Chapter 50: A Hit!

No matter in quantity or quality, the Tomorrow was never at an advantage. Both convoys consisted of two Level 1 off-road vehicles and three motorcycles, equipped with Peregrine Falcon assault rifles and Gale rocket launchers. But the Hanged Man’s convoy was also equipped with those same Level 1 weapons, and their off-road vehicles, although also Level 1, vastly outnumbered the Tomorrow’s. However, the presence of the Storm Infantry Vehicle forcefully turned the tide. With its Stinger autocannon mounted on the hull roaring into action, it quickly riddled an enemy off‐roader, igniting its fuel tank and blowing it into an orange‐red fireball. Then it fired a light missile that instantly flipped a car trying to ram it. On the street, the Level 2 vehicle moved like a conqueror in a domain without opponents, wantonly hunting enemy vehicles. The enemy convoy tried to fight back, but their bullets and rockets were negligible—they simply couldn’t pierce the infantry vehicle’s armor. As the driver held the trigger, the Stinger autocannon and Rattler machine gun alternated fire, their muzzle flashes bursting with harsh blue‐white light. Spent shells rained out the ejection ports like a storm, and the dense barrage engulfed several off‐roaders in an instant. They were torn apart as easily as paper, their wreckage and dismembered limbs entwining into a mist of gore. “Is this the power of a Level 2 vehicle?” Li Ye widened his eyes in astonishment. Although he had expected something, actually witnessing its power still shocked him. Seeing this, the enemy convoy’s morale collapsed—they stopped fighting and rapidly turned to retreat into nearby streets. A roar filled the air as the Hanged Man’s two Level 1 cannons simultaneously fired. Two pale‐silver shells fell near the Tomorrow, and in the ensuing explosions a sudden gale engulfed the vehicle, drastically slowing its pace. At the same time, the Tomorrow retaliated with its Molten Cannon. A molten shell exploded against a building to the right of the Hanged Man, sending a spherical shockwave that shattered the structure like a fragile shell. Hundreds of wooden beams and concrete fragments, carried on a violent burst of wind and impact, swept across the Hanged Man. “Well done, Ning Wen!” Li Ye was about to press the advantage when he suddenly noticed something in the distance. Without hesitation, he shouted through the loudspeaker. “ Tang Fang, prepare for evasive maneuver! Everyone on the Tomorrow’s deck, find nearby cover and take shelter!” At that moment, the Magician rolled out of the fog. All its cannon muzzles were raised in unison, aimed at the Tomorrow. In the next second, every gun on its deck opened fire. The air filled with distorted shrieks as shells tore through the sky and slammed into the area around the Tomorrow. The entire zone burst into a sea of fire; countless buildings twisted, deformed, and collapsed under the bombardment, and massive shockwaves spread outward. “Cough, cough...” Through the smoke, Li Ye stood up again. Before him lay nothing but scorching heat and lingering gunpowder haze. That barrage had been ferociously intense—he’d nearly lost consciousness. Obviously, the Magician was the Predatory Cities Alliance’s specialist in fire support and bombardment. Its assault and defense weren’t as strong as its companions’, but its artillery bombardment was unparalleled. “How is everyone doing?” Li Ye turned quickly and scanned the area. The moment the shells struck, helmsman Tang Fang had executed an evasive maneuver. Although he couldn’t escape the bombardment area, he’d pressed against a nearby building for temporary cover, which absorbed most of the fire. Li Ye turned toward the rumbling not far off and froze for a moment. It was the War Vehicle. Despite taking a direct hit from a molten shell, the Predatory City still had power to move. It looked in poor shape—most of its front armor was twisted and deformed, effectively destroyed, with some areas still aflame. With a roar, the War Vehicle accelerated again and barreled toward the Tomorrow. At the same time, its steam-powered bed‐crossbow opened fire. A giant steam arrow struck the Tomorrow, penetrating its Spore Armor; the powder in the shaft delayed its detonation, collapsing internal structures from within. But Li Ye had no time to mind that; he roared as loud as he could. “Tang Fang!” At that very moment, the War Vehicle thundered in, closing to under 100 meters from the Tomorrow. As if responding to his command, the Tomorrow suddenly slowed, leaned to the left, and with a half‐tilt posture, slipped past the War Vehicle. The War Vehicle passed and sped away. With its current acceleration, turning around to charge again would take considerable time. Li Ye exhaled lightly, but his nerves tensed again the next instant. The Hanged Man resumed its assault, its cannons firing continuously. The convoy reformed and charged once more. This time, they were more cautious—they spread smoke shells widely along their route to confuse the Tomorrow’s vision and initiate a breakthrough. Looking into the distance again, the Magician’s guns were nearly reloaded for a new salvo. Li Ye frowned when he suddenly heard someone’s voice not far off. “Lord, I request permission to fire the Molten Cannon!” Ning Wen shouted. “I’ve finished the calculations—I’ll definitely hit the enemy!” Li Ye paused at his earnest expression, then nodded vehemently. “Then go all out! Ning Wen!” With a beastly roar, the Molten Cannon launched its shot. The shell exploded within the smoke, raising a column of rolling black smoke. Li Ye stared intently into the haze. No movement emerged, not even from their pursuing convoy. It seemed... they’d really hit it? But he had no time to rejoice, because the Magician’s second round of cannon fire had already begun. Explosions thundered all around again, and the Tomorrow pushed to full speed and raced down the street. “Report: Two unfamiliar Mobile Cities have appeared northwest!” Lin Xia reported. “It seems like their allies have arrived!” Li Ye picked up the binoculars and looked—they really saw two new Mobile Cities. They also flew flags and city paint schemes: one bore the Black‐Robed Reaper, and the other showed an old man with his face and figure hidden under a cloak. Now that the distance was increasing, Li Ye immediately issued the order. “All cannons switch to smoke shells and fire—obscure the enemy’s sight, and accelerate our retreat.” “All of them—don’t hold back.”