Sorry for the missed chapters yesterday. 1/4
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In the virtual space on the other end, both Biotechnica and Militech higher-ups closely monitored every detail of this operation.
"Target suppressed inside the structure. 'Manticore' has entered attack position, weapons systems locked." The operator calmly reported progress.
"Good. Maintain suppression, burn through their ammo and patience, force them out." The operations supervisor issued orders, tone carrying everything-under-control confidence.
The Biotechnica observer stared fixedly at the melting damage Rebecca's plasma pistol caused on tactical screens, eyes flashing barely concealed greed: "That energy weapon's operating mechanism and power... whatever it takes, we must obtain it for reverse engineering."
However, what happened next completely exceeded their tactical projections and data models.
Behind a broken gas station window, without any warning, a blindingly brilliant white electric arc suddenly erupted! It didn't fire straight but resembled a living lightning bolt, defying physics with impossible speed and precision, snaking toward an airborne "Manticore" AV that had just completed target lock!
No deafening explosion—only a sharp, metallic-tearing "TZZZZT" sound!
That electric arc like a venomous serpent with life instantly coiled around the AV's fuselage.
Visible currents madly crawled across armor surfaces. Everywhere they passed—external sensors, communications arrays, even adjustment vanes near engine exhausts—instantly overloaded, bursting cascading sparks.
The AV's massive frame violently seized in midair, like gripped by invisible giant hands. All thruster lights abruptly dimmed.
Inside the cockpit, every screen instantly went black. Alarm sounds replaced by deathly silence.
It completely lost power and control. Like a heavy piece of scrap metal, posture rigid, spinning, trailing ominous black smoke, listing crookedly straight toward distant desert below.
Seconds later, distant sand transmitted a muffled impact boom, followed by fuel igniting in violent explosions. A fireball rose skyward in the night.
Command center fell into deathly silence—only faint low-frequency equipment noise.
"What the hell?!" The operations supervisor shot up from his seat. Virtual image showed momentary fluctuations. "What kind of weapon was that?!"
"Cannot identify attack type! Energy signature anomalous! Not conventional armor-piercing or high-explosive rounds!" The technical analyst's voice carried shock and confusion. "Readings indicate... it seemingly triggered intense localized electromagnetic pulse effects, instantly frying the 'Manticore's' vast majority of precision electronics and control systems! This is... this is extremely efficient electronic warfare attack!"
Before they could make sense of this incomprehensible attack, a second lethal bright white electric arc—like death's judgment—shot again from the same window!
The other "Manticore" pilot instinctively yanked controls attempting evasion, but the arc's speed far exceeded his reaction limits. White light precisely "licked" across the AV's engine compartment exterior.
The same scene replayed: electric snakes coiling, components overloading, sparks flying. This AV also instantly fell into complete paralysis, systems crashing, tumbling out of control toward earth like a kite with cut strings.
"This..." The Biotechnica observer also froze. "They've got heavy firepower at this level? That's definitely not something street mercs can get their hands on!"
The operations supervisor's expression turned extremely ugly. Losing two advanced AVs was already a major screwup. He ordered through gritted teeth: "Deploy 'Switchblade'! Send all drones and combat bots in too! We must take them down! I want them alive!"
He realized Maine's crew had deeper backing than they'd imagined.
But this only intensified his determination—whoever was behind them, this technology must be extracted.
——
Inside the gas station, Maine carefully returned the Teslarifle to its custom gun bag on his back, face showing lingering fear.
If not for this killer weapon Cairo had given them earlier, they'd probably be done for this time.
"Good thing we got the boss's present, otherwise those two AVs would've wrecked us!" Falco watched the falling AVs, exhaling deeply.
"Don't get distracted! Bigger trouble incoming!" Kiwi's voice exploded over the crew's encrypted channel, carrying unprecedented tension. "Detecting high-speed individual signals! More than one! It's... it's Sandevistan! Plus optical camo! They're inside!"
Almost simultaneously with the warning, an extremely blurred shadow—nearly merging with surrounding distorted air—accompanied by faint electrical humming, flashed into the gas station ruins' interior at speeds far exceeding normal human visual tracking.
This shadow didn't charge the most obvious targets but eerily veered toward Pilar behind a half-collapsed counter—fumbling to reload his smart SMG!
Cold light flashed! Death's gleam reflected from top-tier mantis blade edges molecularly honed, striking straight for Pilar's neck!
Pilar didn't even fully react, only felt icy killing intent instantly enveloping him.
"Look out!" Maine's roar sounded almost simultaneously with gunshots.
At the critical moment, he caught that instant killing intent plus optical camo's faint outline distortions it couldn't completely eliminate. With instincts accumulated from years of street combat, his large-caliber pistol fired three rapid shots at the empty space beside Pilar—barely aiming!
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Deafening gunshots echoed through narrow spaces.
Bullets carrying massive kinetic energy hammered concrete floors and broken metal counters, splashing rock fragments and sparks.
One bullet nearly grazed that shadow's edge. Though not directly hitting, the impact and threat forced the attacker abandoning the lethal strike on Pilar.
That shadow's movements showed barely perceptible hesitation. Optical camo systems produced more obvious fluctuations from high-speed evasive maneuvers, revealing a blurred outline.
Like a phantom, he slid back half a step. Crimson electronic eyes coldly swept Maine, then unhesitatingly changed targets. Mantis blades trailing cold light turned toward Rebecca nearby—just completed firing, adjusting posture!
The instant mantis blade tips were about to touch Rebecca's back, Dorio moved!
She didn't rely on vision but purely on Cairo's enhancements—bringing ultimate perception of minute airflow disturbances and biological killing intent.
Her far-more-massive-than-average frame exploded with swiftness and agility completely mismatched to her size. Like precognitive prediction, she sidestepped forward. Bronze, muscle-rippling right arm like a heavy steel whip, tearing air with whistling sounds, swept out laterally with pinpoint precision, meeting those lethal mantis blades!
"CLANG——!"