Zou Hai was extremely busy in the monitoring room.

Gu Fort was now in a state of complete lockdown!

Due to the sudden outbreak of the "spiritual toxin," new "suspected infected persons" were being pulled into quarantine areas every day. The available manpower within Gu Fort was already insufficient... and it was dwindling!

The atmosphere of war preparation within the fort was more tense than ever before.

The brigadier general had isolated himself in the attic study, and the command tasks of the monitoring room had all fallen on Zou Hai's shoulders alone. He hadn't closed his eyes for two consecutive days... For mental-type transcendents, this was nothing, but every minute and every second there were new mission instructions and handover communications. Gu Fort was known as the "throat of human destiny," and the arrival of this great storm would affect the fate of the entire Northern Continent front. A large number of transcendents had already been stationed outside the fort.

However, Lin Lin had issued an order.

The fort was tightly closed, with strict prohibitions on entry and exit!

These transcendents carried the legion's weapons, source crystals, and ample supplies, but unfortunately they could only wait outside the fort's gate...

If the infection phenomenon of the "spiritual toxin" showed a downward trend, even if the infection blockade hadn't been completely lifted, Gu Fort would consider opening the gate. However, the infection trend was becoming more and more serious. Once the fort replenished its manpower, the "spiritual toxin" could rapidly spread, and at that time, simply accommodating and treating the wounded would overwhelm the fort.

Gu Fort now.

Was a truly isolated city.

"Vice-adjutant, the Third Legion is calling."

The operator in the monitoring room suddenly received a call. He looked nervous and quickly asked for instructions.

The Third Legion... that was General White Lizard's unit.

This was a public channel call. If it was connected, the sound of the call would be heard throughout the entire monitoring room.

Zou Hai frowned slightly, pondered for a second, and nodded to indicate that it could be connected.

"Hello..."

A low voice echoed in the monitoring room.

It was the voice of a middle-aged man, with a mellow and refined tone that made people feel relaxed.

His voice was very recognizable.

As soon as he spoke, everyone knew who was on the other end of the communicator... Osmond, known as the "Eye of the Third Legion."

Osmond was born in the Central Continent, but came to the Northern Continent at a very young age. He had lived on this land for thirty years, following the general in battles, experiencing the turbulent wars of the Northern Continent royal family. His battle achievements were brilliant, his military exploits dazzling, and his strength was unfathomable. The name "Osmond" meant "greatness" and "support," a natural leader.

And he had indeed achieved everything that this name implied.

Now he was known to everyone in the Northern Continent. In the Third Legion, he was the man most likely to succeed the general's position.

Zou Hai pressed his fingers against his forehead.

Just hearing this name made him feel a wave of pressure...

There were countless strong individuals under the general's command, and "top experts" like Osmond, who had emerged from thousands of masters, were usually responsible for guarding a fort alone. They rarely moved personally, because their actions meant the will of the "general."

"Vice-adjutant Zou Hai."

Osmond's voice was low and elegant, "I am the 'garrison' closest to Gu Fort. The storm is coming, and I hope to assist Gu Fort in resisting it together."

Resisting the storm...

Was this the general's meaning?

Zou Hai gritted his teeth and said, "I'm sorry... due to the 'sudden epidemic disaster,' Gu Fort cannot open its gates."

"Understood." Osmond's voice was still calm. The higher-ups already knew all about the spiritual toxin: "But I want you to know one thing. Once Gu Fort is breached, the entire Northern Continent front will undergo drastic changes... potentially forcing hundreds of thousands of soldiers to fight inland, and unfolding the final trump card like the 'Kindling Plan' will bring unprecedented pressure to the Northern Continent."

He wasn't exerting pressure.

He was stating a fact.

And Zou Hai understood the meaning of Osmond's call.

Faced with two disasters... the higher-ups in the Northern Continent could only make a choice. Both sides of the scale were "casualties," and this call roughly conveyed General White Lizard's stance.

That general believed that the source crystal storm breaking through the Great Wall would bring even greater disaster.

Open the gates of Gu Fort.

Solve the most difficult problem first.

As for the other side of the scale... it could only be resolved later. No choice in the world was perfect. No matter which side was chosen, someone would have to sacrifice.

Life and death, more and less, these were indeed cruel questions.

On either side, there were innocents.

"Mr. Osmond."

A cold voice suddenly rang out in the monitoring room.

Zou Hai turned his head in surprise.

A blond youth had arrived here at some point. Behind him stood seven elite members of the Second Squad of the Investigation Legion.

A surprised voice sounded from the communicator, "Zhong Yuan?"

If he remembered correctly, the subjugation mission in the Dolu River Disaster Zone had just ended... This Second Squad Captain of the Investigation Legion should be resting.

How could he be at Gu Fort?

"It's me." Zhong Yuan took over the conversation and said calmly, "I won't explain the specifics. I am currently within the borders of Gu Fort... I don't think directly opening the fort gates at this stage is a good choice. This 'spiritual toxin' is not simple. It is very similar to the power in the Dolu River Disaster Zone. It may be of 'the same origin.' You can pass this message to the general. I think opening the gates of Gu Fort may cause a second unnecessary disaster."

"We must take action..."

Osmond paused.

Obviously, after hearing Zhong Yuan's words, this Eye of the Third Legion also hesitated a little.

"I think Gu Fort still has a chance to resist this disaster... There are a total of one hundred and forty-nine source energy boats and two thousand three hundred source energy cannons. If they can launch an attack outside the 'Umbrella Defense Line,' even without the assistance of 【Deep Sea】, it is still possible to directly strike this storm and reduce its landing impact."

Zhong Yuan said calmly, "We need time to fully control the spread of the 'spiritual toxin.' As long as the Great Wall can withstand it during this period, then we can open the gates."

"..."

He wasn't refusing support.

He was hoping that the Third Legion could give "Gu Fort" more time.

"Understood." Osmond said softly, "The storm will land within twelve hours. Gu Fort needs to provide me with constant feedback on the situation... I have mobilized one hundred and twenty source energy boats. These source energy boats will not land on the Great Wall and can participate in the battle at any time."

At his level, he no longer needed to repeatedly apply to the general.

He had the dispatching authority of an entire fort.

The spread of the "spiritual toxin" was carried out through mental contact between living beings. This was an incomprehensible transcendent power... and the most terrifying thing was that this "toxin" might even contaminate 【Deep Sea】and further spread through the deep water areas. Most areas of Gu Fort were now in a self-locked "local area network" state.

【Deep Sea】 only retained basic auxiliary functions.

Under these circumstances.

What Gu Fort needed most now was "manpower." Since the "toxin" hadn't been controlled, the Third Legion couldn't enter the city, but the floating source energy boats could directly reach the Great Wall and provide fire support, which could be considered a blessing in disguise!

The call ended.

Everyone in the monitoring room breathed a sigh of relief.

Zou Hai looked tired and looked at the blond youth, "Thanks..."

"There's nothing to thank, I just upheld the correct decision for you." Zhong Yuan replied indifferently, then came to the command room and stared at the 【Sky Eyes】 deployed outside the Umbrella Defense Line. He had spent most of his time here these past few days. As the Second Squad Captain of the Investigation Legion, he had a certain reputation in the Northern Continent. Lin Lin had handed over part of the command authority within the fort to him.

And the monitoring room did need a "pillar of support" who could hold the line.

"Still no news?"

Zou Hai also looked at the screens that Zhong Yuan was watching.

The elite team of the Second Squad performing the out-of-fort mission... had suddenly disconnected from the "Book of Life" not long ago, just like when Hong Zhong was performing the mission. This was considered a sign that they had successfully reached the maze.

Fortunately, not long after.

The mental aura of everyone, which had originally been extinguished, had been restored.

And last time, only Hong Zhong had appeared to "recover," which should mean... that everyone had escaped danger.

But the next situation was very bad. A great storm appeared outside the Great Wall, and the gestation and birth of the "storm" was even faster than expected. This was simply desperate news.

According to the original planned return time, this team had most likely encountered the storm.

But at this moment, a "miracle" happened.

In the Book of Life, there was no situation where any member's spirit had been extinguished, which meant that they were all alive!

But... now the storm was about to land at Gu Fort.

Their figures hadn't appeared yet.

Zou Hai knew very well that if the storm reached a certain range of the "Umbrella Defense Line," then Gu Fort would not hesitate to carry out the most severe defense and counterattack... and at that time, all the floating panels would close and retract, and even if this team reached the defense line, they would have no chance to enter.

And after Osmond's call.

The source energy boats around Gu Fort had begun to mobilize and were heading towards the Great Wall.

War was imminent.

The remaining time for the explorer team was now being calculated in "seconds."

"Vice-adjutant... 【Sky Eye】 is transmitting images!"

In the central control room, someone slammed the table heavily.

The voice of this monitor was unusually excited.

The picture refreshed, zoomed in, then zoomed in again.

After dozens of consecutive zooms, the "storm" on the horizon became clearly visible. The all-devouring storm vortex sucked everything into it, and the mountains and ridges along the way collapsed and shattered.

And before the storm.

There was a group of sprinting figures.

Their figures were very small compared to this world-sweeping storm... Even after being magnified dozens of times, they were still like ants, and it was impossible to see their specific appearance clearly.

This was the explorer team of the maze mission!

They were desperately sprinting before the storm.

"Open the 'Umbrella Defense Line'!"

Zhong Yuan's golden pupils burst out with a strange light. He felt the blood in his body boiling and burning, and his voice became high-pitched, "Second Squad of the Investigation Legion, all listen to the order... Set off immediately, and come with me to the Great Wall to welcome the returnees!!!"