156: Chapter 156 Bloodbath Before the Valley, Mech Debut

The morning light of Chaos Valley was dyed gray by the smoke of war.

That was not mist.

It was the metal dust formed from the vaporized armor coating mixed with soil—the remains of 3,000 guardian type iii mechas torn by the tusks of Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses, pierced by the claws of Berserk Blood Wolves, and corroded by the acid of Gold-Devouring Ants during 72 hours of bitter fighting.

Every microgram of dust had once been a 0.01mm protective layer on a mecha's surface.

At this moment, they suspended in the air, illuminated by the faint blue light of the shield, slowly settling like countless fine flakes of iron-gray snow.

Lin Ye stood right in the center of the gap in the third defensive line.

Seventeen meters in front of him were the remains of the Frost Domain Su Qingyue had created at the cost of 30% of her Health Points. That 0.3-meter-thick layer of hard ice had sealed the gap 72 minutes ago, but now it was covered in a dense web of cracks from 17 consecutive charges by the rhinoceros herd.

The 18th charge was accelerating 3.2 kilometers away.

[Yao Beast Tide · Chaos Valley Direction · Day 4, 07:31]

[Enemy Units: Berserk Blood Wolf (Rank 52-55)]

[Quantity: Approximately 9,000]

[Current Situation: Vanguard of the 7th wave of charges]

[Distance to Defense Line: 3.1 km]

[Estimated Time to Contact: 4 minutes 17 seconds]

———

Lin Ye did not look at the countdown.

He was looking at both sides of the defense line.

217 meters to the left, the last reserve unit of Azure Dragon Hall—37 people, average Rank 44, equipped mostly with a mix of Rare-grade gear, with a heavy armor coverage of 31%—were using their Physical Bodies to fill the firepower gap left by the destroyed guardian type iii mechas.

In front of each person was a pile of at least three Yao Beast corpses.

That was the sum of their kills over the past 72 hours.

Of the 37 people still alive, every single one had at least two layers of bandages wrapped around them.

Blood was still seeping from some of the wounds beneath the bandages.

189 meters to the right, the only three remaining arrow towers of Vermilion Bird Hall were pouring out firepower at a rate of 47 shots per minute.

The bases of the arrow towers were surrounded by piles of empty arrow magazines.

The workshop had not produced any new arrows for three days.

The last batch of Flame Feather Arrows had been completely exhausted 17 hours ago.

Currently, the archers were using ordinary refined steel arrows—the arrowheads were standard triangular armor-piercing points, without enchantments or damage boosts, with each shot averaging only 34% of the damage of a Flame Feather Arrow.

But they did not stop.

Because if they stopped, the defense line would collapse.

———

Lin Ye withdrew his gaze.

He looked straight ahead.

3.1 kilometers away, 9,000 Berserk Blood Wolves were deploying in a standard tactical echelon.

The vanguard consisted of 2,000 speed-type wolves, smaller in size, responsible for biting mecha joints and sensors.

The main force consisted of 5,000 balanced-type units, the primary combat force, each equipped with tusks capable of piercing 15mm alloy armor.

The rearguard consisted of 2,000 wolves, including at least 17 alpha wolves that were 30% larger than their peers and had dark-gold manes.

3.1 kilometers.

4 minutes 17 seconds.

———

Lin Ye unsheathed his sword.

That refined iron longsword brought back from the Trial Ancient Star had an edge full of notches from the 47-hour expedition, and the fine crack extending from the hilt to the tip of the blade glinted with an extremely restrained cold light in the gray morning.

He did not look back behind him.

But he knew that seven people were standing there.

Su Qingyue.

Her ice soul sword was broken, and she now wore a spare Superior-grade longsword at her waist—the blade was 2mm thinner than her usual one, but she had spent 47 hours of the 47-day expedition adapting to it.

Her Health Points were at 33%.

Her Divine Power was at 17%.

The remaining time for her Extreme Cold Backlash was 0.

That Frost Domain 72 minutes ago, created at the cost of 30% of her Health Points, was the sign that the last trace of Vast Cold Spiritual Power in her body had been drained dry.

She stood there now.

Sword already in hand.

———

Shi Potian.

His right arm hung at his side.

The nerve interface was not yet stable, and the new pink skin had torn when he clenched his fist for the 47th time during that 47-minute blocking battle on the eastern side 72 minutes ago.

Blood fell drop by drop from his palm along his fingers.

He did not bandage it.

He stood 0.7 meters beside Lin Ye.

His left fist was clenched tight.

———

Zhou Tieshan.

His spare shield—a Superior-grade shield with a surface that had been as clean as new and had only 47 claw marks when it was first used 72 minutes ago—

Now had a 7mm deep crack in the center that had extended to the edge.

He pressed the edge of the crack with his left hand.

To keep it from shattering.

———

Chu Yunxi.

The last three refined steel arrows in her quiver had been fired 11 minutes ago at that Command Beast 3.7 kilometers away that could never be precisely located.

Three arrows.

Three hits on the same coordinate.

That Command Beast had moved 17 meters to the west.

It did not die.

———

Chen Hao.

The chaos unit no. 1 stood three meters behind him.

Energy core remaining: 21%.

Particle Rifle capacitor: 73%.

Right shoulder joint hydraulic oil temperature: +31°C—already exceeding the safety threshold.

He did not cool it down.

Because he needed the 7% response speed gained from that 31°C.

———

Lu Xinghe.

He was kneeling on the ground.

That star compass, which had cracked into seventeen pieces and been glued back together, was placed before his knees.

The rotation speed of the dial had dropped from 0.7 seconds/revolution to 1.3 seconds/revolution.

That was a sign that the core storage battery was about to be exhausted.

He did not change its battery.

Because the last spare battery had been used by him 31 hours ago to maintain the final 7 minutes of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion intelligence node's operation—at that time, Qin Ruoxue was sending back the latest coordinates of the Yao Beast swarm's command units from the Eternal Star Domain.

———

Yun Qianxue.

She stood at the entrance of the temporary medical pod.

That green lotus staff—its head shattered, its body covered in cracks, the flame of life within completely extinguished, and the three crystal petals of the head tied back in place with pale green embroidery thread—

Was held horizontally in her right hand.

The staff's body rested against the ground.

Her Mental Energy had been drained dry 7 times in 72 hours.

Currently, only 4% remained.

She stood there.

Because there were still 43 severely wounded people in the bunker.

They needed her.

———

Seven people.

Seven breaths.

Seven pairs of eyes.

All were looking at him.

———

[Yao Beast Tide · 7th Wave of Charges · 2.7 km from Defense Line]

[Estimated Time to Contact: 3 minutes 17 seconds]

———

Lin Ye gripped the sword hilt tightly.

He spoke.

His voice was not loud.

But on this defense line where 72 hours of war had ground away all redundant noise, every word was as clear as if carved into metal.

"Today."

"The main force of the Heavenly Court is on an expedition to the Ancient Path."

"Those of us staying behind have an average Rank of 44."

"What we face is—the first million-level beast tide since the server opened."

He paused.

"Someone once asked me."

"Whether Chaos Valley can be held."

"I did not answer."

———

He raised the sword to his chest.

The tip pointed upward.

The fine crack in the center of the blade reflected a line of cold white in the gray morning light.

"I will answer now."

"Hold it."

———

The 172 stay-behind members on the defense line.

1,100 guardian type iii mechas in overload mode.

7 expedition members.

1 chaos unit no. 1.

In the same instant—they all took a step forward.

Boom—!!!

172 pairs of feet.

1,100 pairs of mecha feet.

7 pairs of expedition member combat boots.

The Magnetic Anchors on the soles of one 9.7-meter steel giant.

In the morning light of the fourth day in Chaos Valley, they stepped out the same 3mm deep resonance.

———

2.7 kilometers.

9,000 Berserk Blood Wolves.

3 minutes 17 seconds.

———

[Yao Beast Tide · 7th Wave of Charges · 1.7 km from Defense Line]

[Estimated Time to Contact: 1 minute 47 seconds]

———

Lin Ye took a deep breath.

That breath carried metal dust, smoke, and the unique fishy sweetness of evaporated Yao Beast fluids—flowing into his lungs, which were at 33% Health Points.

He gripped his sword.

———

Then.

He heard it.

The sound did not come from the north.

It did not come from the 9,000 Berserk Blood Wolves accelerating their charge 1.7 kilometers away.

It did not come from any direction that could be located by conventional battlefield perception.

The sound came from overhead.

From above the gray-stained light shield over Chaos Valley.

It came from space itself.

———

Vroom—

That was not any teleportation array activation frequency Lin Ye was familiar with.

It was the spatial-tearing wail emitted in its final moment before burning out by an old-model core processor—retired 47 years ago, sealed for 47 years, and forcibly awakened 47 minutes ago by 470,000 Spirit Stones and 7 star core fragments.

47 pillars of light.

Not the 37 pillars from 47 minutes ago.

It was 47 pillars.

From 47 parallel spatial rifts—

They fell simultaneously.

———

When the pillars of light dissipated.

Within a 3.7-kilometer range to the north of Chaos Valley.

The area was filled with mechas.

Not 1,100.

Not 3,000.

It was—5,000 mechas.

[System Prompt: Eternal Star Domain · Seventh Research Fleet · Emergency Reinforcements]

[Reinforcement Units:]

[1. guardian type iii Tactical Mecha (Second Batch Unsealed) × 2,000 units]

[2. guardian type iii Command Type Mecha × 47 units (Includes battlefield information nodes/firepower coordination hubs)]

[3. Frontline Repair Units × 100 groups]

[4. Accompanying Engineers (AI-assisted) × 100]

[5. Energy Core Supply Modules × 500 groups]

[Reinforcement Nature: No agreement / No cost / No additional conditions]

[Authorized by: Carl Reynolds (Commander of the Seventh Fleet)]

[Reason for Authorization: None]

[Note: Carl Reynolds' personal communication terminal went offline 3.7 seconds after the dispatch command was issued. Status: Unknown]

———

5,000 mechas.

Not 3,000.

It was 5,000.

47 command types.

100 groups of Frontline Repair Units.

500 groups of energy core supplies.

No agreement.

No cost.

No additional conditions.

———

In Lin Ye's communication terminal, there was no message from Carl.

Only a 7-word message from III-7:

"He said no need to sign an agreement this time."

———

5,000 mechas.

8.7 meters tall.

14.3 tons in weight.

Rank 52.

They stood there.

Not on standby.

But—firing.

———

[guardian type iii · Standard Firepower Coverage Command]

[Executing Units: 5,000]

[Target: 0-17 degree sector due north, depth 0-3.7 km]

[Firepower Density: 47 rounds/second/unit]

[Duration: 30 seconds]

[Ammunition Type: Universal Particle Beam]

[Expected Projectile Volume: 7,050,000 rounds]

———

That was the most spectacular scene Lin Ye had ever seen in his life.

Not "magnificent."

But "industrial."

5,000 mechas raised their right arms in the same instant.

The muzzles of 5,000 Particle Rifles charged to 100% in the same instant.

5,000 blue-white beams tore through the air in the same instant—

Then.

Boom—!!!

It wasn't an explosion.

It was a "cleansing."

Within the 3.7 km range, of the 9,000 Berserk Blood Wolf vanguards—the 2,000 speed-types—1,700 had their heads or torsos pierced simultaneously in the first volley.

Their charge stopped in the same instant.

They didn't just fall.

They "evaporated."

The high temperature of the particle beams vaporized the moisture within the Yao Beasts' bodies within 0.1 seconds of impact. 1,700 corpses lost their structural strength in the same instant, collapsing to the ground like skins with their bones removed.

Second volley.

Of the 5,000 in the main force.

2,100 fell.

Third volley.

Of the 2,000 in the rearguard, including 17 alpha wolves.

11 alpha wolves were locked onto simultaneously.

11 particle beams hit the exact center of their foreheads in the same instant—those were the coordinate parameters marked by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion intelligence node as "suspected visual nerve center" after that Command Beast moved 17 meters west following Chu Yunxi's three consecutive arrows 11 minutes ago.

11 alpha wolves.

11 piercing wounds.

They fell simultaneously.

———

30 seconds.

7,050,000 particle beams.

5,000 mechas.

9,000 Berserk Blood Wolf vanguards.

Wiped out.

———

The battlefield was silent for 0.7 seconds.

That was the only 0.7 seconds during the 72 hours of bitter fighting in Chaos Valley without the howling of Yao Beasts, the roar of mechas, or the clashing of weapons.

Then.

The 172 stay-behind members on the defense line—172 pairs of eyes with an average Rank of 44—

All saw the 5,000 mechas clearly.

They saw the blue-white residual heat slowly cooling on the Particle Rifle barrels on their right forearms.

They saw the neat marks, 3mm deep and 47cm long, pressed into the dust by the Magnetic Anchors on their feet as they gripped the ground.

They saw the energy core in the center of their chest cabins pulsing once every 1.7 seconds.

The first person.

Was the young Mecha Master wearing workshop overalls, hands covered in engine oil, Rank 43, who had stood under the teleportation gate 72 hours ago waiting for Lin Ye's return.

He stood there.

Looking up.

At those 5,000 mechas.

His eyes turned red.

He opened his mouth.

No sound came out.

But the people beside him heard it.

"...We won."

———

Not "we're going to win."

But "we won."

———

[System Prompt: You are participating in the large-scale campaign "Yan State Defense Line Battle · Chaos Valley Battle"]

[Campaign Phase: Day 4 of the Yao Beast Tide · Decisive Battle to Annihilate the Enemy Main Force]

[Current Battlefield Contribution:]

[1. Lin Ye: 17,430 points]

[2. Shi Potian: 13,270 points]

[3. Chen Hao (chaos unit no. 1): 9,830 points]

[4. Chu Yunxi: 7,210 points]

[5. Zhou Tieshan: 6,970 points]

...

[7. Su Qingyue: 5,830 points]

[8. Lu Xinghe: 3,470 points]

[9. Yun Qianxue: 2,190 points (Healing/Support)]

[10. Heavenly Court Stay-behind Force (172 people): 41,730 points (Total)]

[11. Eternal Star Domain Reinforcements (5,000 mechas): 234,700 points (Total/System Independent Calculation)]

[Personal Yao Beast Kill Count (Cumulative):]

[Lin Ye: 5,170]

[Shi Potian: 3,830]

[Chen Hao (chaos unit no. 1): 2,470]

[Chu Yunxi: 1,930]

[Zhou Tieshan: 1,720]

[...]

[Heavenly Court Stay-behind Force: 17,300 (Total)]

[Eternal Star Domain Reinforcements: 31,400 (Total)]

———

Lin Ye did not look at the "5,170" line.

He was looking north.

3.7 kilometers away.

That was once the position of the 9,000-strong Berserk Blood Wolf charge formation.

At this moment, it was a 1.7-meter-thick belt of remains piled high with 1,700 + 2,100 + 11 Yao Beast corpses.

Behind the belt of remains.

The remaining approximately 14,000 Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses and Gold-Devouring Ant swarms—after the first fire coverage from the 5,000 mechas—were retreating.

It was not a rout.

It was a "tactical reorganization."

They retreated very slowly.

Every step left a 3-centimeter-deep hoofprint or footprint on the ground.

With every step backward, they maintained a vigilant posture facing Chaos Valley.

With every step, they were waiting.

Waiting for that Command Beast 3.7 kilometers away, at 11 degrees north-northwest, which could never be located by any scouting techniques—

To issue new orders.

———

Lin Ye gripped his sword tightly.

He took a step forward.

Not toward the rear of the defensive line.

But forward.

Toward that steel defensive line formed by 5,000 mechas, 3.7 kilometers wide and 3 rows deep.

———

“Chen Hao.”

“Present.”

“chaos unit no. 1, how much energy is left?”

“17%.”

“Is it enough to charge 3.7 kilometers away?”

Chen Hao did not answer.

He didn't need to answer.

The sole Magnetic Anchors of chaos unit no. 1—the set of experimental equipment he spent 47 days on, scrapping 3 prototypes before passing Dr. Ailin's inspection on the 4th try—completed the switch from "adhesion" to "propulsion" within 0.3 seconds.

[chaos unit no. 1: Charge Posture]

[Energy Core Output: 17% → 31% (Forced Overload)]

[Sole Thruster Power: 140%]

[Estimated Duration: 47 Seconds]

———

Chen Hao's voice came through the mecha's loudspeakers.

Not the team channel.

It was the all-channel.

It was the declaration from the Heavenly Court's Number One Machine, sounding for the second time in these 72 hours of fierce battle.

“Heavenly Court Mecha Sequence 001.”

“chaos unit no. 1.”

“Sortie!”

———

The 9.7-meter-tall silver-blue steel giant, set against the belt of remains 3.7 kilometers to the north, was like an armor-piercing shell fired from a barrel.

47 seconds.

3.7 kilometers.

Average speed of 283 km/h.

———

Lin Ye did not pursue.

He stood in place.

Watching the back of chaos unit no. 1.

Watching the sun symbol engraved on its left shoulder armor that read "Hao · Heavenly Court Number One Machine."

Watching the Particle Rifle on its right arm, whose barrel coating he had personally completed—scrapping 3 test tubes before the 4th was qualified—which was now firing continuously at 140% overload power.

Watching the energy core in the center of its chest pulse at a frequency of 0.7 seconds/pulse—2.4 times faster than the standard frequency, 31% higher than the safety threshold, with a remaining lifespan of 47 seconds.

47 seconds.

———

[chaos unit no. 1: 11th Second of Charge]

[Distance to Enemy Command Beast: 2.1 Kilometers]

[Particle Rifle Remaining Capacitance: 47%]

[Energy Core Temperature: +41°C (Severe Overload)]

[Pilot Chen Hao · Heart Rate: 147 bpm]

[Neural Connection Sync Rate: 100% (Locked)]

———

Lin Ye turned around.

He faced the 172 remaining members on the defensive line.

“3.7 kilometers to the north.”

“Enemy Command Beast.”

“chaos unit no. 1 is going for the decapitation.”

“The 5,000 mechas will hold the line.”

“You all—”

He paused.

“Follow me.”

———

172 people.

172 pairs of eyes.

172 remaining members with an average Rank of 44, average rare-mixed equipment, average Health of 47%, average Divine Power of 31%, and an average of 2.3 layers of bandages.

At the same instant—they drew their weapons simultaneously.

It wasn't swords.

It wasn't sabers.

It wasn't bows.

It was—identification tags.

172 tags.

172 names.

172 Heavenly Court stay-behinders who, in the past 72 hours, had watched comrades fall, plugged gaps with shields, stuffed the last health pill into a severely wounded person, and fired the last bullet behind mecha wreckage—yet still hadn't retreated a single step.

They held up their tags.

Not toward the enemy.

But toward Lin Ye.

———

[Heavenly Court · Stay-behind Unit]

[Expected: 237 People]

[Actual: 172 People]

[Confirmed KIA: 47 People]

[Pending Status: 18 People]

[Average Rank: Rank 44]

[Average Loyalty: 97%]

[Current Morale: 100% (Awakening)]

———

Lin Ye didn't say "charge with me."

He didn't say "avenge the fallen."

He didn't say a single mobilization word that could be recorded by the System, quantified and evaluated, or written into the faction's merit book.

He simply gripped his sword tightly.

And walked forward.

———

172 people.

172 sets of footsteps.

Behind Lin Ye.

———

[chaos unit no. 1: 31st Second of Charge]

[Distance to Enemy Command Beast: 0.7 Kilometers]

[Particle Rifle Remaining Capacitance: 17%]

[Energy Core Temperature: +57°C (Critical)]

[Pilot Chen Hao · Heart Rate: 171 bpm]

[Neural Connection Sync Rate: 100% (Locked)]

———

Chen Hao saw it.

That unknown existence that had never shown its complete form in anyone's sight for 72 hours.

It wasn't a giant beast.

It wasn't a Yao Beast.

It wasn't any creature that could be classified as a "monster."

It was—a humanoid.

About 2.7 meters tall.

Its entire body was covered in a dark gold substance that looked like scales yet also like crystals.

It had no facial features.

On its face were only three vertically arranged, narrow slits pulsing with deep purple light—those were its eyes.

It stood there.

Surrounded by 7 floating star core fragments spinning at different speeds.

Every fragment pulsed at a frequency of 1.7 seconds/pulse.

Completely synchronized with the energy core of chaos unit no. 1.

———

[Unknown Existence · Identity Analyzing...]

[Analysis Progress: 17%... 23%... 31%...]

[Detected Star Core Giant Beast homologous energy signature]

[Detected Primordial Royal Court Blood Clan secret technique residue]

[Detected Eternal Starfield Seventh Fleet sealed warehouse access record (Era Calendar 1947)]

[Detected—]

[Analysis Interrupted: Target has actively shielded detection]

———

Chen Hao didn't wait for the analysis to complete.

He poured all the remaining 17% capacitance of the Particle Rifle into the next shot.

[Particle Rifle · Limit Overload]

[Current Capacitance: 17%]

[Next Shot Damage: +470%]

[Barrel Meltdown Probability: 100%]

———

He pulled the trigger.

A blue-white beam of light shot out from the muzzle.

The barrel rose from room temperature to 1,700°C within 0.3 seconds.

The coating melted.

The rifling evaporated.

The muzzle deformed.

And then—it exploded.

———

But the beam had already left the barrel.

0.7 kilometers.

0.01 seconds.

Hit.

———

That humanoid existence, 0.01 seconds before the beam reached the slit in the center of its face—

Shifted 0.3 meters to the left.

The beam grazed the dark gold scales on its right shoulder.

A scorch mark 0.3 millimeters deep and 7 centimeters long was left on the scale surface.

It wasn't a penetrating wound.

It wasn't a fatal wound.

It wasn't even a wound sufficient to make it stop its pace.

But for the first time—

It moved.

It raised its right hand.

Of the 7 floating star core fragments, 3 stopped spinning simultaneously.

The tips of the fragments pointed at chaos unit no. 1.

———

[Warning: High-energy reaction detected]

[Energy Level: Level 70]

[Attack Prediction: Star Core Flash (Single Target)]

[Distance: 0.3 Kilometers]

[Hit Probability: 97%]

[Chen Hao · Current Health: 41%]

[chaos unit no. 1 · Current Energy Shield: 0% (Overload Breakthrough)]

[Pilot Neural Connection Sync Rate: 100% (Unable to actively disconnect)]

———

0.3 kilometers.

0.004 seconds.

———

A silver-blue steel giant frame, from a 47-degree angle to Chen Hao's left—at an acceleration more than twice that of chaos unit no. 1's charge—

Interposed itself diagonally between him and that humanoid existence.

[guardian type iii · Command Type Mecha]

[Serial Number: ETC-47]

[Pilot: None (AI Full Authority)]

[Current Command: Intercept]

———

The energy beams released by the 3 star core fragments simultaneously pierced through the chest cabin of this Command Type Mecha.

The energy core went from 100% charge to 470% within 0.1 seconds.

Core meltdown.

Explosion.

An orange-red fireball with a 17-meter radius, at a distance of 0.3 kilometers, was like a miniature sun.

———

Chen Hao's vision was swallowed by white light.

He heard his own heartbeat.

171 bpm.

173 bpm.

177 bpm.

Then.

A hand.

From behind—pressed onto his shoulder.

Lin Ye's voice rang out in the depths of his consciousness.

Not through the communication terminal.

Not through the neural connection.

It passed directly through the broken cockpit wall of chaos unit no. 1, through his 41% Health body, through his 177 bpm heart rate—

And into his consciousness that was on the verge of scattering.

“47 seconds.”

“You charged 3.7 kilometers.”

“That's enough.”

———

[chaos unit no. 1 · Remaining Energy: 3%]

[Pilot Chen Hao · Health: 41% → 37% (Shockwave Aftershock)]

[Neural Connection Sync Rate: 100% → 97% → 100% (Forced Lock)]

———

Chen Hao opened his eyes.

His vision was still covered by white light afterimages.

But he saw it.

That humanoid existence.

It stood 0.2 kilometers away.

The scorch mark on its right shoulder scales was still emitting extremely faint green smoke.

It didn't attack.

It just looked at the wreckage of the Command Type Mecha it had destroyed.

Looking at the energy core fragments slowly extinguishing in the wreckage.

Looking at its own face—without features, only three purple slits—in the reflection of the fragments.

Then.

It took a step.

To the west.

———

[Enemy Commander Unit · Beginning Retreat]

[Current Coordinates: 11 Degrees North-Northwest · 3.9 Kilometers from Chaos Valley]

[Direction of Movement: West]

[Movement Speed: 17 km/h]

[Remaining Escort Units: Approx. 13,000 Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses/Gold-Devouring Ants]

———

Lin Ye did not pursue.

He stood in place.

Watching the back of that humanoid existence.

Watching as with every step it took, one of the 7 floating star core fragments around it would briefly dim.

Watching that scorch mark on its right shoulder, left by Chen Hao at the cost of a limit overload and a melted barrel.

Watching the posture it displayed for the first time in the 72-hour battle of Chaos Valley—not one of "strength," but of "hesitation."

———

[System Notification: Yao Beast Tide · Day 4 · Phase Results]

[Enemy Main Force: 9,000 Berserk Blood Wolves—Wiped Out]

[Enemy Commander Unit: First Retreat]

[Enemy Remaining Quantity: Approx. 13,000 (Including Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses/Gold-Devouring Ants)]

[Allied Reinforcements: 5,000 guardian type iii mechas]

[Allied Mecha Combat Losses:]

[guardian type iii (Batch 1): 1,317 → 1,470 Units (153 New Units)]

[guardian type iii (Batch 2): 0 → 47 Units (Command-type Combat Losses)]

[chaos unit no. 1: 3% Energy Core remaining, right arm Particle Rifle destroyed, joint hydraulic System intact]

[Allied Personnel Combat Losses:]

[Heavenly Court Stay-behind Unit: 172 → 171 People (1 New KIA)]

[Expedition Members: 0]

———

Lin Ye looked at that line: "1 New KIA."

That Command Type Mecha numbered ETC-47.

Pilot: None.

AI Core Serial Number: 47-1925-07-13.

Commission Date: Era Calendar July 13, 1925.

Decommission Date: Era Calendar July 13, 1955.

Reactivation Date: Era Calendar Day 324, 1972, 07:31:47.

KIA Date: Same.

———

Lin Ye didn't say a word.

He turned around.

And walked back to the third defensive line of Chaos Valley.

Walked back to that defensive line that Su Qingyue had blocked a 17-meter gap in with her Frost Domain at the cost of 30% Health, where the ice was now covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

Walked back to the front of those 172 stay-behind members—now 171.

Walked back to the front of those 7 expedition members.

He stood before them.

For 3 seconds.

He said:

“The enemy commander unit has retired.”

“The main force of the Yao Beast Tide is destroyed.”

“The remaining 13,000 have no commander and will disperse on their own within 72 hours.”

“Chaos Valley—”

He paused.

“Has been held.”

———

There was no cheering.

No one put down their weapons.

No one said "we won."

171 stay-behind members, 7 expedition members, 5,000 mechas.

They just stood there.

Looking at that belt of remains 3.7 kilometers to the north, piled with the corpses of 9,000 Berserk Blood Wolves.

Looking at the 13,000 Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses and Gold-Devouring Ant swarms behind the remains, slowly moving west in retreat.

Looking at the increasingly blurred back of that humanoid existence.

Looking at that scorch mark on its right shoulder.

Watching it pause one last time—at the 4.7-kilometer mark—before disappearing below the horizon.

———

[System Notification: Large-Scale Campaign "Yan State Defense Line Battle · Chaos Valley Battle"]

[Phase 1: Annihilation of Yao Beast Tide Main Force—Completed]

[Battlefield Contribution Settlement in progress...]

[Personal Yao Beast Kills: 5,170]

[Battlefield Contribution Ranking: 1st Place]

[Achievement Obtained: "Yao Beast Slayer · Rank 5"]

[Achievement Reward: Damage to Yao Beast enemies +15%, Yao Beast Materials drop rate +20%]

———

Lin Ye did not look at the achievement notification.

He looked at that belt of remains 3.7 kilometers to the north.

Looking at the wreckage of the Command Type Mecha numbered ETC-47 in the center of the remains.

Looking at the energy core fragments slowly extinguishing in the wreckage.

———

[Chapter 156 · End]