While the survivors of Helu City were immersed in the celebrations of victory, a great distance away, deep beneath the earth in the Supreme Command Center at Dragon Abyss, an emergency meeting of senior officials had been called to discuss the tremendous success of the Dawn Operation. It was taking place in a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
The meeting room was brightly lit. A huge electronic screen displayed a Strategic Map of the area around Helu City, along with a summary of the frontline reports that had just come in.
Those attending were all key leaders from their respective departments. Though each wore a trace of fatigue, their eyes shone with barely restrained excitement.
Li Zhenguo, chairing the meeting, spoke first, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
"Comrades, first, I have some good news. The Dawn Project has just achieved complete success!"
"For the first time, our forces took the initiative and launched an attack. We successfully destroyed the Nightmare Pupil, the third miniature Abyss Beast Nest in Helu City, wiped out a large number of Abyss Beasts, and kept our casualties within the expected range. Our troops have now returned safely to the settlement."
Though the news of the victory had already been sent back by encrypted message, when Li Zhenguo formally announced it, relieved exclamations still rose throughout the room.
Several leaders applauded softly in unison, and the tense atmosphere eased considerably.
"Excellent! A fine victory!" exclaimed a leader in charge of industrial production. "If we can reclaim a few more industrial and mining zones, that will ease the pressure on our supply of basic materials."
The elderly man in charge of publicity wore a complicated expression. He was delighted, but also seemed reflective and somewhat ashamed.
He pushed up his glasses, coughed, and said, "This is a milestone victory