"It hasn't gotten to that point yet."
Zhou Zhenguo shook his head.
"They are still led by Fifth Tier Calamity Beast, but things are different now. They've started to divide their forces, their offensive has slowed, and they'll even begin to withdraw some of their Calamity Beast when they're about to capture the city."
"Are they testing our bottom line?" Shen Heng asked.
"Yes, that's right." Zhou Zhenguo nodded slowly, raising his gaze to look at Shen Heng. "But this also means that we are close to achieving the strategic objectives."
"After experiencing it a few more times, they'll realize that destroying one city alone is pointless."
" The Calamity Beast will likely disperse their forces to each Anchor Point."
Shen Heng nodded, but there wasn't much happiness on his face.
He paused for a moment, then said, "Including those that were destroyed after being rebuilt, there are eight in total, right?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhenguo's excitement vanished, replaced by a somber expression.
He didn't speak immediately, but simply picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip.
The water had cooled down, but he didn't seem to care.
"Yes, one month, eight cities!" The old man put down his water glass, his voice calm, but Shen Heng could hear the heaviness beneath that calm.
The command post fell silent for a moment.
Each city had a population of around 5,000, which means that 40,000 people died in battle within that month!
Even before the strategy was launched, Shen Heng knew that many people might be sacrificed for it, but when he actually found out, he still felt a heavy weight on his shoulders.
Zhou Zhenguo was the first to adjust his state of mind, pointing to the virtual map and saying:
"Now that the Calamity Beast are readjusting their strategy, what are your thoughts? Maintain the status quo, or launch an offensive?"
Shen Heng looked at the map, at the blue dot representing Bedrock City, and the Anchor Point next to it.
Strategically, they only needed to continue defending Bedrock City until the Calamity Beast realized that destroying these cities was completely pointless, and then they could distribute their forces thoroughly to places like Anchor Point and Eye of Earth Marrow to guard against their attacks, but...
Shen Heng slowly lowered his gaze and said:
"Let's take the initiative and attack."
Zhou Zhenguo's lips curled into a smile, but he didn't speak, waiting for his reason.
"The ultimate goal of the strategy is to destroy the Anchor Point and the Eye of Earth Marrow. Only in this way can the progress of the Erosion Zone's invasion be slowed down to the greatest extent."
Shen Heng's voice was calm, but every word carried weight.
"In that case, it's better to wait until the Calamity Beast arrive, or until they're already prepared and have divided their forces."
"It would be better to take the initiative and strike before they've fully shifted their strategy."
He paused, then continued:
"While bombers could previously bomb Anchor Point, they couldn't destroy them completely."
"Even if a nuclear bomb were dropped, it wouldn't be possible to destroy all the Source Core at the Anchor Point, let alone the fact that it wasn't even a nuclear bomb that was dropped."
"Therefore, we must take advantage of this opening and launch a proactive attack."
"That's what I was thinking too." Zhou Zhenguo nodded slowly, looking at Shen Heng and asking, "How many people do you plan to take?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Heng frowned slightly.
Based on photos taken by bombers that flew over the area, the defensive force at the Anchor Point had been increased to four or five thousand units after the sabotage.
If we only send the existing members of the Supervision Bureau and those assigned from the Martial Academy, this number might get bogged down there!
but...
"How about this!"
Seemingly sensing Shen Heng's predicament, Zhou Zhenguo remained silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping on the table.
"Here's what we'll do: you take two-thirds of the inspectors with you, and I'll select two battalions of soldiers to make a total of two thousand men, which you will then lead."
"Is this alright?" Shen Heng asked, raising his eyes and frowning.
Zhou Zhenguo nodded and said, "Don't worry, many of them are at the First Tier or Second Tier, and they also have the exoskeleton assistance provided by the base, plus the weapons they can carry. They won't be weaker than the Third Tier. They'll just be able to hold off a large number of low-tier Calamity Beast."
"The base's defenses?" Shen Heng asked.
"Don't worry, it's much safer here at the base than where you are," Zhou Zhenguo said.
Shen Heng thought for a moment, then nodded. "What about the time?"
"Two days from now," Zhou Zhenguo said. "You need time to prepare, and the soldiers need coordination. Also... before you depart, I'll prioritize sending the bombers over for another bombing run..."
"Whoosh--"
The wind howled.
The Sky-Skimming Harrier flapped its wings and flew through the air.
Below, mountain peaks passed beneath it.
Finally, its gaze settled on a certain spot.
There, a great river roared around a ruined city.
Without hesitation, the Sky-Skimming Harrier flapped its wings twice and descended towards the city.
Ignoring the Calamity Beast that were looking over, the Sky-Skimming Harrier landed directly in the center of the city.
There were more than a dozen similar figures here.
With its brownish-yellow fur and streamlined body, it resembles a Kamaitachi standing upright.
However, unlike ordinary Kamaitachi, they have a more ferocious appearance, and behind their heads are two translucent, crystalline, blade-like horns.
They are not tall; even the tallest one only looks to be five or six meters high.
However, the Sky-Skimming Harrier does not underestimate them because of this.
It landed quickly, kneeling with its head down beside the largest of the Kamaitachi.
"Lord Sky Weasel Itachi, I was sent by the Lion King to deliver orders!"
The largest Kamaitachi merely glanced at it and ignored it.
It turned its head and went back to what it was doing.
"Haven't you brought it yet?"
"We've already sent a beast to fetch it; it should arrive soon!" one of the Calamity Beast immediately said.
Upon hearing this, the Kamaitachi nodded and sat down, leaning against the building behind it, waiting.
The scene fell silent for a moment.
Bring? Bring what?... The Sky-Skimming Harrier was somewhat puzzled, but it dared not ask or reiterate its purpose.
Even though Sky Weasel didn't take this opportunity to ask about the orders it brought.
The Sky-Sundering Kamaitachi!
This is the race that can sit at the front even when Court Council are held!