Chapter 276 - 270: The Calculus of War
Chapter 276: Chapter 270: The Calculus of War
Allen finished his Meditation.
In his Sea of Spirit, the twenty-second Rune of the fifth Core Matrix had just stabilized.
His main consciousness returned to his body, but he had no intention of resting.
On the sand table before him, the red dots of light representing the first wave of the beast tide had been completely wiped out. But a dark red flood remained, endless and unrelenting, coming in wave after wave like the ocean.
"The combat data compiled so far has been processed," Jarvis’s voice rang out in his mind.
"Is it ready?" Allen walked over to the sand table. "Then let’s calculate our deadline."
"Using the full combat strength of the current five legions as a baseline, factoring in the formation speed of the Sixth Legion, the three percent daily replenishment rate for ammunition production, and the consumption rate of mining resource reserves."
Allen communicated with Jarvis in his mind with lightning speed. "Build a dynamic macro model. Calculate the ’maximum stress capacity’ of the entire Zone 18."
’In the end, wars are always won or lost on logistics.’
As a workshop will that had incorporated a sliver of Allen’s emotions and could continuously learn and grow, computation and big data analysis were Jarvis’s greatest strengths.
"Model construction in progress."
Complex wireframes and data streams intertwined in mid-air, forming a projection.
"Input variables: Magical Beast wave density, frequency of high-tier target appearances, Golem attrition rate, repair cycle," Allen continued adding data. "Also import the detailed ammunition consumption for each legion during the first beast tide, the exact locations of Golem damage, and the real-time changes in mine output and inventory."
A massive torrent of data cascaded down like a waterfall.
The numbers were incredibly detailed. Collecting all sorts of information and data was a long-term project for Allen.
「Thirty seconds later.」
"Model computation complete," Jarvis reported. "First set of output results generated."
A glaring red line appeared above the sand table.
"Based on current defensive tactics and combined military strength, Zone 18 can withstand an impact three times the peak scale of the first Magical Beast tide," Jarvis concluded. "This is the theoretical upper limit. Once the total number of Magical Beasts exceeds this threshold, gaps will appear in the defensive line, and the entire defense system will gradually collapse."
Allen stared at the red line.
’Three times the peak.’ It sounded like a high margin for error, but in this Plane War, codenamed "Black Tide," he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Black Wizards would concentrate their high-tier Magical Beasts for an attack.
"Second set of output results generated."
The data stream morphed, transforming into an hourglass with sand steadily running out.
"Based on predictive data from the Demon Eye network reconnaissance, the total volume of subsequent waves will fluctuate between 0.3 and 1.5 times that of the first wave."
"Within this pressure range, the Golem Legion can maintain its scale and combat effectiveness without degradation for a duration of three months."
"After three months, the speed of replenishing and repairing damaged units will no longer be able to keep up with attrition," Jarvis added. "At that point, a negative feedback loop will form. The legion’s size will shrink month by month until it is completely wiped out."
Allen’s eyes turned cold.
"Third set of output results."
The sand in the hourglass suddenly began to flow much faster.
"Under maximum stress conditions—that is, facing an impact of three times the scale," Jarvis’s voice was completely flat, "ammunition reserves and the logistics repair system will be depleted or paralyzed in less than two months."
Two months.
That was the survival window in the worst-case scenario.
Allen stared at the two deadlines—"two months" and "less than three months"—and didn’t move for a long time.
’What are the advantages of a Golem Legion?’
’They have no emotions, feel no fear, and will never rout. They can fight until the very last unit.’
’They have a modular design. As long as the Control Core isn’t destroyed, the wreckage can be dragged back to the workshop, quickly repaired, and sent back to the battlefield.’
’This is the core military competency of a Golem Wizard from the Alchemy School: a one-man army.’
’They don’t rely on heroes or morale.’
’In the long history of planar expansion, Golem Wizards have always been the absolute main force. No other school or branch can compare to them in positional warfare and wars of attrition.’
’But all of this is extremely dependent on resources.’
’Mines provide raw materials, workshops convert those materials into Golems and ammunition, and the Golems protect the mines and workshops.’
’It’s a closed loop.’
’If any node in this closed loop is broken, the entire system will collapse like a house of cards. Lose the mines, and you lose your raw materials. Lose the workshops, and you lose your manufacturing capability. Lose your manufacturing capability, and the Golem Legion becomes a disposable commodity, each loss permanent.’
’And for a Golem Wizard, losing their workshops and mines isn’t as simple as "suffering heavy losses." It could even mean the end of their path as a Wizard.’
’No mentor, no family, and no faction would give a second chance to a First-level Wizard who has lost their entire industrial base.’
"Pull up the location distribution map of the eight strategic resource mines," Allen ordered.
The sand table display switched.
Blue icons for the eight mines lit up.
"Overlay the infiltration routes of the scattered beast tide groups."
Hundreds of thin red lines spread across the sand table like a spiderweb, crisscrossing the blue icons.
Allen’s gaze was sharp as a torch.
Above each mine, its current defensive forces and various contingency plans were marked.
He examined them one by one, engraving all the variables and risks into his mind.
’To the north, Zone 17 is marked as a glaring red high-risk area.’
’That newcomer, Glinn Sod, will most likely not survive the first two high-pressure waves. Once Zone 17 collapses, the northern flank will be completely exposed. I need to strengthen the defenses there.’
’To the southeast, Zone 19 is flashing with a red marker. That escaped Rock Armor Earth Dragon must be knocking on its door by now. Victor should be able to handle it.’
’The volcanic magic power furnace to the south has three standard defensive units and five Flame Fiends stationed there. It’s very secure.’
’Further to the west, the battle between the Morning Star-level Rock Armor Earth Dragon Emperor and the Steel Giant is still ongoing. I need to keep an eye on that; the outcome will determine the direction of the western front.’
After a brief silence, Allen made his decision.
"Jarvis."
"Here, Commander."
"Make no major adjustments to the current defensive deployments. Proceed according to the original plan," Allen’s voice was tinged with an unquestionable coldness. "However, add a new highest-priority directive to all tactical protocols."
"Awaiting your command."
"Resource preservation takes priority over enemy annihilation."
Allen established the new directive, enunciating each word with deliberate weight.
"For any tactical decision, if ammunition consumption in a single engagement exceeds one hundred and twenty percent of the projected value, automatically trigger the retreat procedure."
"If any legion’s Golem attrition rate exceeds one hundred and fifty percent of its daily repair capacity, it is to abandon its current position and immediately contract the defensive line."
"Directives logged into base logic," Jarvis responded.
With the arrangements complete, Allen did something rare: he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
The continuous, high-intensity work had left him deeply fatigued, something even a Wizard’s constitution could feel.
Only the low hum of operating instruments remained in the main control room.
He was resting, but his mind was still running.
In his Sea of Spirit, the twenty-two Runes of the fifth Core Matrix floated quietly, emitting a faint glow.
’Fourteen more to go.’
’As soon as I gather all thirty-six Runes, construct the complete matrix, and inscribe the [Golem Projection Formula], I can cross that great chasm and advance to a Second-level Wizard.’
’Once I advance to the second level, my Spiritual Power will undergo a qualitative change.’
’Not only will I be able to break through the current bottleneck in high-precision observation and analysis, but more importantly, the cross-spatial projection of Golems will revolutionize my entire tactical system.’
’My mobility, support speed, and range of fire coverage will all increase dramatically.’
’If I can advance to the second level within this three-month window...’
’All of my current problems will be solved.’
Allen let out a silent sigh in the darkness.
But at his current Meditation speed, even with the boost from the Deep Sea Echo Conch, he would still need at least ten more months to finish inscribing the remaining Runes.
And his maximum stress period was, at best, only two months.