Translator: CinderTL
Feng Qi was currently reviewing the contents of the last email Li Xingchen had sent him.
Li Xingchen:
Little Qi, by the time you read this, the Dawn Army should have crossed the mountains and reached the Future Plains.
As you've likely already guessed, the black shadow chose not to preemptively bombard the Dawn Army's advance with technological weapons not because it harbored any hope for peace talks, but because it wanted to fight the Dawn Army from a position of moral superiority.
Currently, the residents of all major cities still cling to the hope of a peaceful resolution.
Whoever strikes first in this conflict will become the target of public condemnation across the cities.
At that point, other Domain Sleeper Factions, pressured by public opinion, might mobilize their forces to join the sanctions against the Dawn Army.
I know you couldn't care less about this. For you, the moment the Dawn Army marched out, all paths of retreat were abandoned, and only forward progress remained in your hearts.
As the future leader of the Future Research Institute, the assistance I can now provide to the Dawn Army is extremely limited.
Before the war began, the black shadow had already consolidated all control.
Even if I were to remain by the black shadow's side now, I would be unable to influence the course of the war.
The southern gate of Future City is the Dawn Army's first obstacle, and it is also the place I have chosen as my final destination.
After enduring years of oppression, I had countless times wanted to muster the courage to rebel. But whenever I recalled my teacher's dying words, I chose patience and waiting.
Endless waiting, constant mistakes.
In the darkness, I saw no glimmer of hope, only felt myself sinking further into depravity.
Until I met you.
A human lifetime is fleeting, like a white horse galloping past a crack in the wall, gone in an instant.
But your lifetime is vast, like a mountain stream, flowing endlessly.
The human race is fortunate to have you.
Listening to you recount the struggles and sacrifices of the Sacrifice Lines, I suddenly realized that the golden armor, iron horses, and swift revenge that had only existed in my fantasies paled in comparison.
I once asked my teacher what kind of person could truly be called a historical figure.
He smiled and replied:
One who carries on the legacy of the past, bridging the old and the new. One whose brilliance illuminates future generations, shining through the ages.
Knowing full well that it would wither, you still chose to bloom fearlessly.
Flower bud, blossom, full bloom, wither, then bloom again... countless efforts, all to capture that final, eternal bloom.
Little Qi, sharing an era with you has been my salvation. It has freed me from the doubt of whether continuing my downward spiral could truly lead to a chance for redemption.
Don't laugh at me, but during our casual conversation in Star City years ago, I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
Humans are strange creatures. We endure immense suffering in silence, yet the slightest understanding or comfort can easily bring us to tears.
The time has come for my life of sin to end.
Don't grieve for me; you should rejoice.
At least I chose to die singing, fighting like a warrior, rather than continuing to live in quiet desperation. I've already installed the energy core crafted by our teacher's own hands. In this final battle, he will be with me.
Finally, Little Qi, take up my baton.
Await the propulsion fireworks I will unleash for the Dawn Army's advance.
Gazing at the brilliantly lit Future City in the distance, Feng Qi understood that Li Xingchen was prepared to die and knew what he intended to do next.
Li Xingchen planned to seize control of the city gates and use the technological weapons there to launch a preemptive strike against the Dawn Army.
This was the "propulsion fireworks" Li Xingchen had described in his message.
If he succeeded, the black shadow's plan to claim the moral high ground would crumble. It would lose the support of public opinion from other cities.
Feng Qi turned his gaze east and west, his vision piercing through the thick darkness. He faintly discerned figures emerging from the shadows.
These were either humans from other cities or spies sent by the Domain Sleeper Faction.
Their sole purpose was to gather intelligence. Some investigators even deployed drones into the night sky, transmitting real-time footage back to their headquarters.
Looking up at the sky, Feng Qi felt the icy raindrops stinging his cheeks.
His eyes hardened with resolve.
The campfire crackled before him. He accepted the food box Mu Qing handed him and began to eat voraciously.
The coming battle would be brutal, with no time for rest.
Storming the Future Main City was merely the first step. The Dawn Army's ultimate objective was the Technology Research Institute within Future City.
After finishing dinner and resting for several hours, Feng Qi stood up.
"All troops, prepare for battle! Prepare to surge into Future City!"
At his command, the soldiers rose to their feet, their cold eyes burning with battle lust.
"Senior sister, if Li Xingchen fails, breaching the city gates falls to you."
Standing beside him, Mu Qing nodded solemnly, her eyes radiating boundless determination.
This battle would have no tactics, no strategy.
The purpose of strategy is to inflict maximum casualties on the enemy while minimizing one's own losses. But strategy is most effective in protracted wars of attrition—even years-long sieges.
With the external situation in chaos and the Dawn Army's supply lines stretched thin, a war of attrition would only lead to absolute disadvantage.
As he had told Qin Shikong:
This battle has no strategy. There is only one principle: seize Future City as quickly as possible, regardless of casualties.
"Form ranks!"
As his words fell, the warriors reorganized according to the original plan, continuously extending their battle line into a long, horizontal dragon formation.
"Advance!"
Their footsteps were uniform, each stride shaking the ground.
Many young faces dotted the ranks.
These were fresh recruits who had joined the Dawn Army straight from the academy.
Upon joining Dawn, these newly graduated youths had already styled themselves as veteran warriors, their confidence stemming from their stellar records in the virtual reality game Dawn.
Though they had never set foot on a real battlefield, they already considered themselves seasoned combatants.
But reality was no game.
In a game, you could retry endlessly, analyzing your failures to improve.
On a real battlefield, failure meant death, leaving no room for regret.
Now, they felt the oppressive weight of impending war.
Uncertainty about the future, fear of death... a maelstrom of negative emotions churned within them.
Yet their eyes remained resolute, their determination far outweighing their inner turmoil.
At that moment, many recalled the words Feng Qi had spoken to them from the graduation stage:
"Our world is shrouded in darkness, but I firmly believe that perseverance will lead to dawn. History may not remember you, but you will have lived up to the tireless nights you spent studying at the academy... This world becomes a better place because of the courage of young people stepping forward..."
Beneath their youthful faces, they marched forward with unwavering steps, their resolute gazes fixed on Feng Qi, who led the vanguard.
Suddenly, flashes of fire erupted from the distant walls of Future City. A barrage of missiles soared into the sky, hurtling toward the Dawn Army with blinding speed.
A smile spread across Feng Qi's face.
He knew Li Xingchen had succeeded.
The missiles detonated just ahead of the Dawn Army, unleashing shockwaves that whipped the Dawn Banner into a frenzy.
Feng Qi's gaze pierced through the thick smoke and dust, stretching forward until it focused on the slowly opening city gates and Li Xingchen, standing on the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
His body was covered in blood and grime, half of his torso torn open, arcs of electricity crackling across his skin. Leaning against the city wall, he stood at a slant, gazing toward the Dawn Army with a radiant smile.
"Dawn Army warrior Li Xingchen... mission complete... Finally, may your martial fortunes prosper!"
As he murmured these words, the red energy core in Li Xingchen's chest flickered and went dark.
The cigarette's ember reached its end, and the radiant smile froze permanently on his face.
Witnessing this, Feng Qi's lips trembled slightly before he unleashed a battle cry:
"Kill!"
Instantly, countless roars echoed behind him as the Dawn Army warriors surged forward, launching their assault on Future City.
(End of the Chapter)
---------------------------
📖 You are reading [724] Chapters behind with [166] Free Chapters available on site.
🔥 Read up to Chapter [1192] now, only on ᴄɪɴᴅᴇʀᴛʟ.ᴄᴏᴍ.
📊 [17] Novels, [14.6K+] Chapters with [11.4K+] Free Chapters!, [23.3M] Words on ℂ𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕋𝕃.𝕔𝕠𝕞
---------------------------