7: As long as all the witnesses are killed, it's a perfect stealth.

[Simulation in Progress: 02 minutes 15 seconds]

On the holographic sand table, the Steam Baron's forces were like a precision industrial machine. Gears turned, pistons roared, advancing steadily along the main road.

"Cover the left flank, Heavy Shield Mechs push forward. Maintain fire coverage, leave no blind spots."

The Steam Baron tapped lightly in the void, fine-tuning the troop formation via Tactical Beacons. This was his stage; he was the chess player, every move precisely calculated.

"The opponent is still lurking? Seems like a terrified novice."

He glanced at Li Cang's deathly silent shadow zone, his eyes full of contempt.

"In the face of absolute firepower, stealth is a slow death. No matter where you hide, my cannons will blast you out."

Li Cang did not respond.

He quietly watched the red light representing the Thunder Warriors. Within the intricate network of ventilation ducts, it moved with a common-sense-defying agility, silently arriving directly above the Steam Guard.

[Distance: Vertical height 8 meters.]

[Status: Silence Disengaged.]

[Command: In the name of the Emperor.]

Li Cang glanced at the resource bar. The blue light strip—[War Authority]—was slowly charging.

[Current Authority: 3 / 3]

"Three points..."

This cost wasn't enough to trigger [Orbital Bombardment], nor was it enough to bolster [Psychic Shield].

But for a deadly ambush, it was enough.

Li Cang's finger pressed a low-cost tactical card.

[Tactical Card: Gravitational Potential Strike]

Cost: 2 Authority Points.

Effect: Utilizing physics engine rules, grants the next high-altitude melee attack a "Falling Kinetic Energy" bonus, causing small-scale physical shock and terrain destruction.

"Gravity is a free weapon."

Li Cang watched the Authority bar drop to 1 point, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Give them a bit of... physical shock."

...Battlefield Perspective.

Inside the Silent Foundry, the footsteps of the Steam Guard echoed.

"There's movement overhead."

A soldier instinctively looked up at the pitch-black ceiling beams.

In the next second, his pupils constricted.

BOOM!

The ceiling exploded.

Metal fragments and concrete showered down like shrapnel. Amidst thick dust, five massive dark shadows descended from the sky with thunderous momentum.

"What is that?!"

The Steam Baron's pupils contracted.

The dense "Infantry-Tank Coordination" formation he took pride in had now become a fatal weakness—it was too crowded, with nowhere to hide.

THUD!

Arik Taranis, like a meteor, slammed heavily onto the heavy tower shield of a "Hammer" Mech.

The heavy weight of the Mk I power armor, combined with the gravitational potential energy from eight meters high, and further stacked with the kinetic energy boost from the tactical card.

A triple explosion of force.

The forged steel tower shield, capable of withstanding cannon fire, let out a piercing screech.

CREAK—

The tower shield was crushed like thin paper, twisting the mech arm beneath it. Hydraulic oil pipes burst, spraying a black oil mist.

"Enemy attack! From above!"

The communication channel was in chaos.

Arik gave them no time to react. Using the impact of the fall, his knees bent slightly to absorb the force as the Servo-muscles hummed.

The Chainsword finished preheating.

VROOM—!!!

The Monomolecular teeth spun wildly, roaring like a demon.

"Die!"

A horizontal sweep.

The unbalanced mech didn't have time to raise its cannon before the cockpit was sliced open by the brutal teeth.

SIZZLE—

Sparks flew. Blood, high-temperature steam, and leaking hydraulic oil mixed with the pilot's screams, drenching the surrounding soldiers in scalding blood and oil.

But this was only the beginning.

The remaining four Thunder Warriors were like tyrannosaurs charging into a flock of sheep as they dropped into the infantry phalanx.

This wasn't a battle; it was a massacre.

High-pressure rifles became useless sticks at close range. Soldiers tried to counterattack with bayonets, but they only sparked against the Ceramite armor.

On the other hand, the Thunder Warriors...

Simply by ramming with their power armor, they could shatter human bones. Every punch could drive a brass helmet along with the head into the chest cavity.

"This is your tactic?"

Inside the Preparation Hall, the Steam Baron's face turned ashen. Watching his meticulously arranged formation collapse instantly, his fingers trembled as he reached for his deck.

"Barbaric! Crude!"

He roared in anger, staring intently at the Authority bar which had risen to 4 points. He could no longer care about the resources he had saved for his ultimate skill.

"Blast them to dust!"

He slammed down a high-cost trump card.

[Tactical Card: Overloaded Steam]

Cost: 3 Authority Points.

Effect: Forcibly releases mechanical limit locks. Attack speed +50%, Strength +30%, suffers structural damage every second.

The only remaining "Hammer" Mech on the battlefield emitted a shrill whistle.

HOOOO—!

Rivets trembled, and the exhaust pipes spewed crimson steam. The boiler was overloaded.

Disregarding friendly fire, it turned its short-barreled cannon and aimed it at Arik in the crowd.

"Go to hell!"

BOOM!

The High-explosive grenade exploded at point-blank range.

Fire engulfed Arik, and the shockwave sent surrounding soldiers flying and tearing them apart.

"Hmph, mere flesh and blood..."

The Steam Baron's sneer froze on his face before it could even fully form.

The dust cleared.

Arik was still standing.

His chestplate was shattered, revealing the writhing, regenerating dark red muscle beneath. Half of his face was charred, exposing white bone and a blood-red eyeball.

But he did not fall.

The intense pain instead ignited a switch deep within his genes.

[Warning: Unit [Arik] has entered 'Genetic Frenzy' state.]

[Pain Suppression: 100%.]

[Strength Amplification: 200%.]

[Sanity Loss: 50%.]

Arik turned his head.

A chilling red light burned in his single eye. He looked at the reloading mech, his mouth splitting into a gruesome grin, revealing blood-stained teeth.

"For... Unity."

His voice was hoarse, like a whisper from hell.

He discarded the chipped Chainsword.

Under the Steam Baron's terrified gaze, the blood-soaked giant charged forward empty-handed.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Every step left a deep pit, carrying a suffocating sense of pressure.

The mech swung its heavy shield to block.

Arik did not dodge.

His armored hand directly grabbed the scalding, smoking cannon barrel.

SIZZLE—

Flesh scorched, but he felt nothing.

"Get... down!"

Amidst the roar, the Servo-muscles bulged, and the reactor spewed two meters of black smoke.

Servo motors shrieked in overload; metal twisted and groaned.

The steel beast, weighing several tons, was actually overturned by his raw strength.

BOOM!

The mech crashed to the ground, the earth trembling.

Arik straddled the mech's chest, raising his fist and smashing it into the cockpit like cracking a walnut.

THUD.

One hit. The armor plate dented.

THUD.

Two hits. The bulletproof glass shattered.

THUD.

Three hits.

The thick armor became scrap metal, and the pilot was reduced to pulp.

Total silence fell over the scene.

Only the humming of the overloaded power armor and heavy breathing remained.

Inside the Preparation Hall.

Li Cang watched this scene, watching the Authority bar slowly recover, and flicked his finger.

"Stealth?"

He looked at the ashen-faced Steam Baron and smiled, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather:

"As long as you kill all the witnesses..."

"That is perfect stealth."

[System Notification: Enemy morale has collapsed.]

[Combat Ended.]

[Victor: Imperium of Man.]