"Someone's behind me!!"
After more than a decade of living on the edge as a mercenary and years of counter-terrorism operations overseas, Long Zhan's keen crisis intuition, honed through experience, allowed him to quickly assess the situation.
The two people in front of him, though their identities were unclear, did not show any signs of aggression.
But the person behind him... that's where the danger was.
Weighing the potential threats, Long Zhan quickly determined which direction posed a greater risk and which enemy should be prioritized.
His years of physical training gave him the ability to react swiftly.
The entire process took less than 0.3 seconds—just slightly longer than the time it takes to blink. Long Zhan executed a series of defensive moves: he pushed off with his left leg to dodge right, simultaneously turning his head, body, and adjusting the muzzle of his gun.
He saw the attacker behind him!
The assailant was wearing a balaclava and holding an AKM rifle.
With a lethal weapon in hand and clear intent to attack, Long Zhan wasted not a single millisecond. According to Navy SEAL rules of engagement, he reacted immediately.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three consecutive shots rang out from the M4A1.
The first two bullets hit the bandit in his left and right chest, and the third struck him in the forehead.
This was the standard "Mozambique Drill."
In close-quarters combat, especially in tight spaces, there's no time to aim carefully. Instead, you rely on your years of gun-handling instincts to target the most vital areas—typically the torso.
The goal is to fire two quick shots to increase the likelihood of at least one hitting, while using that moment to bring the gun back to a more precise aiming state.
If the enemy is struck, they will naturally recoil, causing temporary rigidity, providing the perfect window for a second, fatal shot to the heart or head.
Though this process seems drawn out, it usually happens in less than a second.
Rather than firing wildly in panic or trying to land a perfect shot and wasting precious time, the Mozambique Drill ensures the best chance of success in CQB (Close Quarters Battle).
But this wasn't over yet.
As one of the top ten special forces units in the world, Navy SEALs leave nothing to chance. A second later, Long Zhan fired his fourth shot.
This time, he aimed directly at the bandit's head to confirm that he was completely neutralized.
First, control the situation, then kill, and finally confirm the kill. This is the SEALs' "three principles for indoor combat." Never forget the final confirmation shot, no matter the situation. Failing to do so could result in a significant deduction of points.
In real life, neglecting this could prove fatal.
The SEALs stress the importance of confirming the kill because experienced operatives know the dangers of a "dead" body turning into a threat—such as an ambush or a hidden bomb in close quarters.
Those who understand the risks know not to overlook such details.
As for Long Zhan's rightward dodge, it wasn't just a feint to avoid being shot in the head. His goal was to minimize the chance of a headshot from the attacker, while still ensuring that any body shots were absorbed by his bulletproof vest, which would reduce the likelihood of a fatal hit.
Such subtle maneuvers are fundamental to a special forces operative's survival.
"Danger awareness, reaction speed, handling methods—approaching perfection. No doubt a monster among newcomers, flawless performance," said training instructor Adam, impressed, and immediately gave Long Zhan a perfect score.
At this point, Long Zhan's training was officially complete.
The man in the balaclava needed to be neutralized, while the woman and the man posing as a civilian and fellow special forces operative, respectively, had already been subdued by his teammates and were no longer threats.
Long Zhan didn't rush to shoot, even though he could have taken out either the man or the woman in front of him. This not only showcased his strong psychological composure but also his remarkable ability to handle sudden situations.
Had he shot either of them, the bandit behind him would have immediately retaliated, and Long Zhan would have failed the exercise.
But by waiting, he was able to assess the threat and eliminate it in under two seconds, proving his crisis management skills and solid special forces training.
Perfect score. Flawless performance.
However, just as Adam was about to call for the end of the training and reset the scenario for the next participant, something unexpected happened.
After ensuring the bandit's death with a confirmation shot, Long Zhan immediately spun around and, without hesitation, fired his fifth shot.
The bullet hit the man's hand, rendering his weapon arm useless.
Eliminating the most immediate threat, Long Zhan's large frame moved with surprising agility, like a tiger pouncing. He rushed towards the man and woman, landing two swift punches.
The woman immediately collapsed, unconscious, while the man, dazed and wobbling, couldn't regain his bearings.
And this was with Long Zhan intentionally holding back, using less than 30% of his strength.
Had he gone all out, his punches—developed through years of sandbag training—might have killed them or at least caused severe concussions.
Seeing that the man was still standing, Long Zhan grabbed his arm, seemingly preparing to execute a German suplex.
Reacting quickly, Adam shouted, "Stop! Stop! The simulation is over."
"Is it over already?" Long Zhan said, immediately retracting his strength as he heard Adam's command, preventing the man from being slammed.
This spared the instructor from spending the next few days or even a week bedridden.
Long Zhan released the man, who staggered, pale and barely standing, and apologized, "Sorry, buddy. Still hanging in there?"
"Oh my god, you're a monster. Training with you is too dangerous. From now on, I'm staying far away from your sessions. I want to live a little longer."
The man leaned against the wall, still shaken, and looked at the woman lying on the ground. "You really laid your hands on such a beautiful woman? You're a full-fledged butcher."
"Uh..."
Long Zhan awkwardly scratched his nose, bent down, and carefully helped the woman into his arms, using traditional Chinese medicine techniques to press on her acupoint.
At that moment, Long Zhan realized that the woman he'd knocked out was actually quite beautiful.
And, more importantly, he recognized her.