Chapter 23: Part (2): Besieged

The sun was about to set, and the distant mountains glowed like spilled blood.

A convoy raced across the wasteland like a swarm of locusts, kicking up clouds of dust that stretched across the horizon…

A dozen or so modified war vehicles formed a pointed spearhead, their engines roaring continuously.

A young girl stood on the back of the lead vehicle, facing the wind, hands gripping the frame, squinting toward the tiny steel fortress in the distance. Her long robe flapped violently in the gusts.

Ash-gray hair, tousled by the wind, brushed gently across her delicate face.

The command tower of Eisenberg glimmered coldly in the sunset. On the tall defensive walls, countless gun barrels slowly swiveled…

Numerous dark aiming ports had already locked onto their position.

“Ready?” Murphisia asked, turning slightly toward the black-clad figure behind her, her voice ethereal amid the roar of the wind.

Lin Lan sat quietly in the back, fully encased in the pitch-black Valkyrie heavy exoskeleton.

The armor plates swayed slightly with the bumps of the vehicle, the fading sunlight reflecting off their surfaces, only to be swallowed entirely by the deep matte coating.

She did not turn her head, remaining silent, her gaze fixed on the top of Eisenberg’s tower, the command lights blinking faintly in the twilight…

“You’ve brought too many people,” Lin Lan finally said, her voice low and calm through the helmet.

“We are not going to wage full-scale war on Eisenberg.”

Murphisia smiled lightly, her eyes full of meaning: “It’s all part of the plan. Don’t worry.”

“What plan?” Lin Lan’s tone remained as calm as a still lake. “With such a show of force, we’ll be hit by artillery before we even get close.”

“You’ll understand…” The girl looked forward again, avoiding the question:

“She could only be in two places: the safehouse in the underground city, or the Queen’s palace.”

“I’ll handle the safehouse… so just focus on your mission.”

The convoy halted at a gentle slope, dust rolling from the wheels like mist.

Lin Lan rose slowly, checking the systems of the Valkyrie—

Power core: operational;
Weapons system: online;
Communications channel…

The display was filled with silent red lights.

—Neither friend nor foe could communicate for the next half hour.

She had no idea what Murphisia had done to maintain such a wide signal blackout…

With a leap, she jumped from the vehicle, landing heavily on the ground, scattering rocks, leaving two deep footprints.

“Don’t forget… bring her back,” Murphisia said from atop the vehicle, smiling faintly.

“Best not to act on your own, or I won’t be able to help you…”

Lin Lan did not respond. She silently activated her optical camouflage, her figure gradually blending into the shadows at the foot of the hill, until she vanished completely into the wasteland…

The girl watched her go, the corners of her lips curling further.

“The little knight is really adorable…”

“If only she were more obedient.”

She raised her right hand, forming a fist.

In an instant, from beyond the hills behind her, a tremendous roar surged forward…

One armored transport after another appeared from behind the slopes, crawling and pouring out like an ant swarm…

Each vehicle mounted all kinds of heavy weaponry on its roof, and strange armor plates were welded to the sides, making them look like a pack of ferocious steel beasts…

“Your Grace, the First Legion is in position,” an officer reported over the comms.

“The Fifth Legion is in position.”

“The ‘Saintess’ is in position.”

“Notify them—begin.” Murphisia lightly touched the holy emblem on her chest, her violet eyes reflecting the silhouette of the fortress.

“Let’s see… what will my dear White Night Queen choose to do…”

…

To the east.

Thirty kilometers away.

Boom—!

The explosion tore through the sky.

An orange-red fireball shot upward, black smoke rolling and spreading in all directions.

A transport truck in the center flipped onto its side on the roadside, grain sacks from its cargo spilling everywhere…

The convoy behind swerved to avoid it, leaving long scorch marks along the road before finally stabilizing.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

“Watch your direction! Cover the trucks!”

The escort captain shouted over the channel, instructing his partner to slow the escort vehicle while extending guns through the windows, firing continuously toward the attackers.

Shell casings flew, sparking against the armor of the enemy vehicles.

A dozen or so low-profile modified war vehicles were the first to emerge from behind the dunes from all directions, their machine guns firing frantically.

Brass shells scattered like coins, glinting in the dusk light.

“The convoy is under attack! Requesting backup!” repeated urgent calls crackled through the radio.

On one of the attacking vehicles, a few men in tattered military uniforms clambered onto the roof.

Their faces were painted with crimson war marks, eyes burning with fierce light, and they howled like beasts.

One bald man carried an old rocket launcher. Before the white smoke cleared, he reloaded and took aim at another truck…

“Incoming rocket! Evade! Evade!!!”

Whoosh—

Boom!

Another rocket screamed through the air, striking the center of the convoy.

The massive explosion sent waves of heat outward, scattering fragments of the escort vehicles.

“Charge! For the Alliance!”

“Take them all!”

More Wanderers surrounded them, and in the blink of an eye, their numbers doubled…

They drove all kinds of modified vehicles—some with sharp iron spikes welded to the body, some with huge rams on the hoods, and others just scrap metal patched together…

But it was impossible to hold them off; their numbers were overwhelming.

Again, their numbers doubled…

“This is the transport squad! We’re under massive attack! Estimated over a hundred attackers! Requesting support!”

“Repeat! Requesting support!”

Evelyn’s voice came over the comms: “Copy. Her Majesty the Queen is on her way!”

“Two minutes! Hold on!”

The attackers’ equipment varied wildly…

Some carried rusty rifles, others wielded saw-toothed spears, yet their tactics were surprisingly skilled—

They did not linger in battle.

After hitting a target, the Wanderers would immediately move to the next position, slithering through the dunes like snakes…

Whenever the escorts tried to concentrate fire, they dispersed, causing all attacks to miss.

Some attackers even leaned out of their speeding vehicles, shouting and waving their weapons.

Some even jumped from their vehicles onto the doors of the transport trucks, trying to subdue the drivers…

Most failed, falling off within moments, only to be mercilessly run over by the following wheels.

“Damn Wanderers!” the escort captain cursed, his fingers nearly cramping from repeatedly pulling the trigger.

Bullets emptied again and again, but the enemies only kept coming…

Their ammunition reserves were rapidly depleting, yet the attackers charged like madmen, seemingly fearless.

The escort personnel were sweating profusely; some were already reaching for backup magazines.

Just as the battle grew more desperate, a low roar of engines came from the horizon.

Several black dots appeared, rapidly approaching.

“Reinforcements!” the escort captain shouted excitedly.

As they drew closer, their true forms emerged—three massive heavy armored vehicles.

Their bodies were jet black, thickly armored, and mounted with large-caliber cannons on the roofs.

On the lead vehicle, a figure in Valkyrie armor stood atop the roof.

The armor was pitch black, exuding a deathly aura in the sunset.

—Seraphina.