"If you spot any skeletons, prioritize them; the others are secondary targets. We can't let them breach the minefield!" Bell yelled, providing directions to the soldiers who may not have faced an army of undead in their lifetime.
As Bell and his team continued their relentless assault, the gunfire's rhythm reverberated through the forest. The MG4's rapid bursts cut through the night, its muzzle flashing continuously like a beacon of defiance. Beside it, the MK-19 thundered, launching 40mm grenades that detonated amid the undead, sending shockwaves through their skeletal ranks.
Each explosion from the MK-19 was a spectacle of light and destruction, casting brief, stark shadows against the trees. The grenades shattered skeletons with brutal efficiency, preventing the shamans from conjuring more undead or casting destructive spells their way. The grenades easily pierced through their skulls, with metal fragments cutting through bone like a knife through butter.
Amelia's MG4 delivered a steady stream of bullets, like a deadly dance, tearing through the husks with merciless precision. Bone and rotting flesh were no match for the onslaught. The undead fell in droves, yet they pressed on, an unrelenting tide of decay, stepping over the corpses of their comrades without a care in the world as they closed in.
As the grenade machine gun chugged another 40mm grenade into its barrel, Bell remarked, "This thing is insane!"
Meanwhile, Lisa, with her rifle in hand, picked off stragglers attempting to flank them. Her shots were quick and precise, dropping undead after undead, her focus unwavering amidst the chaos, even as the MK-19 beside her continued to create distracting explosions in the distance.
Amelia, Lukas, and Harris formed a formidable line at the perimeter. While their weapons lacked the area-of-effect impact of Bell's grenade machine gun, they compensated with a relentless barrage of bullets. Any husk that dared to approach was quickly cut down, their advance halted by the unyielding stream of fire.
The trio's machine guns could have easily overheated under such intense use, but nature lent a helping hand. The snowstorm, fierce and unrelenting, worked in their favor, cooling the barrels of their guns and allowing them to maintain their continuous, devastating fire. As the undead were mowed down one after another, the team's synergy and the weather conditions combined to create an impenetrable defense, turning the tide against the seemingly endless wave of undead assailants.
"You know, boss, I could do this all day," Harris said.
"Stop talking, keep shooting," Amelia shouted back, firing her machine gun at the continuous stream of undead advancing towards them.
It was surreal. The towns, the cities, the villages—all of them were caught unprepared by the undead onslaught, but this team managed to turn the situation around. Even Harris was laughing maniacally as the undead fell one by one.
"HEADS UP!" Lisa suddenly shouted.
As Lisa issued her warning, the sky erupted with an array of magical attacks. Arcane arrows of bright energy rained down, illuminating the dark forest with their eerie glow. Reacting swiftly, Bell and the team raised their hands, conjuring a magical circle that blossomed into a protective dome of aetheric energy around them.
Bell's gaze shot upwards to a sinister figure hovering above, its hands radiating dark energy. "THAT'S A DAMN LICH!" he exclaimed, alerting the team to the new, formidable enemy. The lich, a skeletal master of the dark arts, marked a significant escalation in the battle.
Amelia, a mix of frustration and urgency in her voice, shouted at Harris, "You jinxed us again, Harris!"
But Harris, unfazed, simply shrugged off her comment with a nonchalant "The more, the merrier."
"Machine gunners, focus your fire on the lich, deny him air superiority! Amelia, maintain your position to cover the flank!"
"Affirmative."
The lich, at its core, was still a skeleton, but with vastly superior magic capabilities, enabling it to unleash barrages of attacks effortlessly. Defeating it required either destroying its source of power, which was often impossible, or taking the direct approach and destroying its body.
"How dare you encroach upon my territory, demons!" The lich's hoarse, menacing voice echoed.
"Aim for its cervical vertebrae! That should sever the connection to the rest of its body!" Lisa shouted, taking precise shots at the lich. Her bullets initially bounced off an energy shield the lich formed in front of its body, but the shield began to crack under the intense machine gun fire.
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"The what?" Harris shouted.
"I SAID AIM AT HIS DAMN NECK!" Lisa shouted back.
The team adjusted their focus, zeroing in on the lich hovering above them. As the lich issued its furious challenge, a barrage of gunfire aimed for its neck in an attempt to sever its connection to the rest of its body. Lisa, with precision and determination, continued firing her rifle. Her bullets, though initially repelled, began to find weak points in the lich's shield.
Amelia, resolute in her position, ensured no other undead could take advantage of their distraction. Her MG4 roared in short, controlled bursts, mowing down any undead that dared approach their perimeter. Meanwhile, Bell kept watch over the minefield, preventing any undead from getting too close.
However, the mines started detonating on Amelia's side, one after another. One machine gun alone couldn't hold off the wave of wolves that rushed faster than the other undead. The night was filled with the cacophony of destruction, from the relentless gunfire to the exploding mines and grenades. The aetheric shield drained Bell and Amelia's magical energy, and exhaustion loomed.
Nevertheless, their coordinated effort paid off. Significant cracks began to appear in the energy shield. The lich, sensing the threat to its existence, retaliated with a surge of dark magic, hurling sinister spells toward the team. But their aetheric dome held strong, shimmering with energy as it absorbed the magical onslaught.
With a concerted effort, the team's firepower finally overwhelmed the lich's defenses. The energy shield shattered, and a well-placed bullet from Lukas' .338 machine gun struck true, hitting the lich directly in the neck. The bullet immediately shattered the bone, disconnecting the lich's head from the rest of its body. In one final surge, the blue fire engulfed the lich's head as it charged toward Bell.
"Mow it down!" Lisa shouted.
The .338 Norma Magnum bullets shattered the skull with ease, reducing it to bone meal.
"Lich is down, hell yeah!" Harris shouted, his grin evident even under his balaclava.
"Resume normal routine, folks. I'm disabling the shield," Bell waved his hand, and the shield disappeared.
"Keep up the pressure!" Bell commanded, reloading his grenade machine gun. The night resounded with the sound of his weapon as it continued to hurl grenades into the thinned ranks of the undead.
Amelia, conserving her mines, let the remaining undead stagger into the minefield before engaging them. Each step triggered an explosion, further decimating the horde. Her strategy was efficient, ensuring no resources were wasted in their defense.
Harris and Lukas, their spirits lifted by the fall of the lich, redoubled their efforts. Bullets flew from their guns in a steady, unyielding stream. The undead, unable to withstand the onslaught, fell in heaps, their numbers rapidly dwindling. Some even began to pile up in the forest around them.
As the last of the undead were cleared, the forest grew silent, except for the heavy breaths of the weary but victorious soldiers. The first light of dawn crept through the trees, casting a soft, golden glow on the battlefield. The snow, now stained with the remnants of the night's battle, sparkled under the morning sun.
Bell surveyed the area, a sense of relief washing over him. They had survived the night against overwhelming odds. The team gathered, their faces weary but filled with a quiet pride. They had not only defended themselves but had also struck a significant blow against the undead scourge.
"Great work, everyone," Bell praised, his voice carrying both fatigue and satisfaction.
"Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Harris cleared his gun, the barrel still smoking from the firefight.
"Phew, that was certainly interesting, definitely not an embassy assault, but certainly interesting," Lukas said, his body lying on the ground from exhaustion after staying awake throughout the night.
"Anyone has a health report? Any injuries?" Lisa asked.
"Nope, ma'am. Everything is alright," Amelia replied.
[Trial #2: Survive The Wave Of Undeads]
Congratulations on surviving the undead assault. This experience should help orient the soldiers about the threats in this world and give you a taste of modern warfare. The enemy presence in the forest has temporarily diminished. Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your base.
[Rewards: 100,000 EP]
The notification disappeared, then it got replaced by another notification, giving him a report of last night battle. It was the detail about the amount of monsters he had killed.
[After Action Reports: 700 Husks Killed, 300 Skeletons Killed, 200 Undead Wolves Killed, 1 Lich Killed]
[Total: 370,000 +100,000 EP and 68,500 EXP]
Tired but content, Bell reclined onto the snow beneath him, paying no heed to the freezing temperature. However, he couldn't deny that holding off wave after wave of enemies was nothing short of a miracle, thanks in large part to modern weapons. Even with his formidable magic, he knew he wouldn't have lasted until dawn without them.
Lisa approached, the morning light illuminating her features. She had shed her helmet and balaclava, revealing her face framed by dark hair, with hints of an ethereal glow in her blue eyes. Her countenance was both serene and marked by the weariness of battle. Extending her hand, she offered a fist bump—a silent salute among soldiers.
"Great job," she said, her voice unwavering and reassuring.
"Thanks," Bell replied, meeting her fist with his own. He took a moment to really study her. Her face, usually concealed by combat gear, showed the signs of her age, and her eyes held a depth that spoke of years of experience.
The team gathered their equipment and began the systematic process of fortifying their position. The brief respite was a precious gift, and they intended to use it wisely to strengthen their base and prepare for any future threats. The notification of their impressive victory in the battle report served as a much-needed morale boost for them all.
"Alright, let's get back to work," Bell announced, rising to his feet.