Around five in the morning.
The night was gradually fading, and the east had taken on a faint blue-gray hue. A hazy glimmer of light heralded the arrival of day.
But this time, it brought not hope and joy, but an even stronger atmosphere of war and tension.
Within O City.
After spending the entire night suppressing Otherworld Reincarnation Cult followers and Neo Heroes-controlled heroes, Smoker had rested on a bench by the street for less than twenty minutes.
Then he heard someone shouting urgently in the distance, "The robots have appeared!"
His eyes snapped open, and he rose to look toward the speaker.
The next second.
A tremendous explosion boomed outside the city.
The sky had not fully brightened yet, making the blooming firelight clearly visible.
Then dense machine-gun fire followed close behind.
"Tell me the enemy's numbers and direction of attack!"
Smoker looked at the livestream orb device floating beside him.
"According to satellite intelligence, 3,645 infantry-type basic units and 405 aerial-type advanced units have emerged from the mountain forest south of O City. Prepare for battle."
"Only one direction? Good. The civilians have all been moved to the shelters—"
"Have those troops withdraw and ensure the city's safety."
"The fighting outside the city will be handled by us heroes, the Justice Enforcers, and the Pacifistas!"
[Boom—]
Smoker transformed his lower body into smoke and shot forward as he gave the order.
"Understood."
"In thirty-five minutes, the Galaxy transport aircraft dispatched by headquarters will deliver one modular small power plant, five self-deploying Prism Towers, twenty electromagnetic tanks, one Thunder Spear drone control vehicle, and its accompanying one thousand Thunder Spear drones. Please hold out until reinforcements arrive."
This time, the voice coming from the livestream orb device was not Mauss's, but Yuri's.
At the same time.
Robot armies