Chapter 598: New Event Online! Firefighting Plan!

Chapter 598: New Event Launched! Firefighting Plan!

Dusk slowly fell from the edge of the muddy, pitch-black wilderness, and the dark night gradually enveloped this blood-soaked land.

The sound of gunfire and artillery had ceased for a while.

Yet the gray fog spreading all around still hadn't dissipated; instead, its reach seemed to grow farther, stretching from Lord Kong's estate into the woods north of Hope Town.

By the South Gate, where the barricades had just been removed.

Standing beside the muddy path, Ma Hechang kept staring toward Pinecone Wood Farm, muttering another prayer to the Saint above under his breath.

In the past, he could occasionally hear the Saint's voice.

But after the fog set in, for some reason, he could no longer hear it.

Filled with fear, he couldn't help recalling what Pastor Wei had said.

Perhaps...

The Saint was truly angry.

Just as he was straining his eyes into the distance, three figures emerged at the end of the road, the foremost being the owner of the neighboring farm, Kong Lingkai.

Seeing it wasn't that hunter surnamed Liu, disappointment flickered across Ma Hechang's face.

Before he could exchange pleasantries, Lord Kong, who usually held his nose high in the air, now spoke urgently and took the initiative.

"What the hell is going on? Why is this fog so thick?"

He had been content to stay home and ignore it, but seeing the fog show no sign of lifting by nightfall, he felt a growing unease.

He had planned to visit Pastor Wei in the nearby town for advice, but instead ran into Mayor Ma here, and instinctively felt these people had been hiding something from him again.

Normally, Ma Hechang would exchange a few polite words with him, but today he wasn't in the mood and replied impatiently.

"How should I know? The heavens decide when fog rolls in—it's not my business."

Kong Lingkai's face stiffened, disliking the man's attitude, but he couldn't argue, so he just looked away, gritting his teeth and shifting the topic angrily.

"This fog's got to be cursed... I told you long ago, we shouldn't have gotten mixed up with those folks from the north. Ever since they showed up, one strange thing after another's happened!"

Ma Hechang curled his lip dismissively, thinking that if they hadn't gotten involved, those green-skinned monsters would have already snatched up his pretty wives to breed.

Of course, he was in the same boat.

"Enough. None of that matters now. I've sent someone to Pinecone Wood Farm to check things out. We'll talk when he gets back."

As he spoke, a horse galloped up from the distance, ridden by the town's hunter, Liu Youxiong.

The hunter was about to ride straight into town but spotted the mayor waiting at the gate, startling him into hastily reining in and dismounting.

"Sir!"

Ma Hechang stared at him expressionlessly and got straight to the point.

"What's the situation at Pinecone Wood Farm now?"

"I didn't go in, just took a look from outside. It felt—" Liu Youxiong began, but was cut off by the mayor's impatient interruption.

"Felt what? Get to the point!"

"Yes, yes!"

Liu Youxiong stammered.

"It was dead quiet there. No one working outside the walls. I went to the gate, and the guards weren't at their posts. The inn by the door was empty too... Like a ghost town. I didn't dare stay long, and it was getting dark, so I hurried back."

Ma Hechang's heart sank. He wanted to ask more about what had happened, but someone else was more anxious. Kong Lingkai grabbed him and demanded.

"People gone? Where did they go?"

"I—I don't know," Liu Youxiong said with a wry smile, then suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Oh, on the way there, I saw a group of mutants—maybe a thousand or so—fighting with the Alliance..."

Kong Lingkai pressed.

"How did you know they were the Alliance?"

Liu Youxiong swallowed and whispered.

"I recognized their exoskeletons at a glance."

Ma Hechang frowned at him and asked.

"Who won?"

Liu Youxiong replied hastily.

"The Alliance, of course. They won without any doubt... I saw their airship fire several shells right over the mutants' heads. The whole plain looked like it had been plowed over. Those who survived were quickly killed off!"

Ma Hechang drew a sharp breath, finally understanding what the rolling thunder and trembling ground that afternoon had been.

Standing nearby, Kong Lingkai exchanged glances with his two attendants, their faces a mix of shock, uncertainty, and bewilderment.

From Liu Youxiong's description alone, the power the Alliance displayed was on a completely different level from theirs.

Seeing the two big shots silent, Liu Youxiong dared not speak, standing there meekly.

As if a decision had been reached.

Kong Lingkai turned to Ma Hechang, coughed, and said.

"Now the Church is in danger... If we help them, it'll be a timely rescue. I suggest we hold a meeting to discuss how to deal with the threat from the north—"

"Dream on," Ma Hechang cut him off bluntly, rolling his eyes and continuing.

"The Church is finished. Even if we hold a meeting, we should be discussing how to get along with the new master here."

Kong Lingkai grew frantic, glaring at him.

"You—you would betray the Saint!"

Ma Hechang sneered dismissively.

"Come on, do you even believe in that nonsense? I'll be straight with you—this is just business. We bought his protection services and enshrined him here in exchange. If he can't deliver on his promises, he shouldn't boast."

With that, he gave the farm owner a meaningful look.

"I hear the Alliance bans slavery. I'd advise you to prepare yourself."

Glancing at Kong Lingkai's ashen face, Ma Hechang turned and headed back into town, but instead of immediately summoning the town's bigwigs to the council hall, he first went to the church.

Some things needed to be clarified.

Pushing open the door, he called out for Pastor Wei, but got no response. He circled to the backyard and saw a man hanging from the willow tree planted in the courtyard.

The man was neatly dressed, his head tilted, eyes closed, face serene—not a trace of pain on it.

Ma Hechang froze for a moment, then turned pale with terror. He stumbled back, tripped on a stone, and fell flat on the ground.

"Old... Old Wei?! Pastor Wei?!"

He called out instinctively twice, but Wei Ming had clearly been gone for a while and naturally couldn't answer.

Ma Hechang's lips trembled, unable to speak. He sat there dazed, unable to get up for a long time.

Dead...

The pastor appointed by the Bishop himself, the only man in town who could contact that Bishop...

And so he just died like that?!

……

"Wasteland OL" official website.

[Event Announcement: "Operation Fire Extinguisher" is now live!]

[Event Introduction: Torch-wielding cultists are spreading their evil faith, death and plague are spreading across the land of Jinhe Province, the world-ending flames are devouring everything they touch, and eight hundred kilometers is not a great distance for us.

This is not only our crisis, but a crisis for the entire wasteland. Before dealing with the threat of the tide, there is a more urgent threat to resolve!]

[Event Content: Raid the "Nest of Nago" in the underground test zone of the "Champion" Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. Take an airship to the Steel Heart or the surface action base to participate!

Each mutant killed earns at least 10 points, each cyborg mutant at least 50 points. During the event, points can be exchanged for event equipment including explosive guns, K10 "Iron Wall" exoskeletons, and Bolder Military Industries cybernetic implants!

They can also be exchanged for support including 155mm artillery strikes, "Blizzard" rockets, helicopter pickups, and airdropped supply crates!

Even 400mm heavy rockets and tactical nuclear strikes for area clearance!]

[Registration Conditions: Gene sequence level LV10 can form a team, sequence level above LV3 can apply to join a team (players who have accepted the "Passing the Torch" mentor-apprentice quest can get a 20% point bonus when in the same team as their apprentice or mentor)]

[Rewards: After the event ends, remaining points can be exchanged for blind box gift packs, limited titles, and there is also a mysterious grand prize!]

[The final interpretation right of this event belongs to Vault 404!]

Tail: "???"

Quit Smoking: "Holy shit?!"

Stop Bullshitting: "Brothers! We got work!! (cracking voice)"

Maka Bazi: "You're a fisherman, what the hell are you shouting for."

Garbage Picker Level 99: "Clock in clock in—pfft, log in log in!"

Silver's Dad: "Recruiting now, Silver Legion recruiting online! Any newbies want to sign up for the mentor-apprentice quest? Old driver will take you to the front lines! Gaga headshots!"

Elf King Fugui: "Any newbies forming a team? Those who can shoot get priority! (funny)"

Shrimp Heart: "Me me me, I can!"

Shu Ke Driving a Toy Car: "Pistol okay?"

Beta Flying a Helicopter: "Can drive an armored car, that work?"

Mole Escaping from the Canyon: "DM me!!!"

Shu Ke Driving a Toy Car: "DMed, bro!"

Mole Escaping from the Canyon: "Get lost! I meant the guy below you who can drive!"

Shu Ke Driving a Toy Car: "Damn! I really can! QAQ"

Night Ten: "Holy shit! How did our quest become an event!"

The event post was up for less than a minute.

The forum, which had been full of bragging, farting, meme-posting, and trolling, instantly erupted!

……

For creatures like mutants, there is no concept of family.

Even in a large mutant tribe like the Qi tribe, which has inherited some human habits, few remember which female gave birth to them.

After all, at birth, usually only the priestess who delivered them was around. Not to mention the father, they couldn't even see the face of the mother who bore them—the priestess usually covered her face, and soon after the birth, she would decide whether to send her to the livestock shed or the kitchen.

With no concept of family and no property to inherit, most mutants naturally don't have names before receiving a name from their leader.

However, although most mutants don't have names, they still have ways to distinguish each other.

For example, the most common is "nicknames."

Usually, that's the loudest sound they made at birth. The priestess who delivered them would tell them what they shouted, whether made up on the spot or truly memorable.

For instance, some are called "Ah," some "Ao," or "Wawu," "Yiyi," and so on.

These are the most common nicknames. Not just in the whole tribe, but under one chieftain, there could be a dozen with the same name.

It's not unheard of to call out a nickname and mistake someone, but usually, it doesn't matter.

For example, if a chieftain bellows, "Hengchi, Aowu, follow me hunting," soon dozens or hundreds of underlings would step up to join.

If there were too many, he'd kick out a few of the scrawniest weaklings. If too few, he'd shout, "Ah, you come too!" and the missing heads would quickly be filled.

For humans, this is usually called management chaos, but for mutants, it's actually more convenient.

They are all experts at killing and burning.

As long as enough hands are gathered, what difference does it make who goes?

No matter who goes, it doesn't stop them from feasting on the pile of enemy corpses, eating meat with big bites!

A long night passed.

The next morning, before the sun had risen.

In the dilapidated abandoned urban area, the fog was hazy, and the air was thick with a stench of decay, like a moldy linen cloth covering the nose and mouth.

Anyone would feel physically uncomfortable.

Yet the mutants of the Qi tribe felt only a blood-pumping excitement.

At that moment, from outside the human-skin tent came a rough roar, followed by the sound of gunfire into the sky.

"Humans! Coming! Hengchi, Aa, all follow me!"

Before the roar had even faded, a cacophony of roars responded.

"Kill! Kill!"

"Heng—!"

"Aaaah!"

Awakened by the gibberish noise, Hengchi, still in his dreams, sneezed, shook his groggy head, and scrambled to his feet.

He grabbed the blunt knife and iron-tube rifle leaning against his sleeping bag, and without waiting for his blood pressure to rise, he went to the open space outside the tent to assemble, baring his fangs and roaring at the dark, damp concrete ceiling.

This was his way of showing bravery.

Only the bravest warriors could catch the chieftain's attention and be taken out to hunt those weak two-legged livestock.

Glancing at the emaciated human things in the cage in the corner, a cruel smile curled at the corner of Hengchi's mouth.

Such weak things, daring to come to them willingly!

He would show them what cruelty meant!

Seemingly satisfied with the spirit of his underlings, the big fellow standing at the front of the open space nodded approvingly, then swung his palm, the size of a cattail leaf fan.

With a rough, loud voice, he roared.

"Follow Delu! Go chop off those bugs' heads!"

Hengchi, like the other mutant brothers beside him, waved his weapon and responded to the chieftain's call with an excited roar.

"Roar!!!"

The mutants were howling with excitement when suddenly, thunderous cannon fire exploded on the ceiling above their heads.

Great clouds of dust and gravel were shaken loose by the deafening noise, raining down on their heads and chests.

Yet not a single one of the mutants standing there showed a hint of fear.

Instead, they grew even more excited!

Sturdy concrete bunkers were everywhere in this city!

Protected by this reinforced concrete, the steel airship floating in the sky could do nothing to them!

And once they reached the urban area—

It would be their home turf!

"Go kill them!"

"Roar—!"

At Delu's command, Hengchi hoisted his weapon and followed behind a group of burly green-skinned brothers, pouring through the dark stairwells into the surface ruins, waiting for the Alliance's bombardment to end.

The thunderous cannon fire lasted only about five or six minutes, and then shouts of battle and crackling gunfire erupted in the nearby urban area.

Brothers from the neighboring lair had already clashed with Alliance soldiers on the edge of the city. Though the thick haze obscured the battlefield, the sounds alone suggested a formidable force.

Hengchi tightened his grip on his rifle, bared his bloodthirsty fangs with a cracked, dry grin, and let out a heavy snort through his nose.

"Hengchi..."

It seemed this feast would be one to savor!

...

Beneath the abandoned office building, the cacophony of gunfire was punctuated by the shouts and yells of a bunch of rookies.

"Cover me!"

"Flank them, bro!"

"In this fog? Flank my ass! Just charge!"

"Roar!"

While veteran players were steadily advancing their positions step by step, a group of second-hand rookies, along with fresh first-hand ones, were already charging toward the mutant lines.

All sorts of wild and crazy tactics were on display.

Following the Alliance's old tradition, every player was issued a satchel charge for "denying." A rookie nicknamed "Demolition Genius" had a bright idea: he gathered the "freebie gift packs" of his entire four-man squad onto himself, rigging them into a single massive explosive of astonishing yield, then charged toward the densest concentration of mutants, carrying the hopes of his team.

But before he could even reach the mutants, a stray bullet shattered his leg.

Unwilling to let the satchel charge go to waste, his three teammates had no choice but to grit their teeth and retrieve it, leading to a tragically heroic scene of "Huluwa saving Grandpa."

That was one of the less successful crazy tactics.

Of course, there were plenty of successful ones too.

For instance, a few resourceful rookies used over a dozen homemade Molotov cocktails to wipe out an entire room of mutants, instantly racking up enough points to exchange for a bolter.

Or another rookie, who seemed to have had some training, took out a welded-steel off-road vehicle charging straight at the Alliance lines with a single RPG.

The battlefield, rather than being grim, was a chaotic, raucous affair, as lively as a festival.

Both sides were throwing out all sorts of reckless tactics, each trying to outdo the other in absurdity, making it hard to tell who were the real mutants.

Watching the bustling urban area ahead, Gale, who had been stunned for a long time, gently pressed his temple and couldn't help but complain.

"Does anyone remember this is our mission?"

Seeing the rookies' wild playstyle, he felt like he had regressed several versions.

Old Bai let out a soft cough.

"Nobody expected it to be this tough..."

Relying solely on the Burning Legion's combat power to take down this tribe of tens of thousands of mutants was no easy feat.

Every one of those green-skinned beasts was a born warrior; a few of them together could slaughter an entire village.

If they were that easy to deal with, they would have wiped them all out on the first night they arrived.

Jie Yan chuckled and said.

"But honestly, having more rookies join in is kind of fun."

Old Six in the corner grinned as well.

"Haha! I think so too! The battles we fought with the Legion in Luoxia Province were way too serious. This is a rare chance to let the rookies get some practice."

Fang Chang thought the same.

Their combat experience had all been forged on the battlefield. Some things couldn't be taught; one death made everything clear.

Fang Chang couldn't help but think back to long ago, when they first encountered the mutants on 76th Street, and Mosquito's rocket launcher that nearly got himself killed.

Who would have thought that guy was now almost a wasteland arms dealer!

Shaking his head, Fang Chang chambered a round in his bolter, bought with silver coins, and smiled as he watched the mutant positions pulling back their defenses.

"It's time for us to move. If we wait any longer, there won't even be scraps left."

"Yeah," Old Bai said, closing the visor of his power armor helmet and grinning. "If we keep dawdling, those rookies will think we're pushovers."

...

About a kilometer from the combat zone, atop a high-rise building, Qi Gaen stood expressionless, watching the flickering firelight in the gray fog in the distance.

Around eight in the morning, the Alliance's full-scale assault had suddenly begun.

First came the thunderous barrage of artillery, then waves of infantry charging into the urban area.

He had to admit, the Alliance to the north had some real skill, completely unlike the two-legged sheep around Jinhe City. No wonder several of his most valiant warriors had suffered heavy losses at their hands.

Those guys were high-spirited, fearless in battle, and their offensive was ferocious, launching an all-out, no-holds-barred assault from the start.

But Gaen wasn't intimidated by their momentum. In fact, after learning about the frontline situation, he even breathed a sigh of relief.

Though the Alliance's attack was fierce, they had made little progress, leaving behind nearly a thousand corpses just to take one street.

And this was only the outermost defense line of the Qi tribe. Even if they lost it to the Alliance, it didn't matter—they had only sacrificed two or three hundred brothers, a couple dozen heavy and light machine guns, two understocked ammunition depots, and some rations.

Clearly, not every Alliance soldier was a one-man army; most of them still fought like amateurs.

And as he had predicted, the cannons of the Steel Heart were quite limited in urban combat.

The shells looked impressive, sounded loud, and packed a punch, but even a single concrete wall could effectively dampen the blast wave and shrapnel.

However, unlike Gaen's optimism, Gomo's face showed a trace of worry.

"This can't go on... The Alliance's industrial capacity surpasses ours. I've heard that Boulder City recently joined them. At this rate of attrition, they'll eventually wear us down."

Gaen sneered dismissively.

"No matter how strong their industry is, they still need people to use what they produce. I've heard the entire Alliance has less than a million people. Let's see how long they can keep grinding us down in this place, eight hundred kilometers from home."

Gomo said nothing.

In his heart, he actually agreed with those words.

But that was the Alliance that had defeated the Legion; as an old man who had lived through that era, he knew full well what the Legion truly was.

To defeat the Legion on the open battlefield...

Would those fellows really fight such a mindless battle?

Seeing Gemo still wearing a worried expression, Gaen said calmly.

"You need not worry about matters on the battlefield. Just go and complete that final ritual... If you truly cannot contact that Luo Qian, then we shall take over this diocese."

Gemo nodded slightly.

"As you command."