Feel Honored, This Was Originally Prepared for the Arbiter

Having synced the startling discoveries from Sector X-13 to the official website, Ye Wei did not dare linger outside the game for long. The moment he finished posting, he put his helmet back on and returned online. Even if Sector X-13 was not infested with slime mold, remaining offline out in the wild for extended periods was exceedingly dangerous. Besides, an ally was still different from one of their own. Having spent only a few short hours together, he could not trust Yun You a hundred percent either. The dim lighting returned to his vision. At that moment, Ye Shi was leaning back in a folding chair with his legs propped on the table, pretending to doze. Sitting across from him, Yun You stared intently in his direction, an odd expression plastered across her face. Ten minutes ago, the guy had suddenly muttered, "A bit tired, going to rest a minute," and then casually pulled up a chair to nap as if no one else were in the room. What surprised Yun You was not his complete disregard for appearances, but that he could actually fall asleep in an environment like this. Granted, Sector X-13 was free of slime mold, meaning no active fruiting bodies could roam the halls, but right in the adjoining room lay a rotting corpse. What was more, they had recovered Yi Hai's nametag from that very corpse... There was no definitive proof that the decomposing remains belonged to Yi Hai, yet every single clue pointed toward the conclusion that the man lying in the medical tent back on the surface had a problem! A massive problem! Yun You drew a deep breath. Her mind felt like a tangled mess, and she needed to quiet her thoughts, think everything through, and sort the evidence they had collected. Right then, the young man across the table suddenly shook his head and swung his legs down. "You're awake?" "Yeah..." Meeting Yun You's peculiar gaze, Ye Shi realized his earlier behavior must have looked downright bizarre to a normal person. He sheepishly scratched the back of his head and offered an explanation. "A side effect of awakening my talent... Sorry about that." "It's fine. I was getting tired from walking anyway. Sitting down to rest wasn't a bad idea," Yun You replied offhandedly, not dwelling on the subject. She was no expert in biological science, and her grasp of "awakening" was far from specialized. Even before the war, that field had been on the cutting edge of research; even genuine experts might not understand all that much about it. Then again, the young man looked capable enough, yet his constitution seemed surprisingly frail... Unaware of what Yun You was thinking, Ye Shi sighed with relief that she did not press the matter. After all, under the provisions of the Player Handbook, certain things were truly difficult to explain. He checked his weapons, glanced around the room, and changed the subject. "Is it just me, or did the lights in here get dimmer?" Yun You looked around as well. "It started a little while ago... Power probably switched over to backup generators." "I see. Does that mean Jiang Xuezhou and Wali succeeded on their end?" "Could also be coming from the Administrator's office," Yun You said, adjusting her glasses as she cast a glance toward the door leading to the living quarters. "Either way, we need to pick up the pace." The scene of the firefight earlier still nagged at her mind. Just looking at the dense cluster of bullet holes riddling the wall made it impossible not to worry about what might await them in the rooms ahead... Just as she rose from her chair, the alloy door behind them slid open. Almost by reflex, Ye Shi whipped his muzzle toward the entrance and barked, "Who's there?!" "It's me..." A familiar voice came from beyond the doorway. Clutching her arm, Jiang Xuezhou leaned against the frame, her face pale, with blood seeping through her sleeve in marks that looked like scratches from a fruiting body. "Jiang Xuezhou?" Ye Shi lowered his rifle slightly, staring at her in surprise. Eyeing the barrel in his hands, Jiang Xuezhou showed a hint of fear, but she still regarded the two of them with an expression of concern as she limped inside. "Are you two all right? When I passed the archives earlier... I saw so many bullet holes on the wall." "We're fine. Those bullet holes were left behind a long time ago..." Yun You looked at her in shock. "You're hurt?" Jiang Xuezhou nodded with a gloomy look. "Yeah... We ran into a horde near the power station. Wali was killed protecting me, and my Xiao Wang was destroyed too. Fortunately, I managed to activate the fire suppression system at the last second and inject coolant into the reactor... The broodmother is frozen now." *So the robot dog's name was Xiao Wang...* This was the first time Ye Shi had ever heard her use a nickname for it. Yet for some reason, looking at the pale, pitiable girl, an indistinct unease crept into his gut. Wait! Why had she come here? Why would an Academy researcher show an interest in the crew members of the Pioneer? Shouldn't she be rushing off toward the Administrator's office right now? This was too bizarre... What was even stranger was that Ye Shi distinctly remembered how she used to look at him: every single glance had been steeped in disgust, distrust, and outright hostility. Why would she suddenly act so caring? Right then, Ye Shi abruptly recalled the Yi Hai lying in the archives next door, alongside the Yi Hai lying in the camp's medical bay. *So that's how it is...* Ye Shi's eyes flickered. He had no idea how she pulled it off, nor what she ultimately wanted, but one thing was certain: she was up to no good! Nine times out of ten, Yi Hai's death was tied to her or the organization behind her. The Perception attribute was not absolute. If even a wild beast like a Deathclaw could carefully conceal its aura and killing intent, a trained human certainly could as well. Besides, an Awakened's heightened senses were hardly a secret on the wasteland... Without letting his realization show on his face, Ye Shi looked at her with concern. "You were scratched by gnawers. If those wounds aren't treated, they could get infected. Let me bandage them for you!" If he captured her, he might extract answers. If it turned out to be a misunderstanding, he could simply untie her and apologize. It shouldn't escalate into a diplomatic incident. With that in mind, Ye Shi pulled out a roll of bandages and stepped forward with feigned eagerness. Jiang Xuezhou showed no suspicion. On the contrary, a fleeting, barely perceptible gleam of satisfaction crossed the corner of her lips. Hesitating briefly, she lowered the right hand clutching her arm, bowed her head as if embarrassed, and murmured softly, "Thank you... Please do." Seeing that "coy" expression, Ye Shi felt even more certain of his suspicion. This person was definitely crooked! How could someone who practically wanted him dead ever put on a face like that?! Though he hated getting rough with a woman, this was all for the mission. Ye Shi whispered an apology in his heart, and the moment he ripped open the bandage packaging, he snapped the strip around her like a lasso. "What are you doing?!" Startled by the sudden ambush, Jiang Xuezhou's eyes went wide, and she scrambled backward to break free. Yet Ye Shi did not pause for a fraction of a second, wrapping loop after loop around her. Bandages produced by the Alliance were woven with Devil's Silk fibers, making them extraordinarily difficult to snap. In moments, she was bound in coils from shoulders to torso. Not only Jiang Xuezhou was stunned; Yun You's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "Ye Shi... What—what are you doing?!" "Get back!" he roared. "What do you mean—" "She's an impostor!" Yun You froze, utterly bewildered, until the memory of the corpse next door struck her mind. Understanding dawned in an instant, and she snapped an astonished stare toward the bound Jiang Xuezhou. Yet almost the moment her gaze locked onto that face, the features began twisting at a rate visible to the naked eye. Next, the pale skin tone faded, giving way to a healthy wheat complexion and a distinct scar beneath her neck. "Damn it... Boring." Spitting crudely on the floor, she exploded upward and drove her knee straight toward Ye Shi's groin. Sensing a mortal threat, Ye Shi instinctively jerked back, narrowly evading the lethal impact, though the knee still smashed hard against his chest. The tremendous force slammed into the ballistic insert over his chest, driving the air straight from his lungs and nearly forcing stomach acid into his throat. Before he could regain his footing, the woman had already burst through the bandages wrapped around her. With a sharp twist of her torso, channeling the full momentum from her ankles to her hips, she whipped a roundhouse kick straight at his neck. Her murderous aura was finally unmasked, the wind stirred up by her kick screaming like a cleaving axe blade. This time, however— Ye Shi reacted a step faster. Before her leg could connect, his instincts anticipated her next move. Gripping the rifle slung across his chest, he swung the buttstock outward with all his might. Stock and shin collided with a sickening thud. A jolt of piercing pain made the woman's brow twitch violently. Yet her reflexes were terrifyingly quick. Drawing the combat dagger strapped to her thigh without a heartbeat of hesitation, she lunged straight for Ye Shi's throat. Gleaming steel flashed before his eyes. Ye Shi felt the hairs on his neck stand on end as he raised his LD-50 just in time to catch the incoming blade. The edge jammed against the receiver, the steel casing halting the razor-sharp point! Looking at the face mere inches away, he could feel the assassin's steady breath puffing rhythmically against his skin. Yet that bone-deep killing intent and the cold glint hovering inches before his nose left zero room for romantic tension. It simply gave him the creeps. Yun You stood frozen to the spot, watching the sudden brawl with cold hands and feet, completely at a loss for how to intervene. This was likely the closest she had ever been to an active battlefield... "Oh, not bad." Her eyes narrowing to slits, the woman studied Ye Shi's face for a second, then let out a low chuckle. "Your breathing is all ragged. You're so tense... don't tell me you're a virgin?" Ye Shi's expression hardened, and he cursed, "Fuck off! None of your damn business!" Licking her dry lips, the woman whistled at the young man whose breathing was growing increasingly disordered, speaking in a playful tone. "How about joining us? Big sister will help you grow up." Ye Shi gave a cold sneer. "Heh." *Like hell I'd believe you!* He would bet anything that the instant he eased his grip, that dagger would plunge into his mouth. His palms and wrists burned with fatigue. Ye Shi gritted his teeth as the rifle locked between them wobbled, feeling her press down harder by the second. Damn it. He had planned to capture her alive. Who would have guessed her hand-to-hand combat skills were this absurd! Both wore light exoskeletons, so setting the mechanical assistance aside, her reflexes and physical strength had to belong to at least a Tier 3 Awakened! "Tsk, quite stubborn, aren't you?" The woman clicked her tongue, keeping her narrowed eyes fixed on him as she spoke with effortless leisure. "Then again... how did you figure out I was a fake?" Regulating his breathing, Ye Shi's thoughts raced to formulate a countermeasure while he kept his voice low. "Too many flaws... The moment you stood in the doorway, I was already suspicious." The woman chuckled carelessly. "Is that so? Guess lacking complete memories really does make things tricky." Ye Shi ground out through clenched teeth, "Even with complete memories... you could never become someone else." "Oh?" the woman said casually. "You really think so?" Right then, a violent tremor shook from above their heads. Ye Shi looked up in surprise, while a pleased grin spread across the woman's face. "Looks like our plan is proceeding smoothly. Hear that? That's the sound of your airship crashing into the dirt." With that, she pulled back her smile, her gaze turning cold as a viper baring its fangs. "Join us. This is your final chance." Hearing that rumbling thud, Ye Shi scoffed without a trace of fear. So what if her stats were higher? A mere elite mob expecting him to surrender? Bah! At worst, it was just one life. Even if he died, he would be back on his feet three days later. If she had the guts, she could try crawling through the network cable to stab him! "In your dreams!" Just as he prepared to pull a grenade pin and take her down with him, white mist erupted without warning from the ceiling vents. The cloud blasted straight onto her head and poured past her collar down her spine. The searing, sub-zero pain forced a shriek from the woman's lips, her face contorting in agony. Dry ice?! Indoor fire extinguishers loaded with that stuff?! Having no time to wonder, Ye Shi seized the split-second opening. Before the white mist could reach him, he released his rifle, rolled to the side, drew his sidearm, and aimed it at the woman writhing on the floor, half-frozen by the chemical discharge. As he broke away, the ceiling spray switched from dry ice to expanding foam gel, pinning her curled form firmly to the deck. "Don't move! Stay right where you are!" Shouting the warning, Ye Shi kept his eyes locked onto her as he backed up to a safe distance. If she dared try to stand or break free from the bonds, he would open fire without hesitation. "Are you all right?" Panting for breath, Yun You ran back into the room. When the fight broke out earlier, she had sprinted into the archives next door. In her memory, a terminal had been stationed there. Thanks to the power station's fire suppression network being triggered, the entire shelter's safety grid was in standby mode. As a result, it took her minimal effort to seize control of Sector X-13's fire suppression system and switch the dispensers to manual override. A shelter's fire suppression system was not built solely to extinguish flames; it also served a riot-control role. Depending on the alert level, it could disperse fresh water, spray dry ice, or discharge immobilizing foam gel. That substance worked better than ropes; once caught, a person was like a rat on a glue trap. Deprived of leverage, no amount of brute strength could tear loose. "I'm fine..." Tearing his eyes away from the woman glued to the floor, Ye Shi glanced at Yun You and breathed heavily. "Thanks." "Don't mention it... If you hadn't held her off, I couldn't have subdued her so easily." Slightly flustered by the praise, Yun You cleared her throat. Pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, her gaze regained its sharpness as she stared down at the captive. "When we came down the elevator earlier, I felt something was off. The entry log showed eight people... I assumed the Academy's mechanical hound was counted, but it turns out a little tail was trailing us all along." Lying sideways on the ground in an utterly humiliating posture, the woman did not struggle. She merely raised her eyelids, glaring coldly at the two without a word. Yun You frowned as she studied her. "Who are you, really?" "Zhuang Lan," the woman sneered, her eyes darting between Ye Shi and Yun You. "Why waste your breath? Just get it over with." Yun You replied calmly, "We won't kill you, but you will be prosecuted on charges of murder. An endless sentence awaits you." "Prosecuted... Heh." The woman named Zhuang Lan curled her lip, not giving the threat a second thought. Yun You continued, "I don't understand. We bear no grudge against one another. Why attack us?" "No grudge...?" Zhuang Lan fixed her with a venomous glare. "You have the nerve to say that?" The sheer hatred burning in those eyes made Yun You frown involuntarily. Just as she was about to press further, Ye Shi cut in, staring at Zhuang Lan. "What did you mean when you said the airship crashed?" "Exactly what it sounded like," Zhuang Lan said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Haven't you realized it yet? We've been watching you all along, ever since you hit the Blackstone mutant tribe. When you set up camp, we lay in ambush beside you. When you entered this shelter, Lord Guixu ordered me to slip in behind you... And the moment you came inside, our forces launched their assault. A contraption cobbled together from a frigate core can be brought down with a single phase cannon shot." "Guixu?" Yun You and Ye Shi exchanged blank looks. Neither had ever heard the name. Zhuang Lan showed no surprise at their confusion, her cold, snake-like gaze washing over their faces. "Heh... You're the same as always: arrogant and ignorant. What a pity for those who placed their faith in you, stepping onto the surface full of hope and passion, only to find a world torn to pieces... Aren't you curious where they went?" "What are you talking about?" Yun You looked at her, baffled. Yet Zhuang Lan did not answer the question, sneering as she rambled on: "Settlements of the Post-War Reconstruction Committee span the entire planet, survivors helping one another rebuild our home... We grew up in our underground burrows listening to your broadcasts, yet after the doors opened, we discovered every single word you spoke over the airwaves was a lie." "The Post-War Reconstruction Committee collapsed over a century ago, but nobody ever told us! We honored the vows sworn two generations ago—or even earlier. We scoured every corner of the wasteland searching for its traces. We did everything we could to aid our compatriots, spared no effort taking in starving refugees, yet its descendants either shut their doors to us or holed up in their own corners, minding their own business... and even slapped shackles on us, forcing us to become their slaves." Ye Shi could not help interjecting, "That one's probably the Wilante." Counting the Great Rift Valley, out of the four fallen empires, it seemed only the Legion still practiced slavery. Those big-nosed bastards had thoroughly ruined the culture of the entire wasteland. Even though Enterprise and the Academy operated under far more efficient management models, most survivor settlements and marauder dens preferred copying the Legion's playbook. Yet the woman ignored Ye Shi's interjection, staring unblinkingly at Yun You—the employee from Enterprise. "Those wastelanders are even worse. They're like jackals—submissive as dogs when starving, greedy as rats when full, and the moment we showed any sign of exhaustion, they bared their fangs without hesitation. Compared to them... those simple-minded mutants are far more endearing, heh." "Look at the scar on my neck..." Zhuang Lan tilted her head, exposing the centipede-shaped scar, and glared viciously at Yun You. "Do you know where it came from? If that old bastard with snot hanging from his beard hadn't thought I had a pretty face, my head would have been chopped off with an axe and nailed to a wooden stake, just like my parents'." "And where were you people back then? Claiming you split off washes your hands of the past? Thank goodness the Enlightenment Society found me. A pity my skills fell short and I failed Lord Guixu's nurturing, falling into your hands... Otherwise, I would have loved nothing more than to capture you and torture you slowly. For instance... how about chopping off both your hands and locking you in a cell with mutants? Little girl, what flavor would you prefer? Green or gray?" Yun You stared blankly at her, visibly shaken by the venom in her words. Pale-faced, she stumbled back a step, her lips trembling. "Telling me this won't change anything... I—I'm not part of the Post-War Reconstruction Committee, and... I... I..." Ye Shi placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her nearly collapsing frame, and gave her a firm pat. "Don't listen to her bullshit." Looking at Zhuang Lan's manic, twisted expression, Ye Shi took a deep breath. "Hey. I don't know what you went through in the past, but I don't think that gives you an excuse to throw a psychotic fit here. If you think the world is rotten, find a way to do something to make it better, or go hide somewhere. Don't take your hatred out on people who have nothing to do with it. We won't force you to stand with us, but at least stay the hell out of our way. The way you are right now, how are you any different from the people you curse?" "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're a shelter resident, aren't you? I thought you might become our comrade," Zhuang Lan sneered, speaking in a mocking tone. "What a shame, handsome... You can just be buried here along with those old diehards." "As for what you said about doing something for this world," she paused, an eerie smile creeping onto her lips, "don't worry... Compared to you people who have done nothing, we've already done plenty behind the scenes. You'll see. Soon enough." Ye Shi stared at her unblinkingly. "We'll see about that." He had faith in his companions. How could they possibly lose to a bunch of rats plotting in the gutters? It was just an airship. Even if it truly crashed, so what? That thing had never been their real trump card... ... At the same time, up on the surface. Guixu's expression was slightly stunned as he stared unblinkingly at Chu Guang, unable to comprehend why the man remained so composed. Relying merely on a kinetic hammer and a suit of power armor, how could he possibly withstand a steel airship crashing down from a thousand meters in the air?! That behemoth falling from the clouds would act like a flyswatter, flattening him and the entire encampment beneath him into meat paste. Yet the moment he shifted his gaze toward the sky, the stunned look froze in place as if glued to his face. Thousands of parachutes blossomed across the sky like scattered stars, drifting in the air. At the same time, massive buffer airbags deployed outward from the bottom of the airship. Combined with the forward thrust provided by its twin rows of propellers, the steel behemoth's descent toward the earth slowed markedly as it glided gently toward the open terrain beside the camp. "What... kind of thing is that?!" Completely dumbfounded, he lay motionless on the hospital bed, an expression of sheer disbelief painted across his face. "...Ever since I learned that taking out an anti-gravity device and a deflector shield requires only a single phase cannon shot, I haven't been able to sleep soundly," Chu Guang said with a faint smile. What he had ordered from Enterprise previously was not just five base trucks, but also a full set of "cushioning airbags" custom-built for the Heart of Steel. *[...Even if shot down by a phase cannon strike, it must maximize the safety of the crew aboard and the integrity of equipment, while allowing it to function as a stationary artillery platform after crash-landing.]* That was how he had placed the order with the Changge Group. Although Wu Mu had thought he was joking at first, once he went back and had his engineers look into it, they found it was entirely feasible. However, parachutes and airbags alone were insufficient. According to calculations, they also needed to deliberately blow off the armored steel welded to the airship's flanks and prow. A hard landing would inevitably inflict some damage on the hull, but as long as the crucial frigate core remained intact, it did not matter. These preparations had been completed long before the Heart of Steel ever entered Oasis 2. Looking at the dumbfounded Guixu, Chu Guang continued succinctly, "Feel honored. This was originally prepared for the Arbiter." Due to the sudden turn of events, the camp had entered combat readiness. Troops from the Alliance, Enterprise, and the Wilante alike had already finished assembling. Of course, the primary fighting force lay on the Alliance's side. Most of the 26th Strike Team had departed for the industrial building, while most of the Arbiter's Air Marines had remained aboard their airship. Those Wilante seemed entirely unprepared to face a starship-grade phase cannon strike; the Arbiter was currently plunging toward the Blackstone mutant tribe. Poor bastards were in for a rough time. Chu Guang tapped his helmet with an index finger, clipped key segments from the audio recording he had just gathered, and forwarded them to their ally, Enterprise, while also dispatching copies to the representatives of the Legion and the Academy. Watching the commotion outside, the man on the bed forced a calm chuckle, the muscles on his face twisting into a knot. "Heh... Petty tricks." Chu Guang paid him no heed. Patting the shoulder of the bewildered Yi Chuan, he strode out of the semi-collapsed barracks. The thunderstorm severely disrupted long-range communications; the fellow calling himself Guixu could not be too far from here. If he did not plan on running yet... then he could stay right here. The Arbiter was the first to strike the ground. The dust and debris it threw up rocketed a hundred meters into the air, and an earth-shaking boom reverberated under everyone's feet. Simultaneously, the armed forces of the Enlightenment Society ambushing nearby launched their assault. Several hundred troops split into dozens of squads, nearly simultaneously pouring heavy and light firepower into the camp, plunging the defenders into a bitter battle. "Have these people lost their minds?!" Eyes wide as he stared at the muzzle flashes flickering outside the camp, Wu Changnian's face registered utter disbelief, which promptly morphed into fury. Although the intelligence had arrived abruptly, he had already learned from Chu Guang about the Enlightenment Society and their nefarious conspiracy. Those people had murdered their employee, disguised themselves as him, and made fools of the search-and-rescue team that had traveled thousands of miles. Those scoundrels had even harbored the audacious plot to usurp their identities and return home wearing their faces... "This is a provocation against the Board—against every resident of Ideal City! These... despicable attackers! I don't care who they are, they will pay for this!" Enlightenment Society, was it? This was the first time he had ever heard that name, and the first time he had ever been so incensed. But it didn't matter. Rats in the gutter did not deserve a formal declaration of war; they deserved the exact same treatment as marauders and mutants! He swore that as soon as he returned, he would submit a proposal to the Board to blacklist this evil, idiotic organization! Every survivor settlement with close economic ties to Enterprise, every traveling merchant and client active across the wasteland would receive bounties on the Enlightenment Society. Once their tracks were pinned down, it would be their death sentence! He swore he would make them spend the rest of their lives living in the shadows. "Minister... It's too dangerous here! Please fall back with us!" Several strike team soldiers ducked through the line of fire, grabbed Wu Changnian, and swiftly ushered the shouting official away from the conspicuous spot to a safe area. Almost the moment they stepped away, an RPG slammed directly into where he had just stood, sending towering flames leaping skyward. Staring at the spot where he had stood moments ago, Wu Changnian went pale, cold sweat drenching his back. If he had been two steps slower, he would be nothing more than ashes. Not daring to linger, he immediately stuck close to the strike team soldiers, meekly following the professionals' directions to take cover. Fortunately, the Alliance soldiers had built numerous seemingly pointless barracks around the camp. Earlier, he had wondered what practical purpose those things served, but now they proved useful. Several strike team soldiers pulled Wu Changnian behind a barracks building, deployed mobile barricades, and established a rudimentary shelter using the obstacle as cover. On the other side, the B-tier researcher's science vessel attempted to evacuate, but before it could gain much altitude, it stalled out and crashed back down. Captain Adria watched the sudden upheaval outside in shock. After listening to his subordinate's report, his expression shifted from alarm to fury. "Those damn bastards!" Maclen said stiffly, "What on earth happened?" "We were played by an organization called the Enlightenment Society." "Enlightenment Society?" Maclen was taken aback. "What the hell is that?" "God knows," Adria cursed under his breath, then bellowed at the officers under his command, "Damn it, prepare for combat! Show those bastards what we're—" Before his sentence could finish, the rumbling tremors of the earth rolled in from the direction where the Heart of Steel had descended. Everyone turned toward it in astonishment, only to witness a spectacle they would never forget for the rest of their lives. Clad in heavy armor, beasts sporting claws half a meter long marched forward through billowing dust with thunderous steps. They resembled walking tanks, their powerful legs disregarding the jagged terrain. "Damn it, what is that..." Adria muttered, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock. He had only just arrived here. Never before had he heard that the Alliance had a unit that fought riding Deathclaws?! Maclen likewise stared unblinkingly in that direction. A set of azure power armor stood at the vanguard of the mighty formation. The man reached out, patted the neck of the Deathclaw bounding toward him, and vaulted onto its back. The Deathclaw unleashed an excited roar, its feet kicking up rolling dust as they pounded the earth. Without looking at the Deathclaw, Maclen's eyes remained locked onto the man—or rather, the warhammer in his hands. This scene was all too familiar... He would probably never forget it for the rest of his life. "It's already over." About to deploy his troops, Adria looked toward Maclen at his sudden remark, raising an eyebrow with interest. "The attackers' gear doesn't look like an easy fight." Maclen twitched the corner of his mouth. "Even if you gave every one of them a Gauss rifle, amateurs are still amateurs." Even as they spoke, the soldiers of the Enlightenment Society had charged to the perimeter of the camp, launching the second phase of their offensive. In truth, they were not as incompetent as Maclen had mocked; most were well-trained with excellent physical conditioning. Most wore exoskeletons, and their weaponry was state-of-the-art. However—there was one thing Maclen had gotten right. Fighting at the scale of a thousand troops was indeed a first for them... and that was an entirely different beast from squad-level skirmishes. When they saw the wave of monsters surging like a tide, their minds momentarily froze, an uncontrollable dread creeping across their faces. Deathclaws... one of the most terrifying mutant beasts on the wasteland! And right now, there were so many of them! Not only that, but the riders mounted on the Deathclaws' backs and their battle-hungry gazes struck terror into the depths of many attackers' souls. Standing before them was no ragged band of stragglers, nor feeble survivor militia. That was a battle-hardened legion! It hailed from a hell of corpses and bones! The seething bloodlust was blinding to behold. Aside from the remotely controlled clone soldiers, almost every living person facing them stepped back involuntarily. Watching the pack of rats who had charged to the edge of the camp only to hesitate, not daring to advance, Chu Guang raised the warhammer in his hand without an ounce of emotion, then swung it fiercely forward. "Crush them!" Boiling roars and war cries shook the entire battlefield, crashing like a tidal wave against the Enlightenment Society soldiers who had felt victory within their grasp just moments before. Resounding at the same time was the roar of guns and artillery that drowned out the thunder— "Kill!!!"