Volume 6 Chapter 109

Volume 6 + Chapter 109: Kennedy’s Command

“Retreat! Retreat! All units cease fire immediately and fall back to the armory!!”

After receiving orders from higher command, the captain of the Public Security Patrol shouted the command to his squad.

The patrol members, who had been firing their guns at the Calamity Beasts, all revealed confused expressions.

“But… Captain, if we stop attacking, who’s going to cover the civilians’ evacuation?”

“These are orders from above! Everyone is to obey unconditionally!”

The captain roared:

“All the monsters in the city are heading toward the armory now. If the armory falls, then everyone dies! We have to return and defend the armory immediately, we can’t worry about anyone else anymore!”

The moment they heard that the armory might fall, the expressions of the patrol members changed instantly.

The Calamity Beasts were already extremely difficult to kill. They had only barely managed to halt their advance through overwhelming firepower.

Without weapons, facing those monsters meant certain death.

“Get in the vehicles! Move, move!! Everyone aboard!!”

The captain boarded the designated transport vehicle first and urged the others to climb aboard.

The patrol members hesitated briefly. Looking at the vicious Calamity Beasts, they eventually stopped firing and chose to obey orders, boarding the vehicles together.

The drivers immediately transported the patrol members toward the armory.

“Wait! Don’t leave us behind!”

“Public Security Patrol, aren’t you supposed to protect us?!”

“Please, take me with you! Just take me alone!!”

The civilians who had originally been under the patrol’s protection completely broke down upon seeing the patrol abandon the fight and drive away.

They screamed desperately toward the departing vehicles, hoping the captain might show mercy and take them along.

“Keep driving. Don’t stop to save anyone,” the captain said coldly. “The armory is more important than the lives of any civilians. Don’t get your priorities backwards.”

“……”

The atmosphere inside the vehicles became unbearably oppressive.

Not a single person dared to question the captain.

At a time like this, anyone who voiced opposition would likely be shot dead by the captain without hesitation.

The patrol members could only obey.

“AAAAAH! I don’t want to die here! I’m still young!!”

“I don’t want to turn into a monster!!”

“Somebody, anyone, save me! Please save me!!”

Throughout the city, the agonized screams of civilians echoed endlessly.

Without the Public Security Patrol obstructing them anymore, the Calamity Beasts were free to slaughter life without restraint.

They charged directly into crowds like starving wolves descending upon sheep, beginning a bloody feast.

Meanwhile, every member of the Public Security Patrol abandoned civilian protection and converged toward the armory.

Some people believed that if they hid themselves inside tiny rooms in tall buildings, they might avoid those vicious monsters and survive.

But they had still underestimated the abilities of the Calamity Beasts.

Some of the beasts sensed the presence of life, rushed into the buildings, climbed stair after stair, and reached the rooms where people were hiding. They smashed through doors with their claws and launched themselves at the screaming occupants.

Most people died beneath the attacks of the Calamity Beasts.

A very small number, however, became infected by the aura of calamity while on the verge of death. Their bodies mutated, and they eventually transformed into members of the Calamity Beast horde themselves.

Scenes like this unfolded continuously throughout every district of Molent City.

The city gates had already fallen.

The Calamity Beasts immediately seized control of every ground exit from Molent, completely sealing the city and transforming it into a gigantic hunting ground.

……

……

Molent City ,  Armory District.

Members of the Public Security Patrol piloted helicopters high into the sky above the beast horde and unleashed suppressive fire from Vulcan cannons.

“I’LL BLOW YOU APART, BLOW ALL OF YOU DAMN MONSTERS APART!!”

The machine gunner roared furiously.

The Vulcan cannon in his hands spun at terrifying speed, unleashing a storm of bullets that riddled the Calamity Beasts with holes and halted their advance toward the armory.

After all, the power of a Vulcan cannon far exceeded ordinary firearms, it was capable of actually injuring the beasts.

“GRAAAAAAH!!”

The wounded Calamity Beasts became even more enraged.

They leapt upward from the ground, attempting to grab onto the helicopters, climb aboard, and tear the gunners to pieces.

But the machine gunner gave them no opportunity. He redirected the barrel toward the leaping beasts and blasted them back down.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the armory, patrol members wielding enchanted weapons fought the Calamity Beasts in brutal blood-soaked combat, resisting the invasion of the monstrous horde.

Whenever a weapon broke, they immediately swapped it for a fresh one and returned to battle.

All of these operations were being directed under Kennedy’s command.

“No matter what happens, we must hold the armory!”

“This is our final stronghold, our last hope for a counterattack! It absolutely cannot fall!!”

Through the communication system, Kennedy addressed every member of the Public Security Patrol, using his voice to rally them.

He had already dispatched several helicopters.

With the overwhelming aerial firepower provided by the helicopters, they were still capable of slowing the advance of the Calamity Beast army.

“Lord Kennedy, civilians are requesting that we dispatch patrol units for rescue operations.”

Charlie walked up beside Kennedy to report the situation.

“We could attempt aerial rescues using helicopters, ”

“Forget those people! What matters is the armory, and us!”

Kennedy glared at Charlie and interrupted him immediately.

“Don’t waste the Public Security Patrol’s precious combat power on civilians! Every helicopter must stay here and continue engaging the monsters!”

“…Understood.”

Charlie lowered his head and said nothing further.

“There are still plenty of weapons inside the armory, enough to sustain the Public Security Patrol in prolonged combat.”

Although the situation had indeed spiraled somewhat out of control, Kennedy still believed he could gradually regain control.

There had never been a shortage of filthy transactions within Molent City.

Kennedy knew that perfectly well.

But the majority of the money from those dealings had flowed directly into his own pockets.

He had used those funds to manufacture weapons in preparation for emergencies.

It seemed his earlier preparations had indeed been correct.

Now they have become critically important.

As long as all military forces within Molent City gathered together and fought with the armory’s support, they could wage a prolonged resistance against the monsters.

“As long as we still have helicopters, we can hold the armory. There’s no way we can lose.”

Kennedy was extremely confident in fighting a war of attrition against the Calamity Beasts.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with his command or his decisions.

However, just as he was thinking this, an unexpected event occurred.

BOOM!!

A violent explosion erupted outside.

Towering flames burst skyward while thick smoke billowed into the heavens.

“What happened?!”

Kennedy frowned in confusion.

Then a report came through the communication device, one so unbelievable that he could scarcely process it.

“Lord Governor, this is bad! The helicopters are starting to crash!!”

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