Chapter 144: Decisive Battle! Decisive Battle! (1)

Words : 1254 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

After conducting one final inspection of the more than ten million combat robots—ensuring all components were functional and every unit was fully fueled with fusion energy—Xiao Yu issued the order to begin the decisive battle. Immediately, over ten million robots emerged from their storage bays, formed up neatly in the plazas of their respective bases, and began marching beyond the base perimeters. Base No. 397, situated right along the edge of the forest, had never known peace since its construction. Swarm skirmishers constantly harassed it day and night. As a result, the high-velocity autocannons, laser turrets, and miniature energy cannon platforms along its walls were practically never idle. Even on the eve of this massive battle, several thousand Swarm bugs were still fearlessly attacking the base’s outer walls. Upon receiving Xiao Yu’s order to commence the battle, the thousands of combat robots within Base 397 climbed atop the walls. Without hesitation, they leapt from the fifteen-meter-high ramparts into the seething Swarm below. While still midair, the high-velocity machine guns mounted on their left arms opened fire, joined by miniature laser cannons installed in their chests, arms, and heads. By the time they landed, half of the several thousand attacking bugs had already been annihilated. The remaining insects paid no mind to the fallen, wasting no time as they lunged at the robots with renewed aggression. One particularly fast bug had already leapt into the air, its gleaming black forelimbs slicing toward a combat robot. Instantly, that robot’s onboard optical sensors, air fluctuation detectors, and trajectory analyzers gathered all available data on the insect’s movement. This information was transmitted via radio to the base, then relayed via superluminal communication to Xiao Yu’s mind. With only a tiny fraction of his vast computing power, Xiao Yu processed the data and issued an immediate command. “Sidestep one meter left. Crouch. Slash with right arm. Angle: 30 degrees. Force: half power.” The command traveled back—through the same channels in reverse—first to the base, then via radio to the robot’s central processor. The processor parsed the order into detailed operational instructions. “Engine No. 3 to 60% power. Actuator No. 9, bend joint—angle 29.5 degrees. Actuator No. 16, adjust to...” From the moment the robot detected the enemy’s movement to when it began executing Xiao Yu’s instructions, less than one-thousandth of a second had passed. The robot flawlessly executed the maneuver, dodging at just the right moment and slashing its right-arm blade across the attacking insect’s abdomen while it was still airborne. A spray of dark green fluid erupted as the bug hit the ground and twitched a few times before dying. With confirmation of the kill, the robot immediately jumped a few meters high and cleaved at another bug mid-pounce. All 5,000-plus attacking bugs were wiped out within 30 seconds by just over 3,000 robots. Under Xiao Yu’s centralized command, their teamwork and coordination reached an astonishing level. After eliminating the Swarm, the robots spread into a semicircular formation, spacing themselves by several dozen meters and advancing toward the forest. This scene played out at nearly every base constructed by Xiao Yu. After clearing their immediate surroundings, the ten million-strong army of robots began their march into the forest. As they advanced, Xiao Yu reorganized them into new formations—until they finally assembled into 1,000 combat divisions, each composed of 10,000 units, charging in unison into the woods. This was Xiao Yu’s strategy. Each robot possessed combat strength roughly fifteen times greater than that of a standard Swarm bug. When working together, their strength increased even further. As long as a 10,000-robot division wasn’t facing more than 200,000 Swarm bugs simultaneously, it would prevail. Xiao Yu had designed their formations for exactly this scenario. In a dense formation, a 10,000-unit force would maintain a 30-kilometer-long frontline. That line could only accommodate around 60,000 bugs attacking at once. Any excess would be blocked by their own kin, unable to reach the robots directly. Even with endless reinforcements, Xiao Yu wasn’t worried. Once any division suffered sufficient losses, he would guide them to a resupply base for repairs and restocking. Xiao Yu had already planned meticulously—no matter where the robots were in the forest, they would always be within 50 kilometers of a supply hub. And with constant supply runs from orbit, these bases would never run out of resources. In total, 1,000 combat divisions would weave through the forest, wearing down the Swarm until the last one was dead. The combat robots from Bases 397, 398, and 399 had formed a single 10,000-strong division and were now entering the forest. Each division was accompanied by around 500 maintenance robots. These non-combat units were heavily protected at the center of the formation and carried ample spare parts and fuel. As long as the damage level remained under 50%, they could repair any combat robot on the spot. As the formation advanced, it fired tiny grain-sized devices at the surrounding trees—micro-cameras designed specifically for forest environments. Each had its own power source and could operate continuously for two months. Through them, Xiao Yu would gain complete surveillance over any forest activity. Once launched, the cameras would adhere to tree trunks and stay in place. Because they were so small, the robots could carry thousands of them—often firing ten or more into a single tree. These formed a dense monitoring network. After a few rounds by the 1,000 divisions, Xiao Yu estimated that these cameras would cover 90% of the forest. Once complete, a full 3D real-time map of the forest would be projected directly into his mind, allowing him to track every single Swarm bug’s movements. Such intelligence would be invaluable for battlefield command. This forest was indeed the Swarm’s domain. No sooner had this division advanced ten kilometers than it encountered heavy resistance. Forced to halt, the robots first deployed their micro-cameras across nearby trees. Once that was done, battle commenced. This Swarm group numbered about one million. Using dense foliage and low shrubs for cover, they charged the robot formation. Meanwhile, long-range Swarm units in the rear opened fire with miniature energy shells. Long-range units were always the top priority for elimination. Xiao Yu followed this rule strictly. Under the watchful eyes of the omnipresent micro-cameras, even the most elusive sniper bugs couldn’t escape detection. Robots immediately retaliated with miniature laser cannons. In most cases, the long-range bugs were killed right after launching their first shot—rarely surviving to fire a second. With long-range threats neutralized, the combat robots turned their full attention to the incoming melee bugs. Typically outnumbered, the robots quickly found themselves surrounded. In response, they adopted a circular formation for defense. The battle radius extended nearly 30 kilometers. Roughly 7,000 robots were stationed along the front line, holding off over 60,000 attacking bugs. The remaining 3,000 robots formed a second tier—tasked with reinforcing breached positions and eliminating any insects that slipped through the first line. At the very center, 500 maintenance robots were protected behind dual defensive rings. Thus unfolded a scene like this. Across the 30-kilometer battlefield, a dense tide of insects surged forward. But their numbers meant little. Only those in direct contact with the front line could engage. The rest were stuck on the periphery, helplessly watching their comrades battle—and die. Though outnumbered overall, the combat robots found local superiority. That edge allowed them to grind down the Swarm’s numbers steadily and relentlessly—until not one remained.

Chapter 144: Decisive Battle! Decisive Battle! (1)

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