Chapter 657 - 409: Fleet Annihilation

The Inland Sea, a very special maritime region, runs from north to south through the World Government Territory, dividing it into eastern and western parts.

Cities like New Moon City and Iron Sun City are located in the eastern region of the Inland Sea.

The World Government Army was initially strategic and proactive, launching multi-line attacks across the Inland Sea, aiming to use its massive war potential to push the Rebel Army back to the Land of No Master.

But after the Rebel Army captured Iron Sun City, the entire situation completely changed.

Now, the northern line has Fenrir personally leading the main forces, with the Wolf King overseeing, making it impregnable.

The southern line has the troops from Hibell and the forces led by Su Mo from New Moon City forming an alliance, with many experts at their disposal.

The battlefields on both lines have been completely penetrated by the Rebel Army, with the two main forces responding to each other from north to south, solidly unbreakable.

Hence, the fall of the eastern region of the Inland Sea has become an established fact.

The World Government Army has also begun to shift from a strategy of offense to defense, following orders from the highest command of the Capital City, withdrawing troops from the eastern front, establishing the "Inland Sea" as the boundary, and, in coordination with the "Inland Sea Fleet," firmly holding the western line along the coastline.

This once peaceful and beautiful maritime region has now been embroiled in turmoil, stretched between two warring forces, becoming their arena of struggle.

Due to its geographic location, the Inland Sea holds unique strategic significance; its western side is rich in resources and flourishing cities, where the "Capital City" is situated.

If the insurgents cross the Inland Sea in massive attacks, it would be a tremendous disaster for the World Government. Therefore, the Capital has ordered the entire army to defend the Inland Sea at all costs and has heavily fortified the area.

The vast and deep blue sea surface shimmers like a gemstone, with the once-clear waters now shadowed by warships. Even the sea breeze carries a strong scent of engine oil.

The warships of the Inland Sea Fleet are arranged in combat formations, appearing from above like iron walls, their hulls gleaming with a metallic cold shine under the sunlight.

Sailors are at their posts on deck, their eyes fixed on the horizon, with the sea wind rustling their uniforms, as if playing the prelude to an impending battle.

The Inland Sea Fleet boasts 304 main battleships, 104 submarines, over 4000 navy aircraft, and more than 500,000 sailors and officers.

These ships are equipped with the latest radar and fire control systems, monitoring every inch of the Inland Sea, searching for enemy movements round the clock.

The missile launchers and torpedo tubes on the destroyers are on high alert, ready to unleash swift and lethal attacks at any moment an enemy target appears.

The deck of the carrier hosts neatly arranged various fighter jets and drones, many of which have already taken off, hovering over the Inland Sea, transmitting real-time battlefield information through reconnaissance modules.

The submarine squadron patrols beneath the deep sea, the detection monitors flashing with many light points, each representing a marked ship, ready to capture and analyze any surface motion instantly.

Coastal defense installations are equally stringent, with missile sites standing like giants, radar antennas spinning incessantly, scanning for potential airborne threats.

It’s no exaggeration to say that such a level of defense has never existed since the creation of the Inland Sea Fleet. Any of its warships could normally be sent out to execute missions alone, but now they are gathered together, forming a formidable maritime iron wall.

On a destroyer of the Inland Sea Fleet, a sailor complains to his companion: "Do you think the higher-ups are overreacting, ordering us to completely blockade the Inland Sea? Is it necessary? The insurgents don’t even have their own fleet. Are they going to paddle over in rafts?"

The companion sighs, saying: "Don’t talk like that. Iron Sun has already fallen. The insurgents might not be able to build big ships right away, but making small boats is just like making dumplings."

"The Inland Sea is the gateway to the Capital City; nothing can go wrong. A bit of an exaggerated posture is no big deal."

The sailor looks at the azure sea and murmurs, "Once this war is over, I’m going home to get married..."

"Get out, enough with the jinxing." The sailor gave him a push, directly interrupting him.

"Eee—wuuu—" Just as the two were chatting, the sharp blare of the ship’s broadcast suddenly sounded.

The two of them were stunned upon hearing it.

First level combat readiness alarm?!

The deck suddenly became busy; all sailors, whether on duty or on rest, immediately returned to their battle stations, one after another, the ship’s guns rumbled to life.

First level combat readiness, this is an alarm that is only issued when the enemy has obvious military actions at sea.

Are the insurgents going to launch a naval battle?

On the flagship of the Inland Sea Fleet, "The Vast," the captain was issuing commands: "Everyone, attention, there’s an enemy situation."

"Destroyer group three, destroyer group seven, immediately move to the forward sea area, block the designated zone."

"Tianlong missile destroyer, open the weapon bay, ready for initial strike at any time."

"Reconnaissance submarine, report the situation."

Beneath the sea, the reconnaissance submarine was engaged in detection operations, the officers and soldiers in the command room facing various data on the system interface, recording and analyzing it.

Suddenly, an eerie silence engulfed everyone.

"Beep beep beep beep beep..." Only the dense sound of the detectors echoed like raindrops.

The submarine captain asked urgently, "What’s going on?"

"Captain... you should see this." Inside the submarine, it was stiflingly hot, and the sonar operator’s face was covered in sweat, his trembling hands emphasizing his panic.

The captain frowned and walked over, and at the moment he saw the instrument screen, it felt as if a bomb had exploded in his brain.