Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1214 - 933 Lu Jing’s Support

Chapter 1214: Chapter 933 Lu Jing’s Support

July.

Compared to before, the war has seen little progress, and news of supernatural calamities continues to prevent the Allied Forces from further expanding their gains.

Troublesome... If things continue like this, everyone will be tortured to death by the disaster. Xu Yang was worried.

Dilnai used her power to contaminate the Allies’ water supply, causing livestock to die or rot. Tens of thousands of soldiers were plagued by pervasive insects and parasites, spontaneous fires, and disrupted storms, forming a series of targeted catastrophes.

The reconnaissance reports from the front became increasingly extreme, with Archangel Michael leading the Sky Kingdom’s Legion in thwarting the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces’ repeated offensives all over the New Taixi State.

The supply line maintained through the Anchorage Isthmus was also disrupted by incursions from the northern mountains, and the Allied Forces temporarily lacked the power to penetrate the polar tundra and eradicate the guerrilla forces active there in the New Taixi State. Due to the world folding, the northern regions of the New Taixi State were even colder and almost uninhabited, making the idea of marching there almost unthinkable.

At this stage of the war, higher demands were placed on willpower, courage, and tactical strategy.

Xu Yang’s new mobile command post was an armored train, parked on the railway line, moving with the advancement of the frontline troops.

Each carriage had different functions, with most being data centers that supported his massive data processing tasks.

Despite enduring wear and delays, Xu Yang did his utmost to consolidate the gains achieved so far.

He had the Forest Master intervene in the pollution and corruption of the surface, assisted Wei Shiyue in finding and returning the souls of fallen soldiers, and had Yan Duo regulate sunlight, continuously trapping the Ark Foundation’s troops in sunless darkness while warming his own troops. Additionally, Clares the Second, the giant Ocean Descendant who inherited the power of winter and was under Farosa’s command, was summoned ashore; it was supposed to earn merit in Anchorage, but now it can also help.

With Yan Duo’s involvement, the battle lines became distinct, with the Allied Forces standing in light and warmth, while the Ark Foundation’s troops suffered darkness and low temperatures.

Looking out, whether day or night, they kept frost-white lights on 24 hours, giving a cold, eerie, and sinister impression.

Xu Yang discovered that the remaining Ark Foundation troops were mostly under control.

The culture brought by Dilnai revered asceticism and hardship, believing that suffering was another path to redemption and victory, as if the more suffering one endured, the richer grace one would receive in the future.

Perhaps now they also saw this sunless night as a test, thinking that enduring it would lead to generous rewards, making them less afraid of the dark, even willing to freeze to death in the cold wind... Xu Yang pondered.

Lu Jing still came often, almost staying on Xu Yang’s data train.

Today, as usual, Lu Jing boarded the train on time, walking through several carriages to reach where Xu Yang was.

"It’s really nice here, I mean—really tidy," Lu Jing glanced around.

It was cold and severe here, screens, drones, and data panels could be seen everywhere. The train’s interior focused on ultimate practicality, with a huge holographic tactical display positioned in the center of the carriage, showcasing the entire strategic situation of the New Taixi State, densely packed with strategic symbols and data readings, designed for comprehending and controlling the overall situation.

Each symbol updated in real-time, constantly jumping, reminding Lu Jing of the countless fast-pacing numbers at the Guangnan Prefecture Financial Exchange, where her last visit dated back seven years. The Heavenly Tribulation made many things lose their original nature.

Xu Yang made tea for Lu Jing.

He now remembered many of Lu Jing’s preferences; she liked soft-spoken conversations, fresh spring green tea, and courteous social interactions.

Lu Jing calmly sat in a compartment, modified from the train, at least there was a seat.

She turned her head to see the sentinel drones hovering outside the carriage, appearing calm but capable of unleashing enough firepower to cover anything within a 20-kilometer radius once in armed mode.

"We’re still preparing for the ’major offensive,’" Xu Yang brought the tea over.

"Do you know the soldiers call the ’major offensive’ the ’end time’?" Lu Jing said.

"Perhaps," Xu Yang placed the tea in front of Lu Jing, "we can’t afford any more delays."

The so-called major offensive referred to an attack operation.

Both the enemy and allies were very aware that a large-scale battle was needed to determine victory or defeat, so Xu Yang was constantly preparing for this "major offensive," aiming to take the initiative.

End time? Xu Yang sighed inwardly. Indeed, this was the major offensive.

If they won, the Ark Foundation would completely collapse, and the expedition would be a complete victory; if lost, the chain reaction could crumble Nestor Corporation.

So much sacrifice, so much effort, so much investment—it must not end in defeat at this point.

Since the war began, the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces had been an unstoppable force, but their organization and morale were rapidly wearing.

After several weeks of rest and reorganization, Xu Yang was confident that they were now ready to launch another offensive and achieve another victory like the great victory at the Anchorage battle.

Convinced that the frontline troops had been sufficiently rotated and rested, he was determined to break the stalemate and let the Allied Forces take the offensive, overcoming the so-called supernatural calamities.

The highest quality supplies, the most advanced military weapons, and battle-hardened troops and witches are all concentrated in a secret location on the front line.

Thanks to superior concealment technology and military secrecy strategies, the Ark Foundation has not yet detected the position of this attacking unit of the Allied Forces.

"Since you plan to use offense to decide the outcome, you’ve surely put all your assets into this expedition," Lu Jing said.

"Yes, we’ve gathered all the armored units, air force, massive warships, and long-range fire support," Xu Yang nodded.

"Attacking the Ark Bunker? Once the grand plan is launched, the first wave of attacks will be led by tactical nuclear weapons, piercing through all the defenses of the Ark Foundation, followed by a swift advance, striking directly at the foundation’s bunker and the Sky Kingdom’s Vessel airship," Lu Jing speculated on Xu Yang’s strategy.

"That’s classified," Xu Yang said mysteriously.

"Is it classified, or have you not figured it out?"

"I have certainly thought it through, but the enemy is not foolish either," Xu Yang replied.

"...Anyway, it’s an all-out offensive, right? An initial burst, then a decline, and finally exhaustion?" Lu Jing pondered, "We have been fighting for nearly 100 days, and this attack must succeed. If we are defeated, our offensive will collapse, and the remaining supplies won’t last us through the winter."

"If we lose, we must retreat, return to the great mountains, and watch as our allies in the east and south are counter-attacked and slaughtered...that is unacceptable," Xu Yang shook his head. "So we must win."

In such a train, Xu Yang worked tirelessly, personally drafting every detail of the grand plan. Lu Jing silently noted.

She rested her elbow on the table, propped her chin with one hand, looking at Xu Yang, completely unaware of how much she now resembled a young woman in love.

It was the right thing to do because Dilnai had the ability to summon endless storms and disasters, surpassing even the Storm Princess and the Netherworld Thunder God, such Supreme Witches, in destructive radius. The small and large calamities arising all over the front line were becoming unbearable, and without achieving results, the consequences would be unimaginable. Lu Jing thought silently.

"We can catch them off guard. They presume we are weary, unaware that you’ve hidden the true elite, ready to launch the most ambitious offensive in history," Lu Jing murmured. "And you intend to strike directly at the Ark Bunker."

Xu Yang seemed contemplative.

"Yes...arrayed on the plains, directly assaulting the bunker headquarters, fiercely attacking the main camp," Xu Yang nodded, "Everyone agrees that this is the only way to achieve the greatest victory."

"It’s a high-stakes gamble, but waiting will only bring further trouble," Lu Jing mused, uncertain of the risks but knowing that without a few victories, the Allied Forces would be doomed.

The key issue was that internally, Xia also disliked such a large-scale expedition. Lu Jing didn’t like deceiving the residents of Xia; she spoke frankly at every press conference, explaining the situation. The New Taixi State couldn’t be quickly annihilated, and people would have to endure several more months of casualties.

Her honesty and straightforwardness sometimes made Xu Yang feel uneasy, but Lu Jing felt that in her position, she should be responsible to the people of Xia.

"How much longer until the grand plan is executed?" Lu Jing asked.

"Now, or within a hundred hours," Xu Yang replied enigmatically.

"Perhaps this might be the last campaign we launch on this continent. If we win, we can return home. If we lose, we also go home," Lu Jing said, slightly uncertain. She hadn’t been involved in drafting the grand plan and didn’t know what tactics Xu Yang had arranged to penetrate the Ark Bunker’s defenses.

"I hope Xia’s forces can provide feints and cover," Xu Yang presented his idea.

"No problem, we still have four field armies capable of offensive actions on the western front. I’ve also arranged for more reinforcements, providing the frontline troops with twice the number of anti-aircraft weapons to counter the enemy’s angels, and energy shields—to intercept those positron cannons fired by large robots," Lu Jing responded slowly, distractedly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes accidentally met Xu Yang’s. He was even more handsome than she remembered, more mature or rather seasoned six years later, Lu Jing couldn’t quite describe it.

Xu Yang wanted to sit opposite her, but Lu Jing moved to let Xu Yang sit beside her.

"The plan is already set. I’ve entrusted the plan to someone trustworthy. She will undoubtedly launch a beautiful attack, catching the enemy off guard," Xu Yang promised.

"I know, I know you should be able to, though I don’t know how you plan to break through the defenses of the Sky Kingdom’s Vessel airship," Lu Jing said, her head resting against the train window. The surroundings were quiet except for the humming of the equipment.

"Trust me," Xu Yang’s hand slid forward, found the buttons on Lu Jing’s gray suit one by one, fascinated by the action as he felt each mysterious detail of Lu Jing’s body.

"My father said I should behave like a distinguished lady," Lu Jing groaned softly.

"So what do you like? A traditional proposal? I can ask Mr. Lu for your hand, really," Xu Yang said.

His voice was very close, and his hands were so familiar. Lu Jing imagined.

Her memories were fragmented, past blurred. But when she was with Xu Yang, a long-lost sense of familiarity awakened, as if the scattered pieces clattered together into a whole.

"Slow down," Lu Jing closed her eyes and said weakly, "I like sitting here, whether now or in the days to come."

Until dusk fell, and Yan Duo left the sky, Lu Jing returned to her own safe airship.

She nodded at the figure standing straight at the hatch, "Xiao Lu?"