Rennes Garr seemed to have expected Chris's reaction.
Without saying another word, he skillfully operated the control terminal before him.
The transmitted footage clearly captured the Saiyans.
They had no scales.
Their bodies were oddly proportioned, and they lacked the massive tails that lizardmen used to maintain their balance.
Yet they moved with astonishing speed, like predatory beasts.
Every barrage of flames fired from the fortress was narrowly avoided.
Working together, they scaled the thirty-meter-high fortress walls.
Once atop the battlements...
A merciless slaughter began.
The rifle-wielding lizard soldiers stood no chance.
A seemingly ordinary punch or kick unleashed terrifying destructive power.
Whenever armored lizard soldiers appeared...
The Saiyans let out deafening roars.
Their bodies underwent horrific transformations.
Before the horrified eyes of the defenders...
They destroyed both the armor and its pilot with a single blow.
Through the thick smoke...
One of the transformed Saiyans, his eyes glowing blood-red, turned a heavy naval cannon toward the Peace Circle.
A blinding flash followed.
The screen instantly went black.
The naval cannon had apparently destroyed the entire section of wall—along with every soldier stationed there.
The recording equipment had been destroyed as well.
"They... really sent only ten people?"
Chris's expression became extremely grim.
From the footage alone, he could already imagine that the other fortresses were suffering similar fates.
Ten people.
Attacking the Peace Circle of Planet Zhaka...
A civilization with advanced technology and a population of over 300,000.
No one would have believed such a report.
Yet...
It was happening.
And they were losing.
After all...
Rennes Garr had said only one thing.
"They were forced to retreat."
Not...
"They suffered casualties."
The enemy had lost no one.
It wasn't because his soldiers lacked courage.
Every defender had fought fearlessly.
Every commander had risked his life.
The enemy was simply...
Too powerful.
Those damned invaders!
Do they really think so little of the Peace Circle?
Sending only ten people...
It was nothing short of open contempt.
"How many mechs does the Peace Circle still have?"
Chris asked.
Hearing the question, Rennes Garr answered immediately.
"We ceased production of the fifth-generation models nine years ago, but we still have 3,400 units remaining."
"There are roughly 5,000 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-generation mechs combined."
"As for the ninth-generation models—the technological pinnacle of the Peace Circle—we only possess one thousand units."
The ninth-generation mech represented the culmination of eight previous generations of development.
Its comprehensive combat power approached 600.
"Leave one hundred ninth-generation mechs behind to defend Karlsturt."
"Send every remaining unit to reinforce the four fortresses."
"They must be stopped."
"The Magic Armor project is almost complete."
"Once it's finished..."
"Those alien creatures will be wiped out with a single strike."
Chris spoke in a low, determined voice.
The Peace Circle consisted of nine concentric rings.
The closer one lived to the center...
The safer life became.
Most of the residents of the First Ring belonged to the upper class.
But to anyone who managed to enter the Peace Circle...
It was already paradise.
There were no wars.
Every street had fixed supply stations.
Food and necessities were distributed free of charge.
People outside simply called it...
Paradise.
Yet at this very moment...
That paradise was being consumed by war.
From afar...
Several figures could be seen charging through the vast Peace Circle.
Thousands of soldiers rushed toward them, carrying every kind of firearm imaginable.
The indistinct figures carried no weapons whatsoever.
Yet...
The armed lizard soldiers were utterly powerless against them.
The Saiyan warriors charged like savage beasts crashing into a flock of sheep.
Ignoring the storm of bullets...
They continued advancing relentlessly.
Thanks to the Capsule Technology they carried...
They never had to worry about logistics or supplies.
Their terrifying combat power could be unleashed without restraint.
Fear meant nothing to them.
Death meant nothing to them.
Small defensive bunkers that blocked their path were smashed apart with a single punch.
The cannon barrels flew dozens of meters through the air before crashing into nearby ammunition depots.
Violent explosions erupted one after another.
Outside the Peace Circle...
Amosi stood atop a mountain, calmly observing the battlefield below.
He had already deployed every one of his war slaves.
"So far..."
"Everything is proceeding according to plan."
He raised his head slightly before speaking into his communicator.
"First Squad."
"Report your current status."
A calm voice immediately replied.
"My lord."
"We have captured the Fifth Ring."
"We've encountered heavy resistance, but at our current pace..."
"We will reach the Fourth Ring within three hours."
Another proud voice echoed through Amosi's headset.
"They're still resisting only because they don't understand what kind of enemy they're facing."
After all...
The fortress artillery couldn't hit them.
As for ordinary firearms...
They could simply ignore them.
"Too slow."
Amosi's expression remained unchanged.
"I'll give you two more hours."
"After that..."
"I expect to see you standing outside the Third Ring."
There wasn't the slightest hint of satisfaction in his voice.
To the Saiyans...
Efficient conquest was everything.
The faster they plundered...
The faster they grew stronger.
A weak Saiyan...
Had no right to survive in the universe.
Everything...
Was for the Creator.
In Amosi's eyes...
Jiang Hao, the one who had created them, was no different from a god.
Hearing Amosi's words...
The subordinate immediately put away his arrogant smile.
His gaze shifted toward the charging lizard soldiers.
His eyes gradually became filled with killing intent.
In the distance...
The thunder of artillery became even more intense.
Because Amosi's communication had been broadcast to every squad...
None of the Saiyans held back any longer.
ROAR—!
ROAR—!
One roar after another echoed across the battlefield.
Every Saiyan slave transformed into a Great Ape.
The defenders, who had barely been holding the line...
Immediately began to collapse.
The walls of the Peace Circle were smashed apart section by section.
Some Great Apes simply tore fixed artillery turrets from their foundations...
And hurled them back onto the city walls like giant grenades.
Explosion after explosion shook the battlefield.
The Saiyan slaves poured through the breaches in overwhelming numbers.
In the distance...
Rennes Garr slowly stood.
Looking at the massive gaps torn through the walls...
A trace of fear flashed across his reptilian eyes.
But only for an instant.
He quickly suppressed it.
If even he lost his composure...
The defenders' morale would completely collapse.
Besides...
He had not given up hope.
"How much longer until the mechs are ready?"
He roared at the commander standing behind him.
"If they're not deployed immediately..."
"I'll have every last one of you executed!"
"General Rennes!"
"Every mech except the ninth-generation units is already in position."
"There are still three hundred ninth-generation mechs awaiting deployment."
"Even with the lord's highest authorization..."
"The security protocols for releasing ninth-generation units from the First Ring still require multiple verification procedures."
Hearing the report...
Rennes Garr's expression eased slightly.
A few moments later...
Amosi, standing atop the distant mountain, suddenly opened his eyes.
The corners of his mouth slowly curled into a smile.
"The raid..."
"Has begun."