Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 196 Saints (Part 3)

Zion Underground Command Center.

Even through the thick concrete, Lieutenant General Kustov, who was underground, could still clearly hear the deafening roars and cheers coming from the surface.

It wasn't just a few scattered shouts, but a city-wide euphoric celebration of liberation, a roar of a long-suppressed volcano erupting.

Although reports of the defending troops fighting back in some neighborhoods continued to come intermittently over the radio, Lieutenant General Kustov knew in his heart that their chances of survival were slim.

Throughout the entire battle, the Arab coalition, under Amir's leadership, gave him absolutely no chance to breathe or retaliate.

From the initial surprise attack to the current igniting of public sentiment throughout the city, a series of actions have been efficient and decisive.

Whether in military command, tactical application, or the terrifying control and incitement displayed by the opponent, he was utterly defeated.

"Your Majesty Lieutenant General!"

The adjutant suggested, "Perhaps we can withdraw the forces defending against the Surrian armored forces outside the city into the eastern district, where the complex urban warfare environment can at least help us consolidate our position."

Colonel Yuri, who was in charge of intelligence, added: "Sir, it's not time for us to give up yet! Tel Aviv just sent us a message instructing us to continue holding Damascus to deplete the enemy's manpower within the city as much as possible! At the same time, Major General Gol's 38th Armored Division is attacking Quneitra. If we can hold on, the Arab coalition might be the first to give in!"

Both men stared intently at their supreme commander, hoping to elicit a hint of resolve or approval.

Lieutenant General Kustov disappointed them, seemingly ignoring the strategic advice and instead asking, "Where is Katsav?"

The intelligence colonel paused, clearly not expecting the lieutenant general to ask this, but he still replied, "The Prime Minister should still be at the city government, but the specific situation is still unclear."

"Where is Colonel Benjamin of the General Staff Reconnaissance Team?"

"Colonel Benjamin initially organized an elite reconnaissance team to attempt a counterattack and locate enemy command points, but they quickly lost contact after entering the western combat zone."

Lieutenant General Kustov nodded slowly and asked no further questions.

The command center fell into dead silence.

Only the incessant shouts from the ground, like a tsunami, pierced through layers of barriers, relentlessly battering everyone's psychological defenses.

Finally, Lieutenant General Kustov spoke up: "Go and destroy all the classified documents."

After you're done, everyone leave so I can have some peace and quiet.

The adjutant and the intelligence colonel trembled slightly, and all the busy staff officers stopped what they were doing and looked at the exhausted lieutenant general.

But in the end, none of them disobeyed the order. They all saluted Kustov and then withdrew.

------

Amid the roar of the helicopter rotors, Lu Lin looked down through the porthole at the western city of Damascus, which had become a boiling furnace.

The dense crowds surged through the streets and alleys like a flood bursting its banks.

Smoke and flames rose throughout the city, and roars, sporadic gunfire, and the muffled thuds of buildings collapsing in the chaos filled the air above the city.

From the air, the destruction inflicted on this ancient Arab city by the Zionites is truly appalling; temples have been toppled, stone carvings smashed, and replaced by countless cold, high walls.

The Zionians used barbed wire and bunkers to turn the city into a giant prison.

But now, this cage is being broken down from within by the people themselves.

As the Grand Imam, Taymiyah looked at the dilapidated Islamic buildings, his expression calm, but his eyes held a burning rage.

This is Zion's blasphemy against Arab religion and history.

The Press reporter standing nearby remained silent, only rapidly pressing the shutter button to record everything with his camera.

Through the "eagle's" perspective, Lu Lin could see the red dots representing the enemy forces within the city rapidly disappearing, like sparks being extinguished by the tide.

He then saw some luxurious mansions in the city center, where angry crowds rushed in. They dragged out some well-dressed people, and screams and curses immediately filled the air. These people were stripped naked and then dragged into the crowd, where they were torn to pieces.

Reconnaissance Brigade Commander Tamim explained in a deep voice, "These are all Zion immigrants and nobles in Damascus who exploit and oppress the people here on a daily basis."

Lu Lin watched this scene expressionlessly and said calmly, "They deserve what they got."

Of course, chaos is inevitable in the current situation.

Some people began smashing shops along the street—regardless of whose property they were; some set fire to roadside vehicles, causing explosions; and looting also began.

As the number of enemies gradually decreased, the people's anger had nowhere to go, and destruction was no longer limited to specific targets of revenge.

But these issues can only be resolved once Surya's army arrives.

Soon, Lu Lin and his group arrived at the square in front of the Damascus City Hall.

Tens of thousands of people gathered there, their emotions running high, and they even blocked countless blocks, making it impossible for vehicles to pass.

In front of the city hall gates, a Zion infantry company was putting up a last stand. The crowd dared not approach, and the two sides remained deadlocked.

Through the eagle's perspective, Lu Lin saw that among the crowd, there were still some units with red markers flashing above their heads.

It's likely a lurking spy, an instigator, or a traitor trying to slip through the cracks.

"Contact the ground forces. Once you see the signal, go and arrest them," Lu Lin said to Tamim.

Tamim hadn't yet grasped what the so-called "signal" was when a dark shadow shot down from the sky like an arrow towards the square.

Enzidu was so fast that it was almost impossible to catch the naked eye. After locking onto the target marked in red, it quickly swooped down and its sharp claws precisely sliced ​​across the cheek of a middle-aged man, scratching his eyeball!

"what--!"

The man let out a piercing scream, clutched his face, and collapsed to the ground, rolling around frantically.

The surrounding crowd was stunned by this sudden scene.

Before they could react, Enqi had already set his sights on his second target, his sharp claws digging into the man's scalp, causing the man to scream like a pig being slaughtered.

"Is this the signal?"

Although Tamim didn't know how his general had done it, that didn't stop him from giving the order.

Soon, the soldiers rushed into the crowd and pinned the screaming man down.

A soldier stepped forward and washed the man's face. When the man's true face was revealed, a gasp rippled through the crowd: "I recognize him, Samir Jabbar! He's a damned traitor! To curry favor with the Zionians, he betrayed the guerrillas hiding in the basement of his neighbor's house. A dozen good young men were hanged on the lamppost!"

The identity of the other man was also exposed; he was also a heinous traitor.

Enzi leaped above the crowd, each of its fierce strikes precisely marking a hidden scoundrel.

Soldiers and the awakened civilians worked together to identify and subdue those who had been marked.

The spies and traitors hidden in the crowd panicked completely. They desperately lowered their bodies, some trying to blend into the depths of the crowd, and others trying to escape the square, but they had nowhere to hide.

Under Enzidu's mark, all the scoundrels in the entire square were exposed.

"Let's go down."

Tamim immediately issued orders to the ground troops, and the soldiers quickly cleared a safe area at the designated helicopter landing site.

Fully armed troops took over the entire square like a tidal wave. Machine gunners seized the high ground, and infantry squads guarded each street corner, forming a tight cordon.

The helicopter slowly descended, the strong winds whipped up by the rotors stirring up waves of dust, and the robes of the onlookers fluttered in the wind.

The hatch slid open, and Lu Lin stepped out steadily.

Tamim followed closely behind, holding the Quran wrapped in ancient leather, his expression solemn. Tamim himself led the guards to stand around the perimeter, while Fahd held the blue banner high.

Enzi, who had been circling in the air, saw this and swooped down to land precisely on Lu Lin's shoulder, his eagle claws gently gripping the shoulder lining of his military uniform.

The crowd first erupted in a commotion, then fell into an eerie silence.

As if guided by an invisible force, they automatically parted to the sides like Moses parting the Sea, making way for the young general to reach the center of the square.

"The Sword of God..."

"Gibrald..."

"God's angel..." When the first person knelt down before Lu Lin, many more people who had come to their senses also knelt down before this "saint".

This movement spread like a wave, even infecting those who were unaware of the situation, causing them to associate the general with the legendary angel.

All was silent; the previous clamor seemed to have been muted.

Holy crap, how did I get knocked down?
Lu Lin was a little embarrassed, but he knew he couldn't show weakness at this moment, so he said in a dignified voice, "Get up, all of you."

With a slight shrug, he sent Enqi flying back into the sky.

This guy has definitely gotten a lot heavier lately; his military uniform is even pulling so hard it's choking him.

Because the sound wasn't loud enough, Fahd promptly handed over the helicopter's radio and whispered, "Lieutenant General, use this; it's also connected to the broadcast system!"

Lu Lin took the equipment and repeated the command he had just given.

This time, his voice echoed in everyone's ears through the square's loudspeaker.

The people gradually stood up, but still kept their heads down, not daring to look him in the eye.

Lu Lin continued his speech, holding a radio; his clear and powerful voice carried to every corner.
Fellow countrymen in Damascus.

Today, we have witnessed the power of God and your fearless courage.

In the Prime Minister's office in the government building not far away, Katsav, with his disheveled hair, peeked through the curtains at the square and vaguely saw the figure surrounded by thousands of people.

"That Amir has come to take my life."

To him, every word on the radio sounded like a death warrant, relentlessly assaulting his already fragile mental defenses.

Lu Lin paused deliberately, letting his words linger in the air, before raising his voice:
"But the fruits of victory have not yet been fully in our hands!"

He pointed in the direction of the government building: "Those invaders are still entrenched in our city, and their weapons are still pointed at our chests!"
The flames of liberation have been lit, but to extinguish the final darkness, order and power are needed.

Now, I need you to make way for our warriors on this path to victory!

Benjamin, covered in gunpowder smoke, peeked out from the ruins of a building on the flank.

His once crisp uniform is now tattered, but his eyes are unusually bright.

Looking at Lu Lin, who was giving a speech, he could hardly contain his joy.

How dare he?
He really dares to do it!

"Blame yourself for not staying in Quneitra's command post and instead coming to Damascus!"

He picked up the rifle in his hand and held his breath.

He knew that his shot wouldn't change the outcome of the war, and he also knew that it would reveal his position and what fate awaited him.

But as long as this Zion's destined enemy can be killed, it will all be worth it.

Benjamin pulled the trigger.

Brothers and sisters

Almost simultaneously, a glaring red mark flashed in Lu Lin's field of vision.

The instant the bullet left the chamber, he instinctively tilted his head to dodge.

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound echoed across the square. At first, people didn't know what had happened until they saw the "Gibrillat" being pinned down by the soldiers around him, and then they realized that he had been shot.

A piercing electrical blast came from the radio, then abruptly stopped.

"No!"

"no no."

"No no no!"

Looking at the panicked crowd, Benjamin burst into laughter. He was extremely confident in his marksmanship and was certain that his shot had hit the mark.

"What happened?" Katsav looked out the window, his breathing rapid.

Why did the broadcast stop?
What was that gunshot just now?

"Lieutenant General! Lieutenant General!!"

Before Lu Lin could react, he was firmly protected by a group of burly men. Their anxious faces loomed close, almost suffocating him.

"Get up, everyone, I can't breathe from being crushed."

Fahd, Tamim and the others quickly got off Lu Lin.

Lu Lin touched his cheek, feeling a slight stinging sensation at his fingertips. The bullet had only grazed his cheek and earlobe, taking away a small piece of skin and flesh.

From his eagle-like perspective, he saw the soldiers rushing toward the building where the assassin was and quickly subduing him.

"Are you okay?"

"I am fine."

Lu Lin looked at Taimiye and noticed that the Great Imam's eyes were bloodshot. He had never seen the man so agitated before.

"Let me get up."

With Fahd and Tamiyah flanking him, Lu Lin straightened up and raised his right fist high.

The entire square fell silent for a moment, then erupted into deafening cheers!

Benjamin's smile froze instantly as he was being escorted away.

He was certain he had hit his target. Could the other person truly be an angel of God, immortal?

"I'm alive!"

Lu Lin's voice was still echoing on the radio when, as soon as he finished speaking, the shouts of "Allahu Akbar" swept across the square like a tsunami, almost drowning out his voice.

He continued shouting:
Brothers and sisters!

You have completed the greatest and most glorious part.
Trust your other Arab brothers, we will return the final victory to you in its entirety!
Let our tanks crush the enemy's stubborn resistance with their steel tracks!
Let our soldiers use the bullets of justice to end the final oppression!

For complete freedom! For Damascus's tomorrow!

The crowd parted to both sides like a tide, making way for the armored forces. The tank formations, gleaming coldly, roared forward, and the people did not disperse; they followed closely behind, chanting slogans such as "For freedom! For Damascus!" The initially chaotic shouts gradually merged into a unified, powerful voice.

The surviving Zion defenders, witnessing this horrifying scene, felt their legs go weak. The overwhelming roar threatened to crush them into dust.

Katsav collapsed to the ground. The chill emanating from the cold marble floor was nothing compared to the sheer terror in his heart.

The deafening roars outside the window made it hard for him to breathe, and his heart pounded wildly as if it would burst at any moment.

"Could it be that Amir really... he really is?!"

His mind was on the verge of collapse. Trembling, he took a pistol from the drawer and shoved the muzzle into his mouth. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the destructive roar outside the window, but the screams were relentless.

There is no escape.

Finally, he pulled the trigger.

"boom!"

Katsav's body jolted violently, and blood gushed from the back of his head.

The tormenting voice finally faded away.

Avi Katsav—the prime minister of Zion—ultimately chose to end his life with a bullet in extreme fear.

(End of this chapter)