The blazing radiance lit up the entire sky like a scorching sun in the night. Surging flames gathered in the muzzle of the enormous machine that covered the heavens, then, like a streak of fire piercing the firmament, shattered the darkness in an instant and struck the already damaged city gate.
Boom--
The huge, sturdy gate trembled violently along with the towering city wall. At last, it exploded with a thunderous crash, blasting away a massive chunk.
Amid the blazing artillery fire filling the sky, the tightly shut gate slowly collapsed backward and opened, like an Old Man whose body had been burned away by raging flames.
"Commander, the gate is broken!"
Not far from the gate, inside a Land Fortress some twenty meters wide, the projection of an officer was staring excitedly at the Red-Haired Man standing at the central console of the Land Fortress.
"It seems we're still one step ahead of our friends to the north,"
The Red-Haired Man rested a hand on the console and pressed the button for army-wide communications. "All units, prepare to enter the city. First Brigade, open the Inner City Gate of the barbican first. Second Brigade, seize the key entrances and exits and get onto the high walls. Within half an hour, I want to be standing on Ilan City's high wall..."
"Commander, people are charging out from inside the gate!"
At that moment, an urgent shout came through the communicator.
The grand barrage still thundered across the sky. The Red-Haired Man raised his head and looked ahead.
Behind the slowly opening city gate, gleaming white Mechas roared out, leading speeding fighters and rows of land armored vehicles through the gate.
"A desperate last stand?"
A smile curled at the Red-Haired Man's lips. He pressed a hand to the communicator. "Crush