Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1216 - 935: The Margins of War

Chapter 1216: Chapter 935: The Margins of War

The sky never brightens.

A large number of ground-effect aircraft streaked across the frozen lake surface. These near-future vehicles are the technological essence of the Nestor Corporation, utilizing the ground effect phenomenon generated by near-ground flight to gain additional lift, thereby enabling low-altitude flight.

sat inside the air-drop pod of one of the aircraft, waiting for the pilot to drop them into the battlefield.

She stuffed her mouth full of spiced lamb, beef patties, and sausage pizza, then washed the food down with a cola by her side. She ate ravenously, and apart from the gentle hum of the aircraft engine, only the sound of 102’s devouring filled the drop pod.

read the mission briefing next to her. With the full plan from Xu Yang and the meticulous command of Lila, this largest surprise force since the war began crossed the lake area, heading straight for the industrial and economic center of the New Taixi State. Bull City and Motor City are both on the priority strike list.

She and 102 have served on the front lines for many years, experiencing the bloody battle firsthand for six years, achieving outstanding military exploits, with countless credits earned alongside 102.

The extensive war experience had transformed both her and 102. She couldn’t imagine who could remain unchanged through such a heavenly tribulation.

Especially 102.

turned to look at her. 102 still appeared innocent now, but once in combat state, who knew what could happen.

Every time 102 surged her magic power to her brain, 101 felt she didn’t recognize 102 anymore.

Moreover, as the brutal war continued, 102 was often tormented by the ferocity of war, leading to frequent mental instability.

On the contrary, during her less smart moments, she appeared more at peace.

"60 seconds until rapid descent, target is the Motor City of the New Taixi State, conducting a complete bombing of the industrial zone to paralyze the city’s production capacity," 101 softly reminded 102 in the communication channel.

"Got it." 102 briskly replied.

habitually used magic power to enhance her brain.

Soon, her expression became solemn.

This round of battle would be extremely brutal, and 102’s thoughts fluctuated wildly.

After serving for so long, she only hoped to make everything meaningful and wished for every war to be the last.

Perhaps this war would be the last. 102 mused vaguely. Then she and her sister could lay down their arms and return to a peaceful life.

101, 102, with no real names, distinguished by numbers as sisters, as Children of Phantom Light, could people like them live to see the end of the war?

As the indicator light changed from crimson to bright yellow, the battle witches inside the airdrop pod stood up, unbuckled their harnesses, lifted their weapons, prepared to charge the combustion chambers of their Iron Wings, and got ready for the assault.

shoved the last piece of cake into her mouth. Eating gave her a sense of reassurance.

She donned the Ghost Face mask, wearing the Witch Armor, gripping the Short Spear tightly in her hand. She exchanged a glance with 101 and nodded.

She could hear the crackling sound of rain outside. Due to the sudden cold brought by Clares the Second, the cold rain caused by unusual weather was gently pattering, and the air inside the cabin was also chilling.

"Every time you do this, I don’t recognize you," 101 said.

"Is this the time to talk about this?" 102 replied coldly.

"..." 101 sighed internally. What did her solitary worries mean in the vastness of the war? After enhancing her intelligence, 102 became cold-blooded, astute, and unfamiliar, but perhaps this could help her survive in this world.

"Maybe this is the final battle." 102 walked towards the exit of the drop pod.

"Where will we go after this battle?" 101 walked beside 102, carrying the Shilou Maru.

"I don’t know," 102 kept her eyes on the indicator light at the cabin entrance, "maybe somewhere no one knows us."

"Start a new life?" 101 asked.

"A new life." 102 saw the indicator light switch abruptly from bright yellow to transparent green, and the drop pod gate opened as the ground-effect aircraft tilted its tail upward, dropping these elite combat witches out.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of cannon blasts erupted as long-range artillery deployed on the ice began roaring, forming a barrage to cover the aerial assault operations of the combat witch brigade.

"Charge!" 102 leapt forth, firing towards the giant factories silhouetted against the night.

Huge shells exploded among the buildings, instantly lighting up searing heat waves and fireballs that pierced the night. Flames spread, walls shattered. Each factory broken here meant one less production capacity for the Lighthouse Core, bringing them closer to defeat. 102 knew this very well, which is why she shot mercilessly.

"Charge!"

"Where are the enemies!"

"Advance!" The battle cry shattered the night as the human alliance’s assault operation commenced, the grand army plunging into the industrial district of the Five Great Lakes, bringing the Lighthouse Core to their fateful end!

A shocking wave swept through half the city, causing the entire Motor City to tremble. 102 looked up to see countless rocket volleys raining down from the city, descending upon the alliance’s assault combat group like a deadly storm. She hurried to attack the enemy, where automated defense turrets precisely aimed and intercepted her in the night sky.

The urban battle had begun. The Lighthouse Core swiftly assembled a substantial quick reaction force. Countless fighter jets and shuttle machines took to the skies under the cover of night, quickly patrolling the lake area and unleashing fatal ammunition on the advancing alliance combat group, tearing open huge trenches on the lake surface as if plowing a field, leaving shocking fissures within the ice layers.

The alliance’s combat group advanced with the support of artillery and the Battle Witch, while the defenders of the Lighthouse Core occupied vital routes, wielding laser machine guns and heavy artillery to harvest the alliance’s assault units in rows.

The night sky was sporadically illuminated by ghostly blue energy fireworks, the brilliance released when soldiers’ energy shields were shattered and detonated.

Just ten minutes into the battle, the skies had already descended into an aerial combat quagmire, where the air units from both sides fought desperately for air supremacy.

Civilians awoke to the trembling ground and mountains caused by the intense artillery fire. Numerous stadiums, parks, malls, and schools were destroyed or set ablaze, forming a sea of fire.

Many municipal firefighters were urgently dispatched but were injured by the aftershocks of war on their way.

precisely bombarded the city, her Short Spear demolishing entire buildings with each shot, causing hundred-meter-tall structures to collapse into ruins. She saw many of her allied columns attempting to break into the city, only to be brutally repelled by the Lighthouse Core’s defenses, completely vanishing in the smoke after the bombardment.

People were dying by the thousands. 102 was already numb to war, with flying machines frequently crashing down around her, dragging fiery tails and exploding into pieces on the streets, obstructing vehicles and armored cars on the ground, making it convenient for 102 to directly bomb the would-be reinforcements to the front lines, turning the towering Lighthouse mechs into mangled wrecks crumbling down.

Two "Moles," four "Ymir" units, ten "Demon Lizards," three hundred and twenty people. 102 silently recited tonight’s tally in her mind, floating in the air, her Iron Wings extending behind her.

She continuously fired upon the industrial area, demolishing most structures, particularly focusing on obliterating the refineries, as this could easily trigger a chain reaction.

aimed carefully at the largest oil storage tank, which stood out like a grey domed structure on the ground.

Boom!!

A thunderous explosion erupted, flames soaring into the sky, and the concussive roars, heatwaves, and shockwave rushed forth!

was pushed back hundreds of meters, as a thick black smoke billowed into the sky. She used her hand to swipe away the fog before her and propelled through the mist with her Iron Wings, her heart pounding as she saw that the oil depot’s surrounding area, spanning a radius of about 3000 meters, was laid bare to white ground, with fire spreading voraciously and burning everything in sight.

Immediately after, another series of deafening explosions rang out. 102 turned her head to see the lakeside nuclear power station cluster being mercilessly destroyed. In an instant, half of Motor City plunged into darkness, with many intelligent defense facilities going offline due to insufficient power.

"Have their power been cut off?" 102 inquired over the communication channel from her sister.

"No, there are still many natural gas power stations operating," 101 quickly replied. "On the other side of the city; do you intend to destroy them?"

"Other units will handle it," 102 recognized the importance of sticking to one’s responsibilities. The Netherworld Thunder God, Pan Ruiyi, and the Storm Princess were assaulting the other significant stronghold of Bull City, even attempting to attack the bunker from the north. 102’s task was to hold this area.

As if slicing open the city’s veins. 102 knew they were gaining the upper hand. Lady Farosa’s Law of Recovery could easily mend the war damages, yet Dilnai’s authority was not part of this. Perhaps she could create supplies out of the void, but the city’s population and industrial facilities were indeed finished.

Yet they seemed oddly unconcerned. 102 noticed the peculiarity of the New Taixi State people, seeing one of the massive stadiums still lighting up.

She flew over the stadium and saw below a baseball game ongoing, with electronically enhanced new-era athletes running, pitching, and batting on the green field, while the stands were packed with spectators, cheering with disciplined applause for each hit.

Occasionally, a spectator would leave their seat, probably still rational, aware the city was under attack. Yet the entire game continued, and 102 could even hear the announcer’s voice on the scene, as if they paid no heed to the war.

A squad of airborne assault soldiers landed with forceful intensity nearby, hitting the streets with their dropship’s engines whining shrilly, seemingly malfunctioning.

A large group of synthetic soldiers armed to the teeth emerged, taking the stadium caught up in a match as a predetermined conquest target.

At the stadium entrance, a handful of city security personnel fought back with all the firepower they had, relying on large-caliber pistols, smart rifles, electromagnetic grenades, and swarm missile drones to resist.

unleashed a shot upon them, bringing death from above, and the enemy vanished amidst the embers, the glass doors at the entrance shattering with a roar, as the two teams inside and around seven or eight thousand spectators fell within the lethal range of these Nestor Corporation synthetic soldiers’ guns.

shook her head and, utilizing her authority, temporarily commanded the synthetic troop below to divert and attack a New Taixi State guard barracks two blocks away. This was not out of mercy but rather because she felt that killing these unarmed spectators and the thirty baseball players was pointless.

The lakeside defenders were insufficient, unable to withstand our numbers, and we should soon achieve victory. 102 watched the synthetic soldiers depart, swarming to attack the demoralized, unprepared city garrison troops.

Once these cities and their affiliated industrial bases are destroyed, the Lighthouse Core’s people will have lost their last hope of reversing their fortunes. This will likely be etched in history, renowned alongside the Battle of Anchorage. 102 gripped her Short Spear and surveyed the surroundings.

But could historians possibly research what she felt in her heart now? 102 wished for this to be the final war, the final war ever! She was all too familiar with battle, which fueled her resentment and fatigue.

"The offensive is quite successful, but there’s a high-energy reaction at your six o’clock!" 101’s voice crackled through the communications within 102’s helmet.

"Understood." 102 turned her head and entered a battle-ready stance.

She saw a group of winged creatures quickly approaching; they were the Angels under Dilnai’s command! At such times, only the Angels could potentially turn the tide.

Preparations to engage in combat were made, as the internal auxiliary combat system in 102’s Witch Armor was fully activated.

The Angels boasted strong mobility and high single-combat prowess, paralleling our Combat Witch Brigade. 102 marked a call for assistance to her surrounding allies before diving towards the enemy.

knew she was born for war and should perish in the final battle, at the last bullet.