The squad up ahead immediately adjusted their equipment, activating anti-interference mode, and the image gradually stabilized.

At that moment, three squads encountered a new wave of stubborn resistance.

Subterraneans burst out from the surrounding caves, fearlessly charging at the warriors. For the first time, the squads suffered casualties.

After this wave passed, Ling Yitong had all squads tally their losses: a total of six dead and four wounded.

However, Chen Gu's squad remained eerily calm; the Subterraneans were seemingly indifferent to them, with not a single one appearing.

Han Zhuangzhi, observing along the way, suggested again, "Commander, there are very few signs of Subterraneans along this path. We might have taken the wrong one."

Zheng Zhixing glared at him but still stuck to his own judgment. "Continue forward."

But doubts had begun to grow in the warriors' minds. When we followed "Volunteer Spirit," we racked up battle merits even before going underground. But with you in command, we've been in these caves for so long and haven't even scored a single kill. It's still true that in this era, the army holds the 'lowest' status, and infantry can only accumulate battle merits kill by painstaking kill. No enemies mean no battle merits; this trip will be for nothing!

The squads pressed on for several hundred more meters. Back at the command center, the screen twisted and flickered again. Despite the soldiers' attempts to rectify it, moments later, the monitors SIZZLED and then all went dark.

The staff officers were helpless. "General, the interference is too strong."

This was expected. Ling Yitong shook his head. "Get ready for support. From here on, they're on their own."

...

In the other three squads, as they constantly advanced, the new recruits gradually became involved in combat. Their professional abilities were an excellent complement to the reconnaissance squads.

Soon, the new recruits also began to achieve kill merits. Unexpectedly, the first new recruit to kill a Subterranean was Bai Zhijin!

This privately thrilled him. These Subterraneans are just 'beasts,' he thought. Killing them doesn't create any psychological burden.

"Sure enough, these rich second-generation kids are nothing special! I can definitely stand out at Huai Shan Branch School and prove to everyone that someone from an ordinary family can also soar to great heights!"

...

The caves were rife with treacherous terrain, often evoking the saying, "One man can guard a pass against ten thousand."

The advance of the other three squads was very slow, as such places were surely ambush spots for Subterraneans.

Relying on advanced technological weaponry and the professionals' unpredictable abilities, they always managed to break through. In Chen Gu's group, however, it was different. Each time, everyone prepared as if for a major battle. Zheng Zhixing would appear adept at arranging tactics, then instruct the three new recruits to prepare for coordinated action.

Yet, after they charged through, the area behind would be completely empty, without even a shadow of a Subterranean.

War was indeed cruel. If it were possible to avoid conflict, that would be best.

But the war had begun. For many years, the Human Race, in its fight against the powerful Alien Insect Race, had been promoting the concept of 'glory.'

Moreover, accumulating battle merits for promotion was, aside from the college entrance exams, currently the second most equitable path to advancement for ordinary people.

So, finding the path consistently empty, the warriors were becoming increasingly frustrated.

What's more, they knew the fighting was intense on the other three fronts. This stark contrast made them feel even worse.

Han Zhuangzhi was about to persuade Zheng Zhixing to change their route for the third time, but just as he began to speak, Zheng Zhixing shoved him aside. "Continue forward!"

Helpless, Han Zhuangzhi quietly approached Chen Gu. "Brother Chen, what do you make of this situation?"

All along the way, Chen Gu had kept "Mind Belief" active and hadn't sensed the faintest hint of danger. Zheng Zhixing seized command the moment he arrived, he thought. But it really should belong to Han Zhuangzhi, not him. Zheng Zhixing hasn't targeted me in any way, so I can only shake my head and observe for now. In fact, as the inwardly timid Great Actor Chen, I actually feel this situation... isn't too bad.

Finally, after another two hours, the cave tunnel they were in came to a complete dead end!

Ever since Zheng Zhixing had chosen "go left" at that fork, they hadn't encountered a single enemy. Their journey had been a constant cycle of "vigilance," "prepare for battle," and "danger cleared," wasting a great deal of everyone's energy for nothing.

By this point, Zheng Zhixing had nothing more to say and could only order stiffly, "Retrace our steps. Search for traces of the Subterraneans."

The entire squad was demoralized, feeling they had followed the wrong leader—a leader who wasn't even their own choice but had been suddenly parachuted in from above.

A sense of grievance welled up in the warriors. I did nothing wrong, yet I'm being unjustly implicated!

Initially, this squad had been the frontrunner, securing a large amount of battle merits before even entering the underground.

Furthermore, the fact that Subterraneans had set up ambushes outside the caves indicated that some key secrets of their race were definitely hidden within.

Qiao Shuangyi and Lin Xiaochen sensed something was amiss and were rather puzzled. Why does everyone seem to have such a strong opinion of Zheng Zhixing? Isn't he just a bit unlucky? There were three tunnels; it was a 33% chance. He just didn't pick the right one, that's all.

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