The players of Fifth Squad and the Sixth Squad passed through a narrow, dim tunnel, and their vision suddenly opened up, but it also made them gasp. They found that they had entered a massive residential area.
Before them were densely packed rooms, interconnected, varying in height, like a beehive constructed from steel and concrete. What was even more troublesome was that the open areas between the rooms were covered with tangled barbed wire, and the faint protrusions visible beneath silently indicated the presence of landmines.
As for the enemies, apart from a few snipers who thought they were well-hidden, concealed in windows or on rooftops, but were actually clearly marked by the 'white outlines' in the players' field of vision, there were hardly any other figures to be seen. However, no one would believe that the entire area only had these few enemies.
"Why would there be a residential area in a Mid-Hive factory?" one player couldn't help but complain, his tone full of confusion. "What happened to low human rights? I thought workers just slept under their machines after work."
"Maybe it's where foremen and factory managers live?" another player speculated.
"There's no point guessing here," the Fifth squad leader quickly stopped their discussion, his gaze sweeping over the complex area. "Let's figure out how to take this area. I just took a careful look around; I'm afraid there's no way to bypass it."
"Let's take out the snipers first," a player holding a laser sniper rifle said, then cautiously leaned out, aiming at a 'white outline' behind a distant window.
As a dazzling red laser beam cut through the dim air, precisely hitting its target, it was as if a signal had been given. The previously silent residential area instantly erupted into chaos. Dense gunfire and the whistling of energy weapons rose and fell, and both sides began a fierce shootout.
The organs of genestealers are different from ordinary humans; they generally possess extremely strong adaptability to extreme environments and acute senses. They can easily distinguish enemy positions in such dim environments, far more accurately than ordinary mortals. In fact, this was one of Kyle's calculations; he hoped to weaken the humans' visual advantage through this dim environment, thereby allowing the genestealers to exert their hunting instincts in the dark.
But this calculation clearly failed, and even helped his enemies instead. The hostile creatures in the players' eyes all had clear white outlines, which were even easier to distinguish in dim environments than in bright ones, because those white lights stood out exceptionally in the dark. In this situation, the players actually shot more accurately than in broad daylight. They only needed to aim at the clearly visible white outline and pull the trigger.
The firepower of both sides was certainly not limited to automatic weapons and laser guns; grenades, hand grenades, rockets, and even anti-tank guns were used. Overall, the firepower of the genestealers cult was superior, which made the previously cautious pureblood commander confident. It felt it had a good chance of annihilating this Astra Militarum force.
But things quickly spiraled out of its control. It found that after a while of intense shooting, the players' firepower not only didn't weaken at all, but even became more ferocious after they became familiar with the general environment. Players killed by genestealers would revive on the spot after a short while; they didn't even need to fully expose their bodies, just sticking out their heads was enough to continue shooting. For players, this was a zero-cost sniping duel, and they weren't afraid of how long it would last.
Their own casualties gradually increased, and expensive heavy ammunition was rapidly consumed, yet the enemy's firepower remained unchanged; it seemed not a single person had died.
Even if the genestealers commander guarding the residential area were an idiot, it would realize that something was wrong. This was simply a one-sided war of attrition; if this continued, their ammunition and lives would be depleted, but the other side would still be able to fire lasers and throw grenades. It quickly called a halt to this foolish exchange.
The gunshots abruptly thinned out, eventually falling silent.
And the players, upon realizing this, were naturally unwilling. How could such a satisfying sniping duel suddenly stop?
So, without needing the squad leader's order, they themselves began provocative shooting and continuous taunts: "Why aren't you shooting? So cowardly?"
"Grandson, don't be a coward, come out and face your grandpa!"
But clearly, the players' taunts didn't hit the mark. The remaining genestealers were like dead men, showing no reaction at all.
"Just talking is useless," the squad leader said helplessly. "A few of you guys, take off your gear and go over to lure them out."
Without needing further instruction, several players immediately and cleanly removed their equipment. Wearing nothing, they wouldn't feel bad if they died. Then, they swaggered into the open area and began their group taunting performance.
"You mongrel dog breeds, I'll screw your mothers, do you understand? Screw your mothers!" one player said, without any embellishment, opening with the most concise and direct language.
"We've been fighting you for so long, and the god you believe in hasn't reacted at all. Is that void lord a cripple?" another player provoked with more inflammatory language.
Finally, a few genestealers couldn't hold back. They angrily poked their heads out and shot at the players who were taunting. One player unfortunately fell to the ground, but the other players seized this fleeting opportunity, focusing their fire to send these genestealers to sleep as well.
And the surviving players cursed even more vigorously: "Oh my god, why did you get so angry?"
"The void lord didn't send down divine punishment, which means it has no objections. Why are you so anxious? Are you disloyal?"
But this time, no matter how the players cursed or provoked, no genestealers showed their heads. Clearly, the genestealers commander knew the principle that on the battlefield, the more the enemy wants you to do something, the best thing is not to do it. It was determined to endure.
After cursing for a while, the genestealers were like dead, showing no reaction at all. The players found it truly boring and retreated.
"squad leader, it seems useless now, let's attack!" a player shouted at the squad leader.
The two squad leaders exchanged glances, both feeling they couldn't waste any more time. Since the enemy was determined not to show its head, this provocative tactic had lost its meaning. The two quickly discussed, and the Fifth squad leader waved his hand, giving the order: "Our squad will go dismantle the barbed wire and landmines, and the Fourth Squad will provide covering fire for us!"
"We're brothers in arms, so why be polite? Just go ahead and dismantle them!" The Fourth squad leader then directed his team members to find advantageous positions, their muzzles aimed at every window and crevice in the residential area where enemies might appear.
And the genestealers inside the residential area watched as these Astra Militarum swaggered out of cover again, openly beginning to dismantle the barbed wire they had meticulously set up. The clicking sound of the dismantling tools was exceptionally clear in the silent area.
"Sir, should we... attack?" a genestealer cautiously asked the pureblood genestealer.
The pureblood genestealer was caught in an unprecedented dilemma. Attack? Then some of its kin would definitely be exposed. Who knew if this was another deliberate lure by these Astra Militarum, waiting for them to walk into a trap?
Not attack? But the purpose of setting up barbed wire was to delay the enemy's advance and inflict casualties during the process. Now the enemy was starting to dismantle it, yet they remained motionless as if watching a show. What was the point of the barbed wire then? Wasn't it set up for nothing?
The pureblood felt a surge of absurdity. It was actually confused about whether to attack the enemy? Was this still the war it knew?
Finally, the pureblood genestealer took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the anger and unwillingness in its heart, and squeezed out a few words from its throat with a sense of grievance:
"No attack, endure!"
It comforted itself, waiting for these damned Corpse Emperor followers to enter the building; it would make them pay! Then, the narrow indoor spaces would be the genestealers' home ground, and they would make them pay for their arrogance at this moment.