Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 453: Volume Five, Chapter 59: Winning Momentum

In that moment, everything that happened immediately changed the entire battlefield’s situation.

Seeing Reinhardt struggling to flee under the protection of the Mythical Mecha Warriors through the long-range viewer, watching Leray’s Spearhead Camp chasing tirelessly under the lead of that ragged [Magic Beast], and looking at the three Great Mythical Commanders lying on the small hill, the ordinary Ryan Group soldiers who had been fighting relentlessly on the battlefield finally lost their will to fight.

Panic, like invisible waves, spread across tens of square kilometers of the battlefield. The armored forces of the Ryan Army, after a moment of hesitation, fell into chaos and then collective collapse.

The 96th Division, 175th Division, and 181st Division suffered defeats as vast as a mountain crumbling. When some lower-ranking officers also started to flee, the rout became irreversible. This kind of defeat is often the most painful, as the fear it causes can reach the deepest parts of the human heart, having strong incitement power and bringing a devastating impact to their own camp.

The frightened Ryan Mechanical Warriors desperately followed their units retreating southwest. They had lost the faith to continue fighting; no one wanted to lose their life here.

The flood of defeated soldiers scattered any formations not belonging to their own units, leaving behind any allied forces still fighting back just to gain more time for their escape.

The newly-built 19th Division and the 25th Division of the Expeditionary Army strictly executed the battle plan sent to the Mechanical Computers by Tian Xingjian. They did not encircle and devour any particular unit but instead continuously drove, created chaos, interspersed to disrupt the enemy’s formations, denying them any opportunity to stop and organize a defense.

From the air, the scattered Reinhardt Group’s armored units looked like herds of frightened sheep, while the much smaller Leray Mecha Forces were like packs of wolves with clear divisions of labor. They ran back and forth, attacking any enemy trying to stop, using particularly concentrated destructive fire to intimidate, driving them towards the south end of Highway No. 2.

The establishment of the victory was so quick that even Rashid and Stewart were somewhat taken aback.

They just followed Fatty’s plan, and then, achieved this dreamlike victory. Watching the scattered Ryan Army in front of them, Rashid and Stewart could not figure out how Fatty found such a path on the ever-changing battlefield.

At the moment of launching the charge, even Rashid, who trusted Tian Xingjian the most, had moments of doubt. The route displayed on the Mechanical Computer seemed like a path straight into a trap. Hundreds of enemies densely packed on the flanks and front, with several enemy mecha groups moving at high speed along that line, back and forth crushing—no one would dare to launch an attack on the most densely populated area of the enemies.

However, Fatty identified this winding, hidden path that led to victory. When the left-wing spearhead camp launched, Rashid and Stewart commanded their troops to charge almost against their will. At the moment the Leray Armored Formation composed of the 1st and 2nd Regiments broke through, several battalions of the Ryan Army’s 96th Division and 175th Division were being mobilized away, just as if Fatty was directing them to clear the road.

Progressing with fervor, on the nearly ten-kilometer advance route, the warriors of the 1st and 2nd Regiments saw flustered enemy armored units on both flanks trying to turn back and intercept, encountering completely unprepared enemy groups on the weak flanks.

A dense group suddenly miraculously opened a road from north to south! The enemy, of course, did not listen to Fatty’s command. This road that appeared out of nowhere demonstrated Fatty’s unparalleled capability in interpreting and deducing the battlefield situation. On this ever-changing battlefield, his calculating ability was maddeningly powerful. In hindsight, whether it was in time or space, everything was calculated by him with perfect accuracy.

On the battlefield, the dust raised by the mechas filled the sky, and the Leray Mechas galloped across the chaotic Ryan Mecha formations.

[Honor] 15, [Anger], and the captured [Tide] and [Royal Banner] from the Desic people—these heavy and medium-sized mechas, like giant beasts, spewed out deathly light clusters. One after another, Gazalin Standard Mechas exploded in this terrifying firepower, becoming flying debris.

Some hills had already lost nearly a third of their height due to missiles and energy cannons. The self-propelled artillery behind the infantry line was recklessly covering, with countless shells hitting the enemy’s heads like hail under the precise positioning of the frontline mechas every second. The firepower brought not just a deafening roar of deterrence.

The fleeing soldiers dared not stop under such firepower. The Ryan Army had lost systematic command and coordination, completely dispersed into a mess in the Long Line Ridge battlefield.

The fleeing Mechanical Warriors had to expose their vulnerable backs to the Leray people. Even if some tried to stop and resist, in this flood of rout, they could only go with the flow. Behind them, countless [Warrior] series mechas, following the tide, charged down rapidly, interspersing, dividing, and engaging in close combat.

These [Warriors] were absolutely not as tattered and slow as they appeared. On the contrary, in this slaughter, they claimed more lives than the heavy mechas and long-range firepower. Any fleeing Gazalin Standard Mecha, once approached by them, had no reason to survive.

The Leray people’s attacks were bloody and ruthless; any target in front of them was relentlessly pursued. The mechas trying to establish blocking positions faced almost insane attacks. No Ryan Group soldier expected that these Leray people would be so fearless in defense and even more so in pursuit.

Often, three to five [Warriors] dared to launch an assault against an entire mecha platoon attempting to defend. The loud charge horn sounded again and again, seemingly endless.

Under these desperados’ attacks, no platoon leader or company commander could calmly command a defense. They became primary targets for the Leray people. When more Leray mechas caught up and joined the battle, the unstable defense positions collapsed instantly.

The long-range mechas without protective distance were like archers on ancient battlefields; when cavalry swung their sabers into the camp, what they faced was a slaughter with no suspense. These ordinary Mechanical Warriors simply did not have the hand speed to counter the Leray people’s almost brutal attacks.

Whether it was the 96th Division, 175th Division, or the 181st Division, now reduced to less than a regiment, all were completely scattered. They could only desperately flee towards the defensive lines of other armored divisions behind them. Only by crossing that line of life and death could they have time to stop and think about what had happened.

After Reinhardt was chased out of sight, the situation at Long Line Ridge was already unrecoverable.

Under the relentless pursuit of Leray’s Spearhead Camp, Reinhardt, whose mecha was heavily damaged, could only flee. For him, this was the most painful and humiliating escape he had ever experienced. At the moment he pushed Boge out, he knew he had no choice left.

Between nobility and despicability, between death and survival, his inner darkness made the choice for him. Reinhardt knew he would make this choice one day, but when that day truly came, he still felt profoundly painful.

From now on, he could brazenly expose himself, disregard the principles of a gentleman, and use all means to get what he wanted, but he would no longer earn respect and admiration.

He was no longer the bright and just Level 9 Mecha Warrior, no longer the only idol and benchmark of the Mythical Army, nor the Savior of Gazalin. He was just a ruthless, hypocritical, unmasked scoundrel in a chaotic world!

Humiliation filled Reinhardt’s chest. The one who caused all this was the vicious Fatty relentlessly pursuing and cursing behind him. Thinking of this person, Reinhardt wished to perish together with him, but he knew that at least for now, he did not have such an opportunity.

He could only continue his humiliating escape, listening to that Fatty’s venomous slander and embellishments behind him. He could only watch as one [Vajra] after another was killed while protecting his retreat.

”Reinhardt, you coward, you hypocrite, come back!” Fatty dealt with a [Vajra] with ease, shouting all the way, ”Let’s have a fair duel! For the honor of your Level 9 Mecha Warrior, fight back, glorious Reinhardt!”

The Spearhead Camp following Fatty almost bit off their tongues in collective astonishment. Was this really their division commander? Just after ambushing others, he turned so righteous and dignified in the blink of an eye. Using his crazy [Magic Beast] to duel with the nearly destroyed [Apollo], this Fatty, was truly despicable. Didn’t he know what it meant to be shameless?

***************

Not in good condition, I apologize for the updates during this period. Please forgive me. I dare not make more promises, resuming updates irregularly first. I will bring Fatty back.

.

. Eternally grateful for everyone’s support!

.

.

.(To be continued. For how the story unfolds, please log on to www.qidian.com, more Chapters available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)