Chapter 160

This is a sharp, deadly weapon specially prepared for Efnir.

16. Bladepoint Mission

So far, the only person who has ever fought an Angel head-on is Efnir.

Angel are the most ultimate weapon known to the Human Federation by the Apostle Organization.

Ignoring artillery fire, it possesses terrifying abilities remarkably similar to those of the Erosion Entity, using Corruption Energy to unleash devastating attacks.

Xijing City was not the only city to suffer from the invasion of the Apostle.

However, there are very few eyewitness accounts and records of confrontations with Angel, and Xijing City provided very valuable intelligence in this regard.

Therefore, the Human Federation dispatched Kusei Maki and Agent Squad.

Kusei Maki is a commander with outstanding achievements. We'll reserve judgment on her style for now, but she certainly possesses abilities befitting her status.

The Agent Squad led by Anilas was composed of highly promising agents selected from thousands of candidates in the training camp, and they were a powerful fighting force equipped with Second-Generation Beacon technology.

At this moment, in the temporary command post where Kusei Maki was located, inside the front carriage of the "train"—

"Commander! The Left Wing flank has suffered heavy losses, and the situation is now unclear!"

"The artillery suppression has had no feedback effect; the enemy's attack shows no signs of weakening!"

"The energy reserves of the train's power supply equipment are rapidly decreasing!"

"At this rate, the 'Shielding Device' will soon reach its first threshold!"

"The drone has taken off!"

Inside the command post, the soldiers were thrown into chaos by the sudden attack.

Even with their high level of training, they struggled to respond to and handle the situation immediately. Information received just a second ago could lead to a new crisis the next. The Left Wing's Defense Line had already crumbled by more than half after several bombings. The "train" was struggling to maintain the Force-Field Barrier, but this defensive posture was on the verge of being breached.

Completely overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, Kusei Maki, with a cold gaze, propped herself up on her hands and stared at the electronic screen in front of her.

She witnessed the devastating fighting on the Left Wing.

What are the movements of the vanguard?

"Operation 'Bladepoint Mission' has begun! Lure Shell are being deployed! Efnir, take your positions immediately!"

How much energy does the "train" have left?

"Report! Energy remaining: 37%!"

"Order the Left Wing flank to retreat and consolidate their formation. Send Kite to lead the mobile force to support the engineering team in dealing with the Erosion Entity. Anilas will continue to hold the central forces for tactical support."

"The vanguard will replace the Right Wing and implement Plan Two."

"Be quick!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a loud bang echoed through the carriage, causing everyone to stagger from the sudden shock.

Immediately afterward, a soldier shouted, "Reporting, Commander! There's a malfunction in part of the 'train' carriages! The 'barrier' power is decreasing!!"

"First threshold detected!! Shielding Device power is entering a decline phase!"

"The enemy's attack is too fierce! The 'Shielding Device' alone is not enough to completely stop the attack!!"

"We no longer have enough energy to return to Xijing City!!"

"Report! The construction team is urgently repairing the damage..."

The series of reports made many people present realize the urgency of the situation.

The "Shielding Device" was ultimately just a miniaturized, portable device, unable to fully utilize the "Boundary Stele" in the face of the Angel' repeated attacks, and its operation at maximum load quickly reached its limit.

The Angel's power has exceeded the original plan's expectations.

Because the Angel's attack caused a large depletion of the "power supply equipment's" energy reserves, the remaining energy is probably insufficient to support the troops' safe return to Xijing City. It is easy to imagine how pessimistic the current situation is.

"What do we do now?"

This is a question many people want to ask.

But Kusei Maki didn't say much, and just continued to give orders in battle with a blank expression.

No matter how she commands, she is powerless against the power of the Angel. All she can do is temporarily reduce casualties. Once the "train" runs out of energy or is breached, what awaits everyone here is the swarming Erosion Entity of the angels like hungry beasts.

But Kusei Maki just stared at the screen and suddenly uttered a sentence:

"Tell Efnir that the 'Bladepoint Mission' is primarily focused on suppression."

"Notify all ranks to follow Efnir closely!! We are about to face the Apostle in our first direct battle! Everyone prepare!!"

At that moment, the car door was pushed open forcefully, and a figure soaking wet appeared in Kusei Maki's sight.

It's Anilas.

"Commander!"

Anilas Kusei Maki and stepped directly in front of Kusei Maki.

"Please allow me to lead the team as the vanguard!"

"Lure Shell loading..."

"Second round, launch!"

A deafening roar echoed through the air, and within sight, several Lure Shell exploded in the wild area where the Erosion Entity were gathered, attracting Erosion Entity attention.

The Lure Shell are deployed in a net-like or linear pattern to deflect the accumulating Erosion Entity away to the greatest extent possible.

At the same time, it also opened up a direct path to the target for Efnir's "Bladepoint Operation".

Wearing goggles, Efnir rode her motorcycle at an extremely high speed toward her target.

The engine was roaring.

The Erosion Entity in the distance spotted Efnir's presence and shrieked as they hurled away the wreckage of their Lure Shell and sped toward them.

But the next moment, reinforcements from the rear arrived, and a barrage of bullets eliminated the Erosion Entity one by one.

With Efnir as the spearhead, the troops are "charging" towards the Angel.

The Apostle can hide in the Beyond the Boundary and are not attacked by the Erosion Entity. The Beyond the Boundary are their main battlefield, which is their greatest advantage.

So, how do we neutralize their advantages in battle?

Only through battle.

The core of "Bladepoint Operation" is to use a forceful charge to bring the Apostle into the army's field of vision and to use aggressive tactics to bring the enemy to the same level as oneself.

Without a doubt, Efnir is the sharpest blade.

A crimson beam descended from the horizon, striking the protective shield behind them once more before dissipating into starlight. Immediately afterward, another crimson beam gathered within the gradually clearing white mist. Efnir narrowed her eyes, twisted the accelerator, and the muddy water splashed up from the dilapidated road left by the Old Era as she narrowly avoided the crimson beam's barrage.

Relying on the crucial information provided to Efnir by the "dust" observed through her right eye, Efnir's strength in battle surged once again.

Her gaze was cold as she stared at the white mist that was gradually being cleared in the distance.

A violent gust of wind tossed Efnir's silver hair, while heat waves and icy rain lashed against Efnir skin in alternating motions.

Rain dripped from the hem of her skirt, hissing as it hit the scorching exhaust pipe.

The white vapor was dispersed by the strong wind.

In the original plan, the Angel would be entrusted to either Efnir or Anilas to lead Agent Squad to deal with the situation.

One of the two options must be chosen, and the choice will vary depending on the circumstances.

But Efnir refuted this.

While Anilas's combat prowess is undeniable, her weaknesses are also quite apparent. Compared to her and her Agent Squad, Efnir, as the vanguard and possessing direct experience in confronting Angel, is clearly more suited to handle the dangers posed by Angel.

Anilas, on the other hand, is better suited to lead the support troops in combat, or to take over Efnir's position and lead the remaining agents in battle. Her talent as a commander is far superior to Efnir's.

Wisps of crimson smoke rose behind Efnir.

This is a "marker" used as a road sign; it slowly releases this conspicuous smoke over half an hour, serving as a road sign for the return journey from Efnir.

Although Efnir was confident she wouldn't get lost in the Beyond the Boundary region, these markers were still very important.

Because if they lose their way in the Beyond the Boundary region, the consequences will be extremely dangerous. Even Efnir cannot deal with the endless Erosion Entity. These "marks" are not only a reminder for Efnir, but also a waypoint for the rear support troops.

17. Another Angel

"Full speed ahead!!!"

The Lure Shell were deployed in front of the troops.

With engines roaring, the convoy cut through the rain and charged forward, following the path left by Efnir.

Efnir and the Angel will inevitably engage in combat. According to the intelligence gathered earlier, the battle between Efnir and the Angel will cause an abnormal electromagnetic pulse phenomenon due to the collision and explosion of the Order Force and the Corruption Energy. Therefore, the vanguard forces have maintained an appropriate distance from Efnir.

The ground groaned; the dilapidated roads left by the Old Era could not bear the weight of the heavy armored vehicles and shattered. Rainwater pooled in the water was crushed into pieces by the ruts, mud and clods of earth, grass clippings and thick smoke. The sound of artillery fire rang out on the outer edge of the formation. The agents stood on the roof of the vehicle and launched a fierce counterattack against the Erosion Entity.

The explosion came from behind. The angle of the red light projected narrowed as the array attacked, and it finally broke through the barrier. The heavy outer armor of the vehicle was easily pierced like aluminum foil under the direct hit of the red light, and then burst into flames, which were scattered by the following vehicles.

Stardust danced in the air, bathed in the rain and the glittering starlight.

The array's charge looked like suicide; no one knew who the eerie red light would target next, only that being hit meant certain death.

But no one stopped or ran away.

They had nowhere to retreat.

"Erosion Entity ahead! Prepare to engage!!"

With flashes of silver light beneath his feet, the kite leaped like an inverted crescent moon to the top of the Erosion Entity, its hands returning to its waist.

The blade was drawn, the cold moonlight flashed and disappeared, and the massive body of the Erosion Entity fell to the ground with a thud.

At the same time, beams of light, the color of water, passed by her side, and violent waves rose up, her hair flying in the spray of water.

Beside her, the Erosion Entity that had swooped down from the sky vanished as starlight.

That was a support attack from Yukina. Tobi waved in Yukina's direction and then leaped up again.

At the forefront of the vanguard, Anilas stood on the roof of the vehicle, braving the scorching wind.

She kept a close watch on the direction from which the red light was coming, her gun barrel having just shot down the Erosion Entity flying towards her.

The array contracted inward to the maximum extent possible to avoid being directly hit by the red beam of light. The "train" roared and crashed through the ruins left behind by the Old Era, and the force field shield blocked the red beam of light in front of the array.

The investigation into Angel and Apostle was precisely the goal that Kusei Maki had set out for coming to Xijing City. The moment the Angel appeared, Kusei Maki had already decided on her countermeasures.

When facing a stronger enemy, if you can limit your opponent's signature techniques, you will increase your chances of winning.

Encountering Apostle and Angel in the Beyond the Boundary, running away would undoubtedly only lead to a slow death.

The only way to regain control is through a strong offensive, drawing the opponent into your own territory; this is the only path to victory.

Finally, the white mist in the distance gradually became clear and transparent, and the red figure floating in mid-air appeared in everyone's sight.

Those are Angel.

Anilas's gaze shifted slightly, her cold eyes fixed intently on the "Angel."

The "Angel" wore a mask, had no halo, and no wings, but the oppressive aura she exuded chilled everyone to the bone.

It looks exactly the same as what we see in the video.

At that moment, a dazzling silver light rose from the horizon, pointing directly at the Angel's location.

The roar engulfed the Angel; without a doubt, Efnir had entered the battle.

Anilas also raised her hand and shouted loudly.