The Invasion Day – Chapter 98

Table of Contents | Character Guide

Chapter 98

Standing on the wall and looking at the sea of aliens gave an absolutely different feeling from being in it. On the wall, it was panic that overwhelmed him; yet being here, the only sensation left was fear that came from the depths of his soul.

As though it was the desperation of a solitary boat that wandered aimlessly on a boundless ocean.

Sitting on the armoured vehicle, everyone felt a chill creep up their spine as they listened to the sound of the aliens pounding and hitting against the vehicle’s body.

For a moment, inside the vehicle, there was only utter silence.

A while later, as the vehicle continued to be covered in aliens but managed to run quite a large distance, Geng Liangguan asked: “Commander Fu, which direction should we be heading to?” 

Fu Shiwu was actually at a loss. He had yet to have any idea where they should go, but he wasn’t such a clueless man. He knew he certainly shouldn’t say such a thing at this point.

Fu Shiwu collected himself and said to Geng Liangguan: “First, let’s look at the west side of Pei City, then we’ll go counterclockwise. My range of perception is about one kilometer. Let’s try to not omit any spot.” 

Even though they had no concrete clue at present, hearing Fu Shiwu speak so calmly, Geng Liangguan could feel a bit reassured. At the very least, they wouldn’t be wasting their effort.

Tang Xuhai gripped his shoulder: “Don’t worry, this armoured vehicle comes out here with a full tank. We can definitely run around the whole battlefield.” 

Fu Shiwu nodded calmly, letting go of his senses as he began to scan the ground meter by meter. 

The armoured vehicle went further and further despite the aliens clogging around it. Knowing that they couldn’t pry open this turtle shell at all, the creatures that kept slamming the vehicle’s external surface finally gave up. This allowed the people inside to finally breathe a sigh of relief. 

With the images in his mind full of Level-2 aliens, Fu Shiwu’s heart was gripped tightly. He knew that in the face of so many Level-2 aliens, only death would await them should he make even the slightest mistake. The thought of dying never scared him. What he was afraid was that these men who had come with him would lose their lives in vain, and that he wouldn’t be able to complete the mission he had promised. 

Whatever happened, he must locate the Level-3 aliens!

Fu Shiwu’s face turned dangerously pale as beads of sweat slipped down his forehead. His blood started circulating faster, to the point that even the wound that had been bandaged before he set off burst and began to ooze blood. 

“……Is he okay?” A soldier who sat opposite looked at him and couldn’t help asking. 

Casting an icy glance at the soldier, Tang Xuhai wiped Fu Shiwu’s sweat with his hand. 

He said: “He has been stationed on the wall for one full day and hasn’t gotten any rest since the night started, yet still has to use his ability non-stop. He’s almost at his limit.” 

The soldier remained silent.

Everyone knew how the situation was now. There was no time for him to rest and recover. With every passing second, Pei City would only suffer more casualties. 

They could only watch as Fu Shiwu exhausted himself, but couldn’t say a word to make him stop.

Fu Shiwu’s head throbbed with immense pain as, from one patch to the next, the image before his eyes started turning black and a sort of dizziness that was decidedly close to knocking him out crashed into his mind. 

Fu Shiwu fiercely bit his lower lip, telling himself that he mustn’t pass out. 

He gathered all his resolution to fight the dizziness and his range of perception slowly expanded, spreading towards the endless darkness. 

All over his body and his mind, Fu Shiwu was tortured by both mental and physical malaise. 

One by one, waves of random thoughts burst in his head. In one moment, he only wanted to clench his teeth and keep going, yet the next moment, he pondered the thought that since the situation was already so bad, it wouldn’t matter if he decided to let go and pass out right now.

The agonising pain on both his body and his mind made Fu Shiwu almost want to toss away his shame and shed tears, but desperately, he endured it.

At this moment, a fiery touch bestowed some solace on his forehead, and a warm, pleasant feeling slowly drifted into his head. As the dizziness and discomfort shrank a little, Fu Shiwu couldn’t help but shudder. 

Immediately after, a deep chest embraced his shoulders while delicately avoiding his neck, stopping him from falling.

Steadily, a warm sensation seeped in from one side of his shoulders and the upper half of his back.

This feels nice… 

Fu Shiwu heaved a long sigh, knowing that it was Tang Xuhai that was hugging him. Under this temperature, he was the only person who could spread such warmth.

As the wrenching, unbearable pain on his body slowed down multifold, Fu Shiwu regained his composure. The image in his perception that had almost crumbled once again became clear, and unbeknownst to him, his perception extended further.

With a melodic, crisp cracking sound, as if something had been smashed, Fu Shiwu’s mind buzzed with a loud “dang —”. 

“What’s wrong?!” 

“Why are his eyes both rolled up?!” 

“He isn’t dead, is he?!” 

“Shut up!!” Tang Xuhai growled angrily and shooed away the soldiers who were so frightened that they immediately dashed forward. 

With a pale expression, he held up Fu Shiwu’s face that was now drenched in cold sweat, lightly patted his cheek and pinched his body: “Shiwu? Shiwu? Wake up.” 

Fu Shiwu blinked a few times and slowly lifted his head, then he let out a soft groan, clutching his head in both hands. 

His groan made Tang Xuhai feel a sense of sourness rush to his nose and his heart ache with chagrin. How much pain has Fu Shiwu been through? To the point that this brat, who always keeps everything to himself, can’t bear it anymore and has to let out such a cry.

“Shiwu… If you feel really uncomfortable, take a nap first, even if it’s only for half an hour or an hour. Pei City will still be able to hold up.” Tang Xuhai said in an unsteady voice. 

Tang Xuhai felt a pang of sorrow hammering him. Why does Fu Shiwu always have to act strong? Does he even want to live out of this?!

But even if it was only half an hour, countless people might perish in the city. However, Geng Liangguan and his comrades looked at each other, and no one raised any objection. 

If this person was really at the verge of dying, who would have the nerve to let him continue using his ability? Because if he really died, their mission would only become a failure. What would then be the point of coming out here?

“I’m okay…” Fu Shiwu said feebly through his nose. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head against Tang Xuhai’s neck. There was no strength left on his whole body; even his mind seemed to be hollowed out, feeling completely empty.

“No!” Tang Xuhai couldn’t help it and said sternly: “You have to rest for a while. Sleep, even if it’s only ten minutes.” 

Fu Shiwu’s raised his pale face and his glasses slid down, his frail gaze fixed on Tang Xuhai: “There’s no way I can fall asleep now.” 

Tang Xuha’s face darkened as he said firmly: “Leave that to me.” 

As his words fell, he raised his hand and squeezed the back of Fu Shiwu’s neck. In an instant, Fu Shiwu lost consciousness and collapsed. 

With a blank expression, Tang Xuhai hugged Fu Shiwu’s body that was slipping down and pulled the person into his chest. After laying him down, Tang Xuhai even carefully adjusted his glasses.

Dead silence once again fell upon the inside of the armoured vehicle. Around them, there was only the buzzing sound the vehicle made as its engine kept running.

After a while, the driver sitting in front voiced out: “Captain, which direction shall we go? Or should we stop and wait for Commander Fu to wake up first?” 

Tang Xuhai lifted his head and cast a sharp glance at the driver: “Do not stop! During the day, our commander has scanned the situation near F22. There was no Level-3 alien around there at all, so we may consider that section cleared now. We’d better drive to the vicinity first, and from the edge, let’s eliminate the areas one by one.”

Hearing that, Geng Liangguan nodded: “Do as he says.”

Area F was at the west of the city gate, albeit a little remote. Amidst heavy crushing sounds, the armoured vehicle’s front continued moving, heading towards the direction of the area where Fu Shiwu’s team defended during the day.

Ten minutes later, the armoured vehicle ploughed to the place with much difficulty. Tang Xuhai couldn’t bear to wake Fu Shiwu up, but there wasn’t any other choice.

Regaining his consciousness, Fu Shiwu’s spirits became a lot better while his face also turned into a healthier shade, and even his head felt distinctly clearer. 

The armoured vehicle came to a halt, waiting for him to scan the surroundings.

Taking himself as the center, Fu Shiwu began scanning the area within a radius of more than a thousand meters.

As he clenched his teeth tightly, his perception slowly spread to the edge, and very smoothly, it passed its usual range of more than a thousand meters. 

“Oh?” Fu Shiwu was taken aback. 

“What’s wrong?” Tang Xuhai asked, fully alert. 

“It’s nothing, my range of perception has expanded.” Fu Shiwu replied, feeling both delighted and apprehensive.

Tang Xuhai remained silent. According to Dr. Z’s theory, his ability was entirely dependent on how his potential was stimulated. With Fu Shiwu using his ability so recklessly, how can it not get boosted? 

The soldiers in the car watched him without saying a word. This special ability user who was in charge of locating the Level-3 alien had already given his all to search for the target. As long as the target was found, the rest would be on them. 

The soldiers quietly made up their minds that they must not let his hard work become futile.

This time, Fu Shiwu clearly sensed the enhancement of his ability. Fanning out his perception felt exceptionally easier, and the range of viewing could also be increased. Of course, he could only see monotone line images. If they were to carry more details, he wouldn’t be able to expand the range so far away.

Fu Shiwu’s gaze sank as he said: “Nothing in this area. Let’s go southwest.” 

Without wasting a word, the tank driver manoeuvred the armoured vehicle towards the south.

Along the entire journey, Fu Shiwu persistently looked for the target, and he discovered that while all the Level-2 aliens stayed at the front line, the Level-1 aliens were receding in one direction. 

A gleam of light flashed in his eyes and he pointed in that direction: “Go over there.” 

That direction pointed to a hill, where the sloping field was full of green vegetation grown as supplies for Pei City. Because the seeds were sown by airplanes, the vegetation grew strongly here.

The closer they approached that direction, the more clearly Fu Shiwu could see how two distinct lines crossed each other. The Level-2 aliens were heading towards Pei City as the Level-1 aliens were running back along the hillside. 

“It should be here!” Fu Shiwu said affirmatively.

“Are you sure?!” Geng Liangguan stood up, squeezing his fists eagerly. 

“I’m sure!” Fu Shiwu nodded. 

“Good!” Geng Liangguan thumped the car in excitement and shouted at the driver: “Go at full speed!!!” 

The armoured car made a loud roar as its eight large tires rubbed heavily against the ground and rolled over the hillside, crushing on the grass and gravel to climb uphill.

The entire body of the car tilted to a certain angle. If it were just an ordinary vehicle, to climb up a hill at such a big angle of elevation, it would need a proper path. There was absolutely no way any vehicle could make it uphill so easily like this.

As Fu Shiwu’s whole body tilted backwards, Tang Xuhai held the person in his arms to keep Fu Shiwu from falling off the narrow seat. 

“Are you still feeling uncomfortable?” Tang Xuhai whispered in his ear. 

Though Fu Shiwu had been completely relieved from the state earlier, now that Tang Xuhai’s hot breath was flowing in his ear, his whole body suddenly felt tense.

“It’s not that bad anymore, probably my pain threshold just heightened a bit. The ten minutes of sleeping just now really helped me, thank you.” Fu Shiwu whispered back. 

The corner of Tang Xuhai’s lips curled up a little, then solemnly, he turned to gaze at the display on the instrument panel in front.