Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away from Tokyo City, at Nagato Port.

The sea breeze howled, raising thousands of waves that crashed against the charred rocks.

This port, once Sakura Country's most important shipping hub, now bore the bright red Dragon Flag of Great Xia.

The air was thick with the lingering scent of gunpowder and a faint smell of blood, but even more overwhelming was a suffocating sense of tense busyness.

"Hurry! Where's that Earth-element mage? Patch up the breach in the city wall here!"

"Formation Master! The core of the defensive Formation still needs three high-grade magic crystals. Requisition them from the warehouse!"

"Medical team! We have injured over here!"

Countless Great Xia soldiers fulfilled their respective duties, operating at high speed.

Earth-element Classer skilled in construction pressed their hands onto the ground, causing thick earth walls to rise, rapidly repairing the fortifications destroyed by war.

Clad in robes, Formation Masters floated in midair as the Formation Plates in their hands glowed brightly. Complex runes poured down, reconstructing the defensive Formation against Sakura Country's counterattack.

This was Great Xia's bridgehead for invading Sakura Country, and a lifeline that could not be lost.

In the center of the port, a three-story concrete building that could still function was temporarily commandeered as the frontline headquarters.

Beneath dim lights, a massive holographic tactical map floated in the center of a long table, densely dotted with red and blue light points.

The atmosphere was unusually heavy.

Several Great Xia generals with stars on their shoulders gathered around the map, arguing heatedly until their faces turned red.

"I still stand by my opinion!"

A burly lieutenant general with a full beard slammed his hand on the table, causing the holographic projection to shake.

Pointing at the prominent red dot representing Tokyo City on the map, his voice echoed through the room like a loud bell:

"According to intelligence from the frontline scouts, extremely terrifying energy fluctuations have appeared in the direction of Tokyo City! That's a sacrifice! That lunatic Kujo Koji has definitely started it!"

"We can't wait any longer! We must gather all our forces immediately and strike straight for Tokyo!"

"Delay will bring disaster, everyone! Once they revive that legendary monster, all our previous sacrifices will be in vain!"

"Old Li, calm down!"

Beside him, an elegant major general wearing glasses frowned and countered, pushing up his frames with a steady yet equally firm tone.

"The situation around Tokyo City is currently unknown, and our intelligence network has been down for a full hour!"

"Moreover, from Nagato Port to Tokyo, there are three major towns along the way. If we recklessly press deep into enemy territory and our logistical supplies are cut off by Sakura Country's remnants, we'll become turtles caught in a jar!"

"I suggest prioritizing Yokohama City, which is closest to us. Advancing steadily step-by-step is the safest strategy!"

"Safe strategy my ass!"

The bearded lieutenant general widened his eyes, spittle flying: "How can anyone fight a war without casualties? How can there be a hundred percent certainty? What are you thinking? That's SSS-Rank! Once it's revived, what's the point even if we occupy all of Sakura Country? That single entity could wipe us all out!"

"That's a gambler's mindset! Those are the lives of tens of thousands of Great Xia's sons!"

"Still better than sitting back and waiting for death!"

The argument grew louder and louder as both sides held onto their views, neither able to convince the other.

The other staff officers and generals were also frowning deeply, some nodding and others shaking their heads, clearly struggling internally as well.

However...

No matter how fierce the argument became...

The old man sitting at the head of the long table remained silent throughout.

Zhao Qingcang.

This Supreme Marshal of Great Xia sat quietly, like a stone statue that had weathered countless storms.

With eyes slightly closed, his hands rested crossed over the cane in front of him. His crisp marshal uniform was still stained with traces of wet blood—left behind from slaying enemy generals during the battle to take the port.

He was too quiet.

So quiet that he seemed out of place in this noisy command room.

Only his occasionally trembling gray eyelashes showed that the old man was not asleep.

He was listening.

And waiting.

"Marshal! Say something!"

Finally, the bearded lieutenant general couldn't hold back any longer. He turned to Zhao Qingcang, his tone anxious: "Is it an all-out attack or a steady defense? It all depends on your word! As long as you give the command, I, Old Li, will charge in with my men right now—I won't even blink an eye!"

Everyone's eyes gathered on Zhao Qingcang.

Zhao Qingcang opened his eyes.

Though old, those eyes remained calm as the ocean, carrying a tranquil composure that had seen through the world.

He did not answer directly, but turned to look out the window at the night sky, speaking in a low voice:

"He's here."

Everyone froze and exchanged glances, not understanding why the marshal was saying this now.

Just then...

"Bang!"

The command room door was kicked open violently.

A communications soldier, covered in sweat and flustered, stumbled inside. Without even time to salute, he shouted hoarsely:

"R... Report!"

"Enemy contact!"

"Enemy forces spotted near the port's main gate!"

That single shout brought the argument inside the command room to a sudden halt.

"What?!"

The bearded lieutenant general was the first to react, a bloodthirsty glow of excitement appearing in his eyes as he reached for the long saber at his waist.

"Great! Those damn bastards, I haven't even gone looking for them yet, and they come knocking on my door!"

"They came just in time!"

"How many of them are there? A division? Two divisions?"

"Is our Magical Cannon battery ready? Blast them for me!"

The other generals gathered around as well, tense yet filled with Battle Intent.

Since the enemy took the initiative to counterattack, it meant they were desperate.

As long as they crushed their main force here, the road ahead would be much smoother.

However...

Faced with the generals' grilling, the communications soldier swallowed hard, his expression turning extremely strange.

It looked like fear, yet also disbelief.

Raising a finger, he said trembling:

"O... One."

The command room instantly fell silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

The expressions on the generals' faces froze, unable to believe their ears.

"What did you say?"

The elegant major general suspected he misheard and frowned, asking, "A division?"

The communications soldier shook his head violently, a crying tone in his voice:

"N... No, not a division..."

"It's... just one person."

"Only one person came!"

"Huh?"

The bearded lieutenant general widened his eyes and burst into an angry laugh: "What the hell? Is Sakura Country out of people? Sending one person to die? Or to surrender?"

"Damn it, is one person worth running in here all panicked to report? What are the long-range marksmen on the front line doing? Just shoot him dead and be done with it!"

"They... They can't shoot him dead, General!"

The communications soldier was about to cry from urgency, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

"That person's strength is too terrifying!"

"And he even told me to bring a message inside!"

"What message?"

"He said... his name is Qinze Taichiro."

"He said... he wants to meet Marshal Zhao... in private!"

Qinze Taichiro??!

As soon as those five words were spoken...

The entire command room's atmosphere froze.

Every single person had a complex expression.

Even the most hot-tempered bearded lieutenant general went silent, unable to make a single sound.

As high-ranking generals of Great Xia Nation, how could they not know this name?

Qinze Taichiro.

Sakura Country's strongest SS-Rank Professional forty years ago.

Yamata no Orochi.

He was a nightmare that once struck terror into the hearts of countless Great Xia soldiers.

In the War of National Defense forty years ago, countless Great Xia soldiers died at his hands.

Had Marshal Deng and Great Bear Country's experts not fought to the death to slay him back then, Great Xia's losses that year would likely have been far worse.

And now...

This devil, who should have died in the dust of history, had actually been resurrected?

And he even brazenly came all alone to Nagato Port, occupied by the Great Xia military?

"No wonder..."

"No wonder he dares to come alone."

"An SS-Rank Expert... indeed has the confidence to treat thousands of troops like nothing."

A man's reputation precedes him, as a tree casts its shadow.

The weight carried by the name Qinze Taichiro was far too heavy.

Heavy enough to crush the mental defenses of most people present.

Just then...

Zhao Qingcang, who had been sitting at the head position, stood up.

He straightened his slightly wrinkled collar and adjusted the military cap on his head.

His movements were calm and precise.

"Is he finally here..."

Zhao Qingcang murmured in a low voice, without surprise, only a sense of relief like the other shoe had finally dropped.

He raised his head and looked around at the Great Xia generals present.

His gaze was gentle yet firm, sweeping across each familiar face one by one.

"Everyone."

"It seems today's meeting can only end here."

"The command of the upcoming battle will temporarily be taken over by Lieutenant General Chen Huaishu."

Saying this, he looked toward that old man.

"Old Chen, you have a steady temperament. If I don't return, remember one thing."

"No matter what price must be paid, you must lead the army to the gates of Tokyo City!"

"This is an absolute order!"

When these words came out, everyone's eyes turned red.

This was no military command.

This was clearly a last testament!

Having spoken, Zhao Qingcang turned around and was about to head outside.