"The remaining tasks."
The main assignnts on the battlefield had been distributed.
"The defense missions for lbourne and Canberra, can we entrust them to you without issue?"
The Honkai Beast legion's direction of advance was Sydney.
However, no one could guarantee this wasn't a feint—geographically speaking, it wasn't impossible for them to divert their attack towards Canberra, the capital located further south, or lbourne, which supplied the main energy for the eastern Australian city cluster.
Splitting forces was a cardinal sin in military strategy.
But if no troops were sent to stand guard, and a crisis befell these two cities... considering the speed at which Dubbo fell, they probably wouldn't even have a chance to send reinforcents.
Therefore—
"No problem."
The Great Britain representative was the first to agree.
As a mber of the Commonwealth, assisting Australia was inherently Great Britain's duty.
Coincidentally, Great Britain's only aircraft carrier battle group, the "Queen's Fleet," was in the waters bordering the Indian and Pacific Oceans. After receiving orders, they were directly dispatched for support. The Lobsterbacks' combat capability on land was nothing to boast about, but at sea, or in coastal regions... even if their equipnt wasn't on par with the three aforentioned super-factions, they could at least hold their own for a while.
"We have no problem either."
Dongying was in the sa boat. Their main naval force—four "Naginata-class" heavy cruisers (the Jin, Bi, Wu, and Zhen) and two "Crane-class" large amphibious assault ships (the Xiang and Rui)—were conducting joint military exercises with the "Queen's Fleet" at sea and were pulled into this incident as well.
Although neither of these two parties brought a proper army.
But the combat strength of their naval aviation and marines, in terms of elite quality (specifically referring to equipnt), was still quite decent.
At least for the current task.
Executing it shouldn't be too difficult... probably.
The following afternoon.
The entrance to the Sydney Opera House (also known as the Australian gado) was a cacophony of voices.
There were two reasons for this, well, perhaps three: Eden, the most famous musician of this era, the most dazzling "superstar," was about to hold a concert here. Including all the seats inside (50,000) and outside (150,000), it was enough to cram every single person still in Sydney into this concert venue.
Yes.
Eden had not retreated because of the Honkai Beast legion currently stationed not far from Sydney; on the contrary, she believed it was precisely at tis like these that humanity needed the courage inspired by song even more.
So.
This massive concert was not canceled.
The various military forces stationed in Australia also did not prevent the concert from proceeding. Before heading to a battlefield where they might be trampled into at paste or skewered into kebabs at any mont, being able to hear such a concert at least made "life feel worthwhile."
As for the second reason.
The people of Sydney had not fled. Firstly, the civilians still remaining in Australia had, more or less, co to terms with facing this mont soday in the future... after all, those who could run had already left. Secondly, even if soone truly wanted to escape the crisis, there were no safe ans of transport left in Sydney, or even in Australia.
All transport capacity.
Before the Honkai Beasts completely flattened Australia, whether by sea or air, all of it was utilized and overloaded to deploy troops onto the Australian continent.
Civilian aircraft? Non-existent.
Finally, the third reason.
While humans were racing against ti to prepare for battle, the Honkai Beast legion had also begun to assemble.
The legion's vanguard, including Lu Xing, was actually already prepared to launch an attack, but they were waiting in place under orders.
The newly born Honkai Beasts from the Great Rift, and another Honkai Beast legion that had jointly annihilated the local Australian forces... these two groups began to gather at Lu Xing's position, southeast of Dubbo City.
Their total number... thirty thousand!
Although the average strength was greatly diluted by the addition of these "motley crews," these Honkai Beasts, mostly ranging from Lv.10 to Lv.20 with leaders not exceeding Lv.35, were quite competent as "cannon fodder."
Looking at the vast Honkai Beast legion surrounding them.
The one responsible for the overall command of this combined legion was the Temple-class Variant, "Frost Lightning."
Even at the final mont of the entire army's assembly, Lu Xing did not see the Ice Emperor make an appearance. Faced with such a magnificent scene, and the "revenge" that was about to be realized, the Ice Emperor still hadn't shown up.
This made Lu Xing curious, but also raised unceasing questions.
Unless...
There was sothing even more important that required the Ice Emperor to act personally.
Returning the perspective to Sydney.
The concert had not yet begun, but the crowd gathered outside was already buzzing with excitent. Most of them were from the lower classes (refugees) who hadn't managed to get "inside-the-do tickets," so they naturally didn't need to put on any pretentious airs of composure.
On the Australian continent, where entertainnt was scarce, at least for the refugees, being able to hear Eden's concert was already a blessing from the heavens.
Of course.
There were also various commotions and quarrels among them.
"Captain."
Beautiful silver-black long hair, red-frad glasses identical to Ultraseven's.
An unzipped solid-color jacket, backless gloves convenient for "skull-splitting," paired with hot pants for ease of movent and thigh-high stockings to enhance combat power—her expression was too composed for a student, yet her age seed too young for a soldier.
The future Thirteenth Fla-Chaser, the martial artist engraved with the Insignia of [Floating Life]: Hua.
Of course.
The current Hua was still just a "sowhat capable fighter" of a follower, trailing behind her captain.
"What's wrong?"
The red-haired woman walking in front said without turning her head.
The Fla-Chasers' Fifth Squad Captain, the warrior who had a close brush with Lu Xing in the "novice village": Hiko.
Her attire was different from Hua's.
At this final mont before the Honkai Beast legion's impending attack, all squads responsible for special missions were making their final pre-battle preparations. Hiko's way of "preparing" was to take her squad mbers to the concert to relax.
"Here..."
"It reminds of the ti of the Sixth Herrscher."
The Sixth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Death. Although her na was not recorded, it was clear that before becoming a Herrscher, she was acquainted with many people in The Fla-Chasers. At the final mont, due to Kevin's hesitation, an entire street, including ordinary people and comrades-in-arms, was pulled into the Sixth Herrscher's dying blow.
At the celebration party after that.
Hua looked at the reveling crowd, her mind filled with thoughts of the comrades who had died in battle, completely unable to understand—
"Is that so."
Hiko still didn't turn back.
Hua's attire seed casual, but in reality, she was ready to enter combat at any mont.
But Hiko was different. Her current attire was just like the magnificent and vibrant red evening gown she wore at the celebration party after the Sixth Herrscher annihilation battle.
Out of place, yet, indescribably stunning.
"What did I tell you back then?"
"..."
"Troops with low morale cannot fight."
"That's right."
Hearing Hua's reply, Hiko, still not turning her head, stopped her stride.
"Do the right thing at the right ti."
Riiip!
The bright evening gown was torn open with a single pull, the red fabric resembling both rosy clouds and fresh blood.
And within—
Hiko, clad in her combat uniform underneath, slowly turned her head, her proud figure outshining the sun that had already passed its zenith.
"Now."
The Fifth Squad's exclusive rotorcraft, "Vermillion Bird," painted in colors as vivid as blazing fire, had already flown in from a distance.
At the sa ti.
Cheers rose and fell within the Australian gado, and the elegant lody flowing from Eden's lips overlapped with Hiko's magnetic voice.
"Our performance..."
The red gauze fell to the ground; a river of blood would soon flow.
"...is about to begin!"
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