Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2081: Purple equipment

News of victory had reached Cloud Peak Mountain Villa, and the prior tension dissipated.

However, a somber mood permeated the entire mountain villa.

The campaign to eradicate the parasites had resulted in far too many casualties.

With the exception of Xia Lei, none of his combat team members survived. Many of them were veteran warriors of the mountain villa, with numerous family members also serving Cloud Peak. While not every household displayed white mourning cloths, sadness was evident everywhere.

Immediately following the battle, post-war operations commenced. Arrangements for fallen warriors, care for the injured, distribution of compensation funds, inventory and replacement of lost equipment, and even psychological support – a service uniquely available at Cloud Peak – all began in earnest.

At this juncture, Cloud Peak Mountain Villa's extensive experience in various matters came to the fore.

In the post-apocalyptic era, death was often final, with bodies sometimes denied even a peaceful burial. Some extreme combat teams even resorted to feeding their fallen warriors to mutated creatures, rationalizing it as a means of accelerating natural evolution, after which humans would hunt these evolved forms for superior magic crystals and materials.

Yet, at Cloud Peak, fallen warriors received treatment akin to peacetime customs: they were given graves and tombstones for their families and loved ones to visit.

The cemetery was strategically located near the mountain villa, within its core territory. The resting places of these sacrificed warriors would remain undisturbed unless the mountain villa's defenses were directly breached.

Compensation was another critical aspect. Cloud Peak's approach went beyond mere monetary payout. They devised meticulous plans tailored to the specific circumstances of each warrior's family. For instance, if only elderly parents remained, they were welcomed into the mountain villa, provided with evolution potions as appropriate for their capabilities, and housed in designated residential areas. Every member of Cloud Peak understood that these residents were the families of warriors who had given their lives for the mountain villa. They extended profound respect to these individuals, a respect that even Xia Lei received.

Families with surviving spouses and children received even more comprehensive support, with the freedom to choose future career paths and their children designated as high-priority cultivation targets.

This policy was a significant factor in the rarity of internal dissent since Cloud Peak's inception.

The valuing of each individual, a stark contrast to the callousness and brutality observed among other external combat teams in the post-apocalyptic world, fostered a deep willingness among warriors to fight to their last breath.

Other factions lacked the capacity or the inclination to emulate this approach. They couldn't replicate Cloud Peak's robust foundation, as achieving such care required substantial reserves of evolution potions, far beyond mere rhetoric.

Subsequently, the replenishment of each combat team's roster began. The selection process from the external warriors who had participated in the battle was also intricate. Fortunately, Cloud Peak possessed a well-established set of criteria, requiring only time for implementation.

Concurrently, Cloud Peak's commerce and logistics divisions were fully activated. Their task involved procuring and distributing various materials and supplies to compensate for the equipment losses incurred during the Mei City battle.

Initial projections indicated that addressing these matters and restoring Cloud Peak to its pre-Mei City battle state, excluding the cultivation of warbeasts, would necessitate at least six months.

This estimate was contingent on the assumption of substantial territorial gains following the occupation of a significant portion of the country.

“However, we still must confront another battle.”

The day after all Cloud Peak combat teams returned to the mountain villa, a gathering of all core members convened at Ye Zhongming's residence.

Guangyao, his brow deeply furrowed, indicated a point on the map.

“While we were engaged in Mei City, these sea creatures expanded their territory once more. Though nearby combat teams provided containment, its effect was limited. Without our main force present, we refrained from large-scale engagement, forcing us to retreat when they attacked. Nevertheless, our intelligence on them has significantly improved.”

Xia Lei observed from the side. The impending battle, collectively termed the ‘Coastal Campaign,’ would be under Guangyao’s command. The Cloud Peak Queen would remain at the mountain villa, focusing on Cloud Peak’s recovery and future development.

The eradication of these sea creatures was not a task to be completed swiftly, given their current extensive occupation of a vast coastline. Driving them entirely back into the ocean was a monumental undertaking.

Guangyao stated, "Our current front-line forces number approximately five hundred thousand. This includes one hundred thousand from the ten freshly established main combat teams, with the remaining 400,000 drawn from the forces of Bai Feng, Sha Sha, Zhao Xingmei, and others. While their sheer numbers are substantial, exceeding one hundred thousand each, their combat effectiveness is not uniform."

Upon hearing Guangyao's report, a suggestion emerged: with such a considerable personnel count, engaging in localized battles should be feasible.

Xia Lei responded to this suggestion, shaking her head. "The ten newly formed teams require more time to gel. Despite identical equipment and logistical support to the seasoned main combat teams, their coordination remains unrefined, and they lack crucial experience. Furthermore, their commanders are leading entire combat units into battle for the first time and need a period to adapt. At this stage, their continuous honing through small-scale engagements is the most effective approach. Once they mature slightly, we can gradually increase their numbers to bolster combat power. My priority is to prevent setbacks during their initial formation phase. Even minor losses could significantly damage their nascent confidence."

"Regarding Bai Feng and the other teams..." Xia Lei paused before continuing, "We have provided them with considerable support over the years, and they, in turn, have reciprocated generously. It is already a remarkable feat that they are containing these sea creatures effectively without our main forces present. Frankly, I feel hesitant to task them with initiating small-scale campaigns. It might also inadvertently sow discord and unnecessary thoughts within their respective teams."

"At this critical juncture, where we have just secured dominion over most of the nation's territory and require time for consolidation, a cautious approach is imperative."

A wave of understanding passed through the assembly; it was evident that Cloud Peak, having recently endured substantial losses in Mei City, needed a period of stabilization.

"However, we cannot afford to let our guard down in that sector either. Prior to the deployment of our main forces for decisive conflict, we must prevent these sea creatures from wreaking further havoc. Therefore..."

Guangyao stepped forward, indicating a specific area on the strategic map with a slender metal rod.

"The main combat teams that sustained comparatively minor losses in recent engagements will undertake replenishment and rest within the next three days. These include the Five Ring Money team, the Cannibal Chain team, Chuyin's team, Sister Rong's team, Mo Ye's team, and my own unit. Following this recuperation, they will proceed to the front lines, thereby maintaining a troop presence of approximately 1.2 million on the frontline."