Counterfeit Hero

The green Mecha, one after another, swiftly shot through the alleyways filled with ruins between the towering buildings.

On both sides of the avenue behind them, a dense array of infantry, tracked armoured personnel carriers, quadruped self-propelled artillery, and Mecha rolled over the rubble of the collapsed buildings, crushing the broken bricks and walls like a rising tide.

In the sky, countless old metal shells whistled as they fell, exploding violently and hurling concrete debris, twisted steel bars, and various unrecognizable objects into the air. Streams of white energy bullets formed a dense net of light amidst the dust and smoke, with missiles occasionally trailing straight exhaust lines, piercing into the already ruined buildings, releasing thunderous explosions. The flames, driven by shockwaves, burst forth from every window and opening in the building.

The entire world seemed to have turned into a black and white apocalypse.

”Ranger” No. 01 stomped on the barrel of an armored personnel carrier, its massive body dashed towards a mountain of debris while two energy bullets and chain-like energy machine gun bullets bloomed within the surging crowd of surrounding enemies. Shattered flesh and blood splattered wildly, and the gory mud that exploded open coated the entire dirty and ugly street in a shocking crimson.

The energy machine gun frantically swung around death’s chain, tearing through the old Mechas without energy shields, armored personnel carriers exploded, and the infantry fell like wheat cut down, rows collapsing. Only a few Mechas equipped with energy systems managed to hold on for a while. However, it was only a short while, as the infantry’s Mechas were technically limited, only relying on their newly equipped energy shields to hold on.

Every shot was controlled with precise accuracy by ”Ranger” No. 01. As it stabilized its stance on the debris, it resembled a demon god of hell! The tidal wave of enemies surged, only to fall before its chain of bullets, then panic and retreat, only to surge forward again and meet the same fate.

Behind it, forty-nine green Mechas surged like a tide. After destroying a half-exposed Mecha with an energy cannon, ”Ranger” No. 01 calmly took a few steps back, turned, and followed at the tail end of the group, sprinting away. The green figures ran and leaped over the piles of rubble one after another, with a few bounds leaving behind the pursuing forces in this district.

The Mecha formation advanced along the riverbank for five hundred meters. Along the way, the Northern Alliance Army that popped up from the district was suppressed by these Mechas firing as they moved, unable to lift their heads. After using concentrated firepower to destroy the infantry post and firepower points on a six-story office building at the street corner, the Super Spearhead Battalion finally turned onto the Inner River Bridge.

”The enemy is on the Inner River Bridge!” A Northern Alliance Restoration Army Captain leading his troops in encircling pursuit shouted into the communicator’s microphone, even though the soundproof armor blocked out the sounds of gunfire and explosions on the street outside, his ears still buzzed with noise.

The regional channel of the communicator was a mess, with various combat units reporting situations, issuing orders, requesting support, and even some unsure of what was happening and asking around, all sorts of voices mixed together chaotically.

It’s chaos, complete chaos! The Captain discarded the communicator, jumped out of the armored personnel carrier, and looked ahead. The morning mist shrouded the Central City’s Inner River, and explosions of flame continuously flashed near the Inner River Bridge.

Explosion sounds, screams, resounded one after another. The sandbags piled up by the riverbank and the barrier nets were already shattered, with dismembered limbs occasionally blasted into the air in the explosions and then tumbling down onto the hard ground or into the river filled with debris and floating objects.

Countless shells fell into the river. After dull thuds, uneven circles appeared on the water surface, and then numerous water columns shot into the sky amidst splashing waves, breaking into pieces mid-air, and twisting and turning as they fell back down. It was as if a torrential rain had fallen on the river, and all that could be heard was the crackling sound.

The Captain looked at his subordinates, seeing faces filled with panic and confusion.

The soldiers, some holding newly-issued energy rifles and portable energy cannons, others with old projectile rifles and shoulder-fired rockets, fired aimlessly. They took cover behind fallen reinforced concrete, metal frames, billboards, and buildings, reluctantly moving forward only under the officers’ stern urging and the pressure of other units behind them.

As soon as an enemy shell landed, they would scatter in chaos, as if they hadn’t recovered from the unexpected assault!

”Open fire! Belta, lead your men to the left, maneuver behind the building and fire at the enemy on the bridge from a forty-five-degree angle...” The Captain shouted, ”You have one minute! If after one minute I still see a portable missile launcher with a missile left, I’ll shove it up your ass and press the launch button!”

”Yes, sir!” A grimy Sergeant dashed out from behind a broken wall, kneeling on one knee and constantly gesturing to the soldiers behind to follow.

However, after a series of violent explosions, the soldiers who had just poked their heads out quickly ducked back down.