"Reactor core temperature rising, energy output dropping, entering maximum load!"

"Maintain with all you have! We only need to hold this window of time!"

Meanwhile, the catapult platforms on the main city wall unfolded. A row of giant catapults stretched their frames with a roar, Cold Crystal Magic Explosion Bullets ignited one after another, emitting piercing whistles that tore through the long dark sky.

"Boom—!!!"

Azure tail flames traced arcs, precisely landing in the heart of the insect tide.

The first wave of explosions erupted like a storm interwoven with ice mist and flesh.

The corpses of the insects were instantly frozen where they lay, and the fragments from the explosion flew like countless dancing ice blades, shredding all unfrozen flesh.

The cold flow like blades, the storm like wrath.

On the valley frontline, within just a dozen breaths, a narrow gap was forcefully torn open, leading into the depth of the black mist.

But it's still far from enough.

"Continue the bombardment! Maintain suppression! We must completely clear a breakthrough within five minutes!"

"We won't have a second chance!!"

The soldiers operating the giant levers were drenched in cold sweat; even though they were frozen through under their armor, no one stepped back.

In the distance, the black mist writhed, the insect tide reformed.

It wasn't merely a gathering of creatures but a malicious puzzle from the Abyss.

In that fog like a furnace of flesh, broken body parts, rotting insect limbs, even remnants frozen into ice sculptures, all began to twist, struggle, and merge.

They weren't "dying," they were "evolving."

A monster pinned to the rock wall suddenly emitted a piercing rattle, with bones inverting and limbs fracturing before reassembling into a new jointed form, rising once more, now faster.

An insect corpse that had long been blown into two halves borrowed the severed arm of a fallen Dragon Blood Knight nearby to complete its "recovery," inheriting the warrior's combat instincts, flashing extremely skilled swordsmanship in an ambush.

They distinguished neither friend nor foe, took whatever material they needed.

Comrade's remnants, allied corpses, frozen insect pieces, all became their components.

While writhing, they let out ear-piercing cries like a wailing infant.

Yet even so, Frost Halberd City still fought, still roared.

The Frost Crystal Storm still rampaged, and the entire Magic Defense Line of Frost Halberd City unleashed its power without reservation.

Azure Magic Energy washed over the battlefield like an avalanche, Chain Burst Magic Crystals massively detonated, alternately covering the gaps between catapult strikes, forming multiple layers of lethal waves.

Each round of explosions tore and reformed the insect tide's frontline, yet continually pushed the limits.

It was a gamble of endurance and time.

They weren't trying to annihilate the insect tide; that was nearly impossible.

Their goal was to carve a path through that purgatory of flesh, ice, and black mist for the Empire's elite to charge into.

Just as the seventh wave of bombardment ended, a path was briefly opened.

In the storm's center, the insect corpses momentarily halted their reformation from the freezing.

The black mist, like a curtain torn, revealed a slit, exposing the endlessly churning, flesh-covered, heart of hell-like doomsday beneath the distant mountain.

That was the true target of this operation:

The Doomsday Nest.

Imperial strategic command was instantly issued, horns sounded throughout Frost Halberd City:

"Dragon Blood Legion! Advance!"

"Cold Iron Legion! Form up, charge!"

In an instant, the main gate swung open heavily, a stream of steel surged forth.

The Dragon Blood Legion clad in heavy armor, with Fighting Energy swirling around, plunged into the breach like a tide of fury.

The Cold Iron Legion followed closely, their silver-blue full armor reflecting a silent and deadly gleam under the cold light.

This was a vanguard with no thoughts of return.

Every person knew this was likely a journey of no return.

The Doomsday Nest was the heart of the entire insect tide; entering it might mean never returning.

But even so, no one faltered.

Because they were the Northern Territory's strongest shield and the Empire's mightiest spear.

"For the Empire! For humanity!"

The shouts resounded amidst the wind, snow, and Magic Energy aftershocks, until that stream of steel fully merged into the depths of the battlefield.

Amidst the flood of Dragon Blood and Cold Iron, a small squad of knights, carrying uniquely shaped metal devices, followed in silence.

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