books44 Chapter 340 [Empire] Chaos
Chapter 340 [Empire] Chaos
Nightingale's guns were loaded, and the twin pistols in his hands radiated a cold gleam. That awe-inspiring aura made my heart tighten slightly. I rarely saw him wield both pistols simultaneously, but this sight was enough to indicate the seriousness of the battle before him. His usual laziness and cynicism vanished completely, replaced by a cold and precise fighting attitude.
I took a deep breath and charged the "water gun" energy blaster in my hand. This weapon, specially modified for this mission, draws its energy from plant energy. To increase its power, I used a large block of long-stored plant energy. The smooth gun body flickered faintly with a blue-green light, indicating that it was fully charged.
"Are you ready?" Nightingale asked in a low and calm voice, without looking away from the front.
I nodded, my eyes focused on the target area: "We can start anytime."
"Very good." He raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a cold smile, and lightly rotated his two guns alternately, as if confirming the final feel. "Remember, although the targets here are chaotic, once a fight is engaged, it will definitely cause a chain reaction. Strike a quick victory."
"I understand." I responded and tightened my grip on the energy gun. I felt the plant energy flowing smoothly inside the gun with a warm touch.
Nightingale said nothing more, simply making a gentle gesture for me to follow. His movements were steady and swift, almost silently weaving through the shadows of the trading floor. We crept along the complex metal tunnels, finally stopping at a secluded spot with a wide view.
In the center of the venue, alien beast cubs and half-human, half-beast monsters were displayed in iron cages, and the transaction was in full swing. A well-dressed "client" waved his hand, as if to signal a monster to approach. Meanwhile, the surrounding pirate armed forces glanced around vigilantly, clearly on high alert for any sign of trouble.
"Clear the perimeter first," Nightingale said softly, her rifles trained on the guards at the edge of the field. "After clearing out the area, we'll storm the center and disrupt the trade chain." He spoke simply and calmly, yet I sensed a profound danger lurking behind every word.
"What should we do with the cages in the center?" I asked in a low voice, my eyes falling on the bound beasts and monsters.
Nightingale's eyes moved slightly, and there was a hint of sharpness in his tone: "If you can save them, save them; if you can't save them, complete the mission first." He said it bluntly, obviously not wanting to let his emotions affect the mission objectives.
I gritted my teeth and said nothing. The blaster in my hand vibrated slightly, and the charging indicator light came on. I took a deep breath, adjusted my breathing, and locked my gaze on the armed men in the field.
"Get started." Nightingale gave the order in a low voice.
He squeezed the trigger, and both guns erupted simultaneously, firing with precision and swiftness at their targets. Each shot seemed calculated, the bullets slicing through the air, hitting the enemy's blind spot with pinpoint accuracy. The first wave of armed men fell to the ground with barely time to react.
At the same time, I pulled the trigger of my energy gun. A dense green beam, carrying the subtle ripples of plant energy, blasted out from the muzzle, instantly striking a pirate who was attempting to raise the alarm. The powerful impact toppled him and the surrounding objects to the ground. A muffled sound escaped as his protective armor was devoured by the green energy.
The scene instantly descended into chaos. The "clients" currently transacting screamed in panic, attempting to escape, while the caged young beasts wailed miserably, struggling to break free. The half-human, half-beast monsters in the iron cages seemed to be stirred as well, beginning to struggle frantically.
Nightingale's gunfire never ceased. He was like a far more sophisticated fighting machine than I was, firing alternately from his two pistols. Every pull of the trigger nearly killed an enemy. Meanwhile, the energy gun in my hand, as it consumed plant energy, grew more intense, practically piercing its target completely.
"Quick, destroy the control console!" Nightingale suddenly shouted, his eyes sweeping towards a control console in the center of the venue, which was the main control device of the cage.
"Understood!" I moved quickly, shielding Nightingale as I rushed to the control console. Gunfire and explosions continued behind me, my heart racing. But I held the energy blaster tightly, with only one goal: to destroy this dark trading place and free these creatures.
However, we, with our fervent passion, seem to have overlooked that the freedom of some creatures often means the suffering of others, and vice versa.
The moment I rushed to the control panel, what should have been a simple and quick task suddenly became complicated. The bound beasts and monsters in the trading area began to struggle and roar in pain. The iron cages were broken, but some of the beasts, in the moment of breaking free, reacted violently and rushed towards the surrounding traders, biting and attacking frantically.
When the half-human, half-beast monsters within the venue erupted, their attacks targeted not only the pirates but also the "clients." Though hideous and seemingly devoid of human characteristics, these monsters were, after all, genetically engineered creatures, possessing intelligence and violent impulses no less than those of ordinary humans. Their riots were not merely a quest to escape restraint, but rather a retaliation driven by rage and a survival instinct.
"Hurry up!" Nightingale's voice sounded again, breaking my brief daze.
I watched him fire his dual pistols with precision again, bullet after bullet hitting the monsters charging towards us, knocking them down. But there was a hint of unease in his eyes; it was clear that the situation was rapidly getting out of control.
I also sensed something amiss. What was supposed to be our lead attack had instead become the beginning of a chaotic conflict between various factions. The unleashed beasts and monsters had become an even more deadly threat. Their presence instinctively triggered chaos throughout the trading floor. Fallen "customers," pirates, and even some previously restrained beast cubs began running around in panic, trampling over one another.
"How could these monsters... be so out of control?" I asked myself.
These creatures have been transformed by countless experiments, and in essence, there is no longer any distinction between humans and animals.
"What have we done?" I whispered to myself.
Nightingale's eyes grew more serious at this moment, and he said in a calm tone, "Whether we save them or not, the chaos has already begun. Continue to destroy these facilities and prevent them from spreading further here."
I was silent for a moment, then nodded. Regardless, this place's control system must be completely destroyed. No more goods can be held here, and this life-or-death trade cannot continue. But the hesitation within me left me momentarily perplexed: Whose freedom was this struggle ultimately for?
Just when I paused, the control console in front was finally completely destroyed. However, amidst a mechanical roar, an alarm suddenly sounded.
"Alarm, alarm, external lockdown activated!" the voice was cold and mechanical. Immediately afterwards, doors and windows throughout the venue began to close, and thick metal walls rose around us, blocking all exits.
"Fuck!" Nightingale cursed and reacted immediately. "They set up a blockade procedure in advance. It seems they are well prepared!"
"What should I do then?" I frowned, feeling a little uneasy.
"Time is running out." Nightingale's eyes became sharper. "We have to destroy the central control system and completely destroy this facility before we can escape."
I also began to realize that the task before me was no longer a simple one. Behind the seemingly simple battle, countless lives were at stake.