Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1252 Watching the Show with a Cold Eye
"The enemy is at the three o'clock and nine o'clock positions! Machine gunners! Suppress the PKM on the top of that dune at the three o'clock position! Everyone else, concentrate fire with me and take out the riflemen behind those rocks at the nine o'clock position! Cross cover! Don't panic!"

Having spent ten years in the U.S. Special Forces, Mans found himself in an unusually cold and lucid state due to the combined effects of extreme shock and an adrenaline rush.

He quickly determined the enemy's approximate location based on the muzzle flash and shouted orders at the top of his lungs in an attempt to stabilize the situation.

Both men in the lead vehicle were killed in action. The four surviving Thunder Defense mercenaries demonstrated their exceptional military skills and combat responsiveness as former special forces members.

Despite being caught off guard and filled with shock and anger, they did not run around like headless flies.

The moment the gunfire rang out, they instinctively and through training rushed toward the nearest cover—the relatively sturdy hood of the pickup truck and behind the rear wheels, along with several large rocks on the roadside.

The two team members quickly grabbed the M249 squad automatic weapon from the vehicle and launched a fierce suppressive attack on the PKM machine gun position on the top of the sand dune at the three o'clock position, which was constantly spitting fire.

Da da da da——

Da da da--

The distinctive firing sound of the M249 rang out, the long ammunition belt rapidly shortened, and the gleaming yellow shell casings clattered and scattered beside the vehicle, forming a small pile.

A barrage of 5.56mm bullets struck the sand dunes, sending up a series of sand pillars that temporarily suppressed the fierce firepower of the 1515 militants.

Meanwhile, Mans and another teammate used the rocks and shallow ditches for cover, and used their M4A1 carbines to fire at the 1515 riflemen who kept appearing among the rocks at the nine o'clock position with extremely accurate and rapid double bursts.

Their shooting is extremely tricky, often seizing the moment when the enemy peeks out to fire to counterattack, forcing the enemy to retreat to cover.

Their reaction was undeniably swift, their tactical maneuvers undeniably precise, and their shooting accuracy undeniably high.

However, the 1515 militants had an absolute advantage in terrain, a perfect first move, and, more importantly, a deep-seated familiarity with the land.

The ambushers of 1515 were clearly experienced veterans; they were extremely cunning and patient.

Using the complex terrain and the cover of night, they moved swiftly among the rocks and dunes like rats, firing a few shots and immediately changing their firing positions, never exposing themselves in the same place for more than ten seconds.

They knew every nook and cranny where they could hide and every ditch where they could move quickly. They moved silently, making it difficult for Mans and his men to pinpoint their exact location.

Moreover, their firepower was clearly layered, with PKM machine guns responsible for continuous suppression and drawing attention, while scattered riflemen provided precise short bursts of harassment from different angles, keeping the mercenaries busy and unable to organize an effective breakout.

"Ugh!"

The team member who was operating the M249 to suppress fire suddenly let out a muffled groan. An AK bullet, which came from an unknown angle, hit his left upper arm, which was not protected by a bulletproof plate. Blood spurted out instantly, staining most of his sleeve red.

"FUCK! Die!"

He gritted his teeth, cursing as he gripped the trigger tightly, continuing to fire bullets in the general direction, but the suppressive effect was noticeably weakened.

"Smoke grenades! Quick! Throw smoke grenades! We need cover to evacuate this open area!"

Mans shouted at his teammates as he quickly changed the empty magazine.

He knew perfectly well that if they continued to be trapped on this exposed highway, facing an enemy familiar with the terrain and occupying high ground, their only fate would be to be slowly worn down and killed.

Upon hearing this, a teammate near Mans immediately took an M18 smoke grenade from his tactical vest, pulled the safety pin, and threw it forcefully toward the front of the convoy.

"laugh--"

Thick, white smoke billowed rapidly from the canister, spreading in the night wind and attempting to create a visual barrier between the mercenaries and the ambushers.

However, just as the smoke began to obscure their vision, and Mans and his men were preparing to use it to retreat deeper into the riverbed to their side and rear, the situation suddenly changed—

"RPG!!!"

The team member responsible for guarding the other side issued a heart-wrenching warning!
An RPG rocket, trailing a fiery orange-red tail, suddenly shot out from behind a giant rock at the nine o'clock position and struck the vulnerable hood of the second pickup truck with great accuracy!
"Boom!!!"

An explosion occurred!

The crude RDX explosive loaded in the rocket warhead exploded violently, instantly shattering the pickup truck's engine compartment into pieces, with various parts and vehicle fragments flying everywhere like a shower of flowers!
A raging fire immediately shot into the sky from the wreckage, the intense flames engulfing the entire vehicle and illuminating the surrounding area for dozens of meters as if it were daytime, completely extinguishing their last hope of escaping quickly by vehicle!
Splattering scorching metal fragments swept across the surrounding area. A mercenary hiding near the rear of the vehicle was unable to dodge in time and was struck in the chest, abdomen, and legs by several pieces of shrapnel. He let out a shrill scream and collapsed in a pool of blood, convulsing violently.

The communications soldier who was trying to call for emergency support to the checkpoint using the tactical radio had just shouted "We have encountered..." when, in the chaos of the explosion, a precise AK bullet, as if it had eyes, pierced through the gaps in the smoke and flames and struck the side of his unarmored neck.

He shuddered violently, dropping the microphone from his hand. He clutched his neck tightly with both hands, the blood gushing from the bullet hole. A hissing sound escaped his throat, his eyes wide open, filled with endless terror and resentment. He slowly slumped down, collapsing onto the cold sand, his blood quickly soaking the ground beneath him.

The intense and brutal firefight lasted less than six minutes, from the first explosion to the gradual sparseness and eventual complete cessation of gunfire.

But for the four remaining members of Mans's squad, those six short minutes felt like centuries of torment in hell.

As with their arrival, the 1515 attackers did not linger in battle. After their successful ambush, they did not delay but silently disappeared into the darkness and complex terrain.

The ancient road, which had just been ravaged by bloodshed, quickly fell into a deathly silence, with only the crackling sound of burning vehicle wreckage and the nauseating smell of blood remaining.

The scene resembled an oil painting depicting hell.

The first pickup truck was completely destroyed, reduced to a pile of twisted scrap metal, still emitting thick smoke.

The remains of the two team members inside the vehicle were never found; they could only be identified from some tattered clothing and fragments of equipment.

The second pickup truck was engulfed in flames, like a giant bonfire.

Of the six-man elite squad, two were instantly killed in the IED explosion, one died in the ensuing firefight, and one was critically wounded and on the verge of death. Only Mans and another teammate, through excellent tactical maneuvers and a bit of luck, miraculously survived with only minor abrasions and blast injuries. However, they had already used up most of their ammunition, and their mental state was on the verge of collapse due to extreme tension and the immense shock of witnessing their comrades' tragic deaths.

The two men leaned against a large rock on the riverbank, gripping their rifles tightly, breathing heavily, watching warily for any movement in the darkness, awaiting their unknown fate.

Hurmatu, Joint Command
Song Heping had just taken off his coat, preparing to take a short nap on his cot to recover some energy.

Jiang Feng strode in from the communications room outside.

"Sergeant, we just received a report from the reconnaissance post. About twelve kilometers outside the city, near the abandoned road close to Zone 4, there was a very intense firefight. Based on the sentry's description of the gunfire density and explosion characteristics, it can be basically confirmed that it is the ambush tactic commonly used by the 1515 gang. Judging from the location and time, it is most likely that the Thunder Defense squad that went out to fetch water ran into the line of fire."

Song Heping slowly sat up straight, stood up and walked to the huge tactical map. He pointed precisely at the area marked "Old Riverbed - Abandoned Road" and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

Everything was as he expected.

"It seems our 'guests' from afar are going to be very busy tonight."

His tone was so calm, as if he were commenting on something trivial that had nothing to do with him.

“Go tell Samir to have his men remain silent and stand by. They only need to conduct long-range surveillance from the perimeter and keep watch on our defensive line. This is a ‘personal feud’ between Thunder Defense and 1515. As ‘allies,’ it’s neither convenient nor obligatory for us to get involved. Let the brothers… enjoy the ‘show.’”

"understand!"

Jiang Feng understood immediately and turned to go out to relay the order.

The road leading from checkpoint No. 4 to the ambush site and the ambush site itself.

After receiving the emergency call that Mance's team was under attack, Sanders personally led almost all available personnel at the checkpoint, except for those who needed to stay behind, in three off-road vehicles, and rushed out of the checkpoint like madmen, heading towards the approximate location last reported by Mance's team.

Sanders' heart sank lower and lower throughout the journey.

The ominous premonition grew stronger.

When the convoy he was leading saw the firelight that illuminated the night sky with a faint red glow, and the terrible smell of gunpowder and burning flesh carried by the wind, his face turned ashen.

As soon as the vehicle stopped outside the ambush zone, Sanders was the first to jump out. The sight before him, even for a veteran like him who had witnessed countless bloody scenes, gave him a strong sense of suffocation.

hell!

It's like hell on earth!
Two piles of still-burning vehicle wreckage emitted scorching heat and a pungent, acrid smell.

The twisted and deformed metal skeleton presented a bizarre and terrifying form in the firelight.

Scattered on the ground were countless spent cartridge cases, gleaming with a brassy luster in the firelight.

Broken weapon and equipment parts, blown-out vehicle components, and fragments of unidentifiable organic tissue were scattered throughout the ambush area.

The medics and team members he brought rushed forward to check on the survivors.

Mans and another lightly wounded soldier helped each other out from behind the rocks, their faces a mixture of grief and relief at surviving the ordeal.

The seriously wounded soldier lay in a pool of blood, breathing weakly. Medics were desperately performing battlefield first aid, trying to stop the bleeding and maintain his vital signs.

Sanders staggered to the pile of wreckage of the lead car, which had been burned down to its charred frame.

By the flickering firelight, he could see the horrific remains inside the driver's cab, reduced to half and almost completely charred...

Those were his brothers with whom he used to drink and fight through gunfire!

"FUCK—!"

An uncontrollable growl burst from deep in Sanders' throat.

He suddenly squatted down and slammed his fist hard on the hard, rough ground until his knuckles were bleeding, but he didn't even notice.

These elites who had followed him for many years did not fall in the mountains of Afghanistan, nor did they die in the town battles of Iligo. Instead, in this godforsaken place, because of a damn water-fetching mission, they were ambushed and slaughtered in such a humiliating and tragic way by a group of terrorists whom they once regarded as a "rabble"!
He suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the darkness where Hurmatur Town was located, as if trying to see through the walls and stare at Song Heping inside the command post!
The No. 4 checkpoint was completely empty...

Song Heping's seemingly yielding "cooperation" was actually fraught with ulterior motives...

His masterful acting and hypocritical excuses, designed to shirk responsibility...

The elusive and perfectly timed ambushers of 1515...

The scattered, ominous premonitions that had been lurking in my mind were now connected by an invisible thread, forming a clear and vicious web!
He and his men occupied checkpoint number 4, which on the surface appeared to be a successful strategic maneuver driven into Hurmatu, a brilliant victory.

But now, he realizes with absolute clarity that he and his men have more likely jumped into a death trap that had been carefully prepared for them!

The undercurrents, dangers, and survival rules hidden in this seemingly backward land are far more complex and cruel than he could have imagined based on his past experience!
The seemingly "weak" Song Heping was far more cunning, meticulous, and ruthless than he had initially assessed!

The icy night wind howled across the bloody battlefield, stirring up ashes and dust, and bringing a chill that penetrated to the bone.

As Sanders crouched beside the wreckage of his comrade, he felt for the first time with such clarity that, in this land far removed from the rules of modern civilization, they, who considered themselves the world's top "war professionals," might have seriously underestimated this Easterner from the very beginning.

　Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)