NOVEL WEB Chapter 305
The tank commander rubbed his bleary eyes as if waking from a deep sleep.
“Get up, get up! We need to rise!”
It seemed he had dozed off for just a moment.
Just moments ago, he had the feeling he had crushed several wicked monsters beneath his treads.
“What kind of disgrace is this… I can’t even think straight. What is happening right now?”
The super medium tank raced across the ground with surprising agility.
The tank commander issued commands with a grave tone, just like the crackling radio signals.
“Attention, everyone. A large group of monsters has breached the third defensive line. The threat level is unpredictable.”
The situation was dire.
The red zone expedition had failed once again.
Right behind them were the young Awakened from the reckless Academy deployment and countless general laborers mobilized for city construction.
Contact with the main unit was hopeless.
The approaching forces were all isolated, and even the clan hunters and mobile units closest to them could not provide a clear arrival time.
Currently, only one siege super medium tank was guarding the main route.
“We must hold out until reinforcements arrive. Behind us, there are citizens and students—our future hope.”
The tank commander shouted out, leaning over the hatch.
Thermal imaging equipment distorted because of ether influence, causing frequent errors.
The only thing reliable was human eyes.
The reactor roared with a magnificent sound, shaking violently.
The metal armor panels groaned under fatigue, and the endless tracks ripped through the earth. The tank charged, smashing through assorted rocks blocking its path.
What lay before them were the startled monsters, with their heads raised in surprise at their presence.
Filthy beasts, the sheer number of them covered the horizon, as disgusting as cockroaches.
“Turret Number One. Seven o’clock! Fire!”
The central secondary turret smoothly rotated before unleashing a hail of fire.
With a rate of fire of eighty rounds per second, bullets slammed into the monsters’ shells, resulting in ragged tears on their magical defense that couldn’t withstand the mounting shock.
Monsters vaporized, leaving only parts of their lower halves behind.
“Driver, full speed ahead! Crush them!”
Panicked monsters turned to flee, only to scream as they were run over by the tank.
“Good, let’s buy time like this until the others can evacuate!”
The tank commander, now like a conductor of an orchestra, incessantly coordinated the entire tank’s movements.
Three secondary turrets and one primary turret blasted the approaching monsters to bits, burying fleeing beasts under a rain of gunfire.
“Main gun turret! Fire!”
A thunderous roar echoed as a flash of light burst forth. The massive siege shell fell upon the enemy, vaporizing dozens of underlings in the blink of an eye.
Sly monsters seemed to sense danger, releasing smoke and attempting to flank from the sides and rear.
Some rocks suddenly emerged from the ground to block their attacks.
Bullets flew in, banging against the armor.
“They bounced off!”
The commander sighed in relief. This super medium tank was built with the pride of human materials engineering.
It’s not something as trivial as a beast would be able to damage.
“Driver! Turn the chassis! They’re trying to climb on! Everyone, move those turrets! Shake them off!”
Veteran soldiers expertly swung the barrel like a weapon, shaking off the monsters.
–Bang!
“I can’t believe it works!”
The powerful fire struck the armor, causing it to bounce away.
More were coming.
“Turrets One and Three, commence free fire! Stop their approach!”
The heavy weapons roared wildly.
The monsters’ bodies were torn apart. A swift group maneuvered through the hail of bullets, approaching the tank.
Sharp claws scraped against the armor.
“Driver, reverse! Scatter fragmentation! Technician, maximize reactor output. Activate the arc projector!”
The tracks churned violently atop the rocks.
Before the monsters, an electric dome spread around the tank, and crashing lightning pierced the air.
The monsters screamed.
The smell of burning flesh permeated the area.
“Main gun turret! Reload and fire immediately! Ten o’clock. Elevation -10 degrees. Use the quake warhead!”
The loading device clunked as it pushed a massive shell into the black barrel.
As the siege shell burrowed into the ground, the earth shook violently, disrupting the enemy formation.
A grinding noise erupted as the monsters’ claws, imbued with magic, raked against the armor.
“Technician, situation report!”
-Armor damage: none!
“All turrets, continue free fire!”
Explosions rocked the ground, forming craters. The horrid creatures kept charging, relentless as they were being slaughtered.
In addition, the number of airborne monsters and larger ground monsters increased the intensity of the attack.
Despair seeped into the commander’s heart.
Was this our fate—to be swallowed whole in the sea of monsters through wear and tear?
Would it end like this?
But such despair was fleeting; soon, a glimmer of hope emerged.
– “Here come the reinforcements!”
He lifted his head to face the approaching salvation.
Winged hunters bravely charged toward the flying monsters.
Warriors of the Federation and striking teams of Awakened raced in, taking down the monsters and disrupting their advance.
Soon, the corpses of monsters piled up like a mountain.
“For the Federation! For humanity!”
The commander’s shout resonated.
“Forward!”
The fifteenth model super medium tank never faltered.
A miraculous victory was drawing near.
In that moment, the tank commander spotted something far ahead.
A looming danger on the other side of the hazy fog.
A malevolent black aura was rising from a humanoid monster with yellow fur on its head.
Surrounding the monster were others that, while not as ominous, radiated immense power.
He could sense the eerie wave of ether even as a Non-Awakened.
The tank commander instinctively felt it.
It must be eradicated.
“Emergency! Code Omega has appeared! All turrets, twelve o’clock! Focus fire!”
The most dangerous enemy had emerged.
—
The first interdimensional invasion brought about numerous innovations to Trist’s military tactics.
In the time when machine guns had just begun to emerge, and crude bolt-action rifles and cast-iron cannons made up the bulk of many armies, within a year and a half of the war, repeating rifles and breech-loading steel howitzers were massively adopted.
As the second year of the war progressed, the League of Nations utilized the resources of other worlds to manufacture many war machines envisioned by engineers, deploying them on a large scale to engage the monsters in brutal fights.
Among these, the most prominent was the ground battleship.
Later named the super medium tank, this massive metal beast became humanity’s most formidable conventional force, apart from air battleships and Awakened.
Unfortunately, students from Vesperia, who just came to earn some pocket money, found themselves face to face with military engineering advancements passed down since the age of their ancestors.
“Hey, look at that. Why is the tank—”
–Ta-ta-ta-ta!
Just as a male student pointed towards it in curiosity, he vanished right before their eyes.
In a grotesque flare of fire, the student disappeared without a trace, leaving just his shoes behind.
Sadly, while Vesperia may have taught how to cooperate with humanity’s weapons, they had not educated how to confront them.
The remaining students screeched in terror and tried to flee.
Crunch! The tank ruthlessly trampled over the fleeing Academy students.
Just before being crushed, what they last saw was a human shape atop the massive chassis.
After mercilessly crushing several people, the super medium tank moved to a better firing position and mercilessly assaulted the hunters who were conducting reconnaissance.
The shells fired without hesitation dismembered the hunters amidst a storm of blood and debris.
“Shit, shit! It’s a Fusion Creature!”
One hunter who had been thrown away by the barrage managed to stand unsteadily and yell out.
On top of the tank, a ghoul, tangled up like a net, howled incomprehensibly, flailing her arms wildly.
Due to the ether’s influence, the tank’s armor appeared pallid, and various peculiar scratches and cracks spread like spider webs, resembling flayed skin.
“Ugh, aaah!”
“Get down! Aaaaah!”
“This is driving me crazy. Was that the relic’s true form?”
Once again, a flash erupted from the broad main gun, vaporizing workers fleeing from the site.
Someone shouted.
“That’s it! The eleven mouths of the Cutlass Valley, the fire-breathing monster!”
“What’s that?”
“There have been rumors for ten years! Something unidentified loitering in the Depths! I hear there were numerous disappearances, so it must have been a Fusion Creature!”
“I’m going insane. I’ve heard that rumor too…”
The hunters locked eyes with each other.
They were rival clans before, but now was the time for cooperation.
“Is that really what it was? Alright, let’s catch it.”
“Let’s flank it! On the count of three, we’ll set down area smoke bombs! In such a wide area, engaging in a fair gunfight will leave us at a disadvantage!”
One mage shouted as he folded away the detector on his staff.
“We’ll aim our fire at that ghoul! That ghoul! With the magic wave, it definitely looks like a weakness!”
“Got it! We’ll take point; you all cover us from the left! Team One, Team Two, get ready!”
As the smoke spread, several mages waved their hands, triggering a multitude of rock walls for cover.
Barriers, projectile slow-downs, interceptions. They utilized all means to weaken the tank’s attacks.
“Run!”
Despite the pouring gunfire, the tank remained staunch, as the approaching hunters attempted to claw at the armor or climb atop.
The tank thrashed aggressively like a beast shaking off fleas, disrupting their approach.
-Crack!
A sudden aerial explosion startled the close assault team, and while they flinched, the lightning spreading from around the tank blocked their approach, searing them.
“Get back!”
From the firing squad, dazzling beams of light struck the tank.
Melt beams hit the armor, and a colossal blade-shaped magic attack swooshed in.
In an instant, the Fusion Creature that was retreating while emitting steam twisted its chassis.
A hunter holding a staff screamed.
“Insane! What kind of lunatic is that?”
The exquisite angle of the tea time deflected the magical attack.
The barrel rotated to aim at the firing point, and the disheveled body sailed through the air.
“Is that really a monster? It looks human!”
“Of course it would look human! It’s a Fusion Creature! It’s mixed with humanity, not just some dumb beast!”
Sounds of chaos emerged from behind those bewildered.
An armed squadron of jet bikes and a column of armored vehicles cut through the fog.
Some turning their heads cheered out.
“It’s the Luminexa!”
Thank goodness. If it’s Luminexa, there’s bound to be a way to take down that monster.
Yet those at ease despaired upon seeing the surge of monsters gathering behind the tank.
“We’re doomed! We must flee to the legs!”
As the Crysatus swarm began to descend upon the jet bike squadron, the hunters chose to escape.
However, the pursuit of the tank and monsters continued.
“Scatter! That way, we’ll take less damage!”
“No, they’re coming! How are they so fast!”
Some fled while others prepared to resist, and then an unbelievable thing occurred.
“What, what’s happening?”
The Fusion Creature trembled and suddenly veered off in another direction.
“What’s it doing…?”
—
A murderous tank following totalitarianism neared.
By the time the Violet Command Center grasped the situation, it was too late.
The super medium tank, which had been ravaging countless people, suddenly charged toward them.
“I’m stuck in the tracks again!”
“Graaaah!”
The search party was trampled by it as it came in droves.
“Why is this happening!”
“What have we done wrong? Bad guy!”
That thing seemed to have a grudge against them, seeking out and crushing only the Violets, ignoring everyone else.
“So, it’s probably best to keep our distance! Our attacks haven’t worked!”
“It’s a super medium tank?”
“That’s right, based on what we see! Kyaaaaah! It’s coming!”
The rattling noise grew closer, and it was coming toward their group.
The torrential gunfire perfectly blocked the path toward the corridor.
-Crunch!
One squad on alert ahead was obliterated by a shell.
The monster was firing Violet-sized shells laced with magic, causing them to hurt more than normal explosions.
“It seems to be a Fusion Creature! It looks similar to the one we faced earlier!”
Before finishing his words, the tank appeared.
It was truly massive. Radio Violet was incessantly broadcasting information.
“Currently inquiring about the appearance to Helios, the relic excavation department says they know something—”
-Splurt!
The crouching Radio Violet squinted as shrapnel exploded above her head.
“Ugh, Daphne! The radio cut out. You need to shield me and Levi!”
“Ah! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
454, who took over the radio duties, shot out information coming in from the Helios headquarters.
“Oh, it’s out. The chief just told me to jot it down. Fifteenth model super medium tank! Federation arsenal! Second-generation tank. Old-style reactor onboard! A total of eleven weapons! Short and thick guns mean it’s made for siege warfare!”
Enrique, crouching in an improvised trench, widened her eyes in astonishment.
“A reactor? Wow, does that mean they’re the same kind as me?”
“Is that so? Ugggh!”
Thankfully, as all eyes were glued to the monstrous being, the search teams scattered in a frenzy, charging across the fog and rocks.
Looking at the violet map with the faint red dot indicating the monster reinforcements approaching, it seemed they might have a chance if there were enough numbers.
The problem was firepower.
They’d faced Vanguard’s magical bombardments and a Grand Mage’s power and even dealt with fusion warships and apostles, but they’d never experienced such relentless attacks before.
It felt surprisingly obsessive, their determination to scratch and claw around for cover and land blows was something they hadn’t felt before.
“What do you think, Violet?”
Amidst the mess, the only one holding her composure was Older Sister Sophie El, who inquired.
“Numbers are gathering gradually, right? They said the old reactor has weaknesses! While I bind them together, it seems like you, Enrique, and Levi can attack!”
“And we definitely need to eliminate that thing.”
What Sophie El pointed at was a ghoul’s upper body protruding from the tank. Where its facial features should be was just a large, contorted black hole and a grotesque mouth.
“Yes, we’re set! Here we go!”
“The command is giving orders! Everyone, charge!”
A thick barrier unfolded before them.
With Violets rushing at full power with shields, the tank reacted fiercely.
-Kaboom!
“Ugh! It’s coming again!”
Explosive shockwaves left great holes in the tide of Violets.
By applying smoke in different areas to muddle the monster’s accuracy as much as possible, they sprinted through the death zone with no respite.
While the Fusion Creature began to slowly retreat, sensing danger it spun various turrets.
“Haha! It noticed!”
In a 180-degree turn, fifteen hundred Violets charged in.
While the turrets swept the area with bullets, their concentrated fire was now less, making it a more feasible attack.
Limited to the early charge, they also had Daphne’s protective support.
“It’s the monster support! The eagles are flying in! Ground troops, be careful!”
“Team One! Team Two! Flank! Stop the monsters.”
As they attempted to halt the monsters trying to assist the Fusion Creature, a white beam split the air.
The flash of the ballista soared toward the tank, accompanied by a sound chilling enough to induce clarity.
The large bolt pierced into the frontal armor.
“Ha ha! Even tanks are ultimately weak trash! Die! Die!”
Next came a sluggish plasma sphere that rolled toward them, accompanied by something small and light-hearted bouncing off the tank’s top.
“A smoke screen?”
“They’re retreating!”
As the Fusion Creature sensed the impending danger, it frantically maneuvered to evade the attack.
Enrique’s gunfire was slow, and the monster narrowly avoided being struck.
“This isn’t the end!”
“Get down!”
3212 and his team, who had moved into the predicted path of the tank, flattened themselves against the ground.
They wore bomb vests and held makeshift explosives.
Simultaneously, a few Violets that had approached within range activated their Vision Memory Chips.
“Meltdown beam ready! Switch to flash whip operation!”
“Cut off its tracks! Let’s make it a turtle!”
If they could disrupt its movement, then no matter how sturdy it was, it wouldn’t matter.
As the ghoul’s gaze turned towards them, it screamed something incomprehensible.
“■■■-!!”
The massive body twisted, brakes squealed, and it turned right.
The treads crushed the rocky ground beneath, letting out smoke.
Magic narrowly struck the side armor.
-Crack!
“Ugh! Lightning around the tank!”
Lightning enveloped the area surrounding the tank like a barrier, causing the bomb-wielding Violets to explode in place.
The following Violets preparing their spells were shredded by machine gun fire.
“Damn, it’s evasive. But it won’t be able to escape this!”
From this point on, they had to resort to cheats.
“Hero’s power!”
A dark figure darted through the Violets.
Using them as both bait and shield, Older Sister Sophie El charged in.
Sophie El pulled something from her back.
A long halberd unfolded, spinning through the air.
Bullets colliding against it were redirected as they clashed with the burning magical energy.
The ghoul pointed towards Older Sister Sophie El, opening its mouth wide before roaring again.
“■■■■■■-!”
The Fusion Creature began to spin to flee.
Once again, an electric barrier spread, but the halberd pierced right through it.
“Haha! You’re dead! Now!”
The tank revolted, defiantly turning its turrets to resist.
But it couldn’t escape.
The tank, which had been shooting and fleeing, had cornered itself into a dead end.
To the right was a cliff, to the left were the Violets. Behind lay the Scholarship Officer (Jin).
Then what awaited ahead?
Seemingly not seeing what was immediately in front, there was an imposing rock formation blocking the path.
“Win! Win!”
With the encouragement from the squad, Sophie El nimbly leaped atop the tank.
In the next moment, the Fusion Creature did something strange. It indiscriminately opened fire at the column in front.
“Huh…?”
-Kaboom!
The tank collided with the pillar head-on.
As a stunned Sophie El was raising her spear, the area overhead turned dark.
So that’s what it shot at.
“…No way!”
The column weakened from being struck, collapsing down upon the tank.
Sophie El quickly jumped down to retreat behind the cliff’s edge.
At the same time, the ghoul hid beneath the tank, like a game of whack-a-mole.
-Rumbling!
As the column broke, a cloud of dust shot up.
While Sophie El re-assumed her combat stance, she heard more crashing sounds.
“Deploy the shields!”
“Be careful!”
The Violet shield wall formed the first line, quickly followed by Daphne’s shield forming the second.
They had barely escaped close combat with their flimsy trick, but our Violet’s strategy was flawless.
Counterattack? It was all predicted by the Violet Network.
“There are no openings!”
Before its shells struck either Sophie El or her, a random spot hit the ground.
“…Huh?”
-Kaboom!
A significant shell dug into the ground.
The explosion felt smaller than expected.
A fierce tremor rocked the area, and before the ground finally collapsed, that was what she thought.
As if on cue, their position was right at the cliff’s edge.
“Ahhh! It’s collapsing!”
“No, we’re falling!”
A group of Violets plummeted down.
Among them was Older Sister Sophie El.
“Violet! Someone grab me!”
“Ugh! I’ll catch you!”
Leaping nimbly, she plunged her spear into the cliff to break her descent.
The speed slowed, and she hovered mid-air.
Just below, she safely landed on a small outcropping.
“Sister, you’re alive!”
3346, hanging onto her shoulder, smiled brightly as Older Sister Sophie El shook her head in disbelief.
“Yeah, I survived. The problem is…”
She pointed to the direction the tank had raced across.
“That… leads toward the dungeon entrance in the Depths. I can’t tell how much intelligence that Fusion Creature has, but it’s probably about to cross completely…”
Just as the Fusion Creature vanished beyond the fog, thunderous noises erupted.
The bridge collapsed.
“Ugh… I’m done for. We can’t go back home.”
“Ugh, this is my fault. I let my guard down. But we need to take care of that thing first and climb back up.”
Gazing down at the approaching flock of eagles, Older Sister Sophie El sighed.
The explosions continued.