On the ground.

The first round of impact was over, with smoke lingering in the air and the stench of blood filling the atmosphere.

This was a difficult battle for both sides.

Chen Jian had already emptied two magazines of his explosive gun, yet he had only managed to kill three Mountain City People.

This figure was almost negligible compared to their total number of over fifty, but Chen Jian had no better option.

Even with the support of the Smart Fire Control System, most of the time he still couldn't keep up with the opponent's speed.

They were simply too fast.

The tall buildings were not obstacles to them but could be used as cover.

Every time Chen Jian had just locked onto them, they could instantly react, quickly change movement direction, forcing Chen Jian to re-aim his gun.

Chen Jian was always one step behind––until finally, Chen Jian realized that the opponent's advance judgments were based not on so-called "visual signals," but solely on the radar waves emitted from his exoskeleton's fire control system.

He decisively turned off the smart fire control, finally bridging that seemingly impassable gap of mere dozens of milliseconds.

Yet even so, the battle continued to be extremely tough.

These Mountain City People also carried a considerable number of kinetic weapons, bringing suppression that this thin squad simply could not withstand.

Within merely 30 seconds of engagement, our squad had already lost three members.

The formation nearly fell apart; if it weren't for the last two Turtle Drones, and the adequate fire support from Ji Xing and Li Shi at higher positions, the convoy wouldn't have made it to the intended tunnel.

Standing before the breathless wounded, Chen Jian suppressed his pounding heart, and then said to Lei Jie beside him:

"This advance won't work."

"Casualties are too high, advance speed too slow."

"The opponent's combat resolve is very determined, I have reason to suspect, they want to make this battle decisive."

"What's meant to come will come... the nuclear deterrent cannot last too long."

"These Mountain City People are ready to fight to the death; even now if we drop the nuke, they'll charge forward against the heat radiation."

"We need to think of another way––should we first clear them with a wave?"

"If it weren't for the equipment holding us back, we could totally hold them off."

"They're fast, but their tactical coordination is a mess."

"In narrow terrain, two heavy machine guns can suppress them tightly..."

"But the problem is they're not dumb."

Lei Jie interrupted Chen Jian, shaking his head, then continued:

"Their objective is clear, they're targeting the equipment."

"If we abandon the equipment, they'll definitely not risk an attack."

"This is an unsolvable dead cycle."

"If we choose to hold ground at the departure base, they won't be able to do anything to us."

"But once we actively detach from cover, the balance will instantly be broken."

"This balance..."

"Wait."

Chen Jian suddenly raised his hand.

Vaguely, he felt like he grasped something.

Balance.

The most critical issue is balance.

But why... why could a team of less than 20 from the Huaxia Military District maintain balance with the entire Mountain City's armed forces?

He previously thought it was because of the nuclear deterrent.

But thinking carefully, it didn't seem so simple.

Is it possible that the forces they can mobilize, unaffected by electromagnetic pulses, are really extremely limited?

Is it possible... that this city really doesn't have that many... living people?

Yes.

Since entering Mountain City, the opponent's "resistance" display has been extremely limited, even extremely restrained.

Conflicts were confined to a very small range, and in the largest attack, unmanned combat units dominated.

And in that conflict, a small tactical nuclear explosion completely crushed the opponent's counterattack.

They clearly could conduct decisive blockades before our backup forces arrived.

But they didn't do it.

What's the reason?

Chen Jian could only come up with one reason.

Available forces are too precious for them; unless absolutely necessary, they'd rather maintain a standoff than risk losing their remaining available forces.

It must be this.

Chen Jian let out a deep breath, turning to Lei Jie.

He was about to share his judgment and redefine subsequent combat strategies.

But just at that moment, Ji Xing's voice suddenly came through his radio.

"Commander!"

The opponent's voice had a faint, hard-to-notice tremor.

"I have a major discovery here."

"I need to return immediately."

"Please arrange someone to take my place!"

Chen Jian's expression focused, nodding to Lei Jie.

Without needing him to issue an order, the latter immediately gathered his gear and ran out of the temporary cover tunnel, and just under a minute after his departure, Ji Xing had rushed inside at a breathtaking speed.

The bloody wind she brought hit Chen Jian in the face, and upon looking intently, Chen Jian was amazed to find that she held in her arms.....

something.

"Bang!"

Ji Xing threw the thing to the ground, blood splattering out.

"That smell..."

Ji Xing panted heavily, continuing:

"This is the source of that smell."

"Mountain City People... these Mountain City People!"

"Their blood has that strange smell all over it!"

"I just dragged a corpse back; their skeletal structure has no difference from ordinary people!"

"They're not Holy Blood, but their organs, their muscle tissue... it's absurdly strong!"

"I can confirm they're not real humans!"

"They are... modified humans!"

"Like us Holy Blood, only they're more advanced!"

"Commander, there can't be many of these people! Because their reproductive system has degenerated, I just cut..."

"Wait."

Chen Jian interrupted Ji Xing.

He squatted down, reaching out to touch the severed neck below the skull.

There, something metallic was slightly reflecting light.

"Split it open."

Chen Jian ordered again:

"Lengthwise, along the ear connection line, split from the temple position."

Without a sliver of hesitation, Ji Xing drew out her long blade, and sliced down.

The blade effortlessly cut through the fragile skull, brain matter instantly flowed out, Chen Jian initially thinking to do it himself, but Ji Xing seemed to already understand his intention, and before he could act, she directly reached and emptied the entire skull.

"There's something."

Ji Xing paused her movement.

Then, she suddenly exerted force and pulled.

An object broke away from the skull.

She raised it in her hand, opened it before Chen Jian.

Chen Jian saw clearly the thing stained with brain matter, blood, and bone fragments, let out a long breath.

Then, he spoke:

"Chip."

"This is the most typical invasive brain machine chip."

"I seem to have guessed wrong."

"There aren't so few people left in Mountain City, there isn't even a single normal person anymore."

"You're right, these damn things aren't ordinary humans."

"This might really be... genuine Artificial People!"

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