With that, Hisslaj hesitated no longer and flew swiftly toward his command tent.
But the command tent was already a wreck. The blackened craters left by the missile bombardment were still starkly visible.
The moment a junior messenger officer saw Hisslaj, he hurried over to report the losses from the bombardment.
And the situation was just as Hisslaj had feared.
"General, command of the entire army has collapsed. The few marshals who survived have abandoned the camp. No one knows where they've gone."
Hisslaj gave a long sigh toward the heavens, then ordered:
"Send word to every unit. Whether they surrender or resist, let them decide for themselves. This battle is over."
Hisslaj had lost all heart for the fight.
The junior officer was stunned by the order. Forgetting Hisslaj's rank, he shouted:
"How can that be? We still have an army of ten million! The battle has barely begun. We haven't lost, General!"
Hisslaj patted his shoulder and sighed.
"Do you realize the second volley of flying shells came from behind us? We have no way out, and the enemy can see every one of our command positions.
Even if we put together another headquarters, we can't withstand another bombardment like that with the forces we have now.
And don't forget, their Legendary fighters haven't even appeared yet.
If we keep fighting as you say, we could drag the war out. But it wouldn't bring us victory. It would only mean more needless deaths."
The junior officer stood frozen after hearing him. All he felt was cold and afraid.
Then he remembered the lessons in feudal loyalty he had been taught since childhood: the Empire's emperor was the embodiment of divinity. At that moment, the junior officer lost his mind.
And he was not the only one. They had