172: Chapter 172 Command with Composure and Flexibility

The wreckage of the transport ship smoked at the edge of the asteroid belt, with electric sparks occasionally bursting from the twisted metal fractures.

Chen Wuwang stood on the highest rocky ridge; though the gravel beneath his feet shifted slightly due to the vibrations, he remained motionless.

His Mechanical Prosthetic Eye flashed with blue light as layers of data streams cascaded through his vision—enemy swarm density, energy fluctuations, and attack rhythms were being deconstructed, reorganized, and simulated frame by frame.

Scorched marks remained where three clansmen had fallen, their blood mixed with coolant seeping into the crevices of the asteroid core.

Suppressed breathing and the sound of clashing equipment came through the communication channel; some cursed under their breath, while others gritted their teeth.

The defensive line was crumbling, like a bowstring stretched to its limit.

"Don't panic." Chen Wuwang's voice was not loud, yet it drowned out the background noise. "Retreat to the D-5 to D-7 sectors. All mechs, pull back. Shields to full power."

As the order was issued, five po xu type-2 units quickly broke away from the melee and leaped toward the rear cover.

The Rune Cannon team shifted positions in synchronization, while logistics soldiers sprinted across the floating platforms carrying charging crates, their footsteps clanging against the metal plates.

Aelia knelt halfway on a tilted asteroid core to the left, her wings slightly spread to maintain balance, the fluorescent light of the terminal in her hand flickering.

Her fingertips slid rapidly as she pulled up the thermal imaging sent back by the micro-drones, her brows furrowed tightly.

"They aren't attacking randomly," she whispered. "There is a 0.3-second energy pre-charge before every charge, as if they are receiving commands."

Chen Wuwang nodded, his right index finger tapping gently against his left palm—one, two, three times—this was him calculating.

His Mechanical Prosthetic Eye locked onto the slowly rising hexagonal carapace in the distance, capturing a faint pulse wave.

"Remote control, synchronized rhythm. A 0.7-second delay indicates the signal source is not on the front line."

He looked up at Aelia: "Do you have a way to detect it?"

"Yes." Aelia raised her hand and launched a silver dart; it split into twelve palm-sized mechanical bees in mid-air, buzzing as they drilled into the ground fissures. "My swarm can scan for hidden passages, but it needs time to locate the nodes."

"We don't have that much time." Chen Wuwang turned, drew his Titanium Alloy Dagger from his waist, and carved three lines into a flat asteroid beside his feet.

"The frontal assault cannot stop; we must make them think we are launching a full-scale attack. You take two elite squads, flank them, and cut off the command chain."

Aelia narrowed her eyes: "You want to use the mechs as bait?"

"Not bait, a hammer." He sneered. "If they defend the front, we smash the front; if they retreat, we force them out. Once your people reach their rear, we close the net together."

She stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly curled her lips: "You are truly insane."

"Only those who survive are entitled to talk reason." Chen Wuwang sheathed his dagger and cut directly into the communication channel. "Xiao Dao, listen up."

The channel went silent for a moment.

"Here." Chen Xiaodao's voice came through, accompanied by heavy breathing; he was clearly still adjusting his mech's status.

"Take the mech squad and launch a feint attack in five minutes. Shields at full power, fire all interference rounds; the louder, the better. Remember, do not go deep. Retreat as soon as you see counterattacks. I want you to be like a swarm of annoying flies."

"Understood." The other end paused. "I'll just pretend their ancestors for eight generations owe my Family Spirit Stones."

Chen Wuwang's lips curled, but he immediately composed himself. "Everyone else, take your positions according to the new formation."

"Three Golden Core Cultivators on the left flank, carrying Rune Chains, infiltrate along the F-2 rift. The target is the energy connection point of that hexagonal fortress."

"The logistics team will reinforce the floating platforms on the right flank to ensure the retreat route remains clear. Everyone, close public channels and switch to encrypted pulses."

Aelia operated her terminal simultaneously, activating the light-pattern encoding System unique to the Angel Race.

Pale golden symbol lines appeared briefly in the air before vanishing, transmitting information to each squad in a way that was nearly impossible to intercept.

"Path confirmed." She looked up. "Two hidden routes are available, but the F-2 rift has a risk of collapse. The previous shelling made the structure unstable."

"Then be fast." Chen Wuwang stared at the countdown in his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye. "The operation starts in five minutes. You only have a three-minute window to get into position."

"You certainly calculate precisely." Aelia snorted coldly, but she had already risen and signaled to the flank.

The communication channel fell into a brief silence, with only the faint hum of equipment and the low buzzing of the insectoids in the distance intertwined.

The soldiers silently checked their weapons, the Cultivators closed their eyes to regulate their breathing, and the mech exhaust vents puffed out wisps of white steam, like beasts ready to pounce.

Chen Wuwang stood on the high ground, his gaze sweeping over every face.

He knew these people were afraid, but he knew even better that being able to stand here while afraid was true courage.

"Tell everyone," his voice was steady. "Whoever dares to take a step back today will have their name chiseled off the ancestral monument. But as long as you fight and return alive, everyone gets ten High-Grade Spirit Stones. The wounded get double, and the families of the fallen will be provided for three generations."

Whispers spread through the ranks instantly. Some straightened their backs, while others clenched their fists.

Aelia turned her head to look at him: "You certainly understand the human heart."

"I don't understand the human heart; I only know how to make people survive." He said indifferently. "Your merchant rules don't work here."

She didn't refute him, just chuckled lightly: "But you are also promising a share of the loot now."

"This isn't sharing loot; it's a reassurance pill." He looked deep into the battlefield. "They need to know that fighting for their lives has rewards."

The countdown reached zero.

"Move out."

The moment the order was given, the five po xu type-2 units started simultaneously, their shield rings rotating at high speed and emitting a piercing hum.

The mech piloted by Chen Xiaodao charged at the front, its shoulder-mounted interference launchers suddenly spewing out a large cloud of electromagnetic smoke, obscuring the field of vision ahead.

"I'm here!" His roar exploded in the private channel.

The mech group fired interference rounds in unison, and dozens of small spirit energy mines exploded in the air, forming a fog of electromagnetic interference.

The insectoid offensive faltered as expected; a large number of Worker Insects looked up, their compound eyes glowing red, seemingly waiting for new instructions.

In that split second of hesitation, three figures on the left flank quietly slid into the rift.

Two Golden Core Cultivators held Rune Chains, while the third person in the rear formed seals to provide cover, their movements as swift as the wind.

Aelia stared fixedly at the terminal projection, her finger hovering over the green signal button.

"They are in." She whispered.

Chen Wuwang nodded, his gaze unmoving: "Wait for them to get into position."

Time ticked by second by second. The insectoids began to reorganize their formation, and the runes on the surface of the hexagonal fortress lit up slightly, as if charging.

"Now." Aelia pressed the signal button.

A pale green light pattern rose silently, tracing a short arc in the night sky.

Almost simultaneously, a slight Spell fluctuation came from deep in the left flank—it was the sign that the Rune Chains had been activated.

On the frontal battlefield, the insectoid formation showed obvious chaos, with some units beginning to retreat toward the center, clearly having detected the threat.

"Close the net." Chen Wuwang's voice was icy.

The mech squad immediately retreated, no longer engaging in prolonged combat. The support team advanced in sync, the Rune Cannon turrets locking onto the central area, preparing for saturation fire.

The combined forces maintained a steady footing, gradually compressing the space forward. The situation, which had originally been one of passive defense, was reversed in just a few minutes.

Aelia watched the unfolding encirclement in the data projection, her lips curling slightly: "You played this game of chess quite ruthlessly."

"It's not ruthless, it's precise." Chen Wuwang still stood on the high rock, his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye continuously scanning the battlefield dynamics, his dagger unconsciously carving new rhythmic marks on the stone surface.

In the distance, Chen Xiaodao's mech had retreated to the safe zone; the unit was scorched in many places, and the left arm's cooling System was still smoking, but he did not exit the mech, waiting quietly for the next order.

The entire army was arrayed, their killing intent coiled and ready to strike.

The scales of victory began to tip.