Chapter 93: The Armored Rock Beetle

“That’s a Level Two Armored Rock Worm, David. Don’t shoot—it’s too tough for your sniper rifle!” Lieutenant Elmer shouted over the channel as he and three other armored soldiers, each wielding Level Two-grade weapons, rushed forward. Even Girard, who had been assisting in the fight, immediately abandoned his target and charged toward the armored rock worm.

Although David’s sniper shot failed to penetrate the creature’s defense, the force of the impact had caused it pain. Half a second later, it regained its mobility, dropping from the sky onto the city wall, its savage eyes locking onto the Number Seven long-range sniper cannon that had attacked it.

“David, we’ll hold off the armored rock worm—help attack the tearing fly bugs!” Lieutenant Elmer called out as he closed in on the creature.

The armored rock worm was a Level Two insectoid, renowned for its defense and strength. Its formidable armor made it a powerful siege weapon, the backbone of the insectoids’ ground assaults.

“Send reinforcements immediately! Get those fifty-three civilian armored soldiers over here. Notify city hall as well—have them transfer all their reserve armored soldiers!” In the command center, Lieutenant Eaton issued his orders in a tense voice.

The situation had become dire: Level Two insectoids had emerged from the spatial wormhole.

“Captain, should we request air support from SkyNet?” the adjutant asked as he relayed the orders.

“Give it a try, though I don’t have much hope. According to SkyNet intelligence, many cities are under attack this time. Our Pellan City is unfortunately one among them, and there are many cities in need of support,” Lieutenant Eaton replied helplessly.

Pellan City was but a small settlement, its fighting strength comparatively weaker.

If they failed to hold the line, Lieutenant Eaton could already envision the consequences. Even if the insectoids didn’t massacre everyone, the city would soon be flattened by long-range missiles.

It was a desperate choice, the final fate for cities lost in the war zone.

The city held vast energy reserves and a sizable population. If these became sustenance for the insectoids, they would be able to breed rapidly in a short span.

Every soldier defending the city understood this well: there was no retreat. If they fell back, their families and homes would be destroyed.

“Right, have them equip Number Five, Six, and Seven long-range sniper cannons with Level Two ammunition. Execute immediately!” Lieutenant Eaton suddenly recalled David’s crucial role in the battle against the spatial wormhole, and with a surge of inspiration, he shouted the order.

Level Two ammunition was in short supply. Normally, when Level Two insectoids appeared outside the city, heavy laser cannons and Gauss cannons would be used; SkyNet would dispatch air support, preventing the insectoids from approaching the city.

The order was swiftly transmitted to the armory. Jim, clad in protective military gear, had also been conscripted. Owing to his expertise with firearms, he had been assigned to the armory.

The other soldiers were busy transporting and replenishing ammunition for various weapons. The process was simple: they sorted the munitions by type and fed them into special transport devices, which automatically supplied all weapon systems.

Yet the sheer volume of ammunition consumed by the war kept the armory personnel working nonstop.

Jim could only remain in the office area, processing incoming information. It was a considerate arrangement by the armory, given his unfamiliarity with the procedures—if he joined in, he might slow things down.

Level Two ammunition couldn’t be delivered to the designated sniper cannons via the transport device. Unless David used up all his Level One-grade ammo, the automatic supply system couldn’t switch to the Level Two rounds from the armory.

Thus, this task required manual handling.

Upon seeing the order mentioning the Number Five sniper control room and David, Jim felt a pang of guilt.

He quickly opened the Level Two ammunition storeroom nearby, retrieved two boxes containing twenty rounds, and though their combined weight exceeded a hundred kilograms, the small ammo transport cart made the delivery feasible.

He wanted to bring more, but the stock of Level Two ammo was limited.

Jim climbed into the transport cart, accelerated sharply, and entered the dedicated passageway within the city walls, where he could drive at full speed—he’d arrive in under a minute.

Lieutenant Elmer swung his Level Two heavy axe at one of the armored rock worm’s legs. The creature was so tall that he could only reach its legs.

The rock worm reacted swiftly. Though its rage was focused on the Number Seven sniper cannon, it responded instantly to Elmer’s attack—its leg lashed out and collided with the heavy axe.

Lieutenant Elmer felt as if he’d been struck by a heavy armored vehicle. The tremendous force transmitted through the axe to his entire body, making his exoskeleton armor vibrate violently and dissipating some of the energy—yet the remaining force sent him flying.

As he soared through the air, he controlled his landing with a series of rolls, dissipating the rest of the impact.

He glanced at the worm’s leg where he had struck—a shallow mark was all that remained.

His blow hadn’t even breached the creature’s shell, filling him with dread.

“Attention! Attack its joints—don’t strike other parts; its shell is far too thick!” Lieutenant Elmer urgently warned over the channel.

Just then, another armored soldier who had charged the worm was kicked aside by its leg.

Fortunately, the rock worm’s target was clear—it sought only the Number Seven sniper cannon, which had inflicted such pain upon it. For now, it merely pushed aside obstacles with its legs, rather than attacking with its forelimbs.

The two armored soldiers wielding Level Two war hammers exchanged a glance. They had fought together for a long time and understood each other perfectly.

With swift movements, they flanked the rock worm, swinging their hammers at the joints of its left and right legs.

The worm didn’t perceive these armored soldiers as a significant threat. It was accelerating with its six legs.

At that moment, both Level Two war hammers struck the joints of its symmetrical legs.

The war hammers dealt a different kind of damage than the heavy axe. While the axe could cut and break through Level Two insectoids, the war hammers delivered crushing blows with powerful shock effects.

Both heavily exerted legs were struck at their joints simultaneously. Though the worm’s thick shell resisted the crushing force, the joints suffered heavy blows, injuring the legs and causing the creature to lose balance.

With a thunderous crash, its massive body—five meters tall and seven meters long—slammed onto the top of the city wall, sliding ten meters across.

Lieutenant Elmer seized the opportunity. His exoskeleton armor screeched against the ground as he vaulted atop the worm’s back.

The soles of his armor activated, generating immense suction to anchor him securely.

Gripping the handle of his Level Two heavy axe tightly, he unleashed his full strength. Enhanced tenfold, the axe now carried nearly twenty thousand kilograms of force as he brought it down upon the worm’s head.

The creature, after falling, immediately sensed Elmer on its back. Its forelimbs shot upward to attack him.

At the same time, two other armored soldiers wielding heavy axes leapt with all their might. Their exoskeletons expanded in midair, axes raised high, their bodies fully extended by their waist muscles.

They abandoned all defense, seeking only to maximize their power.

Stretch, contract—these two motions brought their axes, glowing with a deep blue light, crashing down on the worm’s raised forelimbs.

The creature’s forelimbs shuddered under the twin blows, and at that moment, Elmer’s heavy axe struck its head.

With a crack, a fissure appeared in the armored shell on its head.

The worm felt pain and, with a swipe of its forelimbs, sent the two airborne soldiers flying.