The members of the Xiongbing Company stopped their playful banter upon hearing Du Kao's words. They all turned to face him, their expressions serious and focused—no more joking around. After half a year of training, it was finally time for them to take the stage.
"Chief, how should we arrange things in the next few days? China is vast, and we have no clue where the enemy's vanguard will strike first," Qiangwei asked Du Kao. In the military camp, Qiangwei never addressed Du Kao as "father." Between them, it was strictly a superior-subordinate relationship, a general and a soldier, as Du Kao had told her on her first day of enlistment. Qiangwei, being strong-willed, had never revealed her relationship with Du Kao to anyone.
"We don't have precise intelligence at the moment, but the De Nuo-3 global reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance satellite will be tracking the Gluttonous fleet continuously. Once we confirm their location, the Xiongbing Company can board the Dawn Light and head to the battlefield immediately. Any more questions, Sergeant Qiangwei?" Du Kao explained seriously to Qiangwei. Sometimes, Du Kao regretted sending Qiangwei into the military because ever since she enlisted, she had changed. She used to worry him, but he knew it was just her way of seeking his attention since she had been lonely from a young age. As a high-ranking general, Du Kao was always busy, and after Qiangwei's mother passed away early, she had been raised by a nanny. Since joining the military, Qiangwei had grown cold, with no friends other than her comrades, and had lost the ability to communicate with new people.
"Report, no more questions, Chief." Qiangwei replied before stepping back into the formation.
"Uh, Chief, will Zhang Zheng be joining us in this battle?" Ge Xiaolun asked, concerned about Zhang Zheng. Despite being mentally prepared, this would be their first time on the battlefield, and it was natural to feel nervous. But if Zhang Zheng were there, it would help ease his tension.
"Zhang Zheng won't appear on the battlefield unless the Gluttonous seek him out themselves," Du Kao stated directly, not wanting to leave any room for unrealistic expectations. In their current situation, where the enemy was stronger, any illusions could cost them dearly in the war.
"Understood, Chief," Ge Xiaolun said, retreating back into the formation. However, he had already decided to leave a will. Unlike Ge Xiaolun, Liu Chuang was not particularly afraid of the upcoming war; instead, he was eager to prove himself. As the War God of the North Star, the desire for battle was ingrained in his bones.
...
In the City of Angels, Holy Kaisa had fallen into deep thought after receiving a communication from Zhixin. She was uncertain about whether to intervene in the war between the Gluttonous and Earth. According to the standards of the Justice Order, protecting weaker civilizations had always been one of the most important principles. However, with Zhang Zheng's appearance, the balance of power between the Milky Way and the River Styx was no longer clear.
Kaisa had seen the data of Zhang Zheng defeating Morgana and had compared it with herself. She concluded that even without any hidden cards, she would need to rely on the Skyblade System to barely fight him. But Zhang Zheng's power was too dangerous, and Kaisa did not want to see him use his Sentinel power unless absolutely necessary. Through He Xi, Kaisa had learned that Zhang Zheng not only possessed the Sentinel power but also mastered the power of time, which was what truly worried her.
Kaisa's biggest concern now was the possibility of Earth being destroyed by the Gluttonous forces under Karl's command or by the demons under Morgana. If Zhang Zheng could reverse time for an entire planet, that would be fine. If not, then Kaisa believed the true catastrophe for the universe would begin. She wasn't worried about Zhang Zheng seeking revenge against Morgana or Death God Karl; she was worried about what a crazed Zhang Zheng might do.
Thus, Kaisa had been using her Skyblade System to calculate how to defeat or even kill Zhang Zheng. However, the result was the same as Karl's calculations with the Big Clock—no result at all.
"He Xi, come to my palace," Kaisa said into her angelic communicator, calling He Xi. Usually, when Kaisa needed to talk to He Xi, she would go to He Xi's castle so they could relax together after discussing serious matters. But now, Kaisa was in no mood for relaxation.
"Yes, Queen, I'm on my way," He Xi's voice sounded in Kaisa's ear. Only when discussing serious matters would He Xi respectfully call Kaisa "Queen."
Kaisa felt a bit relieved after hearing He Xi's voice. It had nothing to do with affection; since Liang Bing's betrayal, the only one who could truly share Kaisa's burden was He Xi, one of the three kings. Kaisa possessed the highest wisdom in the universe, and He Xi's wisdom was equally impressive. The two had endured the darkest and most chaotic times for angels together. That's why Kaisa usually consulted He Xi before making any major decisions.
Receiving Kaisa's message, He Xi arrived at the palace immediately. Upon seeing Kaisa on the throne, He Xi didn't know what to say. How many years had it been—a thousand or two thousand? He Xi couldn't remember the last time Kaisa had shown such an expression. Since ascending to the throne as the Angel Queen, Kaisa had always exuded confidence, her gaze dominating all beings, never once wavering.
But now, the Kaisa He Xi saw seemed somewhat dejected, somewhat lost, as if facing a dilemma and unsure how to proceed.
"Queen Kaisa, I have arrived," He Xi said, giving a slight bow, with her right hand clenched in a fist over her left chest. Normally, He Xi wouldn't need to do this after retiring. She was now Kaisa's close friend, not the Holy Right Wing of the past. However, He Xi felt that this gesture might boost Kaisa's confidence, so she didn't hold back on her courtesy.
"Enough, He Xi, there's no need for such formalities between us," Kaisa said, understanding He Xi's intentions. But what Kaisa needed most right now wasn't formalities; she needed He Xi to help share the burden. So Kaisa stood up from the throne, walked over to He Xi, and took her hand, sitting side by side on the steps below the throne.
"He Xi, the war between the Gluttonous and Earth is about to begin. I'm feeling lost and unsure whether we should join the fight," Kaisa said, sitting beside He Xi. Though she was talking to He Xi, her eyes remained fixed on the palace doors, staring blankly at the distant scenery of the City of Angels. At this moment, Kaisa's eyes seemed to lose focus, staring vacantly. Even the occasional passing of a young angel in front of the palace did not stir any emotion in Kaisa's gaze.