amaotonovel Chapter 1383 Layout
Chapter 1383 Layout
In theory, the high-frequency energy shockwaves released by this energy cannon are enough to shatter even the strongest alloy structures.
They slowly adjusted the muzzle of the energy cannon, and the deep barrel began to charge, emitting a low and terrifying hum that distorted the surrounding air.
All the robots automatically retreated, and Shahar and the others were forced back repeatedly by the invisible energy pressure. Blinding light converged at the cannon muzzle, its brightness even surpassing the reflection of the ice and snow!
boom...!!!
A thick beam of light, its color indescribable, slammed into the stone gate with destructive force!
The ground around the entire ruins shook violently!
A shockwave even more powerful than the previous saturation bombardment swept out, instantly clearing away the snow in the distance and revealing the black permafrost!
Shahar and the others were thrown about by the shockwave, their ears ringing continuously...
The light faded, and smoke and dust filled the air.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the direction of the stone gate.
A cold wind swept by, dispersing the smoke and dust.
Dead silence.
Suffocating silence.
The ancient stone gate still stands. Having withstood an attack powerful enough to destroy a city, its surface...
Not even a single scratch was added!
Only the lingering scorching energy and pungent, strange smell in the air proved that the devastating attack had indeed occurred.
That ancient stone gate still stands.
After enduring an attack powerful enough to destroy a city, its surface... didn't even get a scratch!
Only the lingering heat and pungent ozone smell in the air proved that the devastating attack had indeed occurred.
The cost was devastating.
The two energy cannons, overloaded and with their cores overloaded, had their armor plates twisted and deformed, and were paralyzed on the ground, emitting thick smoke, and were completely scrapped.
Many other robots involved in the attack also sustained damage.
Absolute defense! Unshakeable!
Xiao Dingshan swayed, as if all his strength had been drained.
For the first time, a crack appeared on his狰狞 (zhengning - ferocious/hideous) face beneath the hood, not from rage, but from a deep, pale expression mixed with shock, frustration, and overwhelming hatred.
He stared intently at the door, as if trying to imprint it into the depths of his soul.
"Owner..."
The owl's voice rang out again, addressing Xiao Dingshan: "All attempts have failed. External assaults have been ineffective."
"It seems the only known effective way to open it is to find Xiao Ce. Master should abandon the assault on the ruins, retreat to the Everwinter Fortress, and concentrate our forces. We need to capture Xiao Ce alive before we can open this armory..."
"Capture...Xiao Ce alive..."
Xiao Dingshan repeated these words in a low, hoarse voice.
Although he was reluctant, he knew very well how difficult it would be to capture Xiao Ce alive.
Moreover, he spent a huge sum of money, crossing the icy sea and suffering heavy losses, all to forcibly break through, and now he still has to take that same route...
humiliation!
The immense humiliation gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake, colder and more piercing than the northern winds...
This is completely different from what Shahar did!
Upon hearing "capture Xiao Ce alive," a morbid and twisted light of hope instantly shone in his eyes!
He has finally found a new goal to prove his worth to his master!
He struggled to his feet, ignoring the mud covering his body, his voice shrill and distorted with excitement and flattery.
"Master! Master is wise! That brat Xiao Ce is hiding in the southern fortress! As soon as Master's divine troops arrive, he will surely be captured with ease! Your subordinate... Your subordinate is familiar with the terrain and the Federation's defenses! Your subordinate is willing to be the vanguard! To atone for my sins and perform meritorious service! I swear to die to retrieve the key for Master!"
Xiao Dingshan slowly turned around, the shadow of his hood looming over Shahar, who was kneeling and pleading for his life.
That gaze was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, carrying an indifference as if scrutinizing an ant, yet also containing a hint of savagery as if its sore spot had been touched.
Shahar felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze, and the fanatical words stuck in his throat.
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Finally, Xiao Dingshan slowly raised his hand and then gave the order to make a decision.
He pointed south, towards Everwinter Fortress, his voice like the roar of breaking polar ice: "Withdraw."
One word, resolute and decisive, carrying the cold power to crush all illusions.
"Target: Everwinter Fortress"
Mission: Capture Xiao Ce alive.
"action."
The order was given without the slightest hesitation.
The massive black robot army, like a sophisticated machine, instantly ceased all its actions against the ruins.
The engineering robots were retrieved, the damaged units were towed away, and the combat units were re-formed, their movements perfectly synchronized and highly efficient, as if the futile rage and destruction had never occurred.
They turned silently, their steel footsteps once again shattering the ice and snow, converging into a black torrent of iron, and began to move south.
Xiao Dingshan took one last deep look at the massive gate that stood silently in the wind and snow, seemingly eternal and unchanging.
Under his hood, his face was somber.
He suddenly pulled on the reins, and the herd of horses beneath him turned around.
"Xiao Ce..." A barely audible murmur, yet filled with endless chill and killing intent, dissipated in the biting wind.
"You've won this move. But the key... will ultimately be mine. So will your fate."
This murmur was filled with intense murderous intent...
Shahar scrambled to catch up, his face a mixture of relief at surviving a close call and excitement at the prospect of an imminent counterattack...
Meanwhile, on the other side, Xiao Ce received the message brought back by Wei Wuji immediately.
Upon hearing the news brought back by Wei Wuji, Xiao Ce realized that their failure at the Tsar's ruins was within his expectations.
He wasn't surprised; he actually knew very well that these so-called arsenals, including Xiao Dingshan's creation base, were all part of the same thing.
Xiao Ce was well aware that these were not products of this place, but rather objects from outer space.
Therefore, it's natural that they can't open it...
After hearing them return, Han Da asked Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, are they going to attack us next?"
Xiao Ce, however, seemed oblivious to the imminent threat of death.
He was slowly closing a scroll containing a maintenance manual for the energy core of a certain type of "Frostwolf" mech, and gently placing it on a mountain of drawings beside him.
Upon hearing Han Da volunteer for the mission, he raised his head. Instead of appearing serious, his face revealed a calm smile that suggested he understood everything and was confident in his abilities.
"A decisive battle to the death? Handa, Handa... I understand your feelings, but... don't rush..."
Xiao Ce spoke calmly to Han Da: "Why should we do as he wishes and confront him head-on?"
Han Da was taken aback, his enthusiasm suddenly dampened, and he asked in confusion, "Your Highness? The enemy has come out in full force, their target is you. How can we avoid battle?"
"Our army is now well-trained, well-supplied, and brimming with high morale. With the powerful weapons of the Hidden Dragon Armory at our disposal, this is the perfect opportunity to sweep them away and wipe them out in one fell swoop! They only have a little over ten thousand mechs; we absolutely have the strength to fight them..."
"opportunity?"
Xiao Ce stood up and slowly walked to the huge ice field terrain model. His slender fingers precisely pointed to the model representing the Everwinter Fortress, and then drew a long arc, pointing to the area to the south that was already under the control of the Federation.
"Look, why did Xiao Dingshan return so aggressively? Because he couldn't break into the core of the Hidden Dragon Armory; he was blocked by that door. All his rage, all his power, now has only one outlet!"
“He now has only one way out, which is to capture me and get the ‘key’ he’s talking about. He’s like a trapped beast that’s crashed into an iron cage. He looks fierce, but in reality, he’s lost his composure and is desperate to succeed.”
He tapped the location of the Tsar's ruins lightly with his fingers, his eyes deep: "And why should we be that iron cage? What we should do is let this trapped beast bleed out its last drop of blood and wear down its last bit of strength as it chases its prey."
"They're the ones in a hurry now; we actually have plenty of time, and we need time. We've already handed over all the blueprints to the Tianji Academy..."
"They need to study it. Although our manufacturing process can't replicate it, if we could produce a similar weapon, even one that's slightly inferior, as long as it's an improvement over ours, that would be fine..."
"We must achieve a qualitative change through quantitative change!"
"Besides, I'm different from him. He can treat life like dirt, like garbage... but I can't..."
Han Da frowned, trying to keep up with Xiao Ce's train of thought: "Does Your Highness mean... not to engage in a decisive battle with his main force? But if we retreat, this Slavic capital..."
"Retreat is not cowardice, but a more sophisticated tactic."
Xiao Ce interrupted him, saying, "Remember, the core of this battle is not about defending a city or a place, but about protracted warfare!"
"The key is to exhaust him to the greatest extent possible, wear him down, and trap his seemingly powerful steel torrent in the quagmire of this vast icy plain!"
His piercing gaze swept over Han Da, Wei Wuji, and Fu Niu: "Our strategic depth is vast, with Don River Fortress and Ust Fortress in our rear! Even the entire Turkic Khaganate can be our escape route!"
"These are our pre-designed tiered defense nodes, a millstone to wear down the enemy... and they only have ten thousand men..."
"Handa, all your units, especially the garrison at Don River Fortress and Ust, if you encounter Xiao Dingshan's main force, do not hold out to the death! After inflicting some casualties on them using your fortifications, retreat in an orderly manner immediately! Leave the fortresses to them, leave the scorched earth to them. Remember the core: preserve your manpower, especially our trump cards!"
Han Da's heart skipped a beat: "Ace? Your Highness means... those new mecha legions and energy infantry?"
"Not bad!"
Xiao Ce nodded, then said, "That new energy infantry legion of 10,000 men and 1,000 mass-produced mechs are our true trump card for turning the tide in the future, and the hammer that will finally shatter Xiao Dingshan's shell!"
"We must not be exposed or worn down prematurely in this war of attrition! We must hide ourselves well, conserve our strength, and wait for that decisive, thunderous strike! We are not to be used without my personal order!"
Upon hearing this, Axe Ox panicked: "Your Highness! Then...then what are we going to do? Just stand there and watch? My big axe has been buzzing for a while now!"
He pointed to his specially made, menacing defensive mech.
Xiao Ce looked at Axe Bull, a hint of approving fighting spirit flashing in his eyes: "Axe Bull, your squad, and your mech, are the spearhead, the sharp blade to break through enemy lines at crucial moments. You also need to maintain peak condition, remaining concealed and ready. Your battlefield isn't now, it's at the very end! I won't let you be idle..."
He changed the subject, turning his gaze back to Han Da: "However, we cannot avoid a war of attrition! The enemy has come with great momentum, and if we collapse at the first contact, it will only embolden them and make them realize that there is a trap."
"So, you have to give him some sweetness, some 'bait' that he thinks he can swallow whole, but is actually full of barbs."
Xiao Ce pointed heavily at the southern line of the Federation-controlled area on the sand table and said, "Han Da, select one thousand soldiers from your command who are equipped with ordinary mechanical exoskeletons and carry standard energy rifles!"
"Remember, use the most basic equipment from the Hidden Dragon Arsenal that we replaced before, not the newest or best! Make them look like an elite, but not invincible, federal vanguard force! First, they attack in a group, and then immediately retreat."
"By mixing among the regular army, they'll think that people like that are everywhere..."
Han Da immediately understood Xiao Ce's intention: "Does Your Highness intend to use these thousand men... to lure Xiao Dingshan?"
"Exactly!"
Xiao Ce's eyes gleamed as he confidently said, "Xiao Dingshan is eager to find me now, eager to prove his strength."
Seeing such an 'elite' force blocking his way, he would surely want to crush them with lightning speed and advance quickly!
These thousand men are our bait. Their mission is not to fight a desperate defense, but to exploit our familiarity with the terrain and the layers of minefields and traps we have laid beforehand around Don Fort, Ust, and along our retreat route!
His voice turned cold and filled with murderous intent: "Fight and retreat! Utilize the vastness of the ice field, the ruins of villages and towns, every mountain ridge, and every glacier!"
"Be flexible and mobile, and keep harassing them! Fire a few sniper shots, set a few traps, and detonate a few pre-set landmines, so that every step Xiao Dingshan's robots take forward will come at a bloody price!"
"Use their lives to ignite our explosives! Use their steel wreckage to block their own path!"
"Remember, every time you 'retreat,' make the enemy feel that it is their victory, that it is due to their strength, but at the same time, make them bleed, slow down, and be worn down!"
Xiao Ce looked at Wei Wuji: "Wuji, your aerial reconnaissance and Axe Bull's reconnaissance mechs must keep a close watch on the back of this 'decoy' force like falcons."
"Accurately grasp the movements, scale, and speed of the enemy's main force. Simultaneously, continuously lay new minefields along their retreat route, destroy more secondary bridges, and create more obstacles! I want to make Xiao Dingshan, this trapped beast, tremble with fear at every step. Even if we win, I won't let them win so easily..."