Chapter 276: Tier 2
……
“Rumble……”
Yan Bei Pass city walls stretched to the surrounding three peaks, with three pavilions standing on each of the three mountains.
The intense vibration spread all the way to the northernmost Sea-view Pavilion in the theater.
In the ancient-style pavilion filled with various detection equipment, a group of blond, blue-eyed foreigners stared at the distant battlefield in silence. A white leader suddenly said, “Are you sure Black Kite is just negotiating with a small force?”
Chongying subordinate clutched the data in his hand that was nearly flipped to pieces, nodded stiffly, “According to Deep Blue Data, that’s the case, a small force of less than two thousand people……”
“A small force of two thousand people bringing heavy weapons like railguns is one thing, but they also have electromagnetic armor?!”
“In ten minutes of combat, they wiped out over ten regular special operations teams from Black Kite, with more than three high-energy reactions above Tier 2!”
“Over thirty high-energy reactions above Tier 1!”
“The entire Pan-Asian Alliance’s strongest evolvers only have two Tier 2!”
“You’re telling me this is Dong Huang’s low-intensity local war?!”
Chongying man’s complexion also paled, his eyeballs rolling, “Could it be those despicable Dong Huang people tricking us?”
“Idiot, that doesn’t matter anymore. Now, immediately, recall all our dispatched teams!”
“Our communication devices can’t transmit that far……”
“Armored Train sent a large number of personnel to engage Black Kite, now the rear is empty, our teams might have already captured the gene primordium and started returning……”
……
Rear of the Armored Train.
Several foreigners mixed with over a dozen Asian types knelt on the ground trembling.
Tong Zizhan stood by with an ashen face; he, who used to avoid tobacco and alcohol, now smoked one after another, with soldiers handing him cigarettes nonstop, flattery unending.
These days, who doesn’t like a superior who can lead subordinates to earn merit?
Especially such great merit.
Over a hundred armed soldiers surrounded the dozen or so captives, their eyes gleaming.
These are all merits, exchangeable for points and promotable for military rank.
The hardest currency on the train.
None other.
Gao Yuan glanced at his watch, walked to Tong Zizhan’s side and whispered, “Make a decision quickly, kill or keep?”
Tong Zizhan’s face flickered uncertainly, “With so many people watching, even if we want to kill them secretly, can we?”
Gao Yuan looked at the soldiers guarding the captives tightly, letting out a long sigh.
“Where did these people even come from?”
“Hell if I know.”
Tong Zizhan stubbed out his cigarette and stepped forward to interrogate.
As a professional undercover agent, though not as professional as Hu Shuo, language barriers were nonexistent.
Soon he figured out their origins.
Hearing the name Pan-Asian Alliance, Tong Zizhan and Gao Yuan exchanged glances.
This wasn’t a major Dong Huang force at all, but a “force” temporarily formed after the apocalypse by Asian countries excluding Dong Huang, with many people but not qualifying as “big”.
Even they had only seen this organization in internal company data.
Gao Yuan, “Weren’t they negotiating with Black Kite? How did Pan-Asia’s people come too?”
Tong Zizhan said hatefully, “Most likely the company sold the intel, wanting to muddy the waters. When I get back, I’ll definitely stab their damn Xing Zi hard!”
The white man saw Tong Zizhan’s face turning fierce repeatedly, and quickly added in fear, “We dispatched two teams in total, the other led by a Tier 1 evolver, circling to the Armored Train from another direction.”
Hearing this, Tong Zizhan’s head throbbed, and in anger he kicked the man’s mouth.
“md, fuck!”
“Captain, what did he say?”
Surrounding soldiers asked curiously.
Tong Zizhan was about to say nothing, but his gaze swept around and saw many soldiers already eager, instantly breaking out in cold sweat.
The ones he led weren’t a bunch of illiterates; with Dong Huang’s quality education prevalence, at least ten out of a hundred could understand that sentence!
He could only grit his teeth and say, “Someone’s sneaking to attack the train, handle the captives, prepare to return for support!”
……
Armored Train.
Over a dozen people sneaked around climbing buildings surrounding the Armored Train.
A Chongying man returned to a bedroom on the top floor and said lowly, “The train has been stopped there for half a day, only occasionally providing cannon fire support. We can use Sato’s ability to infiltrate directly from the deck.”
Everyone’s gazes turned to the mission leader, a Chongying man with a small mustache.
Sato’s profession was Tier 1 “Oboro Stealth”, essentially the same as Tong Zizhan’s profession, Tier 1 “Twilight Robe”, but named differently due to cultural differences.
Sato overlooked the Armored Train below, feeling faintly uneasy.
But seeing the expectant gazes of his subordinates behind him, he decisively drew his saber, “For Chongying’s glory!”
“For Chongying’s glory!”
The group shouted excitedly.
Then they climbed down the high-rise building, Sato activated his skill to conceal everyone’s presence, jumped onto the deck, looked around left and right, and quickly hid into the train’s blind spots.
Front of the train command platform, Glasses adjusted his glasses.
“One Tier 1, over a dozen unranked, notify the purser to capture them.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a researcher stood up and said, “Director Xu just notified that he needs a stealth-type evolver to aid research……”
Glasses was stunned for a moment, then looked at the sneaky figures on the screen.
“They’re coming straight for us……”
“Then let the combat group stand down, have someone from the crew guide them.”
Glasses thought for a moment and said.
An attendant suddenly exclaimed, “They’ve entered the dining car.”
Glasses frowned, “Who’s in there?”
“Lin Xi! Notify the combat group?”
“Notify my ass, you few come with me!”
Glasses instantly lost his cool, leading the front car attendants rushing toward the rear in a fury.
Although Lin Xi had a low presence on the train, she was someone the train conductor kept an eye on; if anything happened, when the conductor returned, he’d be skinned and fed to the fish!
With Yu Yue absent, Lin Xi sat alone in the dining car feeling bored, about to head to Yu Jing’s workshop to inventory materials, when she suddenly spotted a group of people sneaking on the deck, trying doors one by one.
This greatly surprised Lin Xi; the train had many doors, but each had multiple identity verifications—how could they open casually.
Seeing them sweating profusely in anxiety, Lin Xi kindly stepped forward and opened the door.
Sato, struggling to pry the door, saw it open and jolted; spotting the silver-haired, expressionless Lin Xi, he jolted again, eyes glazing over.
The young girl before him looked only sixteen or seventeen, like the perfect heroine from Chongying anime, flawless from head to toe, beautiful as a dream.
Sato subconsciously wanted to say thanks, then remembered he was here to capture the gene primordium.
He immediately drew his saber, pressing it viciously against Lin Xi as they entered.
The dozen or so behind filed into the dining car; first stunned by Lin Xi’s appearance, then by the luxurious interior, all stood dumbfounded, unsure what to do.
Lin Xi’s eyes flickered, returning to calm before Sato looked over.
“Are you here for the gene primordium?”
Her clear, spring-like voice tightened Sato’s throat.
“Hand over the gene primordium now!”
Sato snapped to, barking fiercely.
“He’s locked in the lab at the rear—don’t kill me, I’ll take you there!”
Sato and his subordinate exchanged glances, surprised it was so easy to get the info.
Facing the delicate girl before them, though reason urged suspicion, instinct made them believe her.
We evolvers trust our instincts most.
Genes don’t lie.
Thus, led by Lin Xi through the dining car, they reached car three.
Wan Xing was using an electric saw to dissect the crocodile, her transparent raincoat splattered with blood; Sato and crew went on high alert.
“What are they doing?”
Lin Xi turned her back to Sato and crew, flashing a playful smile, sighing, “They’re here to rob the gene primordium.”
Sato stressed, “It’s rescue, rescuing the gene primordium.”
“Rescue?” Wan Xing glanced at Lin Xi, lowered her head with an “oh”.
Feeling all eyes on her, Wan Xing belatedly reacted, set down the electric saw, slowly removed her raincoat, then carefully selected colorful potions from the cabinet behind, insincerely saying, “Don’t kill me, I’m just an employee—these potions are yours, they boost basic attributes and awaken abilities.”
“Basic attributes?”
“Awakening ability?”
Sato didn’t grasp “basic attributes”, but his eyes bulged at “awakening ability”, snatching them up.
But lingering reason prevailed; he handed the potions back instead of drinking.
Though they’d infiltrated the Armored Train smoothly and learned the gene primordium’s location, the intrusion still felt eerie.
Though the two women’s expressions were off, he somehow sensed their fear.
“Xing Zi sister, shall we go together?”
Lin Xi invited.
Wan Xing pondered; Sato and crew being here likely meant train approval, but tagging along insured against mishaps and let her watch the fun—nothing this interesting in ages.
In this eerie atmosphere, the two led Sato’s group rearward.
Sato’s unease and inexplicable trust clashed wildly, twisting his face in conflict.
His followers behind looked serene.
Their state seemed less like deep enemy infiltration, more like mission accomplished, basking in victory merits.
“Hm?”
Sato keenly sensed someone watching.
Following the gaze, he saw a voluptuous woman by the door, eyeing them with interest, her black bodysuit hugging her ample figure perfectly.
Su Leiya immediately raised her hands in surrender, “I’m Black Kite’s captive—don’t kill me……”
Sato again bizarrely sensed the woman’s emotions.
Then the team grew again.
The rest went smoothly, encountering almost no one.
They reached Director Xu’s Laboratory at the train’s end.
Sato’s state grew ever stranger, like enduring immense pain, face contorted to extremes, yet oblivious, voice frantic as he repeatedly grilled Lin Xi.
“Where is it exactly, where’s the gene primordium?!”
“How much farther?!”
“We’re here.”
Lin Xi quickened her pace, pushing open Director Xu’s Laboratory.
As one of the train’s two gene primordia, she naturally had access.
Meeting Director Xu and the researchers’ eager gazes, Lin Xi smiled slyly, “Director Xu, I’ve brought the people you wanted, but you’ll have to handle it yourself—he seems about to wake.”
Director Xu eyed the hollow-gazed Sato behind, a flash of amazement in his eyes.
“Is this the strength of a dual professioner?”
……
Watching his bullets effortlessly deflected again, even Qu Hang’s mentality began to waver.
Sweat gathered at his brim, dripping onto the bridge of his nose.
He instinctively glanced at Yu Yue beside him, who happened to look over, eyes laced with shock.
Each clash was peak power collision, leaving no room for them to intervene.
Be it sound waves or wind, before such violent force they were like tiles on the ground; with their nerve reflex speed and combat awareness, they couldn’t predict the next moves or positions, nor dare interrupt rashly.
“No wonder the train conductor doesn’t bring us……”
“Is the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 this vast?”
Lin Jin watched the battle, eyes glinting with unwillingness.
“Forget the gap, quick, help me carry one.”
Goat tossed White Deer to Lin Jin, who saw the severe wounds from heavy blows, gritted his teeth, “These beasts!”
Goat glanced at the spear-wielding Golden Kite man, suppressing icy chill in his eyes, “He’s already holding back; on the battlefield, death is fair game—surviving is the king of hell’s mercy.”
Lin Jin carefully shouldered White Deer, “And us?”
Goat gravely said, “I don’t know if he’s holding back, but if we act now, only 30% probability……”
“Win rate that low?”
Yu Jing frowned.
Goat’s dull eyes gleamed strangely, “30% chance of total wipe!”
“Rumble——”
Before he finished, Liang Kuan’s burly figure flew back, smashing into a Roman column like a collapsing mountain, smoke and dust billowing.
Liang Kuan’s broad, gate-like torso was flushed red, with wounds on left thigh, right chest, left shoulder; his cannonball-blocking shield bore a massive hole.
“You’re not even Tier 2?!”
From the smoke, Golden Kite man’s wild voice boomed, thick with disbelief.
Spear swung, whipping up a gale that scattered the dust, revealing Liang Kuan slumped on the ground.
Compared to the Armored Train crew, Golden Kite man was even more shocked.
He wasn’t a “Fighter” who only boosted body without combat experience.
Tier 2 “Roaming God” was the most balanced melee combat profession among “Defenders”.
Weapon mastery, speed, strength, burst, nerve reaction… all essential; not just against lower-grade evolvers, even same-rank foes could be one-shot with high burst.
Yet this man, with Tier 1 profession and monstrous strength, matched him blow-for-blow, even suppressing him several times!
If toward White Deer and Giraffe it was admiration for talent,
Toward Liang Kuan it was fear and envy of a monster.
Golden Kite man approached Liang Kuan, “If your stamina reached Tier 2—or even just a bit higher than now—I might not take you……”
“Cover!”
Goat wasted no words, shouldered Giraffe, grabbed his assault rifle, and sprayed at Golden Kite man.
Yu Jing’s mechanical puppet blocked before Liang Kuan, attacking Golden Kite man.
“Clang!”
Golden Kite man’s eyes chilled; spear stabbed and flicked the ground, flinging a rain of cement shards.
He then turned the muzzle on the opposing mechanical puppet and pulled the trigger.
Electromagnetic weapon’s cold blue glow lit the gun body; the puppet’s head exploded, but under Yu Jing’s control it charged madly.
“Bang!”
The mechanical puppet lasted two moves before Golden Kite man severed three mechanical arms, snapped its long saber, sending it flying—worse off than Liang Kuan.
“Huff……”
A heavy gasp sounded.
Everyone turned to see Liang Kuan propping up the fallen Roman column to stand, body covered in fine cracks, chest heaving with thunderous winds.
“You all get out first.”
Lin Jin wanted to say more, but Goat grabbed his hand, gun trained on Golden Kite man, backing out step by step.
Golden Kite man didn’t stop them, turning to Liang Kuan with deep gaze.
“My task is just to block you, but fighting on means killing.”
Liang Kuan picked up the shattered shield, straightened his spine with explosive bone cracks like thunder, dark red steam distorting the air from his pores, blazing tiger eyes locked on Golden Kite, voice no longer muffled but fiercely resolute, “He hasn’t done what he promised me yet—you block, I’ll slaughter you!”
(One more chapter at dawn; busy tomorrow and the day after, updated early—this plot won’t drag, next chapter train conductor wraps it up)
