After entering the camp, Jiyan began explaining the battle plan to Rover and the others.
To sum it up simply, long-range units would be deployed on both sides of the canyon, providing fire support to the melee forces resisting the remnant tide at the front.
The melee forces would push forward as a whole, blocking the remnant tide in the center of Northfall Barrens.
A very simple and crude deployment, but it had to be admitted that this kind of strategy, building strong defenses and fighting a straightforward battle, was indeed effective.
What Zane didn't understand, however, was why something so simple needed such a long explanation.
He took out his Pangu Terminal and checked the time. From when Jiyan started explaining the plan to Rover and the others to when he finished assigning the strike team composed of Rover, Yangyang, the Doctor, and Jiyan to eliminate the Threnodian, a full 10 minutes had already passed.
Wasn't it just about holding the high ground and base, then sending out the decisive operators to deal with the boss?
Thinking of this, Zane couldn't help but glance at the Doctor. She must be very familiar with this kind of setup.
"Zane, what do you think?", Jiyan passed the topic to Zane, his eyes filled with expectation.
He knew Zane's thoughts well and understood his determination to protect Jinzhou. But this time, the members of the strike team would be facing the Ovathrax head-on.
No matter how strong Zane was, he was still just an ordinary person who couldn't use resonance abilities.
Like a stat-heavy character without skills, relying only on basic attacks with no other means of damage.
Although Jiyan missed the sense of security that came from having Zane watch his back, he couldn't bring himself to make the decision of sending a close friend into such danger.
So he could only leave the decision of whether to join the strike team to Zane himself.
At that moment, Rover suddenly stepped forward and stood in front of Zane.
"I don't agree with Zane joining the team."
Rover knew clearly that if Zane fought the Ovathrax using his usual reckless approach that ignored his own limits, he would definitely die.
At the same time, Jiyan rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Seeing the cold determination on the girl's pretty face, he couldn't help but gasp.
'Good grief, I knew you had charm, but I didn't expect even Rover to fall for you!'
'Are idiots this popular now?'
On the other side, while Jiyan was questioning his life choices, Zane opened his mouth. After all, his future had to be decided by himself.
"Well, I…"
"Hmm?"
Rover slightly turned her head, her golden eyes giving him a cold glance.
"I… I agree."
See? This is what status in the household looks like. As a proper man, you must yield to women.
This is called awareness. This is called wisdom.
Seeing Zane compromise, the Doctor and Yangyang beside him also let out a sigh of relief.
They understood Zane's determination, but understanding was one thing. They still couldn't just watch him walk into danger.
"But speaking of which, how are you so sure that just the few of you can defeat the Threnodian?"
Faced with Zane's question, Jiyan raised his head. His sharp eyes stared blankly into the void, as if recalling something.
"This matter… perhaps Jinhsi is not aware of. When I succeeded as the Midnight Rangers General, Jinhsi had not yet taken the position of Magistrate."
"And it was on that very day that Jue said this to me..."
"When the moon reaches its full phase, you will assist a returned one, face the Ovathrax, and from within it, retrieve the power to defeat it."
'What kind of "same-origin enemy and ally" is this?'
As Jiyan spoke, he looked at the somewhat dazed Rover.
"If Rover is that 'returned one,' then this time, we might truly be able to eliminate that monster in one go."
Hearing Jiyan's explanation, Zane looked at Rover in shock. This girl who spent all day hitting him with either a blade or her fists was actually this amazing?
'Then doesn't that mean I, who get beaten by her every day, am even more amazing!'
Noticing Zane's gaze, Rover slightly raised her chin, hands on her hips, her fair face full of pride.
"Oh right, Jue also said one more thing back then." Jiyan's eyebrows lifted as he suddenly looked at Zane. He didn't know why he remembered this sentence at this moment.
"And the end of Zane's fate will also be revealed."
"Fate? And an end?" After hearing Jiyan's words, Zane felt like his CPU was about to burn out.
"According to this kind of plot… could it be that I'm actually the Ovathrax itself? Or maybe I'm the one controlling it, then I encounter Rover, fight with everything I've got but can't win, and lose… wait, if the opponent is Rover, losing doesn't sound too bad."
But you never know whether the defeat or Rover's iron fist judgment will arrive first.
With a mix of embarrassment and anger, Rover raised her fist and knocked Zane flat to the ground.
Then she took a deep breath, calmed the turbulence in her heart, and spoke seriously to him, "Don't worry. Even if you are the Ovathrax, I won't hit you. We'll definitely find a way to coexist…"
"But you just hit me.", Zane blinked his innocent, clear eyes at her.
At that moment, Rover really wanted to dig those eyes out.
Even with her composure, her face flushed red with anger. She immediately drew her blade, ready to cut down this blockhead.
If Yangyang and Jiyan hadn't reacted quickly, one holding Rover back, the other dragging Zane away, Zane would have become the first casualty of this battle.
At this moment, while everyone's attention was focused on Zane and Rover, no one noticed that a faint, flickering glint suddenly passed through the calm depths of the Doctor's eyes.
Although Rover was very dissatisfied with Zane's wooden brain, she didn't forget the main mission because of it.
Beating up Zane was just a side activity. The urgent priority was still defeating the soon-to-revive Ovathrax.
"Roles have been assigned. What's left is to activate the Disrupter and open the ground-wave barrier."
'More strange terminology.'
Zane scratched the back of his head, accidentally touching the spot where Rover had hit him, and immediately sucked in a breath of cold air.
"That was brutal… looks like she really got mad."
Noticing his small movement, Rover's heart stirred slightly. Her steps unconsciously shifted a bit, but in the next second, she forced herself to stop.
Pouting, she deliberately avoided looking at him.
"Do you see the barrier like a boundary not far away?" Jiyan didn't notice the situation here and continued explaining to the soldiers.
"That is a barrier created by the Threnodian to ensure its successful revival. And the Disrupter is a weapon created when Jinzhou was first established to resist it."
"Teacher Jiyan, I have a question."
Jiyan looked at Zane raising his hand and helplessly pressed his forehead.
"Let a professional explain the details.", As he spoke, he picked up the Pangu Terminal at his waist and initiated a video call.
On the other end, a man with red hair, glasses, and a white researcher's coat appeared.
"I say, General Jiyan, you're pushing troublesome matters onto me again… fine. What's the question this time?", Mortefi crossed his arms and turned to look at Zane, as if not surprised at all that he was the one asking.
Or rather, used to it would be more accurate.
After all, every time he was asked to test Blackstone weapons, Zane would bring up all kinds of strange questions.
Like "Why do the weapons you make get put into gacha pools," "Can you make a belt that transforms using solar energy," or "Do you have artificial maids"...all kinds of bizarre things.
"Then why don't we just make more Disrupters and shove them straight into the Threnodian's ass… uh, I mean, give it a full bombardment?"
"Although we'd also like to do that… the cost of building a Disrupter is extremely high, and it requires a lot of time. Mass production like you said is possible, but Jinzhou wouldn't last until then.
Also, when the Disrupter is about to fire, it creates intense energy fluctuations. The Threnodian isn't going to just stand there and wait for you to charge it. So directly bombarding it is also very difficult."
"Tch." Zane clicked his tongue, his face full of dissatisfaction.
'Only one nuclear weapon... what's that enough for?'
'You can't even decide whether to bomb Hiroshima or Nagasaki, only pick one.'
Mortefi ignored Zane's muttering and turned to Jiyan.
"But speaking of which, the Disrupter is a tactical-level destruction weapon. Huangdu strictly regulates its use. Can approval really be obtained?"
Could this be the "substantial support" Jinhsi mentioned earlier from Huangdu?
Rover thought to herself. Just then, a sharp ringing sound interrupted their conversation.
"Report! The Disrupter turret is under attack by remnants, requesting support!"
"What?!"
Everyone's expressions changed slightly. Jiyan and Rover immediately moved, preparing to head for support.
If the Disrupter turret fell, they wouldn't be able to use it to break the barrier, and they wouldn't be able to eliminate the Ovathrax before it fully revived.
So the control of the Disrupter turret was the key to victory.
Rover and Jiyan both understood the stakes.
'The Disrupter must not fall.'
"I'll handle it."
A firm voice sounded in the chaotic command room, drawing everyone's attention.
"You still need to conserve your strength for the final battle with that stone man. You shouldn't be wasting too much energy now. So leave this kind of task to me."
"But…"
Rover wanted to say she would go too, but Zane waved his hand to stop her.
"Trust me. Taking back the Disrupter is just the first step. You have a heavier burden on your shoulders… see you later."
Zane wanted to say more, but then thought about it... saying more would just raise a death flag.
The Midnight Rangers knew how important the Disrupter was, and the Threnodian naturally knew it as well.
At this moment, aside from the members of the strike team, the only one capable of holding the Disrupter turret was Zane.
And at this time, the Disrupter turret had already completely turned into a bloody meat grinder…