I Am The Swarm-Chapter 731: Impact

With the assistance of artificial intelligence, the Ji race operated with remarkable efficiency. Barely moments after the command was issued by the rear headquarters, the battlefield-side bunker modules were immediately loaded into the delivery process.

After securing air superiority and suppressing and reducing the Swarm’s anti-air capabilities, the Ji race’s airdrop operations were virtually unrestrained. Fireballs continuously streaked across the sky in droves.

The bunker modules didn’t stand out among the numerous fireballs. After penetrating the atmosphere and descending to about ten kilometers above the surface, their built-in thrusters activated.

The size of a complete infantry bunker varied based on the number of modules required. The smallest bunker could be completed with just one module, accommodating two people, while the largest could consist of hundreds of modules, capable of housing nearly a thousand infantrymen simultaneously for combat.

At a hundred meters above the ground, the modules began to decelerate. Their original landing method was brutally efficient, but given the presence of friendly forces and delicate equipment at the target location, failing to slow down would have resulted in them being mistaken for invaders and shot down.

One of the advantages of modular equipment was its plug-and-play compatibility with other devices of the same type. As the modules landed, they automatically aligned themselves, connecting via latches to form a long metal snake resembling an extremely elongated train.

The “locomotive” of this train was a K1KN10, tasked with transporting these hundreds of “carriages” to the marines underground.

The bunker modules were high-priority items, so the train quickly got underway. With only a kilometer between the surface and the destination, the K1KN10 swiftly delivered the cargo.

Selina, the battlefield auxiliary AI, had already planned the positions and models for the bunkers. Upon arrival at the designated location, the cargo automatically separated, with thrusters activating…

The Ji race demonstrated what fully automated operation truly meant. Under the control of artificial intelligence, the bunker modules efficiently completed various combinations in perfect order.

Three-module, five-module, ten-module types, and more—within moments, the previously rather empty and terrifying underground tunnels were lined with towering metal bunkers.

Subsequently, the powerful lighting equipment atop the metal bunkers turned on simultaneously. Their immense wattage transformed the pitch-black tunnels, previously reliant on flares for illumination, into daylight.

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At the same time, the marines received new orders assigning them to garrison the various bunkers. This ensured that the Ji forces no longer needed to worry about casualties caused by tunnel collapses. Moreover, they no longer feared ambushes from the Swarm; the earlier tactic of the Swarm attacking from beneath had left many marines apprehensive.

Not only were underground facilities improved, but large detection equipment was also assembled on the surface. Within three kilometers underground, even small Spider Combat Bugs were clearly displayed, rendering the Swarm’s movements impossible to conceal.

However, these developments did not deter the Swarm. With their Empress surrounded, the Swarm launched relentless, cost-ignoring attacks, determined to tear apart those harboring ill intentions toward their monarch.

“Be careful below, the big ones are coming!” a Ji communications soldier shouted over the comms channel.

In truth, there was no need for him to shout; Selina’s danger alert had already arrived ahead of time. Based on the data from the detection instruments, a large number of Burrowing Worms were gathering beneath them.

Even within the detection range, nearly a hundred Burrowing Worms were visible, and beyond the detection range, the advisory department estimated there would be many more.

Keep in mind, these were giant units, around ten meters in diameter and several hundred meters in length. While such sizes weren’t remarkable in space, inside a planet, they were colossal behemoths.

The purpose of these Burrowing Worms gathering was evident—they aimed to consolidate their forces to avoid being picked off one by one by the Ji forces. At the same time, they sought an opportunity to charge the Ji army’s formation and bunkers from below.

The large gathering of Burrowing Worms here naturally reduced their numbers elsewhere. The Swarm was already at a disadvantage on the frontlines, and now, with one side reinforcing their defenses with formidable bunkers and the other side withdrawing their tunnel-clearing and tank-like Burrowing Worms, the direction of the battle was clear.

Nonetheless, the Ji race didn’t become complacent despite their current advantages. On the frontlines, although waves of Swarm corpses piled up, their numbers showed no signs of decreasing. The Swarm wasn’t concerned about the loss of these cannon fodder units. In their view, using these expendable forces to pin down part of the Ji army was already a victory.

The gathered Burrowing Worms likely represented what the Swarm truly valued. Fortunately, the Ji race’s equipment was promptly installed, so as soon as the Burrowing Worms moved, the Ji soldiers received alerts.

However, the soldiers didn’t have many good options. Their personal weapons felt somewhat powerless against these massive creatures. Thankfully, earlier, the K2N9s had planted numerous high-explosive bombs in a large area beneath the tunnels. If the Burrowing Worms charged through here, it would surely deal them a heavy blow. Of course, scaring them off would also be excellent.

Unfortunately, the soldiers’ hopes were dashed. Intelligence indicated that the Burrowing Worms were charging upward. Thanks to timely warnings from Selina and the communications soldier, the marines reacted promptly.

Inside the metal bunkers, there were numerous protrusions serving as fixed devices. Soldiers connected the retractable buckles on their combat suits to these fixtures to secure their bodies.

Although this slightly affected shooting, the gaps in firepower were immediately filled by mechanical soldiers. These mechanical soldiers underwent a complex and dazzling fusion, their lower bodies deforming until they resembled stationary turrets connected to the bunkers.

Though losing mobility, the firepower intensity and accuracy they unleashed were far superior to before. For a moment, the Swarm’s charging forces were pushed back dozens of meters.

“Boom!” A deep explosion rocked the entire bunker, and this was only the beginning. Explosions and tremors from below continued unabated for two full minutes. The bunker swayed back and forth, and if the soldiers hadn’t secured their bodies beforehand, non-combat casualties might have occurred.

All kinds of tunnels, whether dug by Burrowing Worms or the K1KN10s, crumbled under the quake-like vibrations, their structures loosening and collapsing. Numerous Swarm units were buried, while the Ji race, having pre-installed metal bunkers, emerged relatively unscathed aside from some dizziness. However, some fixed defense systems outside the bunkers suffered varying degrees of damage.