Players Invade Cyberpunk

Most of the trenches in the Salinas River Valley are former riverbeds, meandering into the Pacific Ocean after years of erosion. Later, tectonic movements and river course changes left this hilly valley behind.

The surface vegetation became largely extinct, leading to soil erosion. Decades of weathering eventually caused severe sandification of the hillside surface, appearing desolate and barren from afar.

The gaping riverbed entrance, squeezed by the hillsides on both sides, resembled a massive beast's open jaws, patiently waiting for the convoy ahead to walk into the trap.

The convoy of over a thousand people still seemed insignificant compared to these naturally crafted landscapes.

Light stood on the car roof, holding binoculars as he gazed across several kilometers towards the valley hills ahead. Dust clouds and traces of human alteration were clearly visible at the hilltop and midway sections.

Looking at the nerve-wracking spider-web trenches, he cursed under his breath,

"Damn, are these guys moles? They're so fast."

Light could swear to his brothers that these trenches were definitely dug today; they weren't there yesterday.

From the moment they received the news and assembled, it took three hours to reach the Salinas River Valley.

Even if adding the six or seven hours it took the other party to travel, that's less than ten hours: meaning these company operatives ran for dozens of kilometers and then excavated several hundred meters of trenches. Even livestock aren't pushed to such limits, are they?

If his Chaotic Blade Association men were to do the same, just running those dozen kilometers would take at least two days, then they'd rest a morning before digging trenches.

As for how fast they're dug, it all depends on their level of determination.

"What's there to fear."

The adjutant sitting in the front passenger seat showed no awareness of the gravity of the situation.

"This isn't Night City. What's the point of digging so many holes? A few artillery shots would probably scare the company operatives to death, saving us the trouble of digging graves for their bodies."

"Better be cautious."

Although Light didn't believe some trenches could halt his troops, he knew Ulysses and others were blown to pieces over on Stone Ridge Mountain by these people, without even a chance to escape.

He's also heard of the cyber warriors' style, which means he would never personally go to the battlefield unless absolutely necessary.

Approaching the valley entrance, two kilometers away, Light ordered,

"Have everyone stop and rest here."

Then he turned to ask the adjutant,

"When will Kevin and the others arrive?"

The adjutant replied,

"They said five minutes ago they were six kilometers away; shouldn't be long."

Kevin is the artillery company commander,

Because many in the Chaotic Blade Association were old soldiers left over from the Unified War era, for ease of management and familiarity, the armed forces adopted the US Military structure. It's somewhat mismatched, lacking absolute control over subordinates and the military's strict command structure.

Light: "Let's wait for them to arrive, fire a few rounds first, and remind everyone to be careful, watch out for landmines."

Hearing the words "anti-personnel landmine," the adjutant had a chill run through him, but soon found his own worries quite amusing.

It's only been a few hours; they're still digging trenches up the hill. Even if they plant landmines when they come down, how many could they actually plant?

He dismissed the matter entirely,

————

"How many people are there?"

On the hillside, Red Barrel also used binoculars to look at the vast convoy of the Chaotic Blade Association below and felt a bit intimidated.

It's known that in the city, with tall buildings, narrow alleys, and subway stations as cover, players don't usually face more than four to five enemies at once. Even if a street is full of people, it doesn't look like much.

And speaking of, forget about the night battle over a dozen days ago—it was pitch black, and the place was too large to feel the pressing sense of a large army approaching.

Now, looking down the hillside, one finally understands what a thousand-strong army looks like.

This isn't the scene of a high school gymnastics with a thousand people standing together, but one thousand-plus fully armed soldiers, backed by armored vehicles, troop carriers, and even tanks, with their scattered formations occupying over ten soccer fields.

A whole overwhelming mass that made one's heart uneasy.

Sword Saint: "I estimate there are three to four thousand."

The only issue is, none of the players learned the reconnaissance soldiers' estimation skills; whether 1,000 or 3,000, it all looks the same to them, and they can only guess wildly.

On two heights, Ox and Horse Construction Company Security Department + Chaldean Heroic Spirit Hall together totaling three battalions, 150 people.

Chaldean Heroic Spirit Hall is responsible for the frontline defense of Hill 101, while the two Ox and Horse battalions kept digging trenches. There's no fear in having too many; only in having none.

"Three to four thousand? Impossible."

Red Barrel knew even without counting, there were definitely not that many down the hill,

"If there really were so many, why would we even fight? A spit from each could drown us."

Despite the words, players don't back down because of numbers; if it comes to it, they'll simply switch from Battlefield style to Cyberpunk Warriors.

Enemy can't hide! We will strip them of their defenses!

Red Barrel privately @Shui Yue in the channel,

"Do you see anyone on your side?"

The adjutant guessed correctly; the players indeed hadn't planted landmines, nor made or purchased them. But that didn't stop them from making trouble at the base of the hill, like digging some hidden foxholes.

Shui Yue crouched in his own 1.2-meter deep pit, supported by composite panels overhead, layered with loose soil and shrubs for decoration, leaving only a narrow observation hole that blended in seamlessly with its surroundings.