Chapter 108: Honor and Glory

The gathered hunters had all seen Zhang Lie's performance. Would they be able to assuage their guilt by doing nothing while Team Zenith died in the midst of a colony of bugs? No, of course not!

"Kill them, kill them all!" Dozens of small teams of hunters dashed into the sea of bugs, rushing toward Team Zenith's location.

"We have to fight! There are reinforcements on the way—we'll surely be able to make it out!" Zhang Lie suddenly yelled out, sparking his team's fighting spirit once more.

Everyone in the team used up their last reserves of genetic energy in order to forge forward at their fastest speed. Opposite them, the rescuers also began moving even faster. It took them just half a minute for the rescuers to reach Team Zenith and fend off the bugs swarming toward them on all sides, grabbing the mired hunters and pulling them to safety.

At the same time, more and more hunters began emerging through the teleportation array.

After the death of the three-star black-tipped scarab, the bugs by the northern perimeter were noticeably less organized than before, and the humans gradually regained control of the battlefield.

However, this was a sight that none of the members of Team Zenith were able to see. The moment they retreated to safety, they each fell unconscious. They were exhausted, drained of stamina, and had suffered grievous injuries after the prolonged battle.

Just the amount of blood they had lost would have caused an ordinary human to die of blood loss, but as hunters, they barely preserved their lives due to their superior constitution.

"Medics, we need medics over here!" the rescuers hurriedly shouted.

Zhang Lie had no idea what happened next, because he only woke up two days later.

Apparently, the defensive perimeter in the capital had held, and mankind had successfully repelled the alien invasion. Even the Kez warships had been destroyed by the strongest of humanity.

One of mankind's three greatest monarch-class hunters, the Heavenly Monarch Lei Heng, had arrived at the scene himself, destroying all of the Kez's warships with a single attack and instantly causing his reputation on Earth to reach its peak.

Even so, their victory had come at a steep cost.

According to preliminary statistics, about 50% of the citizens living in the capital had been wounded or even killed, as well as 40% of the independent hunters in the region. The reserve forces stationed at the capital had suffered a staggering 60% casualty rate, and much of the infrastructure in the capital had been severely damaged.

Without the selfless hunters who sacrificed themselves for the greater good, the casualty rate might have been even higher—the capital might have become nothing more than a pile of smoking rubble.

As a result, there were quite a few other hunters who had been designated as heroes, beyond just the Heavenly Monarch Lei Heng, for example, Liu Xi, who had perished with his opponent, a five-star hellwind beetle; Fu Yifang, who had defeated a five-star green-winged insect on his own; Zhang Lie; and a dozen other hunters besides.

Their heroic and courageous performance in light of the sudden invasion was publicized and praised by all, and both the world federal government and the Chinese government rewarded them richly for their efforts.

After Zhang Lie had awoken and listened to Zhou Ying's recounting of events, his ward in the hospital was stuffed full of visitors. Both governments had dispatched representatives to congratulate him the moment they received news of his recovery.

"As expected of our hero, the Dragonwolf Zhang Lie, to be able to recover from such serious injuries within just two days!" a military colonel praised the moment he entered Zhang Lie's ward.

"Me, the Dragonwolf?" Zhang Lie had no recollection of the title.

"Ah, you don't know? You've been given the title of Dragonwolf because of your performance and appearance during your fight with the three-star scarab!" the colonel explained, and a middle-aged man beside him, wearing the uniform of the federal government, nodded in appreciation.

"That's correct. Dragonwolf Zhang Lie, footage of your meritorious deeds has spread around the world, and you've become an idol for the masses. You're someone that we hunters from Earth can truly be proud of!

"In addition, you've been recognized by the federation's military, and they've decided to award you the designation of ?'galaxy fighter'! From now on, you'll be a galaxy fighter officially recognized by the federal government, and you'll have access to the special privileges that accompany that position."

Zhang Lie was stunned.

The title of galaxy fighter was an incredible honor, and the corresponding privileges it afforded were even greater than those for special-class citizens.

At that moment, Zhang Lie had yet to realize the enormity of what he had done, having acted on instinct for much of the fight.

However, before he could accept the medal that came with the title designation, the Chinese colonel also pulled out a box with a smile. "Given how generous the federal government has been, the Chinese government certainly can't afford to be stingy. We'll be awarding you with the medal of a dragonsoul warrior!"

Hunters were awarded with this distinction for valor and courage, succeeding the mantle borne by countless illustrious hunters of yore. Within China, this designation would confer generous benefits and, during periods of necessity, the highest level of protection the government could provide.

This award could, in some sense, be considered an inheritance. The awardees were understood to be the next generation of top hunters, and they would be given the greatest support the country could provide to aid their development.

Zhang Lie opened the two boxes, revealing a dazzling silver galaxy fighter medal, as well as a golden dragonsoul warrior medal with a runic imprint.

The silver medal would grant free passage throughout the Milky Way, and the golden medal had a runic inscription from the strongest monarch-level in all of China, the Heavenly Monarch Lei Heng himself. It would be able to withstand a few blows from even a monarch-class hunter, and was, at Zhang Lie's level, essentially a second life.

Zhang Lie bowed in gratitude to both officials, who nodded and left after a customary farewell.

After all, there were a few dozen hunters who had earned such commendations during the sudden incursion, and while most of them had perished, these awards would be conferred posthumously as well.

The moment they departed, Zhou Ying, Yang Ze, Li Feng, Chu Xun, Yun Meng, and the others immediately crowded around him.

"Wow, Captain, this is a beautiful medal!" Zhou Ying exclaimed in admiration.

"These medals are priceless!" Yang Ze gasped, understanding their significance immediately.