then, he saw raging fire and electric currents erupting from within the Black Hole's body. The Black Hole was about to be blown to ashes! "Is that a bomb? Excellent!"
"Great! Great! Great!" Commander Luo kept praising.
Commander Huang could not wait to look at the Black Hole. "Let me see!" He raised his binoculars swiftly and started laughing. "General Han is remarkable! No wonder they sent him from the Huaxia Region to help us. We also sent many teams, but they all failed…"
Upon hearing his words, Commander Luo and General Zhang nodded in agreement. Although they didn't completely trust Han Yuan, they still admired his capabilities from their hearts. Fighting for power was only second to none. In this vicious world, uniting and fighting against a common enemy was more important than anything.
"We can just stay here and welcome General Han back like a hero!" said Commander Huang loudly. There was no doubt that the scene had raised everyone's morale.
Suddenly, countless people looked at the black shadow far away from them. Earlier, they were too nervous to even look at it. At that moment, loud cheers and words of encouragement could be heard from different places.
…
Presently, at the almost destroyed park, the Assault Team's members were staring at the Black Hole without blinking. Naturally, they were also staring at the heaven-defying minibus which was stopped in the middle of the Black Hole, bombarding with fire and lighting.
Jiang Liushi's decision could be regarded as a dangerous gamble. However, he tried his best to turn this gamble into a fair game through continuous attacks and the minibus' tough defense. Finally, it came to the last and most important step, which would determine which side could win.
Jiang Liushi was clear that even though he had weakened and scattered a part of the Black Hole, it could still merge back once they stopped attacking. The Black Hole could not die from that level of attacks.
Actually, Han Yuan also knew about that. Soon, he recovered from his initial shock. "Wow, Jiang Lushi's minibus is indeed powerful, but it's a pity that they don't know how terrible the Black Hole is," said Han Yuan while shaking his head.
In fact, the attack and defense power of Jiang Liushi's minibus was comparable to a small war fortress, but it could only weaken the Black Hole, not eliminate it. Han Yuan could not have dreamt or asked for a better chance to realize his initial plan.
"What a surprise! I appreciate your help. I can't thank you enough. Although I'll be the one taking the credit, I'll engrave you and your team members' names in my mind forever," whispered Han Yuan.
Then, he held up his walkie-talkie and ordered loudly, "The Shi Ying Squad has followed the plan as ordered. They have contributed greatly! Don't waste this chance, and let their noble sacrifice be in vain! Shoot at the Black Hole now!"
"What?"
Some soldiers were perplexed by that order. They knew that the minibus had saved them and the Shi Ying Squad was still battling against the Black Hole, so why should they shoot? If they shot at such an important moment, what would happen to the minibus and the Shi Ying Squad?
"Shoot!" roared Han Yuan.
Han Yuan was their temporary commander, so after repeating his order, some soldiers felt conflicted. Although their conscience told them not to shoot, they still hadn't eliminated the Black Hole.
At that moment, Han Yuan stood up on the battle tanks and aimed at the Black Hole with a submachine gun. Then he pulled the trigger, releasing a hail of bullets!
"The minibus' exterior was damaged! Brother Jiang, they're shooting at us!" said Ling while looking outside.
A complex expression appeared on Jiang Liushi's face, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he shouted in his mind, 'Starseed! I want a status report!'
After receiving his order, a bright light passed through the minibus' surfaces and then a projection appeared in front of Jiang Liushi. He clearly saw that seemed to have obtained a big mouth, absorbing all the Black Light in the vicinity. It was like it was devouring a violent current of water.
'50%! 60%! 70%!' The Black Light Energy absorbed by Starseed was growing wildly!
That kind of massive absorption seemed to be even unbearable for his minibus. Squeaky sounds could be heard from the shell, but Jiang Liushi knew it was is minibus cry of excitement. At the same time, the Black Hole was roaring in pain. Although it was not a living organism, it wasn't an ordinary energy body either.
Jiang Liushi speculated that the Black Hole was like Starseed, which nobody had discovered before him. It was likely that they both existed before doomsday, but they had made their appearance a little before the virus outbreak due to Earth's changing conditions.
Finally, the roles were reversed, and the Black Hole felt that Starseed's alarming absorption speed was a threat to its existence. As a last resort and a counterattack, it poured more Black Light toward the minibus like a storm. As long as Starseed could not keep up absorbing the violent energy, the Black Hole could devour Starseed. It could not only make up for all its loss but also obtain extremely potent energy. Then, nothing could stand in its way to stop it.
Naturally, since Jiang Liushi had dared to attack, he had also predicted such a scenario.
"Xiyu, cooperate with me!" said Jiang Liushi while picking his sniper rifle.
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Liushi's vision penetrated all the black shadows, exploring the depths of the Black Hole. Before him, the violent energy stream, the flashing electric light, and the raging fire had completely solidified. In that still space, only Jiang Liushi's eyes and the sniper rifle's dark hole were moving.