Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-85

Translator: CKtalon

As the City Intelligence Network Control Center occupied a huge area and was extremely strange, the Hyena bandits did not dare enter. Hence, they were unable to occupy the building’s roof. They could only scatter three snipers on the surrounding buildings’ rooftops.

This resulted in two snipers not seeing Jiang Baimian once she moved against the wall on the road opposite the City Intelligence Network Control Center.

As for the sniper in charge of monitoring the main entrance, he had little chance of hitting the target due to the distance and poor angle. Even a Chosen One—who had undergone genetic enhancement—had to be extremely talented with firearms and specialized in sniping to have a certain level of confidence.

Besides, the sprinkler car had blocked a portion of the sniper’s line of sight.

Due to this, nobody interfered when Jiang Baimian took a step forward and pulled her left arm back.

She swung her arm and threw out the metal scissors.

Countless silver-white electric arcs wrapped around each other, dragging out a bright trajectory. The scissors accurately struck the object—which appeared to be an antenna—on the top of the armored vehicle.

A strong, violent electric current extended outward with a bang, flowing along the ‘antenna.’ The electric current instantly flowed into the armored vehicle, sweeping through the electronic systems inside.

Some of the vehicle’s equipment suffered catastrophic failures due to the power overload. Some emitted black smoke, and some exploded with a bang, significantly affecting the crew inside.

When Shang Jianyao—who was waiting in the nearest building—saw that his team leader’s attack was effective, he immediately moved his arms back and forth as he rushed out.

He didn’t bring the assault rifle along this time in case it affected his speed and agility.

One step, two steps… Shang Jianyao suddenly pounced forward and burrowed under the armored vehicle like a jumping fish.

After Shang Jianyao stabilized his body and clung onto the chassis, two gunshots sounded from the route he had been running through.

Shang Jianyao immediately released one hand from the chassis and wagged his finger from under the vehicle before laughing. “You guys are too slow…”

As he spoke, his eyes quickly turned dark.

Two to three seconds later, someone pushed open the hatch at the top of the armored vehicle and stood up, attempting to control the heavy machine gun directly.

This person’s impulsive action caused him to escape the armored vehicle’s protection.

Bang!

Before he could see the scene in front of him clearly, blood bloomed on his forehead. His entire head rapidly swelled as it exploded like fireworks.

Bai Chen—who was squatting at the door of a room—was holding her rifle the entire time, trained at the heavy machine gun.

The armored vehicle’s door opened shortly after, and a burly man—carrying a grenade launcher on his back—was about to jump off the armored vehicle and kill the target with his own abilities.

Hiding behind thick armor was a cowardly behavior.

A true warrior had to deliver a shot with every step. He had to kill everything around him and exact vengeance quickly!

With two bangs, more than half of the muscular man’s neck was torn off, and blood spewed into the air.

At the same time, one of the grenades wrapped around him was hit.

Rumble!

Continuous explosions sounded as the burly man’s charred corpse rained down, scattering everywhere.

In the crimson flames, the man’s grenade launcher flew out and shattered into many components.

Shang Jianyao seized the opportunity. He pulled with both hands, flipped his body, and jumped over the muscular man’s two remaining legs. He tore through the remaining flames and rolled into the armored vehicle.

There was still one bandit inside. He had a shaved head and looked very fierce.

At this moment, the burly man wanted to raise his arms and fire at the enemy with an automatic rifle, but he couldn’t do so. His hands had forgotten their corresponding instincts.

He looked at Shang Jianyao—who was opposite him—and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

“I…” The burly man opened his mouth, attempting to beg for mercy.

Shang Jianyao rushed forward and stuffed the Ice Moss pistol into the bald bandit’s mouth.

“You can talk about it in the next life,” replied Shang Jianyao with a deep gaze. Just as he said that, he squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

A bloodied bullet drilled out of the bald bandit’s head and hit his armor’s inner wall before ricocheting elsewhere.

Shang Jianyao immediately retracted his pistol and watched the bald bandit’s body collapse bit by bit. He could smell the stench of incontinence.

He quickly grabbed the bald bandit’s shoulders, pulled him along, and threw the corpse out.

Amidst repeated gunshots, the corpse was sniped.

“Done.” Shang Jianyao sat in the driver’s seat. He picked up the walkie-talkie and spoke before driving the armored vehicle.

Fortunately, this was not an electric vehicle. Otherwise, it would be unknown if they could still drive it after Jiang Baimian’s attack.

Amidst gunshots, the armored vehicle withstood the sniper rounds and turned its big mass around.

It drove straight into the street and stopped in front of the open outlet.

At this angle, the snipers high up were completely helpless against Jiang Baimian and the others.

After Long Yuehong and Bai Chen quickly passed through the armored vehicle’s open door and entered, Jiang Baimian quickly jumped into the vehicle.

The sprinkler car was still parked there at this moment. Amidst the melodious music, the car constantly sprayed water at the sides, washing away the blood.

Jiang Baimian looked at the sprinkler car beside her and muttered to herself loudly, “There’s no way to go straight. We can either reverse or continue forward and circle around.”

“Where are the rest of the Hyena bandits?” Long Yuehong blurted out a question.

After snatching this armored vehicle—which came equipped with a heavy machine gun—Long Yuehong inexplicably felt a little inflated. He felt like he could counterattack and wipe out the bandits who had massacred Blackrat Town.

Jiang Baimian sensed the area and said, “There are also some electric signals approaching; they are from where the armored vehicle came.”

“Hyena and the others still have rocket launchers. They might even have anti-tank rounds,” reminded Bai Chen.

The Hyena bandits even had thermobaric rounds, so it was definitely possible for them to be equipped with anti-tank grenades, firearms, and bullets.

“Then… forget it.” Long Yuehong was instantly shaken.

Jiang Baimian smiled and sat beside the vehicle door. She then said to Shang Jianyao, “Go straight, circle around, and return to the spot where the jeep is parked.”

Their supplies were still there.

Shang Jianyao didn’t say anything and made the armored vehicle drive along the street.

Along the way, the armored vehicle deviated from its path and knocked away countless abandoned vehicles and wooden tables, forcefully clearing a relatively spacious and empty path.

During this process, the snipers seemed to give up on their efforts and stopped firing. It was obvious that the three snipers didn’t bring any anti-tank firearms or bullets. After all, they definitely wouldn’t have thought of attacking their team’s armored vehicle in the beginning.

The armored vehicle was thick and hard. Even the ‘window’ could not be shattered by ordinary bullets.

At this moment, on the street where the armored vehicle had come from.

Two SUVs drove over one after another.

‘Hyena’ Lin Li—who was in the car behind—wore a grayish-green beret and spoke into the walkie-talkie. “They’re up ahead. Waiter, give them a taste of an anti-tank rocket.”

He learned of the armored vehicle’s condition from the snipers high above. He then calmly ordered his subordinate—who was holding a rocket launcher—in the car ahead.

“Yes, Boss.” The bandit nicknamed ‘Waiter’ had already seen the two corpses thrown to the side of the road and the charred pieces scattered on the ground.

He identified with them, and he was also filled with grief and indignation. Thus, the SUV he was in sped up, rushed past the sprinkler car, and turned in the armored vehicle’s direction.

At this moment, the armored vehicle had already arrived at an intersection and turned into the left street.

The armored vehicle’s back was the last thing the bandits saw.

“Chase after them!” Waiter shouted angrily.

Since the SUV was faster and the armored vehicle had cleared the path of any obstacles, the bandits quickly reached the intersection and turned left.

After chasing for a while, the two SUVs unknowingly escaped the three snipers’ range.

After making another turn, Waiter’s eyes lit up. He saw the military-green armored vehicle slowly driving not far away.

He carried the rocket launcher, about to stand up and destroy the target through the open sunroof. At this moment, his pupils suddenly dilated.

The armored vehicle’s door had opened at some point in time, and a beautiful woman with a ponytail revealed half of her body. She aimed a grenade launcher at them, and she pulled the trigger.

After the grenade was fired, Jiang Baimian raised her right hand and waved it gently.

Boom!

The SUV was hit by the grenade, and a dazzling fireball tumbled out.

Much of the ammunition in the car exploded as a result. This caused the flames to interweave one after another, producing a loud explosion.

Waiter and the driver beside him were vaporized. The SUV’s door and windows were missing, leaving behind only a metal frame.

When ‘Hyena’ Lin Li turned into this street, saw this scene, and heard the explosion, he couldn’t help but tremble.

In the fire’s light, his face turned pale.

“R-retreat!” Lin Li immediately ordered.

Given its speed and mobility, the SUV definitely wouldn’t be caught by the armored vehicle as long as it could leave this street.

This SUV’s driver was also shocked. He didn’t hesitate to make a sharp U-turn. He then floored the accelerator, prepared to drive back to the other street.

Just as their car turned around and approached the intersection, a blob of blood burst out of ‘Hyena’ Lin Li’s temple.

Splash!

The glass in the passenger seat shattered at the same time.

The driver couldn’t be bothered to check the situation. He stepped on the accelerator crazily, allowing the car to leave the danger zone and disappear from the intersection.

At the top of the armored vehicle, Bai Chen—who was hiding behind the heavy machine gun—moved her eyes away from the scope. She then retracted her Orange rifle and sat down.

“How is it?” Long Yuehong asked in concern.

Bai Chen slowly exhaled. “Hyena is dead.”

“Then, should we chase after them?” Long Yuehong’s sense of importance inflated again; he wanted to wipe out all the Hyena bandits in one fell swoop.

Jiang Baimian laughed when she heard that. “Do you think the city ruin is the same as the wilderness outside? It’s better not to wander around in such a dangerous and strange city ruin. Besides, we won’t be able to catch up.”

She looked at the tightly shut door and ordered Shang Jianyao, “Go straight, cross two streets, and make a left. We’ll return to the route we took when we came here.”

“Yes, Team Leader!” Shang Jianyao replied loudly.

Through the dark bulletproof glass, Shang Jianyao saw bright street lamps in front of him. He saw Heartless clearing the streets on both sides of the street, unaffected by the explosions.

In the surrounding buildings, light emitted from countless glass windows as figures walked back and forth.