Chapter Twenty-Six: The Southern Frontier Campaign

Southern Frontier of China, Xina City. As shells streaked across the sky, trailing shrill whistling behind them, the land for miles around was engulfed in searing artillery fire. Towering buildings toppled, concrete fragments scattered, and the earth itself trembled violently. Warplanes roared low overhead; before the force of the artillery had even faded, the bombs they dropped obliterated everything once more. Flames consumed all, and all things withered.

"First platoon! Cover the civilians' retreat!" A squad of Liberation Army soldiers burst out from a half-collapsed building, dozens of panic-stricken civilians following in their wake—survivors they had just rescued.

"Understood!"

In the chaos of war, everyone's nerves were stretched to the breaking point.

"Calling Skyfire, calling Skyfire! This is Spearhead; civilians have not yet fully evacuated. Request continued interdiction fire!"

"Skyfire received. Second wave inbound. Ground forces, find cover. Out." The artillery commander's voice fell silent for dozens of seconds, then the shriek of shells once again tore through the sky. Blazing firepower plowed the earth hundreds of meters ahead, and the heatwaves from the bombardment rolled over them, chilling the heart.

With the artillery's unstinting support, nearly a hundred survivors were loaded onto military trucks and swiftly driven out of the warzone.

Under the bombardment, countless humanoid creatures clad in scales were blasted apart, limbs flying, gore everywhere.

As the bombardment ceased, the surviving humanoids launched a charge, relentlessly assaulting the Liberation Army's lines. The soldiers, entrenched in the ruins of the city, fired back with desperate fury. The roar of gunfire was unbroken; bullets spat tongues of flame, their overwhelming firepower terrifying in its intensity.

"Captain, the Xunu are upon us! There are too many!" a soldier shouted.

"Fight them off! Hold the line to the last man! Await support from the Xuanyi Pavilion!"

"Understood!"

A beastly roar drowned all else, and the Xunu forces on the ground howled sharply. From the horizon, more winged behemoths swept into the battle, launching rapid assaults on the defensive lines. Anti-aircraft autocannons thundered, the deafening noise driving everyone near mad.

Massive flying lizards broke through the defenses at blinding speed, landing with the weight of small mountains. With a single swipe, they smashed anti-aircraft guns to pieces.

From a hundred meters away, an anti-aircraft gun was leveled and unleashed a barrage at one of the beasts, the shells detonating upon its body, blasting both wings clean off.

A squad of soldiers surrounded the grounded lizard, sparing no ammunition until it was riddled with holes and collapsed, lifeless.

But there were more than a hundred flying lizards, and an unending tide of Xunu on the ground. The defensive line tottered, many positions suffering heavy losses, the line gradually being overrun.

A blinding flash descended from the sky, blasting through a building held by the Liberation Army. As the building collapsed, the soldiers inside perished, some seized by flying lizards and torn apart in midair.

"Broadsword calling Spearhead, Broadsword calling Spearhead! We are thirty li east of your position and have been intercepted. Breaking out with all we've got—hold on at any cost!"

"Spearhead, this is Qingshan. First Army Aviation Battalion has been destroyed—unable to support you. Over."

"Spearhead First Platoon reporting: Western line has been breached. Heavy casualties. We will fight to the last man. Over."

"Spearhead Second Platoon reporting: We're under heavy attack! The Xunu are endless, as if crawling from the earth! Request support! Request support! Over."

One despairing message after another sounded in the captain's earpiece, darkening his face. Standing atop the shattered building, he gazed ahead: the black mass of Xunu surged like waves, flying lizards crisscrossed the sky attacking, and he knew full well that with just over a hundred men, they could never withstand such an onslaught. If the enemy launched a full assault, few would survive.

He drew a deep breath and connected to Qingshan Command. "Spearhead calling," he said grimly. "Heavy casualties. The line can't hold. Request full artillery coverage. We will launch a countercharge. Spearhead out." He tore off his earpiece, tossed aside his Type 95 rifle, and picked up the squad machine gun from a fallen comrade.

"For our country, for our people—charge!" At his roar, fewer than thirty soldiers shouted back, their eyes ablaze with fury and resolve, leaping from the ruin and charging the Xunu horde, hundreds of times their number, with nothing but flesh and blood.

In the setting sun, the backs of these two dozen warriors seemed towering as they ran toward the light, toward their deaths, without hesitation—willing to pay with blood and life to preserve the last shred of a soldier's dignity.

Seeing the small band charging toward them, the Xunu grinned cruelly, weapons mounted on their forearms flashing coldly, sharp teeth bared. With a shout, they surged forward to meet the warriors.

But fate loves irony. Before the charge had covered ten meters, shells rained from above once more. At the same instant, an armored column appeared in the distance, rolling a path through the woods and opening fire on the Xunu. In a moment, the enemy ranks were thrown into chaos by the renewed bombardment.

The captain's survivors were forced back by the ferocity of the shelling.

"Damn these artillerymen! Can't they give a warning before firing?" the captain spat into the dust, cursing quietly. The soldiers, moments ago resigned to death, burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at? Keep firing!" the captain barked, glaring as he set up the machine gun and opened up.

A Y-20 transport appeared high above, escorted by four J-10 fighters that dove at the flock of flying lizards, using their speed to engage nearly a hundred of the beasts.

Several dozen lizards lunged at the Y-20. The transport's hatch opened, and Kong Yuxuan, wearing goggles, looked at the ferocious creatures and let out a scornful laugh. Light shimmered in his hand; with a single horizontal slash, a blade of light cut for miles, slicing a swath of lizards in two, their massive corpses and blood raining from the sky.

"Holy hell!" Seeing the enormous falling bodies, the captain and his men cried out and scrambled away as the lizard corpses crashed down, spraying blood everywhere.

"The Xuanyi Pavilion has arrived?" the captain muttered, glancing up at the Y-20.

"Looks like it. Someone's parachuting out!" a soldier shouted with delight.

The captain finally breathed easily, collapsing to the ground and lighting a cigarette, muttering, "They finally came... If only they'd come sooner..."

Other soldiers fell silent, glimpsing the tears that had slipped down the captain's cheek. Yes, this sudden battle had nearly wiped out their entire company.

With the Xuanyi Pavilion's arrival, more Y-20s streaked across the sky. Paratroopers descended, armored vehicles surged forth, and Kong Yuxuan led his companions into the Xunu horde, leaving only carnage in their wake.

Before long, Kong Yuxuan appeared at the captain's side, tossing aside a Xunu head. He looked over the dust-covered captain and asked, "Comrade Captain, are there any survivors left in the city?"

"None. They've all been evacuated," the captain replied without looking up.

"Your mission is complete. The Supreme Command has ordered a withdrawal from Xina City—strategic retreat inland," Kong Yuxuan said, his face unreadable.

The captain looked up at him, eyes blazing, and leapt to his feet. "Abandon it? Why should we abandon it?"

"Because we cannot halt their advance," Kong Yuxuan replied coolly, meeting his gaze.

The captain, trembling, pointed around him, tears in his eyes. "Look—look around you. So many of my brothers fell here. We held out until reinforcements came, and now—now you're here, and you tell us to abandon it?"

"Captain, this is a direct order from Supreme Command. If you don't believe me, you can check the comms yourself. Countless soldiers have fallen in this campaign. I hope you understand: what we're facing is no ordinary enemy. They are the Void Spirits—beings who battled the gods of old. Retreat does not mean surrender," Kong Yuxuan said, patience straining.

On the battlefield, Xunu continued pouring in. The Xuanyi Pavilion's purpose, it seemed, was not to slaughter them but to head straight for the densest concentrations. There, three portals spewed forth endless Xunu.

The paratroopers unleashed their full firepower, shells streaking, smoke billowing. The Xunu's wrist-mounted weapons spat searing beams, melting stone on contact, incinerating any soldier struck.

With a roar, tanks were destroyed, IFV autocannons barked, and the battle reached a fever pitch. Both sides suffered heavy losses. The tanks, soldiers, and aircraft of the Liberation Army created an interlocking web of fire, covering all within miles.

A flying lizard dove at Kong Yuxuan. Without even turning, he unleashed a maelstrom of demonic sigils, wrapping and crushing the beast to a bloody pulp.

Kong Yuxuan then removed his earpiece and handed it to the captain. "Listen."

The captain took the earpiece. "Supreme Command orders: all units, strategic contraction... all units, strategic contraction..." The rest of the orders faded from his awareness. He knew, in truth, that compared to the Void Spirits, Earth's fighting power was woefully inadequate—technologically and tactically.

The Xunu they now faced were the weakest of the Void Spirit race, little more than cannon fodder. Except for their numbers, their combat ability was limited. The main force of the Void Spirits had not yet arrived in the solar system. If and when they did, when their fleets arrived, Earth would face true annihilation.

"Captain, orders from Forward Command," the radio operator said, approaching with his pack.

The captain took the handset. "Spearhead, this is Qingshan. Your mission is complete. Move immediately to Area 850 and join friendly forces. Await further orders. Do you copy? Over."

"Spearhead copies. Out." The captain spoke slowly, tossing the handset back and saluting Kong Yuxuan before turning to leave.

"Captain, we're closing in on the portal! More and more Xunu—can't hold much longer!" As the captain departed, a teammate's voice sounded in Kong Yuxuan's earpiece.

"I'm coming," Kong Yuxuan answered. A whirlwind rose about him as he revealed his true form—a vast peacock, over a hundred meters long. With a single gulp, he swallowed a swath of Xunu; with a beat of his wings, searing winds turned the enemy to ash.

The peacock soared into the sky, then dove, spitting dazzling demonic sigils that obliterated the Xunu surrounding his comrades. Landing, he reverted to human shape and faced the oncoming tide.

Kong Yuxuan's hands flashed through seals as he shouted, "Descent of the Holy King! Annihilation of All Realms!"

As the spell completed, seven-colored divine radiance burst forth behind him, enveloping all. A colossal phantom of the Holy King towered to the heavens, its presence awe-inspiring. With a single gesture, the world shook—two portals collapsed, swathes of Xunu crushed. The Holy King was invincible, a god incarnate. With a sweep of his hand, he destroyed the third portal.

"Kill them all!" With all portals shattered, the Liberation Army launched a full assault. Dozens of Type 96B tanks led the charge, crushing Xunu beneath their treads. Soldiers followed, firing as they went, joining the final assault.

A Xunu, just rising, was struck by an IFV and mowed down by heavy machine-gun fire.

The Xunu broke and fled. Kong Yuxuan withdrew his divine form, sensing something overhead. Above the clouds, a figure watched him. Their eyes met—Kong Yuxuan frowned and shot skyward in a streak of light, but the figure vanished completely.

"Stronger than the Ripper... Is that... a Void Celestial Warrior?" Feeling the lingering disturbance in the air, a shadow crept into Kong Yuxuan's heart.