(This arc will pick up the pace. If it gets any longer, I'll really have to go through the entire plot again. Readers familiar with OG should be able to tell that this story has focused mainly on the anime, with the games as a supplement. The anime storyline ended when Zovok was dealt with, while the current Baral storyline comes from the games. As for side stories and such, Yi Zui has no intention of covering them beyond a brief mention. Due to the earlier preparations related to the Gate of Sealing, the Knight Commander's death will not happen for now. If it is addressed again, it should be in another way. The three-stage mission will be very straightforward. After this arc ends, what world would everyone like for the next one? Mecha Wars V?)
"It had already been ten hours, hadn't it?" Xiao Ran stood up, took a deep breath, and rubbed his head, clearing the grogginess brought on by the long silence and wait. He looked at the equally silent Cruze and asked.
Cruze glanced at the small screen to his left, nodded, and said to Xiao Ran, "Almost eleven hours."
Xiao Ran shook his head. "Eleven consecutive hours of combat is too much of a burden on the pilots. There are no reinforcements, no logistics support, and we don't know what things are like inside."
Cruze smiled faintly. "Even eleven hours of combat is nothing to a qualified pilot. Every qualified pilot must be capable of sustained operations. There's no need to mention Luo, Graham, and the others. If the Steel Dragon Squad you put so much effort into couldn't handle that much, they wouldn't be worth your attention."
"Sir, the barrier is beginning to change."
The sudden report made Xiao Ran and Cruze turn toward