Mutagen



Day 341 - 1:23 PM - Ariake, Reclaimed City, Ruins of Tokyo

"GROAR!!!"

Shambling roars echoed over the other side of the bridge connecting Toyosu and Ariake. In a few seconds, the scene of the [Mutated Infected] rushing from Toyosu to Ariake entered everyone's eyes.

The horde thrown from the Western Coast into the Reclaimed City finally arrived at the bridge. Without a doubt, the ones on the lead would be the fast-moving types of [Infected]. Most of them were [Mutated Infected Animals]. The worst part, the ones in front of the horde were most likely the most powerful ones among the horde.

After getting thrown by the [Abomination of Thousand Corpses] from one side of the river to the other, not all of the [Infected] would make it. Some fell into the water, and many did not even make it halfway. Those that made it into Toyosu did not have a good fall either. The target of the throws was not exactly the Reclaimed City but the Serpent God in the sky.

Many of the [Infected] fell to their deaths into the burning grounds. It may be by the flames of the dead deity or just by the impact of their huge fall. 

Those who survived the fall were either the nimble or the strong-bodied [Infected]. Either way, the surviving [Infected] was surely a threat at the same level as [Mechids] and the [Miasmic Residues]. No, they were probably more threatening. The [Miasmic Residues] would drain the living's life force while the [Mechids] would kill any living they encountered. On both enemies, their victims ended up dead. The [Infected], on the other hand, would cause the living to join their ranks.

"Here they come! Get in position! Fire at will!"

The Field Commander yelled as the [Mutated Infected] rushed across the bridge at full speed. Most of the [Infected] in front were animals, mostly mutated dogs and cats. There were also some deer-like ones. The most surprising was the humanoid ones keeping up with the fast-footed animal [Infected].

As the [Infected] arrived within range, the sounds of guns firing began. The first ones were the snipers, who started shooting just as the [Infected] took a few steps into the bridge. Unfortunately, the number of [Infected] was not small. The snipers alone could not eliminate them before they came into the range of the Defense Line.

Even so, the snipers managed to pick off a lot of the fastest-running [Infected], slowing the horde's advance. Even so, they would cross the bridge in less than a minute.

When the [Infected] crossed the bridge halfway, the defensive assault of the Defense Forces began. One after another, the [Infected] staggered before they came falling to the ground.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Field Commander carefully assessed the situation in the Defense Line. It was when a spotter with the snipers spoke through the radio.

"Multiple [Armored Infected] had been spotted. Gray Quadruped ones. Caution advised, over."

Upon hearing that, the Field Commander took a pair of binoculars and found a suitable position to look at the other parts of the bridge. As the spotter had said, multiple [Armored Infected] was currently running within the horde. He could even see sparks from their bodies as their armor repelled the bullets from the snipers.

"Vanguards! Ready the [Reactive Cannons]! Rockets, standby!"

As the command came, the [Vanguard Soldiers] that whore the experimental armors stepped forward. They began deploying cannons equipped over their shoulders and aimed them at the bridge using precise calculations. Their target was not the [Infected] but the path before them.

The [Vanguard Soldiers] waited for the command while the Field Commander tasked a spotter for the right timing.

And then, as they finished calculating the speed of the [Armored Infected] and the target location, the command came.

"Everyone! Brace your eyes! Vanguards! Fire!"

The Field Commander yelled.

A bright flash of light enveloped the Defense Line as the Vanguard Soldiers shot their cannons.

These cannons were not like the usual military equipment. These cannons, named [Electric Field Cannons], were experimental weapons that did not use explosion as the projectile propellant. Instead, it used electricity and magnetic pulses. One reason for its creation was the limited availability of gunpowder, while the other reason was its effectiveness against the [Infected], especially against armored ones.

In fact, these cannons were made along with the Warship Susanoo's main weapon, sharing similar properties.

The cannons shot a glowing shell that had drawn a bright curve into the bridge. And when the shells hit the target, the impact caused it to explode, releasing a high-voltage electric field in the immediate vicinity.

As the Vanguard Soldiers released the shells at a precise time, they exploded on the bridge just as the [Armored Infected] entered the target location.

The moment the [Armored Infected] got enveloped in high-voltage electricity, no, not only them but every [Infected] within the electric field stopped on their steps, showed spasms on their bodies, and fell to the ground with a disgusting toasted smell. After a few seconds, the electric field vanished after achieving its purpose.

"Noted targets eliminated."

The spotter reported that none of the initial [Armored Infected] survived the attack.

Without a doubt, these experimental weapons were effective. If these could be used as main weapons for the Defense Forces, the [Infected] would not be much of a threat as long as they did not go on the offensive. Unfortunately, because of the current limitations of the [Vanguard Armors] and their experimental weapons, such things were impossible at the moment.

The group of [Armored Infected] was no more. A good number of [Infected] also died with them. However, the number of [Infected] was increasing instead of decreasing. More and more of them were arriving at the other side of the bridge to cross toward Ariake.

And the problem was not the horde before the Defense Line. It was actually the [Abomination of Thousand Corpses] and the [Siren of Death].

It was well known that territorial bosses among the [Infected] had higher levels of intelligence that the [Infected] commonly encountered could not compare. But, at this moment, the pair of territorial bosses were showing an even higher level of intelligence than expected.

As more [Infected] arrived, attracted to the Reclaimed City because of the ongoing battle, the [Siren of Death] did not stop screeching as if she was repeatedly calling upon their brethren. And as more and more [Infected] gathered around them, more and more were thrown by the [Abomination of Thousand Corpses] into the Reclaimed City.

Would it be easier to destroy the bridge instead? If no bridge were in sight, the stream of [Infected] would not have any path to get to Ariake. It was unless they traveled underwater or through the air.

Unfortunately, destroying the bridge was not an option. That was the last thing those in command wanted to do at the moment. After all, it was the only bridge left that connected Ariake and its neighboring areas to Toyosu. Once this bridge was down, the southern areas would become completely cut off from the northern parts of the Reclaimed City.

That would be a bad thing since the only indication that an area was within the Reclaimed City was a bridge connecting to it. It was necessary in many ways, especially for safe transport between the islands. Once the bridge was down, they were effectively shrinking the Reclaimed City even more right after the explosion turned the northernmost territories into a huge crater.

Unless there was no other choice, preserving the bridge was necessary.

In that case, there was one thing they needed to do first.

"We needed to eliminate those two first, or this would not end!"

Someone yelled.

The Defense Forces needed to eliminate the [Infected Bosses] to stop the horde from coming.

They had artilleries that could reach the distance of the two [Infected Bosses]. However, calculating the trajectory and moving the artillery to the right position would take some time. And doing that would effectively reduce the fire support to suppress the eight-headed serpent in the sky.

But the Prime Minister's voice came through the radio.

"Adjust three artilleries. With the Empress and the Priestess taking the attention of the monster, we should at least be able to move a few. And we don't need to kill those two. We only need them to stop what they are doing right now."

"Yes, Sir."

The Field Commander received the order. He then immediately assigned personnel to move the artilleries.

But in the middle of moving the artillery, the spotter's voice, once again, echoed through the radio.

"Hover Transports spotted at two o'clock. The robots are preparing to cross the water."

Hover Transport. It was something that Mark or any of his group had seen so far among the [Mechids].

The Field Commander immediately left the artillery personnel and took out his binoculars. In the aforementioned direction, at the southeastern riverbank of Toyosu, several large boat-like vehicles could be seen. However, it was not floating on water but hovering a few inches above it.

The Hover Transports were amidst loading several robots aboard, ready to cross the water.

"Rockets to two o'clock! Intercept the transport!"

The heavy soldiers began to move, carrying their rockets as ordered. They readied their rocket-propelled guns over their shoulders after checking their behind.

Currently, the Hover Transports was still outside the RPGs' effective range. But once the enemies entered the effective range of the weapons, the heavy soldiers were ready to fire.

The [Mechids] moved faster than the [Infected]. Thus, the Hover Transports were filled quickly and departed to their target. But as they crossed halfway through the distance, rockets rained onto them from above.

"Hit confirmed!"

The heavy soldiers reported, confirming that their rockets intercepted the targets.

However, that report immediately became useless.

Through the water splash created by the explosions, several silhouettes pushed through.

The Hover Transports were unharmed. That was unexpected, considering the rocket barrage.

"Shields! They have shields!"

A sharp-eyed [Freelancer] shouted as he saw what went wrong.

It was hard to see, but once they squinted enough, they could see the droplets of water from the explosions getting repelled by something invisible around the Hover Transports.

Worse, the Hover Transports were accelerating. In a few seconds, they would reach Ariake.

"The [Infected] reached the first blockade! Our firepower in the bridge isn't enough!"

A soldier reported as the first [Infected] clashed with the summoned golems.

"The artillery is ready!"

The personnel adjusting the artillery reported.

With many things going on at once, the Field Commander was having quite a hard time commanding the Defense Line alone.

But since the artillery was ready, there was no need to hesitate.

"Fire the artillery at once! We need to stop the [Infected Bosses] immediately!"

The Field Commander yelled before turning his head to the monster in the sky. Fortunately, the monster was being distracted, allowing the artillery to be adjusted.

THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!

The three artilleries fired at once. Three shells of destruction flew in the direction of the two [Infected Bosses].

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three explosions occurred at their location simultaneously.

ROOOOARR!!!!

A loud roar, a symphony of pain, echoed as hundreds of corpses wailed in unison after the bombardment hit the [Abomination of Thousand Corpses].

The giant, composed of hundreds of smaller bodies, stumbled and crashed into nearby ruins. Due to the damage done to its body, one could see the corpses fall from its body even from afar.

However, while the bombardment hit the [Abomination of Thousand Corpses], the other managed to go unscathed.

SCREEEEEEEEEEECH!!!

An angry screech rattled everyone's ears. At the same time, the intensity of attacks of the horde on the bridge began to intensify. The golems managed to hold the enemies back, but it would not be long until they were overwhelmed by numbers.

At the same time, the west side was in panic.

"Fire the rockets! We can't let them pass!"

A heavy soldier yelled, aiming his newly reloaded rocket at the incoming Hover Transports.

But to their dismay, the shields of the [Mechids] stayed strong.

And if the urgent situation was not enough, another problem occurred.

"Huh? Aren't those our forces in Shinonome? And the members of Dawn?"

Someone spoke, seeing a large number of people running towards the Defense Line from the east side.

"Sh*t..."

The Field Commander could not help but curse after seeing those people.

East of Ariake was Shinonome, the territory of the Yakuza Group, Dawn. Another division of soldiers should be cooperating with the members of Dawn to defend the east side, which was their territory.

But if these people were now retreating here, it meant that something had happened in Shinonome.

The Serpent God's attention was diverted away from Ariake. However, their situation was still getting worse.

And at this moment, one of the Hover Transports arrived, accelerating through the water and jumping from the water below and over the seabed wall.

In this jump, the [Mechids] effectively entered Ariake, or so they thought.

"HA!"

A yell came from the green-haired girl of Evernight as she waved her head, violently swaying her hair. And to everyone's shock, her hair grew into thick vines moving at high velocity, swatting away the Hover Transport.

It might have a shield, but the Hover Transport was still thrown back into the water, making all of its passengers fall into the water.

The Hover Transport that resisted rockets and entered Ariake with a high leap was by a thirteen-year-old girl's hair.

At the same time, the rest of the members of Evernight also moved, intercepting the incoming Hover Transports as they took a leap of fate into Ariake.