Chapter 19: Post-War Aftermath and Reckoning: A Truth Forged in Blood and Tears

Lunar dust, stirred by the lingering tremors of the divine entity's energy, slowly settled. The silence that descended upon the war-ravaged battlefield was more unsettling than any clamor, as if the entire universe held its breath for the aftermath of this catastrophe.

Inside the Global Operations Command Center, the atmosphere was so heavy that even the sound of breathing was distinctly audible, and heartbeats seemed to thrum right beside one's ears. On the colossal holographic projection, the once dense cluster of blue dots representing Allied mechs now remained as sparse, flickering specks, like candles in a gale. The red area denoting "Primordial Chaos'" core, though re-suppressed, bore twisted spatial anomalies around it, and the vast, chilling blankness left by countless mechs "conceptually erased" silently narrated the extent of this crushing defeat. The air hung thick with the acrid scent of burnt metal and the faint, coppery tang of blood, reminding everyone of what had just transpired.

"Casualty report." A trembling voice from an official of the "Global Special Period Military Intelligence Department" reported, each word seemingly tearing at his own internal defenses. "Total Allied mech participation: 6800 units. Post-battle statistics... fewer than 200 units remain. Among them, the US 'Thor' Squadron, totaling 550 units... completely annihilated, with no survivors. The European Allied Forces... a casualty rate exceeding 92%. India and other emerging nations... casualty rates all above 95%. China's 'Mortal Mech' forces... 1550 units participated, with a pilot casualty rate as high as 99.4%, only 9 units remaining intact, the rest either scrapped or destroyed."

When the staggering figure of "China's mech forces, 99.4% casualty rate" was uttered, an expression of disbelief, even contorted shock, spread across the faces of all the heads of state and representatives present in the conference room. They had once assumed China's "conservatism" indicated a lack of strength. Instead, they now realized that the nation which had spearheaded the core of the battle had suffered the highest overall attrition rate, bearing the most tragic sacrifice. The disdain and condescension on their faces instantly morphed into a complex mix of awe, guilt, and fear.

"This is the most devastating defeat in human military history since World War Two..." The statistician's voice choked with tears. He painfully closed his eyes, as if unable to bear looking at the blood-soaked report any longer. A brief, suffocating silence descended upon the conference room, leaving only the heavy breathing and pounding heartbeats of those present, as if the very space had been frozen by an unseen force.

But this was only the beginning.

The voice of the "Pangu Core" resounded through the conference room. Devoid of human emotion, it presented the truth of blood and tears with the coldest, most precise data, akin to a final judgment on humanity's fate:

"Based on the final analysis of 'Primordial Chaos'' energy fluctuations during this battle, combined with five years of past data, the following conclusions are confirmed:"

"One, the power amplification of 'Primordial Chaos' after each awakening shows geometric progression. The intensity of its power after this awakening is 2.8 to 4.0 times that of five years ago. Furthermore, its attack pattern, 'conceptual erasure,' has evolved from an 'unstable phenomenon' first recorded in 2045 to an 'active offensive means,' possessing greater targeting precision and higher efficiency."

"Two, the effective suppression cycle of the mortal seal is only five years. Regardless of how much energy is injected, this cycle cannot be extended. The energy consumption and structural damage to the sealing apparatus for each suppression are rapidly increasing. The resources and sacrifices required for the next sealing will be several times that of the current one."

"Three, 'Primordial Chaos,' while suppressed, has not fallen into true 'deep slumber.' It is merely physically and energetically confined. Its high-dimensional existence and energy absorption capabilities continue to operate. It is 'learning,' 'adapting,' and 'devising countermeasures' against mortal sealing methods while 'slowly and continuously accumulating power.' Each suppression may cause it to become more targeted and more difficult to deal with upon its next awakening."

"Four, should humanity achieve no 'new breakthrough advancements' or 'external intervention,' with humanity's current technology and power, it will be unable to prevail in the long-term cycle of 'five-year bloodbaths.' Based on the data derived and various feedback statistics, humanity's ultimate outcome is: Human civilization can endure at most two more 'bloodbaths' brought on by 'Primordial Chaos'' awakenings, before completely collapsing, and Earth will be entirely devoured by 'Primordial Chaos.'"

The "Pangu Core's" cold conclusions, like a dull blade, incrementally lacerated everyone's mental defenses, slicing away their last vestiges of illusion. Its words echoed in the vast conference room, each syllable a hammer blow striking at the deepest core of their fears, sending icy shivers down their spines. For the representatives from various nations, even though their own AIs were far inferior to the "Pangu Core," the accumulated scientific research and breakthroughs from the past five years, since China had publicly shared its research findings in 2045, meant that they, too, had received statistics and conclusions from their own AIs that were almost identical to those of the "Pangu Core." They could no longer deceive themselves; the truth, like a cold hand, clutched at the throat of all their potential excuses.

At this moment, inside the conference room, there was no longer any accusation, no longer any prevarication, only a deathly silence and an emotion called "despair," which washed over everyone present like a tide. General Stone, the American National Security Advisor who had once been so arrogant, now stared blankly, like a soulless shell. He clenched his fists, nails digging deep into his palms, his face etched with profound regret, the chilling prophecy of "two more bloodbaths, then complete collapse" echoing relentlessly in his mind. The European representatives, who had previously plotted to preserve their strength, were now ashen-faced, cold sweat trickling down their brows and dampening their collars. Their greedy eyes now held only a shattered bewilderment and fear, shattered by reality.

Ishida Saburo, the head of Japanese intelligence, had large beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. His usually calculating gaze was now filled with terror; the pen in his hand clattered onto the table, unnoticed by anyone. He recalled his own arrogant demeanor when accusing China earlier, now feeling only immense shame and ridicule. The South Korean Senior Supervisor's lips trembled. He wanted to speak, but only rough, choked gasps escaped his throat. The representatives from the Philippines and India were pale as corpses, their eyes filled with the ash of despair. They exchanged glances, reading the same fear, powerlessness, and a deep self-loathing in each other's eyes. Low, suppressed sobs could even be heard in the conference room, along with the grating sound of fingernails scraping tables.

They finally understood that General Li Mingguo's warning, "Mortals are not far from death," was not alarmist talk, but the bloody truth! Their past shortsightedness and selfishness now became heavy shackles, tightly constricting the throat of all human civilization.

General Li Mingguo looked at these once high-and-mighty individuals, now frozen like statues. His inner sorrow, anger, and exhaustion intertwined, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, his chest rising and falling heavily. He knew this was no time for continued silence. He had to tear away this last veil of pretense and pull humanity back from the brink of self-destruction, even if it meant facing greater conflict and sacrifice. He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his eyes glinting with an unyielding resolve.