Chapter 153: The Final Defense

In the eyes of the fortress’s defenders, the dark races seemed endless, like a swarm of locusts passing through, with no end in sight.

Their bodies had grown numb, and so too did their spirits. They instinctively swung and fought upon seeing the shadows of the enemy, as if trapped in a nightmarish haze, with no idea when it might end. Even if death was the only escape from this nightmare, it was still a form of liberation.

Fighting and dying had become the entire world for every living person there.

They watched countless familiar faces fall before them, their bodies gradually growing cold. They saw one dark creature after another rush towards them, only to be turned into corpses.

The ground was already covered with corpses, leaving barely any place to stand. Occasionally, one could see large spider demons stuck in the narrow passages of the fortress, struggling to move.

Whenever this happened, an imperial soldier would bravely leap onto the spider demon’s back, severing its spine with a battle-axe, or be killed by the spider demon or other dark creatures.

The fortress became a black hole, continuously devouring warriors from both sides.

After an unknown duration, a sudden commotion broke out among the dark races’ ranks. A squad of blood clan warriors began firing at their own forces, carving out a path in an attempt to leave the battlefield.

The central command of the dark races quickly dispatched two units to pincer and suppress this small, rebellious force. But after such an upheaval, the fighting spirit of the dark races waned, and their offensive struggled to continue. Finally, the retreat signal sounded.

When the dark races withdrew, many imperial soldiers stood dazed in place, awaiting the next wave of enemies.

Zhao Jundu appeared on the ramparts of the fortress, the black flames around him nearly solidifying. These black flames occasionally shot out sparks, which, upon landing on the corpses or bloodstains of the dark races, would burst into fierce flames.

All the imperial soldiers kept their distance, none daring to be touched by the black flames.

Zhao Jundu walked through the fortress, surveying the post-battle carnage.

As he walked, he gradually retracted the black flames, until all the terrifying black fire was absorbed back into his body. Only then did his generals dare to approach.

One general said, “Sir, we have less than a thousand soldiers left. No reinforcements?”

“No reinforcements are coming,” Zhao Jundu replied, looking around. “Clear the battlefield, and then we’ll retreat.”

“What?” The generals almost couldn’t believe their ears; they had never heard Zhao Jundu speak of retreat.

“An hour to clear the battlefield, then we retreat.” Zhao Jundu repeated firmly.

The generals immediately dispersed, each hurrying to their tasks. An hour was a tight schedule, leaving no room for delay.

An hour later, the imperial forces began to withdraw from the fortress. The entire unit only had two trucks, both barely operational.

Almost all the airships, most of the military equipment, including all the artillery, ship cannons, and power towers, were destroyed in the battle. These two vehicles were assembled from parts salvaged from the ruins.

As soon as the imperial forces left, fires began to erupt within the fortress, engulfing everything in a raging inferno. Everything that couldn’t be taken was burned. The bodies of the imperial and eternal night warriors mingled together, turning to ashes.

On the return journey, several generals accompanied Zhao Jundu, reporting the results of the battlefield clearance.

“Sir, roughly speaking, our side suffered six thousand casualties, while the dark races suffered about forty thousand. The casualty ratio is one to six, which can be considered a glorious victory.”

Another general sighed, “We originally had eight thousand brothers, now we’re down to just over a thousand. This kind of victory…”

“Are you questioning Sir’s command?”

“Of course not, I’m just thinking about how to explain this to the family back home.”

This sentence brought silence to everyone.

The combat environment in the new world was exceptionally harsh, and many regular imperial legions could not meet the requirements. Therefore, the elite private armies of the noble families began to emerge in large numbers.

Many generals led troops consisting of relatives and true kinsmen. With such heavy casualties, losing four out of five, it was inevitable that they would face a scene of mourning upon returning home.

Zhao Jundu, who had been silent, finally spoke, “It’s hard for us to explain, but it’s even harder for the dark races.”

The generals understood the truth, yet they could not find joy in it.

At that moment, in the meeting hall of the imperial main base, Song Zining stood before a large map, facing a sea of marquises, veteran generals, and ministers of the empire, as well as the patriarchs and elders of the noble families.

He slowly said, “As I mentioned earlier, we are having a hard time, but the dark races are having an even harder time. The war has reached its most brutal phase, with both sides bleeding and continuing to bleed. If we retreat now, all our previous efforts will be in vain, and all the sacrifices will be meaningless. The only way out is to persist, to show the dark races our determination and our faith, until they lose hope!”

A murmur rose from the crowd, people whispering and discussing.

After a moment, an elder of a noble family stood up and asked, “What is the specific strategy?”

Song Zining pointed to the ground, his voice deep, “We will fight a fortress defense battle here, against the dark races.”

A loud rumble erupted from the crowd.

Without much thought, someone shouted, “But won’t this mean giving up our mobility advantage, fighting with our weaknesses against their strengths?”

Song Zining calmly replied, “We no longer have a mobility advantage, nor can we anticipate the enemy’s moves.”

The man was stunned, “You mean, you also…?”

Song Zining nodded, “I cannot calculate Yemu, and many should already know this.”

“Unbelievable! As the commander, unable to anticipate the enemy’s moves, how can you remain in this position?!”

Song Zining’s expression remained unchanged, “Indeed, the position of commander is somewhat beyond my capabilities now. I am here solely for the sake of the empire. If anyone believes they are more suitable, please step forward, and I will gladly step aside.”

The man shouted, “In such a vast empire, with so many talents, can’t we find someone better than you? I have several recommendations.”

Song Zining said calmly, “This is a time when the entire army must fight. Regardless of who the commander is, they must hold their ground here, with no retreat. If we fail, the consequences will be severe. Who do you want to recommend as your enemy?”

The man’s face turned red, unable to stand or sit. Just as he was about to say something, the Duke of Wei snorted, “A petty troublemaker, unaware of his own limitations!”

The man, knowing he had offended the crowd, sat down dejectedly.

Everyone knew that Ding Xuan Wang could not subdue, and Song Zining could not calculate Yemu, making her a rare and formidable foe. She had already injured two dukes, and countless major generals had fallen to her. To hold the fortress would be akin to carrying a coffin to battle.

Moreover, if this fortification were lost, the blame would be significant. Song Zining, with his past glorious record, could potentially offset his current shortcomings. However, a new commander would not have such a cushion.

Furthermore, Song Zining had already entered the ranks of the empire’s top fate diviners. If even he could not calculate Yemu, who else could?

Initially, when Song Zining was compared to Lin Xitang, many young prodigies from the fate divination sects had gossiped. But after Ding Xuan Wang’s failure, they fell silent. Only the fate diviners themselves understood the peril of fate trajectories in the presence of peak powers.

Despite much debate, no better strategy emerged. Additionally, the empire’s airship production had reached its limit, and maintaining transportation between the portal and the base was already strenuous. There were no more mobile fleets available. In such circumstances, holding the fortress in a defensive battle was the best option.

The final strategy was thus set. Song Zining had already prepared the necessary supplies, and they were discussed and approved. With the strategy decided, no one dared to challenge the resources. Thus, Song Zining’s requests were smoothly approved.

After the military meeting, many patriarchs and elders left immediately. Staying in the new world carried risks, and given their high positions, any incident would be a significant loss. It was not out of cowardice.

Holding the meeting in the fortress allowed them to witness the brutality and devastation of the front lines firsthand.

At that moment, whether staying at the base or rushing back to the empire, all felt a heavy heart.

They knew that once the fierce fortress defense began, although the empire could still maintain some advantage, the initial casualty ratio would be gone forever. The past casualty ratios were already suffocating.

The war had reached a point where many were prepared to accept any outcome.

From then on, every day, a long and harrowing list of casualties would be sent back to the empire. People would gradually get used to searching for the names of their loved ones.

Yet, a question lingered in everyone’s mind: Was the cost worth it?

The true upper echelons of the empire, the lofty emperors and high-ranking officials like Song Zining, clearly knew something, but they remained silent.

The destination of the passage in the Black Sun Valley and what lay within remained a mystery. The empire’s willingness to pay such a terrible price to prevent the dark races from approaching the Black Fire Pit, or at least to maintain access, indicated that the secrets within were earth-shattering.

The only good news was that Song Zining’s strategic flexibility remained intact. He did not plan to simply hold his ground but to establish a series of interlinked fortresses. This would allow small imperial units to remain mobile, enabling counterattacks. This way, the battle wouldn’t be one-sided, and there was still hope.

At this point, they could only trust Song Zining’s military judgment and talent.

On the front lines, above the burning fortress, a sudden gust of wind, accompanied by a chilling cold, extinguished the flames.

Yemu, surrounded by a group of powerful dark figures, stepped onto the land once held by Zhao Jundu.