I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Zod's mind raced; if his brain were a CPU, he was certain it was already overclocked and smoking.

With the Holy Kingdom's army in front and overwhelming reinforcements behind, he absolutely could not stay put; otherwise, he would surely be caught in a desperate situation, attacked from both sides.

Retreating was definitely not an option, as the massive Holy Kingdom reinforcements surging behind Zod were far larger than the defending forces in front of them; the difference in troop strength was not insignificant!

We have no choice but to retreat, oh no, I mean charge!

Yes, it's all about charging forward; only by charging forward can we have a chance of survival.

For Zod, this so-called "charge" was more like a desperate breakout into the relatively weak enemy positions, forced by the need to escape the even more terrifying torrent of death behind him.

Reason told him that charging head-on into enemy fire was a mad act with a slim chance of survival.

The risks are suffocatingly high!

However, the cold reality tightened around his throat like a noose, leaving him with nowhere to retreat!

Zod gritted his teeth and stood up abruptly amidst the flying bullets and the smoke from the explosions.

With a clang, the imperial longsword was suddenly drawn.

He roared with all his might, his voice piercing through the clamor of the battlefield: "Soldiers of the Empire, the mission is calling, the glory of the Empire is beckoning us!"

"Our dormancy until now has been for this moment of attack. For the glory and future of the empire, offer your hearts and your loyalty."

"All troops, listen to my command—! Attack the Holy Kingdom's garrison ahead!!"

After a passionate speech, Zod no longer hesitated, drew his Imperial sword, and resolutely launched the fiercest attack on the Holy Kingdom's army ahead.

This is the second time Zod has run this fast since rescuing the hostages.

When he saw the massive Holy Kingdom reinforcements approaching him from behind, he was gripped by an extreme fear, as if he were being hunted by a ferocious beast.

Zod's will to survive completely overwhelmed his rational concerns, transforming into a primal force that propelled his legs forward, compelling him to charge ahead recklessly.

He absolutely cannot die!

Why did he work so hard to get to where he is today? Wasn't it just for the simple dream of surviving?

Cassius witnessed Zod charging headlong into the guns of the Holy Kingdom's guards with an almost tragic and resolute attitude, like a whirlwind carrying thunder.

Cassius's eyes welled up with tears again. He wiped his face hard, his voice heavy with apology and shame: "I'm sorry, Lieutenant, I misunderstood you again. I thought you were terrified after just arriving on the battlefield, and that you were hesitant to attack the Holy Kingdom's army because of fear."

"Your courage and decisiveness are truly awe-inspiring, and I admire you wholeheartedly!"

Cassius ran as fast as he could, but found that he couldn't keep up with the lieutenant's astonishing speed at all; he was simply too fast.

Even the veterans of the "Imperial Blade" legion standing nearby couldn't help but click their tongues in amazement:

"Sergeant Major, I've really come to have a different opinion of this lieutenant! I used to think he was just a spineless coward who only knew how to hide in the back."

"I thought he'd been so terrified of the battlefield that he wouldn't dare utter a sound, leaving all the pressure of a frontal assault to Lieutenant Hitis alone..."

"Let Warrant Officer Hitis bear the brunt of the frontal assault alone."

"I never expected it to be like this... so brave and fearless! It's truly admirable."

The veteran praised Zod without reservation.

Listening to the soldiers' heartfelt praise for Lieutenant Zod, Cassius felt a surge of inexplicable pride.

Cassius gave a deep laugh, as if stating an undeniable truth:

"Lieutenant Zod has always placed the honor and interests of the Empire above his own life, and is always ready to offer his heart and loyalty for it! Today will be no exception!"

Meanwhile, the Holy Kingdom's defenders were caught off guard by Zod's sudden and fierce attack.

What happened?

What happened to the turn-based combat system where you fight one round, I fight one round?

What happened to the Imperial dogs on the west side not having a strong desire to attack?

What happened to the agreement that both sides would maintain a stalemate for the time being and not launch a full-scale attack?

Have all these imperial dogs on some kind of drug? How did they suddenly turn into mad dogs?

They're so reckless in battle!

Zod, in particular, was like a crazed executioner, braving the Holy Kingdom's army's barrage of fire while wielding an Imperial sword.

With each swift movement of the blade, a Holy Kingdom soldier who tried to stop them was instantly killed.

He cut down all the Holy Kingdom soldiers who stood in his way, one by one.

The movements were precise, ruthless, and efficient, so powerful it sent chills down your spine!

With the enhancement of the "Iron Defense" martial arts technique, coupled with his rigorous training under four times the gravity in the virtual dream training ground during this period, Zod's strength has been raised to a new level.

Zod's strength has reached a new level, something even he himself is unaware of.

Driven by a surge of adrenaline, he was driven by the ultimate thought that he had to survive no matter what.

Every cell in Zod's body was fully unleashed and ignited with potential. His five senses were sharper than ever before, and his muscle strength was pushed to its limit.

All senses and actions are solely for the purpose of surviving on the battlefield!

Faced with Zod's overwhelming power, the battlefield on the west side of Clock Tower Town has completely become Zod's personal show.

Cassius and the veterans of his "Imperial Blade" regiment, who were left behind, could only do their best to keep up, providing him with fire support while clearing away threats on his flanks.

Unexpectedly, the resistance encountered during this charge was far weaker and more chaotic than they had anticipated.

Zod turned and glanced at the soldiers lagging behind, angrily ordering, "What are you dawdling for? Get up! Now! Immediately! Rendezvous with Warrant Officer Hitis!"

As Zod spoke, his face, covered in blood and gunpowder, resembled that of the Grim Reaper, startling the soldiers who hurriedly replied, "Yes, Lieutenant!"

"The lieutenant looks terrifying!" A new recruit muttered under his breath, watching Zod's retreating figure.

Of course, Zod's eagerness to reunite with Hitis was not impulsive, but rather the result of careful consideration.

First, the convergence of forces from two locations can further enhance the strength of the team.

Secondly, and most importantly, Zod heard from Cassius that Hitis was very strong; wasn't she a sharpshooter in the "Imperial Blade" legion? With Hitis around, he should be able to protect himself better!

At the very least, the chances of survival should be greatly guaranteed.

Based on the above considerations, Zod believed that it was crucial to reunite with Hitis immediately and have her prioritize his safety.

So what if he's a little pathetic? What's wrong with a man who wants to fight to survive on the battlefield?

When Zod was a child, he fantasized that he could be like the protagonist in the novel, invincible and able to save the world on his own.

Unfortunately, my strength was simply not enough. After transmigrating to this chaotic world, I found that even surviving was a struggle.