Celestial Human Diagram

Yuan Qiuyuan stroked his chin and said, "Advisor Rao, are you saying the Iron Demon is just feinting? That he’s pretending to attack Fortress No. 104, but his real target is still us?"

Advisor Rao nodded. "Judging by his past habits, after he makes a move in one area, he’ll pretend to linger nearby. Once he’s drawn people over, he’ll suddenly shift to attack a vulnerable location elsewhere. Or, just when everyone thinks he’s left, he’ll circle back for a surprise attack.

It’s unlikely for this Iron Demon to reveal his intentions right from the start. His breach at Fortress No. 104 is likely just a probe to see how we react before deciding on his next move.

I estimate that he’s either hiding near Fortress No. 104 and hasn’t moved, or he never went that way at all. He just wants us to think he did, while he’s actually heading for us. That’s why I don’t recommend we leave our position."

Yuan Qiuyuan and Qin Qingque both looked to Chen Chuan, waiting for his decision.

Advisor Rao’s tactical advice could be accepted, but ultimately, they were the ones responsible for the actual fighting. With the situation changing, they could also make their own choice. And as squad members, they only answered to their captain.

Chen Chuan considered it for a moment and decided to stick with Advisor Rao’s recommendation. After all, the advisor knew far more about their opponent, and on that point, he was willing to trust him.

Besides, chasing after the enemy without knowing their exact location would just be letting themselves be led by the nose. By the time they arrived, the enemy would probably already be somewhere else.

Holding their ground was the most prudent course of action for now.

So, he said to his squad members, "Continue to hold your position."

Advisor Rao let out a slight sigh of relief. As an advisor, he only had the power to suggest. But this tactical plan wasn’t just his own idea; it had been developed with his colleagues in the intelligence operations room and was based on solid evidence. He truly hoped they would see it through.

This was Chen Chuan’s first time leading a team, and he had been worried the new captain might be too eager to achieve merits, causing the plan to go to waste. Thankfully, he was calm and rational enough.

The next two days were quiet. But on the third day, news finally arrived: a patrol squad had been ambushed during their morning rounds, and the entire team was wiped out.

They immediately checked the map and found the location was exactly a two-day journey from Fortress No. 104. If you drew an arrow from there, it pointed straight into the rear territory, a direct, nonstop route.

The squad members couldn’t help but wonder if the Iron Demon had changed his tactics this time. Was he abandoning his usual feints and deceptions for a rapid push deep into the heartland?

Advisor Rao, however, was frowning deeply, his eyes fixed on the map.

Just half a day later, more news came in. A communications station somewhere had been destroyed. Judging by the route, the infiltrating force had pushed another large step forward.

Another night passed. In the morning, word came that a fortress had narrowly avoided an attack. Patrol soldiers had seen dozens of riders swiftly bypassing them from below, heading straight for the deep rear.

At this point, someone from the garrison’s Upper Layer sent a telegraph asking where their squad was and what they had been doing for the past few days.

Upon learning that the squad was still holding its position at Fortress No. 73, they demanded in a stern tone why the squad hadn’t moved after receiving the news.

By now, even Advisor Rao was feeling the pressure. His anxiety was palpable, but he bit his lip and refused to back down, because he still believed in the analysis he and his colleagues in the intelligence room had made.

Yuan Qiuyuan said nothing about this, merely watching from the side.

Qin Qingque also looked a little anxious, but she fulfilled her duty as a squad member perfectly, abiding by the captain’s orders without any question.

Chen Chuan remained calm. He thought it over carefully and said, "Advisor Rao, I’m still inclined to agree with your assessment."

Advisor Rao couldn’t help but look up at him.

Chen Chuan said, "I trust your judgment, but I also have my own reasons. I feel that the trail of destruction he’s leaving is too obvious.

I may not understand tactics and strategy, but I understand combat. An opponent who shows their intentions so clearly is easy to counter. A veteran wouldn’t make that mistake, and besides, it doesn’t match his usual behavior."

Yuan Qiuyuan said, "But what if he anticipated our prediction and did the exact opposite, intentionally changing his style?"

Chen Chuan said, "Changing styles is possible, but it wouldn’t defy basic logic. If he continues to push deeper, and we block the entrances at Fortress No. 104 and here at Fortress No. 73, he won’t be able to retreat the way he came.

Once we organize our forces to encircle and annihilate him, his only escape would be over the high mountains and through the territories of the ferocious creatures in the Merging Lands.

He and his Third Limit Fighters might be able to get away, but most of his subordinates wouldn’t be so lucky. From a practical standpoint, he wouldn’t make such a losing trade."

He looked at Advisor Rao. "Based on their system, those Cavalry Warriors, their equipment, and their horses—he raised them all himself, didn’t he?"

Advisor Rao confirmed, "Yes. They’re all funded by the output of his own manor, as well as the profits from the factories and ranches he established in the rear."

Chen Chuan said, "There you have it. His squad looks extremely elite. They’re his capital. Would he be willing to just throw them away?"

Yuan Qiuyuan couldn’t help but nod. "That makes sense."

Chen Chuan added, "And I’ve noticed something else. The enemy has broken through at Fortress No. 104 three times, but they have never successfully breached this location.

Many Third Limit Fighters are obsessive. When they fail to accomplish something, it doesn’t sit well with them. They become fixated on completing it, on proving themselves. I’m sure you’ve all felt that way before."

Qin Qingque thought for a moment and nodded.

Yuan Qiuyuan mulled it over. "Now that you mention it, yeah, I have."

Advisor Rao looked at Chen Chuan and said, "Captain Chen, a portion of the opinions in our intelligence division were also based on this line of thinking. Your judgment happens to coincide with ours. I’ll note this down and send it to the intelligence room as supplementary material."

Chen Chuan shook his head. "I’m just guessing. Your analysis is the one with credible evidence."

This wasn’t false modesty. The intelligence room’s decisions might be based on sources of information he wasn’t aware of.

To exaggerate a little, they might even have information coming directly from someone close to the Iron Demon. That would be like knowing the answer in advance, so in that respect, he couldn’t compare.

Now that his judgment aligned with their conclusions, holding their position here was undoubtedly the optimal solution.

Qin Qingque said, "I support the captain’s decision."

Yuan Qiuyuan said, "Count me in."

Chen Chuan looked at Advisor Rao and said, "Advisor Rao, send my decision back. I’m the captain this time. If there’s a problem, I’ll take responsibility."

Advisor Rao hesitated for a moment, then said solemnly, "I’ll co-sign with you. I am the operational advisor. Recommending we hold this position was my suggestion. There’s no reason for Captain Chen to bear the burden alone."

With that, he gave Chen Chuan a salute and went back to send the telegraph.

Another day passed. Early the next morning, a flood of messages suddenly came in. Multiple communications stations even further in the rear had been destroyed. It seemed to be conclusive proof that the enemy had begun to wreak havoc in the rear.

That night, a certain high-ranking member of the Upper Layer also called to reprimand them, his tone even harsher than before.

But Chen Chuan remained unmoved. As long as he wasn’t being directly recalled, he didn’t need to pay any attention to what these people said.

He reported directly to the command center. If the people there hadn’t said anything, who were these others to speak up?

Besides, no decision was ever absolutely correct. Choosing to wait was a gamble in itself—a part of the battle between the two sides.

He gazed out at the pitch-black night. Nothing was visible outside; the profound darkness seemed to hide everything, save for the occasional flash of the fortress’s lights.

And at this very moment, a few miles from Fortress No. 73, a figure resembling a Demon Ghost, clad in Armor and a helmet and wearing a crimson mask, sat atop a tall, powerful Big Ma with a black coat and red markings. He was currently watching the fortress perched on the high ground.

Behind him stood dozens of Knights, all perfectly still and silent. Not a sound was made, only the eerie red glow of their mounts’ eyes in the darkness.

They hadn’t faked their passage through Fortress No. 104; they had truly broken through there. But after passing it, they had split their forces. One small team was sent to lay a false trail, following the river downstream to stir up trouble in the rear.

Meanwhile, their main force had taken a detour. Traveling by night and resting by day, they cut through the territories of more manageable creatures in the Merging Lands, losing two Cavalry Soldiers along the way, but successfully arriving behind Fortress No. 73.

Although this fortress was defended on several sides, its strongest defenses were always at the front. The dense network of trenches and barbed wire all faced the valley entrance, while its rear was comparatively much weaker.

This time, their preparations were thorough. As long as they could capture this location, their line of retreat would be secure. Then, they could sweep through and attack the surrounding garrisons with confidence.

Their next move would depend on the situation. If the enemy mobilized their troops, they could quickly withdraw. They could also take advantage of the enemy gathering their forces to harass other locations again. In short, the initiative was theirs.

The lead Knight let out a muffled, almost unreal sound from behind his iron mask.

All the Cavalry Soldiers dismounted in unison. Aside from the sound of their shifting Armor, not a single one made an extraneous noise. Each lifted a cage from his horse, where a beetle-like creature clung motionlessly inside.

The major governments and corporations possessed biological weapons that could effectively support their combat personnel. This group also commanded similar technology.

Hanging the cages on their backs, they advanced one by one toward the fortress on the high ground above. The man in the iron mask remained on his horse, his crimson eyes peering out from the mask, fixed on the top of the fortress.

...

...