Chapter 547: Reyes Town, a Battle of Overwhelming Force

By the time Reconnaissance Squad Two had cleared the Reyes outpost at the 15-kilometer mark.

The Pioneering Group's Mechanical Armor forces encountered no obstacles as they advanced to a position three kilometers from Reyes Town.

It was a hill, with Reyes Town lying just behind it.

"Deploy the drones."

The drone platform began releasing them.

Ten drones instantly soared into the high sky, flying toward Reyes Town.

The 'Battering Ram' assault artillery vehicles and the 'Steel Rain' wheeled artillery vehicles moved into their designated firing positions.

Hydraulic outriggers extended from the four corners of each vehicle, with spade plates pressing into the ground for stabilization.

Screw anchors drilled into the earth, the counterweight system adjusted, the suspension system locked, and the vehicle bodies were leveled.

Soon, Alpha received a report that the artillery positions were ready.

The other armored vehicles and the Pioneering Group's soldiers were also standing by, awaiting the attack order.

Alpha looked at the command screen, seeing the situation in Reyes Town through the drone's field of view.

An intrigued expression crossed his face.

He had to admit, the Reyes Legion's ability to hold onto such a strategically important town in the wasteland for so long meant they did have some skill.

The entire town was sealed off tight by the Reyes Legion.

The outskirts clearly showed a minefield, with other fortifications, bunkers, and walls all complete and in place.

Under the Reyes Legion's construction, the town had become a true military fortress.

Technicians, using the information relayed by the drones, marked the coordinates of key targets on the map and transmitted them to the artillery positions.

The 'Battering Ram' and 'Steel Rain' crews input the strike coordinates into their consoles, and the artillery began calibration and fine-tuning.

Once Alpha received confirmation that the artillery positions were ready to fire at any moment.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he looked toward Reyes Town.

He opened the radio and began issuing orders.

"This is Alpha. I am now formally issuing the attack order."

"The artillery positions will conduct a three-round test fire on the target coordinates, followed by rapid fire for fire suppression on the enemy."

"The Mechanical Armored Vehicle Corps will advance on Reyes Town according to the planned route."

"The 'Mammoth' and 'Fortress' units will apply frontal pressure."

"The 'Peregrine Falcon' units will cut into the secret passage exit on the rear highway, blocking the enemy's escape route."

"'Ghost' will be responsible for electronic jamming on the enemy, cutting off their communications, radar, weapons guidance, and control systems..."

One command after another was issued from Alpha's mouth.

After all of Alpha's orders were given.

Each unit began its operation.

Alpha also received a communication from 'Ghost' in the electronic warfare vehicle.

"Alpha, a suspicious signal source has been detected. The location has been locked..."

-

*Bang, bang, bang—*

The artillery positions initiated their attack first.

First came the three-round test fire. After confirming the strike coordinates were correct, rapid fire commenced.

*Boom, boom, boom—*

With the roar of artillery, Reyes Town, three kilometers away, was engulfed in shellfire.

Key strongpoints were blanketed by artillery fire, one by one being eliminated.

Defensive structures were completely destroyed.

"Attack, everyone attack..."

In the Reyes Town command center, Reyes, the leader of the Reyes Legion, stared at the unresponsive communication device and threw it hard to the ground.

"Have you contacted the Dawn Consortium?"

"Leader, all our communications and instruments are down. We can't contact the Dawn Consortium at all..."

"The enemy's electronic jamming equipment is too strong. They're completely suppressing all our electronic devices..."

The communications officer was still reporting.

But a strange voice crackled over the command center's radio.

"Hello, hello..."

At the same time, the liquid crystal screen in the command center, which had gone black, flickered back to life.

Reyes looked up to see a soldier in mechanical armor, his face stern, appearing on the screen.

His gaze was calm as he silently stared at the screen.

His eyes were tranquil and indifferent.

Everyone who saw those eyes felt a trace of fear and intimidation.

It imposed an invisible pressure on everyone in the Reyes Legion.

It was as if the man's gaze was penetrating through the screen, silently meeting the eyes of the crowd.

A hint of shock surfaced in Reyes's eyes.

"H-He... How did he end up here?"

As Reyes voiced his question, the corners of Alpha's mouth on the screen curved slightly.

"Reyes? I'm giving you one last chance. Cease resistance within one minute, lay down your arms, and surrender, and you can live."

"Surrender? Live?" Hearing those two words, a vicious glint flashed in Reyes's eyes.

He stared at the screen, the shock on his face gradually replaced by a hint of madness.

"Hah! You want me to surrender? Dream on!"

"Just some nobody who showed up out of nowhere? I've seen countless people who wanted to take me down, and countless who coveted this town. I admit your electronic jamming is impressive, but so what?"

A note of bravado tinged Reyes's voice.

Because he was well aware that Reyes Town was currently at its weakest point in history.

He had even guessed their origin.

—Dead Mine Town.

He had just sent his main force to attack Dead Mine Town.

And they had been out of contact for two days.

"What a clever move!"

He thought to himself.

But he saw the smile on the man on the screen grow more pronounced.

"Soldiers of the Reyes Legion, you heard that. I was giving you a way out, but your leader wants you to die. But I am merciful. Those who lay down their arms and surrender can still live. As for those who put up a stubborn resistance..."

Alpha's eyes narrowed, his voice cold and icy.

"There is only one word... death."

The screen went dark again.

But just a few seconds later.

The shelling over all of Reyes Town intensified, and most critically...

"Leader, we can't hold the line! The enemy's armored vehicles can't be penetrated. We have to run!"

Someone immediately grabbed Reyes to get him out.

Just then, a soldier rushed into the command center.

"Leader, it's bad! The enemy has broken through the defense line and entered the perimeter. We... we can't hold them off."

As those words were spoken, Reyes felt like his brain had exploded with a *boom*.

The world spun wildly around him.

When he regained a bit of awareness, he realized he was already inside an armored vehicle.

But it wasn't his usual armored command vehicle.

It was a very ordinary armed armored vehicle.

The space inside was unusually cramped and confined.

Sensing that Reyes was awake.

Someone immediately said, "Leader, hold on. We're escaping the town through the secret passage. Your command vehicle is too conspicuous and makes the perfect decoy to draw enemy fire. There are five vehicles in this convoy. No one will notice this one."

Reyes understood that the situation was hopeless, and morale had collapsed.

Only by escaping successfully could he plan his next move.

But his heart was filled with unwillingness.

"Dead Mine Town... Damn Dead Mine Town. Everything was going so smoothly before. I was so close to taking Dead Mine Town and successfully forging a partnership with the Dawn Consortium. And now..."

"Where did it all go wrong..."

Reyes couldn't figure it out.

Just then.

*Boom—*

*Rat-a-tat-tat—*

The convoy was suddenly attacked, accompanied by the sounds of explosions and gunfire.

The armored vehicle Reyes was in was struck by a hit. The body shook violently and flipped over.

Reyes was tossed around inside like a washing machine, continuously tumbling and spinning until the world was a dizzying blur again.

It finally came to a stop.

Before he could regain control of his body.

"Leader, let's go!"

The four Reyes Legion soldiers in the vehicle grabbed him, ready to flee.

But as soon as they moved, they all stopped at once.

Sensing something was wrong, Reyes looked up.

He saw the four of them shiver uncontrollably a few times before their eyes went blank and numb.

It was as if they had turned into puppets.

"You..."

Reyes started to ask, but his voice cut off abruptly.

Because all four of them turned to look at him at the same time, their mouths twisting into eerie grins.

A chilling voice that pierced to the bone rang out from all four mouths.

"Heh heh... Got you!"