57: Chapter 57: Invitation 57: Chapter 57: Invitation Along the way, Chen Tong was extremely nervous, constantly watching around, and would immediately open fire and sweep around at any sign of movement.
Su Ming promptly reminded Chen Tong.
“There’s no need to be so nervous that you’re jumping at shadows; that will only make things worse.”
“Understood.”
Chen Tong held his weapon tightly, continually looking around even though he kept reminding himself that this was just a virtual exam.
But because the simulation and tactile realism were so high, he subconsciously believed he was on a real battlefield.
Su Ming and his companion proceeded with extreme caution.
Just as they had moved some distance forward, a barrage of concentrated gunfire came without warning from the buildings all around them.
Ding ding!
Bullets struck Iron Head, sending sparks flying.
“Enemy attack!
Counterattack now, no, take cover, find cover nearby!”
Chen Yu and the others panicked to the extreme, running around chaotically looking for cover.
“Ahh!”
Accompanied by screams, a few unfortunate souls were hit critically and fell to the ground, their blood staining the land red.
For a time, the rest of the people were even more panicked.
Su Ming’s eyes hardened, and he turned to scan the area, only to see all sorts of home robots, armed with guns, emerging from the dilapidated steel buildings and blind spots to attack them.
He immediately turned his gun around and sprayed fire at these domestic robots.
Bang bang!
One by one, the home robots were destroyed along with their cover, crushed to pieces.
“They’re really asking for it!”
Chen Tong followed with a sweep of his own.
However, more and more home robots sprang up around them, some even armed with rocket launchers targeting them.
Chen Tong was caught off guard for a moment, and a rocket struck his shoulder, sending his mecha staggering sideways.
“Damn it!”
Chen Tong turned angrily and fired back, blowing the rocket-launcher-wielding home robots to smithereens instantly.
Despite this, the situation grew increasingly grim,
“So terrifying!”
“This time we’re really dead.”
…
Chen Yu and others hid under the damaged vehicles on the street, their faces filled with terror.
Just then, a roaring sound came from the sky, followed by ten Iron Head mechas falling from above like celestial warriors.
These descending Iron Heads opened a violent fire on those home robots.
Bang bang~
Home robots were blown apart one after another.
Su Ming was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected these descending Iron Heads to come to their aid.
But with their help, the firepower was overwhelming.
Before long, the last of the domestic robots was crushingly smashed underfoot by the leading Iron Head Mecha.
“We’re saved!”
Chen Yu and the others each let out a long sigh of relief.
At that moment, the leading Iron Head Mecha, holding an MQ-01 type Grenade Gun and followed by nine Iron Head Mechas walked towards Su Ming and Chen Tong with great presence.
Then a resounding voice came forth.
“Bros, are you alright?”
“We’re fine, thank you for your support.”
Su Ming graciously expressed his thanks.
Although he and Chen Tong could have dealt with these domestic robots, it would certainly have taken a lot of effort.
“No big deal!
Let me introduce myself, I’m Xiang Shu from Class 1 of the Mecha Department at Haiheng Academy.
What are your names?”
Xiang Shu asked heartily.
“I’m Su Ming, and this is my classmate Chen Tong; we’re from Mint College.”
Su Ming introduced themselves with neither humility nor arrogance.
“You’re from the Third Academy, huh?
Brother, do you have a team?
How about joining us for combat?”
Xiang Shu directly extended the invitation to Su Ming and Chen Tong.
Chen Tong immediately looked to Su Ming, seeking his opinion.
Su Ming’s gaze swept over Xiang Shu and the others, hesitated for a few seconds, then agreed.
“Alright!”
Although Su Ming preferred to fight alone, sadly their main mission was to defend the Manhavi Interstellar Military Airport, which seemed to be a group cooperative mission no matter how one looked at it.
Moreover, the more people, the higher the survival rate.
“Great, from now on, we are a team.”
Xiang Shu replied very happily.
“And what about us, what about us?”
Just then, Chen Yu and others eagerly popped up and shouted.
Xiang Shu glanced at Chen Yu and the others, outright ignoring them.
In his eyes, these Land Soldiers were worthless.
“Hehe, you, you can go wherever you want.”
An Iron Head standing to the left of Xiang Shu, carrying a slender sniper Mechanical Gun, dismissed them with a wave of his hand, speaking with utter disdain.
And the Iron Head on the right, wielding a CI-01 type assault Mechanical Gun, spoke contemptuously.
“Qi Duo, why waste words with these burdens?
Don’t you see the big brother doesn’t even bother with them?”
“Got it, Shi Wu!”
Qi Duo casually responded.
Su Ming glanced over, and if he wasn’t mistaken, Qi Duo and Shi Wu were likely Xiang Shu’s underlings.
The others who didn’t speak were probably the ones he had gathered later on.
“Let’s not talk about that anymore, time is pressing.
Let’s prepare to head to the interstellar military airport.”
Xiang Shu said straightforwardly to Su Ming and the two.
“Alright!”
Su Ming and Chen Tong agreed.
Xiang Shu immediately waved his hand, giving orders.
“Proceed with standard assault tactics, spread out in a triangle formation, and move forward slowly!
I’ll take the lead, Su Ming and Chen Tong, you’ll be responsible for the left wing…”
“Alright!”
Su Ming and Chen Tong immediately moved to the left side.
They quickly advanced in a triangular formation, and as for Chen Yu and the others, though Xiang Shu didn’t allow them to follow, they still stubbornly tagged along.
“This is Earth Flame Star, once the fallen Manhavi Base City, with various buildings standing tall, the terrain is very complicated, be especially careful not to get ambushed.”
Xiang Shu constantly reminded everyone through the communication channel.
“Yes, big brother!”
Shi Wu and the others replied in succession.
Su Ming listened to Xiang Shu’s reminders and felt quite good about them; the guy had some real military discipline.
At this moment, Su Ming’s interface popped up with a prompt.
“Notification: You have joined the Hunting Fang Tactical Team.”
“Notification: Members of the Hunting Fang Tactical Team as follows, Team Leader: Xiang Shu, Deputy Team Leader: Qi Duo, Members: Zhou Li, Lv Ying…”
…
Su Ming glanced at the names of the team members, then refocused his attention on staying vigilant.
As they moved forward, everywhere they looked, there were collapsed buildings and roads, and even some grounded and shattered space tracks could be seen.
Occasionally, they could also see a couple of eight-meter-tall, well-proportioned Mechas lying in the ruins, covered in red metallic armor, clutching a solid Mechanical Blade.
“Big Brother Xiang Shu, what are these Mechas?”
A sweet voice piped up in the team’s communication channel.
“Zhou Li, don’t you understand?
These damaged Mechas are the First Generation Mechas, Iron Knights, that were defending Earth Flame Star.
But looking at this situation, it was a fierce battle.”
Xiang Shu said with deep emotion.
“So, are all the people here dead?”
Zhou Li asked immediately after.
“No, if we go by history, the remaining civilians in Manhavi Base City should be hiding underground by now.
But if we do not retake the Manhavi Interstellar Military Airport within the set time, then they’re as good as dead.”
Su Ming spoke indifferently on the communication channel.