The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

Chapter 157: The Witch’s Cauldron (7)

While the second squad was holding off the enemy for some time at the Fountain Square, the makeshift shelter near the elevator was crowded.

"Teleportation, you say...?"

The first reason was the sudden appearance of hundreds of Violets. The hunters taking shelter witnessed the bizarre sight of a massive army continuously pouring out of the smoke.

"Hey! Miss, can’t you escape with that?"

"No!"

Unable to contain his curiosity, a man stepped forward and asked, and the girl responded bluntly before disappearing over the barricade.

While the onlookers pondered the girl’s true identity, strange noises were heard from the darkened sky.

"Look over there, it’s a jet bike! It’s those Magna Nabis bastards!"

Three jet bikes, carrying armed personnel, circled the shelter. As they showed signs of landing, soldiers and hunters hastily began anti-air fire.

The jet bike squadron, overwhelmed by the pouring bolts and bullets, shot back into the sky.

"Dammit, they’re flanking us! Keep a lookout for the surroundings!"

Captain Harbor raised his voice, encouraging his subordinates and others. He then spoke to the Violet liaison beside him.

"Really, do we not need any help? They’re from the four major clans, after all."

The captain gestured toward the area beyond the barricade with a worried expression. The noise and flashes of battle caused by magic lit up the area as bright as midday. Violet shook her head upon hearing his words.

"Thanks, but we’re fine! Instead, bring the soldier over! The captain, that is."

While the remaining soldiers and members of smaller clans had decent combat ability, the battles to come would take place within the dark city streets. Those not connected to the Violet network would only be a hindrance in the crowded battlefield.

"Hey, teach me how to use that rifle you’re holding. And the exoskeleton, too. Quickly!"

When Captain Klein came running, Violet urgently asked him about how to use the firearm and exoskeleton.

"You want it now? I can’t do that..."

"I don’t need your soldiers’ stuff. Just tell me how it works, for now!"

Violet, like a thirsty person drinking water, quickly absorbed the equipment knowledge and transmitted it to the command center.

"Violet! Adela’s awake!"

At that very moment, Irene came

"Their resistance is fierce. We’ll catch up soon!"

’Why is it coming to me now? That appearance, the weapons... She’s the heir of the Cascadia family!’

In the heat of the moment, Lera scolded herself for not recalling the information sooner.

"V-Violet? You said I could use my name, but this is a bit much..."

Adela, on top of the Prism, gave a flustered expression as she looked at the Violet holding a megaphone.

"Sorry, sis! But this will attract more attention!"

The Violets sprinted away, leaving the pursuing enemies behind.

While luring the enemies with the Vision Prism, one of the Violets in the command center turned her attention to the green dots on the map.

"Those guys are few in number, but let’s try to catch them!"

If they’re using electromagnetic rifles or heavy weapons, they’ll be more powerful than our firearms.

It’s impossible to get resupplies, but we can use the ammunition we have.

What’s more, due to the way they operate, they won’t be affected by combustion-suppressing magic.

We might even be able to capture some vehicles.

"Those guys are few in number, but let’s try to catch them!"

At the location where the Violet squad was stationed, a new Violet unit was formed.

The Violets jumped out from the windows and pounced on the ghouls.

"Kwaa!"

The ambush was successful.

Aside from a few Violets who lost their arms to gunfire, they were able to wipe out the enemies.

"An electromagnetic rifle… Must be a railgun, right?"

"Now it’s our turn. Forced conscription!"

I picked up a gun from the ground and inspected it.

When I opened the magazine, heavy, dull-colored metal bullets appeared, with batteries inside the stock.

"This is fine! We can use this."

In this world, due to advanced technology, people with money often carry weapons like railguns or coilguns, weapons once seen only in science fiction.

Just then, jetbikes zipped past us overhead.

I aimed at their rear and pulled the trigger.

I missed, but the powerful recoil sent a bullet flying.

Tutututung!

"It works! It works!"

Violet No. 230 gleefully dashed off right after pulling the trigger.

"This should work even in combustion-blocking magic zones. It’s also stronger than a regular rifle!"

"Alright, let’s show them some heat!"

After knocking out more ghoulified federal soldiers wandering the alleyways, we confiscated their equipment.

We quickly retrieved weapons and ammunition from the defeated ghoul soldiers.

We also stripped their exoskeletons and placed them into our inventory.

While hurriedly gathering weapons, something peculiar caught the Violets’ eyes.

Two heavy, treaded vehicles were lodged into the building walls, some distance apart.

"What’s that?"

The Violets cautiously approached the vehicles.

I quickly realized what they were.

They were tanks.

"The name is Model 30 Light Tank. It’s armed with an electromagnetic autocannon and a machine gun."

Recalling the information from the command center, I approached the tank.

Surprisingly, despite being wedged into the wall, the tank appeared intact.

When I climbed up, I found the hatch to the control seat open, with no sign of the crew, who seemed to have fled.

"There’s no place for a person to fit in the turret."

"It’s an unmanned turret!"

The Violets entered the tank.

Inside, three seats were arranged horizontally.

Since the lights were on inside, it didn’t seem broken.

I fiddled with the controls of the tank.

To my surprise, it moved.

For some reason, it seemed the crew had abandoned the tank after crashing into the wall while fleeing down the narrow alley.

"It moves! We might be able to use it. Command center! Add an armored division to our formation!"

Although I didn’t know how to fire the cannon or operate the interior systems, after a few tries, I roughly figured out how to make it move.

Pressing the pedals made it go forward or stop, and pulling the controls steered it left or right.

"Alright, I’ll add the tank unit to the Violet Battalion!"

In no time, the Violet Battalion became a proper army, now with tanks.

Though it was only two tanks!

The first mission of the newly acquired armored division was simple: charge.

"Controlling this is easier than I thought."

"Let’s use this as our shield. Move out!"

The first tank to defect from the incompetent Federal Army to join the Violet Army roared to life with its engine.

I wasn’t sure how much protection a 20-ton light tank could offer, but it was enough to pressure the enemy.

"Tank! Let’s crush and smash the enemy together!"

As I stepped on the accelerator, the interior of the cockpit vibrated with a heavy, low noise.

It seemed this tank was eager to declare itself a war machine that loved violence.

"From now on, your name is the Gauntlets of Rugilinn!"

"And you... you’ll just be Tank No. 2!"

The more I thought about it, the cooler the name sounded.

It was a name that embodied the iron will of the Violets.

Though it wasn’t one of the Federal Army’s super-heavy tanks, my heart raced at the thought of driving a tank I had only ever imagined.

"Let’s go, Gauntlets of Rugilinn! We’ll soak you in the enemies’ blood!"

Tank No. 1, "Gauntlets of Rugilinn," and Tank No. 2 backed up with their heavy engine sounds, turning to prepare for deployment.

"By the way, is the owner of the combustion-suppressing artifact following us well?"

"Yes! They’re keeping up, but the problem is the jet bikes!"

There was one thing we hadn’t considered while devising the decoy.

The jet bikes and vehicles.

While we could somehow shake off the enemies on foot, even if they were Awakened, their high mobility made it likely they’d catch up quickly.

"Rooftop team! Fire!"

Through the Ward Violet, the small team positioned in advance began anti-air fire to hold back the jet bikes.

"Rear team! Destroy their vehicles!"

The Violet team that infiltrated the rear using a lone hang glider and the Ward Violet carried out sabotage operations.

The main target was their vehicles.

Bang!

"Tires destroyed! Engine disabled!"

Fortunately, the enemies didn’t heavily rely on their vehicle firepower.

There were fewer guards than expected, so we were able to destroy them quickly.

"By the way, where’s that witch? The one with the artifact on their back!"

"Still searching!"

The decoy operation was proceeding smoothly.

Some of the generated forces moved toward the plaza to prepare for an ambush.

The Violet squads that had dealt with the beasts and ghouls in the plaza hurriedly dug into the ground and lifted paving stones to set up traps.

They were preparing a large number of improvised explosives.

Victory Violet slammed her fan shut and shouted.

"This place will be their graveyard!"

As we prepared to lure them into the encirclement, the Ward Violet located the target.

"We found the witch!"

"They’re following the Vision Prism!"

What luck this was.

Originally, we had planned to ambush them while the main force moved, but this made it easier to capture them.

Soon, the enemies entered the center of the passageway.

The Violet team leapt down from the rooftops.

"Charge!"