Chapter 519: The Hunting Hour

Chapter 519: The Hunting Hour (Update 2)

In the dense forest less than 200 meters from the Mountain Stronghold.

The rustle of footsteps echoed through the woods.

They were many and light-footed, making it impossible to gauge their numbers by sound alone.

Silver moonlight pierced through the trees, illuminating ghost-like figures.

Gradually, these phantoms revealed their true forms.

Twenty in all, each wielding a standard-issue M16 assault rifle.

You could also spot the bulletproof vests they wore.

Not only did they carry magazines, but they also had hand grenades.

Their movements were marked by precise coordination.

Even in the pitch-black forest, unexpected ambushes were virtually unheard of.

Yet, they instinctively assumed a combat formation.

This formation allowed them to quickly adapt to any battlefield.

It also provided them with both defensive and counterattack capabilities.

Two reconnaissance scouts quickened their pace and led the way.

They maintained roughly a fifty-meter gap from the remaining eighteen.

This lure-style recon was a tactic mercenaries excel at.

The scouts were on alert to report any irregularities immediately.

At the same time, they acted as bait to draw out the enemy.

If something went wrong, backup could react swiftly.

They could either retreat quickly or encircle and eliminate the threat—it was all up to them…

Suddenly.

Eighteen mercenaries came to a halt.

Moments later, the two scouts returned.

Over the headsets, a deep voice transmitted: “I’ll repeat this. Although our target is the entire Mountain Stronghold, our real objective isn’t the civilians—it’s the soldiers and special forces of the Dragon Kingdom. We’re not attacking any civilian or additional military assets. In line with our contractor’s demands, if we manage to bring back the designated targets alive, our commission doubles. Thirty million dollars doubled—surely that’s enticing? But if we fail, not a cent will be paid. And be warned, this land is the Mercenary Forbidden Zone!”

After hearing the captain’s words, all the mercenaries silently nodded, their eyes burning with ambition.

Each of them stood to earn at least a million dollars on this mission.

That was enough money to retire and enjoy a peaceful life.

Even though mercenaries can sometimes earn huge sums, it’s always at the cost of their lives.

That’s why few stick with this career for long.

Firstly, the death rate is staggeringly high.

Secondly, most leave once they’ve earned their keep.

Usually, two or three years is all they last.

If they managed to complete this mission—or even score bonus objectives…

Two million dollars?

A frenzied, greedy smile spread across every mercenary’s face.

Yet they neglected the captain’s earlier warning.

The Mercenary Forbidden Zone… what a thought-provoking name.

They never even paused to consider it.

Why would a country bestow such a name upon itself?

“Move out.”

A command crackled through the headset: “First, secure the Mountain Stronghold. Show no mercy to any resistance—kill on sight!”

“Yes!”

Their responses were crisp and low, laced with a brutal urgency.

To them, civilian lives were as insignificant as insects.

They had long sacrificed civilians and destroyed non-combat infrastructure to achieve their goals.

Such acts were all too common for them.

Human life, in their eyes, was utterly expendable!

All the mercenaries immediately entered a state of high alert.

In another seventy to eighty meters, they would emerge from the forest.

The two scouts dashed ahead, aiming to exit the woods first.

At the same time, they put distance between themselves and the pursuing group.

But just as they reached the forest’s edge…

Thump!

A crossbow bolt struck a mercenary’s neck.

The arrow sliced through his neck and larynx, lodging in his airway.

His body stiffened as he reached out, almost to check his neck…

only to be swallowed by an encasing mass of steel, as if imprisoned.

A short-handled bayonet, glinting ominously, flashed before his eyes.

Thump!

The bayonet plunged under his rib, puncturing organs and piercing his heart.

His eyes widened in shock as they bulged unnaturally.

In that instant, he saw a devilish figure looming beside his fallen comrade.

The fiend’s hands had just withdrawn from where his comrade’s head had spun 180 degrees.

He also caught sight of another demon slowly drawing a bayonet from his companion’s lower back.

In a silent two seconds, devoid of sound or even a heartbeat…

The lives of the two scouts were quietly extinguished.

They gently set down the corpses as three members of Group Nine exchanged grim looks, baring their teeth.

Their white fangs gleamed with a chilling, bloodthirsty glint in the darkness.

One team member raised his arm to signal.

Nine figures moved silently, infiltrating the dense forest…

…

Time slowly slipped away.

The eighteen mercenaries pressed on swiftly.

Just as they neared the forest’s edge…

Suddenly, the captain shouted, “Hold on. Something’s not right…”

What do you mean?

What exactly is wrong?

At that moment, not just the captain’s face turned grim but several veteran mercenaries also looked horrified.

What had they detected?

They hadn’t seen anything, yet…

their instincts screamed out.

A strong metallic scent filled the air—a scent of blood!

After years of battle and frequent killings, they were all too familiar with the odor of blood.

The fresh forest air couldn’t mask the stench of it.

So… it was over!

“It’s a trap!” roared the captain.

At the moment his words rang out…

Two thunderous explosions erupted.

“Rat-a-tat-tat…”

Two streams of chained bullets, like blazing swords wielded by a war god, slashed wildly through the forest toward the mercenaries.

The QJY88 Infantry Heavy Machine Gun.

It carries 200-round ammunition boxes, fires 5.8mm rounds at a rate of 300 per minute, and has an effective range of 1000 meters…

When it roared, the air itself seemed to ignite, turning a burnt red as the bullets rained down like a violent storm.

Mercenary bodies erupted in splatters of dark, ominous blood.

Seven or eight mercenaries were reduced to nothing more than a sieve of flesh.

It was as though a horrific hail of bullets had turned them into a meat grinder.

Their bodies were torn apart, shredded into pieces.

They became nothing but scattered chunks of meat…

A grisly mound of flesh lay splattered across the ground.