Free Web NovelChapter 2756: Chapter 919: We Have Both Feet on the Ground, Commander! (2)
"If only it were a long rifle, this thing would be absolutely perfect for sniping—every shot would land."
"This thing looks like it was custom-built by the Sanghai People."
Old Qu rubbed his chin and said:
"Although there’s some black-tech in it, I can see Psychic Runes. Creator Technology rarely involves Spiritual Energy, which means if we ever make it to the Sanghai Empire, we might be able to learn how to make weapons like this.
But sound waves don’t look like something you can shoot very far anyway, right?
Speaking of which, Meow Meow Shark, you’re already a Silver Hunter, how come you still haven’t recruited a badass War Beast for yourself? Those four dogs of yours are already falling behind your strength, aren’t they?"
"I’ve grown attached to them, I’ll just make do for now." ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Meow Meow Shark, who was going down the Beast King route, scratched his head and sighed:
"And none of the beasts you can find in Transylvania match my aesthetic standards. I’m planning to take a walk through the Dark Mountain Range after the war. The Wolf People brothers say they’ve seen lions roaming near the Broken Tooth Clan territory.
I like lions.
Or I’ll head over to the Ancestor Grove after we’re done here. I heard Sir Morphy’s War Beast, Sir George’s, first litter of mixed-blood wolf pups has already grown up. I like wolves too."
"Hey, forget lions and wolves, just grab a griffin or something more fantasy-looking. You can even ride it as a mount."
Little Wei Ming was babbling nonsense on the side, but just as she was about to talk Meow Meow Shark into catching a griffin, "Lady Shui" strode over and smacked her on the head, saying:
"Move it, Lord Paryen is calling us into the drop pods. We’re almost at Moss Valley. We’re going to carry out an airborne assault. This one’s dangerous, so get ready."
The players were quickly assembled into the drop-pod bay of the Origin Vanguard.
They had thought they’d be doing classic paratrooper stuff, jumping with parachutes, but the moment they walked in they saw, up ahead, thirty full-fledged drop pods already locked into launch position under the操作 of the Sanghai technicians.
The boxy things had been molded into hexagons, with conical bases that could punch into the ground, and retro-thrusters on four sides to dampen the impact when they slammed into the dirt. The players who saw them immediately shouted, "The Hell Paratroopers are right in front of me!" Though considering ODST pods could be used for orbital drops, these things in front of them were clearly still a bit behind in terms of tech level.
But the appearance of these thirty drop pods was proof enough that the black-tech level in the hands of the Sanghai People was terrifying.
"Get in, all of you, get in! Each drop pod seats twelve. Remember to hold your breath during high-speed descent. Anyone with acrophobia, come to me for medication!"
A Sanghai Elite Commander shouted in the common tongue from the side, but the players had already rushed forward, buzzing with excitement. Just thinking about riding something this cool straight into the battlefield had everyone hyped out of their minds.
Happy Stick was already itching to ask the Sanghai People for a price quote. Was this cool and practical piece of kit for sale or not?
"Whoosh."
As they entered the assault pods, the optical screens on both sides of the bay smoothly turned transparent in a very sci-fi way, allowing the players to see, in the parallel sections to both sides, the fully armed Sanghai Elites filing into assault positions just like them.
Of course, compared to the noisy players, the Sanghai Elites were far more military. These broad-shouldered, thick-waisted warriors advanced in silence in tight formation, all burly and fully geared up, exuding the aura of hardened elites. Next to them, the players really did look like a bunch of jumpy, second-rate rabble.
But combat power isn’t something you can judge from appearances alone; the classic example being the difference between fresh Slavic conscripts and elite Slavic troops.
"Lord Paryen! Over here, we saved you a spot!"
Gebao stood at the hatch of his pod, calling out to Lord Paryen, who had already changed into battle armor and was holding the Holy Spear, clearly trying to use the chance to get on his good side. Unfortunately, the lord simply waved his hand, indicating he did not need this thing that would lower his fashion rating.
Up ahead, Aurora, the Flying Feather Unicorn, equally clad in armor, was already in position.
It would carry its buddy Pa Ying and be the first to charge into the battlefield.
The other NPCs all had their own methods too. They weren’t too keen on cramming into these fully enclosed "metal coffins" with the Big Head Soldiers and getting launched at high speed into Wolf People territory. The players, on the other hand, felt these medieval superstitious types really needed some ODST "cultural enrichment."
This thing was awesome!
A real man either pilots a Zaku, or joins the Hell Paratroopers, rides one of these, and rushes to meet his destined battle!
"Origin Vanguard has arrived directly above Moss Valley! Assault drop operation will commence in thirty seconds! Warriors, prepare yourselves!"
The accented reminder from the Sanghai People echoed through the bay, and the players already strapped into the assault pods immediately quieted down.
Little Brother Fu hugged his Scorpion Lion and gave a thumbs-up to Big Black the Minotaur sitting nervously opposite him. He suddenly felt something was missing, so a few seconds later, he used the comms to message the Silver Moon Group:
"Sister Lumi, give us some BGM to boost morale."
"You always need something."
Lumina grumbled.
But a few seconds later, a Seven-Stringed Zither rendition of Ride of the Valkyries rang out in the players’ comm channel. No one knew how Lumina managed to use a single instrument to produce the effect of a full symphony; that was probably just one of those strange Bard talents.
