The alien army, oblivious to the severity of the situation, continued their casual chatter. Without any cheat-like abilities or perceivable energy signatures for "Annihilation Wind," their reliance on sight meant no early detection. However, as time passed and the Annihilation Wind drew closer, their delayed realization would spell doom.
"Hey..."
"Has anyone noticed the sky over there is getting darker?"
"Is it the people in the fortress playing tricks again?" Musalo asked innocently. Most of these aliens had no direct passage to the Underworld and thus little understanding of the Annihilation Wind. This allowed them to maintain an optimistic outlook even as the endless expanse of the Annihilation Wind approached.
"Bombing them wasn't enough, now they're smoking us out..." Anruo chuckled, exasperated. "These natives of Blue Star really come up with one idea after another!"
Kel'Thuzad stroked his jawbone with a somber expression. "Why can't I discern the energy form of this mist? Could there be something strange within... Regardless, this is the work of our sworn enemies, and we must treat it with utmost seriousness!"
"Actually, we could first..." Before Kel'Thuzad could finish, Dracula suddenly exclaimed, "Hey?! Look at the fortress!" "Did it... deploy a large barrier?"
The three turned back in astonishment and indeed witnessed the scene. Musalo frowned. "Oh?! They're pulling this stunt too... But we haven't launched any attacks that threaten their core, and yet they're on such high alert. Does that mean this mist is truly potent and attacks indiscriminately?"
Dracula nodded. "It seems this mist is indeed unusual; we can't be too careless. Let's quickly deploy our shields... I fear we might not be able to hold out! As for the deployment rhythm of the spacetime rift, we can afford to slow it down a bit... After all, the more people present, the greater the demand on our shields."
Anruo and the other two immediately agreed to Dracula's proposal. They quickly formed a circle around the spacetime rift and pushed outwards, creating a formidable barrier. With four top-tier tenth-tier heroes controlling it, the quality of this barrier was unquestionable, appearing solid and reliable.
As for the intentions of these four, they likely harbored even grander thoughts. However, these thoughts remained only until the Annihilation Wind made contact. The mist that gradually enveloped them surged forward as if blind, encountering no resistance from their barrier whatsoever. If not for the normal energy fluctuations, one might have believed their barrier was non-existent!
This development left the four of them dumbfounded.
"What's going on? Is this black mist just an illusion?"
"Impossible... If the black mist were just an illusion, wouldn't that mean we're already trapped in their illusion formation?"
"It shouldn't be possible for such a thing to exist on this island, which is already shrouded by an epic-scale colossal barrier..."
"Then how do we explain our current predicament?! Could the penetration effect of this mist have become outrageously powerful, a hundred times more absurd than silent dew soaking into the earth!"
"I don't know... But I suspect that if the mist's penetration ability is this strong, its damage and corrosive effects must be considerably weaker..."
"I really don't believe that something so toxic could simultaneously possess such incredible armor-piercing capabilities!"
"Uh... Doesn't it feel like these things should be proportional?"
"Are you sure those rambling words of yours aren't just trying to comfort yourself?"
"What else can we do! The black mist is already upon us, and we have no counter-measures. We can only let them have their way!"
Despite the gravity of their discussion, their expressions remained relatively relaxed. They were extremely confident in their vitality and resistance to toxins, showing little regard for the Annihilation Wind. As for the other alien units below, their lives were not considered precious; their deaths were inevitable, as they were merely cannon fodder. What concern was it of theirs?
With this mindset, the four even charged proactively into the black mist, eager to test its toxicity. But the moment they stepped into the mist, their complexions shifted drastically...
...
Inside Nagasaki Fortress.
"Your Majesty, look! Those alien heroes and their troops are all entangled by the Annihilation Wind!"
"In their naivete, they not only chose not to flee but are actually attempting to resist it with their bodies. How laughable!"
The Commander, with nothing else to do while waiting for the teleportation array to preheat, took a moment to point out the aliens outside with a smile.
Kannai Guji narrowed his eyes with pride. "Heh... I can only say that ignorance is truly terrifying! I hope their next lives will involve a little more brainpower... It's a shame the Annihilation Wind's obscuring effect is too good; otherwise, we could have witnessed their tragic struggle for survival."
"What a pity, what a pity!"
The Commander chuckled. "And the funniest part is they initially planned to use their own barriers to block the Annihilation Wind. Calling them 'a mantis trying to stop a chariot' is being generous!"
"Do you really think the Annihilation Wind can be blocked by any barrier? Not all barriers are like the barriers of our Nagasaki Fortress!"
"If you don't have the skill, don't take on the job!"
While mocking the enemy, the Commander was also showering himself with praise, feeling as though he was about to ascend. Kannai Guji nodded proudly, about to find words to compliment the Commander, when he suddenly widened his eyes, staring forward. For, within his line of sight, he saw the so-called Annihilation Wind also penetrate their barrier.