"Sniper! Take cover quickly!"
Baron fled in dismay, not daring to linger for a moment. His brief anaerobic burst had clearly not harmed the enemy, and after shouting his warning, he took a deep breath and swiftly evaded the sniper's erratic attacks. Despite the consecutive misses, it was evident that these snipers were of an inferior caliber.
The truck, with unrelenting speed, collided with the van, flattening it against the checkpoint building like a thin pancake. Barret Walker narrowly avoided becoming a casualty, grateful that the vehicle had been modified for structural integrity. His head was throbbing from the impact, and before he could fully come to his senses, bullets from the truck began to rain down on him. In this narrow space, it seemed inevitable that death was imminent.
It is in moments of crisis that one's true character is revealed!
Clearly, the person on the truck had also been injured, and in a panic, fired several shots that narrowly missed Barret's head. His legs trembled in fear, aware that his head could not withstand such a barrage. Huddled beneath the seat, he dared not reach for the gun behind him, realizing that the reality of facing gunfire was a daunting prospect for anyone but an experienced soldier.
Finally, the gunfire from the truck ceased. Barret gazed at the bullet-riddled roof, feeling the lingering horror of the encounter. Suddenly, he fiercely slapped himself, then swiftly crawled to the back of the truck, grabbing the JS12.7MM sniper rifle and loading it. He then retrieved the heavy, advanced military-grade combat knife, a weapon capable of overpowering all others, provided it was wielded by a skilled warrior.
Barret Walker felt the cold, unyielding steel of the combat knife, realizing that it had been four years since he had touched such formidable weapons. Four years ago, he had achieved the rank of captain, only to face tragic circumstances that led to his stagnation. Without access to advanced medical care and proper nutrition, he remained a captain, unable to bring himself to touch these lethal implements, a reminder of the painful memories and debilitating vertigo that plagued his mind like a venomous snake.
"Rebirth demands change. Even if it leads down an unknown path, failure to strive for change may result in a return to the same old path," Barret said to himself, fully aware that his mediocrity could easily revert to the norm. This is why he had to excel in the simulated exams, and now, facing the most daunting challenge of his life, could he change course?
"The machinery has rusted for four years. It's time to get it moving again," Barret declared, tearing a piece of cloth from his hospital gown and strapping his favorite Kukri curved blade to his waist. He also secured the Desert Shadow and slung the JS12.7MM sniper rifle over his back. He crouched, his muscles trembling with anticipation, ready to unleash the pent-up energy within him.
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The quality of this truck was impressive, with two occupants in the cab. One lay dead, a victim of a close-range headshot, while the other, a corporal, held a special operations pistol, exclusively loaded with ammunition. Though a leader of sorts, the corporal only held the rank of private, with a burst speed of 9 meters per second and no official military rank.
Clearly, this group of "henchmen" was not well-regarded. After loading his rifle, Barret took a few high-ground shots at the van, then leaped from the window, fully aware of the blind spot. Despite the hail of bullets, he remained calm, silently preparing himself. As soon as the gunfire ceased, he heard the man land on the roof, and with a sudden surge of power, he unleashed a forceful blow with his combat knife, splitting the vehicle in two.
Although the knife cleaved the man in half, the blade was free of blood. The man's blood splattered throughout the van, leaving Barret feeling dizzy and nauseous. He quickly kicked the lifeless body out of the truck, covered it with a blanket, and propped the sniper rifle against the rear window, listening intently to the distant gunfire. Amidst the cacophony, he was able to discern the locations of the snipers, their weapons, and approximate distances from his position.
"Snipers at 2 o'clock atop the building, one between 12 o'clock floors, one at 11 o'clock, and another at 10 o'clock. Based on the hundred-meter calculation, distances are approximately 650 meters, 720 meters, 680 meters, and 500 meters. Haha! Facing a sniper in front of a sniper god is like bringing a knife to a gunfight!"
Barret quickly identified the snipers' positions, realizing that they had deliberately planned to eliminate them. But who would dare to make such a brazen move?
"Requesting tactical map support! Sniper 4 has been eliminated. Downloading latest map of Hero City Border Defense will take fifteen seconds. Please stand by," Barret heard over the radio. In response, he fired another shot, causing a powerful explosion that struck the sniper, who let out a piercing scream. The other two, having heard their comrade's cries, were thrown into disarray, uncertain whether to retreat or hold their ground.
It was evident that these border defense snipers, who were exceptionally skilled, were not to be underestimated. However, the situation was complicated by the fact that the enemy had also deployed their own snipers, taking advantage of the border defense troops' vulnerability.
"Public Bee 1 here, calling Beehive! Snipers have been spotted. Public Bee 4 has been killed. Requesting tactical map!"
Barret Walker was well aware that these three snipers had not yet discovered his position, a dangerous sign. He urgently sought assistance from headquarters.
"This is Beehive. Downloading the latest tactical map of Hero City Border Defense will take fifteen seconds. Please stand by," came the reply. Despite the chaos, Barret's next shot missed its mark, but the tungsten-core armor-piercing incendiary bullet created a powerful explosion, showering the area with debris and piercing the sniper.
The other two snipers, having heard their comrade's horrific scream, were thrown into disarray, unsure whether to retreat or continue fighting.