Chapter 571: The Situation

"It's not so much that Mr. Little Wiltonstein's Life Divine Authority is powerful, but rather that these beast-blood warriors still have fatal flaws."

At the same time, in a sixteen-story magic tower somewhere in the clouds beyond the battlefield, a group of people were also observing and commenting on the battlefield situation.

But in terms of identity and power, the level here was undoubtedly higher.

Before the magical image stood National Security Advisor Jankerson Richard, National Intelligence Director Wade Steider, FBI Director Adam Gowen, Secretary of Defense Lieutenant General Daniel Boone, CIA Central Intelligence Division Director Cressy Lewis, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Clyde Brown.

Also present were American National Sorcerers Christie Brad, Torre de Oro, and Rajia Barkley.

"General Brown, it seems this beast-blood potion still has a long way to go—"

The speaker was National Intelligence Director Wade Steider. Clyde Brown remained silent, his expression impassive.

But CIA Central Intelligence Division Director Cressy Lewis frowned slightly: "Yet they still have great practical value. High-level Life Divine Authority is very rare."

Steider smiled and said nothing more. He knew that the CIA had invested heavily in the beast-blood warrior project and had enormous interests, to the point where Mr. Lewis would not hesitate to directly contradict his superior.

This was also due to the fact that as National Intelligence Director, his control over the CIA was the weakest. The Central Intelligence Agency had always been a system unto itself among all American intelligence agencies; its director was also a member of the White House Cabinet, ranking even above him. Naturally, the agency's high-ranking officials looked down on his role, which was more of a coordinator between various agencies.

A mere division chief thought he could match him in status—even though the Intelligence Division was the most important component of the CIA.

Lieutenant General Daniel Boone sneered and shook his head: "Rare doesn't mean nonexistent. Our enemies, the two great Eastern powers and the Black Demon Empire, will not lack such strength. If their beast-blood warriors perform like this, the Department of Defense will not place any orders with them!"

But everyone present knew that this retired lieutenant general, who had originally served as Secretary of Defense as a 'transitional figure' under a compromise among various forces, was able to continue in that position after the President's re-election for two reasons: first, his successful military operation against the Grand Duchy of Bloodwing; second, the rise of the Wiltonstein family—at this time, the 'Light Demon and Rising Sun' alliance had become an extremely powerful force within American territory.

Although the President had planned to replace the Secretary of Defense as early as half a year ago, it had yet to be realized. The current replacement of this position depended on the war they were observing and the divine battle in Manhattan.

—If the 'Light Demon and Rising Sun' alliance won, even the nation's leader would have to do everything possible to unite their strength.

That would not only secure Lieutenant General Daniel Boone's position but also determine the fate of several high-ranking officials in the White House and Cabinet. When the National Progressive Association and the 'Light Demon and Rising Sun' alliance could no longer contend with their enemies, what right would they have to maintain their influence at the highest levels of government?

So Lieutenant General Daniel Boone's remarks and stance were predictable.

"That is not our concern right now!"

National Security Advisor Jankerson Richard's face was cold: "Ms. Brad, Mr. de Oro, and Mr. Barkley, I want to ask you three: is the current battlefield situation within controllable limits?"

"How should I put it?"

Torre de Oro replied. He glanced at the magical projection, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "The situation is dire, Mr. Richard! We are working with the Atlanta Magic Tower Committee to control the impact of this war on the surrounding population. So far, the periphery of the battlefield is safe; the Wiltonstein Group has done thorough evacuation work. However, I am not optimistic about the follow-up. If the Rising Sun Group's forces continue to retreat and the front line moves closer to the city center, we may have to prepare for casualties of over three million in downtown Atlanta. Unfortunately, the air-raid shelters and refuges in downtown Atlanta are not strong enough to ensure the safety of Atlanta's citizens."

His words drew sidelong glances from everyone present.

Torre de Oro explained nonchalantly: "The forces the Wiltonstein family has deployed exceed our expectations, ladies and gentlemen! And the National Progressive Association's reserves are also very substantial. It is difficult to accurately predict the scale of this war. Advisor Richard, that is why you asked me, isn't it? But unfortunately, we may not be able to do it. So my suggestion is to continue the evacuation, maintain a no-man's land within the sixty-nine kilometers from Fort Saint to downtown Atlanta; in addition, we need to mobilize more forces to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Atlanta Magic Tower Array. Under the current situation, I think no amount of caution is excessive."

"A very reasonable suggestion."

National Security Advisor Jankerson Richard frowned deeply: "We need to persuade the President to transfer the two National Sorcerers on standby in Abraham, and have the White House coordinate with the Atlanta city government to advance the evacuation. This will be difficult, but we must do it."

"But I think what we should do is stop this war. It cannot continue, ladies and gentlemen!"

FBI Director Adam Gowen sighed: "In Manhattan, 'God of Processing' Ivan Cote and 'Magic Knight' Lancelot Rhodes are dead. Although the latter is an Australian sorcerer, it is still an irreparable loss for America. I think the President will regret standing by today."

"That is obvious. The problem is, we may not have the ability to stop them."

National Intelligence Director Wade Steider said with a helpless tone, but then his gaze sharpened: "The overall commander of the National Progressive Association is Salas, isn't it? What a ruthless fellow."

At that moment, everyone present felt the same way.

Before their eyes, the more than two thousand 'beast-blood warriors' besieging the two ancient dragons had either consumed all their lives under someone's Life Divine Authority or died directly from endless mutations.

But another batch of 'beast-blood warriors' from the National Progressive Association was also deployed at this time, along with a small number of Outlaws joining in.

At this point, even someone with no tactical understanding could see the National Progressive Association's intention: using those beast-blood warriors, using human lives, to contain the two ancient dragons.

Thanks to this, the two main combat clusters of the National Progressive Association had advanced five kilometers on all fronts within fifteen minutes.

Their commander seemed utterly indifferent to casualties. After more than twenty thousand dead and twelve hundred tanks and armored vehicles destroyed, the National Progressive Association's offensive remained powerful, fierce, crazy, and strong. They also deployed a large number of Outlaws for charging and breaking through on all fronts.

The Rising Sun Group's private army had been forced to abandon a trench and reorganize their defenses in another trench line two kilometers away.

At the same time, another war of equal scale broke out about thirty-five kilometers from Fort Saint.

The seven armored divisions and three mechanized infantry divisions that the Wiltonstein Group had massed at Wiltonstein Castle had launched a fierce attack twenty-seven minutes earlier. Tens of thousands of tanks and armored vehicles spread out in a fan shape twenty-two kilometers long, like a surging iron tide, violently colliding with the thirteen elite divisions under the National Progressive Association's Third Cluster.

Although the Wiltonstein Group was at a numerical disadvantage, they gained a considerable advantage in the initial engagement thanks to the heavy artillery in the rear. The fierce artillery fire destroyed at least two hundred tanks and armored vehicles on the opposite side in just two minutes.

However, those in the magic tower were not optimistic. National Intelligence Director Wade Steider shook his head slightly: "Voluntarily leaving defensive positions and fortifications is not a good idea. They could have pinned down the National Progressive Association's Third Combat Group at Wiltonstein Castle."

"Indeed!"

Adam Gowen also looked puzzled: "The National Progressive Association's intention to besiege a point to ambush reinforcements is obvious. Open-field melee is especially unfavorable for them."

This was already happening. The number of Outlaws the National Progressive Association deployed in the north was no less than ten thousand. Their efforts were gradually eroding the advantages the Wiltonstein side had gained. Every minute there, dozens of tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed, most of them by the Outlaws' man-portable anti-tank weapons.

Moreover, many legends from the National Progressive Association were entering the battlefield one after another. As time passed, these more than one hundred and twenty legendary magic-energy professionals would inevitably change the course of the battle.

So Adam Gowen found it strange. Under circumstances where Fort Saint could still hold the line and showed no clear signs of defeat, the Wiltonstein Group commander's choice was particularly puzzling.

Unless—

At that moment, a thought that struck him as very absurd emerged in Adam Gowen's mind.

Was the Wiltonstein Group's strategy to prevent the war from further affecting the surrounding area?

—If the front line continued to advance, it would indeed put enormous pressure on Atlanta's Magic Tower Array.

At that time, even with the support of three sorcerers, the array could not withstand the devastation of hundreds of thousands of bullets and shells, and the power of hundreds of legends and demigods.

But this was a war for hegemony over America's southern coast, determining the rise and fall of several supreme families. Would a man like Consulius, a true hegemon, care about civilian casualties?

There was another possibility: the Wiltonstein grandfather and grandson might believe their strength actually surpassed that of their opponent. They were trying to end the war as quickly as possible—but this guess seemed even more absurd to Adam Gowen.

Just then, Wade Steider's exclamation interrupted his thoughts.

"That's 'Blood-Eyed Angel' Robert E. Vaughn!"

Everyone followed his gaze to the magical image on the left, and their eyes showed surprise.

They were looking at the woman in maid's attire on the northern battlefield, who was continuously unleashing wind blades around her—that was the Blood-Eyed Maid Robert E. Vaughn, who had become famous throughout America over the past year.

Within less than a minute of this powerful demigod's presence in the center of the battlefield, over a hundred heavy tanks on the National Progressive Association's side had been destroyed by her wind blades.

"Robert, deployed so quickly?"

"Notice the pendant on her chest! That should be a new quasi-mythical equipment—"

"I recognize that thing. It's Ivan Bloy's 'Wings of Source Force,' a powerful quasi-mythical artifact. It can enhance source force level and the ultimate 'Source Force Domain.' This maid's strength is undoubtedly greater!"

"This makes me even more confused. This is undoubtedly sorcerer-level power, isn't it?"

"The divine authority of Battle Wind is indeed the type that becomes stronger the earlier it enters combat. But deploying divine domain power so eagerly at the very start of the battle is indeed puzzling."

"Agreed! The Wiltonstein family gives me the feeling that they are eagerly putting all their most important cards on the table one by one. But it doesn't seem like they are forced to do so; rather, it feels like they are forcing their opponent—"

"Now we'll see how the National Progressive Association responds. Will they send down their gods and sorcerers, or continue to consume with Outlaws' lives?"

"This is interesting, ladies and gentlemen! The National Progressive Association has refused to show hand."

...

As Li Mochen expected, the enemy chose to deploy five demigods to contain Robert.

At this moment, the Blood-Eyed Maid's combat power was strong, but not yet at the level of a deity. Her destructive power and lethality would only be fully unleashed after at least twenty minutes.

But the fact that the enemy chose only to contain, rather than suppress this soon-to-be divine combat power from the start, was enough for Michael Wood and many other commanders to discern the opponent's mindset.

Before the command desk, Michael Wood's eyes glimmered: "Obviously, they are not confident in suppressing us at the divine level. Your battle strategy, Boss, has made them wary, even uneasy—"

"There's also the Sky Scepter."

Chief of Staff Brigadier General Noah Badru added: "They are unwilling to suffer losses at the level of gods and sorcerers. Their goal remains to consume our grassroots forces."

But understanding was one thing; the two could not come up with many targeted countermeasures. The National Progressive Association's foundation in basic forces was too deep, too deep for them to reverse with tactics and strategy.

All they could do now was to follow the predetermined plan to end this war step by step.

The only thing they could confirm at this moment was that their side indeed had a considerable advantage in top-level combat power.

"Sanchez, haven't you found their location yet?"

Michael Wood looked impatiently to the east, where he had set up a temporary staff group in the general command post. A total of twenty-two staff officers were bustling about like ants on a hot pan.

His adjutant, Sanchez Virginia, sat in front of a military computer, sweating profusely as he looked up.

"Sorry, sir! Please give me three more minutes. They have set up numerous decoys and used very advanced illusions. So I need three more minutes. Within three minutes, I will find the location of those control devices, I promise! We have clues now; we are doing the final deduction and verification."

"Please hurry!"

Michael Wood frowned, his voice full of dissatisfaction: "Notify Lieutenant Colonel Sampson Brut and Major Thompson Adams to put their Storm Troops on highest alert, awaiting orders to deploy."

He was anxious about the progress of the temporary staff group, because the number of beast-blood warriors the National Progressive Association had deployed had already exceeded twenty-five thousand! And one minute ago, based on satellite imagery and observations from numerous legendary mages, the third batch of beast-blood warriors from the National Progressive Association was estimated to number four thousand. The enemy's supply of beast-blood warriors seemed endless.

Although Li Mochen's Life and Death Divine Authority had a great restraining effect on these biochemical weapons, he could only control the life and death of three thousand beast-blood warriors at a time, requiring at least ten minutes.

But these beast-blood warriors were exerting strong pressure on them on all fronts.

Their power was not enough to decide the outcome of the war, but they could cause heavy casualties among his subordinate units.

So Michael Wood also did not agree at all with the Wiltonstein family's main combat group in the north taking the initiative to attack. If they had maintained a defensive strategy, he was confident that using the trenches and the solid walls of Fort Saint and several temporary fortresses, they could wear down the enemy's strength.

But now, the Wiltonstein family's main combat group had not only failed to help them contain the enemy's forces but had forced the Rising Sun Group to adopt a more aggressive defensive strategy to ensure that the enemy in front could not turn north.

And the reason his Boss chose to do this, others might not know, but he understood. It was because Wiltonstein Castle was closer to the city center, surrounded by many residential buildings. And the intensity of this war would certainly exceed the defense level of Atlanta's Magic Tower Array.

His BOSS did not want this war to cause massive casualties in Atlanta again.

Michael Wood strongly disapproved of this approach; in Eastern terms, it was the benevolence of a woman.

Yet the values he had always held made Michael Wood willing to strive for it.

Their only way to quickly turn the tide now was to destroy the device the enemy used to control the Beast Blood Warriors with overwhelming force—this was one of the weaknesses they had analyzed beforehand.

The two 'Storm' units under Sampson Brut and Thompson Adams were currently the most elite force of the Rising Sun Group. Totaling 450 men, all professionals above level 12, equipped with 'Warrior-Class Type A' bio-armor and 'Demon-Subduing' land combat magical armor, and all other ranged and melee weapons reached the 17S level.

Almost every one of them, bolstered by this equipment, possessed strength close to level 19 professional standards. This was undoubtedly a heavy hammer, but it had to be used at the most opportune moment and the most suitable location.

Another thing that comforted him was that the Wiltons still had a huge advantage in terms of mages.

To suppress the destructive power of the two ancient dragons, the enemy had not only deployed thousands of Beast Blood Warriors and over eight hundred Outlaws, but also committed over a thousand mages, and even several legendary mages to the battle.

"Convey my orders: have Uhtred Demacia, Mr. Faust, and Professor Alex Gransee launch an all-out offensive to relieve pressure on all fronts."

Li Mochen, seated at the rear, responded calmly: "No need to rush, Michael. The casualties are indeed severe now, but what we need is a single decisive strike! That requires us to identify and lock onto the real target before we strike. A good hunter must first be patient; hasty action is useless before adequate preparation—"

At that moment, his expression tightened slightly, and he frowned. This was because he sensed a presence in the command center that was different from his subordinates.