Infinity, The Arcade Age

Arsenals and supply camps are critical locations in both ancient and modern warfare, heavily guarded to ensure the army's survival. After all, as the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach." Without weapons and rations, there wouldn't be much of a war to fight.

Attempting to raid such a heavily fortified military target was no easy feat—unless, of course, you had tanks.

Amid the thunderous roar of engines, makeshift walls were smashed apart as several tanks broke through, blasting at surrounding buildings with their cannons. Machine gunners perched on the tanks raked the area with relentless fire.

Even as the rebels launched counterfire, the tanks didn't bother to evade, charging forward with unyielding momentum.

The result? Flames erupted as a tank took a direct hit—but instead of being destroyed, it merely lost a bit of paint. In response, the tank returned fire, destroying an enemy tank in one clean shot.

Following behind the tanks were troop carriers—large trucks with mounted machine guns. These were nothing more than heavily modified pickup trucks, with defenses that were practically nonexistent.

Yet, despite their vulnerability, these vehicles charged alongside the tanks, barreling through gunfire like unstoppable battering rams.

Trailing behind the vehicles were the infantry, armed with an assortment of weapons, relentlessly advancing. Together, they tore through the rebel defensive line and stormed straight into the rear supply depot and arsenal.

The defending rebels, stunned by the sudden and overwhelming attack, scrambled to arm themselves. They desperately hauled weapons from the arsenal to mount a defense.

But whether it was the C-class light tanks, X-class heavy tanks, or the A-class anti-tank vehicles with extended barrels, none could hold back the onslaught.

One absurd scene unfolded when a rebel anti-tank vehicle fired a round directly at an advancing light tank. Not only did it fail to destroy the enemy, but the light tank promptly swiveled its turret, firing back and blowing the anti-tank vehicle's turret clean off.

The rebel soldiers, frantically returning fire, could only watch in disbelief.

After over ten minutes of intense fighting, the rebel forces, realizing they were outmatched, retreated in their vehicles, leaving behind only bodies strewn across the battlefield.

As the dust settled, Qin Ming leaped down from his tank and immediately ordered his soldiers to open the warehouse doors.

Inside, they found rows of crates brimming with weapons and ammunition, alongside over a dozen brand-new tanks. For the first time, a smile crept onto Qin Ming's face.

As he picked up a rifle to inspect it, hurried footsteps approached. An excited Beta, his adjutant, came running over from the distance.

"Boss! Boss, come quickly! You've got to see this!"

"Hm?" Qin Ming, puzzled by Beta's enthusiasm, walked over.

When he saw what Beta was pointing to in the corner, his eyes widened.

Parked there was a tank—a legendary prototype tank.

It was the SV Tank, codenamed: Metal Slug, also known as the Iron Slug.

The Metal Slug Tank was a high-tech, multifunctional marvel. It could jump, crouch, and was equipped with an energy-based heavy machine gun on top, along with a large-caliber main cannon.

With its fireproof, waterproof, and specially engineered exterior, the Metal Slug was a true marvel of black technology. Its sturdy build and advanced design made it the government army's secret weapon against the rebels, with many experimental models being tested on the battlefield. The tank before them was evidently one such prototype.

Running his hand over the tank's scratched metallic surface, Qin Ming frowned.

This tank had clearly been captured by the rebels during combat and subsequently modified. It even bore the rebel insignia: a crude graffiti-like emblem of a large X inside a circle.

The rebel modifications had compromised the tank's performance, making it inferior to the original.

What's worse, this particular experimental Metal Slug tank was already the lowest-tier model of its kind.

The Four Types of Metal Slug Tanks:

Type 4: A cost-cutting model with a steel-gray exterior, made from subpar materials.

Type 3: A silver-white version with improved armor, though its internal components were simplified for cost efficiency.

Type 2: The golden, fully realized version built according to the original design, with no shortcuts taken. Its interior and exterior were both highly durable, and it featured all intended functionalities.

Type 1: The mythical Original Metal Slug Tank, the source of the tank's legendary name.

The SV-001, a prototype tank clad in dark gold, was the ultimate creation, sparing no expense in its construction. Designed as a countermeasure against the rebel army's superweapons, it was a weapon of mass destruction.

Though costly, its capabilities were unparalleled.

The tank before them, however, was nothing more than a Type 4, the most basic variant—and worse, a patched-together, modified version at that.

Qin Ming knocked on the tank's exterior, his eyes narrowing as he inspected its attributes, amused by the sight of this "bargain bin" version of the Metal Slug.

Tank Details:

Name: Metal Slug Type 4 – Patchwork Edition (Metal Slug Type 1)

Category: Special Vehicle (Blue Quality)

Weapon 1: Energy Machine Gun (Fixed Damage: 25–35)

Weapon 2: High-Caliber Main Cannon (Fixed Damage: 60–100, 12 rounds)

Armor Value: 376/400

Description: One of the ultimate tanks from the Metal Slug world, even in its simplified, damaged, and patched-up form, its imposing aura remains undiminished. After all, have you ever seen a tank that can jump?

(Note: This is a plot-restricted item and cannot be taken out of this world.)

After reviewing the tank's stats, Qin Ming nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand decisively. "Gather the loot and bring everything to the warehouse!"

"Yes, sir!" Beta saluted and swiftly led the troops to collect the spoils.

Meanwhile, Qin Ming flexed his fingers before placing his palm on the tank. With a flash of light, the tank began to undergo synthesis...

As Qin Ming busied himself in the warehouse, sentries outside the camp took their posts. Soldiers climbed onto the damaged watchtowers, cradling their rifles and standing guard.

In the outermost wooden tower, one of Qin Ming's regular army soldiers sat on a chair with his gun in his lap. He scanned the distant forest while casually pulling out a pack of high-tech military rations to snack on.

This type of restorative ration was usually reserved for elite troops and strictly forbidden for ordinary soldiers. Unauthorized consumption could result in a court-martial, and any leftover rations were reclaimed after the battle.

But thanks to their generous commander, these soldiers had been given the rations as a reward, free to eat whenever they wanted.

While climbing earlier, this soldier had been bitten by mosquitoes and figured he'd restore some energy with a snack.

Chewing on the delicious ration and enjoying the view of the quiet forest, the soldier instinctively tightened his grip on his uniform and let out a long, contented sigh.

However, before he could fully relax, a flash of firelight suddenly appeared in the distance.

A split second later, with a crisp bang, the snacking soldier dropped to the ground!

Hidden in the forest, an adventurer armed with a sniper rifle smirked as he packed up his weapon. With a wave of his hand, the soldiers lying in wait among the trees began stealthily advancing toward the camp.

This was the rebel Special Forces Unit, led by Sergeant Firestorm. Their mission: eliminate Qin Ming's formidable army.

The unit was equipped with advanced gear and staffed by elite soldiers, including twelve adventurers. Their combat strength was formidable, and if they managed to infiltrate the camp, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But just as the rebel squad crept closer to the camp, the downed sentry began to stir.

The soldier wobbled as he stood, clutching his throbbing head. He removed his helmet, inspecting the elongated sniper bullet embedded in it. His expression morphed from confusion to sheer terror.

The next moment—

DING DING DING DING DING!

The ear-piercing wail of an alarm blared from the watchtower. Several spotlights swiveled to life, illuminating the rebels as they approached the camp's perimeter under the cover of darkness.

Caught in the blinding light, the Special Forces troops froze, their bewildered faces fully exposed.

(End of Chapter)