novelraw Chapter 558 Helping Out
Chapter 558 Helping Out
Tang Zijun's pupils reflected the stubbornly flickering red dot on the screen, then gazed at the rising flames and turbulent energy stagnation left by the explosion at the distant stronghold. A very subtle upward twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth, a smile that was both surprised and approving.
"So it was you who made all this commotion..." A whisper that only he could hear faded into the mournful sound of the wind and snow.
"I...you, don't tell me..." Leisen's voice trembled with shock and absurdity. He pointed to the still-smoking stronghold in the distance, then to the locator in Tang Zijun's hand, his tongue tied in knots. "That, that commotion...was...made by your people! You, you hid an army here?!"
This can no longer be described as insane; to launch a proactive attack on an AI stronghold requires an extraordinary level of madness and power.
Leisen felt his brain was about to explode. He only knew that Tang Zijun was cunning and led a group of "resurrected corpses," but he never imagined that this guy had the power to confront the AI stronghold head-on. Tang Zijun didn't answer Leisen's question; he silently put away the device in his hand. "It seems we need to change our operation plan this time." He raised his head, his gaze no longer fixed on the dark mine, but like two tempered swords, sharply piercing through the wind and snow, firmly locked on the AI stronghold ablaze with flames. The cautious stealth he had chosen to avoid risks before was completely gone, replaced by a cold fighting spirit.
"Attention all members of the Special Operations Team: Mission Changes."
"Raysen, I need you to assess the battlefield situation."
"Xiao Yue, send your men out to assess the defensive strength of the AI outpost. I need you to find an opening."
"Zhang Wei, you and the rest of the men stay put and await further orders from Lei Sen."
"All units, abandon silence and be ready for battle at any time."
The clear orders, like the beating of war drums, resounded in the ears of every agent.
The agents, who had just adapted to their new bodies, did not expect to be given a mission even more challenging than "exploration" so soon, and it was a combat mission at that. You know, operating here is far more exciting than fighting against the Outer Demons. The agent formation, which was originally as still as a sculpture, suddenly came to life. Xiao Yue, in his mantis form, let out a high-pitched screech, his huge scythe-like forelimbs fully extended, and his six insect legs burst out with terrifying speed in the snow. Like a green lightning bolt, he was the first to tear through the wind and snow and pounce towards the stronghold.
The other agents who remained in place also shot off like arrows, instantly splitting into two cold, steel torrents, rushing towards the inferno of fire and explosion. Rayson was stunned by the sudden 180-degree turn in the order and the instantaneous action of the agent force.
He watched the group charge onto the battlefield like sharks smelling blood, then glanced at Tang Zijun's profile. "Are you crazy? We don't have any weapons, and if we start fighting, what about Old Chimney and Hawke?"
Tang Zijun finally turned her gaze away from the direction of the stronghold. "The Hawke team is experienced enough to lead the way through the mine tunnels. Just let them proceed according to their original plan. Our purpose in coming here was to find our 'old friend,' and now that the target is right in front of us, there's no reason not to help."
"But, but, this is an AI stronghold. Once it's attacked, all the surrounding AIs will rush to support us, and then we'll be in real danger!" Leisen wanted to say something more, but then he saw Tang Zijun's figure blur, like a ghost blending into the wind and snow. Her speed instantly increased to the extreme, closely following the charging Agent troops, rushing towards the AI stronghold that was engulfed in flames. Her black clothes fluttered in the wind.
"I"
Watching Tang Zijun's retreating figure, Lei Sen opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
Scáthach appeared silently atop a protruding rock, her dark cloak motionless in the gale. Her purplish-red eyes followed Tang Zijun's retreating figure as she charged into the battlefield with great interest, then swept over the group of silent "Agents" charging forward, finally settling on the fire-filled stronghold.
"Interesting..." Her voice carried a hint of amusement and a subtle appreciation.
On the snowy plain, only Leisen remained standing in the wind and snow, staring dumbfounded as Tang Zijun disappeared in the direction of the fire and smoke. The explosions from the distant stronghold, the hissing of energy weapons, and the faint roars and counterattacks of humans intertwined to create a spectacular scene of madness and violence.
Leisen slapped his face hard, splashing the icy snow water on it, trying to clear his head.
"Damn it! Crazy! They're all damn crazy!" he muttered under his breath, unsure whether he was cursing Tang Zijun or those who dared to attack the omnic stronghold. He stomped his foot and turned to Zhang Wei and the remaining agents. "We can't let Tang Zijun and the others go in and fight head-on. You guys come with me, let's take down the omnics' armory first!" After saying that, Leisen glanced at Scáthach, who was standing on the rock not far away. Seeing that she had no intention of joining the fight, he quickly pushed Yedi towards her. "Go, go find that lady. Stay here and wait for us to come back, understand?"
"Mmm." Yedi nodded heavily, obediently replying, and then stumbled and ran towards Scáthach. On the other side, Hawk, acting as a scout, was cautiously observing the movements of the omnic stronghold from behind a cold, damp cover.
The sturdy warrior and the short-haired female warrior stood close to him on either side, the three of them like a taut bowstring.
Just then, a noise behind him made Hawke turn around abruptly.
He couldn't see the whole picture from a distance, but the sudden burst of footsteps clearly pierced through the howling wind and snow. Then, the sound of a group of pale figures marching rapidly came into his view.
"Is it Leisen and those weirdos?" The sturdy man paused, and the short-haired woman frowned as well. "Weren't they at the back? How did they get ahead of us?" Hawke's eyes widened instantly, and the hideous scar on his face seemed to throb.
His first thought was absurdity—why were Tang Zijun and her group suddenly rushing forward like madmen? And judging from the direction they were rushing... not to the mine, their target... was that AI outpost that was being blown to bits and was now engulfed in flames?!
"Damn it!" Hawke squeezed out a word through gritted teeth, instantly understanding Tang Zijun's intention.
This madman, he actually wants to abandon the readily available escape route and turn around to participate in the attack on the omnic stronghold?!
"Boss?" The short-haired female soldier beside him keenly sensed Hawke's violent tremor. She lowered her voice, her tone questioning and tinged with barely perceptible tension. Her fingers were already on the activation button of the vibrating short blade at her waist, her eyes sharp as knives. The burly soldier also gripped his pulse rifle tightly, his heavy breathing particularly clear in the narrow mine tunnel. They all looked at Hawke, awaiting their captain's orders.
Hawke's expression shifted rapidly in the dim light of the flashlight. Shock, confusion, and a surge of warrior instinct, faintly ignited by Tang Zijun's reckless actions, churned within him. Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
After a brief, oppressive silence, Hawke abruptly raised his head, his eyes replacing all hesitation and shock with a more intense, resolute ferocity. Hawke spat fiercely, then yanked the bolt of his laser gun, producing a crisp metallic clang as it instantly began charging. "Those guys are unarmed; the firepower Rayson has won't do them any good."
He turned his head, his eyes fixed on the increasingly intense explosions and energy weapon fire coming from afar.
"Whoever is attacking the omnics! And whoever those lunatics are planning to do it!"
"We, the resistance fighters, must lend a hand!"
He practically roared out the last four words.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!" A fierce light flashed in the short-haired female warrior's eyes. Without hesitation, she drew her twin swords, a high-frequency vibrating hum instantly erupting. The entire situation descended into chaos. The actions of Tang Zijun and Hawke's sides immediately caught Old Chimney's attention.
"They've gone mad...they've all gone mad..." Old Chimney's lips trembled, his voice sounding like it was being squeezed out of a broken bellows. "Actively attacking omnics? They're asking for trouble. Rayson's gone mad, and Hawke's gone mad too. That mine tunnel...the mine tunnel is mostly filled with mutated rats and poison gas, but outside are the muzzles of iron cannons."
A younger henchman beside him, with a fresh scratch on his face, gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he watched the intense gunfire erupting from the cave entrance. He couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Boss... you can't say that."
His voice was filled with fear, but also with a hint of struggle.
"Shut up! What do you know!" Old Chimney, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly turned his head and growled at his underling, spitting on his face. "We're crossing the border soon, soon! Going out now is suicide. What have I been saving up for? To be a sitting duck in this godforsaken place?!" He became more and more agitated, his voice shrill and piercing in the silence, making his other confidants fall silent in fear.
"But... Boss..." The henchman shrank back at the shout, but seeing the increasingly intense gunfire coming from the direction of the cave entrance, his struggle deepened, and his voice rose slightly. "...But what if... what if they... all... all die outside?"
"...With just the few of us...can we...get through this mine?"
Lies are not sharp blades; the truth is the real weapon.
These words, like a cold needle, pierced the old chimney's heart.
Yes
Tang Zijun's group is eccentric, and Hawke's group is insane, but they are also the strongest force to protect us. Without them holding the line, it would be tantamount to suicide for just the few of us to venture into this bottomless, perilous abandoned mine tunnel!
The old chimney's mind flashed instantly to the mutated giant rat's glowing red eyes, the suffocating despair of the collapse, and the silent death amidst the poisonous gas. "XX! XX! XX!!" The old chimney leaped up, like a cornered beast, stomping his feet and kicking up rubble and dust. His greasy face was contorted with extreme frustration and anger, the veins in his neck bulging. He pointed at the henchman who had spoken, his finger trembling like a leaf in the wind. "You...you...you little bastard! I...I'll deal with you when we get back!"
He abruptly turned around, no longer looking at the cave entrance, but frantically patting his filthy fur coat as if to bolster his courage, seemingly checking his equipment, or perhaps venting his frustration. "What are you looking at?!" Old Chimney roared at his still-dazed henchmen, spitting as he spoke. "Grab your weapons! Are you waiting to die?! Follow me! All of you... all of you better be smart! Don't point your guns... don't point them at your own men!"
After he finished yelling, he added fiercely, his voice carrying a tragic sense of despair, as if he were talking to himself.
"I...I'll be at the very back! Protect yourself...protect yourself is the priority! Understand?! Anyone who dares to run ahead and be the first one out, I...I'll shoot them first!" After saying that, Old Chimney took a deep breath, as if to inhale enough courage, and then suddenly lunged forward, holding that broken gun, and with an extremely awkward, hesitant, yet unusually determined posture, began to charge towards the battlefield of fire and noise.