Chapter 37: Ninth Fortress

“Report, Commander! Golden Eagle traces spotted at thirty-five degrees east-northeast. The enemy is indeed moving toward the fortress’s rear!”

A sentinel on the eastern High Wall caught a glimpse of the Golden Eagle’s wings flashing by and promptly relayed the situation to Ide via the team’s communicator.

Ide pressed the button on her radio. “Good. Listen to my command. Team One and Team Two Thorn Lamps, head to the rear for support immediately.”

By the time An He arrived at the rear defense post, the handpicked thirty-two Thorn Lamps had already assembled. They were scattered beside the newly added cannon barrels, each standing ready.

They had rushed over from the East and West Districts via internal fortress passages, making them twice as fast as the enemy army circling around the massive Iron Wall.

With the forty logistics soldiers stationed on the walls, everyone was fully armed.

Unlike their usual patrol gear, over the past week, their clothing had been personally modified by the aunts at the tailoring workshop. Thin steel plates now reinforced their chests and waists. Weaker Thorn Lamps had also received forehead guards strapped to their heads to prevent their skulls from being shattered by bullets.

These hastily forged armors were somewhat heavy, their rough metal surfaces left unpolished with drill marks still visible. But for the Thorn Lamps, they were highly practical—and this weight was negligible compared to their training loads.

This was the advantage of Ninth Fortress having smelting technology and iron mines: they could overhaul their defenses across a wide area in just one short week.

The rear cannons, bullets, and the Burning bombs buried around the Iron Wall’s perimeter had received the same upgrades.

This relied on Ide’s alliance strategy. After negotiations, Seventh Fortress—after careful consideration—declined to send troops, as manpower was precious to every fortress. But as a long-term ally, they provided ample gasoline, and in return, Ide sent a ton of pure iron.

Every Thorn Lamp carried plenty of guns and ammunition.

They had categorized the modified bullets into three types: one was the gasoline rounds previously used against Bone Eaters, for large-scale attacks; another was standard pointed bullets, for one-on-one duels.

The final type—solid steel-ball rounds—served as their lifesaving trump card. Though less powerful than the others, they were simple to produce in large quantities.

Their walls bristled with numerous steel-ball launchers.

Compared to First Fortress Legion, the Thorn Lamps numbered three times fewer, but their weapons evened the odds somewhat.

Now, it all came down to whose commander had the superior tactics and adaptability.

Everyone took their positions, with An He standing beside Ide.

The defense post towered ten meters above the ground, three stories high, with no entrance like the front gate. The entire wall was smooth; scaling it required ropes and significant time.

Inside the wall’s windows sat a cannon and a night-vision scope modified by Heidi. Nearby smaller windows had a dozen quick-descent pulleys set up.

The flat sandy ground below the window sills appeared empty, but it was actually a vast minefield—the fortress’s originally weakest and most overlooked spot.

Now, it formed their strongest defensive line.

“Sentinels, target the skies. Don’t let a single Embedded Spirit Body cross the High Wall.” Ide, clad in clanking heavy armor with her longbow and spear slung on her back, furrowed her brow and issued calm orders. “Everyone else, prepare. Once the enemy enters the blast radius, wait for my command and detonate in batches.”

“Yes!”

Peering over the window ledges, they all gazed into the silent night. They slowed their breathing, their heartbeats syncing to a single rhythm—heavy thumps, one after another.

…

“Teleport site set here. Abandon the vehicles and prepare.” At the edge of the Strong Radiation Zone, Tina issued the order without hesitation. They were still a kilometer from Ninth Fortress’s rear—perfect distance for No. 55 to scan the terrain.

“Leave all transport vehicles behind. Cluster the ten artillery vehicles within No. 55’s teleport range. Load all firearms.” The Lieutenant under her immediately handled the finer details.

Tina stepped out of the vehicle and glanced toward the Strong Radiation Zone. The Black Fog there resembled some dust storm wall, with swirling particles; the land beyond the boundary had turned pitch-black.

She shifted her left foot and spotted clear footprints in the gravel. “Wait. One more thing.”

Everyone looked to her.

Tina raised her head, recalling the armored vehicle that had been flipped by an explosion not long ago.

Ninth Fortress’s bunch was on high alert. She had to consider traps at the rear, even if the odds were low—they lacked the resources to mine the entire perimeter.

But for that instant, Tina trusted her caution.

Ide was no opponent to underestimate.

Tina spoke decisively, altering the plan on the fly. “No. 55, extend the teleport distance. We’ll approach on foot. On my mark, abandon the clustered formation. Line up single-file, ordinary soldiers in front, spaced out. If even one bomb detonates ahead, everyone withdraw with me and prep for breakout!”

“Yes!”

After the soldiers prepared, a five-hundred-meter teleport array bloomed beneath their feet. In less than half a second of weightlessness, they were gone—relocated to No. 55’s carefully chosen destination.

They stood on a slope; ahead lay flat sands, a defensive weak point Lola had specifically marked.

They were close to the Iron Wall now. Looking up, the watchposts were unlit, the walls shrouded in darkness. In Tina’s backup plan, if the Golden Eagle couldn’t fly in, they could assault the outposts.

“Ready the wall-climbing ropes and hooks. No. 1, send the Golden Eagle to scout first.”

The ever-circling Golden Eagle closed in on the Iron Wall. As it neared, only a couple of long arrows sporadically shot from the Outpost. It dodged them effortlessly.

“Intel checks out. Only one or two sentinels here. Form up—quick!” Tina raised her hand. “Split into two groups. No. 1 and No. 55, scan terrain and prepare teleport. The rest, advance with me to scale the wall. Switch to backup if either fails.”

They couldn’t linger; that would give the enemy time to communicate.

The black-epaulet soldiers lined up front, spaced half a meter apart, marching in column onto the flat sands.

Everyone moved cautiously yet swiftly. After twenty soldiers entered the sands, Tina suddenly called a halt. She had reached the edge but stopped, a tiny pebble underfoot sending a faint prickle through her boot sole.

Tina shifted her left foot and peered down.

…

“Won’t we detonate?” Heidi, drenched in cold sweat, huddled in the shadows, clutching the bomb detonator button. She uncertainly asked Ide.

Even before the Golden Eagle approached, some Thorn Lamps had reflexively wanted to strike.

But Ide stopped them.

Now, even the enemy commander had entered the minefield. Right under her feet lay a full gasoline bomb.

An He felt her palms burning. Likewise, Ide’s brow furrowed deeper. In the chilly night, sweat already beaded Ide’s forehead.

An He turned to stare out the window at the Sora officer—specially flagged by Gu Xianqing—standing stock-still on the ground, seemingly sensing something as she checked downward.

Like Heidi, An He thought Ide could trigger it now.

The Golden Eagle had gained altitude, ready to cross the wall. If they didn’t act, they’d miss blocking it—and killing Sora—even though most enemy Embedded Spirit Bodies hadn’t entered the field yet.

Who knew what Sora had spotted? By the time she reacted and retreated, the chance would be gone!

Striking now could still take out a few!

But Ide gave no order.

Everyone itched with anxiety but held discipline in silence.

“Not yet.” Ide’s tone stayed steady, but the vein throbbing at her temple betrayed her tension, her mind racing through scenarios.

Ide knew Sora; the woman always prepared multiple contingencies. Any hint of trouble, and she’d pivot.

She couldn’t order it now. Rushing would likely fail to kill Sora or dent First Fortress Legion—at the sight of their formation, Ide knew the first twenty-odd were scouts. Sora was wary.

Panicking early would waste every Burning bomb here.

She waited, betting on experience. This was a commanders’ duel; one slip could doom them.

The air grew colder, heartbeats accelerating, tension compressing until pulses roared.

Ide trusted her judgment. Sora couldn’t detect it; their mines weren’t that shallow.

She gripped her radio. No alert from the Iron Wall-top sentinels yet—they had time! Experience fueled her resolve.

One more second. Just one.

Sweat from Ide’s hair finally dripped, reflecting the night—and the distant enemy column resuming advance.

That Sora officer kicked away the stone underfoot and led her troops onward toward the Iron Wall.

No bombs erupted; all her subordinates survived. First the black-epaulets filled the sands, then the armored vehicles, finally the red-epaulets.

The Golden Eagle soared past wall height; five seconds more, and it’d cross.

“Commander!” The Iron Wall-top sentinel finally reported sharply. “Golden Eagle’s crossing the danger line!”

Ide crushed the radio in her fist. “All units, engage!”

As if a balloon burst at its limit, dozens of earth-shattering blasts erupted simultaneously. Gasoline rained down, sparks bloomed like fireworks.

Bullets from the walls and bombs below formed a barrier tougher than Iron Wall itself. The Golden Eagle retreated, seeking another chance.

On the High Wall and beneath the soil, bizarre flames erupted with shocking force, flipping targets skyward. Afterward, burning gasoline spread massive fires, illuminating the distant terrain clearly. Wall-top soldiers even saw black sand hurled three zhang high.

This was just Ninth Fortress’s first salvo.

As searing heat climbed the Iron Wall, the logistics crew manning the machines shoved cannons and steel-ball launchers out the windows. Beyond the cannons, countless steel balls rocketed into the smoke below via mechanical force.

Missed shots cratered the ground, kicking up two-meter sand plumes!

“First batch of Vanguard Team, quick-descent!” Firelight flushed Ide’s face. The ten Vanguard Team members beside her snapped iron hooks to their belts, tossed steel cables from the windows, and slid down at breakneck speed.

Sturdy cables ensured safe landings. Cannon fire paused briefly everywhere but overhead.

“Vanguard squad, advance!” Ide commanded via radio.

The ten Thorn Lamps executed the plan.

Through lingering smoke, one spotted enemy vehicles flipped, corpses piled around.

The Burning bombs exceeded expectations, their strongest weapons hitting the perceived weak spot. Ide’s timing was perfect—most foes had entered the kill zone directly atop the bombs.

The enemy, caught off-guard, lost personnel.

But not all.

As An He secured her clip, she swiftly summoned a lone Raven. It pierced the thick fog, red eyes darting shrewdly.

Many had unleashed Innate Talents and Nestsouls in the crisis—prime time to survey the field.

“Commander, over ten Embedded Spirit Bodies down. They have golden shields protecting Sora and about twenty Embedded Spirit Bodies. The rest toughed it out with Innate Talents, some injured.”

An He frowned slightly. The Embedded Spirit Bodies flagged by Gu Xianqing remained intact.

Troublesome!

They couldn’t count on artillery wiping all threats.

Using the scan as cover, An He dutifully reported the enemy’s Innate Talents to Ide and the other Thorn Lamps.

The key lay in those six formidable enemies—An He had given a brief yet precise rundown of each one’s Innate Talent.

“Got it,” Ide said, her eyes locked on the battle below. “Squad, listen up. Pull two people to surround that orange-haired ponytail girl. She can teleport—don’t let her link up with the main force until we provide backup.”

The ten Thorn Lamps dispatched first were already on the move. They weren’t the strongest fighters, but they shared one trait: exceptional skill in leaping and sprinting.

Like cheetahs on the wasteland, the ten Thorn Lamps summoned their Nestsouls and activated their Innate Talents. While the surviving enemies’ minds still buzzed, too dazed to react, they swiftly finished off the wounded who hadn’t yet regained mobility.

As for the uninjured powerhouses—aside from Ide’s designated target—the Thorn Lamps broke from their usual fearless doctrine and kept their distance.

Their mission was to eliminate the wounded first and thin the enemy’s numbers.

The scattered gasoline still burned around them, lighting the night like day. As the thick fog thinned slightly, the logistics troops stationed on the Iron Wall triggered the Recoil Devices once more. They targeted areas far from the ten Thorn Lamps, mowing down enemies who had just caught their breath.

An He was part of the second wave. She pulled on her face mask and secured her forehead guard, leaving only a pair of pitch-black eyes exposed.

The fifteen other members of the second wave were ready for the handoff.

Ide would need to join the fray personally as well.

Their frontline had to hold beyond the High Wall.

As she watched her teammates act, An He suddenly called out to Ide, speaking at breakneck speed. “Commander, I request to swap positions with you.”

Ide paused for a split second. “What?”

Their original plan had Ide tackling the strongest foe, while An He and the other capable Thorn Lamps handled the rest of the enemy forces—match strength to strength, that was the plan and the battle consensus.

“Commander, none of their strongest Embedded Spirit Bodies died. You must have noticed—their Nestsouls are tailored to counter you. Going head-to-head with the top dogs gives us slim odds.” Seeing the enemies below starting to recover, An He spoke as fast as she could. “Ever heard of Tian Ji’s Horse Race? If not, just think of it as strong against mid, mid against weak, weak against strong.”

An He hadn’t wanted to resort to such a risky gambit—after all, lives weren’t horses; there were no do-overs.

But with those six tricky Embedded Spirit Bodies—plus Sora—all surviving the blast, sticking to strong-vs-strong and weak-vs-weak would drag the fight out endlessly, with no chance of victory in a war of attrition.

The enemies’ Innate Talents were known to them, and the foes’ abilities outclassed theirs. Victory demanded unconventional tactics.

Down below, the surviving enemies snapped to attention and launched attacks on the ten Thorn Lamps.

An He kept her eyes glued to the enemies’ movements, poised for a rapid descent. She rushed on: “Commander, you take the shield, heterization, and transfer abilities of the Golden Monkey—more than enough for you. You’ll dispatch those supports in minimal time. Once we break up those six, we have a shot at winning.”

Ide had no time to wonder who the Golden Monkey referred to. She caught on quick. “You mean you’re the ‘weak’? Who do you take on?”

“I’m not weak—I’m the ‘unknown.’ No other fortress has seen a swarm of ravens.” An He’s lone scout bird took flight, rising to match the circling Golden Eagle‘s altitude.

This Golden Eagle Nestsoul was hyper-specialized, a fellow bird like hers. Its owner—that buzz-cut towering brute—had an Innate Talent even Gu Xianqing hadn’t probed. This was undoubtedly the toughest foe.

An He turned to Ide. “I’ll handle this Golden Eagle.”

“You sure?” The Golden Eagle’s handler on the ground looked twice as burly as two An Hes.

“Dead sure,” An He said. “I might not kill her. My goal is to buy you time to shatter their lines. Commander, approve my request.”

If Ide were the type to stand on ceremony, she’d never greenlight a subordinate’s crazy pitch—it’d be like using an ox to slaughter a chicken.

But An He knew Ide didn’t care for posturing.

“Approved.” Ide mulled it over for a moment before replying. She gave An He a complex look. “No heroics. Win or lose, pull back if it’s dicey. I’ll take out a few supports and reinforce you ASAP. As for Sora, the rest of the Thorn Lamps will stall her.”

“I’ll do my best.” An He had no intention of dying gloriously—she wanted to live, but she wasn’t terrified of death either.

Ide swiftly reassigned per the new plan. Heidi would lead four Thorn Lamps stronger than her to draw Sora away.

On the ground, the first wave of Thorn Lamps had clashed with the enemy.

Sora steeled herself for a fight to the death with the Thorn Lamps—only for those ten to flip the script. Instead of engaging, they bolted straight for the Iron Wall, retreating under Recoil Device cover.

Like cowards.

Sora and her crew plunged into utter confusion once more—this flew in the face of everything they knew about the Ninth Fortress. They hadn’t even unleashed their counters yet.

In that moment of bewilderment, the ten Thorn Lamps were hauled back onto the wall. The instant their feet left the ground, a deeper cache of fuel bombs detonated—Ide played this round dirty, holding back as per her subordinates’ advice, splitting the ammo into waves to keep the enemy off-balance.

No one knew if more lay buried below, or when the next blast might come.

Fresh flames roared up, merging into a massive inferno. Amid the smoke, the Thorn Lamps’ true core force rappelled down steel cables, boots hitting the dirt beyond the Iron Wall.

The blaze lit their silhouettes against the sky, the stark Iron Wall reflecting orange glows as if to sear their shadows too.

They trampled gasoline mingled with flesh, crushed armored vehicle scraps, black soil soaked in blood—charging without hesitation at the invaders on their turf.

The fifteen Thorn Lamps fanned out with drilled precision, plunging into the firefight.

An He lowered her center of gravity, military knife in hand, trailing Ide. The commander’s towering frame fully shielded her. As they closed on the buzz-cut giantess, Ide veered sharply, redirecting her assault on the enemy supports.

The buzz-cut giantess had braced for Ide—only for Ide to swerve. From the billow of her coat tails emerged An He’s fathomless eyes, twin gleams of cold steel flashing in their wake.

Time seemed to thicken, glutted with viscous gel. As the giantess slowly raised her head, that Thorn Lamp with the alien gaze leaped skyward, blade arcing down at her skull.

Her speed was unreal, absurdly fast—even mid-swing, she had time to draw her sidearm and sight the throat opposite.

High overhead, a black raven threw its wings back, diving at the hovering Golden Eagle with matching velocity.

On this battlefield, a total unknown had appeared.

An enemy showing only her eyes.