After being struck by the final volley of the Second Stronghold's main batteries, the damage to the Huishen's chassis was catastrophic, and its firepower was severely diminished. Only a handful of cannons remained usable, rendering its continued presence on the battlefield largely pointless. After launching two final waves of missiles, it began its withdrawal toward the rear.

Since one of the Thunder Gods had its power system completely crippled, the remaining three had to carry it along as they moved.

The cockpit walls of the Thunder Gods were fitted with high-definition display screens that projected the exterior view, making it appear as if the pilot were sitting in a transparent glass room, peering down at the landscape surrounding the mech.

On the way back, the avatar looked down to see Earth Defense Force soldiers lining the route, waving at the Thunder God. Clearly, news of what had transpired at the front line had already reached them. Many pointed at the gruesome wounds scarring the mech’s surface, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and disbelief, seemingly unable to fathom how armor that didn't look particularly thick could withstand bombardment from a Level Six cannon.

Not long after moving out, a transmission suddenly crackled in from the forward command post, ordering the Thunder God back into the fray in the name of the front line command. Although the avatar explained that the mech was incapable of further combat, the Lieutenant General sending the communication clearly believed the Thunder God could still serve a purpose and refused to authorize the retreat.

“Even if it’s just to draw fire with that massive bulk, firing a few shots and expecting to withdraw? There are no such easy deals on the battlefield. Do you have any idea the soldiers are bleeding out on the front lines? Or have you simply gathered enough laurels and think you can walk away unscathed?”

The Lieutenant General speaking was about fifty years old, his blue eyes already clouded and jaundiced, his face etched with a severe, sharp expression, as if the Thunder God’s withdrawal was tantamount to desertion.

The avatar, seeing his look, immediately knew the man intended to use them as cannon fodder. The sternness was plastered on his face, but it lacked the inner gravitas to support it—it was clearly feigned. With a cold sneer, the avatar responded, “Oh? According to your Excellency’s logic, once one steps onto the battlefield, one cannot step off unless dead?”

“Fighting to the death to eliminate the Ancient Legion for the greater good of humanity is absolutely necessary!” the blue-eyed Lieutenant General retorted righteously. “As the battlefield commander, I am furious and deeply disappointed by your unauthorized withdrawal from the front. Do you still possess any sense of humanity? Do you take the battlefield for a playground? Return immediately; this is an order, or you are deserters.”

As this dialogue unfolded, Yang Ying aboard the primary vessel, Number One, had already tasked personnel with digging up the background of this Lieutenant General. Initially, he suspected the Council was up to something troublesome again, but upon reviewing the data, he realized this general was merely an officer with weak backing, having no connection to the Council whatsoever, and likely unaware of the true facts behind the Pitrilier Incident.

According to the intelligence, this man was quite adept at inciting soldiers, frequently giving passionate, highly inflammatory speeches at various military functions. This had earned him a significant number of supporters within the ranks; he was an ambitious upstart from humble origins, willing to use any means necessary to climb the ladder.

“Truly, when the forest grows large, all manner of birds appear. I didn’t expect that even after the Thunder God cleared the largest obstacle to Fortress Two, someone would still be dissatisfied, insisting on dragging us back to be cannon fodder, using us as stepping stones for his own ascent. The noble justifications are endless, one after another.” Yang Ying closed the document displaying the Lieutenant General’s file; he had already formulated a response to the man’s aggressive posturing.

“If you don’t wish to be dishonorable deserters, return to the battlefield at once! Those on the front lines put life and death aside; if soldiers fear death, who will protect the populace? Humanity needs your sacrifice!” the blue-eyed Lieutenant General insisted, pounding the table with feigned anguish.

The avatar asked calmly, “Lieutenant General, where are you currently located? Judging by the background environment of your location, it doesn't seem to be the forward command post. Otherwise, you should be able to hear the sound of shelling. This is a temporary command center in a safe rear zone. Am I correct?”

Smack!

The blue-eyed Lieutenant General slammed his desk again. “Don't try to change the subject! The important thing now is for you to turn back immediately and cease your error of desertion. I never expected you to be so utterly shameless, attempting to evade your sacred duty through sophistry and even blatant distortion! Do you perhaps believe a military tribunal cannot bring you to justice?”

Although his eyes were wide, giving the impression of explosive rage, the avatar detected a flicker of uncertainty in his shifting gaze. Threatening with a military tribunal was clearly a sign of the general’s own insecurity.

“While the soldiers at the front are fighting through blood and fire, you speak constantly of the greater good and sacrifice, yet you hide here in a safe rear zone. Your ‘greater good’ is a very convenient thing, easily spoken between your lips. Why don’t you go to the front lines and fight to the death as you suggested, or perhaps go take command at the forward post yourself?”

“You—you deserter! How dare you try to slander this general!”

The blue-eyed Lieutenant General clearly hadn't anticipated that a nobody from a mercenary group would be so difficult to handle. The true reason he demanded the Thunder God return to the front was that after the mechs pulled back, the offensive against Fortress Two had stalled dramatically—the situation was infinitely worse than when the Thunder God was present. He desperately wanted to win; defeat meant his complete loss of influence.

The leap from Lieutenant General to General was a massive hurdle. In terms of rank, it was like moving from the second-in-command of a main fleet to the Commander, finally gaining the authority to act independently.

He was not like those generals from military dynasties with deep-rooted connections; they could secure promotion to General with merely a somewhat respectable achievement bolstered by friends’ support. For someone with shallow roots like him, promotion required securing a critical, monumental achievement.

This was the perfect opportunity. If Io could be retaken now, it would signify ultimate victory in the Jupiter Campaign.

The importance of the ground commander was immense. He had fought tooth and nail against numerous other generals to secure this position, offending many in the process.

If Io fell successfully, when honors were distributed, as the ground commander in the final battle to liberate Jupiter, he would surely be promoted to General. However, a slight hiccup had occurred: those generals he had offended would surely seize the chance to kick him while he was down.

Therefore, even knowing the Trant Mercenary Group was not to be trifled with, he had to convince himself—and convince himself that the legitimacy of the Earth Defense Force could suppress the Trant Group into not daring to act out of line. He then used rhetoric to force the Thunder God pilot back to the front, intending to use them as a stepping stone for his promotion.

He had not anticipated, however, that the other party would simply turn his own words back on him, essentially accusing him of fearing death.

“How dare you? How dare you question my will to fight? I am a Lieutenant General of the Earth Defense Force, the commander of the ground troops on Io! I order you to return to the front immediately, or face military justice!”

The blue-eyed Lieutenant General’s inherently hollow bravado was beginning to show as his words became unreasonably aggressive.

“Military justice?” The avatar burst into laughter. “General, allow me to explain the consequences of military justice. I am returning to the rear to board ship and return to space now. You cannot stop me because I am a mercenary. Sending military police is useless; military police can only act against mercenaries under the directive of the Arbitration Committee. If you involve the Committee, they will dismiss it as you making trouble. If you have good connections, someone will politely warn you not to overstep. If you have poor connections, many people will watch with schadenfreude as you smash your head against the wall.”

“If you insist on mobilizing troops to attack us, we will retaliate without hesitation. If you die, that’s the end of it. If you live, you will face a military tribunal and bear all responsibility. If you have good connections, you’ll spend the rest of your life in the shadows; if you have poor connections, you’ll be shot immediately. As for the soldiers you implicate, if they die, they will be hailed as martyrs who died fighting the Ancient Legion; if they live, they will be silenced permanently by a gag order. This is not an empty threat. You likely haven't studied the file on Major General Pitrilier. Perhaps you should look up the materials regarding that incident. With your rank as Lieutenant General, you might even see the true version.”

The avatar spoke all that in one breath, and furthermore, he omitted polite forms like "Your Excellency" or "Sir," addressing the general simply as "you."

The blue-eyed Lieutenant General’s face grew paler with every word. Finally, he abruptly terminated the communication without a word of farewell.

“Did I scare him? What a fragile individual,” the avatar shook his head and continued guiding the Thunder God toward the rear.

Upon reaching the safe zone behind the battlefield, four transport ships were already waiting. After loading the Thunder Gods onto the transports, they set course back to the fleet.

The battle was still raging. The Apes' Peak Master, Weng Sha, displayed astonishing command talent, managing to keep the situation at a stalemate purely through formations. This was remarkable considering the Ancient Legion was outnumbered by half compared to the Earth Defense Force.

After the Thunder God left, the assault on Fortress Two indeed bogged down. The sheer volume of defense turrets, minefields, fodder robots, Ancient War Beasts, plus numerous Ape Masters and higher-ranking Apes, had turned Fortress Two into an iron barrel.

The contraction of the defensive line ironically allowed the Ancient Legion to concentrate more force for defense.

Later, the situation was broken by Tu Xin, the Pinnacle Master of the Nian Neng Temple. He piloted a fighter jet, leading several Master-level experts into Fortress Two. Weng Sha soon followed in his own fighter. However, destruction is always easier than protection. Within half an hour, the fortress was crippled.

Weng Sha and the Ape Masters abandoned Fortress Two, and the focus of the conflict finally shifted to the last target, Fortress Three. Bathed in the dawn of victory, the Earth Defense Force pressed forward relentlessly, launching their final charge against the Ancient Legion’s defenses.

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