The snow-capped peaks in the distance were dazzling. The daylight grew a bit brighter, casting the shadows of the trees onto the ground.
Silhouettes moved through the dappled shade.
Across the hills and fields, Stream Vanguard had reformed its ranks, deployed into ten massive battle groups, each led by a top combat power.
Over the past four months or so, catalyzed by an abundant supply of resources as well as super combat power fighters personally stepping in to spar and instruct them, Stream Vanguard had gained two more top combat powers.
Three, plus ten, plus an endless gun, plus ten thousand thugs.
In isolation, this was a lineup capable of conquering the vast majority of nations on earth, and right now, they were marching to wage war against an Azure first-generation Starlight.
Howard stood there, his knees slightly weak. He wanted to leave, but for the moment, he couldn't move.
As for killing intent—something once thought to be an ethereal concept—only when you truly stood in its midst and encountered it could you understand just how terrifying it really was.
Ranks marching with resolute strides came up from behind him and filed past his side.
"Is that an Azure Alliance councilor?"
"Looks like it. See, he's trembling... Not bad, though; he brought it under control after hearing us."
"So if we kidnapped him, about how many metal blocks could we squeeze out of Azure?"
"No clue, but that's certainly an intriguing question."
"So, do we need to remind The King?"
"The King never needs reminding on things like that."
The thugs, exuding ruthless hostility in the councilor's eyes, murmured among themselves and chuckled as they filed past in succession.
Howard stood frozen, doing his best to control the shaking of his body to preserve the last shred of dignity an Alliance councilor had... At least Major Qing and his companions didn't hold a grudge, did they?
"Ah!" he suddenly yelped, his entire body shuddering so violently that he nearly leaped off the ground.
An arm resting on his shoulder pressed down with gentle force, holding him back to the ground.
"Don't be nervous, Mr. Howard. It's me. Truth be told, I'm quite glad to see you again."
Wen Jifei smiled. As the one who had lasted the longest under interrogation back then, he offered a greeting like an old acquaintance.
Even though three years had passed, Howard still remembered Wen Jifei's voice vividly. Turning his head, he forced a smile and nodded. "Likewise. In fact, over these past three years, I've often thought back on what Second Lieutenant Wen said. It left a profound impression on me."
"Is that so? That's great, congratulations," Wen Jifei said with a smile. "Still, let's hold off on reminiscing for now. I came to remind Mr. Howard not to wander around here. It's best if you bring your people and stick close behind us the whole time."
"W-Why?!" Howard thought to himself, *Don't tell me I'm really being kidnapped?!*
"Because looking at it from Alphonse's perspective, quietly killing you off here would be an excellent choice." Wen Jifei gave him a wink as he spoke.
Howard understood. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Wen Jifei dropped his arm, took a step forward, then paused and turned back, patting the sniper rifle slung across his back. "By the way, this gun... cannot be mass-produced."
"Ah, right, I understand." Howard nodded. He believed it; he couldn't put a finger on the exact reason right away, but he naturally chose to believe.
"Otherwise, we'd lend them out... We'd certainly lend them."
With that, Wen Jifei turned around and caught up with the ranks.
Solidifying a source energy firearm required bone source, and that bone source came from Han Qingyu—from the Bone of Eternal Life. As far as things stood, it was non-renewable. Han Qingyu could retrieve it when utilizing it in battle, but what had fused into the gun could not be drawn back.
Judging by the massive backlash he suffered after infusing bone source into "Elegy of the Square," a few more times like that and he would probably be half-crippled himself.
...
"Enemy formation spotted massing ahead."
"All battle arrays, prepare to attack... Annihilate them outside the city."
Acknowledgments sounded one after another over the communicators.
Yin Caixin had not been assigned to any battle array. Turning her head, she looked at Han Qingyu beside her. "Can I take part in the final siege against Alphonse, Qingzi?"
"Probably not," Han Qingyu shook his head.
Because Alphonse was formidable, and his special characteristic was terrifying—in all likelihood related to "devouring."
Someone among Huaxia's super combat powers had fought him before: Captain Shao Xuan's withered arm had taken over two years just to barely recover.
"All right, then." Yin Caixin did not press the point. With that reply, she drew her warblade, found the array spearheading the frontal charge, and stood at their very front, waiting for the order.
"Three, two, one... Attack!" The command was issued.
"Crush them!"
"Boss Dao has manifested!"
Amidst the impassioned roars, formations spanning the mountains and plains charged in for the kill...
The Invincible Wind-Fire Wheels tore into the enemy lines!
And so it was still this move. Having stepped into the top-tier through three years of hellish training, Yin Caixin's Invincible Wind-Fire Wheels carried immense, overwhelming momentum as she was the very first to spin into the enemy ranks...
She ground out a bloody path in a straight line, hooked left, snapped back, and swept through in wide arcs!
Enemies were flying everywhere through the air, screaming in agony.
"That new female top-tier..."
She clearly still looked like a young girl, not particularly tall, yet her blade was enormous, and her fighting style was so utterly overbearing!
The warriors were nearly dumbfounded watching her. Yet there was no denying that the Invincible Wind-Fire Wheels was remarkably effective—Yin Caixin threw more than half the enemy battle line into chaos.
"It's been five minutes! Doesn't she get dizzy?" Theodore checked his watch, a hint of concern in his voice. "Should I go up and sub in for her?"
"No need, Qingzi's keeping an eye on her." Wen Jifei observed through his scope, noting that Caixin showed no signs of dizziness whatsoever. He chuckled. "Let her spin a bit longer. This might be our Caixin's only real talent."
Six minutes, seven minutes...
At last, Yin Caixin began to slow to a stop. Still not dizzy, merely breathing a bit hard.
Resting her two-handed warblade to one side, she looked back through the raining blood, her eyes rimmed with red as she smiled toward Han Qingyu.
If Qingzi and the others had truly died... she had intended to grind Alphonse to death just like this.
"Kill!"
"Boss Dao has manifested!"
The charging warriors surged past her, continuing their rush into the enemy horde.
An overwhelming advantage...
"Are we accepting surrenders?!"
"Some of them are surrendering, what do we do?"
Calls for instructions came in one after another.
Han Qingyu lifted his communicator, hesitated briefly, and said, "Those on the perimeter—yes."
Then:
"Disengage your devices!"
"Drop your warblades!"
Shouts in a multitude of languages rose and fell across the battlefield.
Alphonse's private army numbered around four thousand men. That number was unexpected in its own right; had Han Qingyu and his core companions come alone today, such a force might have caused them considerable trouble. But now, he held ten thousand men in his hands.
And the reason he chose to accept their surrender was that these men now appeared to be disposable pawns; Han Qingyu did not believe they all knew the truth.
Alphonse's most loyal core forces were presumably stationed inside the city.
Han Qingyu had seen that "city" before. He had not ventured deep into it, but a single glance had revealed numerous buildings, resembling a bustling commercial district.
There, in all likelihood, was where the real battlefield lay.
Chapter 567