Chapter 982 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 982: "Watching Pigs Awaiting Hares" The rolling red sands churned across the horizon, and amidst the clamor of dust, an outline of a deceased city faintly appeared. Majestic skyscrapers had been split in half, their remnants suggesting the framework of a possible space elevator, now lying in ruins. What remained of the glass curtain walls reflected weak glimmers of light amidst the wind and sand, casting a glow onto the desolate and shabby alleyways below. Behind shattered display windows lurked unknown dangers, while under rusting billboards, sharp-toothed mutated hyenas prowled. A cloaked woman stood atop a nearby sand dune, holding binoculars as she gazed towards the skyscrapers. After a moment, a tawny, speckled mutated eagle owl flapped its wings and landed on her shoulder. She locked eyes with its piercing gaze, briefly stroked its feathers, and then threw it into the sky. "Kyaaah—" The owl let out a long screech, disappearing into the vast swirl of sandstorm. As silently as the owl vanished, the cloaked woman also disappeared from the dune. In no time, the wind and sand had erased her footprints, as if no one had ever been there. This is the Great Desert. If the Province of Sunset is a forbidden zone for life, then this place is a forbidden zone for civilization. No one can leave a trace here. No one remembers the name of these streets or neighborhoods, and even if they did, it would be utterly meaningless. Alongside the migrating sand dunes, it's not just nomads that traverse the Great Desert. Today's landmarks may become tomorrow’s entrance to the "underground world." Structures that stand tall today may collapse in ruins within days. The sole marker identifiable for this area is a specialized string containing latitude and longitude coordinates. Though lacking orbital satellite navigation, those living on the wasteland have ways to find alternatives... [G1178, A2249] Flashing across the central control screen of the moving off-road vehicle, the deep green coordinates bobbed along with its bumpy ride. The man seated in the driver's seat confirmed the coordinates once more, then, while pressing the brake, he retrieved an assault rifle hanging from the inside of the door and stepped out. Steel plates covered his entire body, and the weighty armor left imprints in the sand with each step. "All units, be advised. We are approaching the target coordinates... proceed as planned." "Received." At the same time the man got out from his off-road vehicle, other desert-camouflage vehicles moved into their respective positions. The car doors clanged open, and figures armed to the teeth quickly emerged. Clad in desert-camouflage exoskeletons and wielding sleek rifles, they wore identity patches on their arms. The patch displayed a sharp-tailed scorpion, with the insignia of the Enlightenment Society branded on its back. They were known as the "Desert Scorpions." They served as the sharp blade of the Enlightenment Society, a terror to countless wasteland wanderers living in the desert—this forbidden zone of civilization, buried deep underground. Those wastelanders couldn't even cobble together decent firearms, let alone exoskeletons. Their only protective gear, at best, was a mismatched assortment of non-powered armor. Yet, the Enlightenment Society possessed not only black-box-produced exoskeletons and light-to-heavy weaponry but had recently assimilated the military tactics and technology of the Southern Legion. This was far more useful than awakening anyone's hidden potential. No matter if they were legitimate or rogue wastelanders or mutant factions, they didn’t stand a chance against these guys and would be chased down brutally. Perhaps it was due to the oppressive feeling of murder below the dust clouds; observing the armed human soldiers, even the mutant species hiding in the ruins felt compelled to shrink back their claws in apprehension. Approximately 120 soldiers strategically split into three squads, silently surrounding the half-collapsed skyscraper at the city center. Covering each other, they advanced orderly, systematically tightening their encirclement. Standing on a distant sand dune, Malik, the leader of the "Desert Scorpions," held binoculars in hand, expressionlessly watching the half-broken skyscraper ahead, quietly waiting for something. Soon, a voice crackled over the communication channel. "Signal transmitter spotted, located atop the ruins, approximately 100 meters above the ground." Expectedly calm at his subordinate's report, Malik responded, "Enter the ruins." "Roger that!" The squad leader operating the drones nodded and signaled to a soldier crouched nearby. Getting the cue, the soldier clenched his right fist and swiftly gestured forward. As ordered, ten soldiers in exoskeletons moved into action, quickly advancing close to the building under cover from their teammates. Simultaneously, two gun-mounted attack drones quietly closed in on the sides of the squad, advancing silently toward the skyscraper ruins. Reflections danced on the dust-covered glass curtain wall, painting shadows of a subdued ferocity. A man with a grizzled beard walked up beside Malik, loosening his scarf's grip on his neck as he squinted at the skyscraper's ruins. "Wireless signals detected in the no-man’s land, enclosed with encrypted coordinates. After decoding, the coordinates led to the signal source's location… What could compel someone to engage in such a trivial pursuit?" His name was Valen, deputy leader of the Desert Scorpions and Malik's long-time partner. "No clue," Malik casually replied before continuing to gaze at the skyscraper in the distance. "But if I had to guess, they are trying to rendezvous with our adversaries... so logically, they're likely not from the Alliance but rather a dog hired by them." Though the Eastern Empire also had such suspicions, the Verland people weren't particularly invested in Enlightenment Society matters. The usurper-style emperor was more concerned with immediate benefits rather than distant futures or civilization interests. The Alliance wanted everything. Assessing the nearest forces to the Great Desert, it was likely one of them. Just process of elimination was enough. Valen raised an eyebrow. "Who do you think the dog might be?" A wicked grin crept onto Malik's lips as he sneered. "I'm betting on an old acquaintance, or at least someone who knows us. But who really knows?" The Enlightenment Society wasn’t only enemies with the Alliance, in fact, they were enemies with almost everyone in the world. Given their predicament, it seemed reasonable for a force beyond the Great Desert to nurture a secret resistance against the Enlightenment Society within their borders. Recently, another organization, called the "Observers," emerged, always acting contrary to their interests, and often spoiling their plans. Malik’s instinct told him that the signal tower deployed here was very likely the work of the "Observers." Or at the very least, someone related to them. This thought brought a vicious smile to Malik's lips. It was about time to settle old scores. In less than a minute, the ten-member team took hold of the building entrance, and with drone support, they secured the safety pathways, advancing upstairs through the staircase. Shortly, the squad leader's voice came through the comms. "Team One here. We've secured the signal transmitter... Power for facilities here is supplied through mobile units. No trace of the sender!" "Those rats!" Valen grumbled standing beside Malik. Malik's expression turned grim, though not overly surprised. Mobile power units and remote activation of signal devices were merely part of basic tactical operations. If he were in the same position, he would do exactly the same. "Look at the bright side, the communication equipment and power source remain, indicating the rendezvous failed." He paused before continuing, "At the very least, we’re one step ahead of the Alliance. Perhaps we can use this opportunity to teach them a lesson." Valen's face lit with a devious smile as Malik shared his idea. "Brilliant plan!" Allow the Alliance to follow the breadcrumbs, only to find themselves staring down the barrels of their guns. This would not only give the Alliance a stealthy blow, but potentially incite internal strife between them and their hounds. Malik smiled lightly, lacking any modesty. Instead, he began arranging personnel deployment. The force of over 120 troops was divided into twelve squads, grouped in threes. Dispatching three squads inside the skyscraper, he instructed the other two groups to silently hide on the eastern and western sides of the target building, ready for support. An invisible net was quietly set, ready for the prey to walk right into it! After some consideration regarding the radio-transmitting terminal, Malik decided not to act hastily. Instead, he assigned an off-road vehicle equipped with electronic surveillance equipment to keep an eye on the signal transmissions, ensuring they remained informed of any changes. All preparations were now in place. Malik and Valen turned back to their vehicle, driving it into the abandoned cityscape and hiding within the shattered display of a street-side shop. Now, it was just a matter of waiting. Malik was confident that, given the Alliance's relentless pursuit of the Enlightenment Society, they wouldn't ignore this lead. Dropping this bait would undoubtedly catch something, whether a big fish or a small one. For that reason, he was willing to wait for days if necessary because any catch would be worth the effort. Turning off the engine, Malik climbed out of the vehicle. Just then, a thunderous roar cut through the sky above. “An aircraft! Flying from the south to the north, it must’ve come from the Ravinka Industrial Zone!” Valen peeked out from the display window and observed with a mix of shock and relief. They were indeed ahead, but not by much. Even being slightly ahead was still an advantage. Their team was already hidden within the ruins, meaning the aircraft likely spotted nothing. "Probably scouting ahead... their team should be arriving soon." Valen withdrew from the broken window, glancing back at Malik, who nodded seriously, tapping his finger on the side of his helmet. "...All units, the Alliance is closing in, stay hidden and avoid detection!" “Wait until the prey is securely in the cage before acting!” Malik's commands were clear and crisp, but the communication channel was eerily silent, filled only with faint static sounds. A frown formed on Malik's brow, as an ominous feeling snaked its way into his heart. Although communication in the Great Desert was notoriously unstable, fluctuations in a range this close should be improbable. “…This is Malik, all units respond, do you copy? I repeat, do you copy…” Still nothing! What was merely an unsettling feeling coiled into a full-blown alarm in Malik's mind, and at that moment, gunfire abruptly erupted alongside a deafening blast. "It's coming from the building!" Valen, crouched by the window, turned anxiously toward Malik. Malik rushed to the window but didn't look towards the skyscraper. Instead, he focused on the sky, against the glaring light. In the clear, cloudless expanse was a faint, barely noticeable white glow—a small parachute! And something seemed to be hanging beneath it! Through his visor, Malik's pupils contracted sharply as he exclaimed in fury. “Electromagnetic interference! Damn it! They’ve discovered us!” Or— Wait a minute! Realization dawned with terrifying clarity, as Malik's gaze slowly shifted to the skyscraper, awash with gunfire; his anger shifting to bewilderment and dread. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead into his collar. Those people… they had been there all along… Rather than the Alliance discovering them, it seemed they had walked right into a trap set for them! They were the ones biting at the bait! There was no time to hesitate! Grabbing Valen's shoulder, Malik stared into his stunned face, eyes burning red. "We're ambushed! Quick! Fire a flare! Order the brothers hiding in the ruins to retreat!" "Okay, okay… What? Retreat?!" Valen, in the midst of loading a flare gun, froze, bewildered by his commander's orders, unable to comprehend what was happening. And— What ambush? Weren't they the ones ambushing the Alliance? No time to explain, Malik snatched the flare gun from Valen, loaded a green flare, and unhesitatingly shot it into the sky. A surge of green light rocketed upward, blooming into an emerald hue! Regardless if anyone else saw it, Malik wasted no time and dashed back to the off-road vehicle, leaping into the passenger seat. Though clueless to his leader's seeming madness, Valen followed, quickly returning to the driver’s seat. With the engine roaring back to life, Valen turned towards Malik, intending to ask, but was cut off before speaking. “Go! Drive!” Valen clutched the steering wheel, stuttering. “W-where to?” Malik’s expression was dark, his voice a harsh whisper through clenched teeth. “Doesn’t matter! Just get us out of here!” Gunfire outside intensified sharply. Sensing the gravity of their predicament, Valen didn’t dare delay, flooring the gas pedal. The engine of the off-road vehicle roared like a beast, its wheels grinding against the road as it surged through the display window. Valen swung the wheel left, aiming to retrace their path out of the city, but at that moment, a sharp crack resounded! It was the sound of a bullet piercing the window—his last sound ever heard. In a heartbeat, a high-speed projectile shattered his helmet, pulverizing half the seat! Red and white splattered outwards, and Valen’s head exploded like a smashed watermelon, soaking half the cabin. The vehicle crashed uncontrollably into the roadside. Malik, his face drenched in blood, felt his heart seize, ice coursing through him. Instincts kicked in, and he slammed open the car door, diving out and scrambling into another storefront, just as a second gunshot echoed. "Sniper!" The communication jammer was still active. And no one would hear his warning. Meanwhile, 800 meters away on a distant sand dune, under a desert-camouflaged net, lay the "Desert Hawk," an imposing gauss sniper rifle positioned before him. A shot so powerful that even powered armor would avoid confrontation, capable of bringing any awakened powerhouse to their knees! “Coward!” Watching the target flee into the shop, he clicked his tongue and raised his finger, deactivating the charging capacitor. The guy wouldn’t dare emerge anytime soon. But it didn’t matter. The area was crawling with desert legion operatives. There was no escape! Back at the skyscraper ruins, the fierce battle raged on! Flashes from tracer rounds crackled wildly through the corridors, occasionally punctuated by explosive bursts. Terror was etched on the faces of the scorpion-marked soldiers. Desperately they fired into the near darkness while pulling their wounded comrades toward the exits. The chaos was palpable. Echoing in the dark wasn’t just gunfire and blasts but also frantic, furious shouts. "This is Group One! We're under attack by unknown forces!" “It’s the Alliance!” “Damn it! Our communications are blocked!” “Signal flare! It’s the signal flare!” “The commander ordered a retreat!” “Retreat?! Are you kidding? We’re surrounded! Without support, we’re dead here!” Fear distorted every face, and every shadowy room tightened the string of tension in each Enlightenment Society soldier's mind. Scattered and struggling alone, they had no idea how many enemies there were or even how many allies remained… The squad that first entered the building suffered severe casualties! As the Alliance aircraft swept the skyline, they were scattered through the top floors of the ruins, unaware that Alliance soldiers were lying in wait just beneath their noses! Upon hearing the fighter jets roaring overhead, Alliance soldiers hidden in shadows immediately activated their exoskeleton luminescent identifiers, revealing the weapons they held in the dark! Led by the "Tarantula Raiders," around thirty desert army players launched a sudden strike. Taking advantage of communication disruptions and prior familiarity with the terrain, they moved in groups of three, systematically picking off the nearly forty scattered soldiers of the Enlightenment Society! By the time the crack of gunfire shattered the silence, the team atop the building had already been halved! The rest remained in the dark, deaf to the chaos, due to the communication blockade! "I’ll fight you to the death!!!" Finally, a lone "Desert Scorpion," unable to curb his terror, roared and thrust his rifle from cover, spraying wildly into the flickering corridor lights. His finger seemed permanently welded to the trigger, unleashing a storm of bullets upon the shadowy figure moving at such blistering speed that it was nearly imperceptible! The tracer rounds danced across the angular armor, their speed akin to a gust of wind, brushing past the barrage to reach him face-to-face. The "Desert Scorpion's" pupils contracted sharply, his mind awash with a single thought— So fast! Barely comprehending the opponent’s movements, the adversary was already in his face. But it wasn’t over! A glint of knife-edge brilliance, like lightning, slashed towards his face. Instinctively, he raised his rifle to block the unforeseen strike. "Thud—!" The sheer force sent a jolt of pain through his palms! In that fleeting pause, he finally discerned the steel-severing gleam—the blade! It was an outward-curved blade! Its sickle-like edge reminiscent of a mantis's limb! His eyes widened with terror. Yet, before he could react, the relentless steel cleaved through his helmet with a resounding "clang," piercing through his skull. "Three." Having effortlessly disposed of yet another "super soldier," the player clad in powered armor silently counted his victories, then unceremoniously kicked the defeated body aside. Witnessing the bloody spectacle, the Enlightenment Society soldiers hiding behind cover nearby were rattled with panic. Afraid of suffering the same fate, they hastily lifted their weapons, firing desperately at the fearsome adversary. However, such frantic shots bounced off the powered armor like tickles, only anti-tank rocket rounds posed any real threat—and those were easily dodged. Especially in straightforward corridors and hallways like these. "Is that all you got?" Facing the incoming hail of bullets, the skilled combatant let out a fierce grin, simply flicked the blood off his mantis blade, and charged forth without a hint of hesitation! Meanwhile, the "little scorpions" standing across from him were utterly petrified, unable to maintain their tenuous morale, and started fleeing desperately in the opposite direction! The bloodbath continued relentlessly. The carnage was not limited to inside the skyscraper—it was outside as well! The "Desert Scorpions" hiding on the east and west sides of the skyscraper ruins expected prey to walk into their own trap but instead found themselves trapped. Under the relentless attack of the desert legion, many were killed, while others fled for their lives! Several off-road vehicles scattered like startled beasts toward the city’s outskirts, only to be blown apart by pursuing anti-armor missiles as they neared the exits. The soldiers who were left behind, seeing no hope for escape and mounting casualties, finally threw down their weapons and surrendered in despair. Having never suffered a loss in close-quarter combat before, they now found themselves thoroughly beaten against a formidable adversary! This time, even the secondary players of a certain "Southern Barbarian Invasion" expansion pack, who had thus far only played minor roles, finally got their moment of glory! Though they received significant help from several prominent solo players, the majority of the battles were fought by the legion's players themselves. Looking at the more than thirty captured prisoners huddled in the corner, stripped of equipment, with defeated expressions, Tarantula Raider wore a grin of satisfaction on his face. "Ha ha! That was incredibly satisfying!" After being sidelined for so long, it was finally his turn to shine! … (To be continued...)