The job change is a bizarre and calamity; the nation begs me to tone it down.

Zhou Jingchuan shook his head: "It's impossible to judge for the time being, but one thing is certain: the Elven race's actions this time are very urgent."

"Many of their troops were not even properly prepared, and the supply convoys were not fully in place. It didn't look like a well-thought-out long-term war plan, but rather like they were forced to act hastily by something."

Upon hearing this, Li Suyuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Forced to act?

This judgment gave him a slightly uneasy feeling.

Although the Elven Forest has been at odds with Sherlock for years, that old fox Elonnis is no fool.

That guy is cunning, arrogant, and patient.

He would never initiate a full-scale war at this time without sufficient certainty or external pressure.

Especially since, not long ago, a terrifying war that shook multiple dimensions had just broken out on Earth.

The Elf Forest should know better than anyone that the current Sherlock Holmes is not someone they can easily provoke.

"Have you discovered any signs of involvement from other forces?"

A short while later, Li Suyuan suddenly asked.

Zhou Jingchuan immediately flipped through the report: "The scout team has not yet directly detected any third-party forces."

"But the information they sent back mentioned that several extremely unfamiliar energy reactions had appeared inside the Elf Forest. Those energy reactions did not belong to the Elf race's natural system, nor to our known professional system on Earth."

"Unfortunately, they didn't have time to get closer to investigate before their frontline reconnaissance signals were disrupted by the enemy's barrier."

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold glint flashed in Li Suyuan's eyes, and he murmured softly, "Oh? An unfamiliar energy reaction. It seems this matter is not so simple."

Zhou Jingchuan lowered his voice: "Legion Commander, do you suspect that the Elf Forest has someone backing it up?"

"It's not a doubt."

Li Suyuan straightened up and slowly shook his head: "It's highly likely."

"Elonnis doesn't have the guts or the qualifications to launch a full-scale attack on Sheikha alone at this critical juncture. He was either forced into it or he was being used as a pawn."

"Or both."

At this point, he raised his head and glanced at all the officers in the command hall.

"Pass down the order: the dimensional rift defense line is entering the final preparations before combat readiness. All forward fortresses, warm up the main guns."

"The barrier is activated. All defensive arrays from Qiongqi No. 1 to Qiongqi No. 7 are deployed. The aerial patrol team has increased its altitude by 3,000 meters. All long-range strike units are locking onto the rift exit."

"No one may fire without my order."

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

"But if they cross the warning line, give them a good beating."

"clear!"

Inside the hall, several officers stepped forward to receive the order and quickly turned to relay it.

Zhou Jingchuan immediately picked up his communicator and began issuing combat readiness orders to various units.

In an instant, the entire Qiongqi Legion's encampment resembled a colossal steel beast awakening from its slumber.

The piercing alarm sounded throughout the defense zone.

One by one, the gun emplacements hidden in the mountains and underground slowly rose up.

The heavy defensive gates fell one after another.

Countless soldiers rushed out of the barracks and headed to their posts along the predetermined routes, while armored convoys roared toward the front lines.

High in the sky, patrol fighter jets trailed cold flames as they quickly took off in formation.

On the wasteland in front of the dimensional rift, the multi-layered defensive fortifications that Shensha had already built were beginning to be fully activated.

As the barrier is activated.

A series of pale golden barriers rose from between the fortresses, connecting with each other to form a defensive line that stretched across the forest.

This is a defensive system built by the Qiongqi Legion over many years of stationing in the Northwest.

Although the Qiongqi Legion does not possess the super-standard combat power capable of overturning the plane compared to the Calamity Army that Gu Xu has now established.

But when it comes to border defense and positional warfare experience, the Qiongqi Legion is definitely one of the most seasoned legions in Sherlock Holmes.

They've been fighting the elves here for far too many years.

He was so familiar with the tactics, troop types, and spell system of the Elf Forest that he knew them by heart.

Inside the command hall, Li Suyuan watched as the various units quickly got into position, but his expression remained tense.

He knew in his heart that if it was just the elves, he was not afraid. Even if the entire Elf Forest came out in full force, the Qiongqi Legion was confident that it could keep them firmly outside the rift.

What truly unsettled him was the unknown variable hidden behind the elves.

That thing is the real trouble.

"Commander."

Zhou Jingchuan put down the communicator and quickly walked back: "All units have entered combat readiness status. The feedback from the forward positions is normal. The scout drone swarm has been relaunched. However, the interference on the other side of the crack is very strong, and the image is still unstable."

Li Suyuan nodded: "What about the headquarters?"

"It has already been reported."

Zhou Jingchuan replied, "But the Supreme Command is currently handling matters related to the formal garrisoning of the 19th Army Corps, and is also preparing for the All-Dimensional Conference."

"They replied that we should make a preliminary assessment and, if necessary, directly enter into wartime command authority."

Li Suyuan was not surprised by this. The northwest defense line was the responsibility of the Qiongqi Legion, and in such an emergency, he, as the legion commander, had sufficient authority to make a timely response.

Moreover, Sheikha's strategic focus is rapidly shifting.

The establishment of Gu Xu and the Calamity Army has already attracted the attention of too many people.

But it is precisely at times like these that we must not allow any trouble to occur on the border.

Li Suyuan suddenly sneered: "These pointy-eared people know how to pick their time. They don't move early or late, but they just happen to cause trouble when the Calamity Army has just been established and the command's attention has been diverted."

"I don't believe they weren't instigated by other alien races."

Zhou Jingchuan paused for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Legion Commander, should we contact the Calamity Army in advance?"

Upon hearing this question, Li Suyuan did not answer immediately.

Gu Xu's current status is vastly different from what it used to be.

The Calamity Army has just been established and is, in theory, still in the initial reorganization stage.

Li Suyuan did not want to disrupt their plans at this time unless absolutely necessary.

More importantly, the Qiongqi Legion has been stationed in the Northwest for so many years that it is impossible for them to ask for help from outside at the slightest sign of trouble.

This isn't about saving face; it's about duty.

"Not for now."

Li Suyuan said in a deep voice, "Let's see what the other side is trying to do first. If it's just the elves, we can handle it ourselves. If there is a higher-dimensional force that we can't deal with, then it's not too late to request support from the command headquarters."

Zhou Jingchuan nodded: "Understood."

However, the moment he finished speaking, the alarm in the command center suddenly rose to a higher level.

The energy curve of the crack, which was originally suspended in mid-air, began to jump wildly.

This scene caused the monitor to jump up from his seat, his expression changing drastically as he exclaimed, "Report! The energy index of the Elf Forest dimensional rift is surging, and the spatial stability value is rapidly decreasing. The other side is forcibly expanding the rift passage!"

However, just as the inspector finished speaking, the floor of the entire command hall suddenly shook.

"Boom!"

Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar came from afar.