Outside the city.
Planes circled in six directions: southwest, northwest, southeast, northeast, due north, and due south.
"Bzz—"
"Fox Flying Squadron reporting to command. We're in position."
"Repeating: we're in position. Over."
Another voice sounded:
"We order you to carry out the 'Exterminate Witch' plan immediately."
"Attention: this is not a drill. The survival of humanity rests in your hands. Execute the 'Exterminate Witch' plan immediately."
"Bzz—"
"Understood. We've entered attack mode. We'll execute the plan in five seconds."
"Five,"
"Four,"
"Three,"
"Two,"
"One,"
"Launch."
"—May the gods be with us, and may our descendants forgive us for what we've done."
Six tactical nuclear missiles streaked across the sky, white trails marking their paths as they flew toward the city from every direction.
At the same time.
Inside the city.
In the enormous crater Gu Qingshan had blasted open.
"Colonel Zhang, thank you," Li Dajun said.
The colonel had pulled him to his feet, and he was wiping the blood from his face.
"You don't need to thank me," Colonel Zhang said. "If General Ye Ruxi were here, we'd all be dead. I let her go so I could stay alive."
The two men looked at the surrounding civilians and soldiers.
Li Dajun sighed. "Even the nuclear bomb didn't kill her. I wonder what the coalition leaders will come up with next to eliminate her."
"That's not our problem," Colonel Zhang said. "We just have to stay here and wait for the rescue team."
A trace of relief appeared on Li Dajun's face.
That was right. No matter what, he had survived.
At the same time.
In the city.
The four people walking down the street suddenly stopped.
Ye Feili's expression changed. "The city's surrounded. Six nuclear missiles are on their way!"
As soon as the words left his mouth,