Chapter 49

Ajax destroyed an additional two assault points while he gave the order to retreat. Retreating to the defense building was the worst option since abandoning the camp gate would allow the enemies to flood in, losing their line of defense and risking being surrounded.

But he had no choice. His men were vulnerable and suffering from the constant strikes of the jets, not to mention that they were being rushed by an elite team of mech pilots who were not a part of the Hell's League.

The defense building could at least shelter them from the constant bombardment of the jets.

*TN: Trading being burned alive for being buried alive I guess*

"Retreat! I'll cover you!" Rick yelled as she stood in front of Ajax with her shield raised. The struggling operators quickly left their posts and retreated to the defense building. The operators piloting the mechs provided suppressive fire on the enemy, buying some time for the retreat.

The retreating operators occupied high vantage points and opened fire from top to bottom of the building. The mech pilots guarded the entrances of the defense building to prevent enemy mechs from entering.

*TN: How fucking big is this building?!?!?!*

Ajax and Rick did not enter the building and instead went to a two-story building adjacent to the defense building, forming a corner with the defense building. This allowed them to ensure that both sides could be supported by the other.

After they left, the jets above dropped another wave of incendiary bombs, reducing the defense post to ashes. With the protection of the concrete building, the safety of the operators increased several levels instantly.

Although the Hell's League had a numerical advantage, it was difficult to capitalize and instead found it challenging to have to divide their firepower to target both low and high points of firepower.

Initially, they attempted to storm the defense building, but this just caused their casualties to skyrocket. After the destruction of two mechs and the loss of dozens of operators, they quickly retreated.

They changed their attack strategy and decided to besiege the two-story building where Ajax and Rick were located. They believed it would be easy to attack this building since there were only two mechs inside.

However, they were wrong. Inside were a Warlock-level mech and a Parallax-level mech that were running at full combat effectiveness. Additionally, they had the protection of the building. Rick raised her shield to block the corridor, allowing Ajax to open fire from behind cover.

Any attempt to approach would result in being shot and destroyed. The mech team from the guard also attempted to launch a barrage of missiles but only achieved the destruction of a wall.

After several minutes of fighting, the Hell's League made no progress and the tables were turning on them as they began suffering losses.

Bach quickly devised a plan and ordered for most of the troops to keep on firing at the defense building while a smaller group, accompanied by a few mechs, entered the camp's residential area and massacred the unarmed family members of the operators.

The few operators left defending the camp lacked heavy firepower and mech support, they were no match and were quickly slaughtered. Without the protection of the operators, the families who had locked themselves inside their homes were hunted down and killed one by one or burned alive in their homes.

Dozens of them were dragged to the gate of the defense building and lined up for execution, most of them being women and children. Bach's objective was simple: to force the operatives in the defense building to come out, allowing them to be encircled, suppressed, and killed.

Witnessing the deaths of those they cared for, the operators in the defense building gradually lost their composure. Many felt compelled to act desperately to save those around them, leading to chaos.

Now surrounded by chaos in the defense building and witnessing the massacre in the residential area, Ajax knew the situation was dire. The original plan was to hold out for a long time with the protection of the buildings. However, Bach exploited human emotions, which led to the current situation.

"Evacuate the camp and head to the mining area," Ajax said grimly.

"We can't get out, they've fortified their defenses," Rick pointed out, gesturing towards the Hell's League's defensive line outside. It seemed impossible to break through. She was seething with rage, not too long ago the members of the four tribes who sought refuge in the camp suffered a similar fate, and the memory of that massacre haunted her.

"I'm their target, they'll chase after me once I exit," Ajax explained, pointing towards the mech team of the guard in the distance. "Once they chase me, their overall strength will be lowered significantly, allowing you the opportunity to breach their defenses and lead our people out."

"Find transportation and we'll rendezvous in the mining area. I'm giving you ten minutes to give everyone the rundown, then we'll act."

This was the only plan Ajax could devise on the fly, and although it wasn't the greatest plan, it was their only hope.

"Understood," Rick responded.

****

"I'll cover you!" Rick rushed out with the knight's shield in hand, followed closely by Ajax.

"They're coming out!" A voice from the Hell's League alerted their forces, and the guard team's pilots swiftly moved into action, firing a barrage of missiles. They ignored everything else, their orders were clear: Ajax must be captured at all costs.

"Swish-Boom! Swish-Boom!" After enduring two missiles, the shield's durability plummeted, nearing its breaking point. Fortunately, she and Ajax had reached a safe enough distance from the attacking forces.

"Go, collect everyone, and retreat to the mining area!" Ajax activated his thrusters and dodged a missile, before sprinting towards the residential area without looking back. Rick continued to hold her shield as she ran in the opposite direction from Ajax.

The mech team ignored Rick and collectively pursued Ajax, while the two jets locked onto him as they opened fire. Ajax was under immense pressure, needing to keep an eye out for aerial attackers as well as ground targets, leaving him no room to retaliate.

He piloted his mech from the defense area to the residential area in 4 minutes. During this journey, he utilized every evasive maneuver possible, avoiding shots more than 20 times and enduring missile explosions three times, causing damage to his mech.

"Swish..." Two missiles rapidly approached Ajax, prompting him to get behind a nearby building, using its walls to shield himself against the incoming damage. He activated his chest-mounted particle cold cannon, charging it to its maximum output for a devastating attack.

Ajax emerged from cover a moment later, aiming at the mech squad still in pursuit. The blue light on his chest turned red as he unleashed a torrent of energy, streaking through the night toward his enemies.