Chapter 246 - 256

Chapter 246: Advance

The chip data decrypted by Lissandra was quickly delivered into Roland’s hands.

“Ah, now this is interesting. So they’re planning to step into the ring with us for real?”

Roland raised an eyebrow, casually flicked the intelligence aside, and looked at Lissandra.

“Based on your projections, how many forces can the New United States mobilize?”

“The anti-war faction within Militech holds considerable influence. If the neutral faction hadn’t suddenly intervened, the New United States likely wouldn’t have taken this action.”

“Oh? That sounds like there’s a scheme behind it. Found anything?”

“Yes. The leadership of the neutral faction has been taken under control by the Highriders. That individual is now a puppet.”

“The Highriders…”

At the mention of that familiar name, Roland’s eyes narrowed.

“Go on. What’s the situation in the New United States now?”

“Understood. At present, the anti-war faction’s upper ranks have chosen to remain stationed within New United States territory to harvest the remaining benefits while keeping the Free States—where unrest could break out at any time—under control. Myers has not responded to their decision, which suggests she has tacitly approved their course of action.”

Roland nodded. That choice from Myers wasn’t surprising. If she openly fell out with the anti-war faction now, before she had fully secured control of Militech—the ultimate instrument of war—her position would become extremely dangerous.

“So the main forces deployed this time come from the hawkish faction, the neutral faction, and a portion of Myers’s own troops. Due to mutual reservations, all three have retained part of their forces within New United States territory, meaning they can’t commit to a full-scale offensive.”

“Heh. That really is…”

Roland let out a faint laugh after hearing Lissandra’s report. As expected of the New United States. With so many competing interests holding each other back, it was hard to say how much combat effectiveness their forces would actually be able to bring to bear.

The reason the Unification War had crushed the Free States Alliance so decisively was largely because the New United States had unified its internal distribution of benefits. Moreover, conquering the Free States Alliance aligned with the interests of all parties, earning broad support.

But now, faced with the conflict between attainable gains and avoidable losses, the weaknesses within the New United States were beginning to show.

“If things start turning against us, deploy the Celestial Dragon. Since its completion, it hasn’t made its debut on the world stage. If necessary, mobilize the Sovereign-class Warship from the underground base in Nevada.”

“Understood. Additionally, Apocalypse is on the way back to Night City and will arrive no later than tomorrow.”

“Good.”

Roland nodded in satisfaction. Once Apocalypse reached Night City, the farce stirred up by the New United States would come to an end.

He appreciated Hansen. If the man knew when to stop, Roland would spare his life.

As for the rest of BARGHEST…

To be honest, he felt nothing toward them. Their survival would depend on luck. If any of them managed to live through the assault and chose not to oppose PROJECT again, sparing them would cost him nothing.

...

“They’re about to enter the trap zone!”

“All units, get ready. The moment they enter strike range, open fire immediately. Do not wait for my command!”

Seeing BARGHEST advancing toward their position, the commander of the Night City forces immediately issued orders over comms.

“Dispatch the task force together with the mine-clearing squad. Remove any anomalies in that area.”

“Understood.”

Yuri nodded and relayed Hansen’s orders. Soon, several small mechanized units split off from BARGHEST’s main force.

Every unit was equipped with exoskeleton combat armor and drones for small-scale individual engagements.

“Send our squad to intercept. Mr. Grieve, the rest is in your hands.”

After ordering his own infantry teams forward, the Night City commander turned to the gray-haired man with slicked-back hair wearing a PROJECT Corporation uniform.

Grieve gave a calm nod and issued the command to advance.

In an instant, several small gates opened at the stronghold. Countless beast-type robots from PROJECT Corporation poured out in a frenzy.

There were the familiar Fanged Hounds, the newly developed cheetah-like Longfang units, and the serpentine Snake Swarm robots.

The Snake Swarm wasn’t a simple imitation of a snake’s form. Its design incorporated additional mechanisms: the scales along its body could flare outward into razor-sharp blades, and its head could split apart to reveal a concealed energy weapon.

Underestimating these small machines would be a grave mistake. One of their primary purposes was to breach armored equipment.

The combination of bladed scales and head-mounted energy weapons allowed them to tear through many defenses. Even some of PROJECT’s own technology struggled to withstand their drilling attacks—let alone the war machines of this cyberpunk world.

Before long, the two sides collided.

“Enemy!”

BARGHEST detected the Night City forces first. They immediately took cover and opened fire. Several soldiers were caught off guard and killed on the spot.

But the leading Fanged Hounds and Longfangs turned into streaks of red and black light, charging straight toward BARGHEST.

In the blink of an eye, they covered dozens of meters, weaving along erratic trajectories that allowed them to evade concentrated fire.

“Ahhh!!!”

A red afterimage tore into the formation, and the first scream rang out.

One soldier’s face had been swallowed by the Fanged Hound’s chainsaw-equipped head. His agonized wails filled the air.

“Open fire!!”

Without hesitation, the squad leader gave the order—and mercifully put the man down himself.

Swish—

Suddenly, everyone felt a sharp pain at their feet. In the next instant, their perspective dropped abruptly.

Agony spread through their bodies a heartbeat later. The scene turned into hell—blood soaking the ground, severed legs scattered everywhere.

As the squad leader forced himself to stay focused and tightened his grip on his weapon, the Snake Swarm slowly emerged from one side. Metal scraped against metal as its scales shifted. Its eyes glowed red.

Then its head slowly split open.

“No, wait—”

Whoosh—Bang—

The watermelon burst apart.

Having finished its work, the beast-type unit immediately moved on to the next target area.

Within the formation, Hansen listened to the screams of his men. His expression darkened, and without realizing it, he clenched his fists.

“Blanket the area ahead with fire!”

An officer turned to him in disbelief.

“But that’ll cause massive losses! Our people are still in there! If we haven’t cleared their traps—”

“Follow the order!”

“…Yes, sir!”

...

Chapter 247: Giant Soldier Mecha

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Under Hansen’s command, the BARGHEST forces unleashed full fire coverage. Armored vehicles, combat cars, tanks, VTOLs, and armed Drones saturated the area ahead with devastating firepower.

When the missiles hit, even fiercer energy waves erupted. The volley Hansen ordered seemed to trigger a chain reaction—within moments, the entire zone was filled with continuous thunderous explosions.

Several buildings collapsed under the violent blasts, kicking up massive clouds of dust. Flames and smoke spread everywhere. That district had completely turned into a hellscape.

The personnel sent in earlier had almost no chance of survival. Even if someone had managed to endure the initial explosions, they would likely be consumed by fire or suffocate in the smoke.

Hansen watched everything coldly. But the fists clenched at his sides betrayed that he was far less calm than his expression suggested.

“Have to admit, Hansen’s got guts. But judging from this… I doubt I’ll be able to bring him under my command.”

Roland sat back with one leg crossed over the other, watching the devastation. He let out a quiet sigh after the faint note of admiration in his voice.

“Let it play out. Even if we can’t win Hansen over, it’s no big loss.”

“True enough. Move to the next step.”

“Understood.”

Grieve glanced at the order before him and gave a slight nod. His gaze remained calm as the main BARGHEST force continued advancing.

“Begin the first salvo.”

The moment his words fell, countless streaks shot into the sky trailing long plumes of flame. They adjusted midair and locked onto the BARGHEST forces below.

“Deploy aerial interception!”

“Yes!”

Anti-aircraft guns and interceptor turrets snapped into position. With intelligent targeting assistance, they quickly locked onto the incoming missiles.

But in the next second, massive amounts of data flooded into their systems at the worst possible moment.

The firewall hastily organized by BARGHEST crumbled like paper under the assault of Sasha and the PROJECT netrunner squad.

Realizing what was happening, Hansen roared, “Switch to manual control! Shoot every damn thing out of the sky!”

“Yes, sir!!!”

Boom!

Flames erupted skyward. Black smoke rose from the ground. Although Hansen reacted quickly, some missiles still slipped through and detonated, causing considerable damage.

“Advance at full speed!!!”

Hansen slammed his fist against the armored hull beside him and growled the order.

The tanks surged forward, taking the lead as the sharpest spear to break through enemy defenses.

Soon, BARGHEST’s netrunner units regained their footing as well. The two sides began clashing fiercely on the virtual battlefield.

Meanwhile, at a nearby stronghold, a figure slowly climbed into a towering humanoid machine.

[ Warhammer Soldier Mecha: Though its bloated frame appears cumbersome, numerous internal thrusters grant it terrifying propulsion. It wields the Encrypted III Power Warhammer. Its overall shape resembles an inverted trapezoid standing on two legs.

If you laugh at its comical appearance, you will soon learn what true overwhelming force feels like. ]

On the front lines, BARGHEST and Night City forces were already fully engaged, with PROJECT mechanical units providing reinforcement.

In terms of overall strength, BARGHEST still held the advantage and temporarily maintained the upper hand.

Until a massive shadow suddenly appeared overhead.

Blue flames tore open the sky like a rift, and the somewhat comical Giant Soldier Mecha crashed down into the heart of the battlefield.

A colossal warhammer followed.

Its impact alone sent a heavy tremor through the ground.

“What the hell is that…?”

The sudden appearance of the Giant Soldier Mecha left many BARGHEST soldiers stunned. In contrast, Night City’s troops withdrew in perfect coordination, as if they already knew what was coming.

After a brief exchange of looks, BARGHEST opened fire on the towering machine—its height rivaling several tanks stacked together.

Bullets and shells rained down, explosions flaring and thick smoke rising around it.

Just as they thought they had taken it down, a massive hand tore through the smoke and seized a tank.

Terrifying force followed.

With the screech of twisting metal, the tank was crushed into a warped lump of steel in an instant. As for the crew inside—there was no need to ask.

Buzz—

A deep surge of energy thundered outward. The Giant Hammer glowed blue from head to toe. It tightened its grip on the warhammer and lifted it high.

Hansen’s pupils shrank.

“Fall back!!!”

Boom!!!

The warhammer slammed down.

Lightning-like patterns exploded outward from the point of impact. From there, spiderweb-like fissures spread rapidly across the ground, blue light glowing within the cracks.

Then came an overwhelming roar. A blinding white flash swallowed everything in sight.

When the light finally faded, the ground in that area had melted into molten liquid. Blackened stones still glowed red from the heat.

That single strike wiped out the entire BARGHEST unit stationed there.

Bang!

Hansen’s eyes nearly split with rage. Just as he was about to order a full retreat, the rumble of engines echoed nearby.

Reinforcements from the New United States had arrived.

In truth, the Giant Warhammer Soldier wasn’t in good condition. Operating beyond its limits had burned out multiple components, and its outer armor had undoubtedly suffered under that immense release of power.

That attack had been a brutal trade—heavy damage dealt, heavy cost paid.

Soon, the New United States reinforcements locked onto the massive machine. Shells and armor-piercing rounds concentrated on it, sending ripples across the energy shield surrounding the Giant Warhammer Soldier.

At first glance, it didn’t seem to suffer serious damage.

But everyone could see it clearly—the shield’s glow was dimming at a visible rate.

And all this time, Arasaka, who had been observing the battlefield, could no longer remain seated.

...

Chapter 248: Crush You!

When Higashiyama Ryoichi saw the giant mecha appearing in Pacifica through the aerial camera feed, he froze for a moment. But he remained relatively composed—until the Giant Warhammer Soldier brought its massive hammer crashing down.

The terrifying surge of energy triggered an immediate danger alert, practically plastering itself across his vision. Higashiyama Ryoichi’s lips twitched, and without hesitation, he forwarded the footage to Arasaka’s upper ranks.

Let them decide how to handle it.

“PROJECT was actually hiding something like this?”

“It could have been developed over the past few months.”

“Impossible. I can’t imagine something like that being developed in such a short time.”

“They already possess energy technology beyond the current global standard. With that as a foundation, most technical bottlenecks wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Enough! I didn’t call you here to discuss PROJECT’s mecha. We’re here to decide our strategic response!”

Amid the heated debate between executives and scientists, an angry voice suddenly cut through the room, silencing everyone.

Ryuichi Arasaka—an executive granted the Arasaka surname in recognition of his contributions—was primarily responsible for Arasaka’s military strategy. Higashiyama Ryoichi served under him.

He was also a diehard supporter of Saburo Arasaka. In other words, within the entire Arasaka corporation, he obeyed no one except Saburo Arasaka himself.

After Ryuichi Arasaka’s outburst, the others quickly refocused and began analyzing the current situation.

“I believe we should intervene directly.”

“Intervene? On what grounds?”

One senior executive turned to look at the speaker.

“Do we even need a reason? Our supercarrier already in position is reason enough.”

The first executive replied calmly, his tone clearly that of a hardliner.

“I’d rather not see the supercarrier we built at enormous cost reduced to scrap by a swarm of anti-ship torpedoes and missiles.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

The hardliner let out a cold snort, clearly displeased.

“Reach out to Lucius Lane. Promise him the mayor’s seat and enough money. That should be sufficient.”

“According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, he already sought assistance from PROJECT. He won’t be coming to us.”

Another senior executive slowly set down the report in his hand and spoke.

As the argument threatened to spiral further, a communication request suddenly connected to the conference room.

The moment the projection appeared, everyone fell silent and rose to bow.

“Lord Saburo Arasaka!”

It was none other than the emperor of the Arasaka corporation—Saburo Arasaka. Though advanced in age, he still stood at the very pinnacle of Arasaka’s power.

“Hmm.”

Saburo Arasaka swept his gaze across the room, gave a slight nod, then turned his eyes to Ryuichi Arasaka.

“Ryuichi, inform them of my decision.”

“Yes!”

Ryuichi Arasaka bowed deeply before straightening.

“We have reached an agreement with another city council member of Night City. The other party has secured the necessary conditions for us. We can now deploy our forces directly into Night City, and our supercarrier may enter Night City’s harbor.”

“Therefore, by Lord Saburo Arasaka’s decision, our fleet will depart immediately for Night City and commence operations!”

“Yes!”

A unified response echoed through the room as everyone accepted Saburo Arasaka’s order.

After Ryuichi Arasaka finished, Saburo Arasaka spoke again.

“During the operation, send personnel to make contact with PROJECT. Ensure they do not become an obstacle. Establish deeper cooperation with them. If they insist on interfering… we will handle it according to the situation.”

A cold glint flashed in Saburo Arasaka’s eyes. He had clearly intended to say “eliminate them outright,” but seemed to reconsider at the last moment and changed his wording.

...

Hansen watched the reinforcements rushing in and finally let out a breath of relief. Without hesitation, he ordered his troops to withdraw and preserve their combat strength.

“I didn’t expect things to be this disastrous on your side, Hansen.”

A voice suddenly sounded over the comms, darkening Hansen’s expression. But he quickly regained his composure, keeping his eyes lowered and saying nothing.

Brill shrugged, looking bored, though a trace of schadenfreude flickered across his face. He had long envied Hansen’s powerful unit, especially given the special attention it received from above.

Now the tables had turned. It was finally their turn to take the vanguard—and they had taken heavy losses. Next, however, it would be their battlefield.

With that thought, Brill’s expression turned serious. Soon, every commander issued the same order:

Focus all firepower on the Giant Warhammer Soldier. Eliminate the greatest threat first!

Boom!

Missiles exploded across the Giant Warhammer Soldier’s body. Meanwhile, Grieve calmly issued one command after another, his expression unchanged.

Soon, the gates of the stronghold opened. Night City’s forces and PROJECT’s mechanized units surged out like a tidal wave. At the same time, aerial units that had been lying in ambush atop surrounding skyscrapers quietly maneuvered above the New United States forces under cover of night.

Unknowingly, PROJECT’s forces and Night City’s troops gradually formed a pocket-shaped formation, tightening it step by step, encircling the New United States army.

The New United States forces remained completely unaware.

Until their flank was struck by fierce attacks from PROJECT’s mechanized units.

Orange-red flames swallowed soldiers one after another. Towering, metallic red-eyed robots stepped out from the blaze, advancing through the fire like emissaries of hell. And their numbers were multiplying rapidly.

Hansen, Brill, and the other commanders immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong. But by the time they realized they had been ambushed, it was already too late.

“Order the troops to break out!”

The moment Hansen reconnected to the comms, he issued the breakout command. Continuing the advance would only drag them deeper into the mire.

Upon receiving the order, the BARGHEST unit immediately turned and charged toward the rear, attempting to punch through before the encirclement fully closed and seize a slim chance of survival.

But at that moment, the sky filled with the roar of transport aircraft. Pale beams of light swept across the battlefield, illuminating the soldiers’ faces.

Then, before their horrified eyes, something massive was dropped.

“ROAR!!!”

...

Chapter 249: The Farce That Must End

The figure of Apocalypse crashed into the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust. A huge slab of earth—flimsy as paper under his claws—was ripped free and flung into the air. The soil beneath the pavement rolled like waves, surging outward and swallowing everything nearby.

Another roar erupted as terrifying energy rippled in all directions. Under the immense force, the ground split apart in spiderweb-like cracks.

Thud!

With a dull impact, Apocalypse leapt into the air. His hands curled slightly before he slammed down again.

Boom!

The instant he landed, a pinpoint of blue light flared into existence. The surrounding energy suddenly compressed toward it, then detonated outward in a violent blast. In a heartbeat, blinding blue radiance swallowed everything in its path.

Just by making his entrance, Apocalypse had already caused casualties approaching several hundred personnel and more than a dozen heavily armored combat vehicles.

At the same time, he spread raw fear through the battlefield. The New United States forces instantly lost control. Driven by instinct, soldiers scattered in all directions, completely abandoning their formations.

“Everyone, hold the line! Maintain discipline—unless you want to die faster!!”

Hansen roared over the comms, issuing rapid orders for his BARGHEST unit to regroup immediately. He instructed them to ignore Apocalypse at the center of the battlefield.

All they needed to do was push straight toward the rear.

Meanwhile, Maine had already charged out from the epicenter of the energy blast. His terrifying claws lashed toward the soldiers, the hazy blue energy talons slicing through anything in their path without the slightest resistance.

He tore through the ranks like a runaway truck, carving out a bloody path.

...

“Sir, what do we do now?”

Higashiyama Ryoichi’s aide turned abruptly, his face tight with anxiety.

Higashiyama Ryoichi himself was momentarily at a loss. He rubbed his face hard, then waved a hand.

“Keep contacting headquarters. Request further instructions.”

When Arasaka Headquarters received Higashiyama Ryoichi’s updated report and learned that Apocalypse had arrived, they fell into silence.

Ryuichi Arasaka did not hesitate for long. He quickly made his decision.

“Contact Roland Vimers, head of PROJECT corp, immediately. As for the carrier and fleet, hold position for now… No. I’ll handle this personally.”

After giving the order, Ryuichi Arasaka let out a quiet sigh and instructed his secretary to connect the call.

“Boss, there’s a comms request from Arasaka Headquarters. Should I patch it through?”

Lissandra turned to Roland.

“Put it through. I’d like to see what they’re planning.”

Roland nodded slightly, watching the projection point with interest.

A flash of blue light later, Ryuichi Arasaka and his entourage were projected before him.

“Mr. Roland Vimers, this appears to be our first meeting. Allow me a brief introduction. I am—”

“No need. I’m not interested in your introduction. Get to the point.”

Roland waved him off, impatience clear on his face.

Ryuichi Arasaka’s expression stiffened. One hand behind his back quietly clenched into a fist, but he quickly composed himself and continued evenly.

“Arasaka wishes to re-establish our presence in Night City. Additionally, our fleet intends to use Night City as a harbor. Naturally, we are prepared to offer compensation that will satisfy you.”

“Of course. I’d be more than happy to welcome my allies back to Night City.”

Roland spread his hands with a bright smile.

The senior Arasaka executives visibly brightened—only to freeze the next second.

“However… I don’t like people parking things at my doorstep. So your fleet will not be approaching.”

“Mr. Roland, that’s impossible. Our interests require tangible safeguards. We cannot afford a repeat of what happened previously in Night City, so—”

Bang!

A sudden explosive sound cut Ryuichi Arasaka off mid-sentence. He looked up to meet Roland’s cold gaze.

“I’m not negotiating with you, dear Ryuichi Arasaka. I’m informing you. You should know very well who calls the shots in Night City now—and who even allows you to speak. If you refuse, then Arasaka shouldn’t expect to enter Night City at all.”

“Trust me. You don’t want to see him dropping onto your aircraft carrier.”

Roland pointed toward Apocalypse, who was still slaughtering his way across the battlefield, and the PROJECT mechanized forces methodically cleaning up behind him.

Ryuichi Arasaka’s expression darkened to the extreme. Even so, he suppressed his anger. After taking a slow breath, he spoke in a restrained tone.

“I need to report this.”

Roland raised an eyebrow and made a casual gesture for him to proceed before temporarily cutting the connection.

Whoosh—

The moment the line disconnected, the Arasaka executives erupted into heated shouting—more accurately, furious cursing.

“Who does he think he is, the Prime Minister of the European Space Agency?!”

“Damn PROJECT corp—they’re completely out of line! We have to teach them a lesson!!”

“Agreed! Have the fleet fire missiles immediately! Even if Night City is destroyed, we can rebuild it!!”

“Enough! He was standing right in front of you just now, and none of you dared say a word! Stop pretending to vent your cowardice here!!”

Ryuichi Arasaka roared and slammed his fist onto the table. The room fell silent instantly.

Ignoring the group, he directly contacted Saburo Arasaka for instructions.

As for Saburo Arasaka’s response…

After hearing Roland’s position, his expression did not change. He thought briefly, then nodded.

“Agree to their demands. Have part of the fleet withdraw. The remainder will stay in those waters to establish maritime liaison points and docking stations.”

Ryuichi Arasaka bowed slightly.

“Understood.”

Though he did not fully understand Saburo Arasaka’s reasoning, he would not question it. He would execute it.

“Looks like you’ve made up your minds.”

Roland smiled as the connection resumed.

Ryuichi Arasaka remained expressionless.

“Lord Saburo has agreed to your conditions. We will also fulfill our previous commitments.”

“No. That’s no longer sufficient.”

“Roland Vimers!!”

This time, Ryuichi Arasaka finally snapped, glaring at him.

“Don’t push your luck!!!”

“You don’t have the leverage to refuse me.”

Roland delivered the simple truth with a mild smile.

Ryuichi Arasaka deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping back in his chair, eyes dull.

“…Go on.”

At that, a sincere smile returned to Roland’s face.

...

Chapter 250: Arasaka’s Arrival

“The above are the demands of our PROJECT Corporation. As for the specific figures, my team will follow up with yours for further negotiations.”

Roland glanced over the list he had drawn up, then smiled and nodded at Ryuichi Arasaka.

Ryuichi Arasaka returned the nod, his face expressionless. He showed little reaction to Roland’s near-extortionate list—he was used to it by now.

He had already confirmed that the other party was nothing short of a bandit. There was nothing more to say. This would do.

“If there’s nothing else, Mr. Roland, then our discussion ends here.”

“Hold on. There’s one more matter I’d like to discuss. Nothing major.”

A vein throbbed on Ryuichi Arasaka’s forehead, but he restrained himself. He had endured this long—another moment wouldn’t matter.

“Speak.”

Roland clearly heard the gritted teeth in his voice but didn’t care. After all, easy targets like this were rare.

“Some of the netrunners your corporation has been tracking have joined our company. I hope you’ll cease your pursuit. If any unnecessary losses occur, I won’t be responsible.”

Ryuichi Arasaka waved dismissively, already losing patience. He had expected something serious—only for it to be such a trivial issue.

He had already agreed to far more outrageous demands. Compared to those, this was insignificant. The people in question didn’t possess anything particularly vital.

At most, they held fragments of intelligence about the Blackwall—probably less than what PROJECT itself had already obtained. He didn’t believe a corporation of PROJECT’s scale would obediently follow NetWatch’s directives.

Most likely, they were just like Arasaka—coveting the power beyond the Blackwall.

“Don’t bother reporting such things to me. I’ll pass down the order. Satisfied?”

“Of course. As you wish.”

Roland gave a slight nod and made a polite gesture.

Ryuichi Arasaka immediately cut the connection, eager to end the call. Communicating with Roland felt like torture—every second dragged on endlessly.

“So disgusted with me? That’s a bit harsh…”

Roland touched his face and let out a helpless smile.

“What’s the situation on the Pacifica front?”

While speaking with Ryuichi Arasaka, he hadn’t had the attention to monitor Pacifica. He turned to Lissandra for an update.

Without a word, Lissandra pulled up a live feed.

“Oh? It’s already over…”

Roland stroked his chin. There was no surprise in his eyes—he had anticipated this outcome.

The New United States forces that had entered Pacifica were tightly trapped in a siege formed by PROJECT’s mechanized units. Like prey caught in a spider’s web, the more they struggled, the tighter the net became. They lacked the overwhelming force needed to break through.

“What about the upper ranks of BARGHEST?”

Roland suddenly remembered Hansen’s group and asked.

“Two escaped, but Shadow Stream has already dispatched pursuers. It shouldn’t take long to see results. The rest have all been captured.”

“Mm. How many New United States troops remain outside?”

“Close to ten thousand. Most of them are heavy-firepower units. If we deploy forces for a direct engagement, we’ll likely suffer significant losses.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not that reckless. Our troop numbers in Night City are limited. I’m already satisfied with what we’ve achieved. Besides, we need to leave something behind for Myers—otherwise she won’t be willing to leave.”

Roland had no objection to Lissandra’s subtle and not-so-subtle advice. It was ultimately for his benefit.

After understanding his stance, Lissandra nodded and stepped aside.

...

“The BARGHEST unit and the reinforcements that entered afterward have been surrounded and wiped out by PROJECT and Night City forces inside Pacifica. The main force has collapsed. The remnants have been split into small scattered units throughout Pacifica—they’ll likely be cleaned up soon. This operation has failed.”

Huey looked at the battle report in his hand and spoke to Myers.

Myers took a deep breath. After frowning in thought for a moment, her expression eased. From the very beginning, this force had been considered expendable. The attempt midway through the operation to preserve part of it had been more of a gamble.

Now that it couldn’t be saved, she could accept it.

“What’s Arasaka doing?”

“Their carrier group concealed offshore has begun moving. It should approach Night City soon.”

Huey reported based on prior intelligence.

“Good. Since Arasaka has made its move, let them and PROJECT tear into each other. Withdraw our remaining forces. And what about BARGHEST? Any survivors?”

“According to radar data, two individuals—Bennett and Lindell—managed to escape. The rest of BARGHEST’s leadership remained in Pacifica and failed to withdraw.”

“I see…”

Myers frowned and pulled up their profiles. After a brief glance, she lost interest. At the end of the day, they were just two moderately capable non-commissioned officers—nothing worth her concern.

“Then there’s nothing special to address. Withdraw immediately. Abandon the remaining units. Take this force to Idaho and rendezvous with the troops there. Prepare to resist PROJECT’s advance.”

“Understood. I’ll issue the orders right away.”

Huey nodded. After ending the call, he promptly ordered the retreat. As for whether this failed campaign would hinder his promotion—

He wasn’t worried. He belonged to Myers’ faction. He trusted the President would reward his loyalty appropriately.

Meanwhile, in the waters surrounding Night City, a small Arasaka fleet had arrived.

This was part of the agreement between Arasaka and PROJECT. If Arasaka wanted to establish a foothold in Night City at this stage, it had to rely on naval power.

After being squeezed once more by Roland, Arasaka finally brought a small fleet to Night City as it had hoped—though docking rights came with time restrictions.

“Phew… Headquarters finally made it.”

Inside Night City, Kuroda exhaled in relief at the sight of the familiar Arasaka emblem. Only he knew how he had endured these past days—especially with Yorinobu Arasaka dropping by from time to time.

For him, it had been pure torment.

....

Chapter 251: Useless!

 

“...So Father’s strategy is still going ahead…”

Watching the Arasaka fleet steadily approach Night City, Yorinobu Arasaka couldn’t help but frown.

After learning what had happened in Pacifica, he had assumed Saburo Arasaka’s plan would be thrown off course. Yet despite everything, Arasaka was still managing to establish a foothold in Night City.

“But it definitely won’t be the same as the original plan…”

His gaze shifted toward the distant PROJECT Tower. At this point, most of Night City was already under the joint control of PROJECT Corporation and Night Corp.

What remained was in the hands of corps like Biotechnica. Militech’s room to operate had been severely squeezed, though they hadn’t been driven out entirely. Roland had deliberately spared them for now, waiting to see if there would be opportunities later to exploit them—or shear them for profit again.

After all, squeezing major corporations was incredibly satisfying. It helped close part of the gap in PROJECT Corporation’s long-term foundations.

...

Hansen leaned against a wall, breathing heavily, and glanced at the figures around him.

Murphy was already dead. Yuri lay unconscious on the ground. Farida was nowhere to be seen. Bennett and Lindell had also vanished without a trace.

As for Hansen himself, he was at the end of his rope. His Sandevistan had overheated and was unusable. His body was riddled with wounds, his stamina completely drained, every muscle aching.

And worst of all—a fatal gunshot wound in his abdomen.

When he heard footsteps approaching, Hansen only paused briefly before letting out a faint laugh. He sat down on a pile of rubble, leaned back against the wall, and lit a cigarette.

“Haa….”

As the smoke drifted from his lips, PROJECT’s mechanical forces closed in and surrounded him. Their weapons were trained on him, waiting only for the order to fire.

“Well? Not pulling the trigger?”

The cigarette hung from Hansen’s mouth as he looked at the machines in front of him.

“I know someone’s watching. Come out. Let’s talk.”

“Heh. Quite composed, Mr. Kurt Hansen.”

One of the robots stepped forward, and Roland’s projection appeared before Hansen.

Hansen froze for a moment when he saw Roland’s face, then chuckled.

“Never thought that at the end of my life, I’d catch the attention of a big shot like the boss of PROJECT Corporation. What—are you here to persuade me to surrender?”

“To be honest, I do admire you,” Roland said calmly, hands clasped behind his back. “You don’t have to die here for the New United States. They were always planning to discard your entire unit as expendable pawns. Even without my involvement, once Arasaka stepped in, they would have abandoned you all the same.”

Hansen gave no visible reaction, but he knew exactly what his superiors were like. Roland’s words were very likely true.

“So? What are you waiting for?”

The question made Roland pause, looking at him with faint confusion.

Hansen took one last drag from his cigarette, flicked it aside, and spread his arms with a faint smile.

“Even if I was nothing but a pawn, you killed my brothers. There’s no room for reconciliation between us. Come on.”

“...I have to admit, your choice surprises me. It’s a pity. But I respect it.”

Roland nodded, then raised a hand in a subtle gesture.

Bang!

A single gunshot rang out.

A heavy body hit the ground.

Hansen—who would have become the ruler of Dogtown—died there on the battlefield.

At the same time, a sum of Orange Essence appeared in Roland’s balance.

“What a shame… Finish off the rest.”

Roland shook his head and issued the order. If he was going to act, he would do it thoroughly.

He had no intention of leaving future trouble behind.

After eliminating these key plot figures, Roland shifted his attention to Arasaka’s deployment in Night City and the situation in Idaho.

“Want us to trip them up a little?”

Kelly suddenly appeared and asked.

“When did you get back? Weren’t you monitoring Idaho?”

Roland glanced at her.

“The situation there’s stable for now. Commander Chris has taken control. After capturing the city, they’re regrouping, so I came back first.”

“That’s not like you. Shouldn’t you be slacking off somewhere?”

“...Want me to leave?”

“You’re already here. No point leaving now. Help me with something.”

Kelly narrowed her eyes at him.

“What do you need, boss?”

“Go find him.”

With a thought, Roland brought up Bartmoss’s photo.

“Huh? Isn’t he dead?”

Kelly stared at him, completely confused.

“He became an intelligent AI beyond the Blackwall and formed his own AI faction. I need you to locate him.”

Roland ignored her reaction and continued.

“That’s not something that can be done in a day or two. And what about Idaho—”

“Lissandra will take over there. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Seeing through her attempt to deflect, Roland cut her off directly.

Kelly’s face fell. This was far more exhausting than watching a battlefield.

“Then why not let Lissandra handle it? She’s better than me at this.”

“No. You’re the most suitable person for this task. The Spirit of Seduction’s abilities will guide us to him. When it comes to this kind of work, even Lissandra can’t match you.”

Roland shook his head and looked at her steadily.

Kelly eyed him skeptically.

But Roland wasn’t wrong. The Spirit of Seduction’s greatest strength was information retrieval within data networks. Its other abilities were secondary.

After all, even Iron Man’s transformation had first been detected by the Spirit of Seduction. Its escape, concealment, and tracking capabilities were all top-tier.

“Oh, and this person too. I need you to lock onto her location as well.”

Roland pulled up Alt’s photo.

“Got it.”

Kelly nodded. One more task wouldn’t make much difference.

...

Chapter 252: What’s Meant to Come Will Come

PROJECT drones cruised low over Pacifica, scanning the district for any remaining New United States forces.

The civilians who had survived the battle kept their distance from the drones. They had no idea whether these machines meant them harm, and none of them were willing to gamble on it.

Bennett and Lindell, who had managed to escape earlier, were eventually captured by a PROJECT squad and eliminated. With that, all the core figures of Dogtown perished in this battle.

The only one left alive was the military doctor, Farida. It had to be said—her luck was exceptional. Roland had completely forgotten that she was technically a member of BARGHEST.

After Dogtown was established, Farida had never joined Hansen’s inner circle. Her loyalty had never been to Hansen, but to the New United States.

“What are you planning to do with Pacifica?”

Lucy appeared beside Roland and couldn’t help asking.

“Hmm… commercial redevelopment, most likely. It’ll probably become residential and entertainment districts. A city this large can’t be turned entirely into factories. The damage is serious, but there’s still a foundation to build on.”

“And the original residents?”

Lucy looked at him curiously.

“They’re still labor. I’ll give them opportunities. What that looks like will depend on the choices they make.”

Roland glanced at her calmly.

Lucy nodded and didn’t press further. She moved aside to rest. Out of sympathy for the civilians caught in the crossfire, she had wanted to help. Now that she knew Roland’s intentions, she had nothing more to say.

“Lissandra, how’s V doing?”

“The training results are excellent. She has fully adapted to real combat and can now operate independently.”

As she spoke, Lissandra projected footage of V in battle. After watching it, Roland nodded in satisfaction.

“Have V get ready. I’ve prepared the corresponding cyberware upgrades for her.”

“Understood. I’ll notify her.”

“And send Zed and the other PROJECT squads to Idaho to join the fighting. Apocalypse alone is enough for Night City.”

“Received.”

After wrapping up Pacifica’s follow-up matters, Roland received a call from Lucius.

Lucius wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Thank you sincerely for your help.”

“No need. It’s simply our transaction. As promised, we’ll make sure you become mayor of Night City. With support from our company and Night Corp, your election is already a certainty.”

Lucius nodded vigorously. With Night City’s two strongest powers backing him, if he still couldn’t win… they might as well replace him with anyone.

At that point, even a complete nobody could become mayor.

“By the way, Mr. Vimers, about the Arasaka fleet outside Night City—”

“No need to worry. We’ve reached an agreement with them. They won’t dock for long. They’re only here to transport supplies and personnel to establish Arasaka’s Night City branch.”

Lucius nodded obediently.

“Also, I need you to contact the councilor in charge of the northern district. Have him lease part of the area to Arasaka.”

“I understand. I’ll handle it immediately.”

...

At that moment, Councilor Smith, who oversaw the northern district, was in communication with Higashiyama Ryoichi.

“Mr. Higashiyama, I’ve fulfilled my end of the deal. So your promise—”

“Councilor Smith, there’s no need to rush. We will honor our commitment. But it will take time. Our people have only just arrived in Night City. Our intelligence network and influence haven’t been established yet.”

Higashiyama Ryoichi’s expression remained calm, though inwardly he was furious. After all, they had promised to help Smith become mayor. Given the current situation… that was clearly no longer possible.

Smith frowned. He didn’t quite believe him.

“Then perhaps Mr. Higashiyama could show a bit of sincerity?”

“What do you want?”

Higashiyama Ryoichi agreed without hesitation. Until a formal contract was signed, stabilizing the other party was the priority.

“I want you to eliminate some of my competitors. For example—Lucius Lane.”

A flicker of shock passed through Higashiyama Ryoichi’s mind, though his face didn’t change.

“No problem. I’ll arrange it. But it will have to wait until our people finish their current tasks in Night City.”

“Naturally.”

Smith’s brows relaxed, a smile returning to his face.

Just then, a call from Lucius came through.

The sudden timing made Smith’s heart skip a beat, but he quickly calmed down. No one else could possibly know about his conversation with Higashiyama Ryoichi.

“Councilor Smith, long time no see.”

Lucius smiled warmly.

“Councilor Lucius. What brings this sudden call?”

Smith returned a polite, artificial smile.

“To be frank, the people backing me want you to agree to something.”

“What is it?”

Smith didn’t refuse outright.

“They want you to approve Arasaka’s request to lease land in your district.”

“Lease?”

Smith’s expression turned strange. He had agreed to sell Arasaka land-use rights. Lease? What was going on? Was there something he didn’t know?

“Yes. That’s their instruction.”

Lucius nodded.

“And who exactly are these backers of yours?”

“PROJECT Corporation and Night Corp.”

Smith inhaled sharply.

But he quickly connected the dots. After a brief shift in expression, he broke into a bright smile.

“No problem at all. I’ll approve Arasaka’s request. Afterward, I’ll be counting on you, Councilor Lucius.”

“Haha, of course.”

Lucius laughed and ended the call.

Smith’s expression turned cold and calculating.

He immediately dialed Higashiyama Ryoichi back.

Now that he knew Arasaka had failed to outmaneuver PROJECT and Night Corp, their previous deal was effectively void. With PROJECT and Night Corp backing Lucius, Smith could already see the outcome of the mayoral race.

Which meant—

Now it was his turn to squeeze Arasaka for a hefty sum.

...

Chapter 253: Here I Come!

Roland slowly climbed out of the large bed and stretched lazily, revealing a powerfully built body.

Not that those muscles had come from any particularly grueling training.

“Come to think of it, I still haven’t fulfilled that promise to Rebecca…”

He rubbed his chin, considering whether he should just come clean with Rebecca. After all, she’d already been lured in. There was no way she was getting out now.

“Hmm… I’ll just find a time to meet her.”

Roland thought about it while washing up. After sorting things out on his end, he returned to the bed and patted the figure still lying there.

“Time to get up and work. Sleeping later than your boss? What kind of example is that?”

“…Are you trying to kill me?”

The figure on the bed slowly wriggled out and shot Roland a glare.

“Alright, go back to sleep. I’m heading out. Call me if anything comes up.”

Roland simply smiled, straightened his collar, and walked out of the room, leaving Kiwi behind.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Just as Roland stepped out the door and was about to get into the AV, he glanced at Lucy beside him in confusion.

“…It’s nothing.”

Lucy pursed her lips and shook her head.

“Oh, right. Go call Dorio over later. Have her wait for me in the office.”

“…Got it.”

Lucy bit down lightly before nodding.

Her reaction felt a little strange to Roland, but he didn’t think much of it. His mind was already busy planning Dorio’s assignment.

Should she team up with Maine? Stay at PROJECT Corporation? Or head straight to the front lines?

Mountain’s abilities were strong across the board. She could grant Energy Shields to allies, step up herself to block damage like a living shield, and she even possessed an aerial energy strike.

On the front lines, that ability would be a devastating super weapon.

But keeping Mountain at PROJECT Corporation in Night City was also a solid option. She could effectively protect company assets and serve as a powerful deterrent.

If she teamed up with Maine… that would basically be a werewolf tank wrapped in an absurdly thick shield.

“Hmm… Let Dorio go to the front lines too. Once things in Idaho are settled, she can come back.”

After weighing it carefully, Roland decided it would be a waste not to put that kind of firepower to use.

Lucy watched him for a while. Seeing that he was still entirely focused on work, she let out a helpless sigh. She just felt a little frustrated. All the secretarial duties used to be handled by Kiwi, but now they—along with bodyguard responsibilities—had fallen onto her shoulders.

And on top of that, she had to endure Zed’s occasional “interrogations”…

Naturally, resentment was starting to build.

Soon, Roland arrived at the PROJECT Corporation building. After arranging Dorio’s matter in the office and sending her to undergo Mountain’s modification, he immediately went to find Lissandra.

What Lissandra was overseeing now was the real priority.

“How’s the construction of the Oblivion experimental base going?”

“It’s fifty percent complete. The rest will take some more time.”

“Good. Push to finish it as soon as possible. Keep a close eye on it—no accidents.”

“Yes. Please rest assured.”

Oblivion’s template was different from the others. The rest relied on chips, but Oblivion directly covered and fused with the entire body, unleashing intense energy and data fluctuations in the process.

That kind of activity would easily attract unwanted attention. And Oblivion required a period of adaptation before its full power could be perfectly unleashed, so a dedicated experimental base was absolutely necessary.

As for why they were building the Oblivion base now…

Because it wouldn’t be long before they had enough Orange Essence to redeem this ultimate weapon. All that remained was to prepare everything in advance—including Bartmoss as the Compatible Host and the Oblivion experimental base.

Once everything was ready, he could redeem Oblivion into this world immediately.

As for the super body—that was the final piece.

Oblivion was powerful, but in Roland’s view, the super body was even stronger. However, the super body had its own exchange requirements, and those hadn’t been met yet.

The reason was simple.

Oblivion’s strength lay in its terrifying single-target combat power—an unstoppable force capable of erasing data-level entities through physical combat alone.

But against massive armies or multiple factions, Oblivion would take time to exert its full impact.

The super body was different. Release a single virus, and it would become the emperor of machines—the sovereign of countless mechanical forces.

“Boss, something’s happened in Idaho. I need your authorization to mobilize additional forces.”

“Hm?”

Just as Roland was thinking about Oblivion, a message popped up. It was from Chris, who was currently fighting the New United States in Idaho.

Without hesitation, Roland initiated a call to get a clearer picture.

The connection came through quickly.

“Boss.”

Chris started to salute, but Roland stopped him.

“No need for that. Just tell me what’s going on. What’s happening with the New United States? Why the sudden request for support?”

“Yes. The New United States has deployed a large number of fighter jets and aerial reinforcements. We’ve secured victory on the ground, but our ability to counter their air power is limited.”

“I see…”

Roland narrowed his eyes.

So developing battleships and fighters had indeed been the right decision.

“Then deploy the Sovereign Series. It’s about time they made their debut.”

“Thank you.”

Chris gave a brief salute, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He was ready to give the New United States a very big surprise.

...

Chapter 254: Aerial Assault

Whoosh—

“You think those iron-headed idiots are completely dumbfounded?”

“I’d say so. They never had air superiority to begin with. That last battle had me choking on frustration. Now the higher-ups have finally given us the green light.”

Two Skysweep-452 fighters from the New United States roared across the sky above the PROJECT forces, yet made no move to attack—seemingly here for nothing more than a show of force.

Below, the PROJECT troops slowly lifted their heads to look up. If the two pilots could see clearly from their cockpits, they would have noticed countless robotic optical sensors silently tracking their flight paths.

The New United States’ motive was simple. There was no deeper scheme—they just wanted to salvage their pride after their previous defeats.

Whether in the Unification War or the conflict in Night City, they had suffered heavily at the hands of PROJECT. Now, they intended to reclaim some dignity.

On the Idaho battlefield, PROJECT was indeed at a disadvantage for the moment, largely due to its lack of aerial power.

Supersonic speed was on an entirely different level for armed AV vehicles.

Only certain anti-air missiles and interception systems posed any meaningful threat.

Previously, the New United States had avoided deploying airpower because those territories were valuable assets. But now… Idaho’s land could be fought over however they pleased.

If it had been prosperous cities, they might have shown some restraint. But this was the outer edge of Idaho—territory they had no intention of keeping. So they removed the restraints and went all out.

After receiving reports from the front line, Myers finally allowed herself a smile. Heaven knew how many times PROJECT had driven her blood pressure through the roof.

“Since the situation at the front is favorable, expand the gains. Let PROJECT understand what real pain feels like.”

Myers let out a cold laugh and issued her orders to the frontline commander, Taylor.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make them understand the price of provoking the New United States. The force they’ve deployed this time may not be their entire army, but it’s definitely a substantial chunk. If we swallow them whole, it’ll be enough to break their bones.”

“Good. I authorize the use of compressed shells and large-area electromagnetic rockets. As long as we can inflict wide-scale casualties, that’s enough.”

“Hmph… Looks like their boss won’t be having an easy time.”

With Myers’ authorization secured, Taylor couldn’t help but chuckle.

…

While they celebrated, dozens of fighter jets shaped like sharp arrowheads sped toward Idaho in an impeccably tight formation.

If the New United States had detected them at that moment, they would have discovered something alarming—their speed was already two to three times that of their most advanced fighters.

Suddenly, as if receiving some signal, the entire formation trembled. Intense energy fluctuations erupted across their frames. In the next instant, they transformed into streaks of golden light and surged toward Idaho at full speed—

Accelerating even further.

“The Sovereign Series is about to reach the battlefield. We’ll be able to launch our counterattack immediately.”

Chris let out a cold laugh.

“Yeah. I’ve put up with these bastards long enough.”

The burly man with long blue hair nodded. He was the other commander, Boros—a name that carried the weight of a true powerhouse.

And rightly so. He was primarily responsible for commanding special operations squads. His micro-control in small-scale engagements was exceptional, though he was less suited to large, frontal battlefields—relatively speaking, at least.

At this moment, the New United States officially deployed its aerial strike force.

The instant he received the order, Taylor moved without hesitation. He immediately ordered the launch of the compressed shells and large electromagnetic rockets, aiming to inflict maximum damage on the PROJECT forces.

PROJECT-manufactured radar systems immediately blared alarms. Through satellite surveillance, Chris saw New United States warplanes closing in at high speed.

“Activate the energy shield. Stall for as long as possible. At the Sovereign Series’ speed, they’ll arrive in just a few minutes.”

“Understood.”

The officer relayed the order at once. In an instant, countless devices activated simultaneously. Amber energy lines shot into the sky, converging at a single point overhead.

From that point outward, a honeycomb-patterned energy shield rapidly expanded, soon enveloping the entire PROJECT force.

Watching from his cockpit, Taylor slowly narrowed his eyes.

“So this is PROJECT’s energy technology? Impressive… But I wonder how durable it is. Begin the first volley. Let’s test its defensive strength.”

“Understood.”

The New United States fighters opened their missile bays. In the next second, a barrage of missiles streaked forward, long tails of flame dragging behind them as they slammed directly into the shield.

The fighters roared across the sky above it.

Boom!

Firelight filled the sky, crashing against the energy shield and spreading in rippling waves like water. Yet the radiance remained dazzling—the shield showed no visible signs of damage.

“Report: shield integrity at ninety-six percent.”

“Mm. Have the ground-based energy weapons begin charging. We can’t just let them keep gifting us explosives—we’ll return the favor.”

As Chris finished speaking, the PROJECT forces beneath the shield sprang into action. Energy cannons were rapidly assembled across various positions.

Sensing danger, the New United States fighters immediately received warning alerts and shifted flight paths.

At this stage, fighters and even space warships were primarily controlled by AI systems, with human pilots serving as neural-interface operators.

The advantage was clear—significantly reduced control complexity. The downside was equally obvious. If the aircraft suffered catastrophic damage, the pilot usually suffered severe neural backlash. There was also the risk of network-level intrusion. In such cases, disconnecting from the network was the only solution—and what followed depended entirely on the pilot’s skill.

Whoosh—

Azure energy beams shot skyward, piercing through the energy shield and blasting into open air. One fighter failed to evade in time and was struck along its flank.

It wobbled violently for a moment before crashing straight down onto the shield’s surface, erupting into towering flames.

Seeing this, the remaining New United States fighters immediately pulled back, awaiting further orders.

“Deploy electromagnetic rockets around the perimeter of their energy shield.”

Taylor reacted at once.

“Have the ground forces advance and apply pressure to the PROJECT troops. What’s the status of the ground missile formations?”

“They’re fully prepared!”

“Then open fire and bombard that energy shield. I refuse to believe we can’t blast open this turtle shell!”

....

Chapter 255: Do You Even Know What Air Superiority Means?!

BOOM!

As the fifth volley crashed down, Taylor’s face turned as black as the bottom of a scorched pot.

What the hell is that turtle shell made of?!

The thought kept looping in his mind. If not for that energy shield holding firm, the missiles and rockets raining down would have plowed over the PROJECT troops below two or three times by now.

And yet, they still hadn’t even broken through the enemy’s defenses. There was no way Taylor could be in a good mood. Every missile launched was cold, hard cash going up in smoke.

But beneath the fury, something else was taking shape—desire. A raw, burning hunger for that technology. If his forces could get their hands on something like this…

The thought made his eyes blaze.

And the shield could even block EMPs.

That was what he wanted most.

The earlier plan to destroy the devices with electromagnetic rockets had collapsed the moment those rockets hit. Aside from sending ripples across the shield’s surface, they accomplished absolutely nothing.

What Taylor couldn’t understand was this: if the shield blocked EMP, how were they maintaining communications?

Unable to figure it out, he could only assume the enemy possessed some unknown communications tech as well.

Still, their assault hadn’t been entirely useless. Under the relentless bombardment from both ground and air forces, the shield’s energy had dropped to roughly thirty percent.

Just as Chris was considering what kind of counterattack to launch once the shield broke, a signal came in from the Sovereign Series.

A smile curved across his face.

Since the Sovereign Series was in position, there was no need to resort to a sacrificial trade.

“Crush them with your own combat style.”

“Understood.”

The Sovereign Series captain gave a slight nod, pressed a button to end the call with Chris, and switched into the Sovereign Series neural co-link channel.

“Let’s begin. Execute Type-1 tactics.”

At the same time, satellites and radar systems in the New United States blared warnings. A cluster of objects was approaching the battlefield at an almost terrifying speed.

“What the hell is that?!”

Watching the satellite feed, Taylor stared in shock. On the screen, there was nothing but a streak of light cutting across the sky.

The Sovereign Series had already broken from their joint formation and shifted into a Type-1 tactical array. The glow surrounding them faded, finally revealing their full forms.

Their arrowhead-shaped fuselages gleamed with a cold sheen—a specially engineered high-strength alloy. Along their bodies ran energy conduits that were rapidly filling. The next second, rings of energy blades ignited around each Sovereign-class Fighter.

Whoosh—

In an instant, the Sovereign-class Fighters scattered, streaking straight toward the New United States aircraft overhead.

The New United States fighters’ onboard AI immediately issued collision warnings and projected the enemy’s trajectory.

Final assessment: impact imminent.

The pilot’s eyes widened, but his hands were faster. If the enemy wanted mutual destruction, he had no intention of dying with them.

But knowing didn’t matter.

The speed gap between them was overwhelming.

An orange-yellow streak flashed past his cockpit.

Without slowing, it shot toward the next target.

Behind it, a New United States fighter hung in the sky—cleanly split in two. It seemed to pause for a single second, as if its pilot hadn’t even realized what had happened.

Then it exploded in a thunderous burst, scattering like fireworks across the sky.

The pilots who witnessed it felt their blood run cold.

Taylor’s expression shifted sharply. This speed—this method of combat—was far beyond anything he had imagined.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

This wasn’t a tactical gap. It was a technological one.

Extreme speed. Extreme materials. And those conceptualized energy weapons.

These weren’t fighters.

They were massive, self-guiding flying blades carving through the sky.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions echoed one after another.

In less than a minute, every New United States aircraft in the sky was wiped out.

The airspace was seized in an instant.

The title “Sovereign Series” was no exaggeration.

Taylor’s face turned green as he watched his air force annihilated. But he still refused to abandon the assault.

In his mind, if the enemy fighters fought like this, then they probably lacked heavy bombing capability. His ground forces still had a chance.

“Ignore the aerial units! Continue advancing on PROJECT’s forces!”

“Yes!”

The New United States troops pressed forward.

The energy shield was down to ten percent.

It was about to break.

“Air domain secured. Switching to Type-2 tactics.”

After clearing the skies, the Sovereign-class Fighters regrouped in clusters of three. A golden-orange glow radiated from them, as if some connection had formed between each trio.

Then they dove toward the New United States missile formations on the ground.

Taylor immediately sensed danger.

“Intercept them!”

But it was useless.

Even with lock-on, the missiles struggled to land hits. And when they did, the energy shields absorbed the damage completely.

Under Taylor’s despairing gaze, the Sovereign-class Fighters closed in on the missile formations.

A single coordinated volley.

Orange-yellow spheres of energy appeared across the ground.

The next instant, those spheres collapsed inward—

And detonated.

Blinding white light swallowed everything in its radius. When it faded, the land looked as if it had been swept by molten lava. Sand and soil had crystallized under the heat.

“Retreat!”

Having seen the power of the Sovereign-class Fighters firsthand, Taylor ground his teeth and issued the order.

The New United States forces immediately fell back. Their morale had already shattered when the air force was destroyed—what remained after that display was little more than instinct.

But the Sovereign-class Fighters had no intention of letting them go.

In the next moment, every fighter converged once more.

Then—

A massive orange-white beam lanced down toward the center of the retreating New United States forces.

Whoosh—BOOM!!!!

A pinpoint of white appeared.

For a brief instant, the entire space seemed to collapse inward like an old television powering off.

Then the energy wave erupted outward.

Blinding white light surged into the sky, illuminating the entire area.

The glare washed over Taylor’s face.

When it finally faded, it revealed him standing there, eyes wide, lips trembling.

“Roland Vimers!!!”

....

Chapter 256: The Highriders' Scheme

“I think you owe me a reasonable explanation, Taylor.”

Myers looked expressionlessly at the commander-in-chief in Idaho before her. Her voice was unusually calm—but anyone who knew her understood that this was what she sounded like when her anger had reached its limit.

Faced with Myers’s questioning, Taylor’s face looked grim. In the end, however, he offered no excuses.

“This was a failure in my command. I am willing to bear all the consequences.”

Lowering his head, Taylor spoke plainly. While the true cause lay in the massive technological gap between the two sides, there had indeed been flaws in his command.

For example, if they hadn’t chosen to provoke PROJECT at the outset but instead launched a covert operation immediately—mobilizing air power and missile silos to carpet-bomb PROJECT’s forces—the situation might have turned out very differently.

Even if they still couldn’t deal with PROJECT’s fighter squadrons, at worst both sides would have suffered heavy ground losses, dragging each other down to the same level with neither gaining an advantage.

But now…

PROJECT had dealt them a severe blow in ground troop numbers—one that could only be described as devastating.

The main force they had dispatched to Idaho had been virtually wiped out in this campaign. In other words, the overwhelming majority of the resources they poured into this battle had been buried there.

And yet, they hadn’t inflicted comparable damage on PROJECT. That was what the hawks found truly intolerable.

This battle had genuinely hurt. Even during the Unification War, the price they paid hadn’t been this high. It was a complete loss—nothing gained, everything squandered.

Some people were already starting to waver. At a time like this, someone had to step up and take responsibility. As the commanding officer of this campaign, Taylor had no choice—especially since he did bear part of the blame for its failure.

“…Resign and take responsibility. I’ll make arrangements for your family.”

Myers let out a sigh as she looked at him. The loss stung her as well. Taylor belonged to her faction. But if the hawks were to continue committing resources, an explanation had to be given.

Taylor alone might not be enough. The next frontline commander would likely come from another faction, and her own authority would inevitably take a hit.

“They really know how to make trouble… PROJECT Corporation… Damn it. I should never have let them off in the first place.”

Myers rubbed her temples in frustration. Ever since getting entangled with this company, nothing had gone smoothly for her. She was beginning to suspect that PROJECT Corporation was simply her natural nemesis.

...

“That concludes the detailed report of this campaign. Here is the battlefield footage.”

Burke slowly slid a chip across the table and looked at the man in blue before him, wearing engineer’s glasses.

The man took the chip and immediately inserted it into his slot to review the contents.

When the energy shield and the Sovereign Series appeared on screen, his breathing grew noticeably heavier. A moment later, he forced himself back to calm.

“I want you to approach PROJECT Corporation and request an exchange for this technology. If we can’t obtain the underlying tech, then acquiring the finished product will suffice. We’re prepared to offer anything they want.”

Encryptus abruptly removed his engineer’s glasses, revealing a pair of yellow eyes that looked almost like flowing data as he addressed Burke.

“Understood. In what capacity should I negotiate with them?”

“Hmm… Approach them directly as a Highrider to show our sincerity. If negotiations fail… no threats. You may abandon your undercover mission here and return to Crystal Palace.”

“I understand.”

Burke nodded. The Encryptus before him was a high-ranking figure within the Highriders. Of course, this was not his true body, but a remotely controlled bionic shell used for the meeting.

Burke himself was a Highrider plant within the New United States moderates. This campaign had begun with his involvement behind the scenes.

The Highriders had intended to use this war to test PROJECT’s true strength—and to weaken the New United States in the process. A fully resurgent New United States was not something they wished to see.

“How did it go?”

Hollit turned to Encryptus after he finished the remote session.

“We obtained valuable intelligence. The technology in PROJECT’s hands exceeds expectations. It wouldn’t be wise to attempt to seize it by force. The European Space Agency should receive similar intelligence soon and will likely adjust its strategy.”

Encryptus nodded and projected footage of the Titan Sovereign-class Fighter.

“…You’re saying we elevate them to our level?”

Encryptus glanced at Hollit. “The world is vast. They can’t swallow everything alone. And I don’t believe their boss is some lofty idealist who would tear relations apart with us over abstract principles.”

“Their territory happens to sit right next to the New United States. Let those two give each other headaches. If possible, we could even let them replace the New United States. After that, we approach them. We might secure an even more detached position.”

Hollit’s expression darkened. He clearly had no desire to share that level of status with PROJECT.

Encryptus’s face remained unchanged, though inwardly he felt a trace of disdain.

Arrogant fools. Can’t they see how terrifying that technology is? Hmph… Years of comfort have dulled their edge.

After all, the Highriders had been born in resistance to the European Space Agency’s oppression.

“If that technology could be applied to space warfare… And who’s to say they don’t possess even more advanced engines…”

The thought made Encryptus’s eyes burn with renewed intensity. His ambitions had never been limited to Earth. He wanted to see the greater universe beyond, uncover its secrets, and lead humanity into the interstellar age.

Only then could they become true New Humans—rather than a group of gilded prisoners living inside the Crystal Palace.

...

Roland didn’t know much about what was happening on the Highriders’ side, but he was well aware of the situation in Idaho. After learning how the battle had unfolded there, the smile never left his face.

All that time spent holding back, locking down Nevada so tightly that not a single hint leaked out—it had finally paid off. One decisive rise, and they were airborne.

“Come to think of it… it’s about time we built an airport here in Night City… Hmm, that plot in the Arasaka Waterfront District would be perfect. But we already agreed to lease it to Arasaka. Wouldn’t that be a bit awkward…?”

He paused for only a moment.

“Ah, whatever. If someone has to be inconvenienced, it’s not going to be me. Arasaka can just shift over a bit.”

Arasaka: ?