In the crevice, the Hunter expressionlessly pulled the bolt, ejected the scorching shell, gently caught it, and put it in his pocket.
After doing all this, he slid back into the hiding spot like a snake.
He was not greedy.
Greed could kill.
Just like the most patient of hunters, he only occasionally pulled the trigger, maintaining the chaos of the battlefield, ensuring that this blood feast wouldn't end too soon.
An hour passed amidst the deafening sounds of gunfire and the symphony of death.
On the eastern horizon, a faint, almost imperceptible grayish-white tinge began to show.
The darkest hour of the dawn was about to pass.
Song Heping glanced at his watch and then listened carefully to the sounds outside.
The attack frequency of the A-10 seed to be decreasing, but the gunfire on the ground was still fierce, albeit more sparse and strained. Both sides had clearly paid a great price and were exhausted.
He turned to Major Petrovsky, speaking in a low and clear voice: "Major, the ti is almost right. They've been fighting for over an hour. No matter who it is, they're now spent, and their attention is completely focused on each other."
Petrovsky asked quickly: "What's your opinion?"
"Break through. Now is the best ti."
Song Heping pointed to the east.
"We are situated on the flank and rear of the direction of the 1515 Ard's attack. Omar, in order to consu the Aricans, has pressed the main force to the west and north. The east is his flank and rear, which must be lightly defended, and their attention is on the battle ahead. Breaking out now is probably our best chance."
He paused, continuing to analyze: "Having fought for so long, the US Army and local ard forces in the Kurdish Control Zone must be in madness. They'll undoubtedly do their utmost to rescue the 'Razor' squad or deploy troops in large numbers along the defense line within their control zone, guarding vigilantly to prevent the 1515 Ard from expanding their gains. anwhile, the entire Northeast Syria's 1515 Ard, attention must have been drawn to the Mannier Valley, this huge at grinder."
Finally, he threw out the key judgnt: "I judge, Latamira's defense is at an unprecedented mont of emptiness. If we attack Latamira before the Kurd people, Aricans, and 1515 understand what really happened, the probability of success is much higher than your previous estimate."
Petrovsky listened quietly, his eyes reflecting infinite agreent.
The invitation plan for Mannier Valley tonight is truly a two-for-one!
"I agree with your opinion."
Petrovsky slowly stood up, stretching his body that had grown stiff from holding the sa posture for a long ti.
"Brothers, check your gear imdiately, take all personal items, and leave no traces. In five minutes, follow the second evacuation plan, heading east, target the predetermined gathering point on the outskirts of Kubai Town. Maintain absolute silence, no engagent unless absolutely necessary."
SSO squad mbers began their final check of weapons, ammunition, night vision batteries, and water sources.
They moved quickly and orderly, without the slightest panic.
Five minutes later, this special squad of just over ten n, who had stirred the entire battlefield situation, silently slid from a more concealed exit behind the crevice, disappearing into the denser darkness and complex terrain on the basin's east side.
The clamor and firelight of Mannier Valley quickly vanished behind the mountains, as Song Heping, Major Petrovsky, and the entire SSO squad plunged into the darkness east of the basin.
The route east was equally tough. No longer was it a hilly area filled with jagged rocks, dried riverbeds, and low shrubs.
The terrain rose and fell dramatically, providing excellent cover for stealth but also greatly consuming physical strength.
"Maintain formation, ten-ter intervals, 'Iron Hamr' fifty ters forward reconnaissance, 'Shadow' as rear guard, responsible for clearing tracks."
Petrovsky skillfully began arranging the marching formation.
Song Heping was in the middle front of the team, walking alongside Petrovsky.
He heightened his senses to the extre, ears filtering the wind and faintly audible gunfire from afar, striving to catch any close anomalies.
His eyes scanned every corner within view; any subtle unnatural reflection or movent could an danger.
They chose a route not directly east but based on previous reconnaissance and map reading, proceeded along a relatively concealed valley edge.
This allowed them to use the riverside drop to obscure their shapes while avoiding exposure on the ridge line.
After advancing about a kiloter, Volkov's voice ca through the channel: "Boss, two o'clock direction ahead, slope edge, two ard sentries, suspected 1515 outer periter guard. Unable to bypass, suggest clearing."
The team instantaneously halted; everyone took advantage of the terrain to crouch or lie down, guns naturally aid towards the threat direction.
Petrovsky and Song Heping exchanged a glance.
Song Heping nodded slightly, allowing him to command the battle.
"Confirm target number, position, surrounding environnt," Petrovsky said quietly.
"Only two, about five ters apart, using a large rock to set up a simple observation point, facing the valley direction, back towards our approach route. Relaxed state, talking quietly," Volkov quickly reported.
"Volkov, Sergei, you two approach from the left. Dmitry, you handle one of them, all to be settled silently, without causing too much commotion."
Petrovsky issued the clearing order.
The two nad SSO team mbers imdiately broke away from the team, using the riverbank and shrubs for cover, silently heading towards the left side.
As Deputy Captain and sniper, Detmi Li imdiately went to find a large rock, where he found the best shooting view and set up his VSS silenced sniper rifle.
Only a faint electric sound remained in the communication channel.
A few seconds later, Hunter's voice sounded again: "'Iron Hamr' in position..."
"'Frost' in position..."
"Three, two, one... engage!"
Thud—
The silenced sniper rifle in Dmitry's hands was the first to sound.
An ard militant was chatting and laughing with his companion opposite, waving his hands a few tis. Before his hands could drop down, his head suddenly exploded.
Bang—
Blood splattered all over his companion's eyes, who was instantly bewildered, completely unaware of what had happened.
"Iron Hamr" and "Frost", who were already within twenty ters of the two, stood up almost simultaneously, one with a suppressed pistol, the other with an assault rifle.
The duo's purpose was to shoot simultaneously from different angles; even if one missed, it wouldn't be possible for both to miss.
Thud thud—
Thud thud thud—
After burst fire and rapid single-shot firing, the bewildered unfortunate man shuddered all over and then slumped to the ground with almost no struggle.
The whole process was breathtakingly fast.
"Target eliminated. Safe."
"Iron Hamr" Volkov confird.
"Nice work, everyone proceed!"
The team restarted, quickly passing through the area.
As Song Heping passed those two rocks, he glanced at the two bodies lying on the ground, both shot in the head, the execution clean and efficient, not even triggering any alarm.
The professionalism of the SSO Squad was evident.
This small episode reminded everyone that they still hadn't completely left the danger zone.
Omar wasn't a fool; he had stationed sentries on the side rear of the main attack direction, but the quality and attention of these sentries clearly couldn't compare to top-notch Special Forces.
On the ensuing journey, they encountered two more similar sporadic sentries, all cleared in the sa swift, silent manner.
SSO mbers, indeed elite of the Russian Army Special Forces, formidable n chosen from among ten thousand, those pitiable 1515 sentries were nothing but scarecrows in their eyes.
As they continued advancing east, the gunfire behind them noticeably lessened, eventually becoming barely audible.
The sliver of gray-white in the sky gradually expanded, dispersing the heavy darkness, the pre-dawn chill numbingly biting on the face.
At five twenty in the morning, they finally erged from the most complex hilly terrain of the Gunei Mountain Area, arriving at the edges of a relatively flat Gobi region.
Major Petrovsky signaled the team to pause and rest behind a wind-protected rock.
He took out a flask, drank a small sip, and then looked at Song Heping: "We've made it out. But it's at least fifty kiloters to Kubai Town. Relying on walking, we'll dry out beneath the noonday sun, and it's too slow, we'll miss the opportunity."
Song Heping wiped the sweat off his forehead, his gaze sweeping over the desolate Gobi before looking toward the southeast, which was roughly the direction of Kubai Town.
He pondered for a few seconds and spoke: "Major, we can't rely on these two legs. The ti window is short; once the battle in Mannier Valley ends, regardless of who wins, their focus will readjust. They will eventually realize they've been fooled, and our risk of exposure will increase sharply."
"Your suggestion?"
Major Petrovsky already had an answer in mind but wanted to hear the specific thoughts of his Chinese counterpart.
"Find vehicles."
Song Heping spoke confidently, "Omar was able to deploy so many people to besiege the 'razor' squad, and reinforcent couldn't have arrived entirely by foot from afar. There must be temporary vehicle gathering points or forward bases set up by the 1515 Ard nearby. To quickly deploy forces, they usually use pickups suitable for Gobi terrain. The internal terrain of Mannier Valley is complex, and vehicles find it difficult to penetrate deeply, so most likely these vehicles are parked on the outskirts of the battlefield, guarded by a few personnel."
His analysis was thodical, consistent with common battlefield logic.
Appreciation flashed in Petrovsky's eyes: "Agreed. 'Hawkeye,' deploy the drone for reconnaissance, focus on locating tire tracks, campfire traces, or personnel gathering points. Range, within five kiloters southeast direction."
"Understood."
"Hawkeye" Aleksey promptly took off his backpack, quickly retrieving a PVC box, opening it, and took out a small drone for rapid assembly.
After spending two minutes to complete the adjustnts, Aleksey tossed the drone into the air, steering it towards the distance under the cool morning light.
After resting for about fifteen minutes, replenishing water and energy, the team continued to slowly advance toward the direction of reconnaissance by Hunter.
Another twenty minutes passed before "Hawkeye" began the first reconnaissance report: "Target spotted. At eleven o'clock direction, approximately 1.5 kiloters there is a bend in flat ground. Found seven pickup trucks, parked scattered. Nine ard personnel in visual range, dispersed and guarding, in a relaxed state, so making fires for warmth. No heavy weapons observed."
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