Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1213 - 932: 10 Calamities

Chapter 1213: Chapter 932: 10 Calamities

The battle continued day after day.

Xu Yang observed the front-line situation at the southwest outpost of New Taixi State, outside Phoenix City.

There was enough data center for him to work with, a quiet environment, and a river in the distance. Xu Cheng had gone to deliver supplies with Laila close behind, leaving only Xu Yang, who could coordinate all troop movements.

The situation on the battlefield changed.

For two months, they gathered forces from all directions to attack with great success, almost trapping the Lighthouse Core in a bag, ready to close the net like wrapping dumplings and crush these final enemies.

But things became strange.

He frowned; for a week, battle predictions became meaningless. All military reports were vastly different from anticipated outcomes, as if an unknown variable had entered the fray, rendering their logic and simulations futile.

On every front line, the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces faced relentless reversals and counterattacks.

Xu Yang switched to the battlefield video to watch the actual reports.

Yesterday, primarily with Nestor Corporation’s forces, they launched an attack on the Central Plains of the Lighthouse Core.

It was thought they could easily crush the demoralized enemy, yet they faced a determined counterattack.

Worse, a flank line suddenly collapsed, leading to the entire legion being encircled. Though fortunately withdrawing to avoid total annihilation, it was still the largest loss since the war began.

According to tactical reports, the Lighthouse Core’s Pale Legion surged through a glaring breach in the defensive line.

Even though the defense zone held no natural barriers, it was garrisoned by a Nestor Corporation brigade of more than 4,000 soldiers and over 3,000 war machines, which should have held out for days even under heavy assault.

However, the opposite happened, and it collapsed within an hour.

The defenders were utterly swept away by the fervent and violent offensive of the Lighthouse Core, completely against Nestor Corporation’s tactical expectations.

The enemy hailed sacred names, and even if they fell in battle, they could be revived by the ever-present Angels.

More Angels entered the fray, more priests joined the battalion, imbuing soldiers’ bullets with divine power, so even the simplest shot could create dazzling gold holes in Nestor Corporation’s costly heavy bipedal robots.

Every advance by the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces was met with reinforced enemy defenses, and every confrontation resulted in unexpected casualties.

Many second-line units endured intense attacks during defensive battles, becoming exhausted. Once they retreated, the flanks of the main force were completely exposed to enemy fire, forcing the entire line to pull back.

Every straightforward annihilation battle turned into a grinding war of attrition, and after each bloody skirmish, the troops had to halt to recuperate.

Was it Dilnai’s divine mandate? Xu Yang pondered. Otherwise, this was utterly irrational.

In just a few days, the once fragmented Lighthouse Core troops gained incredible cohesion and resolve.

Initially, only about 30%-45% of the Lighthouse Core soldiers were devout believers in Dilnai; now, that proportion might reach 90%-99%.

Could it be that our offensive plays right into Dilnai’s hands, allowing her to significantly expand her influence?

He glanced at the alarming strategic map, where red represented every loss, disadvantage, and contested area. The assault on New Taixi State was now entirely marked in red.

The Lighthouse Core was reclaiming lost ground inch by inch.

Daily casualties and equipment losses were astronomical. Every location in New Taixi State needed arms—the main forces, the city-repressing garrison troops. Logistics could only rely on the Anchorage Isthmus and a few transmission gate stations for supplies, and many front-line units had ceased advancing due to the lack of ammunition and fuel.

These data were a mental torment, yet Xu Yang’s resolve was sufficiently resilient. The saying goes, compassion does not command soldiers; indeed, it’s true.

We need to let the exhausted troops rest. Xu Yang contemplated.

At that moment, he heard the sound of a shuttle machine landing, and a solitary figure escorted by security personnel emerged.

Who would come looking for me at this time? Xu Yang turned perplexed, then stood still, his gaze full of surprise.

Lu Jing.

She walked toward Xu Yang under the soldiers’ escort, stopping in front of him, hands in the pockets of her neutral gray suit.

Her eyes met Xu Yang’s, dark, calm, and patient, as if seeking answers or missing memories from his eyes.

Finally, Lu Jing gave a faint, dejected smile, "Hello."

"Hello—Miss Lu." Xu Yang extended his hand to shake with Lu Jing.

For some reason, he felt something curious, as if his relationship with Lu Jing should have been closer than it currently was.

"Sorry for disturbing you." Lu Jing stood there.

Her cheeks still youthful, appeared slightly weary from busyness.

Xu Sizhou was about fifteen steps away, carrying a bag, sharply looking around.

"No, I’m just... need to focus, but we can study together." Xu Yang invited Lu Jing to step up to his strategic terminal cluster.

The army of Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing is the absolute main force in all current battles, and Lu Jing’s opinion is crucial as she is the highest commander of the Summer Forces.

Lu Jing’s gaze swept over the strategic illustration, she is a resourceful corporate leader who is well-informed about the front line situation, arguably no less than those senior commanders, though she rarely directly intervenes in the front line.

Her eyes tracked the numbers on the screen, her agile mind habitually starting to analyze the data.

Xu Yang observed her; Lu Jing was taciturn, honest, and full of creative ideas; she could manage a giant enterprise and provide wise advice in this war. Xu Yang knew she always had the ability to deduce complex human nature, soothe disappointed moods, and establish unbreakable friendships.

Perhaps there was a friendship between us once, only we’ve forgotten it, forgotten too far. Xu Yang thought to himself. Lu Jing’s profile was exquisite and elegant, like a precious jade.

"Our troops have already exceeded the supply limit." Lu Jing left her insight on the strategic terminal, perfectly aligning with Xu Yang’s judgment.

"Yes, we need to shrink the battle lines, retreat temporarily, or our forces will become extremely vulnerable. We must rely on the existing terrain to establish a line of defense and restore the production capacity of those industrial bases we’ve captured, using the Lighthouse Core’s own factories to manufacture weapons to defeat themselves." Xu Yang judged.

"Here?" Lu Jing’s hand swept across the map of the New Taixi State, establishing connections between mountains and great rivers, managing the distance between the supply line and strategic points with ease, while also preserving as much living force as possible.

"Here." Xu Yang stood on the same side as Lu Jing.

He reached towards the map, gently covering Lu Jing’s right hand, tracing the same position.

Lu Jing felt Xu Yang’s fingers intertwining with hers, her eyes widened slightly, and a faint color appeared on her cheeks.

She did not withdraw her hand from Xu Yang’s, nor did she retreat.

"We should be able to resolve all of this." Lu Jing said slowly.

"And then what?" Xu Yang asked.

"Maybe you can move back to Xia." Lu Jing said absentmindedly.

She didn’t know why she said it, was it because she wanted to recruit Xu Yang, gain his full support? Or did she want to find the lost memories with Xu Yang again? But what she possibly wanted was just a hug, a kiss.

"It would be great if today could last a little longer." Xu Yang leaned his body toward Lu Jing’s side.

Indeed, if only for a little longer. Lu Jing thought to herself. There are so many, many, many things to be said, but not today.

"I’m here to deliver something." Lu Jing withdrew her hand from Xu Yang’s, she took out a cyan mirror from her bosom.

"What is this?" Xu Yang observed, the mirror’s edges were adorned with ancient patterns, resembling flowing clouds announcing auspiciousness, extraordinarily eye-catching.

"A medium for communication." Lu Jing said.

Through the mirror, Xu Yang vaguely saw a distant solitary figure sitting, an ancient humanoid form covered in jade green and ebony-colored scales, an intricately styled crown hanging down with seven treasured tassels reaching down to the back, its eyes tightly closed yet almost bursting with molten gold radiance, bearing unparalleled godly might.

Pan Yuan?... The Ancient Dragon God, Dragon Gate Mansion God. Xu Yang secretly harbored respect.

"Pan Yuan will appear on the battlefield of the decisive battle, facing Dilnai directly." Lu Jing said.

"Then, thanks in advance." Xu Yang was genuinely delighted. If Pan Yuan declared support, the odds in the decisive battle could increase by thirty percent.

"It’s said Princess Yao Tang holds you in good regard, hence the assistance this once." Lu Jing explained.

"Then I should especially thank Princess Yao Tang on another day. This battle concerns the future of all of us, every bit of help is invaluable." Xu Yang said sternly.

"I’m afraid we must hurry and attack." Lu Jing turned her head, wiping away the reference defensive diagram on the strategic terminal, replaced by a sharp crimson arrow directly pointing at the Sky Kingdom Aerial Mother Ship.

The heart of the Ark Foundation, the final military command post of the Lighthouse Core.

"It is impossible to attack under such circumstances." Xu Yang deemed this suggestion highly risky.

The Lighthouse Core has just received an incredible shelter, they should avoid its edge and recuperate the forces and morale of the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces.

The troops from the Eastern Hemisphere have marched far with incomplete rest days, soldiers were exhausted, morale had been worn through every tough battle.

The personnel of Nestor Corporation had been fighting the bloody battle for six years, they could still adapt to such decisive encounters, but the auxiliary forces of other companies, the second-line corps composed of mercenaries, their organizational degree was rapidly declining, there was risk of reverse collapse sooner or later.

In such a situation, advancing... the current spoils may all be seized back if Dilnai finds an opportunity to counterattack.

Farosa’s awakening was on the verge of one last step. To be secure, it is better to consolidate the frontline, cherish soldiers’ blood.

"...Yes, but I’m afraid the enemy won’t give us this opportunity." Lu Jing heard the sound of rushing currents, looked up to the distance, there was a river.

Suddenly, the river turned into blood.

Fish died in it, the blood-reeking water was undrinkable.