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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The situation in Hoenbaren was far from good.
The northern district, where the Armaments Bureau was located, had already been thoroughly devastated.
The remaining citizens and police officers were putting up a desperate fight, but it was a futile effort.
Luthers Edan’s grand strategy had already written off the northern district entirely.
Fortunately, the initial bluff about the rebels seizing the northern communication node had tricked some pro-President units into redirecting their forces, forming a blockade that prevented the Titans from flanking through the north.
The situation was similar in the west, where a pro-President commander was stationed.
He had quickly abandoned the President as soon as the tide turned.
Those who had been flattering the President were nothing more than opportunists.
They lacked any sense of duty as soldiers, but they were exceptionally skilled at switching sides.
With the northern and western borders of the capital somewhat secured, the main battlefields were now the Caliphate Castle, connected to the east, and the small fortress leading to the south.
But there was a reason why Luthers had specifically chosen to come to the Caliphate Castle.
“If we hold out for an hour, it’ll be a miracle.”
It was because Caliphate was far more vulnerable than the southern fortress.
“Then what am I supposed to do? The President’s morons hoarded all the good equipment for their personal guard and purged all the competent officers!!”
The 92nd Division Commander roared in frustration at Luthers’ words.
His anger wasn’t directed at Luthers.
He was simply frustrated by their lack of resources, a stark reminder of their desperate situation.
“But we can hold them back.”
Luthers responded, pointing at the tactical map.
“We have two things working in our favor. First, thanks to the President recalling nearby divisions to the capital to suppress the coup, we have enough troops gathered here.”
And secondly, the Titan infestation wasn’t fully developed yet.
“This is practically the first time we have numerical superiority in a fight against Titans. We need to seize this opportunity. Karin, what’s the evacuation status?”
“Just received a report from the 103rd Division. The evacuation of civilians who reached the highway is almost complete.”
“That’s good news.”
Luthers’ eyes gleamed.
“We’re going on the offensive.”
Titans had no concept of tactics or strategy.
Their alpha and omega was “breaking through the front lines” with overwhelming numbers.
While they occasionally employed diversionary tactics with small units to disperse enemy forces, it was ultimately just a detail within their larger strategy of overwhelming force.
That was why the tactic Luthers had employed in the early stages of the battle was the “defense in depth”.
Titans were inevitably drawn to the highest concentration of life signs.
To protect the main city center, which had the highest population density in Hoenbaren, a lure was essential.
Luthers guided the evacuation towards Highways 38 and 11, creating a vast pool of bait to draw the enemy’s attention.
At the same time, using fortified facilities as temporary tactical bases, he successfully repelled the first wave of Titans.
This bought enough time for the 808th Security Battalion and the capital’s main infantry forces to establish their defensive lines.
They also gathered sufficient reserves.
With this, they had more than enough to withstand the second wave, which was expected to be twice as strong.
Of course, many civilians who were unable to escape in time perished in the process.
But war had to be viewed solely in terms of “numbers.”
This cycle, where he had strived for a bloodless victory, was an exception.
Originally, Luthers’s strategies always involved casualties.
To be precise, even this cycle was built on the foundation of sacrifice.
The burden on the Graveyard Fortress decreased, but that only meant the burden on other fronts increased.
Even the cycle where he finally achieved victory wasn’t entirely honorable.
That was why Luthers showed no mercy.
They had already crossed the point of no return, so what was the point of harboring guilt now?
“Order the 103rd Division to retreat.”
The evacuation completed on the highway was merely a temporary solution.
A significant number of citizens were still stranded at the entrance to the highway, but Luthers ruthlessly abandoned them.
“The 92nd Division will also fall back. Prepare to move the forward command post.”
However, it wasn’t just civilians who were left behind.
“We don’t have enough time to transport the wounded! Give us a little more time-”
“…We can’t afford to worry about the wounded. Lingering will only result in more casualties.”
They had no choice but to retreat, abandoning their wounded comrades with tears in their eyes.
Those with severe injuries were given a peaceful end by their comrades, while the rest were tasked with delaying the enemy’s advance, giving the remaining troops a chance to survive.
“Are you saying we’re going on the offensive from here? Do you think that’s possible?”
“Coming from someone like you, that’s quite surprising. Defense in depth is ultimately a defensive tactic. A passive tactic.”
“So we need to build a stronger defense with our reinforced troops…!!”
“Do you think the Titans will give up and sit down just because we build a stronger defense? They’re monsters who feed on people and time.”
Considering their hastily assembled forces, the defense in depth tactic had achieved its goal.
Now it was time to unleash a thunderous strike, a spear aimed at the enemy’s heart.
“Consolidate the air units. Colonel Lydia Glenova will take command.”
“…Me?”
“Yes.”
Luthers Edan knew Lydia’s abilities better than anyone.
In a previous cycle, when he had become the Supreme Commander, Brigadier General Lydia Glenova had been the Commander of the Imperial Army Air Force, commanding two air divisions—a total of eight air wings.
She was the one among the Graveyard’s brilliant officers whose true nature was closest to his.
When it came to air operations, she often displayed even greater skill than Luthers himself.
“B-But wouldn’t that be controversial?”
“Prove your worth with results. Just like I did.”
“…”
Lydia couldn’t argue any further.
Arthur Philias had already delegated full authority to him.
With the aerial spear, formed by consolidating the air force, ready, it was time to prepare the ground spear.
“What’s the status of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade?”
“Everything’s going smoothly, Luthers. It seems the Capital Defense Command’s armored battalion commanders had no choice but to comply.”
Brigadier General Erwin Staufen’s 33rd Mechanized Brigade had successfully absorbed all of the Capital Defense Command’s armored units they faced.
A mechanized brigade armed with outdated equipment had now been reinforced with a battalion equipped with new tanks and combat exoskeletons.
Their combat power had more than doubled.
“The 1st Air Defense Artillery Brigade will follow the armored units and expand the front lines. Wouldn’t their 25mm twin anti-aircraft guns be enough?”
“They’ll be far more useful than those surface-to-air missile vehicles that couldn’t hit anything even if they tried.”
Luthers’ next move was a “wave attack”.
While the Titan offensive was focused on the routes leading to the east and south, instead of the main city center, he would flank them with the armored units that had been gathering in the rear.
However, if the armored units were surrounded in the process, he would lose one of his most powerful cards.
That was why he had devised a wave tactic with the cooperation of the 1st Air Defense Artillery Brigade Commander, who had been waiting at headquarters under the Supreme Commander’s direct command.
“The 119th Engineer Battalion will defend the main city center, which they have fortified. 33rd Mechanized Brigade, you hold the key to ending this horrific tragedy.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure everyone gets home safe and sound.”
As the first line of defense in the east and south fell back…
“Did you hear that, men? We’re having a hot home-cooked meal for dinner instead of that tasteless combat rations!!”
“Advance! Advance!!”
Boom! Crash!!
Crunch!!
Erwin Staufen, the war hero known as the “One-Star Hero,” alongside Luthers Edan.
And Lydia Glenova, the “Valkyrie,” who had maintained the air force’s strength even in the most perilous front line, the Graveyard Fortress.
The spearhead, meticulously honed by Luthers Edan, tore through the flank of the unsuspecting Titans.
It was a divine spear throw.
The furious counterattack of a wrathful war god.
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