Wei Shiyue strutted around the port of Shangjing.
Takahashi Kyoko loaded her heavy sniper rifle, her eyes fixed on the White Dragon in full view from the window of the Xisheng Hotel.
The military fleet of Xisheng had suffered heavy losses in the dragonfire assaults; the surface ships, already lacking in maintenance and outdated, made enormous sounds as they sank into the sea, as if wailing.
"Do you see the target?" The communicator’s voice sounded in Takahashi Kyoko’s head, with about a quarter of her brain replaced by machinery, integrating a variety of functions.
"Permission to fire. Authorization code HT7495," the communicator confirmed the order.
Takahashi Kyoko was a member of the Kyoto Unlimited Riot Control Mobile Team, summoned back to Shangjing thirty minutes ago. Mobilizing an elite Witch like her required multiple approvals.
"Yes," Takahashi Kyoko activated her power, her eyes glowing with the light of Magic Power, revealing Wei Shiyue’s vulnerabilities clearly.
She aimed at the pretty neck of Wei Shiyue, the only vulnerable spot left in its elegant Dragon Scales, the target area extremely clear in her vision.
One strike to subdue the enemy.
Takahashi Kyoko predicted hundreds of Wei Shiyue’s potential movements, waiting patiently, breathing, and then firing.
Wei Shiyue detected the threat in the wind and, with a powerful slap of its tail, tried to twist away but was shot through the neck in an instant!
It instinctively let out a scream as its huge body heavily plummeted toward the sea surface, crashing into the depths of Shangjing Bay!
The burning ships illuminated the water with firelight, thick blood from Wei Shiyue’s fall into the sea spreading endlessly with the waves.
Screams erupted from the support groups in the harbor as they watched Wei Shiyue fall, their excitement turning into panic and fear.
Numerous scouting drones skimmed the water, attempting to retrieve Wei Shiyue, only to see it dragged away by a massive creature beneath the sea, the drones capturing nothing but the large Ocean Descendant matching the database’s "Crimson Prince," the Red Thorn Behemoth.
With a massive tail, it wrapped up the dying Wei Shiyue and dragged her into the deep sea, seemingly not to prey on her but to rescue her.
The underwater enemy could only be left to the deep-sea Shuttle Machines; with the mission concluded, Takahashi Kyoko packed away her sniper rifle.
"Awaiting instructions," she said, her voice flat.
"Return to command center," the communicator ordered.
Takahashi Kyoko’s whole life consisted of fighting and following orders; her medical department at Kyoto Infinity left little room for independent thought. Known as a classic case of a modified Witch and the ace of the Mobile Riot Squad, she would never rebel, no matter the circumstances.
She jumped out the window and maneuvered back to the temporary supreme command center of the New Xisheng Group using the huge jet Iron Wings on her back.
Utilizing relationships built over many years, Yuan Chaozong secretly borrowed an asset in Shangjing from the Rose Medical Group, setting up the command post within a neutral company’s area to avoid Nestor Corporation’s strikes.
"Reporting," she entered the operations room and saluted Tenjouin Kiriyari, "Riot Control Mobile Team Takahashi Kyoko awaiting orders."
"Go sleep. Rest up," Tenjouin Kiriyari, focused on the strategic map in front of him, commanded, "You and Orochi will launch an attack in the morning, other motherships will coordinate with our action."
Daytime is advantageous for multiple air strikes from the space motherships; the efficiency of daytime bombing far exceeds that of the night.
The strategic value of the mothership lies here; even if the airfields are suppressed, the space mothership can maintain air superiority.
"Our counterattack plan is working," the staff officer reported to Tenjouin Kiriyari, "We’ve destroyed White Island Bridge and inflicted heavy damage on Wei Shiyue."
"Understood. You should also rest," Tenjouin Kiriyari instructed, "Everyone take turns resting according to the schedule. Nestor Corporation is a bunch of robots; they don’t need sleep, but we can’t collapse."
The staff officer saluted Tenjouin Kiriyari.
Kiriyari sat in front of the desk, his thoughts stirring over and over – he was prepared to stay awake for forty-eight hours.
A medical officer stationed behind him equipped a first-aid drone, continually providing him with supportive drugs, allowing him to remain highly concentrated and continuously organize counterattacks.
"Three hours and thirty-nine minutes into the battle," Hundred-eyes Demon reported to Tenjouin Kiriyari, "We’ve lost 4 Battle Witches, 55 armored vehicles, 13,300 soldiers, 656 robots, 68 guns, 13 water surface ships, 78 fighters, 8 armed helicopters, and 14 types of shuttle machines. The enemy is estimated to have lost 1,020 Synthetic Humans, which is 36%~40% of their total Synthetic Human forces."
"The battle is in our favor," the staff officer brightened up, "Nestor Corporation lacks missiles and space-based weapons, relying solely on their Witches and Synthetic Human Troops. They are nearly depleting their resources."
As a Warship Tactics Master, Kiriyari, through referencing and reviewing the warship duel between Xia and Black Fire Innovation, now had a new understanding of the tactical use of motherships, which was just right for facing off against Nestor Corporation.
"Things will turn around after dawn," Kiriyari began to strategize, ready to commit his three precious space motherships to battle, "What time is sunrise today?"
"6:11 a.m.," Hundred-eyes Demon reported.
"The twilight of dawn," Tenjouin Kiriyari bowed his head, rapidly refining his tactical model and constantly having Hundred-eyes Demon help optimize the strategy, to ensure the warships would strike a decisive blow.
Perhaps the enemy was just waiting for him to deploy the space motherships.