Chapter 46

Krurrr-

Buuuuuung-

The heavy sound of tracks and engine noise echoes as the Invaders advance. Unlike when they moved at night, their speed is noticeably higher.

This is not only because daytime offers better visibility but also due to the fact that the distance to the target has significantly decreased.

[Target tank significantly bypassed and moved to the N4A7-V9 area, will immediately pursue.]

A message comes from the reconnaissance armored car in the lead, but the command tank is momentarily confused by the mention of the N4A7-V9 area.

Because that place is the wasteland they had passed through during the day, where vehicle wreckage is scattered all over.

Could they be preparing something?

For a moment, the command tank is lost in thought, but only for a fleeting moment, as it discards the doubt.

This is because the enemy’s forces, confirmed from yesterday to today through continuous pursuit, consisted only of a single tank with a few individuals presumed to be Awakened Ones mixed in.

Of course, among the Awakened Ones, there are monsters capable of easily destroying tanks, but it was unlikely that such power would be deployed for hunting feral humans.

Moreover, on our side, we have eight armored vehicles and four tanks. Believing in our overwhelming power, the command tank promptly issues an order.

[All units, situation assessment required.]

[Received. We will keep pursuing.]

With that, communication from the armored vehicle in the lead is cut off. Simultaneously, the command tank begins to reorganize the formation.

[All units, prepare for combat and shift to wedge formation. All tanks retreat to the rear, accelerate all vehicles.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

The formation quickly reorganizes.

In front are the armored cars, while the tanks are positioned at the rear. This arrangement, with the tanks using the armored cars as a shield, might appear strange, but none of the armored cars raise any objections.

Because the safety of each vehicle is not important; in the end, each entity is merely a component for a greater purpose, and they themselves are fully aware of this.

All for a controlled world.

That’s why they follow the orders of the high-level processing unit.

Even if that order were self-destruct, should it be the most efficient means and aligned with their purpose, they would willingly comply. These emotionless beings made of steel are the Invaders.

The black mechanical legion, tasked with carrying out their orders, speeds across the land.

[Confirmed, enemy tank detected. Three humans presumed to be crew members detected, sending video feed—]

The communication from the leading armored car breaks off with a static noise.

Perroeng—

The explosion resounds from the front, and simultaneously the signal of the leading armored car disappears from the command tank’s sensors.

The armored car tracking the target has been destroyed by enemy tank fire, but even that is one of the results the command tank anticipated.

[All vehicles, switch to combat stance, accelerate to combat speed.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

Each unit follows the command and prepares their weapons.

The tank gun breeches are unlocked, and the heavy machine guns mounted on top and front of the armored cars click as they are loaded.

Tires and tracks spin faster. Dust rises violently from the surrounding area and spreads in all directions.

Finally, the enemy tank reveals itself.

From among the wreckage of shattered vehicles, a brownish tank stares at them.

[Confirmed, enemy vehicle identified as an improved version of the MBT-4S Saver Type. APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot) rounds loaded into all tank cannons.]

[[ Acknowledged. ]]

Clang—Ka-chunk.

Anti-tank specialized ammunition, with high penetration power, is loaded into the dark gun barrels.

Even amidst the tumultuous movements, the gun barrels skillfully follow the target.

Right then, new signals appear from the front.

WHOooosh—

From the empty sky, snowy-white small objects descend toward them.

Though fragile flying objects, the command tank, detecting a peculiar feeling from the damaged vehicle wreckage, issues an order.

[Enemy small flying objects approaching, interception begins.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

Dudududud—

The heavy machine guns of the armored cars simultaneously spew fire. Tracers like snake tails decorate the sky.

The moment one of the bullets hits a flying object—

KWAHAAANG!!

A massive explosion occurs, confirming the correctness of the command tank’s judgment.

[Enemy small flying objects confirmed as explosive devices; concentrated firepower required.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

Dudududud—Drrrrrk—

Following the armored cars, the machine guns mounted on top of the tanks also fire.

Fierce firepower.

Flying objects hit by the bullets keep exploding, and the enemy’s resistance is repelled effortlessly.

Once all the flying objects are shot down, a communication comes from the protruding armored car.

[Confirmed, enemy vehicle is retreating.]

The command tank confirms the escaping enemy tank through its sensors after hearing the communication.

Through the broken vehicle wreckage, the target increases speed and flees.

Thinking they were using the scattered vehicle wreckage to attempt something, it seems that wasn’t necessarily the case.

Still, the command tank issues a cautious command to prepare for any contingency.

[Acknowledged, pursuit and annihilation commence. Take caution with vehicle wreckage.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

Accelerating after the retreating target and adjusting aiming with a margin of error, the tanks lock onto it.

And then, four tanks simultaneously finish their aiming.

[Tanks, commence firing.]

[[ Acknowledged. ]]

BOOM!

The ground shakes with the firing, with sand and dust rising like smoke around the barrels.

KAWANGH! BOOM!

Guns from both sides continue firing, and the launched shells race toward the enemy tank.

PUNG! KWAANGH!!

An explosion occurs at the moment of impact.

But the enemy tank, enveloped in a barrier, quickly moves further away amidst the explosion.

[Enemy tank confirmed with barrier equipped; concentrate firepower to destroy the barrier.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

Even without explicit orders, each unit accelerates to chase the enemy tank.

However, as they approach the scattered wreckage of vehicles, all forces stop.

Only one of the protruding armored cars accelerates, entering between the scattered wreckage.

Vrooom—Squeeeek.

The armored car stops among the wreckage.

But after waiting for some time without any anomalies, the heavy machine gun of the armored car begins firing.

Dudududud—

A shower of fire pours onto the broken vehicles. Sparks erupt, creating holes in their already damaged structure.

Meanwhile, as the armored car’s sensors sweep the ground, no traces of artificial activity are detected.

That is the end of the confirmation; there are no oddities.

[Trap checks done; all vehicles resume pursuit.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

Having confirmed this, the command tank and other vehicles also accelerate again to pursue the target.

The armored cars maneuver around the wreckage, while the tanks bulldoze it as they charge forward.

BOOM! BOOM!

Dudududud—

Consecutive barrages from the tanks and heavy machine gun fires.

But most of the attacks miss due to the increased distance and the target’s nimble evasive maneuvers, and the ones that hit are blocked by the barrier.

As the target enters a gentle ravine.

Every unit pursuing the target stops in front of the ravine.

[….]

Fortunately, the ravine wasn’t too narrow, but still, due to the nature of a ravine, it was difficult to leverage our numerical advantage. Could the target be planning to wipe us out one by one inside?

After a moment’s thought, the command tank quickly makes a decision.

[..Reorganize the formation. All tanks lead with maximum frontal barrier, other units offer rear support.]

[[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]]

Reorganizing the formation, the units enter the ravine.

Even though the winding roads made it hard to launch attacks even with the barrage.

However, since the target went ahead, there would be no traps on the ground at least. Also, the fact that the ravine itself was relatively gentle meant there was no need to worry about attacks from above — this was a positive aspect.

As they traverse the ravine at high speed, a sudden flash of light appears from the far side.

BOOM!

An incoming artillery strike from the front.

However, the aim seemed unstable as the shell passed between the units and struck the ground.

PHEWNG!

With the explosion, dirt and shrapnel fly in all directions, but these impacts were easily contained by the low-output barrier.

[Firing commence.]

[[ Acknowledged. ]]

BOOM! KWAHHNG! BOOM!

Shells launched from four tanks at once.

Before the shells could hit, the target retreats, causing the attacks to miss. But after this exchange repeated a few times, the command tank was confident in their imminent victory.

An enemy tank with unstable aim and the overwhelming superiority of our forces.

The distance increased due to the trap check has almost been closed, and according to the terrain information the command tank possessed, this ravine had no way out at its end.

In other words, the enemy had cornered themselves.

Victory was almost at hand.

Thinking that, something suddenly scatters from within the ravine where the target is located.

PHEFWANG, PHWANG!

Boom sounds echoing in the sky, and pure white smoke along with some glistening objects slowly fall toward the ground.

[???]

Vehicle-decoy/smokescreen rounds.

But why now? The processing circuits momentarily halt, unsure of what to make of this action.

PHEEERHHHNG—

Following another explosion sound and flying dust.

The shell, falling much farther ahead than the entry point, only hit the ground hard.

[???]

Continuing incomprehensible actions.

Still, foreseeing no significant change in the situation, the command tank readies to issue orders aimed at the smokescreen.

[All tanks load shells with HE (High Explosive). Firing—]

Just before the command to commence the attacks, an unbelievable event occurs.

KEETTEEERRRRRT—

A fierce whirring of treads echoes as the target—brown tank—slices through the smokescreen and charges at them not straight on, but diagonally from the ravine.

Could it be that the ground attacks were to mask the sound of this charge?

[?!]

The enemy tank approaches rapidly before the gun barrels could turn.

It was almost as if they were confident from the start that they could break through here. The gun on the retreating target was aimed at the rear position of the fourth tank.

Crossing paths between friend and foe.

Then the gun of the target spews fire.

BOOM!

The precisely fired shell rips through the vulnerable side barrier, cleanly penetrating the side of the fourth tank.

A great hole blown through the fourth tank.

And then a massive explosion occurs.

KWAHHHAHHHAAAAANG!!!!

A colossal explosion from ammunition detonation.

The remains of what was once the fourth tank are scattered everywhere, scorching heat burns through the sensors as it passes by.

The reaction of the fourth tank vanishes from the sensors.

[?!]

Defeated in a single blow?

This was a shocking fact, but the command tank knew it was not the moment for that.

The retreating figure of the target, which was now closer and at a better position, should be dealt a definitive blow.

The command tank and the remaining tanks rotate both their hulls and turrets simultaneously; the ends of their gun barrels precisely align with the target.

This is the end.

[Firing—]

The command tank halts mid-command, unable to issue the orders.

Realizing its mistake.

The shell loaded in the current gun barrels are merely high-explosive rounds which would have difficulty delivering effective damage against a barrier-equipped tank.

Even if anti-tank high-explosive rounds had been loaded, it’d be useless under the current circumstances.

[All tanks, load APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot). Reorganize formation and recommence pursuit.]

[[ Acknowledged. ]]

Meanwhile, the target glides further away.

They quickly reconfigure their formation and increase speed, retracing their steps. The incomprehensible movement of the target, returning through the same route, puzzles them.

But such puzzlement was of no consequence to the command tank. Although they were caught off-guard by the unexpected maneuver, their numerical and firepower superiority remained intact.

Besides, upon exiting this complex terrain, the wasteland would appear again. An open space is where they can fully utilize their strengths.

And then, the sensors of the command tank as it exits the ravine detect the target dodging through vehicle wreckage.

[Firing commence.]

[Acknowledged.]

BOOM! KWAHHNG!

Accurate artillery barrage. One shell misses; the other two precisely strike the target, finally breaking its barrier.

Just one more step.

One strike will do.

Suddenly, another emission of smokescreen/decoy rounds from the target.

Aluminum fragments mingled in the smokescreen obscure the sensors, and the target is cloaked behind the curtain of smoke.

But the command tank wasn’t stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice.

[All tanks, load APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot) shells.]

[Acknowledged.]

Realizing the grave mistake of loading high-explosive shells to clear the smokescreen, the command tank finally feels confident in their impending victory.

[All vehicles, suppress target simultaneously and immediately commence search—]

As the command tank is about to issue the follow-up order after the target destruction—

VWEEEEENG—

A sound is detected by the acoustic sensors.

It’s the small sound of enemy small flying objects, but the command tank does not overlook it.

[Enemy small flying object approaching, intercept commence.]

[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]

Dudududud—Drrrrrk—

Fire from the sky; a single bullet pierces through the small flying object.

An explosion following that.

However, the expectation is mercilessly proven wrong.

FUSSSSHHHH—

A smokescreen sprayed toward the ground from the enemy flying object.

The same occurs from the next flying object, and yet another one, without any explosions, they spray smokescreens toward the ground.

[?!]

In a flash, the surrounding area is filled with smokescreens.

Additionally, aluminum fragments swirling everywhere paralyze the sensors.

It’s a sudden change in situation as if the enemy had read the command tank’s intentions.

[Orders required.]

A communication from other vehicles arrives.

Silent hesitation from the command tank.

There are three options left for them.

One, wait for the smokescreen and chaff to disperse before resuming the chase.

Two, clear the smokescreen and chaff with high-explosive shells.

The last one: simply charge through to escape this space and attack the fleeing target.

Then the command tank makes a decision.

[All vehicles, accelerate to exit this area and destroy the target.]

Option one and two are out of the question.

Now that the enemy’s barrier has been broken, the priority should be the elimination of the target.

[[[ Acknowledged. ]]]

Engine speed increases.

Regardless of how the view and sensors are obscured, the absolute distance to the target has already significantly decreased.

Once we get out of here, it’s done.

Our victory remains unchanged.

Thinking this, the moment the command tank and its group cross through the debris of the vehicles they had just passed—

“Of course, I knew you’d do that.”

A small voice reverberates through the command tank’s audio sensors.

“Reject failure outright and seek the optimal result, that’s your way of thinking.”

A low, youthful female voice, as if confident that someone would hear it.

And the command tank instinctively understands something is drastically wrong.

“Still, do you remember this? The ground belongs to us.”

A rhetorical question.

As the smokescreen gradually clears, something newly installed is revealed—something the command tank and its subordinates had failed to notice in time.

Explosives.

Amidst the cracks and remains of the broken vehicles they had just reentered, immense amounts of explosives and hand gliders were hidden.

And then—the final order.

“Death to the invaders, hand gliders? Detonate.”

A curt command.

A click sounds from the broken wreckage.

The command tank instantly raises its voice at the same moment.

[All vehicles, maximize barrier output—]

But for some reason, the barrier output isn’t working right. Only then does the command tank realize that the barrier’s reserve is almost depleted.

Why?

Is it possible… were all the persistent ground strikes meant for this, to consume our barriers?

Thinking of this possibility, the command tank’s processing halts for a moment as a sudden burst of light blinds it.

And the next moment, the command tank realizes its core section is flying through the air.

KWAHHHHHHAAAAAANG!!!

The explosion’s boom hits it late.

[?!]

Trying to somehow move its spinning body and shaking sensors to look down, the command tank witnesses a massive explosion engulfing itself and other units.

How?

Rather, when?

Certainly, there should have been no traps there. The skirmish in the ravine didn’t even last ten minutes.

But now, the explosions occurring on the ground are on an unreal scale for just ten minutes of preparation.

Could this whole thing be the enemy’s plan?

If so, from when?

While pondering these questions, the command tank’s optical sensor catches sight of humans dismounting from the target.

The number adds up to three.

But they are running to somewhere, and at the end of that run, a girl stands alone in her small frame.

Four humans combined.

At the same moment the command tank realizes this fact, it recalls the initial report it received.

[Confirmed, enemy tank detected. Three humans presumed to be crew members detected, sending video feed—]

Ah.

Three humans.

That means from the beginning—

Realizing this fact, the command tank experiences the emotion of fear for the very first time.

Everything was a trap.

The flying objects loaded with explosives, the interception of those objects,

the entry into the ravine, the misaimed attacks, the experience of high-explosive rounds being ineffective, and even the breaking of the barrier—all of it was a trap.

All of it was set to eliminate the option of clearing the smokescreen with artillery fire.

To make us shoot down the explosive-carrying objects, scattering smokescreens everywhere.

And all of this was to lure us into the space deemed safe to set a deadly trap for us.

A precarious tightrope walking—had any detail gone wrong, it would’ve failed.

But the enemy accomplished it.

That girl has ensnared all of us in a trap.

Our thoughts and actions were led, read.

[!!!]

No, there’s no time for this! We must somehow send this information to the high-level processing unit.

That girl is dangerous, an obstacle to our invasion—

KRAAAASHH!!!

The core of the command tank shattered even before its thoughts could fully form.

Thus, three squads of invaders are annihilated on the wasteland.

– Your level has increased, from LV 15 to LV 16.

– Your level has increased, from LV 16 to LV 17.

– Your level has increased, from LV 17 to LV 18.

– Achievement unlocked: Resistance.