Infinity, The Arcade Age

"Metal Slug?!"

Sergeant Firestorm exclaimed in shock as he watched the compact tank hurtling toward them at twice the speed of any other tank.

Before his cry could fade, the Metal Slug Type 4 Tank suddenly leaped into the air.

Yes, leaped.

It soared over four meters high, tracing a graceful arc in midair.

Under the stunned gazes of the fleeing rebels, the tank vaulted over their heads and crashed down in front of the retreating group.

With a sickening crunch, an unfortunate rebel soldier was crushed beneath its treads.

The tank then swiveled, its energy machine guns mounted on both sides roaring to life.

The air filled with the droning hum of energy rounds as glowing orbs of plasma rained down on the crowd, tearing through rebel soldiers like paper.

From its main cannon, explosive shells rained devastation, detonating with massive force wherever they struck.

In mere seconds, the retreating Special Forces Unit had lost over a dozen men.

Firestorm, standing in the chaos, finally snapped out of his stupor.

Letting out a furious roar, he raised his hand, summoning a searing inferno that coiled around his body, radiating intense heat.

With a sharp gesture, Firestorm hurled the fireball toward the tank, his entire body trailing flames as he launched himself at it in a high-speed charge.

B-Rank Super Move: Orochinagi!

BOOM!

The roaring flames struck the Metal Slug, and the heat was so intense that the ground around the impact site crystallized.

The move wasn't just powerful because of its rank—it also drew upon the Solar Flame, a unique manifestation of the Kusanagi Clan's fiery bloodline: Crimson Blaze.

Talent Skill: Sculptor's Hand

Effect: Allows the user to copy one skill from any character with 500+ favorability.

Note: Unlike simple skill inheritance, this ability replicates the entirety of the skill, including associated attributes, techniques, and bloodline traits.

Firestorm's move didn't just replicate Kyo Kusanagi's Orochinagi technique—it recreated the essence of the Kusanagi Flame itself.

For a brief moment, Firestorm was like a reduced-strength version of Kyo Kusanagi.

Though Firestorm had considered copying A-Rank or even S-Rank skills before, his past failures taught him a harsh lesson. One attempt had nearly killed him when his attributes couldn't sustain the skill's requirements.

Since then, he had opted for this high-end B-Rank skill, which came with the added potency of the Kusanagi Flame's bloodline power.

The blazing flames engulfed the Metal Slug, and the intense Crimson Blaze melted parts of its outer shell.

Among the Four Divine Flames of the King of Fighters universe, the Kusanagi Flame was the most destructive in direct combat.

The flames of the Yagami Clan, by contrast, embodied Cursed Blue Flames, a freezing cold energy representing the power of the moon. Unlike the raw damage of the Kusanagi Flame, the Yagami Flames specialized in bypassing defenses, striking at vital points, and could even freeze time itself when pushed to the limit.

Firestorm's attack seemed to have landed decisively, and the tank appeared momentarily immobilized.

The Crimson Blaze, representing the power of the sun, was the polar opposite of the Cursed Blue Flame, embodying pure heat and raw destructive force. At its peak, it could incinerate anything in its path, making its destructive power unmatched.

Firestorm's use of this skill had melted countless tanks in the past, leaving them as unrecognizable puddles of slag. In mere moments, the Metal Slug Type 4 Tank before him had its outer shell scorched and deformed beyond recognition.

But the catastrophic image Firestorm had envisioned—the tank disintegrating into nothingness—did not occur.

Instead, his ultimate move only managed to burn through the tank's exterior.

The next moment, the Metal Slug Tank burst through the flames like a phoenix reborn, rumbling forward as if nothing had happened.

Firestorm, his face twisted in disbelief, stood frozen as the tank charged straight at him, crushing him beneath its treads.

Inside the tank, Qin Ming felt a sudden jolt and paused, puzzled.

"Did I just run over something? Also, why is it getting so hot in here?"

He tugged at his collar and wiped the sweat off his face. The interior temperature had inexplicably doubled. Shrugging off the anomaly, he resumed driving, plowing through the enemy ranks without hesitation. His machine guns blazed, cutting down soldiers left and right.

Behind him, Firestorm, crushed and mangled, struggled to push himself off the ground. His trembling arms barely managed to lift him halfway before he felt a shadow loom over him.

The Metal Slug Tank had looped back while chasing others and was now bearing down on him again.

Crunch.

The tank's treads rolled over him a second time, leaving his charred, pancaked remains in its wake.

Obsessed with maximizing his copied skill's potential, Firestorm had neglected his physical attributes like endurance and resilience. This imbalance ultimately led to his downfall, as his body couldn't withstand the tank's relentless assault.

Status: Deceased.

Metal Slug Type 4 - Modified (Metal Slug Type 1)

Category: Special Vehicle (Standard Silver-Grade)

Weapon 1: Energy Machine Gun (Fixed Damage: 50–60)

Weapon 2: High-Caliber Main Cannon (Fixed Damage: 120–160, 12 Rounds)Armor Value: 763/1200

Description: No one knows why this patched-together, cost-cutting version of the Type 4 Tank boasts greater durability than even the Type 2. Some speculate it has to do with the oddly sturdy steel plates retrofitted later.

The nighttime defense battle ended swiftly. With no heavy weaponry, the Special Forces Unit was utterly helpless against the indomitable tanks that rolled into their ranks.

Once the fighting ceased, Qin Ming, satisfied with the results, hopped down from his tank, scratching his head in confusion.

The tank before him, its exterior warped and melted beyond recognition, seemed like it had been through hell. Qin Ming racked his brain but couldn't recall any flamethrower units among the enemy ranks.

Climbing back into the tank, he ran a series of quick tests and was relieved to find that the warped steel plates hadn't affected its performance.

"Phew, that was close," he muttered, patting the tank.

This was his meticulously synthesized super tank. Though it couldn't be taken out of this world, its combat power was undeniably impressive.

Sure, it required regular refueling and ammo replenishment, but it was still far more useful than his silver-grade warhorse from another world. After all, warhorses didn't come with machine guns, cannons, or the sheer destructive power of a tank.

If it had been destroyed, Qin Ming knew he would have been heartbroken.

(End of Chapter)