At The Boulder Fortress's Central Command Center, after the meeting concluded, the atmosphere did not ease; instead, it was like a taut bowstring, filled with the oppressive feeling of surviving a disaster only to be enveloped by an even heavier shadow.
Qin Weiguo stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, the blood moon's light casting harsh lines on his face through the thick, radiation-proof glass.
Outside the window, the fortress interior was brightly lit, but the usually bustling streets were now eerily silent, with only the footsteps of patrol teams and the distant moans of the wounded echoing in the deathly quiet.
"Commander!" Zhou Zhengyang, holding a newly printed report still smelling of ink, quickly walked up behind Qin Weiguo, his voice low and solemn, "Preliminary loss statistics are out."
Qin Weiguo did not turn around, merely nodding slightly.
Zhou Zhengyang took a deep breath and began to read:
"Personnel Losses:
Xiong Yan, Commander of the Rocket Army, confirmed killed in action.
Li Fan, Commander of the Air Force, critically wounded and near death, with 70% of his bones shattered, multiple internal organ ruptures, and Dragon's Resentment toxins eroding his nerves; currently in a deep coma, with a survival rate below 10%.
Chu Hang, Rule-Type Ability User, suffered rule backlash + severe physical trauma, with a penetrating chest wound, weak vital signs, and severe damage to his ability core; recovery period is unpredictable.
Chen Xue, Silver Light Priest, suffered ability backlash + mental trauma, in an extremely unstable state.
17 Elite Ability Users of the Energy Condensation Rank killed in action, 9 severely wounded.
312 soldiers killed in action, 103 severely wounded, 247 lightly wounded.
43 civilian logistics personnel killed in action, 28 severely wounded.
Equipment Losses:
'Owl' armed reconnaissance helicopter confirmed crashed.
'Furnace' special operations command vehicle completely destroyed.
5 heavy armored vehicles destroyed.
12 armed off-road vehicles destroyed.
8 troop transport trucks destroyed.
Countless individual weapons, ammunition, and protective gear lost.
Fortress Facility Losses:
Outer defense perimeter gate damage rate 85%.
B3 level energy core area structural damage rate 62%, shield generator scrapped.
Medical Center operating at over capacity, with critical shortages of medicine and plasma reserves.
Parts of residential areas damaged by energy shockwaves.
…"
Zhou Zhengyang's voice grew heavier and heavier; each number was like a cold stone, striking the hearts of everyone in the command center.
The Boulder Fortress was severely damaged! Its core combat power was almost crippled! Its defense system was riddled with holes! Its resource reserves were on the verge of exhaustion!
Qin Weiguo slowly turned around, his face ashen, but his eyes were unusually calm.
He took the report, his gaze sweeping over the shocking numbers, finally resting on the line "Li Fan critically wounded and near death," his knuckles turning white as he clenched his hands.
"Spare no expense to save Li Fan's life!"
Qin Weiguo's voice was cold and resolute.
"Notify the Medical Center to activate the highest-level life support system! All stocked gene repair fluids and nerve regeneration agents are to be prioritized! Whatever is needed, go directly to the Logistics Department to procure it! Tell them, this is an order!"
"Yes!" Zhou Zhengyang stood at attention and saluted.
"Furthermore," Qin Weiguo's gaze swept over everyone, "the pensions for fallen soldiers are to be disbursed at three times the highest standard! The severely wounded are to receive full medical treatment! The fortress is to enter Level One combat readiness! All non-essential personnel are to be assigned to logistics support and defensive works repair! Resource allocation will temporarily follow wartime standards!"
Orders were issued one after another, carrying an undeniable, iron-blooded resolve. The fortress, like a heavily damaged machine, began to operate again with difficulty and slowly, driven by Qin Weiguo's forceful command.
Just as the fortress interior was a mix of busyness, sorrow, and tension,
Buzz!
An indescribable, cold, and majestic spatial fluctuation instantly enveloped the entire The Boulder Fortress like an invisible ripple!
All electronic screens within the fortress flickered instantly! Emitting harsh electrical noise! Lights flickered violently! The alarm system briefly malfunctioned!
"What's going on?!" Qin Weiguo suddenly looked up! A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes!
"Report! High-intensity spatial fluctuations detected! Origin directly above the fortress! Altitude thirty thousand meters!" The communications officer's voice carried a hint of panic!
Buzz!
On the command center's massive main screen! The image distorted for a moment! Then forcibly switched!
In the image! A vast, suffocating silver-grey warship hovered silently like a cold metal mountain directly above The Boulder Fortress!
It was the Central Special Task Force's 【Ru Shou】!
At the bottom of the warship! The Xuanbird emblem, with its wings spread as if about to take flight, emitted a cold and majestic light! Like a deity gazing down upon ants!
Immediately after!
Buzz!
A clear and cold holographic projection instantly materialized in the center of the command center!
In the projection! It was Xuanbird!
He was still wearing his crisp, lead-grey Zhongshan suit! His eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses were calm and unmoving! In his hand, he held the bronze compass emitting a faint green light!
"Commander Qin Weiguo of The Boulder Fortress."
Xuanbird's voice was clear and cold, with a metallic quality, distinctly reaching everyone's ears, without any emotional fluctuations.
"Xuanbird, Section Chief of the Central Special Task Force's Ninth Section."
Qin Weiguo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the tumultuous waves in his heart and a hint of humiliation at being looked down upon!
He straightened his body and spoke in a deep voice to the holographic projection: "Section Chief Xuanbird! The Boulder Fortress thanks the Central Special Task Force for its timely intervention! For eliminating the source of the Lishan Dragon Vein anomaly! And for saving hundreds of thousands of military personnel and civilians in the fortress!"
"It is our duty." Xuanbird's voice remained calm, without the slightest ripple.
"The Lishan Dragon Vein anomaly was assessed as a world-ending (critical) threat level. The Central Special Task Force has an obligation to eliminate all unstable factors that threaten the continued existence of human civilization."
He paused slightly, his gaze seemingly penetrating the holographic projection, landing on Qin Weiguo's face.
"The Boulder Fortress's response to this sudden crisis was subpar."
Xuanbird's voice carried a subtle, almost imperceptible chill.
"Delayed intelligence! Slow reaction! Weak defenses! Heavy losses to the ability user legion! Failure to effectively control the situation! And even nearly causing a greater catastrophe!"
Every word was like a cold whip lashing fiercely at Qin Weiguo and all The Boulder officers' faces! It stung intensely! Filled with undisguised criticism and accountability!
Qin Weiguo's face was ashen! His fists were clenched tightly! His fingernails dug deep into his palms! But he could not refute it! The facts were precisely as stated!
The Boulder Fortress had performed terribly in the face of this disaster!
"The Central expresses its concern regarding this." Xuanbird's voice continued, carrying an air of condescending charity.
"Therefore, a batch of basic medical supplies and energy crystal core provisions will be allocated to support The Boulder Fortress's post-war reconstruction."
He lightly tapped his fingertip on the bronze compass.
Buzz!
Above the fortress's outer defense perimeter!
A giant metal container, covered by an energy shield, appeared as if out of thin air and slowly descended! It landed heavily on a cleared open space! Kicking up a cloud of dust!
"The material List has been transmitted to the fortress's main control system." Xuanbird's voice was devoid of any warmth.
"We hope The Boulder Fortress learns from this lesson! Strengthens its own construction! Improves its defensive capabilities! And ensures that such incidents do not happen again!"
"Furthermore…" Xuanbird's gaze seemed to sweep through the fortress's interior, his cold gaze seemingly able to penetrate layers of alloy walls.
"Although the core of the Lishan Dragon Vein has been contained, residual fluctuations of telluric energy remain. The Central Special Task Force will continue to monitor this area.
Any unauthorized large-scale ability activity or abnormal energy accumulation will be considered a potential threat! And will be eliminated!"
The last two words pierced everyone's hearts like ice picks! Carrying naked warnings and threats!
"Behave yourselves."
As soon as the words fell!
Buzz!
Xuanbird's holographic projection instantly dissipated!
The image on the main screen also instantly returned to normal!
The massive hull of the 【Ru Shou】 warship silently turned its direction! Its faint blue tail flames briefly spewed! Instantly transforming into a cold stream of light! Tearing through the sky! Disappearing into the depths of the thick radiation clouds!
Just as it had arrived! Silently! Yet carrying an overwhelming majesty and indifference!
Leaving behind only the massive metal container! And a deathly silence within the fortress! As well as the unspeakable humiliation! Anger! And bone-deep fear on everyone's faces!
The Central's condolences had ended! Bringing with them charitable supplies! And cold warnings!
The Boulder Fortress, in the eyes of the Central, was still just an ant!