CHAPTER 266: CHAPTER 203: NEST SPECIAL ASSAULT TEAM III

Before he finished speaking, the fire of Hell had already turned the entire alley into a fiery furnace, the wailing cries of insect carcasses melded into one.

On the battlefield, the five-member Knight team swiftly unfolded, employing the "T-formation" that they had rehearsed multiple times.

The main flamethrower operator advanced steadily like the heart of the battlefield, flames angrily spewing from the nozzle on their shoulder.

The secondary flamethrower operators flexibly maneuvered on the left and right wings, weaving between the fire line, plugging any gaps—no insect could slip through and get close.

The other Knights roamed the formation’s sides with crossbows and spears, intercepting enemies.

Each Knight was well-trained, reacting swiftly and coordinating seamlessly; any insect carcass trying to breach the fire line would be pierced through the skull by arrows or lifted by spears within seconds!

The first insects hit didn’t even have a chance to react before being engulfed by flames.

The high temperature instantly tore through their remaining skin, flesh vaporized in the heat, tendons curled, and bones erupted with crackling sounds within their bodies.

In less than half a minute, the flamethrowers’ overlapping coverage transformed the narrow alley ahead into a purgatory blaze.

Flames swept up the brick walls, climbed onto rooftops, roiled under the eaves—the orange-red sea of fire resembled a monstrous open mouth, devouring every hiding, shifting, struggling insect carcass!

Some insects had their entire arms explode, bones popping out of wounds like popcorn, accompanied by the scent of burned flesh wafting in the night breeze.

Some insects madly slammed into walls in a bid to escape but were instantly swallowed by burning oil on the wall, rolling and shrieking as they turned into a charred mass!

One insect carcass was just about to leap out of the alley when it was sliced in half mid-air by tongues of flame, its underbelly exploding.

The insect eggs and maggot sacs inside its cavity burst open with a pop, spewing a mass of writhing insects that were instantly seared upon landing.

Temperature spiked quickly, the air filled with an overwhelming smell of burnt flesh and decay, nauseating anyone nearby.

Flames spread rapidly on the ground, forming rings of "fire locks."

Should any insect dare to jump or charge forward, it would get scorched through mid-air, turning into a burning fireball, crashing down with bones charred and unable to move!

"Empty!" The main flamethrower operator shouted softly as the tongues of fire abruptly died out, leaving behind swirling smoke.

He decisively took a step back, signaling with an empty canister held high.

"Swap me in!" The secondary flamethrower operator was already poised at the side, diving forward skillfully to take over the primary position, and flames roared as a deep orange blaze surged once again, devouring approaching insects like a roaring dragon!

Simultaneously, the Apprentice Knight had already rushed to the main flamethrower operator’s side, quickly kneeling to operate.

Like a flowing stream, only the crisp series of clicks could be heard, impressively swift hands already replacing the canister.

The main flamethrower operator nodded in confirmation, returning to the formation.

Under the roaring flames, the Flamethrower Squad advanced steadily and orderly like a burning beast, tearing open a charred black path through the night and the tide of corpses.

The Knight team pressed forward step by step, advancing like a rolling iron stream, akin to a wall of fire.

Any insect carcass would instantly combust upon contact, screaming as it plunged into the fiery abyss—not a single one would escape alive.

Yet just as they advanced to the center of the village, the wind suddenly changed.

First, there was a deep breathing-like air current roaming through the ruins, the ground lightly trembled, and surrounding insect carcasses abruptly halted, as if responding to the call of the Mother Nest.

"Retreat." Louis noticed something amiss and immediately ordered the squad to fall back.

A distinct command resounded under the battle standard.

The main flamethrower operator nodded without hesitation, signaling for retreat.

The entire squad swiftly shifted backwards, maintaining formation, leaving behind a bleak expanse of charred remnants, distancing themselves from the terrifying Mother Nest about to fully "hatch".

And at the moment they retreated to a safe distance

"Boom."

The earth resounded with a deep, heart-thumping sound.

In the next instant, ruins behind the stone altar suddenly started to writhe.

Something crawled out from the piles of rubble and corpses.

The Nest, descended.

It grew slowly, emerging from the underground like shedding a shell.

A colossal living mass, akin to a grayish-white tumor, clinging with blood tendrils, like a flesh "flower" blooming atop a sea of corpses.

Its texture comparable to resin enveloped in slime, giving off a nauseating iridescent sheen amidst its wet, soft mass, accompanied by the sound of tearing membranes.

The "hive" structure slowly unfolded, revealing one writhing egg chamber after another.

Inside, insect embryos were visible, endlessly rolling and struggling in bodily fluids, shrieking like infant cries, resembling monsters born inside the Nest’s womb.

More terrifying were the shadowy remnants of countless human faces faintly visible on its surface.

Their expressions varied from anger to wails, like twisted snapshots moments before death, eternally sealed within the flesh wall, lips subtly moving but unable to voice.

At the center of the altar, hung a massive core flesh sac, supported and nourished by dozens of thick tendrils.

Blood vessels and veins were clearly visible, each pulsation echoed like a heart being hammered by iron.

With a stench-laden mist erupting, the ground started oozing slime, tendrils probing from below.

With hooked thorns and bony teeth at the ends, they suddenly shot out like live snakes, snapping a roadside remnant pillar and emitting an eardrum-tingling hum.

It was Snow Swearer who "conceived" it with the flesh and blood of Knights and Nobility.

From afar on a high platform, Eduardo gazed at the writhing Nest, his eyes reflecting shock.

"This one is... stronger than the previous Nest," he murmured softly, his voice seemingly caught in his throat, "not just in scale; its structure is more complex, the core deeper..."

Louis merely paused silently for a moment beside him, slightly furrowing his brow.

Eduardo slowly took a step back, turned his head toward Louis, and spoke softly:

"Louis, this thing isn’t something your Knight team can handle... This Nest is significantly stronger than the last. You should seek Duke Edmund’s help."

Louis simply waved his hand dismissively, keeping his gaze fixed on the Nest.

"Not necessary yet." He replied, his tone poised.

He immediately gestured behind him, prompting an adjutant to step forward and set up a tripod, securely anchoring it on the edge of the platform.

It was a Magic Explosion Bullet launcher, its hefty body gleaming with dull metallic light, the coil slot at the front already in place, accompanied by a crisp "click" as the first Magic Explosion Bullet was slowly loaded.

Eduardo furrowed his brow, stepping forward to glance at the device: "This isn’t much different from what your Knights use. You should know, at this level, Magic Explosion Bullets aren’t effective against such Nests."

"I have it covered," Louis replied coolly, without turning back, "just watch."

He then succinctly ordered the Knights beside him: "Hold fire. Wait for my command to ’launch’ before acting."

"Understood!"

The Knights immediately answered, eyes fixed on the fire line’s end, watching the slowly twitching, nightmarishly writhing Nest.

Fingers hovered over the firing button but dared not to act prematurely.