Chapter 928: The Sniper atop the Limestone Pillars

Zhang Jingwu’s deep voice came through the channel. “The giant eagle has appeared high in the southern sky, moving towards the Limestone Pillars. The Eagle Suppression Squad needs to lock onto the target as quickly as possible.”

“Damn, that was fast. No wonder it’s worth sixty thousand credits,” Bald Zhou muttered, then called out, “Captain Zhang, do we launch the missiles?”

Zhang Jingwu answered quietly, “The magnetic field around the Limestone Pillars is unstable. The vehicle radar can’t accurately lock on. Also, according to the data from Gui Five, we’ve only got a sixty percent chance of hitting the eagle with a missile. Eagle Suppression Squad, only take the shot when you’re sure—you get just one chance today.”

Human firearms pack a punch, but the evolved beasts in the Evolved Forest, especially the brain-evolved ones, figured that out ages ago. The moment they catch the scent of gunpowder, they’re on high alert, and they’ve learned to use the terrain and anything else they can find to dodge our attacks.

Mo Shaozhi, a Level 5 Advanced Visual Sniper, knew her own limits. “Captain Zhang, how much longer until Luo Pei arrives?”

With her skills, hitting a fast-moving eagle like this was pure luck. She didn’t trust her aim at all.

Zhang Jingwu replied clearly, “Luo Pei can’t make it back in time.”

As soon as he heard that, Bald Zhou, a Level 6 Advanced Visual Sniper, couldn’t hold back. “Night Heron is up on the highest pillar. That means out of the six of us, she’s got the best shot. Qinglong’s Night Heron, how confident are you?”

“Your Azure Dragon Squad hogs all the resources at the base. You’ve got the number one slot, the best supplies and credits. They send their top snipers out to earn bonus points, but for this, they send you—someone who can’t even break into the combat rankings…”

A cold voice cut in. “Zhou Chuan’an, enough. Don’t distract Night Heron.”

It was a voice Xia Qing hadn’t heard before, probably a senior sniper from the military. The channel fell into tense silence.

A few minutes later, Zhang Jingwu spoke up again. “Sixth wave of raptors spotted thirty miles to the southwest. First defense line, get ready to snipe. The giant eagle will likely try to close in on the Limestone Pillars again. Eagle Suppression Squad, be ready to snipe as well.”

High atop the tallest limestone pillar, beneath a massive bird’s nest, Xia Qing sat with her eyes closed, conserving energy.

Ordinary people and non-visual evolutionaries with potential can be trained as mid-level snipers. Visual evolutionaries have a shot at becoming advanced snipers. But to be a top sniper, you have to be an advanced visual evolutionist—no exceptions.

That’s because, to hit a fast-moving target at a distance, a sniper needs incredible farsightedness and the ability to focus both eyes quickly on a moving target. Only then can you accurately lock onto something flying by.

This skill is unique to advanced visual evolutionaries.

Xia Qing was a 9.5-level visual evolutionist. Her skills were already approaching the absolute pinnacle for humans. That was why Luo Pei had personally called her up for this mission.

Sniping a monster like this meant she only got one shot.

She wasn’t going to kill two birds with one bullet, but as long as she took down one, those two would have no chance of breeding in Hui Three’s Evolved Forest—unless the one that escaped was a female already carrying eggs.

“Bang!”

“Bang bang bang!”

When the sixth flock of birds collided with the South First Defense Line, gunfire erupted. At the same time, the golden eagle clinging to the mutated devastation tree beside her let out a low, fearful cry. Xia Qing, a Level 9 visual evolutionary, opened her eyes, following the golden eagle’s gaze, and soon spotted two dark shapes darting through the clouds.

By her estimation, they were three thousand meters away—much closer than last time.

Xia Qing’s mind raced as she analyzed the speed and flight pattern of the two giant eagles, focusing intently and waiting for her shot.

Half an hour later, during the seventh wave, the giant eagle flashed past at an altitude of 2,500 meters above the first pillar.

Fifty minutes later, during the eighth wave, the giant eagle swept by at 2,200 meters.

Over an hour had gone by. The firefight at the defense line was raging, but Night Heron still hadn’t made a move. Bald Zhou finally lost patience. “Night Heron, you still not taking the shot? I can practically count the feathers on the eagle’s wings. What are you waiting for…”

“Screee… screech—”

The golden eagle beside her, trembling, suddenly let out a sharp cry. Xia Qing wasted no time and pulled the trigger. Five bullets tore through the air, cutting off every possible escape route for the giant eagle.

“Bang bang bang bang bang!”

“Screeeech—”

With a piercing, agonized scream, the giant eagle Xia Qing had hit flapped wildly, faltered and plummeted helplessly from the sky. The second giant eagle shot away in a flash, leaving a trail of shrill screeches behind.

“Hit! Damn! Damn, you got it! Night Heron!” Bald Zhou stammered, overwhelmed. The others were just as stunned and excited, even if they didn’t say a word.

Mo Shaozhi couldn’t hold back. “Night Heron, what’s your vision level? You’re a top-level sniper, right?”

The second eagle abandoned its dead companion and fled. There wouldn’t be another chance to shoot it today. Xia Qing glanced at the golden eagle five meters away, still on edge by the tree trunk, and answered calmly, “Level eight vision, advanced sniper, pure luck.”

Zhang Ling was an eight-level visual evolutionist. Her current training goal was to reach an effective range of 1,820 meters. That was only twenty meters above the advanced sniper minimum requirement—still a long way off from being a top sniper.

Today, Xia Qing was using Zhang Ling’s identity. Hitting an eagle at a distance far beyond the typical effective range really did seem like luck.

Whether the others believed her or not, Bald Zhou did. If Night Heron was truly that confident, she would’ve fired a single shot, not five.

Still, the fact that she had the nerve to pull the trigger in a crisis—and actually hit—wasn’t just luck. Her eyesight, judgment, reflexes and composure were all top-notch. Even if she wasn’t the best yet, she already had more potential than anyone else present to become a top sniper.

After all, she’s a member of the Azure Dragon Squad, with Luo Pei personally teaching her.

Once he realized that, Bald Zhou’s tone turned respectful. “Night Heron, I got impatient and complained earlier. Sorry about that. I hope we get to work together again.”

Mo Shaozhi chimed in too. “Night Heron, I’m Mo Shaozhi from Strangers Squad. Looking forward to working with you.”

“Night Heron, thank you,” the military sniper voiced his thanks to Xia Qing.

Amidst the fierce gunfire from the fourth defense, Zhang Jingwu announced, “Azure Dragon’s Night Heron has successfully taken down a giant eagle. The other one has escaped. Eagle Suppression Squad’s task is complete. You can join the South Defense Line or head back directly.”

Bald Zhou immediately turned to Xia Qing with his proposal. “Night Heron, want to join us at the first defense line? With you there, we’ll definitely bag more raptors!”

It wasn’t about killing more birds. What really mattered was using this chance to build ties with the mysterious sniper from Azure Dragon Squad.

Xia Qing pressed her walkie-talkie and turned him down flat. “I’m heading back to Section One of the North to continue my mission.”

A senior sniper who’d stayed quiet all this time reminded her, “Night Heron, that other giant eagle might still be watching you. If you go back now, you could lead it straight to Section One of the North.”

There was definitely a risk. Xia Qing replied over the walkie-talkie, “Understood. Thanks for the reminder.”

Leaving the golden eagle in the tree behind, Xia Qing looked down in search of the giant eagle she’d just shot—only to spot a familiar figure below.