"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
In an instant, the artillery erupted in a deafening roar.
The outpost's automated defense systems sprang into action, unleashing their full might.
Countless shells, high-explosive rounds, and concentrated ion beams rained down upon the advancing Rapture swarm, tearing through their formations with relentless precision.
Explosions erupted at the heart of the enemy ranks, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
The earth shook violently, debris and shrapnel flying in every direction.
Thick plumes of smoke and dust billowed into the sky, blotting out the horizon in a haze of destruction.
In just a few seconds, the Rapture horde lost 10% of their forces under the relentless bombardment.
The atmosphere eased slightly as the tension on everyone's faces softened.
But Mo Chen knew better—this was only the beginning.
The outpost's firepower was limited, and their ammunition stockpile couldn't support prolonged engagement. The reason he ordered the barrage to begin at 5 kilometers was to maximize its impact.
Once the large-scale weaponry was exhausted, the base's capability to inflict significant damage would drop drastically.
Sure enough, after only a few minutes of delay, the remaining Raptures surged forward, enraged. They trampled over the corpses of their fallen comrades, an unstoppable tidal wave advancing toward the outpost.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Ratatatata!"
As the Raptures entered the firing range, the Nikke units opened fire.
Gunfire roared, artillery thundered, and the battle erupted in full force.
The mass-produced Nikkes demonstrated remarkable combat prowess. Waves of Raptures were shredded before they could close in.
Much of this initial success was due to the enemy consisting mostly of low-tier Raptures like Husk and some Servant class.
However, the sheer volume of the Raptures was overwhelming, with reinforcements pouring in like an unending flood. The battle quickly escalated into a brutal stalemate.
Amid the chaos, a transmission crackled through the comms:
"Attention! Reinforcements are en route to the outpost!"
The news brought a wave of relief to the command center.
"Reinforcements?" Mo Chen furrowed his brow, puzzled.
"After checking, it's the Absolute squad from before," Shiftvy confirmed over comms.
This revelation lifted spirits. Any reinforcement was critical now, especially elite troops.
Mo Chen was surprised. He had assumed the Absolute team had already returned to the Ark.
However, the relief was tempered when it became clear that the "reinforcements" consisted of only three members—Eunhwa, Emma, and Vesti.
He went out to greet them personally.
Eunhwa's frosty demeanor didn't disappoint. Her expression was colder than ever as she approached, her glare enough to chill anyone.
"I told you to stop causing trouble," she hissed. "How long has it been? And you've already stirred up a mess. You're infuriating."
Mo Chen sighed. How was any of this his fault? It wasn't like he'd invited the Raptures over for tea.
Emma, on the other hand, was her usual warm self, greeting him with a cheerful smile.
"It's been a while, Commander!"
"Not even a week counts as 'a while' uh…'" Rapi muttered, rolling her eyes.
Vesti seemed less shy than before—perhaps thanks to the group chats. While she still peeked out nervously from behind Emma, she at least managed a timid wave.
They wasted no time and immediately joined the frontline. Their presence significantly stabilized the situation.
Raptures fell in droves under their precise and devastating attacks. The relentless tide was finally halted.
But Mo Chen knew the reprieve was temporary. The Absolute squad' firepower, as impressive as it was, could only do so much against such overwhelming numbers.
Then came the dreaded report.
"Warning! Three Lord-class Raptures detected on the western front!"
"Warning! Five Lord-class Raptures detected on the northern front!"
Anis's eyes widened in horror. "What?! That many?!"
Lord-class Raptures, second only to Tyrants, were armored behemoths capable of summoning reinforcements.
Typically, dealing with one required an entire Nikke squad.
Now there were eight!
Adding to the chaos were specialized Raptures with shields, barriers, and "spore emitters".
The first ones deployed barriers to absorb incoming fire, the seconds created energy fields that enhanced the defense of nearby Raptures. Meanwhile, "spore emitters" released electromagnetic pulses, disrupting Nikke weapon systems and drastically reducing their effectiveness.
To make matters worse, long-range snipers among the Rapture forces began targeting the Nikke units, putting them at a severe disadvantage.
The situation deteriorated rapidly. With the arrival of the Lord-class Raptures and their specialized support units, the Nikke frontlines faltered.
The Raptures surged forward, breaking through the defensive line and swarming toward the Nikkes entrenched in the forward positions.
Panic spread as the entire outpost plunged into crisis.
Mo Chen calculated quickly.
Based on the current firepower levels, even with the reinforcement from the special forces, it was still very difficult for the forward base to handle so many Raptures.
If they fought to the death, sending a squad of Nikkes to force their way through and eliminate the Lord-class Raptures behind the shields might give them a chance to win, but it would be a pyrrhic victory with significant losses.
That was not Mo Chen's goal.
It was time to change tactics.
"Relay the order. First and second squads, advance to the forward fortifications 3 kilometers ahead."
"Third and fourth squads, likewise, advance 3 kilometers ahead for interception."
His command immediately raised doubts among the team.
Indeed, there were outposts and fortifications in the west and north fronts, but those two had been overrun in previous battles.
The particle energy cannons had long been destroyed. They hadn't had the chance to repair or reinforce them yet.
The defense was very weak, and it was impossible to hold out for long.
More crucially, the defensive pressure on the front lines was already immense. Abandoning the fortifications to engage in close combat with the Raptures, with the current strength of the Nikkes, would be akin to walking into death.
Rapi couldn't help but try to advise, "Commander…"
Mo Chen knew what she was about to say.
"Don't worry, just follow my orders."
This was a risky move.
Holding the fort was, of course, the most reliable strategy, but the front lines were simply too close to the forward base.
So close that the Raptures could charge in at any moment.
There was very little room for maneuver.
If the Raptures broke into the base, the fires of war would ignite here, and everything, including the infrastructure, could be destroyed.
Therefore, it was essential to avoid letting the war reach their home base.
The only chance to win now was to take a dangerous risk!