Chapter 428

The acrid stench of urine hung thick in the air.

Andrew Smith and Hank Miller pressed themselves against the ground, barely daring to breathe. The enemy commander stood less than half a meter above them, the sound of his relieving himself unmistakably clear.

Don't move. Andrew signaled with his eyes.

Hank's muscles were taut, his finger resting on the trigger. One downward glance from the enemy, and their ambush would turn into a full-frontal assault.

The footsteps gradually faded.

They waited another three full minutes before slowly rising from the mud. Andrew wiped the grime from his face and squinted toward the distant enemy forces.

"Now's our chance," Hank murmured.

Over thirty enemy soldiers stood in a loose circle, their backs turned as they gestured and argued. None noticed the threat creeping up behind them.

Andrew raised his rifle, the scope clearly framing the back of an enemy's head.

"Three... two... one—"

Gunfire erupted.

The first volley took down seven or eight men. Before the enemy could react, Hank had already repositioned and opened fire again.

"Reloading!"

Their coordination was seamless. Bullet casings clattered to the ground as gunshots echoed across the hillside.

Thirty seconds later, not a single enemy remained standing on the mountain path.

"Finish them," Andrew said coldly.

They moved methodically, ensuring each enemy received a bullet to the head. Hank kicked aside a corpse, revealing a soldier feigning death beneath.

"Think you can fool me?" Hank put a bullet through his skull.

Andrew checked his watch. "Two minutes, seventeen seconds."

Faster than expected. The counter-ambush had been executed flawlessly—no survivors, no messengers.

"Move out!"

They retreated swiftly to the cave where their squad waited, gear ready, eyes alight with adrenaline.

"Clean work!" Jack Peterson gave a thumbs-up.

Andrew had no time for celebration. "They'll notice the missing patrol soon. We have to move now—"

A sharp whistle pierced the air before he could finish.

Every face froze.

"We're made," Hank spat. "Prepare to break through!"

Andrew tightened his grip on his rifle, gaze sharp as a blade. "Stick to the plan—two teams. Remember: stay alive."

Outside the cave, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. This time, the enemy was coming prepared.

The real battle had only just begun.