I Can Program My Body?-Chapter 585: End of Dark Beast Swarm

Soon, as more and more cosmic elites uploaded the runic system, fighting the dark beasts became easier and easier.

Although not fully unlocked, every module in the runic system gave them a significant edge.

As they grew familiar with the various modules, their awe toward Nash deepened.

On the front line, inside the Tier 8 battleships, the various leaders of the Xenus Alliance watched the sudden shift in the battlefield with wide eyes.

"So this is the effect of Nash’s ability!" Torr muttered with disbelief. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He hadn’t expected Nash’s ability to be this overwhelming.

Although it couldn’t increase their raw power, their efficiency and survivability skyrocketed.

At this point, the sense of hopelessness that had hung over the battlefield had all but vanished.

As long as they kept the higher-tier dark beasts in check, no matter how many flooded in, it was only a matter of time.

Turning their attention to the weakest section of the battlefield, the effect was even more apparent.

Unlike the cosmic elites who were used to a swarm of dark beasts, the civilians had only undergone basic training.

Coupled with their strength, sitting at tier 2 to 3, a flood of dark beasts could easily overwhelm them.

Yet after receiving the module system, they seemed to have undergone a transformation.

Like seasoned fighters, they tore through the pack of dark beasts without a flicker of panic.

"The runic system seems to raise everyone’s lower limit."

It didn’t raise their ceiling, but it lifted their floor and tightened their margin for error.

Because of that, the effect on the civilian army was far more apparent than on anyone else.

It bridged the gap between their experience, skill, mental fortitude, and coordination.

Facing the dark beasts, they moved like hardened fighters who had lived through it a hundred times.

"Huh. Now we only need to wait."

With the scale firmly on their side, all they had to do was grind the enemy down.

However, as days turned into weeks and weeks into a month, their expressions began to darken.

The dark beast swarm seemed endless.

Even those deep in the thick of it couldn’t see where it ended. The people at the rear were even more in the dark.

If this continued, they might be locked into a grinding battle lasting months, maybe even years.

If that happened, no matter how powerful they were, they would be doomed.

"We can’t be that unlucky, can we?"

Although historical records mentioned that dark beast swarms could sometimes drag on for years, living through one firsthand was something else entirely.

Then, as if sensing everyone’s dread, Nash’s voice came through the communication module.

"Hold on a little longer. This wave should end in about two months."

Hearing that there was a finish line, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Even if two months was still a long time, it was far less terrifying than not knowing when it would end.

Like walking blind through the dark, the fear of the unknown had weighed on them more than the dark beasts themselves.

But now that Nash had lit the way forward, everyone felt the weight on their shoulders ease.

As for doubting his words, most believed him without hesitation.

A leader with an ability as overwhelming as the runic system had no reason to lie.

Furthermore, in the dark, they would cling to anything that could pull them through.

---

Meanwhile, on the Void Pulse, Nash had already broken through the outer edge of the swarm.

Rather than staying to kill, he pressed forward to find where it ended.

Pushing through a dense wall of dark beasts, he emerged into the quiet desolation beyond.

Looking at the scattered dark beast drifting through the empty void, Nash didn’t feel dread. If anything, it was almost peaceful.

"I didn’t expect such bad luck. Is it because of the sun star void?" Nash muttered, sinking back into his chair.

Historical records mentioned swarms lasting years, but those were extreme outliers.

Most only lasted weeks to a month, and that was with hundreds of cosmic teams’ alliance drawing them in.

For a single team, it might be just a few days.

If the sun star void could attract such a large swarm, he could only wonder what had drawn the swarms that lasted years in the old records.

Whatever it was, its value must have been dozens, maybe hundreds of times greater than the sun star void.

"Master, should we head back?" Atom asked.

To handle any emergency, Nash was currently the only one aboard the Void Pulse.

With others on board, Atom couldn’t dedicate full control to protecting Nash.

"Yeah. Let’s go back. We have work to do."

---

Soon, with endless killing and grinding, another two months passed.

However, even as the swarm of dark beasts finally thinned and scattered, no one cheered.

They just collapsed.

After three months of nonstop fighting, it was over.

Even with the runic system supporting their every movement, their bodies had been pushed to the edge.

Seeing the sky finally clear of dark beasts, they clenched their fists in quiet celebration.

"It’s over."

But in the silence that followed, looking around at the empty spaces where their previous comrades had stood, their relief became heavier.

The wild void territory was not a forgiving place.

Despite all their preparation, the runic system, and every advantage they had, the casualties were still massive.

---

Back on the Neon Planet, Nash quickly convened a meeting, urging every leader to check on their people.

The losses this time were too heavy to brush past.

The civilian army had taken the worst of it, with casualties reaching nearly 15%.

The cosmic elites fared better, losing less than 1%.

Looking at the numbers, everyone quietly realized just how right Nash had been to push for seclusion.

If against mindless dark beasts, they had already bled this badly; they could only imagine what would happen if they faced other cosmic teams.

If they went into a full-scale war against the other cosmic teams, the losses would be catastrophic.

Dismissing everyone, Nash sat in exhaustion.

Not the kind that came from fighting, but the kind of feeling from a loss.

These were his people. Watching a single swarm carve through them like this left a hollow feeling in his heart.

"We still need to get stronger."