Chapter 598.1: Fight

What Gaen hadn’t expected was that the New Alliance’s high-intensity offensive lasted for three whole days.

During those three days, rifle-bearing light infantry poured in from several entrances on the northern edge of Brocade Lake Municipality, clashing fiercely with his tribesmen in streets, alleys, and abandoned stairwells.

Both sides suffered heavy losses.

According to reports from his warriors, over a thousand clansmen had already died in street fighting against human soldiers, including quite a few hulking mechanically modified beasts.

Of course, the New Alliance’s casualties were no less.

Corpses piled like hills at the alleys, blood staining whole highways red.

Yet the humans charged on fearlessly, firing while howling words the Mutant Humans couldn’t understand.

To be honest, Gaen was baffled.

If it were survivors from the province, it might make sense. They were sheep suddenly driven mad by hatred, not hesitating to throw away their lives for vengeance. That wasn’t impossible.

But those northerners... He didn’t remember ever provoking them.

Well, except Dust Town...

But that settlement wasn’t New Alliance territory, was it?

As Gaen brooded, the tent flap lifted. A broad-shouldered Mutant Human strode in with his fists clasped together. “My lord.”

The Mutant Human was Delu, a warrior Gaen himself had named, and also another commander of his army.

When the New Alliance attacked, his troops had been the first to clash with them, since the battle zone overlapped his territory. With his experience, Gaen ordered him to command the front line.

For Mutant Humans, who commanded hardly mattered.

Most of the time, those green-skins didn’t even understand the concept of taking orders. Hand them weapons and point out the enemy. That was enough.

So while the appointment was hasty, it hardly affected the Qi Tribe.

Gaen eyed Delu sternly, speaking slowly. “What is it?”

Facing his chief, Delu reported in a booming voice, “The New Alliance’s assault has slackened. Both firepower and manpower are far less than the first day. Since morning we’ve repelled three waves and our line hasn’t budged. I can feel it, they’re near their limit.”

Gaen’s heart leapt, though he kept his face cold, lips curling with scorn. “Those weaklings, faltering in just three days?”

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He had given them too much credit.

Delu nodded and pressed on. “Chief, I believe now is our chance to counterattack. If we retake the ground they seized, those feeble two-legs will surely lose the will to fight!”

Gaen pondered briefly. It made sense.

The New Alliance had bled enough, their fading momentum was proof.

If they pushed harder and tore open their tottering lines, they would break like a flood.

Resolved, Gaen declared, “I’ll give you 30 armed vehicles, 1,000 brothers, and 20 tons of ammunition. By sunset, you will retake the ground we lost yesterday!”

Delu’s face lit up, beetle-brows easing as he bowed deeply. “As you command! Delu will not fail your expectations!”

“Repay me with their heads.” Gaen’s grin turned cruel. “Go. I want to see their skulls piled into a mountain.”

Delu bowed low. “Yes, my lord!”

...

Meanwhile, in the north of town.

By a half-collapsed overpass, the Silver Corps pushed deep into mutant lines, locked in fierce firefights.

Compared to the elite corps that usually steamrolled their enemies, the long-time benchwarmers of the Silver Corps looked pitiful.

Not that Silver Sword, Silver Hand, or Silver's Father were useless, their corps was mostly flooded with newbies.

Anyone strong enough for the Death Corps, and lucky enough to find a slot, never chose small time troops to join.

Those monster corps had veterans to carry them. There were better perks and fewer cliques.

Also, who wanted to join a group led by someone called Silver's Father? Who needed an extra dad for no reason?

Silver Sword still gnashed his teeth at that.

That bastard had promised to be their shield, then renamed himself to be their father.

What kind of betrayal was that?

Of course, Silver Sword himself wasn’t clean either. He’d sworn to play the agility type, then saw the forum hype strength types and instantly switched.

Only Silver Hand kept his word.

Now, under fire, Silver's Father roared, “Sword, that machine gun’s too fierce! Do something!”

“Why don’t you do something?!”

“I’m pinned down!”

“Damn you!”

From a ruined window, a light machine gun raked their lines, pinning newbies behind a toppled billboard, Silver's Father included.

Neither side could see the other through the mist, they just sprayed based on the sound.

In street fighting, these Mutant Humans weren’t dumb. They looked clumsy, but their tactics were pretty strong.

But, their opponents weren’t pushovers either.

Leading a 4-man squad, Silver Sword crept 50 to 60 meters to the flank, crouching by a broken wall.

He eyed the range, unslung his RPG, loaded a fragmentation round before shooting at the flickering muzzle flashes.

“RPG!” He yelled, as if powering the rocket with his voice. It whooshed into the fog-shrouded window.

An orange flash burst and something flew out.

The next second, the gun fell silent.

Their line could finally advance.

Exhilarated, Silver Sword started to cheer when he saw a newbie sprawled flat on the ground.

Alarmed, he shook the man. “Shit?! Bro, what happened?!”

Still dazed, the newbie’s teammates exchanged glances. One sighed.

“He... got hit by your backblast.”

The other nodded. “Your barrel smacked his forehead. I heard a loud bang.”

Silver Sword almost choked on his own spit. Just then, the newbie groaned awake.

Seeing his dazed face, Silver Sword didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Dude, it’s a recoilless launcher. Why did you stand behind me?!”

Luckily he wasn’t dead.

The newbie scratched his head sheepishly. “I just wanted to see how you aim it...”

“

Pffttt...

” Silver Sword was about to roast him when a spotlight flared.

Out of the fog thundered a truck with a wired-on hood. A roaring engine shaking the street.

On its roof, a six-barreled rotary gun locked straight at them. Behind welded steel plates leered a brutish green face.

Silver Sword’s balked. “Scatter!”

Even as he yelled, a hailstorm of bullets ripped in. Two squadmates were shredded instantly, plastered against a rusted car hull.

Silver Sword broke into cold sweat, tracer fire grazing his arm.

Reacting fast, he smashed through a shattered window and ducked into a storefront.

The lucky newbie who fainted earlier crawled after him, face smeared with blood and gore.

Spitting blood, he groaned, “Bro, weren’t we supposed to be racking up kills?”

Why did it feel like they were the ones being slaughtered?!

“I...” Silver Sword could only laugh bitterly, not knowing what to say.

Sure enough, Silver's Father’s words had been true.

Who could’ve guessed the newbies were pure 99k greenhorns? They were god damn clueless!

He bit his tongue and reassured patiently, “Not much we can do. We hit the strongest line. Once we break through, it’ll get easier.”

Truth was, the Mutant Humans in the Brocade Lake Municipality weren’t like others. They didn’t just have heavy firepower, they had armored vehicles.

The roads were wrecks, but those green-skins knew every path. Their rides always struck from nowhere.

And with the fog grounding air support, the New Alliance had only portable anti-tank gear.

Word was the Skeleton Corps was closing in. Once their armored corps arrived, things would ease up greatly.

The newbie nodded eagerly. “Got it, bro. I believe you!”

At least he was spirited.