Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1704: Delta Squadron: Part-1

Outside the Hell’s Gate, the Rescue Team, the black-suited officer, and his subordinates stood guard after evacuating the injured and clearing the area.

Damaged vehicles had been dragged away from the portal’s unstable perimeter, a wide emergency marked by flickering holographic warning lines.

Their faces were tense with fear, yet determination remained firmly etched into their expressions.

Every member gripped their weapons tightly while tactical visors continuously scanned the area, projecting streams of data across their lenses. None of them knew what could emerge from the Hell’s Gate next, but they were prepared to face it.

“Sir, do you still believe Delta Squadron will come?” one of the subordinates asked with a weak smile.

After all, it had already been an hour since the Hell’s Gate appeared, yet there was still no sign of humanity’s elite defenders.

The suited man remained silent for a moment. His gaze stayed fixed on the portal while countless calculations ran through his mind.

Every passing minute reduced the survival rate exponentially, and deep down, he understood that better than anyone.

Thud!

The rescue team reacted instantly. Weapons snapped upward, safety protocols disengaged, and targeting systems locked onto the source of the disturbance. However, their tense expressions quickly transformed into disbelief and relief.

Several red-striped black mech-suits had landed behind them.

Their armoured bodies were bulkier than standard Mech-suits, with reinforced plating covering every vital section. Heavy railguns, missile pods, energy cannons, and advanced targeting arrays were mounted across their frames, transforming them into walking fortresses designed solely for war.

Red energy coursed through transparent channels embedded beneath the armour, creating the appearance of glowing blood flowing through metallic veins.

The suited man immediately stepped forward and bowed his head toward a particular mech-suit.

Unlike the others, a large silver number ‘2’ was etched onto its shoulder plate. Beneath the marking, crimson energy pulsed rhythmically through translucent conduits, illuminating the surrounding armour with a faint glow.

“Reporting to Delta Squadron 2 Commander. My team successfully evacuated the injured and secured the perimeter. We have confirmed ten casualties so far.”

The Commander remained silent for a few moments while staring at the Hell’s Gate. The glowing visor reflected the portal’s swirling crimson vortex before slowly turning toward the suited man.

“Your report has been received, Mr. Laman. Thank you for your efforts.”

The mechanical voice carried warmth.

The Commander then shifted its attention toward the exhausted rescue workers.

“Rescue Team 2, your performance has exceeded expectations. You arrived on time, evacuated civilians under extreme conditions, secured the perimeter, and maintained operational control for over an hour against an unpredictable threat. Every life saved today is the result of your courage and dedication.”

The Commander stepped forward and placed a metallic hand upon Mr. Laman’s shoulder.

“Remember this. While Delta Squadron may fight the monsters beyond the Gate, you are the ones who stood here protecting humanity when everyone else was running away.

You are the true heroes of this operation.”

The rescue team froze.

Many of them had witnessed countless horrors throughout their careers, yet those simple words struck harder than any battlefield wound. Their eyes grew moist with emotion as pride slowly replaced their fear.

Mr. Laman couldn’t stop a smile from appearing on his face.

The Commander finally turned back toward the Hell’s Gate. The glowing red vortex twisted violently as waves of distorted energy spread across the surrounding air.

“Delta Squadron 2, prepare for deployment. The Rescue Team held this position for an entire hour despite overwhelming danger. We will not disgrace their efforts.”

The Commander raised a clenched metallic fist.

“Today, we enter that Gate, eliminate every hostile entity inside, and bring our people home. Move out!”

The thrusters beneath its armoured boots erupted with brilliant crimson light. Streams of glowing particles spiralled outward in concentric circles while anti-gravity systems activated throughout the suit.

With a burst of acceleration, the Commander shot toward the Hell’s Gate like a crimson comet.

Sssnnnn~

One after another, the members of Delta Squadron followed behind.

Their propulsion systems ignited simultaneously, creating dozens of red streaks that crossed the dark sky before disappearing into the massive portal.

The rescue team watched the breathtaking sight in complete silence.

Only after the final mech-suit vanished into the Hell’s Gate did they finally release the breath they had been holding.

“Thank God it was Squadron 2.”

“Hell yeah! I can’t believe I finally got to see Squadron 2’s Commander with my own eyes!”

While his subordinates whispered among themselves with relieved expressions, the suited man merely sighed and shook his head.

“Even if he came, it’s already late, I guess. This time, he might not be able to save as many people as he usually does,” he muttered, his tired eyes fixed on the crimson portal.

“Tsk, it has to be because of the Governor, right? That asshole deliberately held everything back just to watch the blood of his own kind spill. I’m sure he didn’t even inform any Squadron. If he had, Squadron 2 wouldn’t have arrived this late. That’s not their style. That fucking Govern-“

The subordinate immediately fell silent when the suited man shot him a stern glance.

“Careful with your words,” the suited man said quietly.

The subordinate clenched his jaw before reluctantly nodding.

Meanwhile, inside the Portal,

Thud!

Delta Squadron 2 landed heavily upon the grassy terrain as their mech-suits hummed with energy.

Streams of data flowed across their visors while advanced sensors immediately began scanning the surrounding area for threats, survivors, and environmental hazards.

Scattered across the field, several vehicles lay embedded deep within the ground as though they had fallen from the sky with tremendous force.

Twisted metal frames protruded from the earth at unnatural angles while damaged energy cores released flickering blue particles that drifted through the air like glowing embers.

“Sir, the Emergency Pods.”

One of the mech-suited soldiers pointed toward the left.

A short distance away, dozens of emergency survival pods were scattered across the field. Their red distress beacons blinked rhythmically against the green landscape.

“They must have landed around this area,” the Commander replied.

The Commander lifted his gaze toward the sky.

Nearly two stories above the ground, the massive crimson portal continued to shimmer violently.

Hovering near the portal stood another red-striped mech-suit.

Unlike the others, it held a specialised scanning device that continuously projected blue holographic rings across the Gate’s surface. Massive streams of data flowed directly into the operator’s visor.

A voice suddenly echoed inside the operator’s helmet.

“How long?”

The scanning specialist responded without hesitation.

“Commander, current readings suggest the portal may remain stable for more than five hours. However, the energy fluctuations are becoming increasingly violent. I cannot guarantee the estimate’s accuracy. To ensure safe extraction, we should complete the operation within the next one to two hours.”

The Commander nodded.

“Maintain your position and continue monitoring the portal.”

“Understood, Commander.”

The scanning mech-suit immediately intensified its analysis.

With that, the Commander and the remaining members of Delta Squadron advanced toward the Emergency Pods.

As they drew closer… The squadron fell silent!

The beautiful grasslands had become a massacre site.

Dark red blood stained the once-green terrain for dozens of meters. Bodies were scattered across the field in grotesque positions.

Most disturbing of all, many corpses were missing their heads entirely.

A heavy silence spread throughout the squadron.

Then one of the subordinates suddenly raised his arm.

“Commander, we’ve received a distress signal.”

A marker instantly appeared across the squadron’s shared tactical network.

The soldier pointed toward a dense forest nearby.

Without wasting another second, the Commander turned toward the forest.

“Move.”

The entire squadron immediately followed.

However, just as they began advancing-

Grrrlll!

A deep growling sound echoed across the blood-soaked field.

Every mech-suit instantly stopped.

Weapons deployed automatically.

Railguns rotated into firing position.

Missile systems unlocked.

Targeting reticles flooded their visors.

From between the wrecked vehicles and scattered corpses, several creatures slowly emerged.

They crawled across the ground using twisted limbs that bent at unnatural angles. Their movements were disturbingly uneven, almost as if their bodies were constantly struggling against themselves. Black skin stretched tightly across their frames while muscles beneath the surface occasionally spasmed and shifted.

One by one, more creatures appeared from behind the wreckage.

The Commander raised their hand without saying a single word, and one of the squadron members immediately stepped forward in response.

Clang… Thud… Shttt!

Mechanical components along the mech-suit’s back began shifting and unfolding as armoured plates separated from one another, revealing a massive weapon hidden beneath the outer frame. The soldier lowered himself into a crouching position while a gigantic cannon emerged from behind his shoulders, its enormous nozzle glowing with streams of flowing crimson energy.

ssssssnnnnnngggg!!!

The air around the weapon distorted as power rapidly accumulated within the firing chamber. Red particles drifted from the barrel like burning embers while warning symbols flashed across the visors of nearby squadron members, indicating the immense energy output being generated.

The creatures instantly reacted.

As though sensing a predator far more dangerous than themselves, the monsters released shrill screams and accelerated toward the squadron with frightening speed.

Their twisted limbs hammered against the ground as they crawled forward in a chaotic frenzy, resembling oversized cockroaches desperately trying to destroy a threat before it could attack them.

The Commander calmly watched the distance indicators displayed inside its visor while the creatures rapidly closed the gap. It waited until the monsters entered the optimal kill zone before lowering its hand forward in a simple motion.

BBBBEEEEEAAAAAMMMMMMMMMM!!

A colossal crimson beam erupted from the cannon and surged across the battlefield like a river of concentrated destruction.

The laser instantly consumed the front row of monsters, vaporising them before they could even react. Bodies disappeared into clouds of glowing ash while the beam continued sweeping across the field, carving a path of devastation

The intense heat transformed patches of earth into molten glass, while waves of superheated air rolled across the grasslands. The creatures never even understood what had happened. One moment they were charging forward, and the next they simply ceased to exist.

Nothing remained of the monsters except dozens of rainbow-colored crystals scattered across the scorched landscape.

THUD!

A heavy crystal cartridge suddenly ejected from the rear of the cannon and crashed against the ground. Steam escaped from cooling vents throughout the mech-suit while warning lights briefly flickered across its armour.

The operator returned to a standing position while another squadron member immediately gathered the Origin Crystals into secure storage containers.

Every crystal represented valuable resources for humanity, so none were left behind.

After securing the battlefield, the squadron continued moving toward the source of the distress signal.

The atmosphere gradually changed as they approached the forest.

The Commander stared at the forest as its posture visibly stiffened.

It wasn’t the only one. Every member of Delta Squadron seemed to have stopped moving as they gazed toward the endless woods stretching before them.

One of the soldiers finally stepped forward while activating a holographic display above his armoured palm. Several classified recordings appeared before the squadron, showing footage from previous operations.

Destroyed military vehicles.

Abandoned equipment.

Missing personnel reports.

Emergency transmissions ending in screams.

“Commander, this is the forest where every military investigation has failed. Historical records indicate that even the President personally led an operation against the creature living inside and still failed to eliminate it. Should we report this situation to the Governor?”

The Commander remained silent while staring into the depths of the forest.

Several seconds passed before it finally responded.

“The distress signal is still active, which means there is a possibility that survivors remain alive somewhere inside.”

The soldier hesitated before replying.

“Commander… even if survivors exist, entering this place could cost us the entire squadron.”

The Commander turned toward him.

“Perhaps. However, Delta Squadron 2 exists to protect humanity, not to abandon it when the situation becomes dangerous. If people are still alive inside those woods, then we have a responsibility to reach them regardless of the risks involved.”

The crimson lights embedded throughout its armour brightened slightly.

“If death waits for us ahead, then we will face it with pride and fulfil our duty as soldiers. Follow me.”

The thrusters beneath its boots ignited with a burst of crimson wave before the Commander shot into the sky and accelerated toward the distant distress beacon hovering above the forest canopy.

The remaining soldiers exchanged uncertain glances.

“What should we do? Entering that forest is basically suicide.”

“I know, but this is the Commander’s order. Besides, if people are still alive out there, somebody has to help them.”

“Even the President couldn’t finish the mission. Compared to him, we’re nothing.”

“Then stop complaining and move your pathetic ass before the Commander leaves us behind.”

Several nervous chuckles escaped through the communication network before crimson thrusters ignited one after another.

Streams of red light streaked across the sky as the squadron followed their Commander toward the blinking distress beacon. Their formation remained tight while their visors continuously scanned the forest below for potential threats.

Unfortunately, their attention remained focused entirely on the objective ahead.

None of them noticed the movement occurring deep beneath the forest canopy.

Far below, something enormous stirred among the shadows.

Without warning, a thick flesh-like tentacle exploded upward from the darkness with terrifying speed. The attack happened so suddenly that the squadron’s advanced sensors failed to register it until the very last moment.

The grotesque appendage pierced straight through one of the mech-suits’ chests as though the heavily reinforced armour plating did not exist.

The flying soldier froze instantly.

THUC-CHUCK!

Fragments of shattered metal, glowing circuitry, and crimson energy burst from the exit wound as the tentacle emerged from his back. For a brief moment, the entire squadron simply stared at the horrifying sight, unable to comprehend how one of humanity’s advanced combat suits had been penetrated so effortlessly.

“ARHHHH!!”

The agonised scream burst through the squadron’s communication network, causing every soldier to instinctively turn around. Horror spread across their faces behind their visors as they watched the flesh-like appendage retract back into the forest canopy while dragging the impaled mech-suit with it.

The entire event happened so quickly that nobody had an opportunity to react. One moment their comrade had been flying alongside them, and the next he was being violently pulled into the darkness below.

“NO!”

Several squadron members immediately redirected their flight paths and prepared to descend after him.

“Stand down.”

The Commander’s cold voice cut through the communication channel with enough authority to stop them instantly.

The soldiers hesitated.

“He’s already dead. Chasing that thing into unfamiliar territory will only create more casualties. Maintain formation, stay focused on the objective, and keep your attention on the surroundings.”

Many of the soldiers clenched their fists in frustration, but none argued. They understood the Commander was correct.

The tentacle had pierced directly through the mech-suit’s chest, destroying both the pilot and the suit’s core systems in a single attack. Even if they somehow recovered the body, there would be nobody left to save.

The Commander increased the output of its thrusters and accelerated through the sky, forcing the remaining squadron members to abandon any thoughts of rescue.

One by one, they pushed additional power into their propulsion systems and followed behind.

The soldiers continuously scanned the forest with thermal vision, motion trackers, biological sensors, and energy detection systems, yet none of their equipment managed to locate whatever had launched the attack.

Suddenly, warning alarms erupted across every visor simultaneously.

“Incoming from below!” the Commander shouted.

The Commander immediately tilted its body sideways while a massive appendage exploded upward from the forest. The grotesque limb shot past its shoulder with enough force to create a sonic boom before disappearing into the clouds above.

The squadron instantly shifted into combat mode.

Threat markers flooded their displays.

Flight prediction software began calculating evasive routes.

SSnnng~

Before anyone could formulate a counterattack, another appendage erupted from the forest floor.

SSnnng~

Then another.

SSnnng~

Then five more followed in rapid succession.

Their formation scattered apart while individual flight systems executed hundreds of micro-adjustments every second. Crimson thruster trails crisscrossed the sky as the mech-suits zigzagged between the attacks.

Even then, the enemy proved overwhelming.

“ARRHHHHH!!!”

One soldier narrowly avoided a tentacle only for another to emerge directly beneath him. The appendage slammed into his mech-suit and shattered several armour plates before launching him into the distance.

Another soldier wasn’t nearly as fortunate.

“NOOOOO-!”

The flesh-like limb wrapped around his body before he could react and dragged him downward despite the desperate efforts of his thrusters. His screams echoed through the communication channel for several seconds before abruptly cutting off.

Nobody spoke after that.

Every remaining squadron member poured their full concentration into survival while weaving through the increasingly dense barrage of attacks.

Their mech-suits hummed violently from the strain while warning notifications continuously appeared across their displays, informing them that propulsion systems were approaching dangerous operational limits.

Fortunately, the blinking distress beacon eventually appeared through the trees ahead.

“Visual confirmation of target location,” one of the soldiers reported.

The Commander immediately descended toward the signal source while the surviving squadron members followed close behind.

TAHUNDDD!!