Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

It is undoubtedly a source of radiation.

Of course, it's not just that.

A group of creatures that are more human-like in shape, but whose appearance does not give the impression of being human, are also approaching them.

These monsters maintained a roughly human shape and were even dressed in local clothing, but the exposed skin was a bluish-gray color covered with black patterns.

Their heads were also covered in a mixture of crystals and tumors, and even though they seemed to have lost their sight, they stubbornly continued to move towards the safe house.

[Event] Originium Dust Operation: Chapter 10 Reinforcements

The monsters looked unlike anything they had ever seen before, but they still noticed some commonalities in the smallest details.

—The fleshy growths that were strangely attached to the monster's body were similar to those of the previous batch of monsters, which the locals called the Sand Beasts.

According to those people, normal sand beasts wouldn't be that big, nor would they have such disgusting tumors on their bodies.

Last time they appeared alongside attacks by rioters, and this time is no different.

This is enough to show that the rioters' previous claim that "there are warlocks controlling infected creatures in the quarantine zone" was simply a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Now, they no longer intend to conceal it, and have even identified more dangerous individuals.

Not only did they emit dangerous radiation, but more importantly, their appearance reminded the group of another chilling possibility.

If the previous monsters were mutated versions of creatures called Sand Beasts, then what were these humanoid monsters wearing clothes originally?

"Those monsters are the source of radiation. Although they move slowly, there are many of them. Do everything you can to keep them away!"

After putting away the clattering Geiger counter, Ash immediately gave instructions, ordering the group to defend from all four directions simultaneously to prevent any fish from escaping.

"boom!!!!"

The humanoid monsters at the forefront stepped into the minefield, and the Originium explosives were triggered by being stepped on, just like regular landmines.

The shockwave from the explosion dispersed the dust and sent countless torn fragments flying into the air along with the soil and rocks.

"They're going to use these monsters to clear mines? No... they could launch an attack while using the monsters to clear mines."

Watching the monsters, who had only been thrown back by the explosion because they had avoided the center, slowly get up, Ash shot as many times as possible at their heads covered in fleshy growths, while continuing to analyze the situation of the battle.

The sudden appearance of the monster caught them somewhat off guard, but the suspicious circumstances still could not be fully explained.

"They're like zombies."

Blitzcrank's pistol wasn't accurate enough at long range, so he opted to aim for the monster's hands and feet whenever possible.

Even when a bullet pierces their unusual limbs, causing them to collapse to the ground, they can still continue to twist their bodies and crawl forward with bizarre movements.

"Simply cutting off their limbs won't stop them at all, and their limbs are much harder than normal people's."

One explosive device after another was triggered. Although the monsters that stepped on them were instantly reduced to ashes, some of the more severely damaged monsters around them underwent a strange change.

The deformed tumor detached from its seemingly dying body and began to writhe on the ground like jelly, then pressed itself tightly against the sand and rapidly advanced towards the front line.

"Watch out for those pieces of flesh that have detached from the body; they're alive! And they're moving incredibly fast!"

The tank kicked a small tumor away from its feet, preventing it from climbing onto its body, and then fired continuously at the spot where it had fallen, until it was reduced to minced meat.

"What is this? Parasites? It's almost like they're controlling these monsters..."

As more and more traps were triggered, but the horde of monsters approaching the safe house showed no signs of decreasing, Shuanghua switched to a shotgun with limited ammunition, preparing to engage the monsters in close combat.

—Prioritize breaking the tumor in the head, then destroy most of the body, and at worst break the legs.

After formulating a general attack strategy for the monster in front of them, the members of Rainbow Squad checked their remaining ammunition and prepared for a final stand.

We must at least tear open an exit and evacuate the townspeople from this place.

But at this moment, the group, who were too focused on the enormous number of humanoid monsters, seemed to have overlooked another kind of existence mixed in with them.

The strangely shaped guy who first appeared in front of us never showed up at the front of the encirclement.

Instead, after most of the landmines were triggered, it raised its spear-like limbs and slowly walked over.

Was it deliberately left until the end by the person controlling them, or does it possess a certain degree of intelligence?

But regardless of the possibility, it would be very disadvantageous for the people defending the safe house.

The former needs to find the hidden warlock to win, but there's no reason for the opponent to be found so easily.

The latter is undoubtedly a worse situation.

"Bang bang bang bang!!!!"

He pulled the trigger, and with a loud bang, Ash didn't give himself much time to hesitate.

But the monster's body only swayed slightly under the barrage of ash bullets, while simultaneously emitting a crisp ricocheting sound and bursting with blinding flashes of fire.

Rifle bullets couldn't penetrate that spherical body!

The sarcoma that was accidentally hit did not cause any damage to the overall structure.

Then, it lowered its body, like a crouching starter, bending its knees and keeping its sharp limbs parallel to the ground, with the tips pointing directly at the door of the safe house.

It charged forward, leaving deep cracks in the ground where it started; sand and dust were pierced through, bunkers were breached, and even layers of sandbags could not slow its advance in the slightest.

Anyone with a sound mind knows they should avoid it by following its relatively predictable movement pattern.

The tanks stationed at the front gate hesitated—the safe house's entrance was behind them, and if it were breached...

"You beast!"

He raised his gun and unleashed all the remaining ammunition at the charging monster, suppressing the bullets that were constantly veering off course due to recoil, trying his best to cover the enemy's front with his firepower.

The drag generated by the impact of the projectile cannot slow down its speed.

But just before the tank ran out of ammunition, the enemy rammed into his body and then destroyed the safety door.

"Lord! Get out of the way!!!"

If he had received this warning earlier, and if he had been able to persuade the chariot to leave, he could have avoided it.

But given the current distance, it's no longer possible.

The monster continued its charge, now less than a meter from the chariot.

"boom!!!"

But in the next instant, the monster vanished.

It was struck directly from the side by an object that moved at high speed like a black blade, and was thrown into the air, its feet leaving the ground as it was propelled until it crashed into a pile of earth and rocks further away.

The airflow was disturbed by the sudden impact, almost blowing the chariot away with it.

As he struggled to stay steadied, he looked in the direction from which the attack had come—a glint of light hidden in the sandstorm, seemingly emitted from an eyepiece.

On the other side, a piercing crackling sound of electricity rang out, and the monsters' bodies, emitting burnt smoke, were sent flying one by one, only to be cleaved in two by another leaping figure in mid-air.

Arrows pierced the monster's head, shooting out one after another along with a white shadow leaping rapidly above the building.

The sudden reinforcements from the outside did not deter the Rainbow Squad members; they joined in and launched a counterattack from within and without.

[Event] Originium Dust Operation: Chapter 11 We need to talk

The area around the safe house was littered with the corpses of monsters that were no longer responding.

Some were riddled with bullets, others were cut into pieces, some twitched on the ground emitting charred smoke, and the few individuals who remained able to move were pinned to the walls by arrows.

The two teams, who were not familiar with each other, met in Changquan Town, which not only resolved their predicament but also clarified their previous doubts.

The mercenaries who were besieging them suddenly disappeared simply because they were being attacked by Rhodes Island operators on the outer perimeter. While resisting the attack, they left only the monsters to continue attacking the safe house.

In other words, they were the ones who were attacked from both sides at that time.

"...I finally remember why the Rhodes Island logo looked so familiar before."

Shh, I can tell.

However, the atmosphere when the two teams met was slightly awkward.

Blitzkrieg whispered to Ash, who told him not to make a sound—he couldn't let the other find out that he was the one who made them walk across the desert.

After organizing their teams and checking for injuries, the two teams gave each other a more formal introduction.

Having previously met Tomat and communicated with Okfin at the safe house, the Rainbow Squad members were less wary of Ranger and others, who were also Rhodes Island operators.

"Thank you for your support, it's really helpful."

Ash, clearly the leader of the ranger, said.

"What do you mean? We've already heard about your help to the townspeople from Agent Okfin. To be honest, that's what really surprised us. Mercenaries willing to help the infected are so rare."

Although the other party's claims of being "Polar Bear Logistics" and "Southern Foehn Wind Hot Land" sounded like they were made up during the previous inquiries, their aid to the infected had been confirmed by Oakfield and the townspeople. Therefore, even if they were concealing their origins, we shouldn't have too many doubts about them.

In any case, they are much more believable than mercenaries who drive monsters that are clearly modified from humans.

"A non-Sarkar mercenary force fully equipped with heavy firearms would be even more unusual. The Blacksteel development team would go crazy if they found out, and the higher-ups would definitely lose sleep over the fear of losing business."

The two operators from Blacksteel were clearly more interested in Rainbow Squad's weapons. Even Razer, who is usually quite calm, showed an unusual curiosity when it came to firearms.

They didn't really target small weapons like Blitzkrieg; they focused more on surrounding the light machine gun used by the tank.

"This is the first time I've seen locals using firearms, but your companions said that we use different bullets, so we can't supply each other."

The tank displayed its weapons without any hesitation, and even disassembled them right in front of them on the workbench in the safe house—not to show Razer and Franka the internal structure, but mainly to check whether dust had gotten inside during the previous battle in the sandstorm.

In Terra, where spare parts are scarce, and where the same weapon is used for extended periods of time, the most important thing is to pay attention to maintenance.

"Hmm? I can't see any Originium circuits or anything like that inside. It seems it's definitely different. No, I should say it's 'not even the same weapon.' The only similarity is in the shape and structure. It feels just like that Agor who plays with ink bullets..."

Razer leaned against the table, carefully examining the gun parts that had been dismantled by the tank. He occasionally looked thoughtful and muttered to himself in a surprised tone.

On the other side, Flash, who was holding half of a charging shield, was also curious about the electric discharge function of the Razer shield during the previous battle.

"Your shield functions similarly to mine, but yours is much heavier. How did you manage to knock those monsters away while wearing it?"

“It’s not surprising. Vayvan’s physical strength is even stronger than Sarkaz’s, so this weight is nothing to her.”

Razer, still engrossed in examining the gun parts, didn't hear Blitz's question, so Ranger answered for her.

And while everyone was curious about each other's weapons, the ranger asked a question about something he had overheard earlier:

"When you said 'your companion,' were you referring to... an operator named Thomas?"