Zhang Ge and his group quickly returned to the rear via light armored vehicles and dismounted, heading toward an unremarkable sand-colored tent.

Even before reaching the entrance, he could already hear the sound of arguing from within.

Upon entering, he found the situation to be considerably improved. They were arguing, sure, but at least it hadn't devolved into a brawl, or rather, there was a three-meter-tall Imperial Fist Chapter Champion standing beside the table.

Without dwelling on these details, Zhang Ge cut straight to the point:

"What's your perspective on the series of successful operations prior?"

This question didn't ease the atmosphere; the Imperial Fist Champion was the first to respond:

"They are squabbling over this very issue."

The arguing implied they hadn't reached a consensus on the progress.

Reflecting on that, Zhang Ge tapped the table, continuing:

"My perspective is that no matter where the enemy comes from, we will advance to one specific point."

As a more meaningful viewpoint was thrown out, the gathered regiment leaders quickly halted their idle bickering and focused on what Zhang Ge had to say next.

"What we need to understand is that we are not engaging in a standard operation; our true objective is to break free from the enemy's blockades, where we will then rear assault the Iron Warriors besieging the Deadwood Sector."

"Therefore, I believe we shouldn't focus on how to block the enemy's attacks or schemes. That would only drag us into a passive stance. We need to find a breakthrough point and assault it directly before the enemy can strike us, breaking their defenses and eluding their blockades."

A question was raised:

"How can we ensure we're faster than them?"

Zhang Ge answered immediately:

"That's precisely why we're the elite and not just some random PDF."

Another officer raised a concern:

"What if we only open a breakthrough but fail to annihilate the enemy? Won't they pursue us?"

"Followed by Titans, they won't catch up to us if they can hit us. Those who can catch us won't hit us."

...

In this manner, the next actions of each regiment began to take shape gradually.

That night.

Suddenly, illuminating flares erupted in the sky, exploding with brilliance and illuminating the pitch-black desert.

Was the enemy finally launching their second wave assault?

Yet why were the flares being shot off so densely?

Such were the thoughts of the Iron Warriors commander as he witnessed the flares ascend into the air.

And it seemed to confirm his suspicions when torrents of artillery shells subsequently rained down on the first trench constructed along the main defensive line, causing explosions, shockwaves, and waves of sand. Countless lives were snuffed out in an instant from the devastating power of the shells.

But something felt amiss.

The commander pondered.

Too bland... yes, that was it—the attack seemed too bland, and the scale looked significantly smaller than anticipated.

Given they had multiple Titans at their disposal, how would the enemy opt for such a conventional approach?

As time passed, the Imperial ground forces gradually began to mobilize.

With the situation unfolding, although a gap was being systematically carved into the main defense line, calculations indicated that the enemy would likely be fully halted at the final defensive points.

Once their advance footfalls halted, the openings in the rear would soon close, and the forces of Chaos would easily encircle and annihilate this battalion.

But that was only considering the absence of Titans... where had those Titans gone?

A foreboding sensation welled up in his heart, prompting the Iron Warriors commander to begin contacting his subordinate officers one by one.

With each communication, familiar faces came forth, and just as he began to suspect it might merely be a mere illusion, he encountered his first unit that he couldn't reach.

It was the heavy super-heavy tank squad stationed in the rear as a reserve.

How could this be? How could they be the first to run into problems? They were in a highly prepared state; even if they couldn't win, how could they not send out even a single request for assistance?

Despite attempting to rationalize this with himself, the commander couldn't help but begin striding forward, leading his guards toward the location of the super-heavy tanks.

However, before he had moved very far, the flames rising on the horizon revealed the answer to him.

He halted, signaling to a nearby soldier, who nodded in understanding. In a flash, the soldier disappeared into the distance only to return moments later, dragging along a trembling enemy Cultist.

This Cultist, dressed in the garb designating it a slave belonging to the super-heavy tank unit, was of little consequence right now.

By prying open its cranium and tasting the remnants of its memory, the commander saw :

He witnessed the metal giants plummeting from the clouds, saw the super-heavy tanks being crushed like toys beneath their feet, watched as two Shadowswords fired in unison, barely overloading the shimmering Void Shields they bore.

The spray of molten metal droplets, surging waves of heat, roaring flames, and the agonized wails of his compatriots...

Everything was unfolded before him.

Ultimately, a dull thud echoed from far off, as the imagery of memory and reality docked at this moment.

Beneath the firelit night, a silhouette emerged on the horizon.

It was indeed a Warlord Titan.

Who should be held responsible for failing to detect such a massive figure soaring through the skies? Not having the resolve to commit the super-heavy tank battalions to battle himself? Or someone else entirely?

Such concerns were now trivial.

In the next moment, a beam of Volcano Cannon energy, wrapped in an overwhelming brilliance, crashed onto the position, obliterating everything in its path.

The commander finally laid eyes upon the remaining Titans that had yet to show themselves.

Four Warhound Titans and a half-damaged Reaver Titan emerged from the dunes, covering the rear forces with their massive shapes and Void Shields while unleashing their mounted weapons, transforming the targeted areas into furnace-like purgatories.

Under the cover of the Titans, Baneblade Super-heavy Tanks and Leman Russ Battle Tanks drove forward as the spearhead of the armored forces, first breaching through the entire main defense line, thereby opening a new gap. Almost immediately after, a large number of soldiers riding in APCs tore this gap enough to allow passage.

At that moment, the previously discernible tremors on the sandy surface grew particularly pronounced.

Next, a twisted metal spike suddenly jutted out from the leading edge of a sand dune.

Not long after, the entire dune was forcefully pushed aside.

Emerging from the swirling dust was the Land Battleship, and even while carrying a myriad of logistical supplies, its speed hardly diminished as it advanced toward the gap, deploying more than a hundred heavy artillery pieces on its top to conduct precise counterstrikes against the enemy's artillery.

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