"Hmm?" Fang Qingyu raised his eyebrows slightly, turning his gaze to Qin Hui, "Not the Sharp Blade Team, nor the outer blocking team? So what is our designation?"
"The directive from above is..." Qin Hui licked his slightly chapped lips, as if confirming he hadn’t misheard, "Free action."
"Free action?"
Old Qiao couldn’t help but exclaim softly, exchanging glances with Qi Hao and Lv Chen.
In a large-scale, all-encompassing offensive like this, the directive of "free action" seed particularly jarring and ambiguous.
This ant no clear support targets, no designated defensive zones, and no mandatory advancent routes.
A knowing look flashed in Fang Qingyu’s eyes.
This was less a mission and more a special authorization and trust from Wu Yu or the entire upper echelon for his Divine Armant.
To release an unremarkable yet exceptionally sharp blade from the preset frawork.
Allowing Fang Qingyu to insert himself where needed most, in the most unexpected ways, based on the rapidly changing battlefield!
This was both imnse trust and a heavy responsibility.
Just as Fang Qingyu was about to speak, the channel access tone suddenly rang in his earbud communicator.
When he heard Duan Ling’s voice, although others didn’t react.
Fang Qingyu subtly raised his hand, signaling Qin Hui and the others to wait a mont, and turned to walk towards a relatively quiet corner a few steps away.
Qin Hui and the others saw Fang Qingyu’s actions and understood, not following him.
"Sister Duan." Fang Qingyu connected the communication, his voice steady.
A mont of silence ca from the other end, only the sound of slightly quickened breathing.
A few seconds later, Duan Ling’s voice rang out, trying to maintain her usual calmness and efficiency, but upon careful listening, a strain tightly suppressed was noticeable:
"The strongest Sharp Blade Team is personally led by Old Chen, with the target being the ’Abyssal Weaver’s’ main body. The pressure is enormous on the outer teams, who will do their utmost to hold off the main swarm. Your ’free action’ authority was decided by Director Wu against all objections; he believes you can play a more critical role than any predetermined route."
Her speech was fast, businesslike, but at the last sentence, the forced calm in her voice finally showed a faint, almost undetectable ripple, like an undercurrent beneath the ice surface:
"This action’s core goal is to destroy the mother nest and remove the force field threat. It is the top priority, the lives of millions in Qingjian City, I understand." She took a deep breath, the breath quivering slightly through the communicator, "But, Lin Kang, he..."
Duan Ling’s voice choked, the words seed blocked in her throat.
She didn’t need to say it explicitly.
The struggle of placing personal emotions above the bigger picture, the plea that shouldn’t be made yet couldn’t be suppressed, was clearly conveyed through the radio.
She didn’t want to impose additional pressure on Fang Qingyu, especially at such a crucial mont for the entire city’s survival, but she couldn’t deceive herself, nor could she refrain from seizing this last, faint hope.
Fang Qingyu listened quietly.
He could feel the heavy, nearly overwhelming complex emotions in Duan Ling’s words.
The responsibility for the city, the grief for fallen comrades, the concern for the captain in danger, and the inexpressible, guilt-laden expectation for this young yet repeatedly miraculous team mber.
In the shadows, Fang Qingyu’s lips curled upwards in a slight arc, not in mockery but in a near-promise assurance.
He didn’t even let Duan Ling finish that difficult sentence.
"I will."
Two words, clear and calm, yet carrying a decisive force, transmitted through the communicator to Duan Ling’s ears.
No grand rhetoric, no fiery promises.
Just these two words, as if stating a future fact.
The other end of the communication fell into a brief silence.
Seconds later, there was the sound of Duan Ling taking a deep breath as if relieved of a heavy burden, then the communication was swiftly cut off.
Fang Qingyu turned around, stepping out from the shadows.
His face still held that calm, unruffled expression, as if the brief call had never occurred.
"Qingzi?" Qin Hui sent an inquiring look.
Fang Qingyu shook his head, his gaze sweeping over his team mbers.
Light shone down from above, making his figure appear sowhat hazy.
"The directive is confird, free action."
Fang Qingyu’s voice wasn’t loud but was clear to everyone present, "This ans our blade’s edge is directed by our own judgnt."
"The objective is only one, to end all of this!"
After speaking, Fang Qingyu moved forward without any hesitation.
Straight towards the entrance distorting the light.
"Move out!"
Qin Hui, Old Qiao, and the others had a sharp look, instantly understanding the heavy weight and trust behind this "freedom."
They no longer spoke, quickly following.
Qi Hao and Lv Chen gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes full of determination.
Jiang Wei jogged alongside Fang Qingyu with her short legs, looking up at him, a clear light seemingly flashing in her big eyes.
This was extre confidence in one’s own strength.
She had seen it in many of her elder brothers before.
Fang Qingyu stretched out his hand, pressing against the invisible barrier.
Buzz——!
The space vibrated intensely, the entrance instantaneously ford.
Fang Qingyu stepped in.
Behind him, the team mbers filed in.
The bustling noise, the street food aromas, the mixed human world atmosphere...
Instantly stripped away.
Replaced by a pungent, nauseating stench of blood and decay, and the sharp screeching, like a billion tals scraping, converging from the depths of the ruins, from all directions!
"Ssss—— crackle crackle crackle——!!!"
The ocean of the insect swarm, in the deepest darkness before dawn, opened its hideous maw towards them.
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