Chapter 1408

Continuous, fierce flames burned on the front lines for nearly half an hour, and innumerable calamities perished at Han Meng's hands. By the time Han Meng's mental energy was almost depleted, most of the calamities that had surged into the South Sea Region were effectively dealt with. The waves and mist were pushed back to the edge of the breach. The Pu family members, seizing the opportunity, quickly set up defenses around the area, gradually transforming this temporary skirmish into a positional battle.

A figure darted in from outside the breach.

"How are things?" Han Meng asked.

"There are no more high-level calamities outside," the Pu family head said, his expression relaxing. "It seems those calamities realized this place is hard to breach, so they've branched off to other air vents... I need to go help."

After speaking, the Pu family head looked at Han Meng's slightly pale face and advised:

"You've been fighting continuously for too long; you need to rest."

The task of the Pu family head and other eighth-tier individuals was to block eighth-tier calamities. However, there were only so many eighth-tier calamities in the Forbidden Sea, so their combat was relatively less intense. But there were far too many seventh-tier calamities, and before the Fusion Faction joined, the South Sea Region had too few capable seventh-tier fighters. Consequently, Han Meng had barely rested since the battle began, constantly facing multiple enemies alone.

Just as Han Meng was about to say something, a voice came from behind:

"Officer Han Meng, please go rest... Leave this to us."

Han Meng turned his head to see Teacher Ye approaching from behind, carrying several reagents with him, seemingly prepared for an immediate outbreak of combat with calamities. Han Meng didn't push himself. He was well aware of his current condition and nodded slightly:

"Then I'll leave it to you."

As the Pu family head departed to support other air vents, Han Meng also left. His figure moved through the edge of the battlefield, heading directly towards the specialized logistics and distribution center in the rear.

The entire South Sea Region was now under strict control; all residents were forbidden from leaving their homes, and the streets were empty. Yet, as Han Meng passed, he could still feel numerous gazes from the windows of nearby houses. These residents seemed to be nervously standing behind their windows, trying to observe the situation outside.

The logistics point established in the South Sea Region was not far from there. During his journey, besides Han Meng, many logistics personnel were also moving back and forth. As Han Meng pushed open the door to a room, a strong, pungent smell of blood assailed him.

In his sight, blood-stained cots were arranged in the center of the room. Many figures stood around the bedsides, whispering with furrowed brows.

"These bodies are...?" Han Meng stepped forward and asked.

"They are the guards from the breach earlier," a staff member explained. "After the calamity wave was repelled, we found an opportunity to retrieve the bodies, but..."

"But what?"

"Their deaths were particularly gruesome."

Han Meng stepped closer and lifted one of the sheets. A blood-soaked corpse, severed at the waist, lay before him, its internal organs spilling out from the torn flesh—a horrifying sight. The moment he saw the body, Han Meng froze. He immediately turned and pulled back all the other sheets. As one bloody corpse after another came into view, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper...

"Saint Son..."

"Saint Son!"

At the factory entrance, Zhao Yi, who had been sitting on the ground lost in thought, suddenly came back to himself. He looked back to see Ling Long walking directly towards him, her eyes full of confusion...

"Saint Son, what are you spacing out about here?" Ling Long pointed to the people returning to the dorms behind her. "Everyone's gone back to sleep, aren't you going?"

"I... I'm not sleepy," Zhao Yi shook his head.

"What are you thinking about?"

Zhao Yi hesitated, then said, "I just feel... Teacher Ye was a bit strange today."

"Huh? Was he?"

"It's just a feeling... How do I explain it to you..." Zhao Yi recalled the scene he had witnessed while helping in Teacher Ye's lab earlier, his thoughts momentarily jumbled. "I don't understand experiments or science... but... can that phenomenon really be considered a successful experiment?"

Ling Long looked at him blankly, seemingly struggling to understand what Zhao Yi was trying to convey. But after thinking carefully, she said:

"Even though I don't understand... isn't Teacher Ye the most amazing biologist? Didn't he personally save almost everyone in our Fusion Faction? He must have his own reasons for his experiments."

"You're right."

Hearing this, most of Zhao Yi's doubts dissipated. More than anything, he regretted not being able to go to the front lines.

Ling Long stood beside him, unable to suppress a yawn. "Saint Son, are you really not going to get some sleep?"

"I can't sleep, and didn't nap time just end a little while ago?"

"But I'm just sleepy!"

"Alright, alright, you all go to sleep. I promised Teacher Ye I'd guard the factory, so I'll stay here and watch."

Zhao Yi sat cross-legged at the factory gate, his black wanderer's robe gently fluttering in the wind. His bandaged arms were clasped in front of him, facing the direction of the front lines, exuding an aura of a lone warrior holding back a thousand enemies.

Seeing the Saint Son putting on an act again, Ling Long couldn't help but pout, but still cooperatively added:

"Wow, Saint Son is so amazing! Then our safety is all up to you, Saint Son!"

"Heh heh."

Zhao Yi couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

After speaking, Ling Long turned and went back into the factory, walking up the nearby stairs towards the dormitories. The sounds of children laughing and playing gradually faded, and eventually, the entire factory fell silent, with only faint snores occasionally echoing from within the factory dormitories.

Zhao Yi, meanwhile, maintained his posture of "a lone warrior holding back a thousand enemies," sitting upright at the factory gate, his gaze fixed on the front lines, like a "watcher" poised for action.

Time passed minute by minute. The sounds of battle from the front lines were continuous, yet nothing unusual occurred. It was as if the situation ahead had been completely stabilized. The occasional explosions and roars from the far distance became like white noise, making Zhao Yi feel somewhat drowsy.

After an unknown period, he lightly dozed off, nearly tumbling to the ground.

"Damn it... I actually got sleepy waiting," Zhao Yi muttered quietly, then stood up, intending to stretch his body at the factory entrance. But then, as if realizing something, he paused slightly...

He turned to look at the tightly closed factory door behind him.

Isn't it...

A little too quiet?

For a nap, can people really sleep for so long? And out of hundreds of children, has no one woken up yet?

For some reason, an inexplicable unease settled in Zhao Yi's heart. He walked directly to the factory gate, pushed it forcefully, and a low creaking sound echoed within the factory...

A heavy, dead silence filled the factory. The vast dormitory...

Was empty.