Mobile Evasion!

Old Zhou led his men into position in front of the artillery and heavy machine guns.

In front of the Frost Cannon, gunner Ning Wen wiped the sweat from his forehead after loading the shell. He gave a thumbs-up and began calculating the enemy's distance, wind speed, and humidity.

In the wheelhouse, the two helmsmen, Tang Fang and A Bai, wore solemn expressions as they carried out a series of operations.

On the streets, two convoys raced along, escorting the Dawn around its sides.

Amid the City Ruins, two steel behemoths advanced slowly. Their heavy tracks crushed concrete, while vast clouds of steam and thick smoke gushed from their exhaust valves.

"1,500 meters, 1,400 meters, 1,300 meters." From the Watchtower, Lin Xia reported rapidly, "The target is closing in. Prepare to fire!"

The Dawn fired first.

The sharp whistle of shells tearing through the air shattered the ruins' silence. Four Normal Cannons fired simultaneously, their shells streaking across the sky and landing near the Crimson Hound.

At the same time, the enemy opened fire as well.

Amid violent howls, shells exploded around both sides.

The shock waves blew the Steel Plates off the perimeters of the two Mobile Cities. Flames erupted, sending smoke billowing into the air.

"The Crimson Hound has eight Normal Cannons. Taking it head-on puts us at a huge disadvantage." Li Ye immediately made his decision. "Tang Fang, begin Mobile Evasion!"

Mobile Evasion.

It referred to the tactical maneuver of using a Mobile City's engine power, track or wheel-group steering, and center-of-gravity adjustments to evade enemy fire or seize advantageous tactical positions in advance.

Because Mobile Cities were huge and difficult to turn, they often required advance prediction and precise coordination between various systems.

That was also why helmsmen were so important to Mobile Cities.

Rapid track turns, serpentine advances, and center-of-gravity tilts—every one of these evasive maneuvers placed extreme demands on a helmsman's operation and judgment.

On the wasteland, Mobile Evasion also had an exceptionally elegant name.

"Dance of Steel."

As another volley of shells came roaring in, Tang Fang abruptly pulled down the Control Stick and twisted the steering wheel hard.

In an instant, the Dawn's starboard tracks locked while the port-side tracks surged forward at full speed. The entire Mobile City drifted sideways amid the ear-piercing screech of metal, narrowly dodging several shells with an incredibly dangerous maneuver.

"It worked—it worked!" A Bai cried out as he watched the fireworks of explosions erupt one after another behind them.

Tang Fang felt no joy at all. Instead, cold sweat covered his body, and he clenched his teeth.

Ever since he had been appointed helmsman, he had actually been relying on luck.

He had counted on his natural talent for driving. He had counted on a better helmsman perhaps taking over for him someday. He had counted on his future driving career going smoothly.

Only now did he truly realize the responsibility of a helmsman.

The direction of the entire Mobile City rested in his hands, and everyone trusted him.

And in his hands lay the lives of every one of them.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Tang Fang took a deep breath, and his gaze gradually steadied.

"Continue Mobile Evasion!"

The two Mobile Cities wove through the City Ruins, using the buildings amid the ruins as cover while alternating their fire.

The Crimson Hound continued accelerating, pursuing them relentlessly.

"It's trying to close the distance and engage in a Duel Battle!" Li Ye realized.

Duel Battle.

It was a simple and brutal tactic unique to battles between Mobile Cities.

In other words, the two Mobile Cities would exchange frenzied fire at extremely close range with the Heavy Machine Guns and artillery on their decks.

The combat personnel on the decks would also launch boarding assaults, storming the enemy's deck and risking their lives against the enemy with firearms and close-combat weapons.

This kind of battle was exceptionally bloody and brutal. Victory was often decided within a single minute.

People often called it "the game of the brave."

Li Ye naturally had no intention of engaging the Crimson Hound in a Duel Battle.

The enemy had eight Normal Cannons, fourteen Normal Heavy Machine Guns, two Level 1 Artillery pieces, and ninety-six combat personnel. In a Duel Battle, it held an overwhelming advantage!

At Li Ye's command, the Dawn accelerated as well, and the two Mobile Cities maintained a certain distance from each other.

Several minutes later, Lin Xia's voice came from the Watchtower.

"The enemy convoy has caught up! Prepare to engage!"

At that moment, the Crimson Hound's four convoys came racing over from the distance. Their members held firearms and Rocket Launchers, casually resting their shoulders against the windows, vicious grins hanging from their lips.

During battles between two Mobile Cities, they usually maintained a certain distance, bombarding each other with artillery while conducting Mobile Evasion.

This situation could drag on for a long time, and that was where the convoys played a crucial role.

Both Mobile Cities would dispatch convoys to advance toward the opposing Mobile City.

Convoys were usually equipped with Heavy Machine Guns, Rocket Launchers, and rifles, and their highest priority was to

destroy the enemy Mobile City's tracks and tires, crippling its movement.

Once a Mobile City was immobilized, it could no longer conduct Mobile Evasion. It might even stop in place and become a sitting duck.

The enemy's shells would then land precisely on its deck.

Some new convoy members had once wondered: If they could advance to the vicinity of the opposing Mobile City, why not concentrate their fire on the enemy's wheelhouse, fuel chamber, or ammunition depot?

The reason was simple. The fuel chamber and ammunition depot of a Mobile City were located deep inside its core, making them completely unreachable.

Although the wheelhouse was located at the front of the deck, it was protected by extremely thick armor.

Moreover, the deck of a Mobile City was a full five or six meters above the ground. Even if convoy members leaned out of their windows and raised their guns high, they might not be able to hit it.

On top of that, at close range, the convoy would come under fire from the enemy Mobile City's Heavy Machine Guns. It was extremely dangerous.

At that moment, the Dawn's Convoy One and Convoy Two began engaging the enemy convoy.

Multiple Off-road Vehicles weaved through the streets and alleys, chasing and firing at one another.

Although they were outnumbered, the Dawn's convoy used Level 1 Off-road Vehicles equipped with Level 1 Rocket Launchers, while the enemy had only ordinary-grade equipment.

Thus, in the first close-range exchange of fire, Convoy Two suffered only light losses, while one of the Crimson Hound's Off-road Vehicles was blown onto its side by a Rocket Launcher round.

On the deck, gunner Ning Wen was completely focused on calculating the distance.

"There are only two shells left. I have to hit it. I have to hit it!" he murmured.

To achieve a decisive one-shot victory, they had to rely on this Frost Cannon.

At present, Ning Wen held firing authority over the cannon.

Just a few minutes earlier, he had operated the Frost Cannon and fired.

The Crimson Hound had evaded the shell, causing it to strike a building to its left. In an instant, the building had been transformed into a massive ice sculpture.

That mistake made Ning Wen's heart tremble.

What chilled him even more was that the Crimson Hound's two Level 1 Artillery pieces were ready, and their two gunners were also calculating the distance.

Ning Wen naturally knew that they wanted a lethal strike as well.

Amid two thunderous booms, the two Level 1 Artillery pieces fired simultaneously.