Chapter 7: We Have at Least a Hundred Million Rebels Around Us

The clock with a shattered mirror beside the passage pointed to twelve directly above, though it was unclear whether it was noon or midnight.

The clamor faded; in the gloomy, dark Nest City, only far off, deep darkness accompanied by flickering firelight faintly echoed with mad laughter and terrified wails.

Deep in the passage, a dense, rustling sound rose as the firelight flickered, concealing an unknown number of people.

When the Rebel Forces realized that relying only on low‑grade cannon fodder could not easily eliminate Xisi, they finally chose a temporary retreat, and the battlefield fell into a brief, eerie silence.

At this moment, bonfires blazed inside the Supply Station; aside from the on‑duty soldiers, everyone else gathered around the fires, reaching out to feel the warmth, enjoying the hot waves that washed over them.

Meanwhile, many helmet racks held bonfires, from which waves of fragrance rose.

The soldiers looked at the helmets with eager faces, while Bunoke carried a food box and walked toward the half‑underground office of the Supply Station.

He pushed the door open; light flooded in, revealing rows of densely packed shelves stacked with storage records.

Directly ahead was a large table; at that moment Xisi sat before it, continually scanning the report that Ana had organized.

"Sir, your...... uh...... food."

Bunoke had held it in for a while, really not knowing whether to call it lunch or dinner.

"Starch chunks stewed with protein chunks, plus salt and oil."

He placed the food box before Xisi; the hot aroma rose, and Xisi finally drew his attention back from the warehouse list.

He lifted his eyes to see the pale yellow starch chunks and white protein chunks in the thick soup; Xisi, who had been eating cold, hard compressed starch for days, took the food box.

Scorching heat seeped through the box, filling his palms.

He first sipped the steaming hot soup; the long‑missing warmth slid through his whole body.

Then he lifted a fork‑spoonful of starch and protein together and shoved it into his mouth to chew vigorously.

The oil and salt were heavy, yet it tasted surprisingly good; he swallowed it hard, feeling a full satisfaction spread through his belly.

The high‑calorie food, rich in oil and salt, was urgently absorbed by his hungry body, turning into strength that flowed into Xisi's limbs.

"Have the soldiers eaten?"

"They have, the supply is sufficient, and each person received five times the normal ration."

Xisi nodded, quickly finished the can of food in front of him, then picked up a second.

Only after Bunoke ran back and forth twice did he satisfy himself, tossing a full six food cans onto the table.

Regarding Xisi's appetite, Ana showed no reaction, Bunoke looked perfectly normal, Xisi slightly enjoyed the brief peace after being full, then let out a breath and lifted the list on the table.

"Besides food, the Supply Station has plenty of equipment to re‑equip our people from head to toe."

Bunoke took the list, glanced at it and nodded immediately; then Xisi rose, his whole body warm, and walked out of the room.

At this moment, the soldiers in the Supply Station had already begun to feast heartily; a crowd by the fire busily buried themselves in eating, while the helmets on the fire continued to be filled with food and kept simmering.

Is eating six boxes a lot for Xisi? Outside, this group of veterans each ate no less than he did!

Seeing Xisi come out, the veterans hurriedly stood straight, holding their food boxes.

"Sir!"

With sincere respect, not only the Regiment but even the remnant soldiers willingly saluted Xisi.

Xisi casually nodded in reply, but his gaze fell on another corner.

There, a crowd of civilians squatted on the ground, gazing longingly at the veterans feasting heartily.

"These are civilians captured by the Rebel Forces and brought into the Supply Station."

Bunoke explained, while Xisi looked at the crowd full of panic and hunger‑cold, and pointed directly at the civilians:

"Give them sufficient rations as well."

Bunoke: "???"

He looked at Xisi in confusion, and even Ana frowned a little.

For in their view, giving food to civilians at this time was simply a huge waste!

But before Bunoke could raise an objection, Xisi had already walked toward the defensive wall, and a calm voice came from his back:

"They are now my new recruits."

Bunoke: "......!"

On the defensive wall, Xisi gazed outward.

The vast open land was stained red with blood‑stained patches, while the corpses had been dragged away by the Rebel Forces, now sending up waves of meaty scent from afar.

Although the Rebel Forces had withdrawn, this concession did not ease Xisi's mind; instead, he scrutinized the distance seriously, his brows tightening further.

"After pulling back, they are setting up defenses and have brought in a lot of heavy firepower."

Bunoke followed behind, fulfilling his duty as adjutant.

After scanning around, Xisi's gaze suddenly fixed on a heavily defended position.

After looking at it a few times in disbelief, Xisi suddenly snorted with laughter:

"An explosive‑machine gun?"

The explosive gun is standard issue for elite units such as the Astartes or Battle Nuns, but though it is a personal weapon for the Astartes, in mortal hands it becomes a heavy weapon, and can even be mounted to serve as a key firepower point.

Now there is no melee combat; the Terror's Blessing has long faded, and flesh‑and‑blood bodies facing explosive shells can only hope to carry a few more corpses before being blown to mincemeat.

Bunoke also cursed silently at the corners of his mouth for a few sentences before finally speaking:

"Moreover, this terrain offers us no cover; we can only advance along the passage in tight formation, coordinating with surrounding firepower, and I fear......"

"I fear a head‑on charge would be tantamount to suicide."

Xisi added directly, and Bunoke offered no objection—clearly that was what he meant.

Withdrawing his gaze, Xisi scanned the entire Rebel Forces position once more.

The Rebel Forces were clearly frightened of Xisi's close‑combat prowess; now every position was filled with various firearms, waiting for Xisi to lead a charge out of the defensive wall so they could drown him in a barrage, not daring to give him a chance to get close.

After looking around, he realized it was utterly impossible to cut his way back along the route they had come, and Xisi's gaze turned helplessly toward the rear.

In the camp, several Rebel Forces, including a big man, were bound tightly and kneeling in the corner.

What are they saying?

Bunoke's face grew even grimmer:

"The whole Zhongchao and Lower Nest have fallen; right around us, the Rebel Forces' numbers likely reach hundreds of millions."

Even though he was prepared, Xisi couldn't help but twitch his eyelids upon hearing that.

Although a Nest City world commonly has hundreds of billions, even up to a trillion inhabitants, it's perfectly normal for a single Nest City to hold several billion people.

These Rebel Forces are spread throughout the entire Nest City; it's impossible for them all to be aimed at us.

But just thinking that the Rebel Forces outside outnumber the bullets in my gun, even with a Hundredfold Amplification of the body, a feeling of helplessness inevitably arises.

And the bad news doesn't end there.

In the distance, deep within, the meat aroma grew richer, and the frenzied howls became even louder and more intense.

Xisi's gaze was drawn over, and in the direction he looked, amid the noise, was a strange sound that gradually came through.

Xisi frowned slightly; the surrounding veterans also noticed, setting down their food and looking over in puzzlement.

Moments later, what appeared in the passage caused Xisi to freeze.

"Tank?"

Bunoke stared dumbfounded, while Xisi, after taking a serious look, slowly shook his head:

"It's a Chimera Walking Tank equipped with an Explosive Gun."

Bunoke pouted, because in his eyes, for our side made entirely of flesh and blood, a Walking Tank is no different from a tank—there really isn't any difference.

Bunoke's face looked grim, yet Xisi beside him let out a sigh of relief.

"Zhongchao and Lower Nest have fallen; does that mean Upper Nest and Tower Top are still holding?"

Bunoke stared at Xisi with wide, doubtful eyes, instinctively nodding, then a greater doubt arose.

Although the Rebel Forces' numbers are much fewer above, and upon reaching the Tower Top one can still contact the Command Center via the signal tower, how can we get past under the noses of the Rebel Forces?

Moreover, the reason Upper Nest hasn't fallen is that they simply locked the gate above, completely cutting off passage.

Relying solely on handheld weapons, it's utterly impossible to blast open the gate.

Bunoke hesitated:

"Yes, but...... how do we get past?."

Xisi's expression remained calm, his gaze fixed solely on that Chimera operated by the rebellious Planetary Defense Force.

Even a subpar Walking Tank, once Hundredfold Amplification is applied, can be used as a Mech!!!