Dark Ruins Dawn

Chapter 92 Fierce Battle

Inside the recycling center, a piercing alarm broke the silence.

Watson sprang up from his chair, grabbed the automatic rifle from the wall, and growled into the communicator:
"Enemy attack! All personnel to combat positions!"

He rushed up to the second floor.

The members, who were resting, were instantly awakened. They grabbed their weapons and rushed to the pre-designated defensive positions.

The Apocalypse Cult's offensive came without warning and was exceptionally fierce.

Instead of charging down the main road, they used an abandoned underground sewage pipe to sneak up on the perimeter of the recycling station like ghosts.

Two hundred believers emerged from the shadows of the ruins and surrounded the recycling station.

"Bang! Boom!"

"call out--"

Shots from different directions relentlessly suppressed Xiong Er, giving him no chance to even raise his head.

"There are at least eight snipers!"

Based on just a few bullet trajectories, Xiong Er quickly determined the enemy's approximate location.

He lowered his voice: "How are things on your end?"

"I can still hold on."

Hua Xin crouched behind the narrow firing port, constantly changing positions, calmly searching for an opportunity to counterattack.

"be careful!"

"clear."

At this moment, the believers launched an attack.

Most of them carried the most rudimentary iron-barreled pistols, which were weak and had a short range. Their only advantage was that they were loud enough to embolden them.

A small number of elite soldiers, armed with shotguns and automatic rifles, knew how to provide cover while moving in formation, making their firepower significantly more intense.

Watson decisively issued the order:

"Machine gun team, fire freely!"

On the roof of the recycling station, four androids operate heavy machine guns, rotating their barrels simultaneously.

The next second, scorching flames shot out.

“Da da da da—!”

A dense hail of bullets formed a fire net, and the believers at the forefront were riddled with bullets, their limbs and torsos scattered all over the ground.

Inside the recycling center, the members took their positions, hiding behind reinforced walls and unleashing firepower through pre-drilled firing ports.

After overcoming their initial panic, they launched a methodical counterattack, following the steps outlined in previous drills.

Gunshots rang out one after another, echoing through the ruins.

Just then, rockets, trailing plumes of flame, hurtled in from afar and crashed into the outer wall.

"boom--!"

"Boom——!"

Amid a series of explosions, concrete blocks flew everywhere, and the walls were blasted into charred craters.

Fortunately, when Gage reinforced the defenses, he spared no expense in embedding thick steel plates, which barely managed to stop the bombing.

The Apocalypse believers outnumbered the Apocalypse believers, but were rendered helpless by the turtle-shell-like defensive fortifications.

Watson switched communication channels: "Gage! We can move out now!"

"Roger that!"

Six drones took off from the flank and flew toward the densely populated enemy area, dropping high-explosive grenades.

"Boom! Boom!"

Flames burst forth one after another, and the shockwaves from the explosions sent dozens of believers flying, wailing as they landed.

Ten steel dogs were quietly deployed, speeding through the ruins and starting their free-for-all hunting mode.

Every time they paused, their guns would spew out deadly flames.

At the top of the clock tower, Xiong Er finally seized his opportunity.

Taking advantage of the drone drawing enemy fire, he suddenly leaned out, and a bullet precisely pierced through the head of a sniper.

"boom!"

Another sniper also fell to the ground.

Xiong Er acted swiftly and decisively, eliminating the two most threatening targets with two consecutive shots.

"Three o'clock, the top of the abandoned water tower!"

"receive."

Hua Xin immediately took aim, pulled the trigger, and pierced the head of a sniper.

Just then, two tall figures stepped out from within the Heavenly Revelation Sect's formation.

They wore patchwork power armor, their outer shells riddled with bullet holes and their joints riddled with tangled tubing.

"Damn! Two powered armored vehicles at seven o'clock!"

Before the words were even finished, two heavy machine guns spewed fire, sending debris flying everywhere from the outer wall of the watchtower.

“Da da da da—!”

Xiong Er and Hua Xin were suppressed again and had to hide behind cover in a sorry state.

Amidst the smoke and dust, two more armored soldiers emerged from behind cover, ignoring ordinary bullets and advancing step by step.

Drones and steel dogs both failed miserably when faced with this unreasonable metal can.

"boom!"

Drones exploded in the air, and Steel Dog was also hit and its parts were scattered everywhere, rendering it incapacitated.

"God is above!"

The believers cheered loudly as they followed the armored soldiers, gradually closing the distance to the recycling station.

A android on the roof was hit by a rocket, half of its body was blown off, and it collapsed to the ground amidst sparks.

Watson shouted:
"All the androids are destroyed! Cole, you and your men come with me to hold them off!"

"Roger that!"

Watson, Cole, and others quickly took control of the four heavy machine guns and rebuilt the firepower network.

"The enemy is out of rockets, everyone hold on!"

Just as the Apocalypse believers were about to rush to the wall, Gage roared, "Throw it!"

One by one, Molotov cocktails that had been prepared beforehand were thrown out from the firing ports and the roof.

"Crack! Crack!"

The glass bottle shattered on the ground, and flames surged up, forming pools of fire.

The dozen or so believers at the forefront screamed and struggled and rolled on the ground.

The flames formed a wall, temporarily blocking the enemy.

The patriarch, standing at a distance, had an exceptionally somber face hidden beneath his hood.

They ran out of rockets, but still couldn't take down the small recycling station.

He raised his scepter and roared, "The gods are watching us! Berserkers, the time for sacrifice has come!"

At his command, hundreds of shirtless believers emerged, all of them mutants with white markings on their faces.

They pulled out spray bottles from their pockets and sprayed them into their mouths.

In an instant, their eyes turned bloodshot, their muscles bulged, and their faces contorted in a ferocious expression; they transformed into fanatics.

"God is above!"

The fanatic roared as he charged toward the metal truck beside him.

With engines roaring, these modified iron vehicles charged toward the gate of the recycling center.

The three iron vehicles at the front triggered the mines that Gage had laid in advance.

"Boom—Boom!"

The truck was blown to pieces, and the fanatics inside were reduced to burning debris.

More iron vehicles followed, ignoring the explosions and flames, and crashed headfirst into the gate of the recycling center.

"Squeak-"

The sturdy door was severely deformed from the impact, but it ultimately held up.

Groups of fanatics, armed with shields and battle axes, climbed onto the rooftops like monkeys, attempting to break through the defenses from above.

"Damn it! These guys are insane!"

Cole cursed angrily, turned his gun around, and opened fire wildly on the roof.

The believers may be fanatical, but the machine guns are even more so.

Countless limbs were smashed, yet they couldn't break through, and the pile of corpses at the base of the wall grew ever thicker.

Watson called out to one of the members next to him: "Save your bullets! Remember to aim for the head!"

"Okay, I understand."

In the distance, the Patriarch watched the fierce battle unfold, growing increasingly agitated.

He grabbed the communicator, his voice icy: "Tataji! Where are your men?!"

"Patriarch, we're under suppression too! The enemy's firepower is too intense! We'll be there soon!"

Tataji's voice sounded anxious, accompanied by the sound of intense gunfire.

"Too much firepower?"

A hint of doubt flashed across the Patriarch's face, but the night was too dark for him to see the battle in the distance, so he could only suppress his doubts.

In reality, Tataji was still hiding in the cave watching the show, with dried meat in his mouth, not in a hurry at all.

"Your Majesty, the patriarch over there seems to have doubts."

"Hey, so what if I know?"

Tataji scoffed, "Those lunatics who've been injected with drugs, there's no stopping them now anyway."

Ahead, wave after wave of attacks came to an abrupt halt; the recycling station simply couldn't be breached.

Seeing this, the Patriarch was finally enraged; he didn't believe the enemy's ammunition reserves could last that long.

He pinned all his hopes on sheer numbers.

"Berserkers! Charge!"

The remaining eight hundred-plus fanatics launched a final assault.

They wield shields and weapons; their only advantage is their fearless and insane ferocity.

The defenses on the roof were suddenly under strain.

Cole and his men had no choice but to tighten their defensive line and move the four machine guns toward the center.

The gun barrel was already red-hot, and spent bullet casings poured out like a waterfall, piling up in a thick layer on the ground.

The firewall downstairs is still burning.

Molotov cocktails were thrown out, turning the fanatics into charred corpses, which piled up like mountains.

Hua Xin's magazine was almost empty, but there were just too many fanatics, seemingly endless.

The wall on the side of the recycling station could not withstand the pressure and was forced open, creating a small gap.

Soon, several smoke grenades were thrown in, and white smoke quickly filled the room, obscuring the view of the people inside.

"They're coming in!"

The figures of fanatics appeared and disappeared in the smoke as they poured in through the gap.

"Hold the line! Open fire!"

Inside the house, Gage and his men were already on high alert, and the gunfire was deafening in an instant.

Many fanatics fell at the breach.

But the madmen behind them had explosives strapped to their bodies. They rushed into the crowd and pulled the fuse directly.

"Boom! Boom!"

Explosions rang out one after another, and several team members were blown away on the spot, lying on the ground covered in blood.

Seeing this, the others immediately dragged them back and away from the battlefield.

"There are too many; we can't possibly kill them all."

Watson returned to the house and looked at the ever-growing pile of corpses in the hall, a chill running through him.

"Throw the Molotov cocktails!" he ordered again.

Five Molotov cocktails were thrown from the second floor, turning the first-floor lobby into a sea of ​​fire.

"what--!"

The fanatical believers who surged in were engulfed by flames, yet they continued to rush forward with terrifying frenzy.

A young member's rifle trembled uncontrollably, and bullets clattered against the ceiling.

The other man stared at the burning humanoid monsters, forgetting even to pull the trigger.

"What are you standing there for? Shoot!"

Watson's loud shout jolted them out of their terrified stupor.

Outside the recycling station, Xiong Er quietly moved to a different spot. He leaped down from the top of the clock tower and landed in a more concealed, low location.

He then set up his sniper rifle and locked his gaze on the Apocalyptic Patriarch who was raising his scepter in the distance.

He held his breath and pulled the trigger.

"boom!"

A muffled gunshot rang out.

In the distance, before the patriarch could lower his scepter, his head snapped back, revealing a bloody hole between his brows.

The scepter fell to the ground with a clatter.

The moment the Patriarch fell, the Apocalypse Church's front completely collapsed.

"The gods are gone! The gods have abandoned the patriarch!"

Those believers who still retained their senses lost their anchor and turned to flee.

But those mentally deranged fanatics continued to charge forward.

The battle lasted for another ten minutes or so.

The gunfire finally subsided when the last fanatic was shot through the head and fell heavily to the ground.

The entire recycling station was a scene of utter chaos, with charred corpses, thick blood, and burning metal carts.
No one on the team was killed, but three members were seriously injured and are receiving emergency treatment.

"it's over"

Cole slumped to the ground, panting heavily; the ammunition depot at the recycling center was nearly empty.

One of the young members could no longer hold the rifle, letting it fall to the ground with a clatter, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

Some people stared blankly at the corpses and shell casings scattered on the ground, then slowly slid down against the wall.

For a group of new recruits who have only trained for ten days, being able to stand here is already a miracle.

But just then, another rocket came hurtling in and precisely pierced the gap in the wall.

"Boom——!"

In the violent explosion, a member who was bandaging his wounds was torn to pieces.

Before Xiong Er could catch his breath, he saw the surging figures in the distance through the scope.

"From the southeast! A large swarm of ratmen is attacking!"

"It's Tataji!"

Watson's heart sank, and he shouted, "Everyone, tighten the defensive line! Conserve ammunition!"

The group could only retreat back behind the wall, their faces filled with exhaustion and despair.

In the distance, Tataji stood on a modified war chariot, while the ratmen beside him waved huge war drums, making a "thump-thump" sound.

The dark, swarming ratmen surged in like a tide. Although their armor was rudimentary, their numbers were vast and their morale was high.

At this critical moment, Hua Xin made a move.

She set up her sniper rifle, and the crosshairs of the scope steadily locked onto Tataji.

"boom!"

The bullet ripped through the night sky and struck Tataji's right shoulder.

"Roar--!"

Tataji let out a painful roar.

It stumbled and fell off the tank, scrambling to take cover behind a bunker.

"Charge! Kill them all!" It no longer cared about tactics and directly issued the order for a general offensive.

The situation at the recycling center has become precarious.

Suddenly, another reinforcement force attacked from the flank without warning.

"Fire!"

Jetta, armed with an automatic rifle, led the Black Ratman team in a fierce attack on the enemy's rear.

Tataji roared, "Santa, you deal with those black ratmen! The rest of you, keep charging forward!"

"Yes"

Santa immediately recognized the Jetta that was leading the pack.

However, both sides were Black Ratmen. Looking at each other's familiar black fur, they exchanged glances and subconsciously lowered their guns.

Santa shouted, "Jetta! Come out here!"

Jetta emerged from behind the cover: "Santa, what are you doing!"

"That's what I should be asking you!"

Santa pointed at him: "Are you determined to oppose all the ratmen? Are you going to drag your people to their deaths?"

Jetta let out a cry of grief and indignation:
"Santa, you idiot! Why do you think Tataji is giving you benefits? It's because we're still alive, and we're a threat in his eyes!"

"And you are nothing more than a tool he uses against us! Once all of us 'threats' are dead, what use will you be to him? You'll still be a dog on a leash!"

Santa's face turned ashen from these words, and he roared in fury, "You're talking nonsense! I was thinking of my people!"

The two faced off across the battlefield, the surrounding gunfire seemingly distant.

After a long silence, a resolute glint flashed in Santa's eyes, and he brought up that ancient tradition:
"Since neither of us can convince the other, let's have a one-on-one fight! If I win, you'll all come back with me!"

"If you lose, stay and help me!"

“Okay!” Santa agreed without hesitation.

The two men threw down their weapons, frantically dug at the ground with their limbs, lowered their bodies, and hissed threateningly from their throats.

The next second, the two dark figures collided without warning, entangled and rolled, leaving only the most primal biting and tearing.

Santa's claws had just torn three bloody gashes in Jetta's back when the latter's front teeth retaliated, embedding themselves firmly into his shoulder blade.

Amidst the flying dust and blood, Jetta's rage ultimately prevailed.

He tripped Santa with his hind leg, flipped over and pinned him to the ground, raining down punches.

Santa was beaten black and blue. He pushed Jetta aside and struggled to get up.

"I won't go with you!"

Santa lost the duel but did not keep his promise. He left the battlefield without looking back, taking a dozen or so Black Ratmen with him.

The battle ahead continues.

The few rockets the Skaven had were all fired at the watchtower.

"Boom——!"

The top of the clock tower collapsed, burying Hua Xin under the rubble; his fate is unknown.

"Hua Xin!"

Xiong Er's eyes were bloodshot, and he was about to rush into the ruins when a dark shadow loomed behind him.

It is Tataji.

Its huge claws gripped Xiong Er's neck, and it slammed him against the wall like a sack of potatoes.

"boom!"

Xiong Er slammed heavily against the wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The three-meter-tall Tataji is already wearing heavy armor, making him fearless of any stray bullets.

Xiong Er, limping on one leg, tried his best to dodge backward.

Where are you going to hide?!

Tataji grabbed him and beat him again.

Blood kept gushing from Xiong Er's mouth, and his body was flung away again like a broken sack.

But he managed to seize the opportunity and, despite the pain, climbed deep into a broken wall, trying his best to conceal himself.

"get out!"

Tataji roared and reached in with his giant claws, but he could never reach them.

It pounded the broken wall with its giant claws, producing a loud rumbling sound, but it did nothing but shake down more rubble.

Ultimately, it gave up on this tough nut and turned its anger towards the clock tower ruins.

It roared and charged forward like an out-of-control excavator, using its sharp claws to dig through the bricks and rubble, determined to pull Hua Xin out of the ground.

Just then, an aide rushed in: "Your Majesty! The front lines are on the verge of collapse! Jetta's ratmen are also firing sniper shots from the rear, and the rat guards are starting to retreat!"

"Where's Santa? Where did it go?!"

"It ran away with its black ratmen."

Enraged, Tataji kicked over a broken wall and went to the front lines, roaring loudly:

"Anyone who dares to back down, I'll snap their neck!"

It ordered its staff to lead a counterattack against the Jetta, while it itself, carrying a heavy machine gun, charged into the recycling station.

“Da da da da—!”

The raging flames pressed down so hard that Watson and the others couldn't lift their heads and had to hide behind the wall on the second floor.

The rat guards also stormed in, taking up cover on the first floor and firing back furiously with iron pipe pistols.

On Watson's side, the death toll rose to three, and the number of seriously injured increased to four, almost completely eliminating their ability to fight back.

Most fatally, ammunition was running out, all throwable weapons were used up, and only rifles were left to barely fight back.

"Human! Hand over the Baron!" Tataji shouted arrogantly as its massive body strode up to the second floor.

"Okay, you can have it!"

Watson leaned out from behind the wall and threw a dark, lumpy iron object over.

Tataji instinctively caught it, then his expression changed drastically; it was an anti-personnel mine.

It tried to throw it away, but it was too late.

"boom--!"

The flames engulfed it completely, blasting a hole in its chest plate armor, charring its rat skin, and leaving half its face a bloody mess.

It staggered back a few steps, and after a while, it didn't fall down. Instead, it let out an even more terrifying roar.

"You will all die."

Its voice was full of venom: "I said it."

……

Above the chessboard, the starry sky shines brightly.

Zhuang Fan's consciousness jolted violently as he realized that the entire dream was in turmoil.

At the end of the night, a void was torn open.

A little girl in a blue dress emerged from inside and floated in mid-air.

She looked to be only about six years old, curiously observing this unfamiliar world.

"Wow, does Grand Theft Auto have hidden maps like this? The starry sky here is so beautiful."

Grand Theft Auto?

He keenly recognized that the word referred to a virtual game from Morihan Networks.

The little girl quickly realized something was wrong.

"Strange, time flows so slowly here. Who set that up? Sweetie doesn't like it here anymore."

She wrinkled her little nose, her gaze sweeping across the mountaintop before finally settling on Zhuang Fan.

"Huh? You can see me?" Sweetie asked, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Zhuang Fan nodded.

He was still trying to figure out whether this was a new hallucination or the devil was playing tricks.

"No one has ever discovered the existence of sweet sugar before; you are the first."

Sweetie looked puzzled: "Then what are you doing here?"

"I'm trapped."

"Oh"

Sweetie tilted her head and said, "Do you want to come out with me? It's so boring here."

Can I leave now?
Zhuang Fan finally calmed down and realized that the girl was an unexpected "variable".

Zhuang Yuanhang, who had been standing silently, now regained his gentle demeanor and said softly:
"Xiao Fan, there are still many things waiting for you to handle outside. It's time to wrap things up here."

Zhuang Fan was momentarily dazed; at that moment, it felt as if his father were truly standing in front of him.

Zhuang Yuanhang's smile was as warm as he remembered.

"I once said that life is finite, but knowledge is infinite. I wanted you to have a sense of awe for the world, but I never expected it would become your shackles."

"Child, we look up at the stars not to explore the universe, but to see the path beneath our feet."

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but if you keep going, you will reach your destination; if you persevere, the future is promising."

Zhuang Fan remained silent for a moment before nodding:

"Dad, I'm leaving now."

"Go, your journey has just begun."

　From now on, I will combine two chapters into one, with at least 5 words, which will make writing smoother.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)