New Military Airport, Aeterna Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 08:00 AM

One squadron of F-42 and Mig-41 from United Terran Aerial Force (UTAF) and one squadron of ME 262M from the Legionnaires aerial unit are ready to take off on the runways. Major Arnfred Richthofen became the leader of this joint squadron. General Eisenhower authorized Major Richthofen and the UTAF squadron to utilize plasma hypersonic missiles based on previous results of Professor Einstein and the scientific team's research. Before utilizing plasma hypersonic missiles, they need to calculate the energy of the spiritual barrier. For the calculation process, The Quantum Resonance Electron Analyzer (QREA) installed in United Terran satellites will detect and capture the electron emission from the spiritual barrier.

General Eisenhower authorized the utilization of plasma hypersonic missiles after Professor Einstein and the scientific teams got the energy of spiritual barriers that covered Colobria City. However, for the first strikes against the enemy spiritual barrier, Heraclius and his legionnaires will attack first with their Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG air-to-surface missiles (ASM) and GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs while UTAF stands by. If they detect enemy flying dragons, they kill them with MBDA Meteor BVRAAM.

"This is Baron 1, and I need permission to take off. Over." Major Richthofen needs permission to take off.

"This is Control Tower. Permission granted, Baron 1. You are clear for takeoff. Over," came the response from the New Aeterna Military Airport control tower.

Major Richthofen's F-42 roared to life, its engines emitting a deep, powerful hum as they taxied to the runway. Captain McCampbell's F-42 followed closely behind, its sleek design glinting under the early morning sun. Heraclius and the legionnaires, in their proud ME 262M, brought up the rear, their presence a nod to the past merged with the advanced technology of the present.

"Baron 1, taking off," Major Richthofen's voice crackled over the radio as his F-42 accelerated down the runway, lifting gracefully into the sky. One by one, the other aircraft followed, each pilot meticulously checking their instruments and ensuring all systems were operational.

"Joint Squadron, form up," Major Richthofen commanded as they climbed to their assigned altitude. "Captain McCampbell, take the right flank. Heraclius and the legionnaires maintain formation behind me."

"Copy that, Baron 1," Captain McCampbell responded, guiding his F-42 into position.

"Understood, Baron 1," Heraclius acknowledged, the ME 262M smoothly falling into place.

Twenty-four jet fighters, six Mig-41s, six F-42s, and twelve ME 262M, successfully took off from the runway. Major Richthofen and UTAF jet fighters activate their stealth mode. To reserve fuel, they fly at cruise speed at Mach 1 to Colobria City.

200 km of Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 09:00 AM

Major Richthofen and his joint squadron received real-time information on Colobria City and Colobria Region. From their radar, they could detect giant spiritual barriers that emit strong electromagnetic waves in the center or eye of the array and weak electromagnetic waves on the other side of the barriers. Even though the barrier utilizes Qi and spiritual power, electrons from the molecules in the air around Colobria city that collide with 'Qi' or natural spiritual power still emit electromagnetic waves. These emitted electrons will be detected by QREA in the United Terran satellites to calculate the energy of the spiritual energy barriers. They could see the real-time giant barriers for their advanced HUD communication device from the United Terran satellites.

"Oh my God, that is the actual magic energy barrier. So, we will destroy and breach those huge barriers with our missiles?" Captain McCampbell responds while he looks at the size of the energy barriers from his HUD devices.

"We have a kind of energy barrier to cover our base. However, those energy barriers only jam enemy devices with powerful electromagnetic waves, and we cannot see them visually without advanced detector devices. These energy barriers protect something from attacks, and we can see them visually. If we could learn the principle, we could generate the same energy barrier with science and technology and upgrade our energy barriers system." Major Richthofen responds.

When they reached the maximum range for modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG air-to-surface missiles (ASMs) and modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs, they launched the ASMs and guided bombs.

"Heraclius, we have already arrived at the designed area. Launch the ASMs and guided bombs." Major Richthofen ordered Heraclius and his squadron to launch the ASMs and guided bombs.

"Yes, Sir. Launch Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG air-to-surface missiles (ASM). Missiles away!" Heraclius responds.

"Missiles away!" All legionnaires pilots respond while launching their ASMs.

Twenty-four modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ASMs were launched from twelve ME 262M to the spiritual barriers surrounding Colobria City. The ASMs fly at a speed of Mach 1 and are precisely guided by GPS from United Terran satellites.

Several minutes later, twenty-four modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ASMs precisely hit the spiritual barrier and caused a massive explosion on the barriers. Each modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG carried a 500 kg warhead of explosives. So, a total of 12,000 kg warheads of explosives containing nano-ONC (octanitrocubane) cause massive and devastating damage to the spiritual barrier.

Standard ONC explosive has a high energy density in the 7.1 – 8.4 kJ/g range with a detonation velocity of around 10,100 m/s [1]. Nano-ONC is 30% more potent than standard ONC, so the energy density is 9.23 to 10.92 kJ/g, and the detonation velocity is around 13,130 m/s. So, twenty-four modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG that used 12,000 kg warheads of nano-ONC will cause 131,040,000 kJ or 131,040 MJ. The massive energy of 131,040 MJ is equivalent to 31.3 kilotons of TNT.

The kinetic energy of one modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG is 105.884 MJ, so twenty-four have 2,541.218 MJ. The total energy release from twenty-four modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG is 133,581.218 MJ. However, the result is still far from the hope. Even though the energy is enough to destroy the barriers, this energy still cannot destroy the eye of the array of spiritual barriers. The cultivators can still repair the barriers as long as the eye of the array is still intact and undamaged.

"The spiritual barriers are damaged, but they could repaired against." Heraclius report.

The barrage of modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG only damaged the spiritual barriers, not penetrating and destroying them. Major Richtofen already knew this based on the data from General Eisenhower. But still surprised for the result.

Based on the previous explosion and electron emission by spiritual energy barriers, the spiritual energy barriers have the emission of electrons at 125 to 130 MJ or 7.802x1026 to 8.114x1026 eV for the around barriers and 140 MJ or 8.738x1026 eV. Twenty-four modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG can destroy the barriers but cannot destroy the eye of the array. So, the cultivators of the Black Shadow can repair the spiritual energy barriers. Professor Einstein then sent this result to General Eisenhower and suggested the UTAF utilize plasma hypersonic missiles to destroy the spiritual energy barriers.

Colobria City, Colobria Region, 6 May 2141 / 6 Maius 1841, 09:20 AM

Ten minutes after the twenty-four modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ASMs explosion, the barriers were damaged. However, the barrier started to repair itself, thanks to the cultivator's spiritual power. The Black Shadow cultivators from the Tianlong Empire tried to repair the barrier with their Qi or spiritual power.

"The Enemy has already attacked our barriers. Use your Qi to repair the barriers." Mrs. Saturday ordered her cultivators to do so.

"好的，女士。我们会修理屏障 (Yes, ma'am. We will repair the barrier)." The cultivators respond.

Only in several minutes, the barriers are completely repaired. Mrs Saturday smiled, saying her cultivator's performance was no less than that of Black Shadow members from PRU and Weltenkraft Reich. Even for United Terran, enemies who utilize magic and spiritual power are more dangerous because they do not have to anticipate it except with a pre-emptive strike.

150 km from Colobria City, Colobria Region, 6 May 2141 / 6 Maius 1841, 09:30 AM

After the launch of twenty-four modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG and their explosion against the enemy energy barrier, Major Richthofen was surprised that the energy barrier was repaired.

"How is that possible? Those barriers already repaired after getting hit by our modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG?" Major Richthofen was surprised after he saw the energy barrier repaired.

"Sir, I think this energy barrier is quite amusing. We need to find their weak point. Even if the barrier can be repaired, we can still inflict damage to the barrier." Heraclius said.

"You are right, Heraclius. We still can damage the barrier. I am certain that, with some damage, we could breach the barrier. Now, we need more tests against those barriers. Heraclius, launch your GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs." Major Richthofen ordered Heraclius to launch GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs.

"Yes, Sir. Launch GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs. Bombs away!" Heraclius responds while launching GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs.

"Bombs Away!" All legionnaires launch their GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs.

Twenty-four modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs were launched from twelve ME 262M. The modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bomb flying devices were guided by radar waves from the United Terran data link system with satellites. The guided bombs fly with a speed of Mach 0.5 to target the energy barriers.

Several minutes later, twenty-four modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs hit the energy barrier and caused a moderate explosion. Each modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs carried 100 kg of nano-ONC as explosive materials. The explosive energy caused by twenty-four modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs is 1,092,000 kJ or 1,092 MJ. This amount of energy is roughly equivalent to about 261 tons of TNT.

The kinetic energy of one GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bomb is 2,943 MJ, so the kinetic energy of twenty-four GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs is 70.637 MJ. Thus, the total energy of twenty-four GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs is 26,278.637 MJ.

The explosion of modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs is less powerful than Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ASMs because it has less Nano-ONC composition and lower speed. Modified GBU-53/B StormBreaker guided bombs are usually used for specific stationary and moving targets. However, Major Richthofen ordered Heraclius to know the effect of the explosion on the energy barriers and their repairing power.

Just like Major Richthofen's prediction, the explosion is less potent than previous Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ASMs, and the damage of the energy barrier is less than that of ASMs. Because of the cultivator's spiritual power, the energy barriers were repaired faster than previous airstrikes with modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ASMs.

Suddenly, incoming transmission from General Eisenhower to Major Richthofen.

"Major Richthofen, you are authorized to engage the enemy with our StormStrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic air-surface missiles (ASMs). We received information from Professor Einstein that we need higher energy to damage and destroy the enemy energy barrier. Based on the strongest electromagnetic waves and emission of electrons, I already sent the coordinate location of the weakness from the barriers. Professor Einstein said that the strongest electromagnetic waves are the weakness of the barriers. Mr Apollonius, the archwizard, also says that if we destroy the eye of the array or the weakness, we can completely destroy the enemy's energy barriers. The electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effect and tremendous temperature from our plasma hypersonic ASM will weaken and completely destroy enemy energy barriers." General Eisenhower ordered Major Richthofen.

"Affirmative, Sir. We will initiate the engagement and launch of our StormStrike AV-1 plasma ASMs." Major Richthofen responds.

"Godspeed, Major. May God give us strength." General Eisenhower closed the transmission.

Then, Major Richthofen ordered Heraclius and his legionnaires to stand by and let the UTAF squadron take action.

"Listen up, squads. General Eisenhower has already authorized us to launch our plasma hypersonic ASMs. Prepare the Stormstrike AV-1. Heraclius, you and the legionnaires stand by with your BVRAAM. Prepare for the enemy dragons." Major Richthofen ordered the joint squadrons.

"Affirmative, Sir. Prepare Stormstrike AV-1." Captain McCampbell responds.

"Affirmative, Sir. Standy by and prepare Meteor BVRAAM.” Heraclius responds.

"Stormstrike launch!" Major Richthofen launches his Stormstrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic ASM from his F-42.

"Stormstrike launch!" Captain McCampbell and the UTAF squadron launch their Stormstrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic ASMs from their F-42 and Mig-41.

The Twelve StormStrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic launches from the UTAF squadron at a speed of Mach 15 and is guided by the United Terran satellites. Only twelve StormStrike AV-1 plasma ASM damaged and obliterated the energy barrier in several seconds. They not only destroyed the spiritual barriers but also successfully destroyed the eye of the array, which became the weakness of spiritual energy barriers.

Each plasma hypersonic missile releases kinetic, thermal, and ionization energy. The United Terran utilize Xenon gas as the source of plasma. Ionization energy is required to transform the xenon gas into a plasma state (Xe+ and Xe2+). The first ionization energy of Xenon is 12.13 eV, and the second is 21.21 eV, so the total ionization energy is 33.34 eV or 5.34x10-18 J. (1 eV = 1.602x10-19 J).

The StormStrike AV-1 utilizes xenon gas (Xe) in a neutral state and transforms it into a plasma state (Xe+ and Xe2+). Onboard the StormStrike AV-1 missile, nano-ultracapacitors from nano-materials give the energy to transform the xenon gas into plasma states. The StormStrike AV-1 has 50 kg of xenon gas as plasma material, a nano-ultracapacitor with an energy load of around 500 Wh/Kg, and nano solid-state batteries with around 1500 Wh/kg. The total energy for all Xenon atoms in the plasma state is 1.22x109 J or 1,220 MJ. The nano-ultracapacitor's mass is 40 kg, and nano solid-state batteries are 250 kg with total energy storage of 1.422x109 J or 1,422 MJ. The energy storage (1,422 MJ) is more than the energy required for the ionization of Xenon (1,220 MJ).

The total mass of StormStrike AV-1 is 600 kg, consisting of 50 kg of Xenon gas as plasma material, 290 kg of energy storage, 200 kg of propulsion and engines,40 kg of guidance and control system, and 20 kg of other structural components.

The kinetic energy of 600 kg ASM at Mach 15 is 7.803x109 J or 7,803 MJ, and thermal energy from ionization energy is 1,22x109 J or 1,220 MJ. The total energy release of plasma hypersonic missiles is 9.023x109 J or 9,023 MJ.

Each plasma hypersonic release of energy is 9,023 MJ and has a temperature of more than 5000 Celcius. This energy is higher than the previous modified Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ASM consisting of Nano-ONC. So, twelve StormStrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic ASMs release 108,276 MJ. Also, the plasma effect causes an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), which weakens the energy barriers. This energy is more than enough to destroy the spiritual barriers and the eye of the array to obliterate the barriers.

Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 09:35 AM

After getting struck by twelve Stormstrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic ASMs, the energy barrier got obliterated, and the cultivators who maintain the barrier spout much blood. The strong EMP effect caused the spiritual power of the barrier to be more depleted than the previous attack with explosive ASMs and guided bombs. This effect also affects the cultivators. Their Qi are more depleted because they need to restore the obliterated energy barrier. Some lower-stage cultivators had already used their innate Qi to restore the obliterated energy barrier, while higher-stage cultivators had already depleted their Qi.

"How is this possible? What kind of attack is capable of obliterating the energy barrier?" Mrs Saturday was shocked to learn that plasma hypersonic ASMs had done so.

Mrs. Saturday's voice trembled with anger and fear as she commanded her remaining cultivators. She knew that if the barrier was breached, the legionnaires and United Terran soldiers would attack them.

"We need to regroup and reinforce our defenses. All remaining cultivators, focus your Qi on reinforcing the secondary barrier. We cannot afford to let the Legionnaires and the United Terran forces breach our defenses." Mrs Saturday ordered his cultivators.

Her orders were immediately complied with, and the cultivators began channeling their Qi despite their depleted energy to maintain and strengthen the secondary barrier. The air around them shimmered with spiritual energy as they worked in unison, their faces etched with determination. However, unlike in the previous action, the cultivators started to doubt their success after several hits by the enemy airstrikes.

The energy barrier quality is lower than the standard Tianlong Empire because Mrs Saturday's cultivators were brought to Fortisregnum Empire only in the mid-level Foundation Establishment Stage to the late-level Core Formation Stage. Even Mrs Saturday's level is only in the late Core Formation Stage.

150 km from Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 09:45 AM

Major Richthofen watched intently as the data streamed from the United Terran satellites. The first barrier had been obliterated, but his sharp eyes detected the formation of a secondary barrier. His brow furrowed in thought.

"Captain McCampbell, it seems they are trying to form another barrier. We need to keep the pressure on them. Prepare for another strike with our remaining StormStrike AV-1 plasma ASMs." Major Richthofen ordered Captain McCampbell and the UTAF squadron.

"Understood, Sir. Preparing for another strike," Captain McCampbell responded, his voice steady and resolute.

As the UTAF squadron prepared their next salvo, Heraclius and his legionnaires watched for any signs of enemy flying threats like dragons. The atmosphere was tense, the anticipation palpable.

"Baron 1 to all units, stay sharp. The enemy may have more tricks up their sleeves. Prepare for the unknown threat. Keep your position to stay away from the enemy." Major Richthofen warned the joint squadron members through the static of the communication device.

After the satellite guide identified the target, Major Richthofen and the UTAF squadron launched the second wave of plasma hypersonic ASMs.

"StormStrike launch!" Major Richthofen launches another Stormstrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic ASM from his F-42.

"StormStrike launch!" Captain McCampbell and the UTAF squadron launch their Stormstrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic ASMs from their F-42 and Mig-41.

Twelve StormStrike AV-1 ASMs launch from the UTAF squadron and fly with a speed of 15 Mach to the designed target. After several seconds, the StormStrike AV-1 ASMs hit the designated target. The plasma explosion damages and obliterates the second energy barrier. The EMP effect significantly impacts the energy barrier and causes spiritual damage to the weakening cultivators.

Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 09:46 AM

Mrs Saturday could feel the strain on her cultivators as they struggled to maintain the secondary barrier. She knew they were running out of time and options. The Legionnaires and United Terran forces were relentless, and their technology exceeded her expectations.

"We need to buy more time. Mr. 02, please send your dragon riders to intercept enemy aerial forces. We need to take the fight to the skies." Mrs Saturday asked Mr. 02 to send the dragon riders to give the cultivators more time.

Her command was relayed swiftly, and soon, and the fearsome Black Shadow dragon riders were airborne, their massive beasts cutting through the sky with terrifying speed and grace. Their mission was clear: disrupt the Legionnaires and United Terran forces and protect the barrier at all costs.

However, the dragon riders are too late. The UTAF plasma hypersonic ASMs already destroy the second barrier. The mid and late-level Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators suffered the most devastating damage. They already used their innate Qi to maintain the secondary barrier. The effects of plasma explosion and EMP deplete their innate Qi and cause them to suffer psychological effects that disrupt their Qi flows. All mid-level Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators died, while the late-level Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators were comatose because of the shock and psychological damage.

150 km from Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 09:55 AM

"Sir, our radar detected the incoming of the enemy dragons! We detect fifty enemy dragons, and they are heading straight for us!" Heraclius's urgent voice crackled over the communication device.

"Affirmative. Heraclius and legionnaires prepare for aerial combat. Engage the dragons with your Meteor BVRAAM." Major Richthofen commanded Heraclius and the Legionnaires to engage the dragons.

The legionnaires responded with practiced precision. Missiles were armed, and targeting systems locked onto the incoming dragons. The skies lit up with the trails of missiles streaking towards their targets.

"Fox-3! Missiles away!" Heraclius called out as he fired two modified MBDA Meteor BVRAAMs, his ME 262M banking sharply to avoid the retaliatory fire from the dragons.

"Fox-3! Missiles away!" All the legionnaires respond while launching their modified MBDA Meteor BVRAAM.

Twenty-four modified MBDA Meteor BVRAAM were launched from the legionnaires' aerial squadron and flew at 5 Mach. The missiles were guided by GPS and helped by the United Terran satellites. An advanced computer device in ME 262M has already identified and designed every target to minimize errors while targeting the enemy.

After several minutes, the first wave of missiles found their marks and destroyed the dragons and their riders, who were unaware of the incoming missiles as targets. The dragons hit by MBDA Meteor BVRAAM falling from the sky in fiery plumes.

Nevertheless, the other Black Shadow dragon riders were skilled and tenacious, weaving through the missile barrage with agility that belied their size. They also release small magical barriers to protect them from incoming missiles. Unfortunately, because MBDA Meteor has a no-escape zone capability, they could track the target when they try to dodge it. Finally, the missiles could pursue the target, and a tremendous explosion happened.

The magical barrier released by the dragon riders and their dragon can protect them from missile explosions. However, the explosion successfully destroyed the magical barrier, and intense heat damaged and injured the raiders. The unfortunate riders fell from their dragon because they suffered intensified burn damage and shockwaves. Some riders could survive because of their luck but were still injured with several degrees of burn damage.

The dragons who lost their rider and lost control of the magic control tried to flee because they suffered burn damage and psychological impact. Their instinct and intelligence tell them they will be annihilated if they are still hostile and under the radius of the battlefield. They know that if they get hit by something that destroys the spiritual barrier, they will perish and be obliterated. The dragon survivor then fled from the battlefield and flew to the east. From fifty majestic sky dragons, only twenty-six still survived without being injured; ten were destroyed and killed without a chance to release the magic barrier; five dragons lost their rider because of intense heat and burn damage; and five dragons and their rider were injured by several burn damage and psychological impact.

Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:00 AM

Mrs Saturday watched the aerial battle unfold through her spiritual perception, her heart pounding. The dragons were formidable, but she knew they could not hold off the enemy forces forever. She needed a plan and fast. Suddenly, the spiritual sign from the dragon riders starts to disappear. Mrs Saturday and Mr. 02 were shocked that the legionnaires defeated even majestic sky dragons from the Imperio Estelar. How could a backward nation like the Fortisregnum Empire defeat mighty aerial power like a majestic sky dragon?

The situation is terrible because they lost some cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, while previous plasma hypersonic missiles injured cultivators at the Core Formation Stage. Because the cultivators are injured, they cannot maintain the third energy barrier as the last barrier. The EMP, tremendous high temperature (more than 5000 Celsius degree), shockwave, and psychological impact inflict damage to the cultivators, magicians, and several soldiers under a certain radius from the barrier.

Mrs Saturday only cursed her condition because she and her cultivators were not enough to withstand something powerful like plasma hypersonic missiles that could destroy the spiritual barriers. She thinks the condition would be different if she could bring her seniors and elders from the powerful sect in Jianghu with the Nascent Soul Stage and Soul Formation Stage. Cultivators specializing in array and barrier with the Nascent Soul and Soul Formation Stage will have more powerful spiritual barriers. If this happens, the United Terrans need more plasma hypersonic missiles from aircraft or bigger plasma missiles from the missiles-cruisers, destroyers, and submarines to destroy the spiritual barriers of the Nascent Soul and Soul Formation stage.

Suddenly, twelve other plasma hypersonic ASMs from the UTAF destroyed the third barrier and destroyed the last spiritual defense of Colobria City. Mrs Saturday and Mr. 02 are shocked that the enemy destroyed the last barrier, and they also see the fleeing majestic dragon that survived the MBDA Meteor BVRAAM's initial attack.

150 km from Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:05 AM

Looking at his HUD, Major Richthofen saw that their third StormStrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic ASMs had already destroyed the enemy's last spiritual barrier. His radar also detected thirty-one dragons approaching them. Then, he ordered Heraclius to launch their last MBDA Meteor BVRAAM.

"Heraclius and legionnaires, launch your remaining Meteor BVRAAM to destroy the enemy dragons. If they still survive your Meteor, we will finish them with our plasma AAM. Here is the possible weak point based on the AI calculation. Lock and target the enemy based on this weak point." Major Richthofen ordered Heraclius and the legionnaires.

"Yes, Sir. Launch the remaining Meteor BVRAAM." Heraclius responds.

Heraclius and the legionnaires prepared the remaining BVRAAM and designed their target based on the AI's weak point analysis.

"Fox-3! Missiles away!" Heraclius launched his two remaining MBDA Meteor BVRAAM from his ME 262M.

"Fox-3! Missiles away!" All legionnaires launched their two remaining MBDA Meteor BVRAAM to target the enemy.

Twenty-four of the last MBDA Meteor BVRAAM from the legionnaires target the enemy majestic sky dragons.

Sky of Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:05 AM

Captain Jaime Pelayo, the Black Shadow Majestic Sky Dragon Unit commander, is aware of the incoming enemy attack. He knows about 'homing arrow' or 'missile' from his comrade in the People's Republic of Uroslav. His dragon unit suffers casualties because of enemy missile attacks. He was confused as to why backward nations like the Fortisregnum Empire could launch missiles that become aerial attacks for hyperpower and superpower nations. Do the hyperpower and superpower nations sell their aerial vehicle, known as aircraft, to backward nations like the Fortisregnum Empire? Even his nation, Imperio Estellar, only started to produce their designed aircraft with propellers in addition to the Majestic Sky Dragon Imperial Aerial Unit.

Suddenly, he feels something coming and will attack his aerial unit. So, he ordered his dragon's unit to prepare their magic barriers. Like Pelayo's prediction, twenty-four resemble homing arrows or missiles approaching his dragon's unit with high speed. Then, the twenty-four hit twenty-four of his vanguard dragons and their rider. Fortunately, Captain Pelayo had already ordered his unit to release a magical barrier to reduce the casualties. However, although they have already released the magical barrier, they still suffer heavy casualties.

The previous calculation from AI made the MBDA Meteor BVRAAM capable of hitting the weak point from the magic barrier. Thanks to the magic and spiritual barrier study, United Terran researcher could study and find the weak point of the magical or spiritual barrier based on their electromagnetic waves and electron emissions that come into contact with the magical barrier. The advanced AI from the United Terran could simulate and calculate the weak point of the magical barrier based on the dualism of the magic or spiritual barrier as a particle and wave. Based on the research result, the magical or spiritual barrier has a center or eye of the array with the highest electromagnetic wave frequency and energy.

Just as electrons can exhibit high energy concentrations in specific quantum states, the center of a magical or spiritual array would be where energy is most concentrated. Higher-frequency electromagnetic waves carry more energy than the other side of magic or spiritual barriers. The center of the array, where energy is most focused, could be seen as having the highest "frequency" of spiritual or magical power.

In quantum mechanics, electrons' dual nature as particles and waves allows them to exhibit behaviours that depend on how they are observed. Similarly, in a magical array, the power at the center might manifest in different forms (intense energy, heightened influence) depending on how it is utilized or perceived.

The eye or center of an array and barrier symbolically represents insight, clarity, and focus for the magicians and cultivators. In the context of electromagnetic waves, this could translate to a point of maximum coherence and intensity of the energy field, analogous to the peak frequency in a wave spectrum.

The modified MBDA Meteor has a 50 kg warhead of nano-ONC with a mass of BVRAAM, is 250 kg, and could fly at Mach 5. The kinetic energy of a 250 kg modified MBDA Meteor fly at a speed of Mach 5 is 367,528 kJ or 367.528 MJ. The explosive energy is 546,000 kJ or 546 MJ. The total energy of one modified Meteor missile is 913,528 kJ or 913.528 MJ.

This energy is enough to obliterate a majestic sky dragon and their rider without a magic barrier. However, the energy barrier between the majestic sky dragon and their rider differs for each individual. If the dragon and its rider have a magic barrier weaker than 913.528 MJ, the barrier will destroyed, and the dragon and its rider will obliterated. However, if the magic barrier is lower than 913.528 MJ and the center of the barrier has more energy than missile energy, the magic barrier will break. Still, the dragon will survive and be injured, while the rider will die because of the tremendous temperature from the explosion. If the magic barrier has more energy power than 913.528 MJ, the barrier cannot penetrated, but the rider could be injured because of the tremendous heat from the explosion. If the magic barrier is more powerful than the missile's energy and both can use healing magic, both will survive the explosion.

The missiles struck at the eye or center of the magical barrier, which had strong electromagnetic waves from the electron. Because the missiles hit the center of the magical barrier as a weak point, the explosion and heat could break through it and devastate the rider and their dragons, weaker than the missile's explosion energy.

The sky above Colobria City was a chaotic scene of destruction and desperation. Dragons and their riders, once formidable and seemingly invincible, now plummeted from the sky, their once majestic forms engulfed in flames and smoke. The survivors, disoriented and injured, struggled to regroup and assess their situation.

Captain Jaime Pelayo watched in horror as the sky above Colobria City became a fiery inferno. His once proud and mighty dragon unit, known for its unyielding spirit and unparalleled aerial prowess, was now scattered, its majestic forms reduced to flaming wreckage by the merciless onslaught of the modified Meteor missiles. The enemy's tactical brilliance had caught them off guard, exploiting a vulnerability in their magical barriers that no one had anticipated.

Amidst the chaos, Pelayo's mind raced. The Fortisregnum Empire's sudden leap in military capability was surprising and deeply unsettling. The question of how a supposedly backward nation could acquire such advanced weaponry plagued his thoughts. It was unthinkable that hyperpowers or superpowers would willingly sell their aircraft, let alone advanced missiles, to a nation like Fortisregnum. The only plausible explanation was that the Empire had either stolen or reverse-engineered the technology from captured devices. But even then, the speed at which they had weaponized it was alarming.

Pelayo's dragon, a towering black-scaled beast named Erebos, let out a mournful roar as another dragon from their unit plummeted past them, trailing smoke and fire. The rider's lifeless body was barely visible through the flames. Sensing his rider's distress, Erebos flared his wings, stabilizing their flight as Pelayo quickly assessed the battlefield.

"Form up! Regroup around me!" Pelayo's voice echoed through the magical communicators embedded in each rider's armor. His remaining units struggled to obey, the injured and shell-shocked dragons flapping their wings feebly as they closed around their commander.

Erebos's eyes, glowing with an inner light, scanned the skies. Pelayo could feel the dragon's anxiety, a mirror of his own. They were severely outmatched, and the realization that their magical barriers, once thought impenetrable, had been compromised left them vulnerable in a way they had never experienced before. They need to fight until the last breath against this unknown power.

Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:15 AM

Mrs. Saturday and Mr. 02 stood on the high balcony of the city's central tower, their eyes fixed on the unfolding battle. The loss of the third barrier and the devastating effectiveness of the enemy's missiles had shaken their confidence. The dragons, their last line of defense, were being decimated by an enemy they had underestimated.

"How is this possible? We have the most powerful dragons, the strongest barriers. How could a backward nation like Fortisregnum possess such destructive power?" Mrs Saturday muttered, her voice tinged with both anger and fear.

Mr. 02, his usually calm demeanour replaced with visible concern, replied, "We underestimated them. Their technology is far more advanced than we anticipated. We need to adapt, and quickly."

Just as they spoke, a new alert came through their communication device.

"Mr. 02, this is Captain Pelayo. We are suffering heavy losses. The enemy's missiles are targeting our barriers' weak points with precision. We cannot hold them off much longer." Captain Pelayo reports through magic communication devices

"Captain, fall back. Regroup with the remaining dragons and prepare for a strategic retreat. We cannot afford to lose any more of our forces." Mr. 02's mind raced.

"Understood. We will do our best to cover the retreat." Captain Pelayo responded, his voice filled with resignation

Unknown to him and the survivor of his dragon rider unit, more terrifying will be waiting for them. As per General Eisenhower's order, no survivor of enemy aerial power remained. Major Richthofen and his joint squadron will annihilate the enemy dragon rider unit.

150 km from Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:20 AM

Major Richthofen watched as the dragons began to retreat. He knew that if the dragon rider survived, they would cause devastating damage to the helicopters and legionnaires unit. Because Heraclius and all legionnaires have already emptied their BVRAAM and dogfight against dragons is dangerous, he makes a decisive option: annihilate the remaining dragons with PlasmaStrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic BVRAAM from F-42 and Mig-41.

"Baron squadron, prepare for the final assault. We cannot let them retreat and threaten our ally. Annihilate them with PlasmaStrike AV-1 missiles." Major Richthofen orders the UTAF squadron to annihilate the remaining dragons and their rider.

"Roger that, Baron-1. Squad, form up and prepare to engage. This is our chance to end this once and for all." Captain McCampbell replied, his voice steady.

The Baron squadron, bolstered by the most potent plasma hypersonic BVRAAM for the aircraft from the UTAF, PlasmaStrike AV-1, is ready to engage the retreating dragons from long range. Plasma BVRAAMs were armed and locked onto their targets, guided by the advanced AI and satellite systems already proving their worth in the battle.

"Fox-4! Plasma missiles away!" Major Richthofen called out as he fired the first volley of plasma hypersonic air-to-air missiles.

"Fox-4! Plasma missiles away!" The rest of the Baron squadron followed suit, missiles streaking towards the beleaguered dragons with deadly accuracy.

Sky of Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:21 AM

Captain Pelayo and his remaining forces were now retreating, trying to escape the relentless onslaught. The plasma missiles, however, were unlike anything they had faced before. Faster and more destructive than the Meteor BVRAAMs, these missiles quickly tore through the dragons' defenses, even if they did not have time to release their magic barrier.

Explosions lit up the sky as the plasma missiles found their marks. Dragons and their riders were engulfed in fiery blasts, their magical barriers unable to withstand the sheer power of the plasma warheads. Finally, Captain Pelayo and Eberos meet their comrades in the afterlife after getting struck and obliterated by PlasmaStrike AV-1 plasma hypersonic missiles.

The majestic sky dragon rider, Imperio Istelar's most potent aerial power, did not stand a chance against plasma hypersonic missiles and was obliterated.

After destroying the spiritual barriers and annihilating the majestic sky dragons and their rider, Major Richthofen report the mission result to General Eisenhower.

"This is Baron-1, successfully destroying enemy spiritual barriers and annihilating enemy dragons. Over." Major Richthofen report.

"Good Job, Baron-1. Let the Maximus and legionnaires finish the rest of the enemy. You and the legionnaire's aerial unit return to the base." General Eisenhower ordered Major Richthofen and the joint squadron to return to base.

"Affirmative, Returning to the base." Major Richthofen report.

"Attention, Squadron. We have successfully finished our objective. You are the best pilots I have. I am proud of you. Return to the base." Major Richthofen ordered the joint squadron to return to base.

"Affirmative, Baron-1. Return to the base." Captain McCampbell and the UTAF squadron respond.

"Affirmative, Sir. Return to the base." Heraclius and the legionnaire's squadron respond.

Finally, the joint squadron returns to the base and lets Maximus and the legionnaires finish the battle.

Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:30 AM

Senator Brutus, Mr.02, and Mrs. Saturday watched in horror as the last dragons fell from the sky. The city's defenses were in ruins, and the enemy closed in. She turned to Mr. 02, her resolve hardening.

"We must evacuate from the city. Gather our remaining forces and prepare to retreat. We will live to fight another day." Mr. 02 knows that the Black Shadow cannot stay in Colobria City.

"Retreat? Where is the place we can retreat? The legionnaires had already defeated our forces in Pampoi City. We can still fight them in the land. We will fight with everything we have. We still have fog trap, killing and illusion arrays and your land dragon, Mr. 02. I will also release my secret weapon to prevent the incoming of the enemy." Mrs Saturday said.

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"Secret weapon? What are your secret weapons, Mrs Saturday?" Senator Brutus is confused.

"Initially, I did not want to use this weapon, but our condition forced me to use it against the incoming legionnaires and United Terran forces. Elder Kwak and Elder Liao, follow me." Mrs Saturday orders his subordinates, Elder Kwak and Elder Liao, to release the secret weapons.

Mrs Saturday, Elder Kwak, and Elder Liao then go to a secret place below Colobria City prisons and dungeon. When the first slavery army captured Colobria City, Elder Kwak and Elder Liao found the prison and dungeon for evil criminals in Fortisregnum Empire. These evil criminals have committed various evil acts like genocide, arson, sexual assault, corruption, and other evil acts. For cultivators, people who conduct evil acts will increase their bad karma and malevolent or yin energy. These people with tremendous malevolent and yin energy are suitable to become the jiangshi (僵尸) or hopping zombies.

Mrs Saturday ordered Elder Kwak dan Elder Liao to kill all the prisoners and make their body to become jiangshi, a last effort to fight against the legionnaires. After one month of preparation, some corpses successfully turned to become jiangshi. Mrs Saturday knows that if she utilizes ordinary and innocent people, the jiangshi will not be powerful, and she will go against her morality. Also, if the legionnaires and United Terran know she turned ordinary and innocent people into jiangshi, they will not hesitate to execute her and her cultivators. Fortunately, she still has a good side that makes her life easier in the future than other Black Shadows and Senator Brutus.

"Elder Kwak and Elder Liao, release the jiangshi and put them in strategical locations to ambush and fight against the incoming legionnaires and United Terran army." Mrs Saturday ordered Elder Kwak and Elder Liao.

"We obey, Your Lady." Elder Kwak and Elder Liao respond.

Elder Kwak and Elder Liao then start to chant and unseal the coffin of jiangshi. If someone had mana or spiritual detection, they could detect dark, malevolent and demonic energy from the jiangshi. Then, the jiangshi hopped from their coffin and stood by, waiting for Elder Kwak's and Elder Liao's orders. However, because the cultivation stage of Elder Liao and Elder Kwak is only half of the Nascent Soul Stage, the jiangshi are not powerful enough. Nevertheless, these jiangshi are still helpful against weak and non-user magic or spiritual power. Then, both elders ordered the jiangshi to go to the designed location to prepare and ambush the legionnaires.

Mrs Saturday is satisfied with the elder's performance. She is from a reputable orthodox sect in Jianghu, so she cannot have unorthodox and demonic methods to create Jiangshi. When she searches for people with good cultivation stages to join her for the Black Shadow mission, she meets Elder Liao and Elder Kwak, the rogue cultivators with unorthodox and demonic cultivation. Unlike ordinary orthodox cultivators who will fight and kill unorthodox and demonic cultivators, Mrs Saturday pragmatically offers the unorthodox and demonic cultivators to the Black Shadow as long as they are powerful and helpful to the Black Shadow. After the elders release the jiangshi, Mrs Saturday reports to Senator Brutus and Mr. 02.

Pampoi City, Pampoi Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 10:30 AM

After the airstrike from the joint squadron of UTAF and legionnaires, General Eisenhower ordered Colonel Ermey to start the mission for legionnaires to capture Colobria City. Without further ado, Colonel Ermey sends Maximus and Captain Nadia Moore the order to start the attack mission.

Maximus and the legionnaires have already prepared to board in V-280M helicopters and prepare for take off. Captain Moore and other pilots turn on the helicopters and check the advanced cockpit of V-280M before taking off. The aircrews conduct a final check before the pilots turn on the rotors. After all preparation was finished, the pilots ordered the legionnaires to board the helicopters and turn on the rotors. After several minutes, the helicopters take off from the helipad and fly to Colobria City at 280 knots or 518.56 km/h.

In the helicopters, Maximus briefs the legionnaires on how to prepare themselves. Maximus only brought Valerius and the infantry unit. Flavius also boarded the helicopters with his sniper unit to support the legionnaires. Their objective is to infiltrate Colobria City and capture the Colobria City. Alongside legionnaires, wizards from Magic Sanctuary helped the legionnaires detect mana fluctuation and mana traps, dispel debuff and other events related to magic or spiritual power.

"We are already on the way to Colobria City. Legionnaires, embrace and prepare yourselves. Our objective is to defeat the Black Shadow and the traitor's army. Unlike our previous encounters, the Black Shadow in Colobria City utilizes magic and spiritual power. I do not know if the scientific weapons from the United Terran could defeat the magic and spiritual power. However, the United Teran Air Force and Heraclius's successful mission show that modern scientific weapons could defeat enemy magic and spiritual power. May Gods help us strength to achieve victory. For the Emperor! For Fortisregnum Empire! For Glory!" Maximus encourage the legionnaires through communication devices before fighting the magic and spiritual power of Black Shadow in Colobria City.

"For the Emperor! For Fortisregnum Empire! For Glory!" The legionnaires encouraged with Maximus speech.

"You are good to encourage your legionnaires, Maximus." Captain Moore says while she is piloting the V-280M.

"Thank you, Nadia. As you know, soldiers with high morale will have a higher chance of winning than soldiers with standard or low morale. They are our elite soldiers in my Empire and already received modern and special training from United Terran ISF, so I only boost their morale." Maximus responds.

"You are right, Maximus. Sometimes, I encourage my crews before we take a mission. Maybe you, who becomes a leader of legionnaires, must ensure your legions are ready for battles." Captain Moore responds.

In the mobile command unit of V-280M, Plotinus, a high-rank wizard who becomes commander of the wizard unit during the battle of Colobria II, joins Maximus and Captain Moore to give command to the wizards in other helicopters.

"Master Plotinus, what do you think about the possible enemy magic and spiritual power?" Maximus asked Platonus.

"Based on the United Terran information, the enemy spiritual energy barriers have already been destroyed by our aerial legionnaires and United Terran air force. Also, the joint aerial unit had already destroyed the enemy aerial dragon unit. These results give us more advantages because the enemy cannot attack us from the sky. However, we need to be cautious about enemy cultivators capable of deploying traps, including spiritual traps (arrays), mechanical traps, and ambush by the enemy. If the enemy deploys aerial dragons, we can assume they will deploy land dragons unit. I hope the new weapons of United Terran can destroy enemy land dragon units." Plotinus said.

"I see. If the enemy deploys land dragon units, could you help us to breach the enemy magic barrier? I fear our new anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) cannot destroy enemy magic barriers." Maximus asked again.

"Based on Master Apollonius and Master Arcturus's report, United Terran ATGM can penetrate and destroy a small magic barrier but cannot destroy Archwizard energy barrier. I think a single attack of ATGM cannot destroy the enemy magic barrier from the land dragon, but we could add an attack with magic to weaken the magic barrier before being hit by our ATGM." Plotinus said.

"I see. We could release the missiles from ATGM to destroy and kill the enemy land dragons. We need your wizards to help us and ensure our legionnaires are safe from enemy magic and spiritual traps." Maximus asked for help to Plotinus.

"Rest assured, Legatus Maximus. My wizards will do our best to help the legionnaires against the enemy, especially magic and spiritual traps." Plotinus responds.

"Our helicopter unit will be ready if our ATGM and magic attack cannot destroy enemy land dragons. We will launch our hellfire ASMs to destroy enemy land dragons." Captain Moore said they would help launch hellfire ASMs to destroy enemy land dragons.

"Thank you, Nadia. I need your helicopter units to be ready and give us aerial support." Maximus asked Captain Moore.

"Affirmative, Legatus Maximus." Captain Moore responded with a smile on her face.

Maximus then asked Lucillius how many ATGM they carry for this attack mission through a communication device. Lucillius answered that every V-280M carry two command launcher units (CLU) and ten missiles. So they bring twenty CLUs and one hundred missiles for this attack mission. However, because UTAF and the legionnaires' aerial unit successfully gained air superiority in the Colobria region, the legionnaires do not need to carry all MANPADS like ATGM. So, the total legionnaire's power is 200 legions, 20 wizards, 20 CLU and 100 ATGM missiles, 10 CLU and 20 MANPADS missiles, and other weapons, gear, and equipment.

Maximus divided the legionnaires into five units consisting of forty and ten wizards for each unit. They will attack five strategic locations around Colobria City and Colobria Region. Because previous airstrikes have destroyed the spiritual energy barrier, UT ISIA native agents in the Colobria Region will also help conduct the raid and give precise information about the enemy. A joint mission to capture the Colobria City and Colobria Region is to begin.

Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 11:00 AM

Agent A, field commander of UT ISIA native agents in the Colobria Region, can contact the UT ISIA Fortisregnum Empire branch in the Aeterna Region thanks to the previous airstrikes that destroyed the spiritual energy barriers. The spiritual energy barriers disrupt all electronic communication, so all native agents cannot use their communication devices. Fortunately, the nanomachine in their heart could still emit weak electromagnetic waves and can be detected by the United Terran satellites to know their conditions.

After they could connect, Johnny Bean ordered Agent A to prepare the native agents to help the incoming legionnaires attack.

"Agent A to Safehouse. Over." Agent A tried to contact the UT ISIA branch in Aeterna City.

"This is the Safehouse. Thank God we can communicate again. Agent A, we did not have much time. General Eisenhower had already ordered Maximus and the legionnaires to start the attack mission. Your task is to help them gain enemy condition and raid enemy supply and logistics. Ensure the safety of civilians. You are free to engage. All weapons are free. Assert our dominance. Failed is not an option." Bean ordered Agent A.

"Affirmative, Mr. Bean. We will mobilize all the native agents in Colobria Region. Fortunately, we are ready to engage the enemy during the lost contact." Agent A responds.

"Remember, ensure the safety of civilians. Failure is not an option." Bean ended the communication by reminding Agent A about civilian safety and that there had been no failure in this mission.

Then, Agent A ordered Agent B, his vice commander, to inform all native agents to prepare and be ready for the incoming battle. He also forwards the order from Johnny Bean to help legionnaires with information and fight against the slavery faction army. Without further ado, Agent B forwarded the message from Johnny Bean to all native agents in the field.

While giving orders to the field native agents, suddenly, one of the field native agents reports to Agent A.

"This is Agent X, report to Agent A. We found something strange in Colobria City. We found people with dark aura escaping from Colobria City prison and visiting various locations. After that, two people resemble Tianlong Empire cultivators follow the people with dark aura. I am sending the photo and video to you." Agent X, a native agent with mana detection power, found the Jiangshi from the Colobria City prison.

"Oh my Gods, what is this? How the people look like this, and they could also jump high." Agent A responds. Agent X follow the two people who resemble cultivators. However, be careful and ensure the enemy does not detect you." Agent A responds.

"Affirmative, Sir. Conducting recon missions and following the enemy. I am out." Agent X ended the call and started to follow the cultivators.

Agent A then forwarded the information to Johnny Bean, shocking him and several United Terran officers in Aeterna City. They know that magic and spiritual power defy natural laws but are still surprised to see cultivators and Chinese zombies. Johnny then ordered Agent A and all native agents in Colobria City and Colobria Region to be cautious of the threat from the cultivators and zombies. Then, Agent X and Agent M cautiously send the mini drones to follow the cultivators and zombies to give real-time information. Johnny also sent the information to General Eisenhower and Colonel Ermey to forward this crucial information about the cultivators and jiangshi to Maximus and the legionnaires.

Outside of Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 11:40 AM

Maximus and the legionnaires got the information about the cultivators and jiangshi from Colonel Ermey. All UTAF pilots were shocked by the information about cultivators and jiangshi in Colobria City. Maximus knows that if the enemy utilizes spiritual energy barriers, they could use jiangshi as their additional power. However, the problem is, could the modern and scientific weapons from the United Terran effectively be used against these cultivators and zombies? They will only know after testing their new weapons against the enemy.

Maximus, Captain Moore, and Plotinus stood on the edge of the V-280M helicopter, peering down at the ominous sight below. The once-grand city of Colobria was now a battlefield. The airstrike from joint squadrons caused some damage to the Colobria City structures, especially from the plasma ASM attack. Intense heat and shockwaves killed several people in Colobria City under the radius. The corpse lay around the outer city and could be used as the source of Jiangshi. However, because ordinary people without malevolence energy only produce low-quality jiangshi, Mrs Saturday and her cultivators did not use the people's corpses. Nevertheless, despite the devastation, the true horror lay in what was emerging from the shadows.

"What is that? Chinese zombies?" Captain Moore was shocked when she saw the jiangshi in Colobria City and Colobria Region.

"That is jiangshi, ma'am. They resemble zombies but from Chinese literature. If the information from the literature is true, we could survive jiangshi detection if we hold our breath." One of the crews tells about Jiangshi.

"Jiangshi? Could our ATGM and ASM destroy those zombies?" Captain Moore asked her crew.

"I do not know, ma'am. This is our first time meeting and fighting against them." The crew responds.

Jiangshi's stiff and unnatural bodies hopped across the terrain, their movements eerie and relentless. The dark aura that surrounded them was palpable even from the air. Maximus tightened his grip on his assault rifle, feeling the weight of the responsibility now resting on his shoulders.

"We are facing an unknown enemy. These jiangshi are not just ordinary foes. They are imbued with dark magic, and our standard weapons might not be enough to stop them." Maximus said, his voice steady despite the growing tension.

Plotinus nodded, his expression grave. He knows that the legionnaires and UTAF will rely upon him and his wizards to fight against the enemy with magic and spiritual power.

"I will instruct the wizards to focus on weakening the magical aura surrounding the jiangshi. If we can disrupt their energy, it will make them more vulnerable to physical attacks." Plotinus said.

Captain Moore glanced at the array of weaponry at their disposal. She and her crews know this is their first time against these strange and unnatural enemies. She tries to calm herself against the unknown and spiritual power of magic.

"Our ATGMs and heavy weapons are designed to penetrate armor, but these creatures... They are something else entirely. We must combine our forces, magic and technology to take them down." Captain Moore tries to calm herself.

"We will adapt as needed. Have the wizards prepare their spells. We need to strike hard and fast before these jiangshi overwhelm us. After the wizards release their spells to weaken the jiangshi, we will defeat them with our standard weapons. If the standard weapons are not effective, we will shoot them with our ATGM and ASM support from the UTAF." Maximus gave a sharp nod and told the possible tactics.

"Understood. We will prepare and support the legionnaires with our spell power." Plotinus responds.

As the helicopters descended closer to the city, Maximus issued orders through his communication device.

"All units, prepare for immediate engagement. We must secure the gate and city wall to defend against the enemy outside the city. After securing the gate and city wall, we will split into attack and defense forces. The attack force will move forward to the city to defeat the enemy inside the city. The defense force will make a defense parameter against the enemy outside the city. Wizards focus on dispelling the dark energy around the jiangshi and help against the enemy's magic power. Legionnaire's defense units will use machine guns to repel the enemy from the city wall, while sniper units will cover us from the sky. We prioritize securing the strategic points and pushing back the Black Shadow forces and their magical and spiritual power." Maximus orders.

The helicopters hovered above the city, their rotors whipping up dust and debris. The legionnaires disembarked swiftly, forming flexible units as they hit the ground to secure the area. The wizards followed, their hands glowing with magical energy as they prepared to face the oncoming threat. The legionnaires move while covering the wizards from the enemy attack. For safety reasons, helicopters fly at higher altitudes to evade the potential air attack from the enemy, especially enemy land dragons and cultivators.

Plotinus led his group of wizards towards the nearest group of jiangshi, chanting in a low, resonant tone. The air around them shimmered as they unleashed a wave of energy designed to disrupt the dark magic that animated the undead creatures. The jiangshi staggered, their movements growing sluggish as the magic took hold. The legionnaires then utilize this condition to neutralize the enemy in the initial attack. The defense unit then puts the machine guns and heavy weapons like ATGM against the enemy land dragons while the attack is ready to annihilate the enemy in the city.

The legionnaires use this opportunity to attack jiangshi and slavery faction soldiers with their assault rifles, machine guns, rifles, and sniper rifles. The modern standard infantry weapons can defeat and kill the slavery faction soldiers; even Black Shadow musketeers in Colobria City are overwhelmed by the legionnaires' advanced weapons and tactics. If the slavery faction soldiers and musketeers do not apply the magic barrier, their armor will be penetrated by advanced kinetic bullet projectiles, killing them.

The soldiers or musketeers capable of releasing magic shields have a higher chance of survival than those unprotected by a magic shield. If the magic shield has lower energy than the bullet's kinetic energy, the bullet will penetrate and kill the soldiers. If the magic shield has similar energy to bullet kinetic energy, the bullet will penetrate, but it cannot penetrate enough to kill the soldiers. If the magic shield has more energy than bullet kinetic energy, it would absorb or possibly deflect it back to the legionnaires.

General Eisenhower was aware of this phenomenon, and thanks to Professor Einstein and the scientific team, all legionnaires were reinforced with armor-piercing (AP) bullets with the nano-tungsten core bullet. Even though AP bullets with the nano-tungsten core are more expensive than standard bullets, to achieve the highest possibility against magic shield, the highest military leader of United Terran authorizes and supports the legionnaires with AP bullets.

Maximus ordered Valerius and some heavy infantry units to stand by if the enemy land dragons engaged them. He also asks some sniper units in V-280M to give long-range support with their sniper rifles to kill the enemy soldiers and slavery faction. They will use standard bullets to kill the enemy, but if they are ineffective against the enemy magic shield or spiritual barrier, they will use AP bullets. Standard bullets are effective against ordinary soldiers and musketeers, but killing soldiers with magic barriers, jiangshi, and cultivators will be hard.

As the sniper unit commander, Flavius utilizes his magic to reinforce his focus on killing enemy soldiers from the sky with his new Accuracy International AXSR Sniper Rifle. He also orders his unit to provide cover for Plotinus and wizards to prepare their spells against enemy jiangshi, cultivators, and magic barriers. With clear sight from the V-280M helicopters, the sniper unit can support other legionnaires and wizards capable of killing enemy soldiers unprotected by magic shields. They also reinforce with AP bullets to penetrate the enemy's magic shields.

As the battle in Colobria City escalated, gunfire and explosions echoed through the streets. The once-bustling city was now a war zone, with legionnaires, wizards, and UTAF forces locked in a desperate struggle against the supernatural and otherworldly enemies.

Maximus watched the battlefield from the ground, his eyes scanning for signs of a more significant threat. The initial engagement had gone well; the legionnaires had stood against the jiangshi and the Black Shadow forces. However, he knew that this was just the beginning. The real test would come when the cultivators entered the fray with their formidable spiritual powers.

Captain Moore's voice cracked over the communication line. She had obtained information from Colonel Ermey to help him inform Maximus about the incoming greater force from the enemy cultivators, jiangshi, musketeers, and land dragons.

"Maximus, we have got movement in the eastern and western sectors. Our scouts are reporting a group of cultivators approaching. They seem to be leading a larger force of jiangshi. From the western sector, the musketeers and giant lizards, possibly of land dragons, approached the city." Be careful when engaging the enemy.

Maximus cursed under his breath. This condition was the possible condition of battle that he had feared. The cultivators could bolster the jiangshi with their spiritual energy, making them even more dangerous. The musketeers and land dragons with hard scales will damage and kill the legionnaires. He quickly formulated a plan.

"Thank you for the information, Nadia. Plotinus, prepare your wizards to counter the cultivators' spiritual energy. We must disrupt their control over the jiangshi before they can strengthen them. If the wizards cannot neutralize the threat, Nadia, have your units ready to engage with ATGMs and ASMs. We cannot afford to let those cultivators turn the tide against us. Valerius, ensure to defend and hold ground your position. Give order to Flavius and his sniper unit to cover us from the sky." Maximus ordered to Plotinus, Captain Moore and Valerius.

Plotinus nodded and signalled to his wizards. They gathered in a tight formation, their hands glowing with arcane symbols as they began chanting. The air around them crackled with energy, and a shimmering dome of light formed above their heads. This powerful anti-spiritual energy barrier was designed to neutralize the cultivators' influence. Valerius also orders Flavius to kill the enemy without a magic barrier and shield.

Because surprised attacks from legionnaires could inflict damage to the slavery faction soldiers and musketeers, Mr. 02 was surprised by the legionnaire's sudden appearance and attack and ordered the musketeers and land dragons outside Colobria City to enter and fight against the legionnaires in the city.

Mrs Saturday, Elder Kwak, Elder Liao, and the cultivators were also surprised by the sudden appearance of legionnaires from the sky. They did not anticipate the attack from the sky, so the hidden traps, illusion array and killing array as spiritual traps outside Colobria City become useless. They know that legionnaires and United Terran forces have a force to conduct airstrikes. Still, they did not anticipate if the ground units like legionnaires would utilize air transport like helicopters to evade the arrays, magic traps, and ambush by the Black Shadow and slavery faction army. However, thanks to magic communication, they ordered all units outside Colobria City to return and engage the legionnaires inside the city.

"All units return to the city. The enemy had already infiltrated the city from the sky. Musketeers and land dragons hastily return to the city. Our other musketeers and Senator Brutus's soldier tried to hold the enemy attack." Mr. 02 ordered the musketeers and land dragons unit to return to the city through the magic communication device.

"All units, stop your activities to maintain the array. Return to the city and engage the enemy. Use your flying sword to help you arrive at the city immediately. Help the musketeers and land dragons to fight against the enemy." Mrs Saturday ordered the cultivators through spiritual communication.

Because of the orders from Mr. 02 and Mrs. Saturday, all the units outside the city hastily returned to the city and were ready to engage the legionnaires. They are already wasting their time and energy to lay ambush and maintain the arrays. After the cultivators stopped maintaining the arrays, the fog covering the Colobria Region dissipated and gave a clear advantage to the UT ISIA native agents and Flavius from the sky.

Maximus listened intently to the updates from both Captain Moore and Plotinus, aware that the situation was rapidly escalating. The initial success of their surprise attack had been a significant victory, but the enemy was now regrouping, and the real battle was about to begin.

As the cultivators, musketeers, land dragons and their forces began to mobilize, the tension in the air was palpable. The eerie sight of the jiangshi, their stiff bodies moving in unnatural hops, was unsettling. However, the actual threat lay with the cultivators, who could amplify the power of these undead creatures with their spiritual energy. Also, the land dragon's thick scales and ability to release magic shields will significantly threaten the legionnaires.

"Plotinus, We need to ensure that the cultivators do not gain the upper hand. Have your wizards ready to disrupt their spiritual energy as soon as they enter the city. We cannot let them bolster the jiangshi or use other dark arts against us." Maximus ordered Plotinus to prepare and help the legionnaires to neutralize the enemy's spiritual and magic power.

"Understood. We will deploy our strongest spells to counter their influence. The wizards are prepared to create anti-spiritual barriers and offensive spells. We will ensure that the cultivators' powers are neutralized." Plotinus nodded, his face set in determination.

Maximus turned to Captain Moore and told her and her unit to prepare ASMs and ATGMs if the enemy landed dragons and powerful cultivators coming and engaged the legionnaires.

"Nadia, coordinate with the UTAF to ensure that our air support is ready to engage any larger threats, like those land dragons. If the standard ATGMs are insufficient, we may need to rely on heavier ordinances like ASMs to destroy the enemy." Maximus asked Captain Moore to prepare the hellfire ASMs if ATGM cannot defeat enemy land dragons and jiangshi.

Captain Moore's voice cracked over the comms, her tone professional but with a hint of concern. She knew her action would help the legionnaires defeat these spiritual and magical forces.

"Roger that, Maximus. I will ensure the pilots are ready for the situation. We must be ready for anything—this enemy is unlike any we have faced before." Captain Moore responds.

As the legionnaires and wizards prepared for the next phase of the battle, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The musketeers and land dragons were returning to the city, their heavy footsteps sending vibrations through the streets. The legionnaires could feel the weight of the situation, but they remained focused, their training and discipline guiding them through the chaos.

Valerius, who had been standing by with his heavy infantry and defense unit, moved to the city walls. The defense unit soldiers were equipped with MG-42M as machine guns and modified Javelin ATGM as the latest anti-tank weaponry, but seeing the land dragons—massive, armored beasts—was daunting. These creatures were unlike anything they had ever faced, and the thought of taking them down was intimidating.

"Hold your ground. Wait for the enemy to get within range, then hit them with everything we have. Machine gunners kill all enemies that are unprotected by magic shields. Ensure that we kill them before they attack us. ATGM units target enemy land dragons, especially their weak points. Flavius, ensure your sniper's unit takes out enemy soldiers without magical protection from long range. Try to kill enemy officers to reduce the enemy's morale and coordination. We need to thin their ranks before the main engagement." Valerius ordered to the infantry unit.

From above, Flavius and his sniper team took positions in the V-280M helicopters, their sniper rifles trained on the battlefield below. The snipers had a clear view of the approaching enemy forces, and they began to pick off the musketeers and other soldiers who were not protected by magic shields. Each shot was precise, and the enemy forces started to falter as their numbers were reduced.

The tension peaked as the land dragons neared the city, their massive forms towering over the buildings. The first of the beasts let out a deafening roar, shaking the air with its might. Its thick and impenetrable scales gleamed in the dim light, making it a fearsome sight.

Maximus watched the approaching threat, his mind racing. If they fight without United Terran support, they will undoubtedly lose against this threat, and they will also lose the war against the slavery faction. However, with support from United Terran, they have a great chance of defeating this massive enemy.

"We must focus our firepower on the land dragons' weak points. Target the joints and the underbelly. That is where their armor is thinnest. Valerius, you and your heavy infantry unit focus on taking them down. Plotinus, have your wizards prepare to cast spells to slow them down and weaken their defenses. Ensure you all coordinated well to defeat the incoming beast. Watch out for the enemy cultivator's spiritual attack and jiangshi." Maximus informed and ordered the legionnaires and wizard about the incoming threats.

Plotinus quickly relayed the orders to his wizards, who began chanting spells that would sap the strength of the land dragons. The air shimmered with magical energy as the wizards' spells took effect, causing the land dragons to stagger slightly as their movements became sluggish.

The legionnaires opened fire with their AP rounds, aiming for the weak points on the land dragons' bodies. The sound of gunfire echoed through the city as the bullets struck their targets, some penetrating the thick scales and causing the beasts to bellow in pain. Nevertheless, the land dragons release their magical shield to protect them because they feel pain after being attacked by the legionnaires. They also prepared their ultimate attack, a massive fireball to annihilate the legionnaires.

Valerius sees the opportunity. Even though magic shields protect the land dragons, they cannot protect their head while charging the fire magic to form massive balls. Before the land dragons release the massive fireball, Valerius's heavy infantry unit will shoot their ATGM to attack the head of the land dragons. The well-prepared heavy infantry unit aims at the land dragon's head. After they locked the land dragon head with their modified Javelin ATGM, they fired and released the missiles from CLU.

Under Valerius's command, the heavy infantry unit fired their modified Javelin ATGMs in unison. The missiles streaked across the battlefield, their trajectories locked onto the heads of the charging land dragons. As the missiles closed in, the land dragons roared in defiance, with their enormous fireballs nearly complete. The beasts tried to adjust, sensing the danger, but their massive size and the ongoing effects of the wizards' spells slowed their reactions.

The first missile struck true, hitting the head of the lead land dragon. The explosion was violent, sending a shockwave through the area. The beast's head jerked back, and the fireball it formed flickered and dissipated, leaving only a trail of smoke. The creature staggered, its immense body shaking as it struggled to stay upright. The second and third missiles followed shortly, each finding its mark on the other land dragons. The combined force of the explosions was overwhelming; the dragons roared in agony as the blasts tore through their heads, sending fragments of bone and scales flying. Then, the land dragons died from horrible damage because of the javelin ATGM attack.

The machine gunners also mowed down enemy soldiers and musketeers who were unprotected by magic shields with MG42 from the top of city walls. The slavery faction soldiers and musketeers suffered heavy casualties while charging the city gate and walls. The MG-42M was effective in killing the foolish enemy who charged the machine gunners and legionnaires at the top of the city walls. The barrage of STG-44M and Gewehr-43M also helped the MG-42M to annihilate the incoming enemy soldiers and musketeers.

Suddenly, one of the land dragons unleashed its fireball just before a missile struck its head. The massive flame orb shot forward, aimed at a group of legionnaires at the top of the city walls. Valerius, noticing the impending danger, quickly ordered the soldiers to scatter.

"Disperse! Take cover!" Valerius shouted over the comms.

The legionnaires reacted instantly, taking action to evade the incoming attack as the fireball surged towards them. It slammed into the city wall with a deafening roar, the explosion engulfing the area in flames. The heat was intense, and the force of the blast sent debris flying in all directions. Nevertheless, Valerius's quick thinking made the casualties minimal, with most legionnaires avoiding the worst blast. However, the fireball attack destroyed several advanced modern weapons like STG 44M, Gewehr 43M, MG 42M, and one CLU from a modified Javelin ATGM. The fireball attack also destroyed the city wall so the enemy soldiers and musketeers could enter the city.

Valerius then ordered other machine gunners and defense units to kill the enemy who tried to enter the city through breached city walls. The sound of death from Legionnaire's killer saws (MG-42M) killed many slave faction soldiers and musketeers. Other heavy infantry units with modified Javelin ATGMs also tried to kill the enemy land dragons.

Meanwhile, the wizards, led by Plotinus, intensified their efforts. They channeled their energy into spells to further weaken the land dragons and the jiangshi. The air was thick with arcane power as the wizards weaved their magic, creating barriers to shield the legionnaires from further magical attacks and disrupting the spiritual energy, animating the jiangshi.

With the land dragons severely weakened and their fireballs neutralized, Valerius's heavy infantry unit continued their assault, focusing on the creatures' now-exposed weaknesses. The dragons, once formidable and nearly invincible, were now vulnerable, their scales shattered and their magical defenses faltering. The heavy infantry's relentless barrage of AP rounds and ATGMs proved too much for the beasts to withstand. Even though they could release massive magic shields, the wizard's barrage of magic attacks and missiles from modified javelin ATGM hindered the magic shields and made the dragons vulnerable. The land dragons fell one by one, and their enormous bodies crashed to the ground with earth-shaking thuds.

As the last of the land dragons collapsed and all musketeers and soldiers were killed, a brief silence fell over the battlefield. The legionnaires and wizards paused, catching their breath and assessing the situation. The immediate threat had been neutralized, but they all knew the battle was far from over.

Captain Moore's voice crackled over the comms, breaking the silence. Her helicopter's advanced radar detects several people resembling cultivators approaching the city from another side.

“Excellent work, Valerius. The land dragons are down, but we have got another problem. The cultivators are approaching from the east, leading their forces into the city. We need to regroup and prepare for their assault. Maximus, the enemy, will soon arrive. Hold your line before forwarding to the center." Captain Moore informs Maximus and Valerius about the incoming cultivators.

"Understood. We will regroup in the east sector. Over." Valerius responds.

Valerius, with several legionnaires, abandoned the west city walls to regroup at the east city wall to help them against the incoming enemy jiangshi, cultivators, and soldiers from outside Colobria City. The rest of Valerius's units stood by for possible enemy attacks on the west side.

However, the battle was far from over. From the eastern sector, the cultivators began to appear, their figures floating in the air on their flying swords. Their presence was ominous, and the dark energy surrounding them starkly contrasted with the bright, magical energy of Plotinus' wizards.

"Plotinus, have your wizards prepare anti-spiritual barriers and focus on disrupting the cultivators' energy. We cannot allow them to strengthen their jiangshi or use their dark arts to turn the tide against us." Maximus ordered Plotinus to prepare against the incoming cultivators and jiangshi.

"Understood. We are ready to counter their magic. We will establish a defensive perimeter and ensure the legionnaires have the support they need." Plotinus responded immediately.

Maximus knew that this was the moment of truth. If they could avoid enemy cultivators and the Jiangshi attack, they could continue to the city center to capture Senator Brutus and Black Shadow leaders.

The legionnaires quickly regrouped, forming defensive positions around key strategic points at the top of the city walls. The wizards, their hands glowing with magical energy, positioned themselves to counter any incoming spiritual attacks. The UTAF helicopters circled overhead, ready to provide air support as needed.

Maximus took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The battle had been hard-fought, but the real challenge was beginning. The cultivators were a formidable enemy, and their arrival marked a new phase in the conflict. Maximus knew that the outcome of this battle would have far-reaching consequences, not just for Colobria City but for the entire war against the slavery faction.

"Legionnaires, hold your positions. We have taken down the land dragons, but the real fight is ahead. Stay vigilant, and remember your training. We fight as one and will not let these dark forces prevail." Maximus commanded.

The air grew thick with tension as the cultivators and their forces closed in on the city. The legionnaires, wizards, and UTAF forces steeled themselves for the next wave of the assault, knowing that the fate of Colobria City—and perhaps the entire region—hung in the balance. The battle was far from over, but Maximus and his forces were ready to meet the challenge head-on.

As the cultivators approached, the air seemed to darken, and an oppressive atmosphere descended over the battlefield. Their presence was not just intimidating but suffocating, a palpable reminder that they were dealing with powers beyond conventional warfare. Maximus, Valerius, Plotinus, and Captain Moore knew they were entering uncharted territory, where strategy and courage would be tested to their limits.

Standing at the forefront with his wizards, Plotinus raised his hand to signal them. They responded in unison, their voices chanting ancient incantations reverberating through the city. The ground beneath them shimmered as they cast their spells, erecting a powerful anti-spiritual barrier that encircled the legionnaire's position. This barrier, designed to disrupt the spiritual energy the cultivators would rely on, was their first line of defense.

"Prepare yourselves. We must hold this barrier at all costs. If the cultivators breakthrough, the jiangshi will become unstoppable." Plotinus called out to his wizards.

The cultivators moved with an eerie grace, their flying swords gliding through the air as they approached. Dark energy crackled around them, and they began to chant their incantations, their voices low and menacing. Maximus oversaw them, noting their focus on the barrier Plotinus and his wizards had erected.

Suddenly, the air was filled with the sound of thunder as the UTAF helicopters opened fire on the cultivators. Advanced guided cannons streaked through the sky, aimed at the enemy forces. However, as the guided cannons neared their targets, the cultivators raised their hands, summoning spiritual barriers that easily deflected the projectiles. The helicopters above adjusted their strategy, using machine guns and more guided cannons to suppress the enemy from a distance.

"These cultivators are more powerful than we anticipated. We need to find a way to break their defenses." Captain Moore's voice came over the comms, her tone tense.

Maximus knew they could not rely solely on brute force. The cultivators' spiritual energy was formidable, but it was not invincible. They needed to find a way to exploit any weaknesses in the enemy's defenses.

"Plotinus. We need to disrupt their concentration. Without focus, their spiritual barriers will weaken. Can your wizards create an illusion or something to confuse them?" Maximus ordered Plotinus

"We can create a distraction that will throw off their focus. It will not last long but might give us an opening." Plotinus nodded.

He quickly relayed the plan to his wizards, who began a new chant. This time, the air shimmered with a different kind of energy that played tricks on the mind. An illusion began to form—an army of phantom legionnaires appeared out of thin air, charging toward the cultivators from all directions.

The cultivators, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of these spectral soldiers, momentarily faltered. Their spiritual barriers flickered as they redirected their focus to fend off the illusionary attackers. It was the opening Maximus had been waiting for.

"Now! Attack with everything we have!" Maximus ordered.

The legionnaires opened fire with their assault rifles and machine guns, aiming for the cultivators who were now struggling to maintain their defenses. The snipers, led by Flavius, took careful aim from the helicopters and the high ground around Colobria City, targeting the cultivators' heads and hearts—vulnerable points even for those wielding spiritual energy.

Plotinus and his wizards, not missing the opportunity, intensified their efforts, pouring more energy into the anti-spiritual barrier and casting offensive spells aimed directly at the cultivators. Bolts of magical energy shot across the battlefield, striking the cultivators and weakening their defenses.

The cultivators, realizing they were under a coordinated assault, tried to regroup. They began to chant again, this time summoning more jiangshi from the corpses of their fallen comrades. The undead creatures hopped forward, their movements jerky and unnatural, but their numbers were overwhelming.

Maximus knew they could not let the jiangshi overwhelm their forces. He ordered the legionnaires to suppress the enemy jiangshi

"Machine gunners, focus on the jiangshi! We must keep them at bay while we remove the cultivators!" Maximus ordered machine gunner units.

The MG-42M machine gunners turned their firepower on the advancing jiangshi, the heavy rounds tearing through the undead ranks. However, the jiangshi, animated by dark magic, were resilient. Even as their bodies were riddled with bullets, they continued to advance, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

The legionnaires' assault rifles and machine guns continued to fire, but it was clear that the jiangshi were too strong to be stopped by conventional means alone. Maximus could see that the only way to stop them was to disrupt the magic that animated them—something only the wizards could do.

"Plotinus, we need to cut off the source of their power! Can you target the cultivators directly?" Maximus asked, his voice filled with urgency.

"We will focus our spells on the cultivators. If we can break their concentration, the jiangshi will fall." Plotinus nodded.

The wizards began to chant in unison, their voices rising above the din of battle. A wave of magical energy surged, directed at the cultivators still struggling to defend themselves against the illusion and the legionnaires' assault.

The impact was immediate. The cultivators, already strained by the combined assault, could no longer maintain their focus. Their spiritual barriers shattered, and the dark energy that animated the jiangshi began to dissipate. One by one, the undead creatures collapsed, their bodies turning to dust as the magic that sustained them was broken.

With the jiangshi neutralized, the legionnaires focused on the cultivators. With clear shots, the snipers took down the remaining enemies with precision. The few cultivators who survived the initial assault were quickly overwhelmed by the combined firepower of the legionnaires and the magical onslaught from Plotinus and his wizards. Captain Moore also launches some Hellfire AGMs to help the wizard penetrate and destroy the spiritual barrier of the cultivators. Hellfire effectively destroyed the spiritual barrier of cultivators lower than the peak golden core stage.

As the last cultivators fell, a heavy silence settled over the battlefield. The immediate threat had been dealt with, but Maximus knew this victory was only a small part of a more significant conflict. The enemy forces at the city's centre were still a significant threat, and the battle for Colobria City was far from over.

Maximus took a deep breath, allowing himself a brief moment of relief. They had survived the first wave, but he knew they had to keep moving forward. The city needed to be secured, and the enemy leaders had to be captured or neutralized.

"All units, regroup and prepare to move forward," "We need to secure the city center and eliminate any remaining threats. Plotinus, keep your wizards ready. We may need their support again soon." Maximus ordered.

"Maximus, the UTAF is ready to provide air support for the next phase. We will clear the skies and provide cover as you move into the city center." Captain Moore's calm and steady voice came over the comms.

"Thank you, Nadia. Let us finish this," Maximus replied.

As the legionnaires regrouped and prepared to advance, Maximus knew the battle for Colobria City was entering its final, most dangerous phase. The enemy forces were still out there, and the outcome of this conflict would determine the empire's and region's future. However, with the courage of the legionnaires, the wizards' power, and the UTAF's support, Maximus was determined to lead his forces to victory.

Noble Palace, Colobria City, Colobria Region, 8 May 2141 / 8 Maius 1841, 00:30 PM

Mr. 02 lost contact with the musketeers and land dragon units. He cannot contact even one of his musketeers or land dragon riders. The legionnaires also had already breached the city from the sky and sieged them. Senator Brutus and Black Shadow leaders cannot go because the legionnaires have blocked the escape route. Their only hope is that the cultivators and jiangshi can defeat the legionnaires and give them an escape from the city.

"Damn, I cannot contact my musketeers and land dragon units. All of the force already wiped out by the enemy." Mr. 02 cursed their condition.

"Mrs Saturday, do you have another tactic to turn this condition around? If we lose, the enemy will execute us," Senator Brutus asked Mrs Saturday.

"There is one tactic that we could use to turn this condition. However, this is a forbidden spell. This forbidden spell needs the sacrifice of thousands of people or more and innate Qi from the peak golden core stage or higher. We will summon the dark calamity dragon and use it to destroy the enemy." Mrs Saturday said.

"Dark calamity dragon? Is this dragon more powerful than our majestic sky dragons?" Mr. 02 asked.

"Of course, this dark calamity dragon is more powerful than your majestic sky dragon. However, there was a side effect when we summoned this dragon. They cannot be controlled if we lack dark and death energy. For this reason, we cultivators from the Tianglong Empire are forbidden to utilize this forbidden spell. Fortunately, we could utilize the death energy from the fallen civilians and our soldiers who died from enemy previous attacks." Mrs Saturday explains.

"I do not care for this nation. I only need to escape from this city. Mrs Saturday, you could sacrifice living people from this city to summon the dark calamity dragon. I know if you used living sacrifice, the dragon would be more powerful than only used dead people, right?" Senator Brutus cowardly orders Mrs Saturday to sacrifice his people of Colobria City.

"Are you sure, Senator Brutus? These people are your national brothers and sisters. Are you sure to sacrifice your people only to summon a dark calamity dragon?" Mrs Saturday is shocked that Senator Brutus dares to sacrifice his people only to summon the dark calamity dragon.

"I do not care again for these people. Our mission has failed. I need to escape from this damned country." Senator Brutus responds.

"Please, think again, Senator Brutus. We could still use the death energy from the corpse to summon the dark calamity dragon." Mrs Saturday tried to convince Senator Brutus.

"I do not care again. Guards, bring the civilians here, and we will sacrifice them." Senator Brutus ordered his guard.

With a fast reaction from the soldiers of the slavery faction, hundreds of people took cover in the noble palace and gathered in the palace hall. The people are slaves and free people of Colobria City. Then Senator Brutus orders Mrs Saturday and her cultivators to start the spell.

"Please forgive me, everyone. May all of you enter the good samsara cycle and be better in the next life." Mrs Saturday asks the people for forgiveness before starting the enchanting spell.

With closed eyes to prevent the tears, Mrs Saturday and several elders of cultivators start the forbidden spell. Suddenly, the black circle appeared under the sacrificed people, and they started screaming because the spell drained their life energy. Mrs Saturday sacrificed one of her gravely injured subordinates from previous airstrikes to become the core of the dragon. The dark aura then formed the massive black Chinese dragon. The cultivator called this dragon with (玄劫魔龙 ) or Dark Catastrophe Demon Dragon or Dark Calamity Dragon. However, because the sacrifice is only for thousands of people and the level of the cultivator's sacrifice is only at the peak of the golden core stage, the Dark Calamity Dragon only has 30% of the actual power.

The sky above Colobria City suddenly turns dark, as if a massive storm is coming. After all life energy is transferred to the Dark Calamity Dragon's core, the body of the Dark Calamity Dragon descends from hell. The massive body of the Dark Calamity Dragon could cover the sky above Colobria. The dragon's roar inflicts fear on everyone around Colobria City and Colobria Region.

The dragon's massive body can be detected by United Terran satellites, which shocked all United Terran officers and leaders. Even the high-level cultivators and archwizards around the Tianlong Empire and Luminarum could detect the dark aura of the Dark Calamity Dragon. Fortunately, because of the lack of sacrifice and low stage of dragon core, it is not a significant threat to high-level cultivators and archwizards from hyperpower and superpower nations. However, for people below the Tianlong Empire and scientific nations like the United Terran, this Dark Calamity Dragon's existence severely threatens their existence.

"Allah is mighty. Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel (Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs)." Captain Moore is shocked and feels tremendous fear before the Dark Calamity Dragon.

"Jesus Christ. Lord, even as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I know You are with me. You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. Strengthen me, Lord, and help me to stand firm against the darkness. I put on Your full armor and trust in Your mighty power to uphold me. Thank You for giving me a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. In Your name, I find courage and peace. Amen." Colonel Ermey looks at the Dark Calamity Dragon descend from the sky through satellites in Pampoi City.

"Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha. Om Mani Padme Hum". One of the helicopter pilots responds while feeling tremendous fear from the Dark Calamity Dragon.

"Vishnu Sahasranama. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya." The other V-280M pilot prays for protection against the mighty Dark Calamity Dragon.

“אַתָּה גִּבּוֹר לְעוֹלָם אֲדֹנָי, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים אַתָּה, רַב לְהוֹשִׁיעַ . שְׁמֹר צֵאתֵנוּ וּבוֹאֵנוּ, לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם, מֵעַתָּה וְעַד-עוֹלָם. (You are mighty forever, my Lord; You resurrect the dead; You are powerful to save. Guard our going and coming, for life and for peace, from now to eternity.)” The other pilot also prays for the safety of UTAF helicopter pilots against Dark Calamity Dragon.

"O Jupiter, greatest and best, guardian of Fortisregnum people, hear our prayers. Grant us your strength and protect us from our enemies. May your mighty hand guide us to victory and shield us from harm. In your power, we trust and find our courage." Maximus prays to Jupiter, the highest Gods of the Fortisregnum Empire.

The Dark Calamity Dragon cast an ominous shadow over Colobria City, its immense body blotting out the sun as it hovered menacingly above. The city's defenses had been formidable, but this new threat was beyond anything the legionnaires, wizards, or even the UTAF had ever faced.

Maximus, Valerius, Plotinus, and Captain Moore quickly realized that their conventional tactics would be nearly useless against a creature of this magnitude and malevolence. The dragon's dark aura exuded an overwhelming sense of dread, threatening to break the spirit of even the most battle-hardened soldiers.

All people before the Dark Calamity Dragon pray to God for their safety against this massive, malevolent, and mighty Calamity Dragon. How could the legionnaires and UTAF defeat this massive Dark Calamity Dragon? Could they defeat this Dark Calamity Dragon with their current weapons in Colobria City? Or do they need support from the United Terran forces in the Fortisregnum Empire?

References:

[1] Astakhov, A.M., Stepanov, RS & Babushkin, A.Y. On the detonation parameters of octanitrocubane. Combust Explos Shock Waves 34, 85–87 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02671823