Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva-Chapter 1559 - 51: The Ze of the Road
After this crisis was over, Yireisen’s heart remained calm because such situations had already happened several times in just one minute, as the crisscross scars on his mecha testified.
The most dangerous part of the battle is the first three minutes. In this short timeframe, nearly half of all casualties occur, countless enemies and teammates turning into shattered fireworks in this perilous environment.
The matte white mecha bore a small rose insignia on its side, with letters below indicating his fleet and ship number. This ’White Knight - ζ’ was an improved version of the previous ’White Knight - α,’ enhancing mobility and font protection, discarding the cumbersome surrounding shield, and undergoing weapon upgrades and replacements.
You’re the one.
Yireisen focused entirely on piloting, evading various attacks, then caught up with an enemy mecha flying close by.
The rear thruster suddenly flared, increasing the mecha’s speed in an instant, dodging a missile from the side. The mecha flew in a curved trajectory quickly approaching the enemy, the shoulder missile racks opened mid-flight, scattering small missiles to disrupt the enemy’s flight, then accelerated again, drawing out the stored light saber from the arm armor in the process.
"Zi zi zi——"
The orange flame blade pierced through the enemy mecha with great force, its high-frequency particle vibrations tearing open the outdated enemy model, and Yireisen mercilessly followed up with a missile strike, pulling up the mecha and flying away. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Seconds later, an explosion sounded from behind, the previously hit mecha turned into burning debris in deep space.
Scenes like these happened everywhere, where battles between mechas were decided in fleeting moments, unlike the prolonged strategic push and pull seen in battleships with heavy armor cushioning.
A race against death, this is the true situation on the front lines.
Compared to the weaker foundation of the Western Star Region, the Federal Center clearly possessed stronger mechas and more skilled pilots. In this close-quarters melee combat, the casualty ratio was approximately 1:3, meaning one Federal Center mecha could take out three Western Star Region mechas.
The most intense three minutes passed, and a significant number of Western Star Region mechas crashed into the Star Sea space, with only a few exceptional individuals surviving.
In the area where the Central Battleships were engaged, several dark-golden ’Brass Dragon’ warships bathed in ’Red Flame Particles,’ their armor turning blood-red and starting to deform and melt. Still, compared to the easily shattered Destroyers and Cruisers, they put up a better performance overall.
"Surprisingly, they held on." The commanders of the Fifth Fleet commented on the battle results displayed on the screen.
"This should not be Western Star Region technology," an experienced general remarked.
"Indeed, according to the intelligence department, this is supposedly technology supported by the Southern Star Region, with the true origin likely being the Eastern Star Region."
"However, there are only a few hundred modified ’Brass Dragon’ ships, while the remainder are still outdated ’Copper Mountain Dragon’ battleships, which are quite fragile."
"As a lower replacement for the ’Copper Mountain Dragon’ class, the ’Brass Dragon’ battleships are already a sixty-year-old design, making them obsolete now," a general sneered at the outdated warships.
"There was never a need to fight; it’s unclear where their confidence came from."
"In the past, it was because of Blanchi, but now the little girl sitting in the Sun Palace can’t possibly replicate that miracle," someone remarked, shaking their head.
"Moreover, even if a miracle occurs again and they raise the Solar Crowns, we also have the powerful Volcano Songstress, Lin Keke, on our side," declared an officer from the ’Fire Lotus - Radiant Star’ faction, confident and proud.
Unlike in the past, when Ores Ying Tianxue rushed into battle, Prin, as a Sunshine-level Songstress, has already proven her strength. This is the greatest foundation for the Fifth Fleet’s deployment.
In the Stellar System, the tide of battle gradually favored the Fifth Fleet, just as expected, with the Federal Center’s forces pressing down like a continuous volcano, suffocating everyone in the crimson torrent.
...
On the other side of deep space, inside the Titan Flagship of the Western Star Region’s United Fleet.
Arosa sat on her personal throne, her eyes staring blankly at the screen displaying the ever-increasing casualty data, her fingers gripping the small scepter on her knee tightly.
Initially, she believed she could bravely face it all, but now, from this position, watching countless people perish before her, her mind began to waver. In such a state, she couldn’t possibly replicate Blanchi’s miracle, nor even activate the ’Throne System’ for a short period.
Faced with such immense pressure, and the expectations and hopes of countless people resting on her shoulders, Arosa was on the brink of collapse, even beginning to blame herself, thinking she should have surrendered earlier to save all those lives.
Seeing her body tremble with intense emotions, Masha stood beside her and gently embraced Arosa.
"This isn’t your fault; it’s the choice of everyone in the Western Star Region, decided twenty years ago."
With immense bravery, twenty years ago, each star region in the West followed Blanchi in launching an independent rebellion. The victory that followed became the pride of everyone in the Western Star Region.
Consequently, when faced with mere threats and notices from the Federal Center, the entire Western Star Region wasn’t willing to lower its spine again, not even without Arosa, would they relinquish the dignity earned through sacrifice at the negotiating table.
The populace isn’t a collection of completely rational individuals; they have their own emotions and cultural traditions, forming a vague consensus built by everyone, which even those aware of its flaws can only slowly guide, like training a strong elephant.
Since Blanchi’s miraculous victory painted the people of the Western Star Region with a tenacious and unyielding hue, they would carry this quality forward until circumstances changed and someone else shattered this pride with stronger means. Otherwise, the Western Star Region’s inclination for independence wouldn’t change.
On the battlefield, as the flood of Red Particles destroyed ship after ship of the Western Star Region, scattering into shattered flames, the formation of the Fifth Fleet advanced like a sharp sword, seemingly aiming to pierce the sun itself.
On the other side, the Western Star Region’s United Fleet approached collapse, its scattered ships struggling to support each other and form a combined defensive force field. At this point, they could only fight and retreat, withdrawing step by step toward the star behind them.
Their speed fell short of the Fifth Fleet equipped with ’Red Angel’ class battleships. The only solace was that the Fifth Fleet didn’t rush to pursue, as if displaying their confidence in this manner. They intended to break the pride of the Western Star Region openly and undeniably, bringing it back under the Federal Center’s governance.
Confronted with that still immensely impressive battleship formation on the screen, many officers of the Western Star Region’s fleet began to despair.
In terms of maneuverability, they couldn’t outmatch their opponents, and concerning firepower and defense, they also fell far short of the Fifth Fleet.
"Should we surrender?" someone asked silently.
If they continued fighting, it would be meaningless sacrifice.
Sacrifice wasn’t frightening. What was terrifying was a death without value.
Pessimism spread through the fleet.
...
If they had known the result would be sorrow from the start, would anyone have made that choice?
Pursuing benefits and avoiding harm is everyone’s instinct. Does this mean that those who persist, knowing the futility, are fools in life?
They stubbornly chose the wrong path and gained no one’s understanding in the end.
...
"Yes, they’re willing to be fools and make decisions that ordinary people can’t comprehend."
"Because that decision itself is their life, their will, and spiritual belief. If even this is negated, their remaining life would only be as zombies."
"There is never a so-called correct path, only choices among different paths."
"Now, let me write the choice."
On the other side of the Stellar System, brand new warships emerged from superluminal status. They carried the scent and particles from afar, with their ejecta streaming upward like a myriad of Silver Stars. The vibrant warships’ side hulls bore emerald stripes.
The ’Jade Dragon’ insignia was engraved on them, with the dragon’s head glaring fiercely, and after withdrawing from superluminal travel, they formed a neat and majestic array, slowly approaching the battlefield.
