Following the fuse up the mountain path, one could see several overturned rocks, uneven and widespread. If one were unaware and happened to step on these rocks while the fuse was lit, the person standing there would be blown away by what lay beneath with a deafening blast.
The few individuals present were mere mortals. Even seated in a vehicle, they would experience violent tremors, with the raging river nearby. Those trapped inside the vehicle would feel as if entombed in an iron coffin, unable to escape easily.
Zhao Lun remained confident. Even though they didn't know what lay ahead, he was sure they would face no real danger. At worst, they would be jolted and tumble into the river, appearing somewhat disheveled.
Although there was no immediate danger, seeing these traps provoked uncontrollable rage in the others. They burned with desire to obliterate their foes.
Zhao Lun reined in his fury, offering words of comfort, a light chuckle escaping his lips. "Who wants to play a little game of cat and mouse with them?"
"I do!"
"So do I!"
"Count me in! Hmph! This time, we'll make them pay!"
The women, enraged and eager for vengeance, were ready to strike. When they had arrived, unprepared, a band of bandits had ambushed them. Had Zhao Lun not acted decisively, they might have been doomed. Though Zhao Lun had eradicated them at the time and even destroyed their hideout afterward, Nicole and the others couldn't shake their frustration.
They felt stifled, unable to act when confronted by the bandits, their skills rendered useless. Now, faced with another group of related bandits, they could no longer hold back.
Zhao Lun's suggestion was exactly what they needed. Full of anticipation, they were ready for action.
Except for Maria, everyone had combat experience and wasn't concerned by these outdated bandits and their primitive weapons.
Without relying on ambush tactics, such bandits were nothing to fear. With their position now exposed, the effect of any ambush would be minimal, likely resulting in the attackers being turned against them.
"Since everyone wants to play, let's all join in."
"Let's see who can catch the most. And be careful, don't let the rats bite you."
"Maria, stay with me. The rest of you, scatter."
Zhao Lun, still worried about Maria's safety, decided to keep her by his side. Maria, eager to accompany her brother, happily retrieved a custom-made small rifle and followed him.
Before the battle, they suited up in combat gear. They reviewed the satellite's intelligence, committing the information to memory, then conducted a final equipment check, ensuring everything was ready. The team set off.
They disembarked and swiftly made their way up the mountain, vanishing into the terrain, quickly approaching the satellite-marked location.
Zhao Lun and Maria moved fast. Running along the slope, they moved as if on level ground, matching the speed of the others without hesitation.
On the mountain, the man with the binoculars had never seen a vehicle like this before. Fixated on the strange "monster" of a machine, he waved his hand, signaling urgently, "Boss! Something's coming! It's a big one! No idea what it is!"
"What is it? Could it be a monster?" The boss trembled as he asked, grabbing the man's collar so hard that it nearly choked him.
The wilderness was dangerous. There was no safe shelter. They could be attacked by wild animals, and the most terrifying danger was encountering creatures beyond human strength. It was clear that they had faced such a monster before, and at the cost of half their men's lives, had barely managed to defeat it. Though the monster had been slain, the terror it caused would not be so easily forgotten.
"Boss! There are people inside! They're coming out! They've spotted us!"
Another person rushed to free his comrade.
"People inside? Good! If they've seen us, let's do this the hard way!"
"Go! Rally the brothers! Capture them, for Grant…"
Bang! A sharp gunshot interrupted him. Turning toward the sound, they saw a figure approaching, killing without hesitation.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots rang out, but the figure moved like a phantom. Bullets missed, seemingly passing right through her, as though she were a ghost.
This wasn't the only spot where such an occurrence was happening. Nearby, similar scenes played out. No matter how they fired, they couldn't hit their target. Gunshots rang chaotically, mingled with frantic voices.
"Devil!"
"Devils! They're all devils!"
"Kill them! Bang! Ah!"
After the panicked shout, a scream echoed, followed by the gradual silencing of gunfire.
On Zhao Lun's side, a similar scene unfolded. Maria, wielding her small rifle, exchanged fire with the bandits, while Zhao Lun covered her, using his bow and teaching her how to fight.
Strictly speaking, this was Maria's first battle, and she was nervous. When she pulled the trigger on the specially-made automatic rifle, a full burst of bullets emptied the magazine. Some bandits, lucky enough, were startled by the gunfire, while others, less fortunate, were riddled with bullets, their fate grim.
Maria's pale face showed clear distress. She hadn't intended to kill but simply wanted to subdue them. However, due to her nervousness, her normally precise aim faltered, and she instinctively closed her eyes, firing blindly and wasting an entire clip. In a dazed stupor, she narrowly spared one life.
Though the bandits had malicious intent in their ambush, she couldn't bring herself to end anyone's life. The more she hesitated, the more the situation seemed to force her hand.
When Maria's gun ran dry, Zhao Lun continued to provide cover. He saw an unfortunate bandit out of position and swiftly fired an arrow. His arrows never missed. Each time an enemy drew a weapon, they were struck, the arrow piercing their hand, causing them to drop their guns in agony.
The pain was intense, making them drop their weapons and clutch their wounded hands, unable to fire again.
"Maria, in battle, don't panic. Stay calm."
"Also, don't close your eyes. Be brave."
Zhao Lun, as though unaffected, offered no further consolation. In this dangerous world, bloodshed was inevitable, and whether it happened now or later made little difference.
Whizz! An arrow flew, striking a bandit's palm. The gun fell from his grasp, and the searing pain sent him to the ground, joining the others in desperate agony.
Seeing that their enemies were too formidable to fight, the remaining bandits retreated, scattering in fear. Maria, no longer eager, watched them flee without a word, while Zhao Lun made no move to pursue them, letting them escape.
The gunfire gradually died down until it ceased entirely. A moment later, several women appeared, dragging a group of subdued bandits. These bandits had been thoroughly beaten and now resembled frightened sheep, huddling together without daring to resist.
The strength of Zhao Lun and his group was overwhelming. The bandits' bullets missed, and their enemies were like ghosts or devils. The bandits had no hope of winning.
A broken group of criminals was easy to interrogate, and they quickly divulged the full story.
"It's true. They're connected to the previous group of bandits."
"Where's your boss? He ran away? Hmph! He won't get far!"
The old saying rang true—once the monk runs away, he can't escape the temple. This was a desolate wilderness, without any secure refuge. Those who fled would eventually return to their stronghold, and they would follow them to their lair.
A satellite in the sky tracked the fleeing bandits, all heading in one direction. If Zhao Lun guessed correctly, this direction led to their hideout.
An hour later, they arrived at a mountain stronghold, far larger than the previous one, with walls and towering watchtowers. As Zhao Lun's group approached, the shrill sound of a whistle echoed from the tower, and soon bandits armed with guns appeared on the walls, preparing for a standoff.
"Heh! Hiding behind, are you? Let's see if you can keep hiding!"
With a cold smile, Zhao Lun raised his hand and brought out a heavy weapon, aiming it at the densely packed enemies. With a single blast, he fired.
Boom!!!
A deafening explosion rang out, and the rock-and-dirt wall collapsed in a massive heap. (To be continued.)