Chapter 739.1: The Initial Victory

As dawn slowly rose over the horizon, the snow blanketing Blood Peak was gilded with a layer of burning gold.

As the tallest peak among the Ten Peaks Mountains, it stood at an elevation of roughly 3,000 meters. The mountain was steep and treacherous, covered in jagged rocks and perilous terrain, with only two or three narrow mountain paths winding their way up from the slopes below.

A gentle breeze suddenly swept across the summit. In the blink of an eye, two phantom-like figures appeared upon the pristine snow.

Looking closer, one would find that neither of them had left so much as a footprint. No one knew how they had reached such an inaccessible place.

"... If I remember correctly, the Rock Axe Clan was once your proudest creation. Including that fellow called Orlong."

"I said that two years ago. Your database should be updated."

"Oh? Then what is your proudest creation now?"

"The next one." the Beast King spoke calmly while gazing toward the distant mountains.

The Rock Axe Clan was still far from perfection, including Orlong, but that was precisely the reason behind the Beast King’s existence. Through constant competition against those decaying old powers, he would continue refining his creations until they finally surpassed the limits of organic life and achieved true physical ascension. One day, he would create a genuine Beast King.

"An interesting answer. The best one is always the next one." The Human Emperor glanced at him and smiled faintly. "However, I should remind you that you've already lost 30% of your positions."

"It's only three peaks." The Beast King corrected him expressionlessly.

The Human Emperor shrugged lightly. "Either way, I need you to hold this front for at least six months, until Arzu successfully opens up the curtains to the south."

"Six months..." A barely perceptible chill touched the corner of the Beast King's lips. "The mountain range beneath my feet will be their final resting place."

"Don't be too aggressive, my friend," the Human Emperor said with a faint smile. "I would rather our plans proceed in an orderly manner than rest upon assumptions with no foundation. An unforeseen outcome is not necessarily a pleasant surprise. More often than not, it is a risk. I hope you'll remember that."

Leaving those words behind, the figure standing beside the Beast King slowly faded into the wind and snow.

The Beast King cast one final glance at the two flags fluttering atop the distant peak. His brows furrowed slightly before he too disappeared.

...

With the Storm Corps planting their flag atop Broken Blade Peak, the Battle of Broken Blade Peak officially came to an end.

The New Alliance rescued more than 1,000 survivors from the caves hidden within the mountain and seized over 1,000 tons of weapons and ammunition, along with nearly 10,000 tons of food and other supplies.

According to discoveries made by Storm Corps' frontline troops, the Mutant Humans cultivated mutated crops inside their fortifications as a supplementary food source. Not only that, the beasts also utilized simple production equipment to modify weapons and even smelt ore for manufacturing.

Most of the weapons they produced were crude, and their DIY modifications often made existing weapons worse rather than better. Even so, compared to Garbage, who could barely use chopsticks, their craftsmanship could already be considered remarkably dexterous.

Furthermore, they showed no frustration toward the inefficiency of modifying weapons. On the contrary, they seemed to enjoy it, and some members of their population had even evolved into specialists in the craft.

Certain oversized rifles firing chromium-alloy projectiles with overcharged propellant loads could reportedly penetrate 45 millimeters of hardened steel at a distance of 100 meters.

At that point, the weapon could hardly be considered a rifle anymore. It was closer to a rocket. Even a human awakener would struggle to wield it without an exoframe.

"They're developing creativity. Just like the Mutant Humans in the Great Desert and the ones we encountered in Brocade Lake Municipality..." Spring Water Commander examined the massive rifle in his hands, its barrel nearly as thick as a human calf, before tossing it back onto the cart carrying the spoils of war.

"You call that creativity?" Darkest said dismissively.

"Don't underestimate them. Creativity is the driving force behind the birth of civilization, regardless of what form that civilization takes. Knowledge, on the other hand, is merely one of the products born from creativity." As he spoke, Spring Water Commander surveyed the production equipment inside the cave, a trace of concern appearing between his brows.

The trouble left behind by the Torch Church likely extended far beyond a few genetic sequences and several Na Fruits...

Regardless, the war had ultimately ended in a decisive New Alliance victory. A handful of Mutant Humans still remained active within the tunnel networks, but just as with Black Cloud Peak, eliminating them was only a matter of time.

Of all the peaks, three were now firmly in the hands of the coalition.

Meanwhile, construction teams from the Southern Construction Corps had already begun moving into Manor Peak, excavating tunnels and building concrete highways and railways through the mountains.

The day when the route between the Brocade River Province and the Ocean Edge Province would finally be opened was fast approaching.

News of the victory quickly spread from the frontlines to the rear and throughout the Guardian Manor Military Base.

The Storm Corps became famous overnight across the coalition and as for the Army, they unfortunately ended up looking like a fool. Their combat performance had actually been respectable, and their ferocious assaults had inflicted severe casualties upon the Mutant Humans.

However, launching an offensive without coordinating with allied forces was an undeniable fact. Had they won, perhaps nobody would have cared. The problem was that they had not only failed, but had nearly allowed the Mutant Humans to counterattack and seize Black Cloud Peak.

This time, even Babita of the Xilande Empire had no idea how to spin it.

...

Soon, the Storm Corps handed control of Broken Blade Peak over to the Enterprise's 100th Mechanized Mountain Division.

The next objective was both the tallest and most dangerous peak. In the old world it had been called Snow Peak, though wastelanders now referred to it as Blood Peak. According to reports, the Bloodhoof Clan occupying it was the largest and most diverse Mutant Human faction in the entire region.

They raised grotesque creatures known as the "ugly things."

Unlike the Goblins, those humanoid abominations were extremely dangerous. Ordinary survivors would rather risk lengthy detours than pass anywhere near them.

Merchants could afford to avoid them, but the coalition could not.

No commander would willingly leave their supply line directly beneath enemy-held terrain.

In the end, it was decided the stronghold would be assaulted by the Academy's Alpha Mobile Task Force.

After witnessing the Army's and Enterprise's capabilities, it seemed the northerners could no longer resist showing what they were capable of themselves.

At the same time, the Heart of Steel had arrived at the outskirts of Guardian Manor Military Base and anchored not far from the Loyalty.

Meanwhile, the conference room of the military command center at Guardian Manor Military Base was packed with people. Enterprise officers had arrived early and filled seats around the conference table. One division headquarters alone had sent five or six representatives, second only to the Xilande Empire, which had brought 30,000 troops to the campaign and somehow managed to lose 10,000 of them.

Rumor had it that the lunch boxes distributed at noon were free, which was why even Xilande Empire's commanders had shown up under the excuse of supporting the coalition.

The Academy's Alpha Mobile Task Force sent only a single commander while the Bugra Free State’s Hound special forces unit sent two representatives.

There were also commanders from the Lion Kingdom, Honey Badger Kingdom, Camel Kingdom, Golden Lizard Kingdom, Falcon Kingdom, and numerous other survivor factions, totaling more than 20 attendees.

The Army's representative arrived last, and only Liam arrived.

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