Chapter 108

Although promoted to company commander, whether or not to retreat was not up to Alvin.

But at least, it could shut the political officer’s mouth!

Alvin led the remaining squad back about two hundred meters, to the intersection where the streets converged.

Though he appeared to be nervously observing the terrain, with the aid of his bio-armor, the entire neighborhood’s layout and allied/enemy markers were displayed directly on his retinas.

In a certain common sense… he was cheating!

In strategy games, the importance of a map goes without saying; in real warfare, having a “transparent full-map hack” — how much value does that need explaining?

Precisely because of this “full-map hack,” Alvin had barely held off several waves of attacks, then hastily deployed his battle plan just as before.

“Contact Commissar Gray!”

Alvin shouted to the communications soldier.

Soon, the comm array activated, and Commissar Gray’s image appeared; he grinned at Alvin: “Good! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you — you sensed the cult’s movements and pulled back your lines before being surrounded!”

Clearly, Commissar Gray saw everything happening up front and didn’t think this decision was wrong at all.

Alvin glanced at the political officer — silent contempt.

The political officer’s face turned purple with rage, but he couldn’t speak — the commissar had already spoken; what was he anyway?

“Speak… what do you want?”

Commissar Gray saw right through him: “Since you know how to command, I’ll try my best to fulfill your request.”

“If I say… I know Arch-Techno-Priest Aruman — would you let me go back?” Alvin asked tentatively.

“No.”

Commissar Gray smiled warmly: “But on Arch-Techno-Priest Aruman’s behalf, feel free to ask me for anything you need.”

The current battle situation couldn’t spare a single man to command the conscripted civilians; having finally found a boy with command ability, how could he possibly let him go?

As for whether he’d face retaliation later?

He didn’t care at all — if the cult wasn’t wiped out, everyone would die anyway; who had time to worry about that?

“Alright…”

Alvin hadn’t expected much; he rubbed his temples and said grimly: “I need armor! Heavy firepower! At least intact weapons and functional comms gear!”

After the brutal fighting, hundreds in this company were running low on ammo and lacked heavy firepower — they couldn’t suppress the cult’s massed charges.

Even with a transparent map hack, you can’t hold back numbers!

Only now did Alvin truly understand: bravery, nobility, fearlessness — all those praised virtues meant nothing compared to firepower that could drown everything like a tidal wave!

Firepower! Firepower! Firepower!

Alvin’s mind was filled with those words—the fear of insufficient firepower from his past life was practically etched into his bones!

If only he’d had a damn Blade Tank, would the cult scum have dared act so boldly?

“Your request is reasonable.”

Commissar Gray gave him a long look, then turned and ordered: “Hear that? His company is to be fully equipped as Defense Force standard, reorganized as Temporary 177th Regiment — Alvin Company.”

…

The fierce defensive battle continued!

But soon, under the heavy firepower of the 177th Regiment’s Alvin Company, the cult’s massed human-wave tactics became ineffective at this street intersection.

Partly due to Alvin’s command, but mostly because the civilians, having undergone a baptism of blood, were no longer afraid, no longer trembling!

The massive firepower output directly suppressed the cult!

“Shoot them hard, you bastards!”

Alvin, as if possessed by a war god, gripped a heavy twin-barreled bolter and unleashed a torrent of explosive rounds — like rain slamming into the enemy lines!

Instantly, vast clouds of blood mist exploded!

The searing torrent of explosive rounds swept through — any cultist hit was torn apart, limbs and flesh flying, bursting into bloody clouds!

Suddenly!

The air around them grew unnervingly oppressive, suffocating!

In an instant, Alvin sensed something wrong — the chilling, surging malice surged like a tidal wave; instinctively, he leapt out of the building.

BOOM!

A violent explosion flattened the entire building!

Shit… it was psychic energy!

Blown back by the blast, Alvin’s mind flashed that thought — then the shockwave slammed him hard against a rubble wall.

Without his bio-armor, that explosion alone would’ve crippled him.

Shaking his head hard to clear it, Alvin saw a horrifying sight!

From among the dense crowd of cultists, a figure pushed forward — clad in thick, blood-red armor, covered in blasphemous, twisted runes, helmeted, face unseen — like a monster wreathed in crimson light!

Each step it took sounded like a heavy tank.

The ground trembled violently as it advanced at high speed, its target unmistakably Alvin.

What the hell is that?!

Stunned, Alvin raised his heavy bolter and fired at the charging “monster”!

BOOM!

Instantly, a storm of explosive rounds tore through the air like a tsunami!

But what followed chilled him — the blood-red, spiked-armored “monster” moved with shocking agility, sidestepping the bullets the moment he pulled the trigger.

“So fast!”

Alvin’s pupils contracted; he retreated quickly: “Concentrate fire! Aim at the monster — shoot!”

From the ruins of nearby buildings, crossfire erupted — a hail of bullets poured onto the blood-red, blasphemous creature!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM…

Countless rounds slammed into the “monster.”

But all were deflected by its blood-red armor — the explosive rounds didn’t even leave a mark, bouncing off as if hitting steel; tons of ammunition couldn’t halt its advance!

In an instant, the monster was upon him.

Then, from nowhere, it drew a massive blood-red axe — wreathed in horrific stench and bloodlust, screaming with the wails of countless tormented souls — and swung straight at Alvin!

Fast!

The blade blurred into afterimages!

But at the brink of death, the rose knot left by Winnie activated its void shield!

BOOM!

The monster’s crushing blow was blocked by the void shield!

Alvin broke into cold sweat — without the void shield, even with his bio-armor, he’d have been split in two.

Suddenly.

From within the blood-red armor, covered in blasphemous symbols and twisted spikes, came a voice — one Alvin knew well, yet filled him with dread.

“A…lvin… sir…”

It’s the last day of August — I hope next month brings recommendations; being without them is unbearable. If heaven grants me one more chance, I hope I can delay my subscription launch.