Chapter 42: Siege (2)

The sun dipped low, staining the distant mountains blood-red.

A convoy roared across the wasteland like a swarm of locusts, kicking up a sky-choking dust cloud…

Dozens of modified war vehicles formed a wedge, engines thundering relentlessly.

A young woman stood against the wind on the lead vehicle’s rear compartment, hands gripping the frame, squinting at the distant steel fortress, no bigger than a palm, her long robe whipping in the gusts.

Her ash-gray hair fluttered messily, brushing across her striking face.

Eisenburg’s command tower glinted coldly in the sunset, its towering walls lined with countless cannon barrels slowly swiveling…

Their dark muzzles locked onto the convoy’s direction.

“Ready?” Murphyxia turned to the black figure behind her, her voice ethereal amidst the wind’s roar.

Lin Lan sat silently in the back, encased in the pitch-black [Valkyrie] heavy exoskeleton.

The armor plates swayed slightly with the vehicle’s jolts, absorbing the fading sunlight into their deep coating.

She didn’t turn, her gaze fixed on Eisenburg’s glaring tower spire, its command light flickering in the dusk…

“You brought too many,” Lin Lan finally spoke, her voice low through the helmet.

“We’re not waging all-out war with Eisenburg.”

Murphyxia chuckled, her eyes gleaming with intent: “It’s all part of the plan, don’t worry.”

“What plan?” Lin Lan’s tone was flat. “This show of force? We’ll be blasted before we get close.”

“You’ll see…” Murphyxia turned back to the fortress, dodging the question:

“She’s only in one of two places: the underground safehouse or the queen’s palace.”

“I’ll handle the safehouse… so focus on your task.”

The convoy halted before a gentle slope, dust settling like a misty haze.

Lin Lan stood slowly, checking the [Valkyrie]’s systems—

Power core: nominal.

Weapons: online.

Comms channel…

The display glowed with silent red light.

—No signals, friend or foe, for the next half-hour.

How Murphyxia managed such a wide-scale signal jam, Lin Lan didn’t know…

She leapt from the vehicle, landing hard, shattering stones and leaving deep footprints.

“Don’t forget, bring her back…” Murphyxia leaned over the vehicle’s roof, smiling.

“No funny business, or I can’t help you…”

Lin Lan didn’t respond, activating her optical camouflage.

Her figure faded into the hill’s shadow, vanishing completely into the wasteland…

Murphyxia watched her go, her smile widening.

“Such a cute little knight…”

“If only she’d behave.”

She raised her right hand, clenching it into a fist.

Instantly, thunderous roars erupted from beyond the hills…

Armored transports emerged, swarming like ants, crawling out endlessly…

Each vehicle bristled with heavy weapons, their sides welded with bizarre armor plates, resembling a pack of feral steel beasts…

“Divine Emissary, First Legion in position,” an officer reported through the comms.

“Fifth Legion in position.”

“The ‘Saintess’ is ready.”

“Tell them—begin,” Murphyxia said, stroking the holy emblem on her chest, her violet eyes reflecting the fortress’s silhouette.

“Let’s see, my dear [White Night Queen], what choice you’ll make…”

…

East.

Thirty kilometers away.

Boom—!

An explosion tore through the sky.

An orange fireball erupted, black smoke billowing outward.

A transport truck lay flipped on the roadside, its grain sacks spilled across the ground…

The trailing convoy swerved, tires screeching long skid marks, barely stabilizing.

“Ambush! Ambush!”

“Watch your angles! Cover the trucks’ retreat!”

The escort captain shouted into the channel, slowing the guard vehicle, firing through the window.

Shell casings littered the ground, sparks flying off the enemy vehicles’ armor.

Over a dozen low-slung modified war cars charged from behind dunes, their roof-mounted machine guns blazing.

Brass shells scattered like lavish coins, glinting in the twilight.

“Transport team under attack! Requesting support!” Urgent calls flooded the radio.

Some attackers, in tattered military fatigues, climbed onto their vehicles.

Their faces bore red war paint, eyes burning, howling like beasts.

A bald brute shouldered an old rocket launcher, reloading before the smoke cleared, aiming at another truck…

“Rocket incoming! Evade! Evade!!!”

Whoosh—

Boom!

Another rocket streaked, slamming into the convoy’s center.

The blast sent a heatwave, scattering guard vehicle debris.

“Charge! For the Alliance!”

“Take it all!”

More [Wanderers] swarmed, their numbers doubling in a blink…

They drove a motley array of vehicles—some spiked with jagged metal, others with massive battering rams, some just barely-held-together junk…

But their sheer numbers overwhelmed.

Doubling again…

“This is the transport team! We’re under heavy attack! Estimated over a hundred! Request support!”

“Repeat! Request support!”

Evelyn’s voice crackled through: “Received. Her Majesty is en route!”

“Two minutes! Hold on!”

The attackers’ gear was as varied as their vehicles…

Some wielded rusty rifles, others brandished serrated spears, yet their tactics were surprisingly coordinated—

They didn’t linger.

After hitting a target, the [Wanderers] shifted to the next, slithering through dunes like snakes…

When the escorts tried focusing fire, they scattered, rendering attacks useless.

Some leaned out of speeding vehicles, waving weapons and cursing wildly.

Others climbed from their cars, leaping onto transport trucks, trying to overpower drivers…

Most lost their grip, falling and crushed under relentless tires.

“Damn Wanderers!” The escort captain cursed, fingers cramping from firing.

Magazines emptied one after another, yet the enemy kept coming…

Ammo dwindled, but the attackers charged like madmen, fearless!

Endless!

Sweat beaded on the escorts’ faces; some reached for spare clips.

As the fight grew dire, a low engine roar sounded.

Black dots appeared on the horizon, closing in fast.

“Support’s here!” the captain shouted.

As they neared, the dots revealed themselves—three sleek, heavy armored vehicles.

Pitch-black, thickly armored, topped with large-caliber cannons.

On the lead vehicle, a figure in [Valkyrie] armor stood atop.

Jet-black armor gleamed with a reaper’s menace in the sunset.

—Seraphina.