This heretic cannot be burned, he must be hung up and whipped!

The battle lasted a full three hours. In just three hours, the Crusaders launched over forty attacks from various locations across the western city, retaking over half of the city occupied by the heretics. With the continued bombardment of the heretic air force and the precise strikes of the artillery witches, the momentum of the counterattack gradually weakened.

Neos had to make a difficult decision.

"More than half of the 177th Air Defense Regiment has been lost," he told his chief of staff. "We must retain sufficient air defense capabilities, otherwise the heretic air force will completely control the sky."

"Yes, Your Excellency." The Chief of Staff nodded. "I suggest you shrink the defense line and concentrate your forces to guard the key areas. Night is approaching."

Neos sighed heavily. "Order all units to retreat in an orderly manner, providing cover for each other, and deploy to predetermined advantageous defensive lines. Establish a defense system based on strongholds in residential buildings and factories."

The order was quickly transmitted to each unit, and the Crusaders began to retreat in an orderly manner, setting traps and explosives along the retreat route to delay the heretics' pursuit as much as possible.

By dusk, the battle lines around Budapest had stabilized again, and although the Crusaders had lost some territory, they had managed to recapture about half of the lost territory and establish a stronger defense.

The remaining forces of the 177th Anti-Aircraft Regiment were redeployed to several key high points to continue their air defense and ground support missions. The destroyed tanks became roadblocks on the streets, and the Crusader Engineers quickly built new fortifications around them.

As night fell, Budapest fell into an eerie silence. The roar and explosions of the day subsided temporarily, replaced by sporadic gunfire and distant explosions.

Neos stood on the balcony of his headquarters, gazing at the city, littered with craters and ruins. In the moonlight, Budapest resembled a ravaged ghost town.

"Your Excellency," the Chief of Staff walked up to him, "today's battle report has been compiled."

Neos took the report and quickly scanned it. The numbers made his heart sink: the Crusaders had lost over six thousand men, and the 177th Anti-Aircraft Regiment had lost more than half its men. However, they had destroyed approximately thirty Heretic tanks, shot down a dozen enemy aircraft, and recaptured some lost territory.

"What about the heretics' losses?" he asked.

"According to reports from the front, the Heretic Legion has lost at least five thousand men, but their reinforcements are still pouring in," the Chief of Staff replied, his voice filled with fatigue.

Neos was silent for a moment, then said, "Tonight will be more difficult."

"Yes, the heretic War Wolf Assaultmon will make everyone look forward to the dawn."

War Wolf Assault Beasts - one of the most terrifying melee units in the Heretic Legion. They are short and agile, their heads can easily tear through barbed wire, and they have excellent vision and sense of smell in the dark.

Normally, they would be stopped by barbed wire and then killed by the gunfire of the Crusaders in the trenches. But all the survivors who had the good fortune to encounter these things in the trenches said that you should never fight these hellish monsters in a confined space.

"We have increased our nighttime alert," the Chief of Staff said, "but..."

He didn't finish, but Neos understood his point. The Crusaders, trapped for so long, were malnourished and had poor night vision, making them virtually no match for the War Wolf Assault Beasts in the darkness.

"Notify all units," Neos ordered, "to guard each room in the building tonight with at least two soldiers to provide mutual cover."

...

As the night deepened, the fighting in various parts of the city became more intense.

In an apartment building in Xicheng District, the Crusaders stood guard nervously in each room and corridor. Their eyes had adapted to the darkness, but they still couldn't see what was happening in the distance.

"Did you hear anything?" a young soldier whispered to his companion.

"Shh..." The old soldier raised his index finger, signaling him to be quiet, "They are coming."

There was a slight sound of claws scraping the ground at the end of the corridor, followed by a low roar.

"Assault beast!" The veteran immediately raised his submachine gun and pointed it in the direction of the group chat where the sound came from.

Suddenly, a dark shadow came out from around the corner at astonishing speed and rushed towards the two men. The veteran pulled the trigger, and the bullet drew a line of fire in the darkness, but the War Wolf Assault Beast was too fast, and the bullet only grazed its fur.

"Ah!" The young soldier screamed. The serrations on the assault beast's head that could tear through barbed wire had torn his throat.

"Go to hell #Yinshan^ Wu:Ni leek彡 heretic!"

The old soldier rushed forward desperately, stabbing the War Wolf with his bayonet. The War Wolf let out a shrill howl and turned to pounce on the old soldier. The two wrestled in the darkness, blood splattering the corridor walls.

Similar scenes unfolded throughout the city. Wolf Assault Beasts infiltrated buildings through sewers, windows, and holes in rooftops, launching surprise attacks on the Crusaders. Their sense of smell allowed them to easily locate hidden soldiers, while their sharp claws and teeth were deadly weapons.

Inside a heavily guarded office building by Crusaders, War Wolf Assault Beasts infiltrated from all directions, hunting soldiers in the darkness. Screams and gunfire echoed, but soon fell silent. When reinforcements arrived, they found the entire building's defenders dead, and the War Wolf Assault Beasts had long since vanished into the night.

"We need more lighting!" a company commander pleaded urgently over the radio. "My troops can't see the enemy in the dark!"

"There's no more fuel—the remaining fuel must be used to maintain the factory's electrical equipment to produce secret weapons." Command responded, "Use flashlights and glow sticks as much as possible."

But what about all the flashlights the Crusaders had brought? As the night battle continued, some of the improvised civilian soldiers began to break down. They panicked in the darkness, and some even opened fire on their own comrades.

"Retreat! Retreat! There are too many of them!" A group of civilian soldiers dropped their weapons and fled from an apartment building infiltrated by the War Wolf Assault Beast.

"Stop! Return to your posts!" The officer tried to stop them, but fear had already taken over.

To make matters worse, some panicked civilian soldiers mistook the approaching enemy for the enemy in the darkness and opened fire on their own comrades.

"Don't shoot! We are one of us!" a soldier shouted, but it was too late.

Chaos spread throughout the Crusader camp. Neos's face turned grim as he heard the report from the front over the radio.

"At this rate, we will collapse in our own chaos," he told his chief of staff.

The Army Chief of Staff nodded. "Extraordinary measures are necessary, Your Excellency."

Neos pondered for a moment, then made a decision: "A tribunal will be established. All commanders who retreated without authorization will be brought to justice."

The order was quickly disseminated to all units. Meanwhile, Neos personally recorded a radio address, which was broadcast over the city's public address system:

"Defenders of Budapest, this is Neos speaking to you. I know the night's battles are terrifying, but remember, we are defending our homes, our loved ones, and our faith.

Don't take a single step back!

Every inch of Budapest will resist Hell! I will be with you!

His voice echoed in every corner of the city, bringing a glimmer of hope and courage to the soldiers in the darkness.

At the same time, the Heretic Legion was also adjusting its tactics. Legion Commander Asmodeus was in the frontline command post, listening to reports from various units.

"The Crusaders' resistance was more tenacious than expected," a heretic officer reported. "Although our assault beasts caused considerable chaos, they also suffered heavy losses."

Asmodeus frowned. "Keep increasing the pressure. Send out more War Wolf Assault Beasts, and prepare for tomorrow's general attack. I want tanks, infantry, engineers, artillery, and aircraft to work together. This method of warfare is more effective—I want to completely destroy their defenses!"

"Yes, Commander!"

Asmodeus walked over to the map and circled the center of Budapest. "Tomorrow, tomorrow night I will offer a sacrifice to the Lord of Pride in the cathedral!"

PS: 240 votes, next update 4.5k!

Flames Rising: 1914: Chapter 37: I Saw God

The night battle raged until dawn. Despite the heavy cost to the Crusaders, most of the defenses held. Neos's orders and the Inquisition's intimidation had worked, but perhaps more importantly, with their loved ones at their backs, the Crusaders preferred death to retreating without authorization.

Countless War Wolf Assault Beasts of the Heretic Legion were blown to pieces by martyrdom bombs, and even more were killed by bayonets and shotguns in the bloody close combat with the Crusaders. But they also took the lives of a large number of Crusaders.

As the first rays of sunlight shone on the ruins of Budapest, a staff officer came to Neos with the latest battle report.

"Your Excellency, according to frontline statistics, the average survival time for a newly arrived soldier is less than 10 hours, and for an officer no more than 48 hours," the staff officer's voice was heavy and weary. "The War Wolf Assault Beasts' night raids have caused severe losses. We must mobilize our reserves to take over the defense. According to the General Staff's predictions, there's a high probability that the Heretic Legion will launch a general attack on our army today."

Neos took the battle report, his eyes grim. The casualties tonight were greater than those of the day before. An elite regiment deployed to the front lines in Xicheng District had lost 73 percent of its troops, and entire companies had been destroyed amidst the rubble and buildings.

As of early morning, the General Staff counted the number of Crusaders who had withdrawn from the front line for rest and recuperation, and found that at least 7,000 Crusaders had died and more than 1700 were missing.

"What about the losses of the heretic assault beasts?" he asked.

"A conservative estimate is over three hundred killed, but their numbers are still increasing," the staff officer replied. "They are no longer simple cannon fodder, Your Excellency. In the nighttime street fighting, they have become the true gods of death."

"Be optimistic. At least we have a greater advantage during the day. We can regain the front we lost at night during the day!"

"What's the situation in District 7? The width of the two streets there is enough for the six heretics' landships to travel side by side. We just recaptured it yesterday." Neos asked.

The staff officer's expression grew even more serious. "The Seventh District... was almost completely wiped out. Last night, the heretics even sent elite units and a large number of heavy infantry to clear the building with flamethrowers. Legion Commander Reiss Adolf lived up to your command. Not a single one of the 4700 soldiers in the legion retreated. They held out until the very end, Your Excellency."

"Sigh..." Neos had gradually become numb to the casualty figures. "Does the General Staff have any plans?"

"We need to improve our night vision, close-range firepower, and protective capabilities, but heavily armored soldiers struggle to maneuver," the staff officer continued. "The War Wolf Assault Beasts infiltrated through windows and holes, first cutting off communications between floors, then defeating them one by one. They can see clearly in the dark, while our soldiers fight almost blindly."

Neos closed his eyes, trying to calm the shock and anger in his heart. "How did the survivors survive?"

"His squad, Unit 2, worked well together," the staff officer added. "He said that if it weren't for those brave warriors who embraced their martyrdom bombs and perished alongside the War Wolves, all the areas we recaptured yesterday might have been lost."

Neos stood up and walked to the window. Budapest at dawn was shrouded in smoke, with explosions and gunshots coming from the distance.

“How are our veterans doing?”

"Elite veterans rely on teamwork and combat experience to excel in night combat," the staff officer replied, "but those temporary conscripted civilian soldiers..."

He didn't finish, but Neos understood. The civilians who had hastily joined the Crusades, while courageous, lacked training and experience. Faced with a terrifying foe like the War Wolf Assault Beast, panic was inevitable.

"How many companies can the surviving veterans form?"

"At least three great companies, Your Excellency. The battlefield is a melting pot. Under such intense fighting, new recruits can be transformed into veterans in just one night."

The staff officer whispered back, "The civilian soldiers performed terribly. Some opened fire in panic in the darkness, accidentally injuring their own comrades. District 4 reported at least twenty incidents of friendly fire."

Neos clenched his fists. He knew that night fighting was the Crusaders' Achilles' heel. Malnutrition caused by the long siege had significantly reduced the soldiers' night vision, and the lack of fuel and lighting made the situation even worse.

"Call all senior commanders and assemble at headquarters immediately." Neos ordered, his voice filled with unquestionable determination.

Half an hour later, the commanders of the various defense zones in western Budapest gathered at their headquarters. Most of them looked gaunt, their eyes bloodshot, and some even had blood stains on their uniforms.

Neos looked around at everyone and said, "Everyone, the night in Budapest has become a nightmare for us. The rampage of the War Wolf Assault Beasts and the chaos among our troops are destroying our defenses."

A commander from the West District stood up and said, "Your Excellency, my troops have been fighting for 72 hours straight. The soldiers are exhausted and low on ammunition. My troops must rest during the day. If the heretics launch another large-scale attack tonight, we may not be able to hold on."

"Retreat is not an option I offer you," Neos said in a stern voice. "From now on, the wartime inquisition will be moved to the front lines. Any commander, regardless of rank, who allows a retreat without authorization will be brought to justice immediately."

Silence fell in the meeting room. Everyone understood what this meant—in wartime, the Inquisition's verdict was usually one and only: death penalty.

"Your Excellency," a young commander said cautiously, "some lines of defense are indeed difficult to hold, especially at night—"

"Then use your experience. I'll give you a day to adjust. Go to the grassroots level and talk to those damned heretic soldiers fighting hand-to-hand! I'm going to issue another order—

All commanders must interview their soldiers in their post-battle debriefings to summarize the lessons learned! Our troops aren't good at night combat, but there are still veterans who survived. Talk to them, open your mouths, and use the veterans' experience to adjust your combat methods.

The enemy is also learning. At first, they didn't know how to use landships at all. They only knew how to drive their iron coffins recklessly. Now their armored forces have suffered in Budapest. They are learning Butan coordination, learning close air-to-ground support, and learning artillery barrages... "Nyos said loudly, his voice like thunder.

"If we don't learn, we'll have to pay a far more tragic price. Everyone here knows that being captured by heretics is far more terrifying than dying in battle. Even if you resent my ruthlessness, it's useless. It's this brutal war that forces everyone to grow. Our human ancestors took millions of years to outrun those creatures that took tens of millions of years to evolve. Now, we too must race against Hell!"

"Yes!" All the commanders stood up and saluted Neos.

They knew very well that this was an isolated city with no broad strategic space for them to wage guerrilla warfare. The city was crowded with more than 400,000 Crusaders and millions of civilians. Every inch of land lost was tightening the noose around the necks of the survivors!

"Now I have good news and bad news for you." Neos nodded and waved his hand for the commanders to sit down.

"First, the bad news: our artillery ammunition reserves are low. Many artillery groups only have a few basic ammunition reserves. We need to contact the rear to have them airdrop some supplies. If there are no transport planes, we can convert bombers and equip the supply boxes with parachutes and ensure safety protection."

After Neos finished reading the bad news, he glanced up at the commanders' weary faces. Their eyes gleamed with determination. It seemed morale was still good.

"Then there's the good news: We've developed a self-propelled anti-ship vehicle. Testing has shown it can penetrate the side armor of a heretic ship within 700 meters, and the front armor of a standard ship within 200 meters. Those modified Spitfires can't do that, so I suggest the crew attack their tracks or turrets.

In street fighting, a disabled landspeeder that can't move and can't hit far is an iron coffin!

I've named this tractor-modified weapon the S-1 'Sanctus Judicator.' The first batch of 30 has already been built. I'm approving 25 for you to deploy based on your street defense needs. The remaining five remain in my hands as a reserve.

Remember, make use of the vehicle's mobility, don't hide it as a fixed artillery piece, understand?"

"understand!"

"Every inch of Budapest will resist hell! This is not only an order, but also our battlefield slogan. From today on, I want to hear every soldier and every commander shouting this!"

He looked around at everyone, and the determination in his eyes made everyone feel his conviction.

"I understand your predicament, but please remember that we are not just defending one city, but the frontier of all of Europe. If Budapest falls, the heretics will march straight in and threaten the entire Europe. Now, adjourn!"

...

Just over an hour later, the first group of commanders reported to Neos with their plans. Several hours had passed since the first ray of dawn appeared in the sky. The staff was busy discussing and analyzing these combat plans, trying to come up with the most effective plan.

Neos walked over, glanced through it, and pointed out a few key points:

"Commander Li Desheng has a good idea. From now on, we will adopt new tactics.

He incorporated the temporarily recruited civilian soldiers into veteran units to ensure that each squad's combat team had at least one experienced soldier. He also created two formations: the right triangle formation was usually used when there was a lot of threat from the two flanks, and the inverted triangle formation was usually used when the threat from the two flanks was less severe and the target was clear.

At this time, the players on both wings will move forward first, and the team leader will follow behind. This formation is usually used to approach and surround a specific target.

Look, there's also this vertical formation tactic for narrow spaces..."

The Chief of Staff added: "From a tactical point of view, the greatest significance of this approach is that it emphasizes that in any battle, the enemy should be divided into multiple directions, and the enemy should be carefully observed, confused, and finally a fatal blow should be launched against his weaknesses.

Of course, according to Bishop Neos' instructions, we should give full play to our subjective initiative in combat. We can't rigidly require three people, we can use four. In short, we must find the enemy's weaknesses and form multiple combat teams to overcome the disadvantage by using more people to defeat fewer people."

The commanders looked at each other.

"This tactic is more inclined towards mobile warfare. Our soldiers are already accustomed to trench warfare," a commander couldn't help but say, "A hasty change in our combat methods will only increase our casualties!"

Neos shook his head. "No, this is the only way to survive. Our ammunition reserves are dwindling rapidly, and the production of bullets is outstripping our income. We're even having to organize civilians to pick up shell casings!"

The heretics' air and artillery support, however, remains constant. If we maintain our distance from them, they can exploit their firepower advantage with impunity, without the threat of our counterattacks. But if we engage in urban mobile warfare, they face a dilemma: forgo fire support or risk accidentally injuring their own troops. In this type of warfare, we have the advantage at close range.