Skill Extraction: Exploring Dungeons

Chapter 988 - 858: Defense Zone Assault

A three-story fortress shrouded in a vast white mist.

The clear inscription of East-41 District on it indicates the area that this fortress is tasked with defending.

At this moment, in the first layer of the fortress, the surveillance system connecting all defense zones is present. A huge circular stone platform stands in the center, with an array floating atop it.

At the center of the array is a long, ribbon-like block map.

The patterns displayed on it are exactly the same as what Orochi demonstrated to them earlier.

On this stretched-out map divided into blocks, there are three blocks currently emitting a faint flashing red light.

Longbei sits nearby, looking expressionlessly at the flashing blocks.

He can’t help but bow his head and dejectedly say, "Why hasn’t an attacker come to assault these two zones we’re defending?"

Upon hearing Longbei, Meizike, who is busy handling alchemy tools for potion preparation nearby, doesn’t even turn his head.

It’s no surprise as the bored Longbei has complained about this time and again, and after working together for so long, Meizike has grown accustomed to it.

He is now able to quietly focus on his own tasks in an extremely noisy environment without feeling disturbed.

Continuing to work quietly.

Longbei indeed feels bored.

The main reason they are the patroller team here means they cannot leave the fortress at will and must keep an eye on the central zone at all times.

Besides, there really isn’t much here for them to pass the time, at most they can close their eyes and ponder the rules.

Just then, the space on the first floor of the fortress suddenly flickers, and a figure appears inside following the flash.

Longbei merely lifts his eyelids, then resumes staring at the image in front of him.

The figure is none other than Kane.

He has just arrived from East-42 District.

Since they are a team of five, they patrol two zones during crisis times when manpower is scarce.

From the central image, it can be seen that a five-person team patrolling only one zone would be illogical unless that zone is a key defense area.

Most patrol two zones, and some are unlucky enough—with lines close to the edges—that they patrol three zones.

Just like the strong five-person team Kane’s team replaced earlier, they even patrolled four regions with just five people.

For more efficient patrols.

They again split the five-man squad into two groups.

Longbei with Meizike, and Kreya with Lilulu.

Kane randomly roams between the two places every once in a while.

Meanwhile, teammates rotate, sending someone outside to patrol to avoid any loopholes.

In fact, as long as they hold the control tokens of two zones, they can traverse between the zones in a very short amount of time.

Thus, even if the two teams belong to separate squads, as long as one holds out against the enemy for 10 seconds, they can support each other.

If it’s within the same block, it wouldn’t take more than two seconds.

As Kane arrives, he sits beside Longbei, leaning leisurely back on the chair.

"Sigh, how long have we been organizing defense here?"

Longbei seems to search for topics, as if trying to cure his urge to speak.

Kane, also idle, replies, "Let me think, it’s been 10 days, right?"

"10 days, 10 days," Longbei repeats, as still as a sculpture.

"Why hasn’t an attacker assaulted us all this time? Are we not worthy? Look at the flashing red lights above; every place has flashed in these 10 days, except ours."

The array’s pattern monitors the entire East District’s defense, where flashing means that zone is under attack.

Flickering red light indicates the current patroller team can resolve the situation.

Only when the team blows the emergency whistle would the area bring a bloody light.

Neighboring zones would ring alarms, calling for aid.

Other areas, depending on the situation, continue to wait.

Yet, zones 41 and 42, patrolled by Kane’s team, showed no red flash in 10 days.

"Don’t dwell on it so much; no flashing is a good thing."

Kane consoles beside him, and his words aren’t wrong.

But speaking them out loud somehow dispirits even him.

A blessing indeed, but their team’s presence wasn’t just for simple patrol work.

They came ready for combat, well-prepared mentally for nonstop attacks.

After all, the external defense trend is severely dire.

That was an indisputable fact.

The 10-day situation thus far is as expected.

Outside zones have serious issues, while their zones feel overlooked.

Another red light flickers just then.

Longbei, catching it from the corner of his eye, stands up suddenly.

"It’s Zone 42!"

His voice echoes upwards.

Kane and Meizike immediately react, realizing Kreya’s team is under attack.

Kane quickly says, "I’ll stay in Zone 41, Meizike, Longbei, you go immediately."

Before Longbei can say anything more, Meizike swiftly pulls the control token and vanishes.

Longbei promptly follows, disappearing by Kane’s side.

Kane opens his mouth wordlessly, then reluctantly sits back, head leaning with his gaze fixed on the ceiling.

Being the versatile member means sometimes feeling helpless.

Since, among the three remaining, only he can handle most situations; if Zone 41 were attacked, he could withstand for quite some time.

At least he wouldn’t be killed on the first encounter by some entity with unusual powers.

You can’t very well leave Meizike on guard; placing Longbei here might be a better choice, though his weaknesses are clear.

Even after consolidating skills and filling in the gaps,

Kane, as the team leader, must make rational decisions at this moment, rather than following his own instincts and going forward.

Because the enemy is very likely to attack another target while distracting elsewhere.

Although the two zones they patrol have not been attacked, the prying eyes watching them from outside the mist and above the Star Realm have never ceased.

This is why Longbei is angry.

These trash who want to attack keep watching from outside but never attack.

With their rampant gaze observing crazily just a few kilometers outside the white mist, you can clearly feel their malice, yet they just won’t come in.

Correspondingly, they cannot go out either, otherwise, it would be like sheep falling into a tiger’s mouth.

Under such circumstances,

the enemy surely knows that these two regions are guarded by a team.

It is very likely they will feign attack on Area 42 and fiercely assault Area 41.

It’s a very simple tactical technique and extremely useful for the attackers.

Especially against external patrolling, with their block defense.

At this time, Meizike and Longbei, using the circular token from Area 41, teleport directly to the edge, crossing the boundary line into Area 42.

Then, through the sensing token in Area 42, they teleport directly to the place currently battling.

It was only at this time that the BB device at their waist buzzed slightly, indicating a message from Kreya and the others.

Sitting in the fortress hall at this moment, Kane thought for a while and tapped his foot on Yoyo.

"Yoyo, transmit the battle footage to me."

"Yes, master."

Yoyo said, projecting light from its eyes, casting the footage in front of Kane.

The light formed a screen-like image.

The screen currently displayed the battle scene Kreya and the others were engaged in.

The viewpoint is sent from above at an angle.

In the battle footage, the number of attacking enemies reached six, evidently higher than the combat configuration of five.

This illustrates that the enemy has indeed been observing them for a long time; such configuration was deliberate.

This configuration clearly indicates they hope to gather and attract all five individuals guarding the two zones.

Seeing this scene, Kane stood up.

Together with Yoyo, he slowly walked to the platform outside the fortress.

In his hand, he formed a chair and continued watching the battle scene.

He came out because Kane felt that the enemy might conduct a similar attack in this region.

Distractions and attacks on alternate targets are virtually daily occurrences.

Enemies are utterly enthusiastic about repeating it.

Acting like a blind cat running into a dead rat, occasionally seizing an opportunity and sneaking beyond the mist.

Ultimately, if you don’t assist your teammates, they will indeed launch a full-scale attack, causing harm to the patrollers, which they welcome seeing.

"Yoyo, did you detect the strength of these attacking enemies?"

Since he was merely watching footage, Kane could not determine the enemy’s strength just from it.

Thus, he wanted to see if the reconnaissance core could discern it.

Yoyo shook slightly but said, "Unable to detect it, but Lady Kreya has already transmitted the enemy’s strength."

Hearing this, Kane immediately understood and nodded his head.

Viewing the information, all six enemies were concentrating on a skill.

Kreya’s message was straightforward; they could handle it.

The current battle situation on the field was crystal clear.

Lilulu first utilized her skill, locking one of them into the Maze.

Longbei, who reached the battlefield swiftly, declared their arrival before any clash.

Together with Meizike, they momentarily held back three people.

A towering figure ten meters tall indeed offered a formidable presence, especially when transformed entirely into lightning; if not tackled first, this lightning would render the enemy defenseless.

Subsequently, Kreya instantly initiated a kill with the special trait of his Black and White Blade.

No need to watch further.

Kane leaned back in his chair, no longer observing the battle footage.

One person was locked away, one died.

The remaining situation is a 4v4.

It wasn’t that Kane underestimated the enemy, but his trust in Kreya and the others was profound.

With equivalent strength, their four people cooperating could quickly gain an advantage.

Especially with Meizike possessing potent potions assisting from the side.

Indeed, the footage soon showed the enemy sustaining severe injuries under the collaboration of several individuals.

One even began indicating an intention to retreat.

Indeed, they were a temporary alliance, a disorganized crowd.

Once confronted with a life-threatening crisis, sticking around to aid their so-called comrades would be peculiar.

If they genuinely acted this way, they wouldn’t become evil gods.

The wolf howls in his mind had echoed for quite a while now.

Why haven’t these people launched a sneak attack yet?

Although Kane looked relaxed watching the footage, the wolf howls in his mind had already informed him that there were enemies observing him, and not just one.

The third eye on his forehead had gradually split open a seam, though not fully open.

But its stealth ability had long been active.

Through the surrounding chaotic space, Kane’s magic power had long started permeating throughout the entire region.

For the enemy waiting to seize an opportunity, he wholeheartedly appreciated their patience.

For such behavior, he held them in high regard.