"Fifty percent casualty tolerance?" Muria was stunned by what he heard. The family was sending full-fledged members to the battlefield, and in the Douglas family, every official member was an elite. Yet, the family was prepared to accept a fifty percent casualty rate. This was almost incomprehensible.
It was a stark reminder of the brutality of the war between humanity and the alien species. If those at the top were facing such grim odds, the mortality rate among regular soldiers was likely unspeakable.
"Yes, under normal circumstances, the casualty limit is thirty percent. The leading elder must ensure that their unit's losses do not exceed that. Otherwise, they'll face accountability. But your case is different, so the limit is fifty percent."
"Huh? Does this mean the family thinks I'm less capable than the elders who've led in the past?" Muria's expression turned displeased.
"Of course not. You're different from us older folks who've lost our prime and exhausted our potential. Once you step onto the battlefield, the aliens will target you relentlessly. The pressure you'll face will far exceed ours. That's why the family has fewer demands on you."
Seeing Muria's dissatisfaction, a few elders immediately explained, trying to calm him down.
"Target me? Interesting. Let them try. Let's see if they can kill me," Muria said with a calm demeanor, but his words carried a youthful defiance.
"Jeros, you must not underestimate them. The Celestial Descendants are nothing like the mutated species you've been fighting in the city. Those were meant for the Federation's younger generation to practice against. The Celestial Descendants are a different matter entirely—they're capable of erasing humanity from existence."
"One is a species we've practically domesticated, carefully holding back to ensure their survival. The other is an intelligent race we must unite against. They're not on the same level."
"I understand." Muria's expression remained unchanged. He had already gathered a decent amount of information about the Celestial Descendants through various channels.
At the same time, he couldn't help but find the mutated species laughable. It was almost absurd that these creatures were considered equal to the native species and Celestial Descendants. The comparison felt insulting to the latter two.
A species that needed humans to breed and keep alive—what a joke. Judging by the elders' tone, it seemed they were worried about accidentally wiping out the mutated species, even needing to show restraint.
"Jeros, don't focus on killing the enemy. Your priority is survival. That alone will be a great success. You're still young and have the potential for even greater achievements. That's your greatest asset."
Sensing Muria's stubbornness and his apparent readiness to clash head-on with the Celestial Descendants, the family elders grew alarmed. They began earnestly advising him, hoping to dissuade him from such dangerous notions.
"I understand. If I encounter insurmountable danger, I'll run," Muria replied, feigning a helpless expression.
His current strength was equivalent to the Soul Intent stage, while the world's power ceiling seemed to hover around the Legendary level. There might be divine beings, but there were unlikely to be any Mythic-tier individuals.
Facing a Legendary, Muria didn't claim he could defeat or kill them, but he was confident he wouldn't be killed. Survival was not something he needed to worry about.
---
At a massive station, hundreds of high-speed trains, each over a hundred meters long, were lined up, all facing the same direction. From the control room, one could see tens of thousands of trains waiting for departure.
Most of these trains were loaded with various military supplies, while a smaller portion carried a mix of young, inexperienced, and more seasoned faces. These were the unlucky individuals selected by the Federation for the battlefield, and they were all considered elites.
Before the Celestial Descendants began descending, the three great human nations had strained relationships, each wishing for the other's downfall. But in a war of such magnitude, one that threatened humanity's very survival, the Federation's leadership had no intention of sabotaging the Empire.
Sabotaging the Empire now would ultimately backfire on them. If the Empire fell to the Celestial Descendants, the latter would gain more territory and resources, becoming an even greater threat. Thus, the Federation spared no effort, sending the best materials and soldiers to support the Empire.
---
"What are you all doing here?" Muria asked with a faint smile as he looked at the thirteen young men and women lounging around in his spacious, comfortable train compartment.
"Teacher, since you're going to the frontlines, it's only right for us, your followers, to come along. Otherwise, we'd be neglecting our duties," replied Victor, the second person to voluntarily accept Muria's martial seed, grinning cheekily.
Going to the battlefield before even graduating from university was, to most people, a foolish decision. Yet Victor had done just that, even clashing with his parents multiple times to secure their approval. In the end, he had prevailed and boarded this train bound for potential death.
"Do you understand the consequences of joining this war?" Muria scanned the young men and women in the room. "Following me here is reckless. If you die, it's for nothing."
"But teacher, you'll protect us, won't you?" A girl named Betty batted her eyes, smiling playfully.
"Hmph. Let me be clear—I have a fifty percent casualty quota," Muria said, attempting to scare these reckless followers. "In other words, even if half of you die, I won't face any consequences."
"Ah!" The group was visibly startled by the grim statistic. The death rate was terrifyingly high.
"But brother," a girl named Desley asked after recovering from her shock, "even if you have such a high quota, you won't actually let us die, right?"
"Depends on my mood." Muria glanced dismissively at the group that had squeezed into his private compartment.
"Ha! I knew it. You might have a high quota, but you'd never use it," one of them chuckled.
Muria closed his eyes, ignoring their chatter. They were his students, people he had trained for a long time. Now that they had followed him to the battlefield, how could he sit back and let them be killed by monsters? The question was pointless.
---
"Report! The third defensive line has been breached. An unknown number of aliens have crossed the line. Based on their trajectory, their target is predicted to be Celavy Station!"
In an underground command center, a tense voice broke the silence, immediately alerting the commanding officer.
"The third defensive line has been breached? It's been less than twenty minutes since the call for reinforcements, and Silva couldn't hold? Where is he? Get me his communication link."
Hearing the unexpected report, the commanding officer's expression remained calm but deeply serious.
"Report! Commander Silva's life signs ceased five minutes ago."
The command center fell into stunned silence. Staff members exchanged nervous glances, struggling to mask their fear. Commanding a defensive line required a titled Star Knight, a figure of immense importance. The fact that such a person had fallen so quickly was shocking.
"Why are you all panicking? Focus on your work! A commander dying in battle doesn't mean the Empire will fall," the commanding officer barked, restoring order.
"Less than a quarter of an hour to kill Silva... At least two alien generals must be involved. Their target is Celavy Station."
The grizzled commander closed his eyes briefly. "The station... Today is the day of the Federation's supply and troop reinforcements. Their objective is clear—supplies and reinforcements."
Opening his eyes with a flash of realization, the officer's expression darkened. "Someone leaked this information."
The Federation's reinforcements were a vital injection of resources and troops, many of them elite recruits. Losing them would weaken the Empire's already strained defenses.
"Notify the Federation forces immediately. Inform them that a force led by at least three alien generals is headed their way. They must prepare for battle. The Empire will send reinforcements as quickly as possible."
"Yes, sir!"
---
"Jeros, come with me quickly!"
An elder barged into Muria's private compartment, visibly anxious.
"What's going on?" Muria asked, remaining calm.
"The Empire screwed up. A group of Celestial Descendants breached the defensive line and somehow learned our route."
"So, a group of aliens is heading our way?" Muria raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. It's estimated that at least three generals are leading the attack. You need to come with me now!"
"You want me to run?"
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