Although this round of artillery fire didn't injure the level 5 monster, it caused significant casualties to the ordinary monsters.
The soldiers immediately reloaded.
Once the reloading was complete, Regiment Commander Zhou ordered once again:
"Fire!"
Round after round of artillery strikes left many monster corpses scattered across the ground. The continuous bombardment finally disrupted the monsters' charging formation, reducing the number of creatures able to break through the first wave of defenses.
As the monsters advanced toward the defensive line, Chairman Melody Song stood up abruptly and shouted:
"Transcendent Ones, kill!!"
As soon as the words fell, Chairman Melody Song was the first to charge forward. He leaped into the air, transforming mid-jump into a fierce tiger, launching a ferocious attack on a monster ahead of him. His strength was astonishing!
Chairman Melody Song's talent seemed to be a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, likely related to a tiger.
Seeing their leader take the lead, the other Transcendent Ones quickly followed.
Meanwhile, the level 5 muscle-bound warrior displayed immense defense and strength, rampaging wildly through the monsters. Ben speculated that this man's talent was likely the "Juggernaut" among mutants! However, he was noticeably weaker than the true Juggernaut.
Ben also rushed into the fray, though he refrained from showing his full strength immediately. He was still wary of the level 5 monster and wanted to observe the situation before making his move.
Just then, something caught Ben's eye.
An old man with white hair was fighting on the battlefield.
More importantly, there was something strikingly familiar about him.
Ben quickly searched through his inherited memories and realized—this old man was none other than his grandfather, Grandpa Mark!
Ben was stunned.
Hadn't Grandpa Mark retired long ago?
Wasn't his health supposed to be poor?
Why was he here on the battlefield?!
This was reckless!
Watching his grandfather bravely battling the monsters, Ben immediately moved closer, determined to protect him.
After all, this was his grandfather.
Moreover, Grandpa Mark had gifted Ben his trump card transcendent skill, "Fist Wind Impact." Even disregarding their familial bond, Ben owed it to him.
At that moment, Grandpa Mark wielded an iron rod, smashing it against the monsters with incredible force.
Each blow tore through the creatures, cracking open their skulls and sending blood splattering everywhere.
Despite his age, Grandpa Mark's strength was formidable, at least at level three, perhaps even stronger in his younger days.
And despite his injuries and frailty, Grandpa Mark showed no fear of death!
He charged straight into the densest cluster of monsters.
Even Chairman Melody Song couldn't help but cheer when he witnessed Grandpa Mark's performance.
"Old Mark is mighty!"
Grandpa Mark only laughed as he continued his fearless charge.
But just then—
A giant centipede monster noticed Grandpa Mark and coiled its massive body before launching a terrifying lunge toward him.
This centipede monster was enormous—at least fifty meters long—and its charge sent tremors through the ground.
"Old Mark, be careful!"
Chairman Melody Song noticed the danger but was locked in combat with a monstrous, shark-like beast and couldn't intervene in time.
Ben's heart sank.
Grandpa Mark had already exhausted most of his stamina. Even if he wanted to retreat, there was no way he could outrun the centipede.
He was trapped.
At that moment, it seemed as though Grandpa Mark realized his fate.
Yet, instead of fear, a wild grin spread across his face.
"Beast! Come on!" he roared.
Grandpa Mark had accepted death.
But Ben wouldn't let him die.
Just as the centipede monster opened its grotesque mouth, preparing to swallow Grandpa Mark whole—
Ben arrived.
He leaped forward, landing between his grandfather and the monster.
Then—
He spread his stance, clenched his fists, and struck.
"Kwa!!"
A thunderous explosion echoed across the battlefield.
The sheer force of the punch shattered the centipede monster's head into countless bloody fragments.
Its massive, headless body twitched violently, flailing about and inadvertently crushing many surrounding monsters before it finally collapsed in a lifeless heap.
Grandpa Mark stared at Ben in astonishment.
At first, he didn't recognize his grandson due to the glasses.
"Young man, you're really something!" Grandpa Mark praised.
But Ben didn't acknowledge the compliment. Instead, he urged:
"Grandpa, this is too dangerous. Leave it to us younger ones—you should retreat!"
Unexpectedly, Grandpa Mark's eyes narrowed.
"What's wrong with danger?" he retorted. "You young ones can fight, so why can't I?"
His fierce glare sent a strange, instinctive shiver down Ben's spine.
But Ben quickly straightened himself.
"Grandpa, if I hadn't intervened just now, you would've—"
Before he could finish, Grandpa Mark burst into laughter.
"So what if I died? I've lived long enough! Instead of rotting away at home, I'd rather die fighting on the battlefield!"
Ben was moved.
At this moment, he couldn't put his emotions into words.
"Grandpa, you won't die." Ben declared firmly. "At least, not today!"
Grandpa Mark chuckled.
"Boy, life and death aren't up to you."
He looked around at the battlefield.
"With so many monsters… I doubt we'll last half an hour."
The human defense was crumbling.
Screams of pain filled the air as Transcendent Ones fell one after another.
The defensive line had been breached.
Chairman Melody Song and the others were barely holding on.
They were locked in battle with the giant level 5 monster—a colossal, nightmarish beast.
Its defense was monstrous.
Its strength was overwhelming.
Each of its attacks devastated everything in its path.
Even the muscle-bound warrior with the Juggernaut ability was swatted away like a ragdoll, spitting blood as he crashed dozens of meters away.
Without him, Chairman Melody Song and the others struggled to survive.
Seeing this, Ben clenched his fists.
His blood boiled.
He had stayed cautious long enough.
Everyone was fighting desperately.
His grandfather was here.
Clara's father was here.
If Chairman Melody Song died, it would undoubtedly strain his relationship with Clara.
That was unacceptable.
Ben took a deep breath.
His eyes sharpened.
A fierce, untamed beast seemed to awaken within him…
At that moment, a helicopter flew in from the city.
It was an unarmed commercial helicopter.
Inside, a photographer aimed his camera at a female reporter.
"Hello, everyone. I am Esmira Mahogany, a reporter from Botham City TV News Channel."
"Just a few minutes ago, a massive space-time rift, over two kilometers long, appeared southeast of our city… Disaster Level: B."
"Behind me, you can see our brave military and Transcendent Ones fighting against the monster army…"
She gasped.
"There are too many monsters… too many to count!"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I got word that a level 7 powerhouse is on their way, but they won't arrive for some time…"
She turned her gaze back to the battlefield.
"Look! That old man is fighting with monsters—he must be seventy or eighty years old!"
Her voice trembled.
"I can't put my emotions into words… These heroes are giving their lives for us."
She sobbed.
"I never believed in miracles… but right now, I'm praying for one."
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