Chapter 33: Empty Vault
The mechanisms inside the Ejection Fang fully activated. Under the astonished gaze of that soldier, the Ejection Fang exploded with a roar.
Boom!
The concrete staircase was pierced through. A total of 31 metal fangs sprayed upward, slowly rotating in mid-flight. After hitting the ceiling, these metal fangs underwent a second acceleration, scattering and shooting downward.
Pfft, pfft...
The soldier who had discovered Apollo was riddled with holes. He didn't even let out a grunt before collapsing to the ground.
The bloodstained Ejection Fangs continued to ricochet, like so many bouncy balls. Unlike bouncy balls, however, their three corners were razor-sharp.
After five ricochets, the surrounding walls were riddled with holes. The Ejection Fangs pierced through the walls, bouncing into the adjacent rooms.
Screams and roars continued unabated. In an instant, five dormitories near the staircase were devastated as if by a typhoon. A large group of soldiers lay on the ground wailing, each with one or more bloody holes in their bodies.
Apollo's intense heat had left the staircase above riddled with cracks. Soon, it was fully activated. In the end, a fireball silently expanded.
Thump!
The shockwave of the explosion spread outward. At that moment, everyone inside Saint Limen Fortress heard a dull roar in their ears.
Soldiers, walls, double-decker bunks, bread—everything Apollo touched was instantly vaporized by the high temperature.
Due to the complex structure of Saint Limen Fortress, Apollo's expansion was no longer spherical after a certain point. Instead, it transformed into a massive torrent of flames, surging into the surrounding rooms.
A few seconds later, the underground first floor through the third floor above ground of Saint Limen Fortress had vanished, creating a vast space. Within this space, everything was blazing red. Molten lava flowed down the rebar framework.
Large sections of the rebar framework were now exposed. Saint Limen Fortress wasn't built with concrete and standard rebar; it used threaded steel bars instead. Apollo had vaporized the concrete but couldn't completely melt the threaded steel.
Clang, clang, clang...
The threaded steel framework twisted. The structure above the fourth floor of Saint Limen Fortress began to slowly sink. Because the outer layer of threaded steel plates hadn't been destroyed by the blast, the area from the underground first floor to the third floor above ground became a hollow shell. The outer layer was threaded steel plates, and the interior was a dense framework of threaded steel.
Although the threaded steel framework hadn't been completely dissolved, Apollo's high temperature had melted about 30% of it. They now looked like half-melted iron bars supporting the structure above.
Boom, boom, boom...
Explosions came from the underground second floor. The ammunition stored there was ignited by the intense heat, turning the underground second floor into a fireworks display.
The chain of explosions accelerated the sinking of Saint Limen Fortress's upper structure.
Inside the fourth floor of Saint Limen Fortress.
"So hot!!"
The little assistant hopped from foot to foot. The floor on the fourth level was now glowing red, like a massive branding iron.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets inside the guns on the floor were set off by the heat. A few bullets were deflected by the Counter Shield, embedding themselves in the wall diagonally opposite.
The little assistant flinched. This time, she dared not jump. But two seconds later, a burning smell came from under her feet.
"Commander, I'm about to become a roasted fish. Aren't we pulling out yet?"
The little assistant continued hopping, leaving black footprints. The acrid smell of melting rubber filled the air.
Su Xiao's gaze shifted to the stairwell entrance on the fifth floor. Footsteps could be heard from there.
Several officers of unknown rank rushed down the stairs. They didn't get far before their steps halted.
Su Xiao dispelled the Counter Shield. The little assistant was quick-witted; she raised her heavy machine gun and opened fire on the officers. One could imagine what it felt like to be caught in a heavy machine gun's crossfire in a narrow stairwell.
The moment the gunfire started, the officers displayed superhuman agility, leaping simultaneously toward the stairs above.
The little assistant bared her fangs. She often dealt with officers of the Sun Kingdom and knew well how their bodies were enhanced by divine power.
Rat-tat-tat, rat-tat-tat, rat-tat-tat-tat.
Three bursts of fire. Three Sun Kingdom officers were pinned against the wall behind them. Their chests and thighs were punctured, gushing blood.
"Blue-eyed scum."
The little assistant squeezed the trigger, using her other hand to press down on the heavy machine gun. After the burst, the three Sun Kingdom officers were left mutilated.
While the little assistant fired, Su Xiao had already charged toward the stairwell entrance to the fifth floor. His combat boots had heat insulation. Since the soles already contained a titanium variable-thrust engine, it was only natural they were equipped with a cooling system.
By the time the little assistant stopped firing, Su Xiao had just reached the stairwell entrance. He casually beheaded a dying Sun Kingdom officer.
Two Sun Kingdom officers had managed to leap to the fifth floor. As Su Xiao reached the stairwell landing, three soldiers wielding heavy machine guns were crouched at the top of the stairs. Talk about a reversal of fortune.
Rat-tat-tat...
A hail of bullets came. Su Xiao grunted, ducking behind the corner of the stairwell.
Bullets pierced through the concrete wall of unknown thickness, whizzing past Su Xiao's ear. A flashbang appeared in his hand. After pulling the pin, he hurled it with force against the wall beside him.
The flashbang hit the wall, bounced diagonally, and flew toward the top of the stairs.
Boom!
A blinding flash later, the gunfire from the top of the stairs ceased. Su Xiao peeked up. The three soldiers crouched at the top of the stairs were shaking their heads, blinking rapidly. Some were even starting to dry heave.
D·Assassination appeared in Su Xiao's hand. Three shots, and the three soldiers toppled backward.
Su Xiao stepped up the stairs. The little assistant caught up from behind.
"Commander, I found a goodie."
The little assistant was holding a pineapple-shaped metal sphere. It had a large pull ring on top, and the bottom was glowing red.
The little assistant's courage was definitely among the top few dozen in the Geya Alliance military district. She was holding an N-type anti-tank mine, packed with a large amount of white gunpowder.
Under normal conditions, any soldier would dare to pick up an N-type anti-tank mine. But this one was in a high-temperature state, its lower half red-hot, ready to explode at any moment.
The little assistant made a move to pull the ring. Su Xiao grabbed her hand. His instinct was giving a warning: if she pulled that ring, the thing would likely explode immediately.
"Just throw it."
The little assistant paused for less than 0.1 seconds before understanding Su Xiao's meaning.
"Have an iron pineapple, on the house. Hoo-hoo-hoo."
The little assistant hurled the N-type anti-tank mine. Su Xiao raised D·Assassination. As the mine flew into the fifth floor, startled shouts rang out.
The distinctive sound of D·Assassination echoed. A bullet left the muzzle, slowly rotating, creating a spiral air ripple in its wake.
The bullet struck the center of the N-type anti-tank mine. It pierced the metal casing, and flames erupted.
Boom!
A deafening explosion came from the fifth floor. Su Xiao shielded his face with one hand.
Clang, clang, clang...
The sound of metal twisting from below the fortress grew more pronounced. Su Xiao could clearly feel the upper structure sinking.
At the same time, the sound of artillery fire came from the battlefield outside the fortress. The Geya Alliance forces had clearly heard the explosion inside the fortress and seized the opportunity to launch a night attack. Large flares illuminated the battlefield as bright as day.
This was a nightmare for the Sun Kingdom soldiers in the trenches below the fortress. A catastrophic change had occurred behind them, and the Geya Alliance army was bearing down on them from the front.