A backlash from the Fragmentum?
Bronya watched the tide of deep crimson dots surge across the panoramic map, her brow furrowing tightly.
There are too many...
The Stellaron had drained all the Imaginary energy from the surrounding Fragmentum, creating a wave of creatures nearly identical in scale to the one the main army had faced in the last simulation.
What exactly is this Stellaron? How can it control the Fragmentum?
And in the last simulation, Mother was assimilated by it...
Bronya frowned, burying these questions deep in her heart.
The situation was critical. For now, it was best to deal with the threat of these Fragmentum creatures.
Four blue dots roamed across the tactical map, representing the forces in the entire logistics district.
Currently, the garrison consisted of no more than four full squads of Silvermane Guards. Besides the one led by her direct subordinate, Officer Ron, there were only three other squads to maintain the operations of the entire district.
Although they had all successfully set foot on the Path of the Preservation under the influence of Ron's training method, facing this crimson tide was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. They stood no chance of fighting back.
I have to request aid from the front lines...
Without hesitation, Bronya first sent an urgent report to the Supreme Guardian and then immediately delegated full military authority to Ron.
This wasn't her shirking her duties; she simply knew her own abilities were insufficient. Facing such an enemy, if she were to command the guards, the defensive line would likely be breached in less than a day.
Sometimes, doing nothing is better than making things worse.
Text gradually appeared on the screen:
[You have keenly sensed the aura of danger and have done your utmost to respond, sending a request for aid to the front-line army.]
[The front-line army has responded with extreme speed.]
[You learn from the communication that the army requires three days to return and reinforce.]
[You approach your personal guard, Ron, and plead with him to help you defend Belobog for three days, to wait for the front-line army's return.]
The text on the screen faded, and a new scene appeared:
Four squads of guards were assembled in neat formations, their rifles at the ready behind temporary barricades at the pass.
The caltrops and cheval de frise at the pass had been cleared of the thick snow. They were now coated in tung oil, gleaming under the sun with a cold, unwelcoming aura.
Just beyond the pass, through the illusory, distorted light of the Fragmentum, a dense mass of its creatures could be seen marching in orderly ranks toward Belobog.
The swirling snow of Belobog seemed to have stopped at this moment, forced into a tense silence and calm, just like the battle that was about to erupt.
"Ron... I've done everything I can for this crisis. The rest is up to you."
Bronya, clad in her military attire, looked exhausted. The faint dark circles under her eyes were proof of her recent hardships.
"Three days... In three days, Captain Gepard will be able to lead the front-line army back to reinforce us."
As Bronya spoke, a trace of guilt appeared in her eyes.
"I need you to command the guards and hold off the creatures' assault for three days. I know this is an unreasonable request, but..."
Ron interrupted her gently.
"Bronya, go back and get some proper rest. You've worked hard these past few days."
With that, the warm smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a cold, iron-blooded resolve.
He took out the Architect's badge that Bronya had pinned on him, clasped it in his palm, and gave her a military salute.
His cape billowed as he turned.
Without a moment's hesitation, he walked towards the pass.
[Your personal guard, Ron, remains fearless in the face of danger and arranges the defensive line with the utmost speed.]
[Day one. The sparks of the Preservation shone on the front lines. The Imaginary energy drawn from the Path of Preservation transformed into a dazzling display of colors, drowning the Fragmentum creatures outside the pass.]
[But the creatures are endless, and even a Pathstrider's power has its limits.]
[Day two. Under the Stellaron's command, the Fragmentum creatures organize another massive assault. The guards fight with all their might, but the grand victory of the first day cannot be repeated. They barely manage to hold the defensive line at the pass.]
Reading the text, Bronya's heart leaped into her throat.
The creatures' attacks were growing stronger with each wave, while the defensive line in the logistics district grew weaker...
On the panoramic map, the guard units had become scattered and broken. Aside from the elite squad led personally by Ron, the other three squads could no longer form a full unit and had suffered heavy casualties.
Facing such a situation, could Ron really hold out?
Bronya felt a pang of anxiety, but mixed with her worry was an even greater sense of anticipation.
Ron had brought her too many surprises. Even in a desperate situation like this, a comeback might not be impossible...
Suppressing the complex emotions in her heart, Bronya fixed her gaze on the screen.
The text continued to scroll:
[Day three. Your personal guard, Ron, leads his elite squad out of the pass.]
On Bronya's panoramic map, she could see the vast, orderly army of red dots suddenly fall into disarray, scattering into smaller, separate clumps.
And the blue dot representing Ron's squad was darting between these clumps of red. Each time the blue dot passed through them, the red lights would dim significantly.
But the blue dot itself continued to shine with its brilliant azure light, showing no sign of being extinguished.
The text on the screen faded and was replaced by a new image:
The swirling snow obscured the view, but the faint silhouettes of a vast shadow could be seen in the distance.
The unique, distorted glow of the Fragmentum creatures emanated from that great shadow, carrying the same deathly chill as Belobog's blizzard.
Ron stood before this endless army, his expression remarkably calm.
"Guard this equipment. After I've cleared out the elite monsters controlling the creatures, plant these at the locations I've marked."
He instructed the squad members he had brought into the Fragmentum before walking into the blizzard alone.
A dense swarm of Fragmentum creatures engulfed him.
But the radiance of the Preservation bloomed amidst the falling snow.
On the Path of the Preservation, Ron had already taken a steady step toward the golden colossus at its apex.
A dark golden radiance like solid rock materialized around him. The immense Imaginary energy transformed into golden amber-like crystals that enveloped Ron layer by layer, as if a crystal giant clad in crystalline armor had strode onto the battlefield.
Impenetrable as a fortress, steady as a monolith.
The mighty army of Fragmentum creatures was scattered by Ron's divine might, completely powerless against the mountain that had appeared on the battlefield.
Slightly bewildered, Bronya watched as the red dots on the panoramic map grew fewer and fewer. New text appeared on the screen:
[The vast army of Fragmentum creatures has been scattered by Ron's squad. You see a series of violent explosions erupt within the Fragmentum, the epicenters of which are the core points where the creatures had gathered.]
[The trap bombs Ron planted in advance have shattered the creatures' formations. The mindless creatures are now unable to rally into an army.]
[The assault on the pass has been routed.]
[Your personal guard, Ron, has led his squad deep into the Fragmentum, clearing a total of x1024 creatures.]
[Ron's squad has gained combat experience. Ron's leadership experience has increased significantly.]
This... was something Ron could do?
Bronya received a little Ron-shock.
She knew that in this simulation Ron had already set foot on a Path and had become an extremely outstanding commander capable of clearing creatures deep within the Fragmentum...
But that was in the rear, which had already been cleared by the main army. Even if new creatures spawned, they were usually just ordinary distorted elements or the phantoms of twisted guards, not particularly strong.
But who could have imagined that Ron had, without a word, become this powerful—to charge into an army of Fragmentum creatures with a small squad, not only emerging unscathed but also slaughtering them into disarray?
Bronya bit her lip as an incredible thought leaped into her mind.
"Is Ron really the same species as me...?"
She was beginning to suspect that Ron might be one of those strange extraterrestrials from the novels.
The text on the screen continued to scroll, paying no mind to the utterly shocked Bronya.
[Captain Gepard has returned with the front-line army. The Fragmentum's counterattack, already crippled by Ron, has been completely quelled through their combined efforts.]
[On the same day, Supreme Guardian Cocolia exits Qlipoth Fort and arrives at the logistics district.]