"How did it go? Did you take it down?"
"Not sure. The smoke is too thick. We can't see what's happening inside at all."
"No, the Nightmare Giant Beast is still alive. The Spectrum Signal is still there!"
A series of soft exclamations rang out in the Command Hall, and Li Bingyan's heart sank lower and lower.
Yet she calmly issued a new order: "Mecha Squad, deploy—all units!"
At that moment, a squad leader's voice came through the communications channel: "Lieutenant Colonel Li, that's a Nightmare Giant Beast. I'm afraid we can't handle it, can we?"
Li Bingyan's expression darkened at once. "What do you mean? Are you planning to desert?"
The squad leader hurriedly said, "That's not what I mean."
"I just think we don't need to make meaningless sacrifices."
"Retreat, Lieutenant Colonel Li. We'll cover everyone's evacuation. We can all survive together."
Without a moment's hesitation, Li Bingyan shouted, "Shut up!"
"Our fortress is the final line of defense on the Desperate Battlefield. Anyone can retreat—except us!"
"If we retreat, we'll be handing the world behind us over to that beast."
"Do you know how much destruction a Nightmare Giant Beast can cause?"
"The Surface Base and Undercity behind us will be doomed!"
The squad leader was about to say something else, but Li Bingyan cut him off.
"Everyone who joins Crimson Rock Fortress swears an oath before taking up their post. Have you forgotten what you said?"
"If you have, then I'll remind you."
"We do not fear hardship, nor do we fear sacrifice. Our mission is to hold this final line of defense and protect the lights of countless homes behind us!"
"As long as the fortress stands, we stand."
"If the fortress falls, we fall!"
The entire Command Hall fell silent, and everyone looked toward