Chapter 273: First Merit
Relying on the physique of a Tier 1 Evolver, although he had some minor injuries, he could still carry a person and run swiftly.
Yan Bei Pass had long lost its functionality and become an ornamental ancient building, completely enveloped by the city in modern construction, and due to the terrain, it was stuck right in the middle between the flood zone and the storm zone.
In the end, it was blasted down by a cannon from the armored train.
The accumulated flood surged out, instantly changing the surrounding terrain.
Looking at the black muddy rapids under his feet and the cars like small iron boxes, Cao Yong felt a chill in his heart. Let alone him, even a Tier 2 Evolver wouldn’t dare jump down. If he got caught in it, what difference would it make from jumping into a meat grinder?
At first, he thought the armored train blasting Yan Bei Pass was purely a show of force.
This was clearly a long-premeditated war plan!
Originally, Black Kite’s special operations personnel had arrived a month earlier than the armored train, clearing all threats around Yan Bei Pass that could affect the negotiation.
In this process, they not only familiarized themselves with the terrain but also left countless hidden traps.
But because of this one cannon shot, all the preparations fell through.
The venue changed from an abandoned city to a flood city.
From Black Kite’s home field to the armored train’s home field!
Cao Yong looked toward the theater. The glorious Ascending God Long Ladder had been melted into steel fortifications. The armored train rode the rising flood steadily toward the theater, with cannon fire everywhere along the way, occasionally lighting up the rainy night brightly.
“Captain, why don’t you go first…”
The subordinate said softly from behind.
Cao Yong frowned and scolded, “With such a big flood disaster, where to go? This building is pretty sturdy. Let’s find a place to shelter from the rain.”
Cao Yong led his subordinate into the office building under his feet.
The office building was a jewelry trading center before the apocalypse, and now only a few Tier 1 zombies wandered inside.
Various precious jade, jewelry, and gold ornaments were placed in batches in the display cases.
If it were before the apocalypse, grabbing a handful would be more than an ordinary person could earn in a lifetime, but now they were ignored like stones.
Relying on the exoskeleton on his body and powerful individual equipment, Cao Yong easily dealt with three Tier 1 zombies and more than a dozen ordinary zombies alone. Because these zombies couldn’t affect the negotiation, they were overlooked by Black Kite’s cleanup team.
He flipped up his helmet and let out a long breath. “Late at night, fighting these things is really damn creepy.”
“Captain, don’t we need to go find the main force to rendezvous?”
“They’re probably scattered. Besides, today wasn’t our duty shift at all. I just came over to invite someone on the way. Who knew the armored train would be so dishonorable, not even giving a greeting, sneaking up on a mid-level forties guy like me.”
Cao Yong muttered resentfully.
“If Brother Zhong were here, with his ability, the armored train wouldn’t be able to break through the flood zone!”
The subordinate said viciously.
Mentioning his old friend’s child, Cao Yong inexplicably felt a bit of unease in his heart.
Zhong You had good talent and evolved quickly, but he was still young after all, so even though he became a Tier 1 elite evolver, Cao Yong kept him under his hand. The higher-ups had asked for him several times, but he blocked them with the excuse of “needing tempering.”
But now Zhong You had evolved to Tier 2. Even if he was also Tier 2, it was impossible to keep another evolver at the same level in his team.
The company wouldn’t allow such a waste of resources.
“Handle your wound yourself. I’ll go stand watch.”
Cao Yong tossed the medical kit to his subordinate with worry and turned to walk outside.
Walking to the bedside and looking at the cannon fire and lightning bursting in the distance, that unease indeed dissipated a lot.
In the room, the subordinate didn’t turn on the light but activated an electronic screen on the exoskeleton arm, barely treating the wound on his leg with the faint light.
He stitched up the largest wound and subconsciously reached for the tweezers nearby, but couldn’t find them no matter what.
Just as he was about to turn his head, a pair of tweezers holding a cotton ball soaked in iodine was handed over.
The subordinate chuckled, “Thanks, Captain.”
The other party also chuckled, “You’re welcome.”
Hearing this voice, the subordinate trembled all over, adrenaline surged rapidly, the “combat factor” was instantly activated, even the pain sensation in his leg was blocked by nerves, and his spirit instantly peaked, ready to support his body for a big fight.
The next second, six spears and short cannons extended over.
His boiling blood calmed down, muscles locked the bones, unable to move a bit.
Before he could react, a metal black egg was forcefully stuffed into his mouth. The first try didn’t go in, and the other party smashed it with the gun grip.
Cao Yong, who had returned from standing watch, heard this muffled sound outside the door.
His pupils contracted instantly. Let alone rushing in to check, he didn’t even think of asking, silently retracting the foot he had just stepped out.
He turned and ran!
“Bang!”
Two explosions sounded simultaneously.
Cao Yong was sent flying back. If not for the exoskeleton on him, these two rocket launcher shots alone would have killed him on the spot.
Cao Yong, lying on the ground, just wanted to unlock the power restriction of the exoskeleton when two heavy sniper shots shattered his hands.
“Since you’re here, stop struggling.”
A big foot stepped on his chest, tapped on his exoskeleton, and in three to five moves dismantled all the hidden mechanisms clean, including the ejectable armor and backup power supply, all removed.
Looking at the other’s skilled technique, Cao Yong’s heart turned ice-cold.
Various messy thoughts churned in his mind.
Undercover agent?
Traitor?
“Pa pa…”
Several strong flashlights shone on his face.
Cao Yong squinted his eyes and barely made out the “opponents” with the faint light. He could see seven or eight people, but the actual number was probably far more. They wore military uniforms he hadn’t seen before, with almost no logos, chaotic weapon models, mostly old-style firearms, and a few high-end electromagnetic weapons he couldn’t recognize.
They looked like some unknown small force, but on the battlefield between Black Kite and the armored train, where did a small force come from?
No need to think, the answer surfaced.
“His energy is flowing, he’s probably holding back some skill.”
The speaker was an ordinary-looking youth with a gold ring on his hand, looking bitter, the least soldier-like here.
Cao Yong was shocked in his heart. What the hell ability was this, able to see even his “Fighter” pure muscle buildup!
“Which position?”
“Waist!”
“Bang!”
A soldier pulled out a handgun and decisively fired at his hip bone.
Cao Yong grunted, sweating coldly from the pain.
The 9mm bullet lacked penetration and was stuck right on his hip bone.
Even a slight movement caused heart-piercing pain from the bullet rubbing against the bone.
“Lieutenant, this seems to be the one who cursed the train conductor on the city pass earlier, still a Tier 1 Evolver, caught alive by our group right away. This is first merit!!”
The shooting soldier shouted excitedly.
Tong Zizhan looked darkly at the two pressed on the ground and coldly spat out one word, “Lock them up first. The rest continue monitoring the surrounding water area!”
“Yes!”
The soldiers picked up Cao Yong and the other and locked them in the room.
Seeing only himself and Gao Yuan left around, Tong Zizhan’s expression instantly collapsed, and he wailed softly, “Big brother, you’ve really gotten addicted to earning merit, huh?”
“Didn’t I tell you to find a place with fewer people? You go and catch a key figure alive!”
Gao Yuan said with a bitter face, “You saw it too. We hid here first, then they came. Who knew he’d drill in here…”
Tong Zizhan scratched his hair and sighed heavily.
“Hope it gets easier later. By the way, your eyes can even see through a Tier 1 Evolver’s body?”
“‘Refraction Vision’ has reached lv6. Now I can see some finer energy changes…”
“Damn, this is your second skill, already at Tier 2 standard?”
“Ah, it’s nothing…”
“My ‘Stealth’ is only lv5. How many general energy crystals have you secretly absorbed behind my back?”
Gao Yuan turned his ring guiltily, “There are so many resources, waste if not used…”
Tong Zizhan said painfully, “This is betrayal to the company. I’ll note it down and report to the company after the task!”
“Cut it out. The company contacted you, right.”
“Probably…”
“The higher-ups want the armored train’s main personnel evolution data again. What do you plan to do?”
Tong Zizhan was silent for a moment, shrugged, “We’re just peeking from the back door, not on the front line. Where would we get the latest info? Others won’t hand evolution data to us…”
Although Tong Zizhan didn’t say it explicitly.
But after partnering for so long, Gao Yuan knew his personality well.
He could watch the excitement, but avoid trouble if possible, delay if he could.
Fortunately, he was the same.
……
Compared to the mild comfort of the rear battlefield.
The frontal battlefield was blowing brains out.
Although the armed corps caught them off guard, Black Kite’s special services department wasn’t pushovers. Under the lead of a group of silver and copper backbones, they quickly stabilized the formation.
Three rounds of cannon coverage failed to break their position.
This was with Xiao Ba tanking the enemy’s main firepower in front. It made Captain He so angry his eyes turned red. An anti-aircraft machine gun was forced to barrel explosion, two heavy machine guns broke, and he took a sniper shot.
If not for his sturdy build and the skill temporarily upgrading, the armored train’s high-level would have casualties.
But even with a big hole in his chest, He Jie was still spitting blood while cursing at Pangtu. At this time, Pangtu didn’t care about him either, stuffing various herbs into his chest cavity like dumpling filling while passionately trading insults with him.
“Lu Xiao dragged you back for nothing. I even prepared the funeral rites, just waiting for you to die, then move to your house overnight.”
“If I’m diligent, by year’s end I can hold a son!”
He Jie glared with tiger eyes, spat blood, pointing at Pangtu wanting to say something.
Pangtu pretended to lower his head, then suddenly lifted it, dodging He Jie’s pounce and bite, laughing, “I heard, I heard. Truly a good daughter. When the time comes, I’ll prepare a thick dowry for her, aiming to make Qu Hang that kid call me dad next month!”
He Jie: “Gulu gulu… (fuck)!”
Pangtu and Old San teamed up to carry the stretcher into the train. The armory hall was completely emptied.
Sparks and lightning all the way, just in time to see Doctor Lin Xia pushing a hospital bed out. The two put He Jie on it, and He Jie was still mumbling wanting to say something.
“Alright, you don’t need to worry about the rest.”
Pangtu kicked the hospital bed into the open medical carriage, then revealed a vengeful smile on his lips.
Some time ago, during special training, he was beaten badly by He Jie. He thought he’d have to hold back for a while, but the opportunity came so suddenly.
“The rest is yours. Don’t worry, go all out. Captain He’s will to survive is extremely strong now!”
Pangtu patted his shoulder and left laughing.
Lin Xia was stunned by this violent way of treating the wounded, not even noticing the bloody handprint Pangtu left on his shoulder.
Only after the nurse’s reminder did he belatedly rush in to rescue the patient.
……
Water level rose, and the armored train naturally rose with the water.
But this rise was limited. Yan Bei Pass only played a blocking role at the key point. What actually held back the flood zone was the terrain stretching for thousands of meters.
Without He Jie this pillar combat power, the frontal advance became even slower.
Metal was pulled out thread by thread from the buildings on both sides, turning into sharp spears in mid-air, tearing through the rain curtain and stabbing fiercely at Black Kite’s defense position.
Black Kite special operations personnel didn’t linger, covering alternating retreats.
The next moment, with the metal spears as core, thousands of metal threads exploded like a hedgehog.
Making crackling sounds on the special operations personnel’s exoskeletons.
A white-haired young man with a silver iris pin on his collar neither dodged nor retreated, wielding a two-finger-wide long saber airtight.
Tough metal threads were like biscuits under his blade, easily chopped into a pile of fragments.
Not even a crisp sound.
About forty meters apart.
Xiao Ba, sitting in the wheelchair, had eyes turned ice-cold metal color, whole body soaked by rain.
In the area occupied by metal spears and metal threads, a layer of liquid metal spread like a virus. The previously projected metal was like steel bar foundations for building a house. The liquid metal didn’t need to fill it completely, just coat a thin layer on the surface to quickly form a huge volume fortification.
Although for evolvers and high-power weapons, these fortifications were fragile, far inferior to reinforced concrete buildings.
But no matter what, they were high-strength metal.
Destroying them still took time.
Xiao Ba only needed to reinforce parts while they destroyed, then armed soldiers would enter the fortifications for positional warfare with the opponent.
“Xiao Ba, make a communication trench connecting to the building on the left. That residential community has a shortcut to flank them!”
“Mm.”
After Licking Rabbit, standing in the construction site, finished speaking, he quickly changed position, then used the telescope to sneakily observe the situation while directing soldiers to advance or retreat.
The two advanced the frontal battlefield a full hundred meters in this way.
(Today’s hardware matters are settled, prepared some things needed for the engagement. Because of buying a house, the engagement time is a bit rushed. Busy from six in the morning until after eight at night before eating, tired all over shaking.)
