Chapter 405: Precision Kill
At the Shelter, everyone had been on high alert since morning, awaiting the enemy's arrival without a moment’s rest. They ate energy bars to stave off hunger and conserved Yang Siyah’s ability-enhanced food as a critical resource for the battle itself.
Finally, around 1:00 PM, Zhang Yi’s tactical monocle captured subtle movement across the snowfield.
“Attention, everyone! The enemy has appeared,” Zhang Yi announced over the comms.
The team’s eyes sharpened with vigilance as they quickly readied themselves for combat. Liang Yue, in particular, struggled to contain her fierce battle spirit.
But Zhang Yi’s next words tempered their excitement: “They’re still 5 kilometers away.”
A collective groan followed, though no one dared relax. Instead, they waited for the enemy to approach.
For now, the battle belonged solely to Zhang Yi.
The forces of Chaoyu Base were the first to arrive. Unlike the other factions, they faced fewer concerns about risking their resources. Their primary assets—ports and ships—were too specialized for anyone else to use effectively.
The fleet consisted of over a dozen modified vehicles, each packed with armed soldiers. Dressed in white combat suits adorned with wave insignias, the soldiers and vehicles blended seamlessly into the snowy landscape.
Upon nearing Cloud Manor, they spotted the imposing 20-meter-high Ice Fortress.
Wei Dinghai, the Chaoyu leader, assessed the scene. “The others haven’t arrived yet. Stop here for now. Let’s secure advantageous terrain so our artillery can target the Shelter’s front.”
His deputy, Chen Jingguan, peered through binoculars and scoffed.
“An ice fortress? Clever, but ultimately pointless! This structure will never withstand our artillery. If anything, it gives us an environmental advantage. They’ll never see it coming.”
Wei Dinghai remained composed. “Remember this: despite their small numbers, building such a massive fortification suggests they have a powerful superhuman among them.”
Chen Jingguan chuckled dismissively. “No superhuman can withstand the combined assault of the Western factions.”
Wei Dinghai smirked, casually flexing his wrist. “This isn’t a battle—it’s an execution. Still, I’m curious about the people inside. If they survive, I might consider recruiting them.”
“That would be their greatest honor,” Chen Jingguan said sycophantically.
The convoy slowed as they neared Cloud Manor, halting a few kilometers from the fortress. Their plan was to unleash a barrage of artillery fire from a safe distance and demolish the icy defenses.
But before they could set up, chaos erupted.
The windshield of the lead vehicle shattered, followed by a deafening crack! Blood sprayed as the driver’s head exploded like a watermelon.
“Enemy attack!” shouted the soldier in the passenger seat. He ducked instinctively and broadcast the alert over his comms.
But just seconds later, a bullet pierced the engine block, then ripped through his chest, leaving a massive, gaping hole.
The convoy froze in confusion, the soldiers scrambling for cover amidst the sudden chaos.
Inside one of the middle vehicles, Wei Dinghai and Chen Jingguan were startled by the unexpected attack.
“Where is this coming from?” Wei Dinghai demanded. “This is an open snowfield—where could the enemy possibly be hiding?”
The intelligence suggested fewer than ten people were defending the Shelter, yet now they were being ambushed .
Unable to process the situation, Wei Dinghai barked out a command: “Everyone, stay alert! Find the enemy and take them out!”
The Chaoyu soldiers—many of whom were mercenaries, bodyguards, or hired thugs—immediately chambered their rounds. Using their vehicles as cover, they cautiously scanned the snowy expanse for the unseen sniper.
Another soldier dropped, his head obliterated in a bloody explosion. Zhang Yi’s anti-materiel sniper rifle turned each kill into a grotesque spectacle, sending waves of fear through the ranks.
The soldiers who were preparing the artillery were now panicked, making them easy targets.
Three more soldiers fell, their upper bodies reduced to crimson mist by the sheer force of Zhang Yi’s rifle.
The rifle’s massive caliber left no room for survival. Chaoyu’s soldiers, many of whom were inexperienced, froze in terror at the sight of their comrades’ grisly deaths.
The few who tried to hide behind vehicles fared no better. Zhang Yi’s bullets pierced through the cars and struck those behind them, adding to the carnage.
As long as those soldiers exposed any part of their bodies, Zhang Yi would pull the trigger without hesitation.
If it was a head, he’d aim for the head. If it was a foot, he’d aim for the foot.
At these subzero temperatures, even a glancing blow would mean death.
The gunfire never stopped, each deafening shot echoing across the frozen expanse. One soldier after another fell, their deaths gruesome and horrifying. Blood sprayed across the pristine snow, staining the field in grotesque splashes of crimson.
Some tried to hide behind vehicles, but Zhang Yi’s anti-materiel rifle showed no mercy. Both the cars and the soldiers using them as cover were pierced through in a single, devastating shot.
Not once did the Chaoyu forces locate their assailant. Every attempt to pinpoint Zhang Yi’s position ended in failure—and death.
The relentless assault shattered their morale, leaving them panicked and confused.
Faced with such a humiliating massacre, Wei Dinghai finally lost his composure.
“Using my men as targets for practice?! How arrogant can he be!” he bellowed, his voice trembling with rage.