"Kill!" 13 raised the COOL-FIRE5 from his back; the four dispersed in four directions.
36 swayed, lifting both hands. The improved Xuanwu's hands had transformed into massive armor plating. Opening the upper sections, two high-speed autocannons fired simultaneously. Immense firepower dismantled the Beasts before they could even charge, penetrating everything except the Titan-protected areas. Spent shell casings ejected from the armor's ports, showering the sky like rain.
24 crouched low, resembling a horse stance, leveling the improved dual pistols named "Gale." Firing frenziedly—seemingly erratic bullets, yet each struck squarely upon the head. For a time, the Beasts couldn't advance a single step. Yet, Gale possessed a weakness: a mere 20-round capacity. The bolts soon locked back; magazines emptied. Spotting the opening, Beasts immediately surged forward. Beneath the red ZX7 combat suit, a cold smile touched 24's lips.
Pressing the gun locks, magazines ejected forcefully from the frames. Simultaneously, from the ammunition supply boxes on his outer thighs, two magazines rapidly popped out. Inserting the pistols downwards, reloading commenced. Gale fixed upon his thighs; releasing the grips, pulling back the bolts, chambering rounds—reloading complete. Raising the pistols, firing levelly, a new Gale erupted. The entire process concluded within 1.5 seconds. Likely the world's fastest reload speed...
1's actions were considerably more straightforward than the other two. Merely a standard stance, raising his weapon, firing—bullets consistently targeting heads. Nie Yun's custom-designed "Fang" for 1. Superficially resembling the F1 rifle model, yet more integrated, appearing somewhat larger. Lacking the advantage of dual pistols, Beasts invariably closed in step by step. Distance grew perilous. 1 ceased firing, activating the foot gravity systems, anchoring his body. Switching modes—the chamber beneath the front barrel, resembling a grenade launcher, opened fire. Twenty-millimeter impact high-explosive rounds instantly knocked down four monsters with a single shot. Moreover, contrary to expectations, it fired continuously. By the time eight high-explosive rounds were expended, a ten-meter clearing materialized before him. Now, 1 could unhurriedly reload both a new magazine and high-explosive rounds.
As for 13, this marked the first time utilizing the COOL-FIRE5 with such unrestrained freedom. The excessively dense swarm of Beasts provided optimal target practice. Often, a single armor-piercing round penetrating a spherical head could subsequently pierce several heads behind it. Fragile Beasts fell in vast swathes. Their massive corpses formed steel barricades for the four. The advancing Beasts' movements grew progressively slower, eventually requiring them to practically scale a small mountain just to approach the perimeter.
Observing from the control room, Hideaki nearly ground his teeth to dust. His plan completely altered; everything initially under control. Solely due to that tank gunner's accursed finger, not only did 13 enter Rampage, but the sole clue to the 'Snake' system was severed. If that man were currently alive, Hideaki would undoubtedly tear open his brain to ascertain its contents.
"Activate combat mode! They must be killed today!" Hideaki stated frigidly.
"But Your Excellency, although combat mode represents the strongest fighting state, it is designed for single-unit close-quarters combat. Employing it in this group battle scenario will result in friendly fire casualties..." the intelligence officer explained frantically.
Hideaki abruptly leaped from his seat, seizing the officer's collar with both hands, forcefully lifting him.
"I care nothing for friendly fire casualties! I demand their deaths! Merely four thousand units; we can replenish them within five full national workdays. Yet, if they escape today, setting aside other considerations, I will definitely kill you!" Releasing the intelligence officer.
"Y-yes... Yes..." The intelligence officer scrambled away to make arrangements.
"Your Excellency, are you concerned?" Miyamoto perceived Hideaki's mood.
"Completely divergent from my calculations. Originally, 13 would have certainly perished there, and we would have smoothly obtained the 'Snake' system, then withdrawn to the homeland, secretly researching 'Snake.' Successful decryption achievable within two years at most. That would mark Japan's ascension to global supremacy. Yet now, everything has utterly changed. Is it the gods mocking us?" Hideaki offered a sorrowful smile.
"Rest assured, Your Excellency. As long as Japan possesses you, I believe Japan will inevitably stand atop the world, surveying the earth," Miyamoto stated resolutely.
Encouragement restored confidence to Hideaki's dejected heart. Recalling that throughout his upbringing, not a single person had ever expressed belief in him. This single encouragement felt exceptionally precious...
"Correct!" Hideaki looked towards the screen. "I am Aota Hideaki; therefore, I shall inevitably succeed. Regardless of encountered obstacles. Within my grasp, Japan shall certainly ascend the throne of kingship!" At this moment, Hideaki remained unaware that his silhouette exuded the kingship of a king, overlapping in Miyamoto's eyes with Ryuichi's image...
The attacking four simultaneously detected an anomaly. The Beasts, previously swarming foolishly, decelerated their advance, beginning to evade bullets. Some even retrieved fallen comrades' Titan armor plating for cover. Abruptly displaying considerable intelligence, like chimpanzees evolving into hominids.
Fired bullets eliminated fewer and fewer Beasts. Most began to be wasted.
"Cease fire! They intend to deplete our ammunition. Close-quarters combat!" 13 stated, holstering his weapon, wielding his knife in his right hand, charging towards the Beast swarm.
"Truly a troublesome bunch; couldn't they just perish quietly?" 36 complained, charging out.
"Be cautious not to sustain injuries. Nie Yun specifically instructed, whoever damages his precious armor will be killed by him," 1 reminded with a smile.
"Rest assured! They won't even touch the hem of my clothes!" 24 charged out confidently.
The Beasts seemed to await precisely this moment. All red lights flickered; combat blades ejected from their arms, preparing for melee.
Coupled with rapid arm movements—undeniably the strongest combat mode.
Yet, facing these four, "strongest"? Merely a self-proclaimed title...
Approaching the unit directly ahead, 13 habitually leaped, executing a spinning straight kick. Before the Beast could block, its fragile head was completely shattered. Leveraging force, jumping from the Beast onto an adjacent unit. The blades originally targeting 13, delayed by half a beat, all plunged into its own body. Upon closer approach, this unit proved smarter, blocking with three hands while counterattacking with the fourth. Yet, 13 merely smiled contemptuously. Right hand parrying the counterattack with his combat knife. Swinging his left hand in a wide arc.
"Eeyah!" Striking with full force—"Wing" pierced through three layers of thick palms; its head disintegrated into fragments. Still unfinished. The Titan metal wire from his right hand swiftly anchored onto the Beast's body. Surrounding units already converged.
Landing on the ground, 13's Wing grasped the wire's end, beginning to rotate his body. Immense force actually swung the two-ton Beast, crashing aside all nearby monsters.
36 also leaped, yet without flashy maneuvers. Arms spread wide like enormous wings, firmly gripping the heads of the two units ahead. Applying slight pressure—completely crushed. Beasts from behind the two suddenly charged out. Four sharp blades thrust directly. Still airborne—feet landed upon the two lower arms, hands grasping the upper limbs. Effortlessly, pulling back with both hands, forcibly tearing off the Beast's upper limbs. Headbutting—the spherical head shattered into pieces.
That battle dance—24 performed it even more fluidly, weaving amidst the black forms. Curved dual blades accurately sliced through the Beasts' most vulnerable points, while attacking blades grazed past his body, leaving not even a scratch. Resembling a red ribbon fluttering in the wind.
1 remained pragmatic, unadorned. Each strike represented the most direct, effective attack. Not seeking single-blow kills; often, one could see a Beast, limbs severed by him, yet not slain, instead left to continue attacking other targets.
Even the most formidable individuals experience fatigue. Special Operations units were no exception. Close-quarters combat differed from shooting; continuous fighting, ceaseless movement rapidly depleted stamina. Superficially, the four seemed to slay enemies with infinite ease, yet each evasion, each attack, consumed energy. The four couldn't deny the advantages of machinery: not only terrifying numbers, but also attacks devoid of fatigue or fear proved equally dreadful.
"Today, even through attrition, we must wear you down!" Hideaki saw hope; the four's gradually increasing fatigue represented the hope of victory.
Within the sewers, the running four halted once more. Because of Zhenxian's decision...
"Must it be this way?" Uncle asked, trembling.
"This is my decision. Perhaps excessively willful," Zhenxian looked resolutely at the three. "I must return, return to 13's side. Even facing death matters not. This is the first time I've felt such an intense desire. I cannot bear him fighting for me while I escape safely."
"But his wish is for you to survive. Returning now, wouldn't that waste his painstaking efforts?" Madman failed to comprehend.
"Women are actually quite simple." Zhenxian smiled through falling tears. "You men always act according to your own intentions, never asking what we truly need. Right now, I merely wish to remain by his side, to hold his arm, to hear his voice—that suffices."
"Then what about 'Snake'?! What about Korea?!" Baozhu inquired doubtfully.
"I am the sole outsider aware of 'Snake's' location. Perhaps only with my death can the outside world truly relinquish hope of obtaining 'Snake.' Japan's ambitions might then also crumble," Zhenxian's explanation was quite thorough.
"Please forgive my willfulness. I am merely a woman. Allow me to love properly just this once, please?" Zhenxian apologized, bowing deeply. Everyone remained speechless.
Turning to run back towards 13's direction, yet Baozhu caught her arm.
"At your speed, 13 will be dead before you arrive. Let us take you," Baozhu stated calmly.
"Uncle will carry you!" Before Zhenxian could react, Uncle had already hoisted her onto his back.
"You all..." Zhenxian trembled. "Doing this means death..."
"Miss, do you not understand?" Madman smiled faintly. "If you perish, our lives lose all meaning. Following you was a destiny decided from the moment you were born."
This time, it was Zhenxian rendered speechless. The three began running in the opposite direction.
"Thank you!" Zhenxian uttered silently within her heart...
Seemingly foolish actions, yet repeated by them time and again. First, 13's foolish rescue attempt. Then, the Special Operations units' foolish entry into the fray. Finally, Zhenxian's foolish return. Solely for that unforgettable emotion within their hearts...
"Still able to fight?" 1 inquired. The four retreated to the center, forming a back-to-back defensive posture against the Beasts. Weapons initially intended to be holstered were forced back into use. Because everyone required rest; even a brief moment was beneficial.
"I am at full combat status; perhaps I can hold out for another hour," 13 answered honestly.
"You truly are a monster. I can't even last another 30 minutes. Yet you've been fighting from the start and can still endure for an hour?!" 36's tone held ambiguous mixture of sarcasm and praise.
"Regardless, if we don't devise a plan soon, we'll perish here," 24 stated the final outcome.
"I can use SEED; that would resolve everything," 13 proposed the solution.
"Absolutely forbidden!" the three unanimously rejected 13's suggestion.
"'Zero' is excessively perilous. We'd all perish along with it. Other models—their specific functions remain unknown; cannot be employed randomly," 1 analyzed.
"What Zero? Other models?" 13 failed to understand.
"Explain later..." 24 replied.
"Allow me! But I require 30 seconds. Cover me!" 36 stepped back. 13 and 24 beside him swiftly filled the gap, forming a triangular formation protecting him within. Yet, external pressure intensified.
"What exactly do you intend?" Three possessed too many secrets unknown to 13.
"Nie Yun crafted another remarkable creation!" 1 smiled.
"Equipment rivaling even USA's. 36's armor has been renamed; it's called 'Ultimate Xuanwu'!" 24 also smiled.
"13!" 36 raised both hands high towards the sky, palms fully open, wrists touching. "Now, I might not necessarily lose to you. Witness my 'weapon'!"
13 disregarded 36's self-aggrandizement. Only the fluctuating ion wave reaction displayed on his holographic screen captured his attention. Checking the emission point—precisely 36's palms.
A white sphere of light began accumulating.
"Ion Cannon!" 13 recognized it.
"Incorrect. This is Nie Yun's masterpiece—Sub-Ion-Cannon!" The white sphere of light continued expanding!