Chapter Fifty-Nine: Nine Provinces, Unmatched and Magnificent!

The smoke of war hung thick in the air. Countless fire-breathing birds rained down from the sky, and just as many were shot down, crashing to the earth. At the same time, numerous soldiers of Kyushu fell in battle, yet not a single one retreated. Before the might of the fire-breathing birds, no soldier faltered. And now, an even greater threat approached.

Not only had the fire-breathing birds arrived, but so had humanoid machines and mechanical hounds—massed together in a menacing, overwhelming swarm. It was a terrifying sight. Still, the warriors of Kyushu did not yield; instead, they fought with even greater ferocity. Behind them stood their families, their homeland, and millions upon millions of Kyushu’s people.

Chu Xiao and Chu Renfang fought side by side, bringing down one after another of the Hades machines. “Everyone, stay sharp! If you don’t have a laser cannon, use a water cannon. If you don’t have a water cannon, use your laser rifles and tracking machine guns—make them flee in panic all the same!” Chu Xiao shouted, his voice raw and thunderous. In this moment, he seemed to become his truest self—a warrior forged for the battlefield.

The soldiers, hearing him, found their spirits rising higher. “Hades, go to hell!” they roared, their voices nearly forcing the Hades army to stagger back in fear.

And then—the Hades army retreated!

The warriors stared in disbelief, faces still smeared with the blood of fallen comrades. Suddenly, someone cried out, “The Hades army is retreating! They’re retreating!” Only then did everyone truly realize what had happened, excitement surging across their faces.

“We did it!” someone shouted. “We’ve won! Hades has retreated! Hades has retreated!”

The warriors embraced each other with joy, unable to believe what they had achieved. Chu Xiao watched from the side, his heart surging with hot-blooded pride. Kyushu had triumphed—at last, Kyushu had triumphed! Not only were they victorious, but their losses had been kept to a bare minimum. Out of a hundred thousand who fought, only two hundred were wounded.

In such a brutal war, two hundred casualties was an astonishingly small number. Who else could claim so few losses in such a conflict? No other nation but Kyushu. In this battle, Kyushu had become legendary.

Meanwhile, countries around the world were still struggling desperately. A handful of fire-breathing birds alone was enough to overwhelm them. Without proper fortifications, the birds’ flames quickly wounded their soldiers. Water cannons and laser cannons could not aim with precision, for the fire-breathing birds were far too agile. Yet as the fire-breathing bird army suffered devastating losses in Kyushu, their forces in other countries gradually withdrew.

At last, the war reached its end, but the casualties elsewhere were appalling: twenty thousand dead in America, ten thousand in Eurstrong, five thousand in Northsand. Only Kyushu had the lowest casualties—just two hundred! It was a number that struck terror into their rivals.

In America, when Mucos heard the figure, his fists clenched, his gaze fierce as he glared at the teacup on his desk. With a sudden slap, the coffee cup shattered, its contents spraying out as blood trickled from his hand, mingling with the shards.

“Kyushu only lost two hundred men, and we lost tens of thousands—hundreds of times more! How is this possible?” he roared.

His secretary stood silent, head bowed, not daring to speak. At that moment, Mucos was terrifying. Say one wrong word, and she might well be shot on the spot.

“I don’t know! Maybe Kyushu was better prepared!” the female secretary stammered, trembling.

Oden, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward and spoke loudly: “First Speaker, I have a request.”

Mucos lifted his eyes. “Speak.”

Oden paused, organizing his thoughts, then continued, “I believe Kyushu has a Reborn—a man with more experience than any of us. That’s why they outmatched us so completely against Hades. Just look at the numbers from Northsand and Eurstrong—those who allied with Kyushu early and fought Hades together fared far better. We might still have a chance—a chance to reduce our casualties and finally defeat Hades. I’ve spoken with Chu Xiao before and know him somewhat. I’m willing to go to Kyushu on your behalf and discuss an alliance with Chu Xiao. Please, First Speaker, grant me this permission.”

Oden knelt, speaking each word with solemn conviction. Truth be told, he had deliberated long before standing up to say this, all for the prosperity of America—and, admittedly, for the chance to meet Chu Xiao and discuss the issue of Hades.

The prospect of destroying Hades would be greatly aided by such an alliance.

Mucos said nothing, simply staring at Oden with cold, unyielding eyes. “Are you serious?” He could not forget what Chu Xiao had said to him before. For him to reach out and shake hands with Chu Xiao himself was unthinkable, but if someone else went in his stead—discreetly—he could at least save face.

As the leader of his nation, Mucos understood what was at stake. With Kyushu’s help, perhaps there was still a chance to resist Hades. Otherwise, after only a few more battles, America itself might be wiped out.

Hades was simply too terrifying.

He said nothing aloud, but inwardly, Mucos feared Hades more than anyone knew.

Oden nodded. “Of course I’m serious.”

“Very well. Do as you wish.” Mucos said nothing more, for there was no other choice.

When Churchill and Eurys learned that Kyushu’s casualties were only two hundred, their eyes widened in disbelief. Two hundred—a number so small as to be negligible. The strength of Kyushu was overwhelming. Now, Churchill and Eurys were even more determined to cling tightly to Kyushu.

Meanwhile, Hades was almost driven mad with rage. Kyushu had destroyed nearly three thousand of his fire-breathing birds—almost the entire force he’d deployed against other nations. And that didn’t even count the mechanical hounds and humanoid machines! Now, Hades understood: Kyushu could not be judged by ordinary standards. They were like an unyielding, jagged rock—one that must be hammered with all his might.

“Keep researching new weapons! I will destroy Kyushu!” the eyes of Hades’s virtual figure gleamed with murderous light, and Louis dropped to his knees in terror. “Yes, Lord Hades! I will not fail!”

Elsewhere, in Kyushu, Chu Xiao frowned deeply, Number One at his side just as grave. “Now Hades is focusing all his attacks on Pearl City, ignoring Yanjing and West City entirely. Sooner or later, Pearl City won’t be able to hold out,” Chu Xiao said quietly.

This Hades was nothing like the one from his previous life. Back then, Hades had attacked all of Kyushu at once, sweeping forward with unstoppable force.