Tactics of a Freelance Band

Boss Dao was eyeing the newcomers warily, though they didn't really look like that sort of people. Han Qingyu reached out, patted his shoulder, and pointed toward the distant sky. "Here it comes, Boss Dao." Across the angled night sky, a pitch-black shuttle craft was drifting down. One could see the dark speck wavering and gradually growing larger. *His estimate was pretty accurate.* As Boss Dao looked up, Han Qingyu exchanged a glance with Wen Jifei, their eyes speaking the thought. The City of Iniquity had no devices like the Rejecters; Great Spikes crashing down inside the city was a commonplace occurrence. The residents deduced the arrival of crafts primarily by patterns. According to Azure theory, there was very likely a fixed exploration route here for the Great Spikes, similar to Azure's fixed exploration sites. Of course, they could only deduce a fraction of it; the rest was completely chaotic, arriving with unimaginable frequency. It seemed there was something here that drew them strongly. As a result, competition over the Great Spike crafts in the City of Iniquity was divided into two main categories: quotas allocated to major factions, and free-for-all scrambles. The craft before them was an allocated one—the annual welfare distribution of two Black electricians. They had hired Boss Dao's band to take it down, and before the raid started, they had come out to ask everyone for their help. Hiring people like this meant the electricians wouldn't get very many source energy blocks for themselves: a guaranteed base of two blocks, plus a share based on the recorded strikes, which usually amounted to around three or four blocks total. However, by rule, they were entitled to one-fifth of the dead iron fragments. Therefore, after the battle, they would host another meal—to send off the dead and thank the living. "You know, it suddenly hit me that being a Black electrician must be pretty dangerous..." In the midst of the surrounding tension, Wen Jifei suddenly whispered, "One of them could be charred to a crisp and the guy next to him might still think he's fine. Plus, most of their hair is already curled." Han Qingyu: "..." "Quiet down, don't be scared," Boss Dao said in a hushed, lowered voice, barely tilting his head up. Wen Jifei: "Alright." By now, the craft in the sky had grown to about the size of a pot lid. Han Qingyu looked at it and felt a sudden wave of emotion: it had been quite a while since he last chopped a Great Spike. To be honest, he really missed it. *So, should I snatch the metal block or not?* *Forget it, better not on the first run, or it'll be way too obvious. Besides, this craft is the electricians' welfare; snatching it would be going too far.* *Thump!* The craft, slightly larger than a jeep, touched down upon the sand with no great violence. Han Qingyu and the other four reached for their blades. Wen Jifei was going in as well, treating it as practice. In a minor skirmish like this, He Tangtang could easily cover him, even if he kept rolling Fs. Hands rested on blades, waiting. They waited for perhaps a minute. No movement from the shuttle craft. Boss Dao didn't move either. "Aren't we going in?" He Tangtang couldn't help asking. "Wait for them to come out on their own," Boss Dao said steadily, eyes fixed ahead. He Tangtang froze, thinking, *Won't the two Great Spikes end up standing together then?* Standard Azure squad tactics dictated that the moment a craft touched down, two formations would charge. The First Formation would initiate the assault to force them out and absorb the initial wave of area attacks, after which the Second Formation would cut in to split the battlefield. In Azure tactical classes, battlefield division was always the core of every combat procedure. The combat prowess of Great Spikes was one plus one greater than two; two plus two was even more absurd... Another three minutes passed. "Still not going?" He Tangtang muttered. His patience finally exhausted, Boss Dao frowned at him. "If you're so capable, you go up then!" He Tangtang braced his elbows, about to spring to his feet. Han Qingyu reached out and pressed him down. Their combat plan for today was to keep things standard and unremarkable: demonstrate a certain level of strength and value, but not be overly fierce. That way, they could slowly coax Boss Dao's ambition into expanding until he led his band to contest wild, unclaimed crafts. "Back in the military, you must've fought in the rear or on the flank, right? You had squad experts in front taking the hits," Boss Dao said, somewhat irritated, glaring at He Tangtang. "If we just charged in without a dozen exceptionally tough bastards, half of us would die in the first clash, you understand? We're a freelance band! A freelance band!" He Tangtang gave a meek nod. Then, an hour passed... Wen Jifei lit a cigarette, rolled onto his back, and lay there smoking while gazing up at the sky. He Tangtang had fallen asleep and began snoring softly. "Hey, damn it, what the hell are they doing in there?!" Boss Dao muttered. "Maybe they're busy making a little one," Wen Jifei chimed in. Boss Dao shot him a look, looking rather embarrassed. He stuck two fingers in his mouth and blew a sharp whistle. "Force 'em out!" Finally, it was time to move. Han Qingyu shook He Tangtang awake, and all five reached for their blades once more. *Thud!* Through the darkness, a rock flew out, struck the shuttle craft, and bounced off. *Clatter, thud, clatter...* From all directions, rocks flew through the air. Han Qingyu and the other four looked at each other, let go of their hilts, and began picking up rocks. *Clatter-thud-clatter-thud...* They pelted it for maybe ten minutes or so, just as Han Qingyu and his friends were starting to doubt whether this could really force the Great Spikes out. *Whoosh!* From the top of the shuttle craft, two black-armored Great Spikes launched themselves out. "Lights!" Boss Dao commanded. More than twenty heavy-duty flashlights clicked on simultaneously across the surrounding ground. Beams angled slightly upward, landing on the Great Spikes and illuminating a bright combat zone. *Shring!* A chorus of unsheathed blades rang out. Devices activated in rapid succession, blue light flashing. Blood pumped hot. Boss Dao rose and roared, "Guerrilla Formation!" ...*Guerrilla Formation?* The forward charge of Han Qingyu's group came to a dead halt. In the Sole Witness Legion, the Guerrilla Formation was not among the standard Three Formations. It was usually employed only in desperate straits: first, to stall the Great Spikes while awaiting reinforcements; second, to try their luck with opportunistic strikes. And here, they opened with the Guerrilla Formation right off the bat! "Run!" A sudden thunderous shout blasted beside their ears. The five snapped back to reality, looked up, and saw the two Great Spikes charging straight at them, swinging their column swords. Boss Dao had already dodged aside, but hadn't forgotten to shout a warning. *What a good guy! What a great boss! If we just charged up and chopped them down, or blocked them head-on, that would look way too conspicuous.* Han Qingyu and the others had no choice but to sprint in the opposite direction. As they ran, they glanced at each other. This was agonizingly difficult for them, because they couldn't just stand still, yet they couldn't run too fast either... "Doing it like this, how long until we actually hack them to death?" No sooner had He Tangtang spoken than—*Swish!* Over there, Boss Dao cut in from the flank, slashed heavily across the lower back of one Great Spike, and sprinted away immediately. *Not bad.* Han Qingyu mentally bumped Boss Dao's combat rating up a couple of notches. The two Great Spikes spun around to chase him. *Slash!* Another strike. Filio swept in from the flank, his blade scraping across the Great Spike's armor. Though it dealt no real damage, it successfully drew the creature's attention. Then he darted back into the darkness. Someone on the other side stepped forward into the illuminated zone to draw aggro. "Don't be fucking cowards, keep moving! Find an opening and strike!" Boss Dao yelled in Chinese, then repeated it in English. The whole skirmish began to churn. Things were fine in the lit areas, but where there were no lights, Han Qingyu could only see rows of white teeth flashing swiftly through the dark backdrop. The scene was utterly bizarre. He Tangtang: "Turns out they bare their teeth when fighting too." Wen Jifei: "Mm, no wonder they need strike recorders." "What the hell are you guys doing?!" Boss Dao's voice drifted through the air once more, sounding rather muffled. He had just parried a strike and been sent flying, spitting a mouthful of blood. "Run, run, keep moving!" Han Qingyu called out. As he cut across at an angle, he casually slapped the flat of his blade against a Great Spike's rear... *Wham!* Dented! The iron armor over the Great Spike's rear caved in instantly. The Great Spike let out a pained howl and whipped around to chase Han Qingyu. But with its groin squeezed tight by the crushed armor, its stride was no longer very smooth. *Good thing nobody noticed!* Realizing he had hit too hard, Han Qingyu felt a flash of regret and quickly vanished into the darkness. At the same moment, Boss Dao hit the ground not far away, sprang up with a rolling dive, and cast a grateful look toward the spot where Han Qingyu had disappeared. *This kid is really loyal.* With that thought, Boss Dao felt a twinge of worry. Shouting loudly, he raised his blade and charged once again.