Chapter 98: Wrath of Thunder

At the border of Uganda and Kenya.

The base of the Outlaw 13th Half Composite Brigade is situated on an open area at the edge of the African rainforest.

14:00.

The Yuyou appears within the Outlaw base's line of sight.

Under the stunned gaze of the Outlaw soldiers, the Yuyou lowers its altitude, hovers over the base, and finally occupies four landing pads as it lands inside the base.

The hatch opens.

The Caron task force and the Astates step out of the cabin in turn.

Now, when the Outlaw soldiers see the black paint, the TPS Power Armor bearing small red‑white umbrella insignia on the left chest and right arm, and the titanium‑based nano‑composite combat suit that looks like a black bodysuit, their surprised gazes also contain envy and jealousy.

The Outlaw soldiers glance at the Phamas in their hands, then at the opponent's TPS Power Armor and nano combat suit, and at the various pulse weapons the opponent holds, and they cannot help but sigh and shake their heads.

The Outlaw soldiers know Umbrella's weapons are high‑end, but this is a far greater gap!

As for the secrecy of the TPS and nano combat suits, the 13th Half Composite Brigade's communications are now under Red Queen's control, and the African headquarters' cleanup team will handle the use of UEN-001 (silver rod) while the anomaly is being resolved.

The nano combat suits worn by the Astates are actually the attire beneath the Thor Hammer Power Armor.

If a miniature fusion reactor is attached to the nano suit, composite metal armor is installed on critical points, and a dedicated helmet is swapped, it becomes a fully realized Thor Hammer.

Because the Astates are not yet of age and the Thor Hammer's overall cost is extremely high, the Mother Nest produced ten nano combat suits.

Even if not a full version, the nano combat suit is not something ordinary humans can wear.

The nano suit responds to the wearer's neural signals, shaping itself accordingly.

It's like the brain sending a signal to drink water, and the hand naturally reaches for the cup on the table.

It can grant the wearer roughly five times the reaction speed and strength, an amplification that is lethal for ordinary people.

Because an ordinary body cannot keep up with the suit's motions, a slight lift of the left hand could cause the left arm to spin several times.

If it's a twist of the waist…

The result is obvious.

But these are not a problem for the young Astates, and the nano suit is like a second skin to them; John even remarked, "It feels very comfortable to wear."

Moreover, Wang Zhaofeng's team added Optical Camouflage capability, allowing the Astates who wear them to conduct infiltration missions.

The last to exit the cabin is Alekxia, dressed only in jungle‑camouflage combat attire.

As the Flame Queen, she needs neither TPS Power Armor nor Mechanical exoskeleton, nor any weapon for self‑defense.

After all passengers leave the cabin, the Yuyou closes its hatch and ascends again, the activation of Optical Camouflage disappearing from everyone's view.

"Putainde (damn it)! When will this weapon be sold to France?"

A captain in charge of reception looks up at the spot where the Yuyou vanished and can't help but ask himself.

But on second thought, although they claim to be France's strongest force, they are ultimately a 'foreign legion', so even if the Algorithmic Nation buys it, they can't equip it first.

At that moment.

"Captain," Marini, with his helmet unfolded, leads the group to the captain, smiling lightly, and says:

"First, brief us on the specifics of that rebel camp; time waits for no one."

"Hm? Ah… okay, everyone, follow me."

Regaining his composure, the captain quickly replies and then leads the group to the base's command building, where the supreme commander will outline the mission details.

———————

…

That evening.

17:07.

Six kilometers west of the 13th Half Composite Brigade base, the rebels' camp is set up within the rainforest.

Compared to the Amazon Rainforest, the African rainforest is somewhat more hospitable to humans.

The rebels choose a relatively open area to build thatched huts, tents, watchtowers, and simple warehouses.

Lighting is rudimentary; only the searchlight at the camp's edge has power, while the interior relies on torches, kerosene lamps, and other archaic sources.

There's no choice; the African land seems abandoned by civilization, so having electricity indicates these rebels are fairly elite.

However…

"Brother, later slice boys under fifteen in half? Want to try?" (in Swahili)

"No, yesterday's knife work left my hands numb, I'm exhausted; later I need to relax properly."

Only two rebels, whose attire is not uniform but both carrying Soviet rifles, were patrolling the east side of the camp, and their conversation sent chills down one's spine.

Such discussions have become routine; they feel no guilt nor any sense of shame.

"Help—! Help—!"

"Hahaha—!"

From within the camp, desperate cries of women and inhuman laughter echo from time to time.

"Sha~ Sha~."

Suddenly, an extremely faint movement ripples on the outer edge to the east of the camp.

"Eei! Buzz!"

But the evening insects' chirping in the rainforest perfectly masks that subtle sound.

It seems two silhouettes flash by.

Soon, the two silhouettes slowly approach the two rebels discussing "slicing" or "relaxing".

Close, just a few feet away!

But the two rebels remain engrossed in their talk, completely unaware of what lies behind them.

"Uh!" (x2)

In an instant, the necks of these two rebels were clamped tightly as if by an invisible giant hand.

The suffocating pain, plus the lack of blood supply, made the two rebels' eyeballs bulge.

Such an ugly face is even more disgusting than the Stalker.

No, they are not worthy of comparison with the Stalker; at least the Stalker has fought for humanity.

"Pfft!" (x2)

"Crack!" (x2)

Finally, the two rebels' eyeballs burst, and their necks were easily snapped by the two giant hands.

Afterwards, the giant hand, as if disgusted, flung the two corpses out of the camp.

The flung corpses, astonishingly, shot toward the eastern rainforest at great speed, faintly emitting two "pop!" sounds.

But this sound was negligible in the rainforest, far too faint to startle the rebels inside the camp.

Actually, the ones who dealt with the two rebels' silhouettes were John and Robert wearing nano suits.

According to plan, they, the Astate, used the nano suit's optical camouflage to first infiltrate the rebel camp, seeking and protecting civilians and tourists captured by the rebels.

The Astate, in pairs, surrounded the camp, then used the helmets' internal communications to communicate, and together infiltrated the camp interior.

Initially.

John and Robert were still somewhat wary, after all this was their first battle in life, and also their first time facing life and death.

But when the helmet's built-in translation function translated the two rebels' conversation in real time, they seemed to instantly understand what their father meant by "evil"!

Anger outweighed wariness.

The upcoming rebels will face the wrath of thunder from the young Astate.

(End of chapter)