Chapter 359: Toywar (5)
Chapter 359: Toywar (5)
The members of this Model squad were primarily from the MG series, scaled at a 1:100 ratio to actual Gundams, making them about 20 centimeters tall.
Thankfully, these units didn't rely on flight or levitation propulsion. If they did, their power sources would have been terrifyingly advanced.
Even so, the Gundams were rapidly closing in on the two players at visible speeds.
At this moment, Feng Bu Jue and Xiao Tan were hovering about thirty centimeters above the ground. One ran along the cabinet wall while the other was mid-fall.
Seeing this, Feng Bu Jue reacted swiftly, barking out, "Turn!" He executed a midair [Moon Step], pivoting ninety degrees while maintaining altitude, then launched sideways.
"Our Vanguard sure runs fast..." Mccloud, riding a Nes tank, sneered to Mario nearby. His emerald eyes flashed with disdain.
Mario spotted the two retreating from above and muttered, "At least this proves they aren't spies sent by Novel." Suddenly realizing something, he murmured, "Ah... So this was Optimus Prime's intention all along... If they were traitors..." His voice trailed off as understanding hit him. He immediately barked orders, "Cease advancement! Protect those rookies! Fall back!"
This was clearly a well-trained, battle-hardened team. Though the situation seemed evenly matched, when Mario's voice communication activated, everyone instantly executed protective maneuvers and retreat without question. No one hesitated or lingered in battle.
...
Meanwhile, two cargo containers away in the shadows.
Bei Ling stood at the front of a shopping cart, peering through a night-vision telescope at the distant battlefield.
"Tch... That plumber uncle is more alert than I expected", she grumbled.
"Did we reveal any inconsistencies?" Si Yu asked casually from nearby.
"Unlikely. We're still far from the planned encirclement point", Bei Ling replied.
To clarify, Bei Ling had devised a "pocket" strategy. Essentially three steps: First, set up a three-sided ambush. Second, lure the enemy deeper. Third, trap and strike.
In practice, it became more complex. Success required considering enemy psychology.
Typically, one would use small forces to feign attack, retreat after brief contact, and lure pursuers.
But Bei Ling knew such tactics might fool Classic's commander, not Feng Bu Jue (Bei Ling and Si Yu still assumed the boys faced Classic's treatment, not knowing their actual plight). So she took a bolder approach - using nearly half her forces as bait, positioning remaining troops on both flanks, leaving only herself, Si Yu, and their four elite collectible figures as the rear guard.
This "pocket" for Nintendo's assault team had one flexible side rather than the usual static ambush. The bait forces - all high-mobility air and Gundam Model units - could withdraw easily, difficult for enemies to pin down. Luring them into the trap was highly probable.
"Did you spot them?" Si Yu asked again, more interested in player combat than their side quest.
"Affirmative", Bei Ling replied, "Surprisingly, they're serving as scouts at the front line!" She paused, annoyed, "What a shame... If I'd known earlier, I'd skip tactics and go full frontal assault. I could've just sniped from hiding."
"Strange indeed", Si Yu mused, "Bu Jue isn't the charging type. Could it be... he's giving Xiao Tan battlefield experience?"
"Possible", Bei Ling nodded, "But remember, Commander is second on the combat power leaderboard - a monster-tier character. Whatever their situation, we must show no mercy."
"Of course", Si Yu agreed, "Even without 'passive play' rules, I'll give my all..."
Shhh—hiss—
"Commander, enemy forces have withdrawn to their control zone. Requesting orders." The radio crackled with battlefield sounds.
"Retreat for now. The night's long", Bei Ling ordered, lifting her radio.
Seconds later, she sighed, then raised her voice, "Listen up! I've got a task!"
From a nearby shelving unit's top, a voice immediately called back, "Finally! Can we go slash some enemies now?"
...
Under Nintendo Assault Team's cover, Feng Bu Jue and Xiao Tan returned unscathed.
Since it was an orderly retreat rather than a panicked rout, Classic's toys remained composed with minimal damage.
On their way back, the two players discussed the recent combat.
"This scenario's combat system is fascinating", Feng Bu Jue observed. "Projectiles - physical or energy-based - cause no environmental damage. Yet they harm other toys."
"If environments could be destroyed, this mall's floor tiles, walls, shelves, and merchandise would be riddled with holes by morning", Xiao Tan added. "That'd expose their war quickly."
"I think..." Feng Bu Jue mused, "Such situations should've been discovered within a day. Yet judging by these toys' behavior, this war's lasted far longer than makes sense."
"Why a day?" Xiao Tan asked, puzzled.
Feng Bu Jue pointed upward, "This supermarket size - surely has surveillance cameras?"
Xiao Tan looked up, but as mentioned earlier, the high ceiling remained invisible under normal lighting. The toys' dim illumination made ceiling observation impossible.
"True. Plot brief said this is 22nd century tech", Xiao Tan realized. "Cameras would have night vision and audio recording."
Feng Bu Jue added, "Even without environmental damage, all these leftover blocks and debris post-combat... Cleaners would notice eventually." He shrugged, "Plus, these toys are merchandise. Their damage or disappearance would inevitably surface."
Suddenly, they heard... Ding!
With a familiar sound effect, Mario leapt from his Xio Babaw, tracing a high parabola before landing beside them.
"Hey, follow me", Mario said, pointing westward.
Feng Bu Jue glanced at the tanks, "Aren't we returning with the main force?"
"I've contacted Optimus Prime. He's at the First Army headquarters in the audiovisual section. You're coming with me", Mario explained, "Oh, injured? Need emergency repairs?" He reached into his overalls for a pipe wrench.
Xiao Tan quickly intervened, "We're fine! Perfect condition!"
"Then let's go."
Ten minutes later, they'd traversed about two hundred meters to the "First Army" headquarters.
Along the way, Feng Bu Jue noticed hidden observation posts. Clearly, territorial control concepts were fully implemented here - entering an enemy control zone meant entering their surveillance.
Finally, two Transformer sentries blocked them at a wire-isolated perimeter.
"Passcode", Ironhide demanded formally.
"Roll", Mario said.
"Please proceed. Optimus Prime awaits", Ironhide replied nonchalantly.
"Huh... The passcode's 'roll'?" Xiao Tan blinked after five seconds.
"Heh... Rookie", Cyclonus smirked, "Passcodes must be hard to guess."
Xiao Tan asked, "You all know each other. What's the point of a passcode?"
"Knowing each other doesn't mean free access", Cyclonus countered. "What if you secretly defected? You could fabricate excuses to infiltrate headquarters."
"Ah... Makes sense", Xiao Tan nodded.
"Enough, rookie. Don't distract them", Mario chided, waving the players forward.
Inside the audiovisual section, they climbed a wooden platform, bypassed several speakers, and found the First Army gathered around a large lightbulb.
About twenty toys of various sizes discussed strategies. Upon seeing Mario's group, Optimus Prime silently gestured for them to wait.
Feng Bu Jue welcomed this - eavesdropping was a prime information-gathering opportunity.
The First Army consisted mostly of Transformers - both Autobots and Decepticons. Whether fortunate or unfortunate, Feng Bu Jue could name them all. The most jarring sight? Megatron and Galvatron (former Megatron severely injured, rebuilt by Unicron into a more chaotic villain) stood side by side. Of course, some crossover works featured their cooperation/battles...
"Ten minutes ago, Basismario reported enemy forces fielding Lego helicopters", Shockwave, the intelligence analyst, stated. "Considering the previous Lego aircraft carrier incident in the bathroom area... I believe the previously neutral 'Legos' have now joined Novel's side."
"Hmph... Those Danish plastic bricks have annoyed me long enough", Grimlock, the Autobot dinosaur commander who always referred to himself as "me", growled.
"But they represent a formidable force", Starscream added, "Potentially capable of shifting the entire war's balance."
"Perhaps..." Jazz interjected, "We could verify this. Visit their 'Lego House' directly..."
(End of Chapter)
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