Chapter 297: High-Speed Raid

Words : 1434 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

[TN: Forgot yesterday chapter here you go] Thunk. Thunk. The Centaur mechs stomped across the ground, each step resonating like a drumbeat. The subtle whir of hydraulic actuators played like a transition in a heavy metal track. Brick's head trembled slightly under the surge of electrical stimulation, contrasting sharply with the unwavering steadiness of his mech. Before them stretched a road filled with fire, wreckage, and ruins. No ordinary human could have survived the explosion, yet the MaxTac Assault Unit was still standing. [TN: Can't tell if it's Maxtac or an actual MaxTac unit I put Maxtac last chapter, but i think it actually MaxTac so from here on. I'm gonna keep that.] Scattered around the battlefield, their clothes were scorched and torn, revealing the composite armor plating beneath. Zaria had taken cover within the debris, her synthetic skin burnt away by the flames. Her face was nothing more than an alloy skull, with charred remnants of synthetic flesh clinging to it. They all listened intently to the metallic symphony played by the Maelstrom Gang— [MaxTac Assault Unit Striker #0101: Can't we shut down their systems?] [MaxTac Assault Unit Hacker #0123: I'm trying.] The netrunner's exposed neck vents expelled steam in rapid bursts— Zaria couldn't even find an interface to hack into. She had tried every signal decryption method to no avail. And the Centaur mechs—after the Manticore's crash—were still impenetrable. She lacked the tech to bypass their ICE. Boom! A flash of electric light. The netrunner's head jerked, his hand grasping at the wall for support. He had been struck by an ICE attack! The netrunner behind the Centaur mech was using military-grade ICE. And at that moment, the tempo shifted. Thunk-thunk-thunk—THUNK! The Centaur mechs surged forward! Both activated Sandevistan at once, pushing their speed to the extreme, charging with their shields raised like massive blades aimed at their foes! The MaxTac Strikers also activated Sandevistan, their cybernetic bodies pushed to the limit. They crossed their arms in defense— But the linear-frame actuators of the mechs were far stronger, far faster! CRACK! The shield slammed straight through a striker's crossed arms, driving deep into his chest! The second round of combat had begun—but the Centaur mechs only had the upper hand for a fleeting moment. As soon as they attacked one enemy, the rest of the MaxTac Assault Unit took aim! BANG! A bullet punctured Brick's leg hydraulics, instantly weakening his left leg. But while their attention was diverted, Zaria struck! Her heated mantis blade plunged into a striker's chest— Balance restored. But above them, more riot suppression units were closing in fast. If this dragged on, they were done for. Brick's data stream was unstable, his mind failing to process a solution—he simply stared blankly at the sky. Then, suddenly, a message came through: [Royce: You old bastard! I'm waiting for you at the All-Foods Factory!] His trembling body steadied. Brick snapped his head up, locking onto the factory. [Brick: You dumbass, just wait there and die!] Both Centaur mechs suddenly surged forward, ignoring the MaxTac Unit entirely, charging straight for the factory! [MaxTac Striker #0112: Stop them!] If the battle moved into the factory's tight and complex environment, things would become even worse. The unit prepared to pursue—but Zaria reemerged, striking at their isolated operatives! The two Centaur mechs raced ahead at full speed, their overwhelming power and velocity preventing the MaxTac forces from engaging in melee combat. But at range, they had to worry about the brutal plasma cannons. And Zaria lurking in the shadows. The MaxTac Unit advanced in a formation using cover—but every step was met with an interception. The battlefield descended into chaos. BOOM! A plasma shot landed dead center in their formation. A unit wielding an Achilles Rifle barely dodged, only to be showered in debris. He heard his teammate's frantic shout: [She's coming for you!] The air rapidly heated up. Instinctively, he raised his hands to defend himself— And then, he could no longer feel his hands at all! The thermal mantis blade slashed at his arms, hesitating only slightly as it cut through— The high temperature softened the material, and the sheer force shattered the alloy bones! His lifeless arms dropped to the ground. The operative finally saw Zaria's face. This cyberpsycho's skin had been almost completely burned away. What he saw— Was a fully exposed alloy skull, illuminated by the glow of the thermal mantis blade, like a demon crawling out of hell itself! He had no way to stop the mantis blade from stabbing into his head! Bang! A bullet struck Zaria's waist at the perfect moment. The blade narrowly missed the operative's face, its heat scorching black marks into his skin. "Sniper on the roof!" But they weren't aiming at them! The roar of engines thundered like an explosion. Two flame-spewing motorcycles shot forward like rockets! Even the MaxTac Squad had never seen motorcycles that could breathe fire while moving. They had only encountered something like this once before—in combat reports. But that had been a suicide bomb bike! Their bodies tensed immediately, eyes locked on the two approaching motorcycles. The wounded Zaria struggled in mid-air, desperately trying to regain balance. She was fast, but against speeds of over 200 miles per hour, she barely had time to adjust her posture! Jackie clung tightly to his bike, raising his right fist high like a jousting knight—charging in with raw force! "Uppercut!" Bang! His fist smashed into Zaria's waist! The immense force twisted her lower body, warping her entire spine! She was sent flying, still traveling at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, spinning through the air— And right behind her, V was in pursuit. This time, it wasn't Kerenzikov fueling her acceleration, but a partially repaired Sandevistan! The Sandevistan's electrical pulses fired through her nervous system. Integrated with Little Octopus's synchronization, it indirectly activated Kerenzikov as well. The combined effect was a reaction speed equal to—if not exceeding—military-grade Sandevistan! Time slowed down. V locked onto the airborne Zaria. Her enhanced Achilles tendons coiled like springs, her linear frame's propulsion turbines spun into action— Boom! The flight engine of her bike ignited explosively. At the same time, her reinforced tendons and propulsion turbines fired in unison! The upwards force was instantly counteracted by V's jump, transferring all of its energy into a new direction— And the result was— She took off into the air, immediately catching up to the out-of-control Zaria! Even in this high-speed environment, V was shocked to see Zaria still trying to resist. With unnatural, inhuman reflexes, Zaria attempted to block with her mantis blades. Unfortunately for her—V's mantis blades were superior. Two blades shot out. Four steel edges clashed. The searing-hot mantis blades snapped in an instant, shattering mid-air and scattering like deadly projectiles! Zaria's body was cut in half at the waist! V had been prepared. Mid-air, she smoothly transitioned into a controlled half-spin, severed Zaria's torso, and caught her head in one fluid motion! Gripping Zaria's upper body, V kicked off a nearby wall! The operatives of the MaxTac Squad weren't normal—but they were still human. Faced with something this insane, shock was inevitable. They had been tracking the sniper's position—then distracted by the flaming motorcycles—then they watched as Zaria was launched into the sky— And then, V performed an aerial execution, slicing the crazed woman in half and catching her like a trophy. Finally— Her leg-mounted thrusters ignited, stabilizing her against the wall at an almost vertical angle! Boom! The concrete wall cracked under the impact. V's legs trembled slightly. The forces involved had pushed her body to its absolute limits. But the pose only lasted for two seconds—before her bike, controlled remotely by Little Octopus, pulled up beneath her. V landed effortlessly, holding her "trophy". Flames and exhaust burst from her landing gear, slowing her descent before she touched down on the moving motorcycle. Without hesitation, she injected a high-dose sedative into Zaria's body. The bike accelerated, following Jackie toward the All Foods factory. Clap. The remaining MaxTac Squad operatives stood in stunned silence. Zaria's severed lower half lay on the ground. Their teammates were scattered among rubble and fire. In the distance, reinforcement aircraft rapidly approached. [MaxTac Command: Reinforcements arriving shortly.] [Operative #0116: The cyberpsycho was neutralized—by a third party.] [Operative #0123: Correction—she was kidnapped.] [...] [MaxTac Command: Continue pursuit of remaining hostiles.]

Chapter 297: High-Speed Raid

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