123 Suppression (Third Update!)

The sudden appearance of an RPG undoubtedly threw everyone into a panic. Even after experiencing several wars, Li Changjiang still felt a chill in his heart when he saw that trail of white smoke.

Boom!

Everyone immediately threw themselves flat onto the ground. Just as Li Changjiang stood up, intending to charge into the building opposite, another RPG headed straight for them.

"Damn it! Watch out!"
"Get down! Get down fast!"

Battler was even faster this time.

Boom!

The rocket struck the billboard overhead. The violent explosion caught both mercenary groups off guard, but once the initial panic subsided, everyone quickly regained their composure. They were seasoned veterans, and a situation like this was not enough to break them.

The rockets were being fired from the second floor of the building in front. Fortunately, they were currently positioned at the base of the walls on either side of the street, shielded by billboards and awnings. Combined with the darkness of the night, their movements were hidden from the enemy’s line of sight.

"Move!"
"Battler, take your men and storm the building from the right!"
"Angel, lead your team in an assault from below!"
"Old Russian, you’re with me!"

Li Changjiang spoke rapidly, his hands moving just as fast. No sooner had he finished speaking than he shouldered his sniper rifle and charged toward the staircase directly in front, with the Old Russian following close behind.

Li Changjiang’s plan was well-considered. Battler had the most men, and since the enemy’s firepower was strongest on the right, it was best to have them lead the assault there. Angel and his team were more than capable of handling the left. As snipers, he and the Old Russian could provide cover fire for Battler’s mercenary group from the left flank.

The two had just taken their positions on the second floor when the sound of gunfire became as dense as falling rain. Battler had already engaged the enemy with his men.

"Damn it! I can't see the enemy’s position; it’s blocked here!"

Li Changjiang quickly realized a terrifying fact: there was a massive billboard in front of the second-floor windows that perfectly obstructed his view. It was infuriating.

"Fuck!"
"Li, go higher!"

The Old Russian pointed upward, and the two dashed up once more.

Bang! Bang!

The door to the rooftop was locked. The Old Russian kicked it twice, the heavy impact warping the entire door frame.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Fuck! Fuck!"
"Damn it, Li, cover me!"

A single exchange of glances was all they needed. The Old Russian charged out, and Li Changjiang followed instantly, rifle braced.

Bang!

One shot took down a figure on the left. Behind him, the Old Russian cleared his sector as well.

That was too close!

The moment the Old Russian kicked the door open, a hail of bullets had swept across the threshold. If not for the steel door providing a barrier that deflected the rounds, they surely would have been hit. A lingering sense of dread washed over them.

They quickly took their positions, pressing themselves flat against the rooftop ledge. Li Changjiang activated his night vision, pressed his eye to the scope without a second thought, and chambered a fresh magazine with a sharp click.

Within his field of vision, faint but distinct muzzle flashes appeared through the scope.

Bang!

He pulled the trigger instantly. A spray of blood erupted from the chest of a rebel across the way.

Bang-bang!

No sooner had his shot landed than the Old Russian’s rifle barked. Both were using SVD sniper rifles, and at a range of less than 100 meters, precision was effortless.

Pfft!

The high-velocity, spiraling bullet tore into the wall, but missed its target.

"Damn it! My bullets can't penetrate that door."

On the second floor to the right, through their night vision, they could clearly see the rebels firing from within the room. Although Battler had numerical superiority, there was only one entrance to the hallway, making it difficult to leverage their numbers. Instead, they were temporarily suppressed by the rebels' fierce firepower.

"Reloading!"

He quickly ejected the magazine of standard pointed rounds, pulled two custom armor-piercing magazines from his belt, and slammed them home.

"Damn it! My hand is shaking!"

He cursed under his breath. Li Changjiang couldn't control his left hand, which was trembling violently. It wasn't out of fear, but a natural physiological reaction to the sudden physical exertion and extreme mental stress after his nerves had been stretched to the breaking point. The veins in his arm were bulging, and his entire limb was vibrating.

Bang!

In his desperation, he pulled the trigger, but the shot went wild.

Pfft!

The bullet disappeared into the night sky—he had missed! What a disaster!

"Damn it, Nicholas, you take over!"

He quickly moved aside, yielding the prime sniper position to the Old Russian, and leaned against the wall, gasping for air as he tried to calm his shaking body.

Bang!
Bang-bang!

Beside him, the sound of the Old Russian pulling the trigger was crisp and clear.

"Damn it, get down!"

The Old Russian suddenly lunged at Li Changjiang with a manic intensity, pressing him into the floor before he could even react.

Boom!

A massive force flipped them both off the edge of the rooftop. Shattering stone rained down on them, the pain stabbing and sharp. Had the roaring in his ears not been drowning out everything else, Li Changjiang might have blacked out.

That damn rocket had come from a blind spot below, striking the side of the rooftop where they had been hiding—fortunately, it only clipped the side.

They had been too careless! They had underestimated the rebels below. After firing nearly ten shots from the same spot, even a fool could have located their position.

"Hey! Hey! Li..."

Rubbing his temples, Li Changjiang could vaguely hear the Old Russian’s voice. He forced his eyes open, spitting out a mouthful of dust from his throat as his consciousness slowly returned.

"You're not dead! Hahahaha! God damn it, you're not dead! Thank heaven you're alive!"
"That was terrifying! Fuck, fuck! Damn Libyans! Li, we cheated death. God, we're not dead, we're still alive."

The Old Russian was rambling incoherently, but after staring death in the face, no one would have thought him crazy. The rocket had exploded less than two meters from where they had been standing; at that distance, the lethality of the shrapnel was nearly absolute. If the rooftop edge hadn't shielded them, the consequences were unthinkable.

"Nicholas, we have to move. This place isn't safe."

The Old Russian nodded without hesitation. The spot was far too dangerous; heaven only knew if the Libyans would fire another RPG. If their luck ran out, they wouldn't survive a second time.

The two quickly vaulted over the rooftop railing and sprinted toward the next building. The moment they ceased their suppressive fire, the men of Battler’s mercenary group felt the pressure intensify instantly. Without the fire support from the rooftop, the rebels’ offensive became unbridled.