Armor-Piercing Munition: Face Me, Carbon-Based Monster!
Chapter 82 The Sun Should Rise

Chapter 82: Chapter 82 The Sun Should Rise

"Is this what you call a siege?"

In Yuqing State, Zhou Yan looked sternly at Xu Lie across from him, his eyes filled with anger and doubt.

"A siege that cost us 11 Holy Bloods, 1 Blood Source, and still allowed our enemy to escape unscathed?"

"Xu Lie, I think you need to seriously reflect."

"How long has it been since you last returned to the Holy Blood Temple to pray to the Holy Father?"

"Your overly arrogant nature has already caused you considerable trouble, and now, this vile characteristic has led to our brothers’ senseless deaths."

"While the protection of the Holy Blood is indeed crucial, I always advise you to wisely use the wisdom granted by the Holy Father."

"Otherwise, how are you different from those monsters tainted by impure blood? How are you different from those savage and foolish Blood Skulls?"

"The Mimic Heretics are formidable enemies. When facing them, we must not harbor any illusions!"

"This is the last time."

"From now on, I won’t need your advice anymore."

"All actions from here on out will be under my direct command."

"You, leave Yellow Stone."

"When the Mechanical God Sect Guard Brigade arrives by ship, you will immediately return to Beiping to plead your case to the Holy Father!"

With Zhou Yan’s words, Xu Lie knelt on one knee to the ground, full of shame.

He wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start.

Indeed, this major defeat was due to his misguidance.

But at that time, apart from mobilizing forces to siege, was there any better way?

The Mechanical God Sect and the Holy Blood Temple joined forces with the goal of eradicating those Mimic Heretics trapped in Yellow Stone City.

And if we let them break through and escape, what would be the point of this alliance?

A hint of defiance flickered in Xu Lie’s eyes. He looked up, took a deep breath, and said:

"Lord Guardian, please give me a chance to redeem myself."

"I will be the first to charge towards the enemy when the general attack is launched, even if the heretics’ bullets pierce my body, I won’t retreat a single step."

"I will die with my brothers. The blood bestowed by the Holy Father will never flow in vain!"

Upon hearing his words, Zhou Yan’s expression softened a bit.

He quietly looked at Xu Lie, and after a few seconds of silence, finally spoke:

"There’s no need."

"The Holy Temple Guard of the Mechanical God Sect will arrive in an hour. Their flagship, the Blade Sea, is crossing the final river bay."

"Though we often have conflicts with the Mechanical God Sect, even the Holy Father has to admit that the battle strength of the sect is not inferior to ours—especially when facing humans."

"The Guard Brigade will put an end to this disaster. The heavy artillery they carry is enough to plow down the entire Yellow Stone City."

"So, don’t blindly waste your life anymore."

"The Holy Blood given to you by the Holy Father has a greater purpose."

"Return to Beiping, where you will be promoted to a Blood Source."

"After that, you will shoulder the important task of spreading the Holy Blood."

With that said, Xu Lie’s expression instantly turned to one of delight.

He looked at Zhou Yan and asked:

"A Blood Source?"

"Me?"

"Exactly."

Zhou Yan nodded, then motioned with his hand and said:

"No need to discuss this matter further."

"The Guard Brigade will arrive soon. Now, come with me to welcome them."

"It is the appropriate etiquette of the Holy Blood Temple."

....

Meanwhile, inside Yellow Stone City.

The continuous bombardment had been going on for a full six hours, and the smoke from the black gunpowder explosions nearly engulfed the entire small island.

The pungent smell made it hard to breathe, and through the smoke, a few Mechanical God Sect miners occasionally emerged from the water.

Armed with single-shot rifles, each time they landed, they only had one chance to fire, yet they still caused significant trouble for the already exhausted defenders of Yellow Stone City.

Two city defense team members were hit in the battle by filthy, possibly poisoned bullets, and their wounds became infected almost visibly.

Under the suppression of high doses of antibiotics, the infection was barely controlled, but the two city defense team members were no longer capable of continuing to fight.

The defensive forces in the city faced yet another reduction, and this was bad news.

When the news of the impending arrival of the Mechanical God Sect Guard Brigade spread, the expressions of most people were filled with resolute determination.

They seemed to see their inevitable fate and had decided to let go of everything before the battle even began, planning to follow their ancestors to the afterlife.

Even when the bombardment by the Mechanical God Sect ceased, the rare moment of reprieve wasn’t spent resting by the people.

Indeed, if they knew they were about to die soon, who would bear to spend their final moments on sleep?

They talked greedily with each other, bragging about their exploits over the past two days, and boasting of what seemed to be the final glory that lit up their impoverished lives.

For them, it seemed like the last solace.

Chen Jian didn’t stop them, nor did he force everyone to hurry up and rest.

Because he knew that no matter how much rest they got, these "new recruits" who hadn’t received much training wouldn’t see a significant increase in combat effectiveness in the forthcoming battle.

On the contrary, when they faced the test of life and death with determination, their chances of survival were greater.

The reasoning of desperate soldiers winning is something everyone understands.

So, Chen Jian merely told everyone that when the sun rises, it will be time for victory or defeat.

----But he didn’t tell the recruits which sun would rise.

Standing outside the tallest Mechanical God Sect church in Yellow Stone City, Chen Jian checked the steel shield box that Lei Jie had brought from Fortification 7025, which had been prepared in advance, then raised his binoculars and looked towards Yuqing State nearly 5 kilometers away.

The flagship of the "Holy Temple Guard" had already entered the narrow channel between Yuqing State and the river sandbar, with the Church Protection Army of the Guard Brigade, clad in neat steel armor and holding well-crafted rifles, disembarking one by one from the deck.

The priests solemnly swung the censers in their hands, the light of the flames flickering, and the blue smoke enveloped the Church Protection Army, seemingly truly enhancing their combat strength.

Next, a priest, resembling a "bishop," raised his hands high, opening and closing his mouth continually, leading the Church Protection Army in singing hymns as they donned their helmets.

Chen Jian couldn’t hear what they were singing; his attention was wholly captured by the two cannons on the flagship.

They weren’t the large-caliber smoothbore cannons he previously thought they were.

Those were two legitimate rifled howitzers with breech mounts!

Though the exact caliber couldn’t be determined, Chen Jian could basically judge by comparison that they were most likely 152 howitzers.

No wonder they’re called the "Guard Brigade."

Those two cannons alone were enough to sweep away many enemies!

So where did they get these things?

Can they use them?

Chen Jian’s question was almost impossible to answer.

What a pity.

Those two cannons are not meant to end up in my hands after all.

Lowering the binoculars, Chen Jian turned on the radio and reconfirmed Lei Jie’s position.

"Lei Jie, are the delivery conditions set?"

"Delivery conditions set, I’m approaching the channel; everything is going smoothly."

"The flow rate is measured at about 1.8 meters per second, slightly lower than the previously estimated flow rate."

"The device is expected to reach the detonation point in 20 minutes, plus or minus 5 minutes."

"IFF is set and working well."

"The package is packed, should it be sent?"

Chen Jian took a deep breath and spoke in response:

"Send it out."

"5:30, the sun should be rising too."