Chapter 601.1: Roar Of The Chimera

Chapter 601.1: Roar Of The Chimera

The war had entered its fourth day.

The brutal street fighting had turned the street before the abandoned department store into a merciless meat grinder, every inch of pavement covered in sticky blood and shattered corpses.

The once-straight frontline had become jagged after days of back-and-forth, and the ground, tilled by shells and bombs, bore horrific scars.

Ironically, the three-year war that buried the Federation had never touched the land, yet two centuries after its end, it was baptized in fire and steel.

Hmph’s heart was full of confusion. He remembered the boss saying the New Alliance’s attack was at its limit, their soldiers already frightened by Delu’s roar and they would soon tuck their tails and flee.

The recaptured ground was proof of that.

But, was it really the case?

Boom!

The concentrated shelling came on schedule, like a press of black clouds rolling across the street, one rumble after another growing closer.

Dozens of green heads crouched in concrete buildings on both sides, rising and falling with the dust raining down on them.

Hmph wasn’t afraid of New Alliance’s shelling.

It was noisy, sure, but as long as there was a concrete wall, it was hard to get hurt. A few scratches weren’t worth worrying about.

Victory could only be decided in close combat.

Fighting in close combat... There was nothing to fear.

The barrage started on time and ended on time.

Nearby, a captain shook cement off his shoulders, stood, raised his weapon, and bellowed, “Shred them to pieces!”

His chest trembled like a roaring beast.

“Oh oh oh!”

Inspired by his courage and savagery, the Mutant Humans rose, grabbed weapons, and spread into cover, ready to clash with the New Alliance.

Hmph followed close behind.

Almost the moment he stepped out of the concrete ruin, deafening battle cries and gunfire surged at them.

The street he covered led to the abandoned department store. A collapsed overpass nearby sprawled across the intersection.

Scrap cars made natural cover, sandbags and machine guns turning them into bunkers.

The Torch Church sent endless ammunition, so they never worried about supply. All they had to do was cram death down human throats.

Tracer fire streaked down the street like snow in a storm.

Through the fog, Hmph sensed something wrong. The ferocity of the firepower was like the first day’s assault all over again.

Wasn’t the New Alliance on its last legs?

Why... Why were they alive again?

He couldn’t shake the feeling he was facing the same opponents as on day one.

But this time, they were more skilled, no longer charging blindly into their bullets.

Back then, a single burst would drop them.

Now, they even played shallow tricks that gave the Mutant Humans huge trouble.

Ratatatata!

The machine gun spewed bullets, but in the dense fog, hitting anyone was up to luck.

Hmph, too slow to grab a good gun, sprayed the rifle he picked up randomly blindly.

Unfortunately, he was a little too slow and he had to pay the price.

Before his barrel smoked twice, an explosion flared beside him, shrapnel and blood spattering his face.

He turned and saw the machine-gunner beside him reduced to a mere half a twitching body.

So many corpses made him numb. A shirtless brute quickly snatched the gun and kept firing.

Hmph felt no grief for a dead brother, only confusion.

Was retaking the street really proof the New Alliance was collapsing?

That thought lasted half a minute, then a roar ripped through the fog.

A steel-plated giant stomped in, crashing through cover.

Its body was a moving wall, its armor thick as a tank’s.

Mutant Humans roared with frenzy at the sight and so did Hmph.

A Biggy!

They were the tribe’s strongest warriors.

They couldn’t be made normally, barely spoke human words, but every Biggy bore a name. They were born warriors!

“ARGHHH!”

It bellowed through its helmet, slamming its shoulder into a soldier in an exoskeleton.

The human swung an axe, but it was basically a toothpick when swung against the massive figure.

Hmph saw the axe leave only a scratch before the man was smashed into a wall.

A rebar spike pierced through his back, nailing him still.

“AWOOHH!”

The giant grabbed a steel rod, bashing another soldier.

The humans faltered as they were caught off guard.

From cover, Hmph and the others howled with excitement.

Fueled by their cheers, the Biggy fought harder, swinging the steel bar it was wielding happily in the battlefield.

The next second, two more exoskeleton-clad warriors were sent flying. They didn’t respond after crashing into the ground.

New Alliance rifles lit it up, but their bullets barely scraped its armor, sparking fury as it swung harder.

The battlefield grew even more chaotic than before.

The human leader shouted something, but Hmph assumed it was panic.

Shame... What the Mutant Humans didn’t know was that those human warriors might be startled by the sudden elite monster that appeared, they weren’t panicking in the slightest.

Players like Midnight Pubg had seen them before. Veterans also knew that those creatures were dangerous but far from unstoppable.

“Damn, my Howler can’t pierce its armor?!”

“Bro, you’re too close! Back up!”

“Too late! Switch rifles!”

“Shit, their armor’s too thick!”

“Then hit it with a fucking rocket!”

The words barely fell when roaring came from the crossroad nearby.

Turning to look at the source of the commotion while pulling out a rocket, Midnight Pubg felt a surge of joy.

Chimeras!

The Skeleton Corps are here!

The thunderous roar of their vehicles was basically a war drum as they smashed their way into battle.

Without pause, the ridged prow slammed into the Biggy’s crotch.

With a loud howl, he staggered twice while being stuck to the vehicle.

The Chimera braked hard and the giant was unable to recover.

The 37mm cannon on the vehicle leveled at its chest.

Then... The black barrel spat a long tongue of flame.

Boom, boom, boom!

Each shell hammered its armor, knocking it back into a random shopfront under the concrete.

Sparks and shrapnel flew as the screams cut off.

Hmph’s eyes bulged, terror flooding him.

His eyes stared at where the Biggy fell, and the bloodlust in his eyes disappeared. All that was left was endless fear.

In just a split second, a named warrior, born for bringing death and enjoying endless glory, was turned into minced meat from fire from a steel box.

He also saw the smoking cannon turning to them.

“AHHHH!” He screamed in fear, emptying his rifle, as did the others.

Shame, their bullets were basically toys smacking into the armor of the Chimera.

Almost instantly, the 37mm shells rained lightning on the battlefield. They streaked at the Mutant Humans and the battlefield that had already been ravaged was desecrated even further.

Sandbags exploded and dust filled the air. Those sandbanks that blocked the New Alliance’s bullets earlier were basically a sandcastle in the face of their 37mm cannons.

The only blessing the Mutant Humans had was that there was no pain.

Hmph saw a flash, then nothing. Everything plunged into darkness.

Boom, boom, boom...

The cannon kept roaring till the street’s defenses were rubble.

Then the Chimera switched to high explosive rounds, blasting the buildings too.

Elsewhere guns still fired, but where the Skeleton Corps had arrived, the battle was over.

Players from the Jungle Corps rushed forward with Howlers, shooting retreating Mutant Humans, reclaiming the ground they lost the day before.

“Well done!” Piltover Paratrooper whistled, giving everyone around a thumbs up.

Even though he wasn’t the one who cleared the enemies, he was truly impressed by the Skeleton Corps’ firepower.

Elf Wang hopped down the armored vehicle with a wide grin on his face. He stared at the members of the Jungle Corps with their exoskeletons dull with dust and grime with a grin on his face. “How about it? Is our new gear badass or what?”

Little Bookworm pumped his fists into the air. “Hell yeah!”

Prone Model raised his eyebrow and snickered, “Looks like you guys are rolling in cash, eh?”

Elf Wang laughed sheepishly. “Well... Mostly it’s because our commander’s game sales are doing great.”

As eager eyes turned his way, Midnight Pubg averted his gaze, whistling innocently.

Making money is impossible! You fellows better be glad you can freeload off NPC’s gear!

Irene said with a goofy grin, “I say we leave that guy in Ideal City to make us money. Leave the war to us!”