As Rosen and the others ventured underground, Queen Hathaway's summons had already spread across the entire island. In various gathering spots on the island, conspicuous columns of smoke rose into the sky, visible even from great distances.
One after another, dozens of smoke signals soon filled the air, as the people of Lantis looked up, realizing that the gathering places where the smoke was lit were already engaged in war.
The large-scale ignition of smoke signals indicated not just the transmission of information but also the most ruthless signal of destruction on Lantis Island.
"The Navy has deceived us! They have cruelly murdered our kin with their sches. Respond to the Queen's summons and destroy the Navy!" A soldier stood on a high platform in a gathering of a thousand, roaring with madness.
He was an envoy sent by the Queen, and upon learning of the Navy's deceit, the warriors of the Ninth Garden had gone berserk.
When hope appears only to be cruelly snatched away, everyone's fury reaches its peak, transforming them into monsters that will burn everything to ashes.
"Kill!" The single word roared by a thousand voices was filled with madness, shaking the air like thunder.
Soon, the elderly, won, and children of the gathering hid in the underground world, leaving only a few warriors behind. Over ninety percent of the warriors now launched a frenzied campaign of revenge.
"Light the smoke signals! Move out and join the Queen. Kill all the Navy and pirates!" Such calls to arms echoed in every Lantis gathering place, marking the most ferocious battle in Lantis history.
Even during the day, such a large-scale operation was bound to attract many zombies, but at this mont, they had no fear. Anger had driven them to madness.
So Navy personnel who were setting up Den Den Mushi or collecting information on the island were caught off guard and slaughtered. Many mid-level officers believed that a peace agreent had already been reached.
Admiral Lesser, the base commander, had not anticipated this oversight. He had guessed that the first group of accepted Lantis people would surely inform others of their safety. This was expected, and they had done so, as it was part of the plan to gradually erode the Lantis people and eventually trap the Crimson Queen, solving the problem in one fell swoop.
It should have been a simple yet perfect plan, but unexpectedly, even after splitting from the Queen, Morad had maintained a ans of communication. Logically, this was unlikely, as the Queen had not killed Morad for dividing Lantis.
"Why? Why are the Lantis people attacking us?!" A hundred-man Navy reconnaissance team was installing surveillance Den Den Mushi in one location when suddenly, devil-like Lantis people charged in. Unlike before, they were more ferocious and reckless.
Soon, the Navy was completely wiped out. Hodman looked into the distance, his face darkening to the extre. "I hope Lisa and the others can hold the demon land as their priority."
If even the people just sent to the demon land had to join this war, the losses for Ming City would be too great. They had just erged from last night's nightmare. He could fight, even perish with the Navy, but Ming City needed to preserve so seeds.
"Move forward," Hodman said coldly. The Navy, these butchers, should never have been trusted in the first place.
"Find out the reason imdiately. This is no small conflict. Outposts are losing contact one after another," Eric, accompanied by Kuma, was heading to Admiral Lesser's location. Upon hearing the Den Den Mushi report, he imdiately issued the command.
Ninth Garden.
All warriors, totaling 435 elite soldiers and 8,520 seasoned fighters, had gathered under Hathaway's leadership. This was the nearest gathering place and over ninety percent of the Ninth Garden's combat power. Her goal was revenge, but alongside the revenge, she would also execute a dangerous plan originally scheduled for several years later.
"You all know what has happened. Rember our goal: kill all the marines, seize their ships. Since the marines' main force is already on the island, annihilating them could allow us to break free from Lantis Island. The opportunity lies in our own hands! Lantis people never retreat!" Hathaway's commanding voice echoed across the Ninth Garden training ground.
"Kill!!" The roar was like the heavens splitting, a surge of killing intent.
With a population of around fifty thousand, shrinking daily due to deaths, the number of warriors ready to fight from various places exceeded twenty thousand. This was a high proportion, the capital that allowed the Lantis people to survive on an island overrun by monsters.
Though so elderly, children, and the disabled still had so combat ability, most were left behind this ti. Only the strongest warriors were sent to execute the destructive mission.
They were determined to teach the marines a bloody lesson, no matter the cost.
"Destination, Zone E. Open the gates! Advance!" Hathaway rode on the back of a mutated tiger-like creature, while other warriors controlled zombie monsters to form cavalry units. The monsters' mouths were restrained by iron masks, and their limbs were bound with chains, allowing them to be driven forward to so extent.
The massive iron gates of the Ninth Garden research institute opened, revealing scattered zombies outside. Hathaway swung her sword, unleashing a hundred-foot-long blade of energy filled with her fury and crimson, tangible killing intent, flattening everything in its path. They headed towards Zone E, the marines' harbor, aiming to slaughter the marines and seize their warships, though the chances of success were slim.
Such a large-scale mobilization would quickly draw the marines' attention and zombie attacks. But now, they had no choice but to fight with their backs against the wall. Deception and sches had pushed them to their limit, and even though the timing was not ideal, this battle was unavoidable.
The entire island erupted into multiple battles in a short ti.
"It's the smoke signals. Gather the troops and move towards the main position to join the Queen." Though food was important, Lisa understood that this unprecedented war signal took precedence.
"Strange, why are smoke signals rising again? Another small conflict? These restless pests." In a crack where a faint red mist lingered, Admiral Lesser stood in a clearing where many simple fras had been erected, each holding iron cages. Inside the cages were various mutated humans and ordinary Lantis people. Rows of cages stood in the faint mist, their numbers vast. Occasionally, mutated zombie creatures attacked the cages, and those unlucky enough to be caught by the monsters suffered grueso fates.
Screams, monster roars, banging sounds, and infant cries pierced the air.
A hundred ters behind this clearing stood a dirt wall where Admiral Lesser and the marines hid. Many traps and chanisms were set near the cages, intended for Charles, though he had yet to take the bait.
"Admiral Lesser, isn't this against the marines' justice?" A captain, witnessing the suffering of the Lantis people, couldn't help but speak up.
"To lure out monsters, we need bait. Should I send our marines comrades into the cages instead?" Admiral Lesser replied coldly.
"Think long-term. These Lantis people are our enemies. Do not sympathize with the enemy. If we capture that monster, we're helping the Lantis people by eliminating a great threat. They must pay a small price for this. It's only natural. Do your duty and don't speak words that undermine morale. As an officer, you should know better." Lesser glanced at the captain, silently noting his dissent.
"Yes..." The captain fell silent, though the reasoning seed plausible. But hadn't the Marine Headquarters ordered their proper treatnt? The Lantis people had even agreed, allowing the situation to potentially improve rather than worsen. However, with Lesser's grim expression, he dared not press further.
"Nathalie, why are you crying?" Rosen suddenly noticed tears streaming down Natari's face as she stopped moving forward, concerned.
"So many people... so many people above us are being tortured. Cries, monster sounds, so many noises... Nathalie feels so sad!" Nathalie wept. This was the first ti she had cried, even in the face of monsters and utter despair, she had never shed tears before.
(End of Chapter)
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