Chapter 90 - 87: Grand Assembly of Reinforcements

Chapter 90: Chapter 87: Grand Assembly of Reinforcements

A few hours later, Old Liu and the others who had gone to the Safe Zone for "advanced training"—or rather, to pick up supplies—returned.

They brought back a batch of supplies.

This included much better-tasting food, as well as Potions, various items, and more.

Some of it was purchased in the Safe Zone, while the rest was retrieved from the Countermeasures Bureau’s logistics camp and routed through the Safe Zone.

"This is great stuff, Captain. And this Witchcraft Flying Eye... no wonder you said you were confident we could conquer the Ancient Village Nightmare."

"Yeah, and it makes sense why the Captain specifically had us Elites escort the cargo. If we’d been attacked by some aberration on the way and lost this Witchcraft Flying Eye, it would’ve been a disaster."

"Huh? But why didn’t Rakshasa Sword come back?"

someone asked, confused.

Old Liu, a Countermeasures Bureau Elite and a Dream Descender formerly at the Great Perfection of the Control Stage, codenamed Liu Sandao, explained, "Rakshasa Sword is still over at the Safe Zone camp. Our Group Leader Song ordered another batch of goods. Oh, and we have to go back later to pick them up. A round trip will take a good few hours, so there’s no need for everyone to worry."

The three Countermeasures Bureau Elites who had accompanied Liu Sandao looked stunned for a moment before quickly chiming in, "Right, right, there’s still business to attend to over there. We have to head back later."

"That much cargo?"

An Elite spoke up. "That doesn’t sound right. If there was more cargo, why split it into two trips? It’s not like you couldn’t carry it all at once. Something’s fishy. Very fishy. Wait a minute... Old Liu, have you... broken through to the Refining Stage?!!"

The Refining Stage was a major hurdle!

It placed demands on a Dream Descender’s willpower and their control over Curse Objects.

The latter was especially true; many veteran Control Stage members were just one final step away, lacking the right catalyst.

How did Old Liu break through after just one trip?

’Something is definitely up!’

Long Niu suddenly spoke up. "Old Liu, you all don’t need to make the trip. I’ll go myself."

The other Countermeasures Bureau Elites: "???"

...

Half an hour later,

Long Niu decided to have all the Elites withdraw to the logistics camp.

Only at the logistics camp could everyone get some real rest.

It was definitely not because the logistics camp was closer to the Safe Zone.

But Long Niu had to admit, ’Old Song had a point. Since the Safe Zone’s Training Ground possesses some of the miraculous power of a wonder, and since the Safe Zone just happens to be nearby, we have to take advantage of it.’

’The only problem is that the Safe Zone has too few training rooms. You have to wait in line. Non-members can use one for two hours at most, while members only get four. After that, you have to queue up all over again.’

What else could he do? He’d just have to wait in line.

It wasn’t as if no Countermeasures Bureau Elite had suggested, "Captain, why don’t we just commandeer the Safe Zone? If all the training rooms were for our use, the men could improve so much more before the big battle."

Long Niu had slapped him across the face.

He wouldn’t dare!

He had investigated it carefully. This Safe Zone’s entrances and exits pierced through several Nightmares.

And that was only what they knew.

The Safe Zone was hidden within space, connecting different spaces, and even had a Training Ground modeled after a wonder. ’Could the Manager who established such a place in the Nightmare World be some ordinary expert?’

Just like that Master of Extreme Intent, Zhu Chenying!

In Long Niu’s eyes, this Manager was completely inscrutable, appearing just like an ordinary person.

’There’s supporting evidence, too. Legend says this Manager never steps foot outside the Safe Zone, which makes perfect sense. If the Manager is a top-tier expert, he naturally wouldn’t be able to enter a Shallow Nightmare.’

So, Long Niu chose to cooperate.

How?

By using Krypton Gold, of course!

He would use Krypton Gold to gain member status as quickly as possible.

...

Time flowed by slowly.

For several days, the Countermeasures Bureau ceased its attacks on the Ancient Village Nightmare.

The Ancient Village’s aberrant BOSS also stopped summoning monsters to attack the logistics camp.

The two sides left each other alone, maintaining the quiet before a storm.

Until...

...the fifth day since Long Niu and the other Countermeasures Bureau Elites had descended into the Nightmare.

"It’s time to make our move."

They were all carrying Dream-Dropping Treasure Pearls, and their time in the Fallen Dream was already running long. By the sixth or seventh day, the Elites would begin to leave the Nightmare one by one.

Otherwise, Long Niu would have truly preferred to prepare a little longer.

The improvements were immediate and obvious!

Seven people at the Great Perfection of the Control Stage had now reached the Entry Level for Curse Arts, and another four had broken through to the Refining Stage.

’Unfortunately, we’re still short on time.’

’However, I’ve already posted a large-scale commission—two days in advance, in fact. I’m sure it will attract plenty of experts from the Safe Zone to help out.’

’This will be enough!’

’We won’t fail this battle.’

Long Niu thought.

Just then, a message arrived at the logistics camp from the real-world Headquarters.

"A batch of reinforcements is on the way?"

...

「In reality. Countermeasures Bureau Headquarters.」

"It is now the fifth day of the operation team’s Fallen Dream. Although both Long Niu and Song Jianshen have replied that they are confident in conquering the Nightmare, the situation is clearly very difficult. We must send them reinforcements."

Several experts who had just freed up received the mission and began preparing for their Fallen Dream.

...

「In the Nightmare World.」

Four shooting stars seemed to streak across the sky above the logistics camp.

The leader of the reinforcement group, a newly advanced Refining Stage expert named Li Chen, stepped into the logistics camp.

He walked up to Long Niu. "Niu Team, the reinforcement group is reporting for duty."

Long Niu nodded slightly. "Good. We’re preparing to launch an all-out assault on the Ancient Village Nightmare. You’ve arrived just in time."

As they spoke, the Elites of the assault group were already assembling, squad by squad.

The leader of the logistics group, Song Jianshen, was also part of the strike force.

Soon, the teams were fully assembled.

But Long Niu showed no intention of setting out.

"Niu Team, isn’t everyone here?"

As the leader of the reinforcement group, Li Chen naturally knew who was on the assault team roster.

All the experts were present.

However, Long Niu said, "No rush. Let’s wait a bit. We have more reinforcements on the way."

’More reinforcements?’

’From where?’

The few reinforcements who had just arrived at the logistics camp were confused, but the other assault group Elites had heard whispers.

"I think Niu Team found some outside help in the Safe Zone."

"Oh, more help? But this is a Shallow Nightmare. There can’t be that many real experts around."

"Not necessarily. Don’t forget how incredible the Safe Zone is."

"True. If a few more powerful allies arrive, our assault on the Ancient Village Nightmare will be that much easier."

The commission specified this logistics camp as the rendezvous point.

Soon, a three-person squad of Dream Descenders arrived.

"Li Yang, Peak of Control Stage."

"Wang Fei, Peak of Control Stage."

"Cheng Zhou, Peak of Control Stage."

Li Chen nodded to himself. ’Three at the Peak of Control Stage. That’s a decent group of reinforcements. I just wonder where Captain Niu found them.’

But Captain Niu still showed no signs of being ready to leave.

’Could it be... there are still more?’

Another two experts at the Peak of Control Stage arrived.

Immediately after,

two more, then one, then another three—expert after expert arrived in succession.

Until...

"Xi Xue, Refining Stage, Member Level expert."

...

"Profound Sword, Refining Stage."

...

"Li Wei, Refining Stage."

...

More and more Dream Descenders gathered around the logistics camp.

Only then did the assault group’s Elites belatedly realize that the reinforcements seemed to outnumber their own main force.

More in number! And more at the Refining Stage!

’Just who is the main force here?!’