Chapter 378: with translation of chapter title

384. Chapter 384: Lone Bravery?

The difference between the fourth‑rank and fifth‑rank Sage Corps is not small.

It is mainly reflected in two aspects: maximum combat strength and corps size.

The Gods' Civilization World is a super‑civilization on par with the Wizards' Civilization World; in corps organization there is great commonality.

Therefore, the Grand Sage Corps, facing the enemy head‑on, is not without the strength to fight this infiltrating unit of the Fifth‑Rank Sage Corps of the Gods' Civilization World, which is on par with the Wizards' Civilization World.

Winning is, of course, extremely difficult.

The gap is there — that is an objective fact.

Lin Ke never thought of winning outright; he only intended to stall.

After all, the 'supply line' is the lifeline of the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army; letting the Gods' Civilization World's Fifth‑Rank Corps infiltrate intact is already a grave mistake.

The Group Army headquarters, upon receiving the Grand Sage Corps' request for help and warning, will certainly pay attention, dispatch heavy forces, and come to encircle and annihilate this audacious Gods' Corps.

Under Lin Ke's command, the Grand Sage Corps quickly changed formation.

Plan Zero and the Operation Zero contingency are not the same.

The Operation Zero contingency highlights the word 'reckless', showing a resolve to go all‑out.

Plan Zero highlights the word 'sticky', employing a delaying tactic.

Lin Ke would not foolishly use his own Grand Sage Corps to plug the gaps left by the front‑line defenders who let the line leak.

Fighting while retreating — that shows hot‑blooded spirit!

Thus, around the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army's 'supply line', the two corps began a game of hide‑and‑seek.

The Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps certainly did not want to waste time like that.

Having expended great effort to infiltrate, this corps' strategic goal was not to entangle with the Wizards' Civilization World's patrol corps, but to destroy part of the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army's logistical supply.

Moreover, having been exposed, any further delay will inevitably lead to encirclement and annihilation by the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army.

Thus, the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps decided to break contact with the Grand Sage Corps.

After a frantic pursuit and fierce assault, they decisively withdrew, intending to carry out a rear‑area sabotage mission.

"You want to leave?"

Lin Ke glanced at the message from the Group Army headquarters, confirmed that reinforcements were en route and would soon complete the encirclement, then commanded the Grand Sage Corps to stick to that Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps.

Anyway, staying not too close, trailing far behind, occasionally harassing.

Upon detecting any sign of a counter‑attack from the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps — whether a feint or not — they immediately ceased harassment to keep the corps within a safe range.

Like a buzzing fly, it annoyed the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps to no end.

Before the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps lay only three choices: carry out the assigned mission at all costs; split forces — one to execute the mission, the other to deal with the Grand Sage Corps; or retreat promptly while the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army has not yet completed the encirclement.

Lin Ke, projecting his own thinking, believed the best choice for the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps was to withdraw.

However, Lin Ke did not act rashly on that assumption; instead, he patiently observed the corps' movements and analyzed its possible next steps.

This attitude immediately proved highly effective.

The Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps surprisingly abandoned its mission and even the chance of survival, concentrating all its strength to fight the Grand Sage Corps to the death.

No one in the Grand Sage Corps, nor even in the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army, expected such a thing to happen.

Truly, it came completely out of the blue!

Fortunately, Lin Ke had always kept a contingency; he reacted immediately, commanding the Grand Sage Corps to retreat at top speed.

After prolonged drills and several actual battles, the Grand Sage Corps' tactical execution is extremely formidable.

Lin Ke gave the order, and it was carried out immediately.

Previously still engaging in flirtatious 'you‑and‑me' banter, constantly 'tempting' the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps, the Grand Sage Corps instantly turned into a scoundrel, pulling out and leaving.

?? ￠o

No sentiment at all — just one word: 'cut off!'

This time, it was truly all‑out; the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps, not thinking of survival, caught the Grand Sage Corps and pursued it relentlessly.

The Grand Sage Corps is not without the power to strike back.

But under Lin Ke's command, they simply covered their heads and took the blows, retreating relentlessly.

All the 'energy' of the star fleet was supplied entirely to the defense and propulsion systems of the space fortress and star‑faring warships.

What is needed is high health, high defense, fast movement — able to drag out the fight if possible, otherwise flee.

? ￠o

Such 'decisiveness' made the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps commander so angry he almost vomited blood.

If the distance between the sides were not too great, this commander — equivalent to a Fifth‑Rank Sage's Fifth‑Tier Greater God in the Wizard World — would have wanted to duel Lin Ke one‑on‑one.

It is simply infuriating!

Lin Ke also does not know this Fifth‑Tier Greater God's mindset; if he did, he would probably be very pleased.

Achieving this effect broke the mental defenses of a Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Tier Greater God, relying not on strength but on wisdom and strategy.

This sense of accomplishment differs from subduing others by force, but it is just as satisfying.

Thus, the Grand Sage Corps completed its final 'supply line' patrol mission in a rather unconventional way.

Dragging along the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps that had inexplicably infiltrated near the lifeline‑like 'supply line', they waited for the reinforcements sent by the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army headquarters — three Fifth‑Rank Sage Corps.

The encirclement from all four sides has already been formed.

The Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps' path to survival has been completely cut off.

Given this corps' previous conduct, Lin Ke actually worried that they would continue to go all‑out, ignoring the attacks of the other three Fifth‑Rank Sage Corps and seizing the Grand Sage Corps.

Who would have thought that the Gods' Civilization World Fifth‑Rank Corps' next move would be to hold fast and await reinforcements!

This left Lin Ke quite baffled.

If one were to say the enemy commander is brainless, then how did he break through the Ruiwosuo Thought Academy Group Army's frontline defenses and infiltrate such a vital star‑region?

"What do you want to do?"

Lin Ke muttered to himself, attempting to think from the other's perspective, guessing their motive and goal.

However, thinking did not delay Lin Ke's decision.

The Grand Sage Legion requested to withdraw from combat, citing excessive consumption, to the Group Army headquarters.

The headquarters initially did not want to agree.

However, Lin Ke insisted, stating outright that the Grand Sage Legion had lost its combat effectiveness and could become a breakthrough point for the Gods' Civilization's Fifth-rank Legion.

Left with no choice, the headquarters agreed to Lin Ke's retreat request.

"Let's go!"

Without even glancing back, Lin Ke led the Grand Sage Legion straight back to the legion's base.

Three Fifth-rank Sage Legions were left behind to begin encircling and suppressing the Gods' Civilization's Fifth-rank Legion.

On the way back and after arriving at the base, Lin Ke instead maintained continuous attention to the battle situation.

Whether it was because the Gods' Civilization's Fifth-rank Legion performed beyond expectations or the three Fifth-rank Sage Legions of the Ruiwo Suosi Academy Group Army were holding back, twelve hours passed, the time for the general assault on the front was fast approaching, yet this encirclement and suppression still had not ended.

The Grand Sage Legion had finished resupplying and resting!

Lin Ke increasingly felt that something was off, off everywhere.

How did the Gods' Civilization's Fifth-rank Legion infiltrate?

Is the front's defense as flimsy as paper, or is it leaking beyond repair?

If that Gods' legion truly had such formidable strength, being able to withstand a siege by three equal-rank mage legions and hold out this long, there's no reason they would so easily let the Grand Sage Legion go.

Not to mention completely annihilating the Grand Sage Legion in mobile warfare, at least taking a big bite would be possible, right?

So what was the result?

The result was that the Grand Sage Legion withdrew intact to its base. This was certainly due to Lin Ke's command, as well as the Grand Sage Legion's thorough training and high execution capability.

Now, looking back, perhaps it was mostly because that Gods' legion held back.

"Could this be a bait?"

Lin Ke had this speculation arise in his mind, but then he actively dismissed it.

There are many capable people in the Group Army's staff department; Lin Ke could speculate this way, and they surely could not have missed it.

"Merely" dispatching three fifth-rank legions, and then reluctantly agreeing to the Grand Sage Legion's preliminary "sneak away," perhaps there was this consideration.

Then the question arises.

If this Gods' Civilization Fifth-rank Legion truly is a bait, what does the commander of this Gods' Civilization campaign intend to lure?

And what trump cards and follow-up plans give that commander such confidence that, after the "fish" bites the hook, they can take effect across the entire Ruiwo Suosi Academy Group Army's defense line?

A fish biting the hook does not necessarily mean it's caught.

It's also possible that after eating the bait, the fish swaggeringly escapes.

There is even a scenario that is highly likely to occur.

That is, the Ruiwo Suosi Academy Group Army uses this bait to turn the tables and fish for the enemy.

"Anything is possible."

Faced with a complicated and mist-shrouded situation, Lin Ke let out a sigh.

Afterwards, he cleared his mind of distractions and focused on commanding the Grand Sage Legion to set out again.

The patrol mission ended, after a brief rest, the Grand Sage Legion had to return to its unit.

The third reserve team, and it's a reserve team!

After the Grand Sage Legion successfully returned to the unit and was incorporated into the command sequence of a sixth-rank sage, the outcome of that encirclement battle still had not been determined.

It had already been a full twenty-four hours since Lin Ke discovered that Gods' Civilization Fifth-rank Legion near the "grain route"!

"The mountain rain is coming, the wind fills the tower."

Lin Ke suddenly recalled this verse, feeling the heavy atmosphere before the decisive battle.

The Grand Sage Legion, and indeed the entire Ruiwo Suosi Academy Group Army, even the most battle-hardened mages, were all like that.

Each of their attitudes became extremely solemn.

War is the most violent conflict.

Death is absolutely unavoidable.

No mage is willing to sacrifice their life!

"I hate war!"

The soft muttering of the chief attendant, Lin En Hewitt, suddenly reached Lin Ke's ears.

Lin Ke could sense from those words Lin En's genuine anti-war sentiment.

He stopped Lin En from continuing to complain with a glance, but Lin Ke did not blame anything.

As long as it doesn't publicly undermine morale, a private complaint from one or two people is not unacceptable.

This is also a form of psychological relief.

However, pre-war morale and spirit are indeed worth paying attention to.

"Sir, sir!"

Just as Lin Ke was thinking about how to better boost the morale of the Grand Sage Legion, Fu Lan Duo shouted.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Ke immediately responded to Fu Lan Duo's call.

As the boundary spirit of his native world, the "Human Immortal Martial Arts World," Fu Lan Duo's priority here, next only to Mo Li, is equally important as his daughter Mei Li Ya.

This is not because Lin Ke doesn't love his daughter.

But as a father, only Lin Ke himself being strong can give his daughter better protection.

Master, master, I have completely taken control of your natal world!

Flan Duo stood with hands on hips, looking smug with an "I'm badass" expression.

???

Lin Ke felt a string of question marks pop up in his mind.

Not long ago, Flan Duo still hadn't fully mastered the Human Immortal Martial Dao World.

These days, Lin Ke has been busy with missions, hasn't paid attention to this, and doesn't know what Flan Duo has been up to.

Flan Duo isn't the type to hide things, and to "steal" the master's attention, she immediately complained and then claimed credit.

Hmph! Master doesn't care about Flan Duo at all!

And doesn't care at all about your natal world!

Fortunately, Flan Duo is formidable; she thought of directly contacting the master's "teacher", Li Shuwen.

Wow, master, the development potential of your Human Immortal Martial Dao World is really high!

The God-seeing Realm Human Immortal Martial Artist Li Shuwen can unleash combat power that is truly formidable.

All the obstacles blocking my complete control of the natal world have been swept away by your "teacher".

Lin Ke listened to Flan Duo's words while exercising the "World Master" authority, checking on major events that had occurred recently.

This is one of the perverse aspects of the "World Master": being able to look back in time.

So-called knowing past, present, and future is not a daydream but something that can actually be realized.

After a quick browse, learning what had happened in the Human Immortal Martial Dao World, Lin Ke didn't get overly distracted and personally handled the affairs of that world.

Instead, he instructed Flan Duo to contact Li Shuwen in Lin Ke's name, integrating the power of the Human Immortal Martial Dao World.

Perhaps it could be useful when needed.

Flan Duo readily agreed and happily went off to manage the Human Immortal Martial Dao World.

Even Ke Na Li Ya, who had turned into a Three-legged Golden Crow, couldn't be bothered to tease.

Lin Ke withdrew his attention from the natal world, continued to monitor the battle's progress, and awaited orders that might arrive at any moment.

Legion Commander, there's a situation.

At that moment, the Intelligence Bureau Director walked over holding a Portable Smart Brain.

However, after the Grand Sage Legion was incorporated into the Third Reserve Unit's battle order, Lin Ke's duties became busier.

Monitoring the activities of that Fifth-tier Gods Legion was handed over to the Intelligence Bureau.

Lin Ke took the Portable Smart Brain from the Intelligence Bureau Director, opened the text battle report, and began reading it at a glance.

The more he read, the graver his expression became.

The Ruiwosuosi Academy Group Army, together with the opposing forces from the Gods Civilization World, surrounded that Fifth-tier Gods Civilization Legion, and each side played their cards.

That Fifth-tier Gods Legion is not only a bait, but also a coordinate locator!

A premeditated, ultra-large-scale transmission occurred.

The Gods Civilization World's opposing forces "air-dropped" a mixed legion equivalent to a Wizard World Seventh-tier Great Sage Legion into the vital heart of the Ruiwosuosi Academy Group Army's front line.

The Ruiwosuosi Academy Group Army's back door... has been compromised!

Danger!