Chapter 2915: Long Range

The Lickers were additionally equipped with a new creature-based artillery ability, giving them a means of ranged attack.

Let’s try it!

Fang Heng glanced at the game hint.

There were still 10 minutes left until the previously self-destructed zombie clones could revive.

“Let’s go. We’ll head to that hillside.”

Fang Heng surveyed the terrain and led Zaka and the group of Federation military players toward a higher hillside to the right.

Nairn signaled the federal team to follow, though he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

What exactly was Fang Heng planning?

Climbing a hillside to deal with this swarm? That had to be a joke…

Soon, they arrived at the top of the slope.

Fang Heng faced the lower area where the swarm was gathering and lightly licked his lips, forming a seal with both hands in front of him.

Was it starting?

Nairn inexplicably felt nervous. He raised his hand to signal his subordinates to retreat a little and stay ready to support.

Everyone turned their eyes toward Fang Heng, their expressions growing solemn.

It was the first time they saw Fang Heng personally use summoning.

Fang Heng didn’t even stir his mental strength–he just posed and silently counted down in his heart.

Three, two, one…!

Time was up!

The zombie clones were revived!

“Chi! Chi chi!!!”

In an instant, dense magical arrays emerged around Fang Heng.

The Lickers quickly leapt out from the magic arrays!

In just moments, the first batch of over a thousand fully modified Lickers was revived and rapidly gathered beside Fang Heng.

Nairn remained alert.

Terrifying power.

Even though they had already witnessed Fang Heng’s summons before, seeing the process firsthand was still a shock.

Being able to summon so many mutant creatures in an instant, each individually powerful, was terrifying.

Fang Heng’s strength could only be described as monstrous.

But…

Nairn lifted his head and looked toward the swarm in the desert.

Could summoned creatures really deal with an endless swarm?

Huh? What was that?

Nairn froze.

The summoned creatures didn’t charge toward the swarm for a direct assault like before. Instead, they formed ranks.

“Chi, chi chi…”

Once in position, all the Lickers crouched low to the ground. Their limbs stabbed into the ground to anchor themselves while their back muscles and bones gradually arched and protruded, forming black cannon muzzles.

Huh?

What the heck?

Nairn was stunned. He glanced at Zaka and the others, hoping to glean some answers from their faces.

Zaka’s group was also seeing this for the first time. They stared at the mutating Lickers, confusion written all over their faces.

That was…

What in the world?

They had never seen anything like this either!

Fang Heng stood to the side, observing.

It was his first time using the creature-artillery ability since completing the Seed of Ouroboros modification.

Lickers needed about 10 seconds to enter siege mode.

After transforming, the Lickers’ bodies didn’t change much in size–only their limbs fixed themselves into the ground, and their spinal bones and muscles protruded, forming a cannon that could rotate and adjust its angle.

The muzzles all aimed at the distant mutant worm swarm.

Volley fire!

“Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!”

Rounds of condensed creature fireballs shot from the cannon muzzles, flying into the distant mutant worm swarms!

In fact, the elevated hill Fang Heng had chosen was a bit far from the swarm’s main gathering area–technically outside of optimal firing range.

But that wasn’t a big deal.

The swarm surrounded the ship’s core in massive clusters.

As long as the angle was roughly correct, even a blind shot would hit something!

Of course, Fang Heng did fine-tune the Lickers’ aim a bit–mainly to avoid hitting the ship.

“Boom! Boom boom boom!!!!”

Thousands of bio-cannon shots landed in the swarm and exploded, a dense series of AoE damage numbers floated above the swarm.

Done!

Fang Heng nodded to himself in satisfaction.

When the fireballs hit, they dealt maximum impact damage, followed by a secondary AoE explosion. Within range, the cannons could even be roughly targeted. On top of that, their rate of fire wasn’t low either.

In short, damage output was significantly improved!

At least much faster than having Lickers run up to bite things in melee!

Watching the swarm continually hammered by the cannon barrage, Nairn nervously swallowed and then cast a shocked glance at Fang Heng.

Ranged artillery?

Was that even possible?

Since when did summoned creatures have this kind of terrifying ability?

“Boom! Boom boom boom boom!!!!”

The concentrated cannon fire rained down on the swarm, each round delivering heavy AoE damage!

Waves of damage numbers popped up.

The swarm was initially stunned but quickly recovered, and once they identified the source of the attack, they immediately began swarming toward Fang Heng’s Lickers.

“Boom! Boom boom boom boom!!!”

Nairn noticed the summoned creatures’ fire rate was far from slow. In fact, unlike the Federation’s beam weapons, which overheated with sustained fire, the bio-cannons could fire continuously.

After a few volleys, large portions of the swarm were obliterated. Even elite-level and commander-level enemies were taken out.

Even so, the number of enemies was still overwhelming.

“Mr. Fang…”

Nairn grew anxious as he watched the swarm close in on the hillside.

The cannon barrage wasn’t enough!

Would they be able to hold the line?

“They’re coming… Time for us to shine. Just a bunch of bugs–what’s to worry about? I’ll hold them off.”

Arkley grew excited, sneering a bit at Nairn’s worried expression, muttering to himself as he cracked his knuckles and prepared to fight.

To him, the combat plan was already clear.

They would intercept the approaching swarm head-on, while Mr. Fang’s summoned creatures provided the main damage output from the rear.

“Hold up. Don’t rush it yet.”

Fang Heng, however, placed a hand on Arkley’s shoulder.

Huh?

Still not ready?

Nairn was just about to speak when he saw the Lickers suddenly stop attacking and disengage from their cannon form.

What?

Now Nairn was even more confused.

What was that supposed to mean?

Abandoning the plan? Retreating?

“Chi, chi chi chi…”

Nairn turned around and saw the Licker swarm quickly burrow into the ground using their stealth skill, vanishing completely just before the insect horde arrived, leaving only cracks in the ground behind.

The insects, which had locked onto the Lickers as their targets, suddenly lost their prey and began circling aimlessly in confusion.

“Chi, chi chi chi…”

Half a minute later, on a hillside to the right, not far from Fang Heng and the others, the ground cracked open again.

Hundreds of Lickers emerged from the rifts and re-entered artillery mode, unleashing another heavy barrage on the bewildered mutant swarm.