This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 293, Section 292: Retreat
In the distance, lines of blood and sharp rose petals clashed fiercely in the air, each clash splattering with blinding blood.

Even with the support of the Puji, Louisa was still in grave danger under Yunier's relentless attacks.

Yunier's attacks broke through Louisa's defenses several times, and it was only thanks to the Puji's [Magic Shield] that Louisa had time to react.

It wasn't until Starfire emerged from the tunnel to provide her with magical assistance, along with the occasional sneak attacks from the Resonance Cannon, that she managed to barely maintain the precarious situation and prevent Yunier from quickly taking her down.

Seeing that Yunier was temporarily entangled, Payne waved his staff, and a blazing giant fireball roared into the seemingly endless Puji Ocean below, exploding into a scorched mess.

At the same time, he once again pressured the half-demon leader beside him: "Bastardos! What are you waiting for?! Are you going to just watch your people die and then go back empty-handed?!"

Upon hearing this, the struggle in Bastardos's eyes vanished, replaced by a fierce ruthlessness!
The air around him distorted slightly, and two eerie purple lights ignited deep within his pupils, as immense power began to rise!
However, he had only taken one step—

"Chief! Chief—!!!" A sorrowful voice, carried by the wind and snow, came from behind him!
Bastardos whirled around, his pupils shrinking, his voice filled with disbelief and panic: "Sergio?! You...you weren't supposed to be staying behind at the tribe?! What are you doing here?!"

"Chief! The tribe is gone!" Sergio, the half-demon warrior who brought the news, collapsed to the ground, his face streaked with frostbite, tears, and fear as he howled, "You've only been gone for three days! A huge horde of monsters has rushed out of the river. They can turn invisible, and there are so many of them! There are just too many to stop!"

He pounded the frozen earth, his voice filled with anguish: "My brother... he led the remaining brothers to block the way with their lives! Just to fight for everyone's survival! The tribesmen all scattered and fled for their lives! I risked my life to find you!"

"Wh...what?!" Bastardos was struck dumb, his tall body swayed, and the purple light that had just ignited in his eyes dimmed instantly.

"Chief! Quick! Go back and save everyone! If it's any later... if it's any later, they'll all freeze and starve to death in the snowfield!" Sergio cried out hoarsely.

Payne, standing to the side, coldly said, "Going back now? It's too late. Those who deserve to die are already dead. Those who survive can endure a few more days. Eliminate the demons in front of you, and take the rest of your people with me to the Empire to recuperate. That is your only way out, half-demon patriarch."

Bastardos' eyes widened in fury as he stared at Marshal Puji on the distant fortress.

Just then, due to Yunier being tied down, the warriors fighting, and Payne's fireball, a "gap" that seemed to be able to penetrate straight into the fortress wall miraculously appeared on the battlefield!
It was exposed in the middle of the chaotic battlefield, like a shortcut to victory.

Hearing that they were leaving, Lin Jun tried to persuade them to stay...

The gap was so tempting that Bastardos almost wanted to rush through it.

However, he instinctively sensed a hint of danger.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the demons who had been on the city wall had vanished without a trace, leaving only Puji still standing there.

"withdraw!"

A sharp, piercing whistle that seemed to cut through the battlefield suddenly burst from Bastardos's mouth!
Upon hearing this signal that signified complete surrender, the faces of the half-demon warriors, still fighting valiantly, were instantly filled with shock, defeat, and resentment. Nevertheless, they began to struggle to break away from the enemy before them and retreat to the rear.

Several half-demon warriors were tightly entangled by a group of puffies and were about to be overwhelmed.

Bastardos's figure flashed by like a ghost, his claws tearing through the air, and the swarm of puffy creatures instantly turned into a shower of flying fungal fragments!

Without further hesitation, he began to traverse the chaotic battlefield at high speed, using his immense strength to forcefully tear through the encirclement net, providing support and cover for the retreat of more of his people.

Payne watched all this coldly without saying a word—since Bastardos had chosen to give up the Empire's "gift," he had naturally lost his leverage over the other party, so there was no point in saying anything more.

The battlefield situation changed rapidly. Under the leadership of their chief, the half-demon troops began to retreat in an organized manner, and the pressure instantly shifted to the lizardmen who had lost their chieftain!

The puffers clearly noticed this as well, and deliberately let some of the half-demons go, then concentrated their attack on the lizardmen.

In terms of high-end combat power, our side still has ourselves and Yunier, while it is still unknown whether the enemy has hidden Hall of Fame level forces.

Even without that, having lost a large number of cannon fodder, how could he and Yunier possibly face thousands of enemies head-on?

It's not that there's no chance of winning, but the risk is too great, and it's unnecessary.

Gray's initial intelligence was a complete joke! The enemy's combat strength far exceeded expectations; bringing back the information we currently have is enough to report back.

This is why he kept urging Bastardos but didn't rush forward himself—he didn't need to risk his life.

Even if they fail to defeat the demon race this time, it won't be a loss for the empire. If the mission is successfully completed with these tribes, the empire will naturally not break its promise.

However, if the agreed-upon goals are not achieved, don't expect to hear anything like "no merit but still hard work"; the empire only cares about results.

So… his gaze swept across the battlefield and landed on Gray, who was fighting several Jidas… they should retreat too.

……

Despite being engulfed in flames, Gray's fighting spirit burned ever brighter! Every punch he threw was accompanied by scorching air currents, shattering and melting through the bio-armor.

Fire is his innate skill, and it is this ability that allows him to move freely in the frigid North, even without Frost Resistance.

With a single punch, he pierced through the breastplate of a Jida machine, instantly turning the demon inside into a human torch, screaming as it was blasted away by the violent force of the punch.

Just as Gray was about to finish her off with a kick, a magic cannon shot came hurtling in!

He twisted his body sharply to the side, the ball of magic grazing his shoulder and exploding into a deep crater in the frozen ground.

These bio-armored suits again... Although the design of this one is slightly different, it doesn't matter.

This thing is indeed powerful, but the reaction speed of the demons inside is not fast enough to keep up with it, so its power is useless.

Gray turned and charged forward, dodging two more magic cannon shots, and successfully closed in on his opponent. His burning fist, carrying the momentum of burning everything, slammed out fiercely!

However, this time, the expected scene of the outer shell shattering did not occur. Instead, the fist was firmly blocked by an inconspicuous dark yellow leather shell on the opponent's chest!
The immense recoil caused Gray's arm to go numb slightly, while the other person was only knocked back half a step before regaining their balance.

"What the hell?"

Norris inside wouldn't let go of such a golden opportunity to counterattack.

"Take this!"

The elite-level drill vibrated as it pierced through the ground, ignoring the high temperature on Gray's body. The sharp drill bit, carrying pure physical destructive force, slammed into Gray's abdomen!

puff!

Blood and gore filled the air, and excruciating pain shot through him, but Gray suppressed the agony, gripping the drill bit's body tightly with both hands like iron clamps.

Using the momentum, he twisted his waist and swung his burning right leg out in a spinning motion, smashing Jida's head!
Norris's vision was instantly destroyed.

Gray seized the opportunity to free his hands, and with his elbows like heavy hammers, he smashed the burrowing machine embedded in his abdomen to pieces in a few blows!
Just as he was about to retaliate, a spear suddenly came from the side, aiming straight for his ribs!

Having lost the initiative, he tried to dodge, but the spear followed him relentlessly. In the end, he had to use his arm to block it, and was pierced by the spear.

“It’s you!” Gray recognized the attacker.

"We meet again, Imperial Envoy!" Shou's voice was icy, devoid of any pleasantries.

Before the words were even finished, the two had already transformed into two intertwined afterimages, their fists and spears clashing fiercely!
However, before the two could determine a winner, several sharp wind blades suddenly cut into the battle without warning, disrupting Hunt's rhythm. Gray seized this lightning-fast opening and punched Hunt hard in the face!
The burning creature flew backward, plowing a trail in the fungal carpet.

Payne landed beside Gray from mid-air and grabbed his shoulder: "We have to get out!"

Before leaving, Payne casually swung his staff, and a condensed wind blade slashed straight at Norris, who had just crawled out of the broken Jida!

Norris's pupils contracted as he faced a casual strike from a Hall of Fame expert!
It was too late to dodge; he could only cross his arms and desperately protect himself in front of him.

Ding--! ! !
A strange, metallic clang rang out as the sharp wind blade struck the black scales, yet it failed to leave even the faintest white mark!
Upon realizing the voice was off, Payne turned around with a grave expression to look at the short figure that had suddenly appeared opposite him: "Dragonman..."

Seeing that the enemy refused to enter his self-destructing fortress and instead began to retreat, Lin Jun had no choice but to stop hiding and release Xiao Hei.

(End of this chapter)