Wasteland Echoer.

“However, Commander Shaneva, we only have 24 ‘Artificial Heavenly Punishment Flames’ left. According to our reconnaissance teams on various fronts, the recent bombing raids have eliminated at least 6000 Lost Soldiers and more than 5 rebels.” Mikhail reported the results to Shaneva with great fanfare.

At the same time, a federal soldier wearing a white Khotov local officer's combat uniform also "broke through" the Novayask guard's obstruction and came to Shaneva.

"Is something the matter? Is it related to the battle situation at the front?" Shaneva quickly distanced herself from Mikhail. She had a natural aversion to non-direct-line armed personnel, especially the Khoputov legions who had once sympathized with the Lost Organization "Dedication Group".

Naturally, she didn't give the soldier a friendly look.

However, out of fear of his leader, the soldier did not dare to look directly at Shaneva's face. Instead, he looked halfway at the dusty ground with traces of snow, respectfully handed her a telegram, and then she gave a standard Cruz salute and left the cramped top platform.

Seeing the soldier belonging to Khotov leave, a suppressed emotion called "love" rekindled in Mikhail's eyes. He approached Shaneva again, generously put his arm around her waist, and asked in a low, magnetic voice:

"Is it information about the battle situation at the front?"

“That’s right.” Shaneva relayed the message succinctly as she flipped through the telegram:
"As planned, after the first few rounds of 'artificial divine punishment fire' bombardment, the main force and the Novayask Legion, which serves as the final guarantee, must remain on their respective fronts and await unified orders before launching another attack. The preliminary reconnaissance work at the front was entrusted to experienced superhumans in Khotov and several other cities."

The cable stated that the 157 "artificial divine fires" released in the previous rounds had achieved the expected results, with the furthest explosions only three to five kilometers from Belogersk, just reaching the "former 01" military outpost. Visually, the "residential layer" of Belogersk was the most severely damaged, with almost no intact surface buildings remaining.

"The 'industrial layer' suffered fatal damage, but it seems that Nebrius reinforced many factories in advance, allowing them to retain about a third of their capacity. The 'production layer' is in a similar state, and it is expected to lose 70% of their weapons and food production capacity. You know, even rice and bread require some processing before they can be eaten. As for rice... it can be eaten directly after hulling, but the vast majority of production is in the Water Province, and not much can be grown around Nebusk."

“I know,” Mikhail echoed, drawing upon his meager knowledge of agriculture.
"The bread we eat every day is made from wheat that has to be processed through a lot of hard work before it can be eaten. Crosted's agriculture is mainly based on wheat and corn. Nebusk is indeed a grain-producing area. I believe that the food supplies stored in Nebusk are mostly canned goods and wheat."

“Almost every city outpost would confiscate cooking utensils and food processing equipment from the residents, leaving them only a small amount for emergency use, to concentrate food production and maximize capacity and efficiency. If the ‘production layer’ of the core fortress was extensively destroyed, the people inside would either flee from hunger or surrender within a few days.”

“Mikhail, this time, I have no intention of accepting any surrender.” Shaneva’s eyes suddenly turned cold as she looked at Mikhail and said in a tone so unfamiliar it was almost despairing:
"Only those who obey me, those who obey the Federation leader, are qualified to live until the end of the war and the restoration of civilization. Until then, all opponents are traitors, and I have no intention of letting any traitor go. I have already passed orders to the strategic regiment to have a large number of snipers and artillerymen lie in ambush on the main roads and paths leading to the outside world from Belogersk."

"Anyone who comes out of there, unless they are wearing the insignia of Novayask or the Crusad Federation and can be clearly identified as one of us, can be shot or blown up without any conditions. Vasily retained a shred of rationality. The Viking predecessors were too kind, which led to the tragic outcome. I, Shaneva, will not follow in their footsteps, become a sinner of Crusad, or become a joke in the history books of historians."

“Since you want to eliminate the traitors, then so be it. Without opponents and radicals, the Federation might truly be able to achieve revival and rebuild human civilization sooner. However, Professor Igor just sent me a message, telling me to keep our [warriors] away from Belogersk for the time being, and to wait at least seven days.” Mikhail suppressed the slight doting and affection that had just ignited within him, and his expression became serious.

"Professor Igor... what did he say?" Shaneva asked curiously.

“He said this batch of ‘artificial divine punishment fire’ has an improved launch method and the ore ratio has been adjusted, making the ‘chain’ element highly controllable. Therefore, it can create an extreme explosion within a limited range, but its power is much weaker than the original ‘divine punishment fire’,” Mikhail recounted.

"Therefore, the 'chain' element is difficult to burn completely and will produce some unknown reactions with the surrounding 'sorrow' whose concentration is rapidly increasing, causing radiation that is difficult to dissipate immediately. Although I have urgently allocated 10,000 protective suits as Igor requested, even if you are in a hurry, you will have to wait at least seven days."

“I can’t wait any longer, Mikhail. Just like our relationship, once we lost that first chance, we have to wait thirty years for another. My life has been ruined by my father, ruined by my weakness, and I don’t want the whole country to be ruined by my weakness as well.” Shaneva paused, suppressing tears from her eyes, and said:

"By tomorrow at the latest, after those ability users who pretended to sabotage the pipeline return, have them put on 3000 protective suits and launch a surprise attack on Belogersk from the opposite direction along the pipeline. In the short term, Nebrius will have to focus on putting out the fire and will certainly not have time to defend the pipeline. On the third day, I want you to select 7000 men from the remaining guards as an elite army to launch a frontal attack on military fortresses 'Former 01' and 'Former 02'. After capturing them, the entire army can launch a general offensive to completely eliminate Nebrius and the 'Dedication Group'."

"Then, what about the city of Belogersk? What about its role as a 'core fortress'?" Mikhail asked eagerly, still retaining a sliver of human conscience.

But Shaneva shook her head and turned to Mikhail, saying:
"No more. Belogersk, no matter how much can be preserved, must be destroyed. It was a liability to the Federation Council during the Viking and Vasily eras, and this is the perfect opportunity to completely destroy it. As for the role of the 'core fortress'... Eventlay no longer exists, and Nebusk can no longer fulfill its original function."

"Once the 'Final Battle of Atlas' is over, the entire Transnabian mountain range will be completely sealed off to prevent the spread of radiation from the 'Chain'. By then, the East will be pacified, and our focus should shift to the west of Choigler to reclaim our original territory."

“And what about us?” Mikhail asked further, this time taking the initiative, pulling Shaneva into his arms and stroking her dyeable brown hair.

"Actually, we should have left together 28 years ago, back in our stronghold near the Southern Swamps, abandoning our fathers, abandoning the entire treacherous nation, and seeking our happiness with the people of the Zhrine. But we both hesitated; our cowardice caused us suffering." Shaneva looked at Mikhail's broad chest, staring at his Adam's apple, her right hand repeatedly stroking the chest that had once given her such a sense of security, and said in a deep voice:

“My father was a ‘beast.’ There was no ‘love’ in his eyes, so he could bully any family member weaker than him. And you, you have always been trapped in your loyalty to the Federation. During the ‘Viking Era,’ the Military Regulations prevented you from falling in love with officers; during the Vasily Era, you dared not cross the border into the Ice-Boundary Strategic Regiment to communicate with me, nor did you dare abandon the western front and leave the Legion to meet me.”

“But now, it’s my era, Shaneva’s. After the war, we can love openly, and with the blessings of all the Crusaders, our love can blossom…and bear fruit.” “Yes, Shaneva.” Mikhail’s tone was filled with doting affection, even omitting the formal title of “commander.” He looked at Shaneva, temporarily suppressing the urge to kiss her, and replied:

"The war in the East will soon end, and the war in the West will end in the foreseeable tomorrow. Everyone has the right to seek happiness, even the rulers of cities and the Federation have the basic needs of being human."

“I don’t want to wait any longer either, but Professor Igor told me that this round of explosions seems to have activated the underground mines hidden near the ‘Former 02’ military fortress, where extremely abnormal energy fluctuations have appeared. Moreover, according to the reports from the ability users who returned this morning, they found traces of the missing ‘Transport Assault Team 1’.”

“Don’t tell me the process, Mikhail. Just tell me what Professor Igor wants us to do,” Shaneva commanded, maintaining her embrace with Mikhail.
“Yes, Commander Shaneva.” Mikhail briefly regained his respect for Shaneva’s authority and said:
Professor Igor stated that there might be a dragon-related ordinal monster there, which could be helpful for the research on the 'Evolution Platform'. Moreover, someone also discovered the dragon boy Adaloni, who had escaped from Senel Prison with 'Fubing', there.

"His idea is that we should send people with superpowers to investigate right now. He went through a lot of information about the 'Earth Line' stored in the 'White Night Archives' and actually found a passage that we had long overlooked."

……

"The dream of divine punishment begins."

Nothing can live amidst the raging flames.

"The dragon's roar echoed."

The rhythmic haiku of the Eastern Kingdom of Khitan once again reached the ears of Dak and Adaloni. This time it was clearer than the one they had heard in their dream, but it still sounded unusually ethereal. Its sound seemed to come from the distant abode of immortals, while the sound of the "triangle lyre" that accompanied the chanting was much weaker, making Dak and Adaloni unsure of their own ears.

After all, in a place so steeped in a sense of "sorrow," experiencing hallucinations is perfectly normal. The correct approach is to completely ignore them, treat them as normal occurrences, and not take them seriously. As long as they don't interfere with your actions or thoughts, don't easily believe they exist.

Otherwise, the more you pay attention to these illusions, the more they will appear in your ears and eyes, eventually causing you to have a mental breakdown and perish.

The dimly lit space, filled with dust and the smell of rotting animals, forced Dak and Adaloni to briefly cover their mouths and noses to avoid the nauseating irritation as they walked.

The distant point of light overhead, which had disappeared briefly for eight hours, reappeared at the top, only slightly dimmer and without its flickering yellowish color.

"It seems a day has passed, and the bombardment of the 'Artificial Heavenly Punishment Fire' has also ceased." Adaloni took a deep sniff of the complex-smelling air and analyzed further:

“I can confirm that we are heading in the right direction. The space here seems to be a complete hemisphere, meaning that the part beneath our feet is circular. The point where we fell should be on the edge of the circle. Now, I can smell that mesmerizing and intoxicating divine aura getting closer and closer, which means that we are getting closer and closer to the center.”

“Then that’s it.” Dak stopped, looked ahead, and turned on the “Eternal Light” flashlight he had taken from Maxim, shining it ahead:
"This door in front should be the only passage to the other half of the circle. The so-called gods may be inside."

Using the extraordinary illumination of the "Eternal Light" handheld device, Adaloni discovered that he and Dark were currently on a circular platform, surrounded by a rushing yet imperceptible river that completely enveloped them.

Around the platform are several exceptionally long pillars leading to the top. According to basic physics, such pillars would be difficult to stand upright in the damp, decaying underground ruins, yet they have mysteriously stood there for hundreds of years.

As Dak stepped forward, he discovered that the ground was inscribed with many words that seemed to be mystical and difficult for them to understand, while the pillars were inscribed with the names of sixteen magical source sequences in the language of the Flame Empire.

In the center of the space stood about a hundred clay figurines, each a meter tall, depicting soldiers. Adaoni knew these were funerary objects used by the king of the Flame Empire for burial.

In the middle of these "terracotta warriors" is a sculpture of a female merman, four or five meters tall. In her hands, the merman does not seem to be holding a trident, but rather two hand cannons with a modern style.

When Dark and Adaloni approached the fish-man sculpture, the sculpture's eyes emitted an eerie red glow.

Immediately afterwards, they both heard an ethereal female voice:
"Aiochina, Aiochina..." (End of Chapter)