Chapter 663: Yaya No.1
"Roar...!"
Waves of howls echoed endlessly from the Living Jungle.
Those twisted eyes, those ferocious mouths, were all flickering in everyone's vision.
The magic cannons fired first, spinning shells shot into the monster horde, blasting blood-red paths.
Heges frowned with some regret.
Unfortunately, the new generation of magic cannons hadn't been deployed yet.
Otherwise, with their enhanced area damage, they could've inflicted massive casualties on the monsters.
Along with the barrage of shells from the outpost came Bay Territory's signature armor-piercing crossbows.
The enchanted crossbows, improved and reinforced multiple times, now had significantly increased range and lethality.
Even large twisted monsters couldn't rely on their flesh to block the crossbow bolts.
Archers typically focused their fire on the larger twisted monsters to stop these behemoths from wrecking the fire trench zone.
The large twisted monsters were only moderately fast, giving Bay Territory archers ample time to respond.
However, most observers noticed that these monsters were gradually getting faster.
This clearly indicated that their bodies had undergone significant changes again.
"Even the mutated monster army didn't evolve this quickly..."
While Bay Territory's observers marveled, the frenzied twisted monsters charged without hesitation.
Zzzzt!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Blistering flames scorched the bodies of the twisted monsters.
Temperatures of 2,000 to 3,000 degrees would rapidly carbonize their fur and exoskeletons.
In just over ten seconds, their moisture would be burned off, and the dried corpses would ignite and turn to ash.
The seven-to-eight-meter-wide trench was an insurmountable fiery abyss for most small twisted monsters.
Occasionally, some with powerful leaping ability would force their way through the firewall, enduring the searing flames.
But their "good luck" didn't last—accurate bolts would immediately take their lives.
Crack!
More and more twisted monsters recklessly charged into the flames, becoming blackened, dried corpses.
The overwhelming pressure felt like an unstoppable tidal wave, triggering panic.
Ordinary soldiers would've been crushed under this pressure.
But for Bay Territory's soldiers, such danger was nothing unusual.
Veterans rich in battle experience, and new recruits trained under strict regimens, responded to the onslaught with crossbows and cannons.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One explosive pack after another was launched, and with each roaring detonation, swathes of the twisted monsters in the rear were blasted away.
These grotesque monsters fell in droves.
But more quickly emerged from the dangerous jungle.
The outpost barrage was fierce, but required a continuous supply of all kinds of resources.
Once the supplies were exhausted, the only way to stop the monsters would be through direct combat.
Unless absolutely necessary, Heges wouldn't issue such a cruel order.
He glanced at the half-processed corpse of the legendary Catachan Demon, silently calculating how long the supplies and outposts could hold.
Even if the twisted monsters grew stronger again, the outposts could still hold for more than eight hours.
Though three hours' worth of supplies had to be reserved for breakout maneuvers, the rest was enough to finish processing this crucial loot.
Thinking that Lord Yaya could now easily take down legendary-level enemies—
Heges felt he had to train even harder once he returned to Bay Territory, and master more feats and skills.
A special shortcut lay before him.
Just like the one laid before all Bay Territory soldiers.
But, like most soldiers, Heges wouldn't take that road unless he had to.
Even after adaptive training, he still viewed it as a last resort.
Just then, a sharp roar echoed from deep within the Living Jungle.
The grotesque behemoth was quickly scanned and broadcasted to everyone's magic wristwatches by the sentries.
Catachan Demon!
Heges turned to glance at the legendary Catachan Demon currently being processed.
He was sure that the one now approaching was no smaller—maybe even more agile.
"The enemy is well prepared!"
"They even used a decoy tactic..."
A faint sense of urgency welled up. After hesitating briefly, Heges looked to the side.
Orianna, who was gathering data on the legendary Catachan Demon, tapped her watch and combat helmet lightly, then grinned and said excitedly:
"Leave this ugly brute to me."
Seeing Orianna's full confidence, Heges chose to trust this "legendary" research director.
Besides, he was also curious—what trump card would the territory reveal next?
Click! Click! Click!
Black claws swept across, toppling trees.
The massive body moved agilely, leaving deep claw marks in the ground.
Its long, sinuous frame displayed unmatched fluidity and grace.
Its gliding movement technique marked a clear evolution from other Catachan Demons.
Deep in thought about the upcoming fight, Evilfang continuously discussed plans with its distant comrades.
"This time I enhanced mobility and digging ability, slightly weakened brute strength—to at least delay them longer."
"There's a bigger benefit: you can threaten the interior of the defensive zone directly."
"Don't go too fast with your attack and destruction—give them time to alert others and draw in more reinforcements."
"Before engaging, prepare a retreat route to avoid losing another Bug King."
"A surviving Bug King can be better modified and helps us gather more data."
"The more times we fight her, the better prepared we'll be. Victory is inevitable!"
"..."
Complex thoughts and information kept echoing in the mind of the legendary Catachan Demon.
To the newly awakened Evilshadow Spirit—Evilfang—
Gaining comrades' recognition quickly—
Fulfilling mission after mission—
Eliminating all parasite-like intelligent creatures—
—that was its dream and its reason to grow.
Though everyone liked assigning it to missions, Evilfang had no complaints.
On the contrary, it believed that was a sign of trust, and thus devoted itself even more.
Listening to the increasing cannon fire, Evilfang's eyes filled with hatred and rage.
The pain and near-death experience earlier had left a deep scar on its mind.
This time, it would crush the outpost defenses and force Yaya to return and face it again.
Evilfang wanted to pay back the pain Yaya inflicted—double.
Just as Evilfang was about to leave the Living Jungle and enter the battlefield—
A violent explosion erupted ahead.
Devastating flames spread rapidly.
Living plants screamed as one—those hit head-on became blazing torches.
The crackling of burning vines was piercing.
Evilfang instinctively looked up—right into the oncoming Dragon's Breath.
"Again?"
Caught off guard, Evilfang was doused in sticky flaming fuel.
The high-adhesion fuel completely engulfed its head.
The flames burned wildly, all Evilfang could feel was the unbearable heat.
It was like being torn apart by a fiery hellhound.
Or like a terrifying parasite trying to burrow into its body and feast.
What terrified Evilfang more—
—was that the sudden attack left its vision in total darkness. It couldn't sense its surroundings at all.
Before it could respond, a spiked fist smashed straight into Evilfang's head.
Boom!
Even the roaring flames flinched.
Evilfang's massive head slammed into the ground.
But its massive body didn't collapse just because its head was struck.
Instead, its murderous instincts kicked in—curling and surrounding its attacker, claws slashing fiercely.
Facing the incoming claws, Orianna swung her left arm down hard, slamming into its skull.
The fully-powered Element Fusion Engine caused the glowing mechanical claw to snap shut violently.
Evilfang's head was seized—raw force dragged it over, blocking its own claws.
Crack!
The devastating Annihilation Blade pierced Evilfang's head cleanly.
Orianna sidestepped with practiced calm, dodging the remaining claws.
Her other bulky mechanical arm lit up brightly, surging to full power—she hammered down hard on Evilfang's cracked, acidic, foul-smelling skull.
Clang!
The dull thud echoed far away.
Despite its thick hide, Evilfang's skull didn't shatter, just cracked and oozed corrosive blood.
But the impact rocked it hard.
Its entire body trembled, then stretched out straight.
Both massive pincers lashed wildly toward Orianna.
Not wanting to tank such dangerous attacks, Orianna whipped her tail hard—
The glowing red metallic tail coiled nimbly around Evilfang's chest.
Thick and broad mechanical legs stomped down hard, snapping both incoming claws and digging a deep crater into the ground.
Using the recoil force, Orianna leapt into the air and came crashing down onto Evilfang's back.
Evilfang, now slightly more lucid, felt the restraint around its chest and the looming shadow overhead.
At this critical moment, it suddenly lifted its head and spewed out a massive glob of corrosive venom.
"Ding, corrosive toxin detected, auto-defense protocol activated."
A crisp, pleasant prompt echoed in the spacious, comfortable cockpit.
Orianna paid no attention to Evilfang's panicked counterattack—she simply raised her left arm calmly to guard her chest.
That move had already been accounted for in her calculations.
Whoosh!
Zzzzt!
The rancid venom splashed against the blue energy shield.
Venom capable of easily corroding trees and steel—
Only left tiny dents on the energy shield before being repelled by its defensive field.
Before Evilfang could even assess the effect—
—the 30-ton mechanical body came crashing down solidly onto its back.
The crushing force nearly snapped Evilfang in half.
Its tough exoskeleton shattered, spurting torrents of blood.
Evilfang felt like its organs were about to be squeezed out through its mouth.
Summoning all its strength, it aimed its tail upward to stab at the enemy pressing on its back.
A glowing red attack model appeared in Orianna's view.
She had no intention of taking the incoming tail stab head-on.
She didn't just want to win—she wanted a flawless, crushing victory!
Her thick tail tightened forcefully, flipping Evilfang's body.
Boom!
The spinning tail spike stabbed into a nearby tree.
The deadly spike instantly corroded a huge hole into the trunk.
Gray-green venom traces spread outward.
The entire tree was dissolved in seconds and collapsed with a crash.
Such terrifying destructive power was naturally an important entry in Orianna's data log.
Having flipped Evilfang onto the ground, Orianna erupted with a surge of lightning energy that flowed straight into its wounds.
Just as Evilfang tried to react, that all-too-familiar trap struck again.
Its planned counterattack was abruptly interrupted by the incoming shock.
A brief paralysis shot through it—Evilfang cursed silently, "Damn it."
It had focused too much on evading Yaya's attacks and neglected the lightning that had once caused it so much trouble.
Thinking this, Evilfang couldn't help but feel some regret.
Before it could wallow in that regret, Orianna's heavy punch slammed into the back of its head.
That solid strike made its head spin and body twitch involuntarily.
Seeing Evilfang tremble, Orianna immediately switched to rapid-attack mode, hammering its skull repeatedly.
"Huh? This move Yaya taught me really works."
Eyes gleaming, Orianna decisively tried out every vital-attack technique Yaya had taught her.
Head smash!
Make the enemy dizzy!
Eye gouge!
Force the enemy to defend or dodge, breaking their focus!
And then—throat lock!
Though Catachan Demons had no throat, the junction between their head and torso was still a weak spot.
Crack!
This time, Evilfang took a serious hit.
Its lower jaw was punched through, blood gushing out as fragments and tissue fell away.
The relentless blows left Evilfang stunned.
It hadn't even seen its attacker's full form the whole fight.
A mix of frustration and fury roiled in Evilfang's mind.
It couldn't stand being humiliated like this any longer!
Thrashing its head and lower body wildly, claws scraping frantically at the ground, it tried to shake Orianna off.
But Orianna, having secured the dominant position, wasn't about to let go so easily.
She decisively pushed the Element Fusion Engine to strengthen her tail's grip.
Both arms clamped down on Evilfang's head, lifting it toward her steel-fanged maw.
The spike-covered thrusters on her back burst forth with dazzling blue energy beams.