Chapter 374

"Captain! Movement detected at the eastern outpost!" The sentry's hushed report came through clenched teeth, his finger taut against the trigger.

Andrew Smith narrowed his eyes, scanning the ink-black forest. The moon hid behind thick clouds, draping the mountains in an eerie silence. He pressed the walkie-talkie to his ear. "All positions, standby. The rats are out."

A damp, earthy wind swept through the trees. His team, dispersed yet synchronized, shifted into combat readiness without a word. The metallic clicks of rifle bolts echoed sharply in the night.

"After we exposed their spy last time, they're trying a night raid?" Andrew's lips curled into a cold smirk as his finger traced the tactical map. "Reroute the supply convoy. Medics, evacuate the wounded to the caves."

Within three minutes, every combatant stood ready. The chorus of bullets chambering filled the air.

"They won't repeat their mistake with the eastern cliffs," Andrew handed the night-vision scope to his lieutenant. "Focus on the high ground. Hank Miller's team must hold their position."

A sudden crack of snapping branches from the northwest froze everyone mid-breath.

"They're here." Andrew raised three fingers, then slowly folded them down one by one.

As the last finger curled, gunfire erupted across the mountainside. But the real surprise came from behind enemy lines—a second barrage of shots tore through their ranks.

"The supply team's here!" Hank's voice crackled over the radio. "Pincer attack! Don't let a single one escape!"

Over sixty enemy soldiers crumbled under the crossfire. Screams pierced the darkness as the survivors fled into the predawn gloom.

At first light, Hank charged up the slope with ammunition crates. "Perfect timing!"

But Andrew's gaze locked onto the blood-red horizon. "The storm's coming."

The first artillery shell screamed down before he finished speaking. The mountain trembled under the deafening blast.

"Barrage cover! They're pushing hard!" Hank dove for the machine gun nest.

Luna White and Lily Collins dragged the last two wounded into the caves just as explosions painted the dawn in fiery hues.

"Grenade!" Someone lunged at a tumbling package.

The detonation flung two soldiers through the air. Hank, eyes burning, filled the gap in the line. "Hold! We hold this ground!"

The second artillery wave hit harder. Shrapnel and stone rained down as shadowy figures advanced through the smoke.

Andrew spat out dirt and pulled the pin on his last grenade. "Fix bayonets!"

By full sunrise, the peak swam in acrid smoke. Inside the caves, the wounded clutched bandages, listening to the fading gunfire.