*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
The lustrous light of the muzzle fire flashes over Duke's cold face as he keeps pulling the trigger and shooting at the incoming horde of aberrants. Beside him were dozens of Sentinels doing the same. They didn't hesitate and fired a barrage of lead towards the abominations.
*BRRrrrrrttt!!!*
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
*BRRRRrrrrttttt!!!*
With the flickering brilliant light were the thunderous roars of the rifles that howled through the air. The dreaded blasts of gunshots echoed throughout the southern shelter, bringing more attention to the Cerberus FOB. Hundreds of aberrants have been awoken and joined the horde.
Though, Duke didn't care about it since ammunition wasn't a problem to them. As long as the Sentinels were cautious and kept the aberrants from penetrating through the FOB. The Cerberus would have all the time they needed to exterminate the aberrants in the desolated shelter.
The armored sentry guns strapped atop the Vanguards were also raining bullets at the stampeding flood of aberrants. The Sentinel arming them continued spraying without care after their director ordered them to not think about the ammunition. It was fire to exterminate.
Any other thoughts than that weren't needed.
*BBRRRRRRTTTTTT!!!*
*BBRRRRRRTTTTTT!!!*
The heavy ammunition of the armored sentry guns pierced through the air with a roar. The caliber held by it wasn't to be underestimated. Even ordinary tanks would have problems dealing with it, especially with the power of the chemically electromagnetic-propelled bullet.
"It seems that the Sentinels are doing well."
Duke quietly uttered and stopped firing at the flood of aberrants. Despite the large amount of bodies littered in the streets, the aberrant horde appeared to be endless. If it was a normal armed force, morale would be a problem. But for the Sentinel, the horror of the aberrants was ineffective.
To them, it would take more to lower their morale. Their determination and their iron heart wasn't to be underestimated. The capabilities of the Sentinels were amongst the best in terms of the usual standards of soldiers throughout militaries in the world.
*GRAhhh!!!*
*Bang!*
An aberrant was crawling along the roofs of some houses, but it was quickly shot dead by a Sentinel nearby. The bastards finally learned not to take the open streets to attack the defense line of Sentinels. However, no matter what they do, it won't work.
The houses could do nothing but be temporary shields for them. It wouldn't give them an advantage against the Cerberus. There was a reason why the entrance of the southern shelter was picked as the location of FOB. It was the perfect location with no disadvantages.
It was small, defined, and simple to defend.
"This will take two hours at most," Duke muttered while gazing at the horde of aberrants. The battle against the aberrant flood would take time. But the circumstances of the fight were already above his expectations. There weren't glaring problems, which was a piece of good news.
Though...
'I never thought that the problematic aberrant flood would be so easy. If there were only aberrants, New Torrington wouldn't have fallen easily. So why? Why did it fall?' Duke thought as he furrowed his eyebrows, wanting to know the truth, to get answers.
'There should be a variable I am ignorant about. Was there a mutated beast during that flood? I didn't hear anyone talking about a mutated beast. And besides, from what I heard. Mutated beasts and aberrants don't get along much. Does that mea-'
Before Duke could continue with his thoughts, a deep roar broke free from the aberrant flood. He got out of his thoughts and immediately glanced forward, wanting to know where the roar came from. He searched the aberrant flood and soon noticed a figure standing far behind the horde.
The strange figure resembled a mutated humanoid but was five meters tall. Its skin was pitch-black, and it didn't seem to have a face. The newly-emerged bastard appeared like trash who took too much steroids. It arrogantly looked at them from afar as if they were insects.
"So this is the variable of an aberrant flood," Duke muttered to himself but was swiftly heard by the surrounding Sentinels. They followed his gaze and saw a giant humanoid monster amongst the aberrant flood. The newly arrived Sentinels furrowed their eyebrows.
They thought it was the mutated beast their squad leaders had briefed them about. But they were wrong. The squad leaders, who stared at the monster, knew it wasn't a mutated beast. It was different and resembled the aberrants more so than the mutated beast.
While the squad leaders were curious about the abomination, they didn't stop firing at the charging flood of aberrants. The Sentinels also kept shooting without hesitation and delay. On the other hand, Duke continued gazing at the monstrous aberrant.
There was no trace of nervousness or fear inside his sapphire-like irises. Such emotions only arose when those important to him were in constant danger. But against an enemy, there was only one emotion in his heart.
It was wrath.
"Even I am almost entirely ignorant of the Dark Cataclysmic Era. It seems that I can't underestimate it. Though, it's not like I was planning to." Duke mumbled before ordering the surrounding Sentinels. "Continue barraging them with lead, but prepare yourselves against that bastard."
"I can already see it in my eyes. This bastard is waiting for an opportunity like the mutated beast from before. Don't let him see an advantage in our defense." After uttering his last sentence, he grinned at the crowd of Sentinels. They softly nodded, and their determination hardened.
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
*BRRRrrrrtttt!!!* *BRRRRRrrrrrrtttt!!!*
The aberrant flood was being shredded by the dozens of skilled Sentinels firing at them without care. The aberrants roared at the sapient flesh before them, wanting to tear the flesh bastards apart. Unfortunately for the aberrants, the rain of lead instead minced them into large pieces.
Almost 10 minutes have passed since they got besieged by over a thousand aberrants. Hundreds should have fallen by now, but the aberrants kept coming at them. Duke squinted his eyebrows since the aberrant population was going off the rails.
"From the looks of it. The aberrant flood should be about two thousand in number. The ammunition I bought will take a toll, or perhaps they might not even be enough. Tsk!" He clicked his tongue with annoyance in his gaze. Though, after a while, he sighed and opened the Doomsday Mall.
"I should have some source points left," Duke muttered while staring at the digital display. He swiftly bought supplies for his Sentinels and closed the display with a tinge of pain in his wallet. But there was no regret. It would be problematic if they lost because of the lack of ammunition.
So, he didn't take the pain seriously. Besides, after the battle, he would be swimming with the wealth of over a thousand aberrants.
| The Director has purchased 8x Squad-Level Ammunition Supply(Military) worth 40 Source Points! |
A digital notification emerged before his sapphire-like irises. He glances at it for some time before turning towards the small empty area behind them. A silver light then lustered and faded in mere seconds. What replaced it were eight military crates containing ammunition.
The ones under the personal squad of the platoon leader Aleph noticed the ammunition supply. They immediately stopped firing at the aberrants and rapidly walked towards the creates to pick it up. They began carrying the crates beside Vanguard One and Two while reminding the others.
Duke saw everything and once again felt amazed by the efficiency of the precious Sentinels. But he understood to stop being ignorant of it. The excellent efficiency of the Sentinels was a matter of fact. There was no need to be shocked by it being portrayed in reality.
"ZZZZ... Director, aberrants outside have been attracted by the commotion. Hundreds are charging towards the southern shelter's entrance. But Vanguard Three and Four are handling them well." A report from platoon leader Bet sounded out of nowhere.
Hearing his calm voice, Duke sighed in relief since it wouldn't be good if the rear guard fell while the front guard was still fighting. It would spell disaster for the Cerberus.
'While I didn't underestimate the capabilities of the Dark Cataclysmic Era. I underestimated the number of aberrants in the surrounding ruins. I never thought there would be so many. However, it isn't improbable. All the migration of aberrants are local, so the bastards in the dominion shouldn't decrease.'
'This means that over a million aberrants will always be over a million no matter what.' Duke quietly groaned, imagining a million aberrants trying to make a meal out of him. He quickly shook his head and discarded the unnecessary yet horrifying thought.
"Platoon Leader Bet, continue defending the rear of the Cerberus FOB. Currently... The front defense line is fighting against at least two thousand aberrants. It will take time for the commotion to end." Duke replied to the platoon leader on the other side of the communication radio.
"ZZZZ... Understood, Director. No aberrant shall pass the rear." Bet replied with conviction in his tone. Duke coolly nodded and looked forward at the aberrant flood, which kept stampeding towards them. While staring at it, he noticed something strange amidst the flood.
'Where did it go?'
He couldn't see the variable anymore. The strange and monstrous aberrant that he considered the leader of the aberrant flood. It practically disappeared as if it didn't exist, making him somewhat unsettled.
"The variable disappeared! We need to be caref-" Before Duke could continue uttering his words, he felt his instincts screaming at him. It didn't take time for him to realize that death was looming over him. His body moved without a thought and sidestepped from his location, where a whistle shortly passed.
*Bam!*
A loud blast echoed from a few meters behind him. Silence enveloped the air as he slowly turned his eyes toward a small crater that emerged after the short explosion. Chills reverberated throughout his body since he realized that he almost died from an assassination.
'I can't believe it... The bastard actually tried to assassinate me.'
'It understood that I was the leader of the Cerberus and acted as if terminating me would implode the armed forces. Which means... The aberrant is actually experienced in assassination.' It was a horrifying thought. A smart aberrant wasn't a piece of good news.
If there was an intelligence aberrant that could command hordes, who knows what would happen. Settlements would fall one after another. Or maybe. It had always been like this. All of them were merely ignorant about it. After all, who would want to believe in the existence of an intelligent aberrant?
Nonetheless, this wasn't the time to be consumed by raging thoughts. Duke glanced at the Sentinels, who stopped firing and quickly shouted at them.
"Get down!"
*Whistle!* *Whistle!* *Whistle!* *Whistle!*
The Sentinels immediately followed their orders and got down from their previous positions. Whistles passed by in an instant, saving the Sentinels from swift decimation. The projectiles thrown at them landed behind the Sentinels, bringing forth numerous thunderclaps.
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
This was beyond the conventional warfare between humanity and aberrants. The abominations weren't as simple as charging monsters anymore. In the mind of Duke, they had changed into something horrifying.
They have become a species of their own, a dangerous species that would sooner or later replace humanity in this dark and empty world.
'F*ck!' Duke cursed deep within his heart as he hid behind Vanguard One for cover. The circumstances had changed, and the tide of battle was falling for the aberrant flood. Whistles kept piercing near him while some screams of his fellow Sentinels echoed in his mind.
*Whistle!* *Whistle!* *Whistle!* *Whistle!*
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
It took some time for the barrage to calm down, though Duke didn't dare to lower his guard. He glanced at his fellow Sentinels and coldly gave them orders. He was pissed off, and he wanted blood.
"Throw some smoke grenades and unleash the frags!"
"Don't bother saving them!"
Without delay, the Sentinels calmly followed his orders and threw a couple of smoke grenades, followed by dozens of frags.
*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!*
*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!*