Necromancer, but pre-collapse civilization

　Since their successful raid on a convoy transporting taxes for necromancers in the Zareton region, a frenzy of crackdowns on the resistance has swept across Western Australia.

　This is not difficult to understand.

　Having witnessed the enormous economic losses suffered by the elites in the Zareton region due to the attack, forcing them to pay their own taxes, the elites in other areas were naturally also filled with lingering fear.

　In order to avoid similar misfortune from befalling them, the powerful and wealthy took action.

　Among many possible options, suppressing the resistance organization became their safest and most effective means.

　In this situation, even though nearly two years have passed, Bridget's team is still unable to return to the Zareton area and fulfill the promise he made when he left.

　Barry felt deeply guilty about this.

　Because it was he who initially suggested Bridget attack the transport convoy.

　Although Bridget did not blame him for it, Barry could not get over his own inner conflict.

　The human heart is made of flesh.

　Two years of fighting side by side forged a deep bond of camaraderie between Barry and Bridget.

　Now, faced with the frantic instructions from the rear, Barry was in a dilemma. He didn't know how to tell Bridget about this difficult decision.

　Barry knew very well that the reason his resistance had survived to this day was not only due to Bridget's exceptional battlefield insight, but more importantly, the support of the United Nations.

　Whether it's the intelligence support provided by cutting-edge military satellites or the material support that Eric delivers from time to time, these are all crucial to their survival.

　Without the support of the United Nations, they would have been hanging on the gallows in some execution ground long ago.

　Therefore, although Barry knew that this order would most likely cause their resistance to suffer heavy losses, he also understood that they could not refuse.

　Bridget was deep in thought about the location for the next troop relocation, his brow furrowed and his expression focused.

　However, when he noticed Barry's sudden change in expression, he immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.

　"Barry, what happened?"

　When Bridget asked him a question, Barry opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

　He paused for a moment, then handed Bridget the order from the rear command post.

　"What's this?!"

　Bridget took the tactical tablet and was shocked after only a few glances at it.

　"This is practically sending us to our deaths!"

　He roared angrily, slamming the tablet to the ground, his face contorted with rage.

　As the leader of this resistance, Bridget was always well-informed.

　He was well aware of the research institute that the Queensland bureaucrats had built on a massive scale, and the deadly army that guarded it.

　Sending these rebels, whose most advanced firepower was nothing more than Humvees, to fight against such a force was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

　Faced with Bridget's anger and despair, Barry knew he had to take responsibility.

　“Bridget, I…”

　Barry opened his mouth with difficulty, trying to explain, but swallowed the words back down.

　He knew that no explanation could dispel the anger and unease in Bridget's heart.

　However, Bridget was ultimately a competent leader.

　After a brief outburst, he quickly calmed down.

　"What do we do now?"

　Gazing at Barry, Bridget's tone revealed concern for the next move.

　Seeing that Bridget had regained her composure, Barry tried to steady himself before speaking slowly.

　"We need to develop a plan, a plan that will allow us to maintain our fighting capacity while minimizing losses."

　"what do you mean?"

　Bridget paused for a moment, a hint of doubt and disbelief flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

　“Yes, we can do it this way…”

　Barry took a deep breath and began to elaborate on his plan.

　"We cannot directly reject the UN's order, as that would mean losing all our support. But blindly carrying out this unrealistic order would undoubtedly push us to a dead end..."

　Li knew all too well that refusing the UN's order was unthinkable and would have unpredictable consequences.

　But sending them to their deaths according to the orders of generals who had never been on the battlefield was something they could not accept either.

　"It is by no means our resistance to sacrifice our soldiers for the grand plans of our generals."

　Faced with this dilemma, Barry proposed a compromise.

　“We can choose to go through the motions without actually doing our work, so that we don’t directly disobey the UN’s orders and can minimize our losses as much as possible.”

　However, even so, they would have to suffer real losses to deceive the United Nations.

　"So, how many brothers will we have to sacrifice?"

　Meeting Bridget's gaze, Barry spoke slowly and firmly.

　"Eighty percent!"

Chapter 238 Encirclement and Suppression Campaign - Part 1

　Above the vast, boundless skies of the Australian continent, vengeful spirits belonging directly to necromancers constantly roam.

　With the aid of magic, these vengeful spirits wove a highly efficient and precise surveillance network, becoming the "eyes" of Moros as he monitored this land.

　Under this tight surveillance network, the gathering activities of resistance organizations scattered throughout the Australian continent could not escape the necromancer's notice.

　Bridget and Barry knew that their resistance was outnumbered and had little chance of winning against the undead forces stationed outside the Comprehensive Research Institute that the necromancer had given to Mebius.

　Similarly, the generals of the UN Special Staff who gave them the order to advance were certainly aware of this as well.

　Therefore, the generals in the General Staff did not only order Bridget's troops to attack the research institute.

　In fact, the generals in the nuclear defense command center on the Mu continent issued similar instructions to all the resistance organizations on the Australian continent that were receiving UN aid.

　Just as Bridget was unable to refuse the orders of the UN Special Staff, other resistance groups receiving UN aid faced the same dilemma.

　Even though the order seemed to be pushing them toward their deaths, the leaders of these resistance groups had no choice but to obey the will of the United Nations Special Staff.

　After all, the resistance groups they led were simply unable to break free from their dependence on UN aid.

　In this situation, resistance forces from across the Australian continent began to converge on Queensland.

　Having learned of this from the reports of the vengeful spirits, the necromancer, fully aware of the capabilities of the powerful figures who pledged allegiance to him, had to temporarily withdraw from his ocean of magical research to deal with these arrogant and rebellious groups.

　As a demigod-level necromancer, Moros was naturally aware of the distribution of resistance organizations on the Australian continent.

　However, these resistance organizations had not caused much of a stir before, at least not affecting him or the people he cared about.

　Therefore, the necromancer didn't take these resistance groups seriously.

　In Moloss's view, if the bureaucrats who govern the Australian continent for him cannot even properly handle this resistance organization lacking heavy weapons, then they have little reason to exist.

　He chose a near-feudal system of governance precisely because he valued the ease and convenience it offered.

　If this system can no longer provide him with such advantages, then why would a necromancer adopt such a strategy of domination?

　Getting back to the main point, with the profound wisdom gained from four leaps in life level, Moros quickly discerned the target of the resistance organizations after learning the gathering location of the Australian continental resistance forces—the research institute where Mebius was located.

　Really... courting death!

　The necromancer had already sentenced these rebellious groups, who dared to threaten those he cherished, to death in his heart.

　He will not tolerate any attempt to harm those he cares about!

　Under the will of the necromancer, demiplane portals connecting to the cemetery territory were opened near the resistance groups that were marching in the wilderness.

　From these demiplane portals emerged countless undead legions.

　Yes, this time, in order to completely destroy those resistance organizations that dared to cross his bottom line, Moros did not issue any orders to the powerful figures who were loyal to him.

　He directly mobilized the undead legion stationed in the demiplane.

　What does this mean?

　For necromancers, there is only one explanation.

　He will not accept any form of surrender!

　All members of the resistance organization who participate in this operation will face the same fate—death!

　An unnamed plain near Blue, Queensland.

　Thanks to the Great Artesian Basin, the aquatic plants here are exceptionally abundant.

　This is why it has become one of the most important pastures for livestock farming on the Australian continent.

　However, today, the tranquility and beauty of this plain will be replaced by bloodshed and death.

　Under the necromancer's command, the legendary undead behemoth [Skeleton]

　The Bone Serpent Shesa led an army of the dead through a demiplane passage shaped like a dark blue vortex, descending upon this plain.

　Given their colossal size, hundreds of meters away, and the 14-kilometer-wide front of the undead army when fully deployed, the resistance force gathering nearby on the research institute where Mebius was located would not have failed to detect their presence.

　However, by the time the rebels discovered this massive army of dead that had already launched its attack, it was too late for them to retreat.

　The fact that these resistance leaders have survived the bureaucratic crackdown to this day, even with the support of the United Nations, speaks volumes about their military prowess.

　During the march, they wisely deployed a sufficient number of scouts.

　And now, these scouts are fulfilling their intended purpose.

　"Enemy attack! The undead army is approaching!"

　The scouts urgently relayed this message back to the command vehicle at the rear.

　Unfortunately, the speed of information transmission could not keep up with the bombardment of the undead legion's ranged firepower.

　Eighteen [Undead Engine 155mm Honkai Energy Self-Propelled Cannons] and six [Undead Engine 203mm Honkai Energy Self-Propelled Cannons] roared simultaneously, unleashing a deadly barrage of bullets upon the rebel army column that was transitioning from a marching to a defensive posture.

　As crimson flames carrying an aura of destruction fell from the horizon, enormous columns of smoke covered the entire battlefield.

　The hastily dug infantry bunkers were utterly incapable of withstanding such artillery fire.

　More than 300 rebel soldiers were killed by flying shrapnel and the shockwave from the explosion before they even caught a glimpse of the enemy.

　Before the rebels could recover from the roars of the [Undead Engines], Shesa's attack arrived as expected.

　"Sigh~"

　Amidst the long and eerie hissing of snakes, streaks of purple-white Honkai energy lightning shot out from Shesa's skeletal serpentine body.

　Like the scythe of death, they mercilessly slice through the air, swallowing all life they touch into a vortex of destruction.

　The rebel soldiers, who had not yet had time to react, were powerless to fight back against the sudden attack.

　Their bodies were instantly torn to pieces by the Honkai energy lightning, turning into charred remains before they could even scream.

　Shesa's Honkai energy lightning attack was just the beginning.

　As the torrent of Honkai energy lightning engulfed the rebel ranks, the Great Lich Kings completed the incantation of their combined spell.

　[The Cloud of Death]!

　As eerie chants echoed across the battlefield, clumps of foul, yellowish-green clouds slowly descended upon the rebel positions on the ground.

　"Whoo-"

　Amidst this chilling sound, the rebel soldiers were horrified to discover that their flesh was instantly corroded away the moment it came into contact with the filthy cloud.

　Desperate cries echoed through the sky, but the ordinary resistance fighters had no time to escape and lost their lives.

Chapter 239 Encirclement and Suppression Campaign (Part 2)

　Encounter battles and positional battles are different.

　In positional warfare, if a unit's defensive line is fully deployed, the width of its battle line is often quite considerable.

　This is why, once a defensive line is breached in one area, reinforcements from other lines are often difficult to quickly mobilize.

　But skirmishes are different.

　In such battles, the forces of both sides are relatively concentrated and close to each other, making it difficult for one side to achieve a breakthrough while the other parts are unable to support each other.