Chapter 603.2: The Old Settlement

Chapter 603.2: The Old Settlement

Construction Boy dropped prone, braced his machine gun, and fired burst shots at the green mass.

Gunfire thundered through the skies.

Bullets tore bloody sprays behind them, but didn’t slow the creatures down in the slightest.

Panicking, another player yelled back at the Chimeras. “Don’t just watch, open fire!”

Escaping Mole had almost said visibility was too bad, then inspiration struck. “Trace the tracers! Fire with them!”

It worked.

Though the players in the Chimeras couldn’t see much but their allies’ backs, the tracers from rifles and SMGs marked the monsters’ positions.

The three Chimeras opened fire at once. Under the pounding bursts, the nearest monster was riddled like a sieve and slammed to the ground.

Shockingly, what should have been its last moment didn’t stop it.

Even with both legs broken, even with holes blasted through its body, that twisted life still crawled forward, bellowing hoarse roars from its gaping maw.

The other two had already closed to within 30 meters. Construction Boy nearly panicked, but he was yanked back by Eye Owe Money as he hauled up his machine gun and retreated.

Finally getting a good look at the creatures’ savagery, Escaping Mole was stunned. “Damn! How does it not die?!”

These were 37mm incendiary penetration rounds! At that range, even a concrete wall would’ve been smashed!

“Missiles, now!”

There was no time to hesitate. Escaping Mole ducked into his hatch, slamming it shut.

Almost simultaneously, a Dove missile launched from the tube overhead, trailing white smoke as it streaked into the nearest monster’s chest.

Before it could even scream, the blast engulfed it in fire.

The problem hadn’t been penetration. It was simply a problem of the amount of explosives they used.

One hit blew away half its body. The rest collapsed in a smoking heap and it didn’t rise again.

Other players caught on fast. RPG tubes came off racks as they slotted in warheads. Soon, they pulled the triggers.

White streaks zipped down the street, and soon the other two monsters were blooming with explosions.

RPGs weren’t as strong as Dove missiles, but with the right numbers, they did the job.

Already mauled by machinegun fire, the two other creatures couldn’t even howl before collapsing under the barrage.

Eye Owe Money lowered his launcher, sweat on his palms.

“Shit... what the hell are these things?”

Wasn’t this area just bombed flat?

How were monsters this big still alive?

Construction Boy, bold as ever, poked a carcass with his smoking barrel. “Goliath...”

Eye Owe Money blinked. “Goliath?”

“Didn’t Ample Time post about it? That boss they ran into at Pinecone Ranch.” He gulped. “Damn, three of them are here?”

Everyone exchanged uneasy looks.

Just then, a missile whooshed overhead and slammed into a nearby tower.

They instinctively ducked, but nothing happened. No explosion was heard.

Only players with headsets winced at a shrill burst of static.

Clutching his ears, Eye Owe Money straightened and stared where it vanished. “What the hell was that?”

Construction Boy looked baffled. “Our missile?”

“Doesn’t look like it... never seen that type.”

A player at the roadside suddenly shouted.

“Wait, shit! My communication channel just came back!”

“???”

Escaping Mole snapped his gaze to the VM on his arm, tapped the map, then froze in surprise.

Green dots lit back up as team signals were restored. Their communications icons glowed green again.

At that moment, a request flashed from Ample Time. “... Escaping Mole! Can you see me? I’m just ahead, left turn. Get over here, I need backup!”

His voice was broken by gunfire, explosions, and his ragged breathing.

There was no time to wonder about that missile.

Escaping Mole’s face hardened. “I’m coming!”

He switched to his squad channel. “Everyone advance! Our allies are right ahead!”

Responses came back loud and eager.

“Waaagh!”

...

With infantry cover, the three Chimeras rolled fast toward the street where the Burning Corps had deployed.

Meanwhile, atop an office block nearby, three figures stood in the cutting wind.

Jiang Xuezhou, with her gas mask on, smirked at the stunned Night Ten beside her, patting the hulking machine next to her.

“Well? Told you I’m strong.”

On her right stood a square-bodied quadruped robot, spitting image of the Wangy she had once brought into Shelter 0, only bigger and bristling with weapons.

It even had a missile rack bolted on its back.

By her words, the new Wangy was invincible. Be it Slime Mold, EMP, or whatever. They barely tickled it.

Its firepower alone rivaled a reinforced platoon.

But Night Ten wasn’t staring at its guns.

He gaped at the building silhouette in the fog. He hadn’t even seen what button she had pressed before a missile streaked out.

Gulping once, he asked, “Was that...?”

“EMP warhead!” Flicking her ponytail off her shoulder, Jiang Xuezhou explained with a smug smile. “The trick isn’t the missile, it’s locking onto the real jammer hidden among decoys, then firing before it reacts. One shot and it’s done. Hey, are you even listening?”

Night Ten snapped from his daze, grinning sheepishly. “Yeah, yeah! The jammer’s down, right? That’s great!”

Scratching his head awkwardly, he added, “Uh, so, about that EMP missile... Where did you buy it?”

There was no need to hide his intention. He wanted it.

She rolled her eyes. “Not for sale.”

“...”

Damn it!

...

With the Chimeras and infantry joining them, Ample Time finally dropped the writhing meat-hulk.

The stench of rot filled the street.

However, because of the battle, the sniper Executioner slipped away.

Ample Time’s face burned with shame. Escaping Mole didn’t spare him and mocked him outright for losing prey right under his nose.

When it was done, a Viper transport plane landed, unloading supplies and hauling off samples from the monster.

The Biological Research Institution would figure out what those abominations were.

Though the side quest had snags, reports of victory kept streaming back to the Heart of Steel.

New Alliance main forces had massed near the Old Settlement, barely a kilometer from Champion Biopharmaceutical Research Institute and the Qi Tribe.

The green-skins finally realized their weapons weren’t in the same league, abandoning the surface base completely.

Some holed up in the subway while others fled to the Champion Tower.

After a century of swagger, they were tasting despair.

...

At the same time, on the bridge of the Heart of Steel, an officer stepped up to Chu Guang with his fist to his chest. “The Mutant Humans have taken shelter in the subway. Our ground troops secured their surface base and rescued many survivors.”

Chu Guang turned from the window. “How many were saved?”

The officer’s voice was heavy. “We haven’t tallied it. But reports from the frontlines say at least 10,000...”

Chu Guang froze, then frowned deeply.

10,000...

How can there be so many?