Chapter Fourteen: The Final Battle of Zha'er

  Article One

  In the afternoon, a light rain drifted in, and thick 'yin' clouds heavily pressed down on the entire tropical rainforest, making the humid and hot environment almost suffocating.

  After they left, I slept soundly for the entire morning until the guy who brought lunch opened the cell door and I woke up from my deep sleep. It's been years since I've had such a good sleep, it seems that after killing someone in battle, my dreams were always filled with blood and corpses. But today, in this place where crisis lurks around every corner and your head could be blown off at any moment, I slept like a baby. I opened my sleepy eyes to stare blankly at the white ceiling, my mind a complete blank, like a foolish idiot, lying motionless on the bed. The guy who brought lunch must have heard about the little soldier's miserable death under my gun this morning, he timidly only opened the cell door a crack just big enough for the food tray to fit through, then pushed the tray inside from outside and quickly locked the door again.

  Lunch should be a simple arrangement, crystal clear rice with stewed rabbit meat, this is the favorite food of our new recruits when we were training in Daxinganling. I quickly shoveled the rice into my stomach, then wandered aimlessly around the cell, at that moment, I had an illusion, as if I was not trapped in enemy camp, but like a few years ago, being punished for fighting with the 23rd squad and sitting in solitary confinement. Thinking about it now, it's really ridiculous, a group of "hairy" guys wearing military uniforms fought each other because of trivial matters, small conflicts escalated into big ones, one-on-one fights turned into group brawls. I remember that at that time, Nanbei used a thermos to crack open an old comrade's skull, the old comrade didn't back down either, with blood all over his head and face, he fought with us together, in desperation, I even picked up a bicycle as a weapon, shouting and screaming, dancing wildly among the crowd. Years later, the little brothers who fought together went to the battlefield together, became sworn brothers, shed blood together, missed home together, got drunk together.

  Aaaa... Aaaa... Just as I was indulging in the beautiful memories, a heart-wrenching air raid siren suddenly went off above the enemy's military base.

  Air raid sirens had just sounded when a dozen or so JH-7 fighter-bombers flew over the enemy camp, screaming loudly. Next, shells rained down like dumplings, exploding all around, shrapnel mixed with mud and grass flying everywhere along with the enemy's blood and guts. One after another, barracks were destroyed, one vehicle after another was blown to pieces.

  The enemy camp was suddenly thrown into chaos, with soldiers running around and firing their guns at the bombers flying overhead. An officer shouted hysterically as he directed a small team of soldiers to push out several large cannons from a mountain warehouse. The soldiers adjusted the angle of fire and quickly pressed the switch, shooting out beams of intense light that headed straight for the bombers. The bombers dodged and weaved, trying to avoid the incoming beams. One bomber was hit by a beam and instantly had a huge hole blown through its body, and before it could even crash to the ground, it had already broken in two.

  A fierce battle was raging outside the cell, but I could only pace back and forth like a caged lion inside. I kept tapping on the telegraph device on my wrist, trying to contact Jie, but there was no response. I picked up the plank bed and slammed it against the wall of the cell with all my might, wanting to smash out an escape route for myself, but the wall was incredibly hard and the plank bed couldn't penetrate it at all. Just as I was getting extremely anxious, Jie finally sent a signal.

  Jie told me that Zha Yil had already returned to the base ahead of time, and the local government army had officially started bombing the base. I asked Jie what to do now? Jie told me that Zha Yil had sent someone to kill me, and I should be prepared to defend myself. After the assassin arrived, I should quickly take him out and seize his equipment. Jie said he had installed micro-explosives on the prison wall, and after I took out the assassin and seized his equipment, I should dodge to one side of the cell door and immediately send a signal to him. Once the prison wall was blown open, I could quickly escape from the cell. I asked Jie where to meet up, and he said he would sneak away first to blow up the base's underground ammunition depot. After I escaped from the cell, I should find a good sniping point to hide in.

  I hid on one side of the prison gate according to Jie's "intersection" waiting, and sure enough, after a while, heavy footsteps came from the corridor. I thought it should be the killer who had arrived. I held my breath and waited quietly for the arrival of the killer, but saw that on the wall opposite me, there was a pale gray circular patch the size of a button at the bloodstain.

  Originally, Jie used his hand to 'touch' the bloodstain and installed a miniature bomb on the wall. It seems that this device requires special control to explode. Slowly, the footsteps stopped in front of the cell door, and then there was a "ding" sound, and the cell door opened. But just as the cell door had not yet fully opened, the killer frantically began firing at the cell room. By the time the cell door was fully open, the killer's gun had already fired an entire clip.

  The cell door opened, the killer saw that I was not in the cell and was very surprised. He changed his magazine while walking into the cell to look for me. The cell door closed automatically with a "ding" sound after the killer entered. The killer was a black man, tall and strong, he walked lightly into the cell, scanning the room from right to left with his head, looking for my trace. I was lucky enough to hide on the left side, so I wasn't discovered at first.

  I seized the fleeting opportunity, swiftly clamping my hand over his neck from the side and twisting it with force. After stripping off his boots to wear on my own feet, I hugged the assassin's rifle and quickly crouched down beside the cell 'door', then rapidly tapped my forearm to send a signal to Jie. Three seconds later, the button device on the wall flashed twice before exploding with a loud bang.

  The explosion of the bomb was just right, blowing a big hole in the wall of the cell that I could escape from. I quickly got up from the ground and rushed out of the cell with three steps. At this moment, I was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, carrying the joy of regaining my freedom and hatred for the enemy, running desperately in the chaotic enemy camp. The bomber flew overhead, making a loud noise, while the enemy soldiers ran back and forth around me, with the sounds of gunfire, artillery, air raid sirens, and bombers all mixed together. The rain was getting heavier, and I rolled and jumped as I ran at high speed, dodging the exploding shells and flying bullets while taking advantage of the situation to shoot at the enemy. The enemy soldiers controlling the laser cannon were frantically firing at the bomber. I jumped behind a bunker, wiped the mud off my face with my hand, replaced the magazine with a new one, observed the surrounding terrain again, and then rushed out once more. I tried to run towards the denser forest while continuously shooting and killing the enemy soldiers who were chasing me.

  A loud explosion... A massive shockwave burst out from underground, and the enemy's barracks office building was blown into the air in an instant. I knew that Jie had succeeded, he had successfully blown up the enemy base's underground ammunition depot.

  Ah…… Ah…… I excitedly shouted, picking up a light machine gun from the ground and firing it at the "激" laser cannon hand. Several enemy soldiers saw that things were not going well for them and began to intensively fire at me. Rat-a-tat-tat...... After one round of crossfire, I was already covered in wounds all over my body. I gritted my teeth and endured the intense pain, engaging in a fierce battle with the enemy soldiers. At this time, Jie also rushed over to fight alongside me shoulder-to-shoulder.

  Jie ran while throwing several hand grenades at the "激" light cannon. With the explosion of the hand grenades, several "激" light gunners were blown into the air. I seized the opportunity and rushed to the "激" light cannon, Jie holding a machine gun covering me, desperately shooting at the enemy soldiers rushing from all sides. I turned the barrel, pressed the firing switch, and instantly, several beams of "激" light swept towards the enemy soldiers, who began to fall in batches, the high-killing "激" light melting them into piles of mutilated corpses.

  At this time, the local government army's ground forces also arrived at the enemy base, and both sides began a more intense battle. The enemy camp's more than ten heavy machine guns simultaneously shot out tongues of fire, sweeping directly towards the attacking government army. At the same time, large and small caliber steel cannons also opened fire... Meanwhile, on this side, the government army soldiers were advancing step by step under the escort of armored vehicles and tanks... Inside the enemy camp, the sound of gunfire and screams filled the air, the entire enemy camp was like a slaughterhouse, everywhere was corpses... everywhere was blood... it was impossible to distinguish whose hands and legs they were... whose head it was... whose heart it was...

  Soon, the enemy showed signs of collapse. In the distance, a disc-shaped aircraft flew in at high speed from afar. A group of sturdy enemy soldiers were seen escorting Zha Yil out of an underground bunker in a hurry. "No good, Zha Yil is going to escape..." Jie shouted loudly and rushed straight towards them. Seeing Jie rush over, I also dragged my injured leg and quickly followed after him.

  Xiao Huzi rushed over with a few soldiers, sniping as they came. Xiao Huzi hugged a shotgun and frantically swept it at Jie. Jie was clearly enraged, his body riddled with bullets, yet he didn't slow down his charge one bit. He yelled loudly at me: "Mudfish, take out that son of a bitch for me!" At this point, my combat nerves had also reached their limit, no pain, no fear of death, only one thought: kill, kill, kill... I threw hand grenades with all my might, and Jie and I took advantage of the explosions to flank Xiao Huzi, rushing towards Zhaiyel.

  Eyes fixed, Little Beard was within arm's length. I swiftly pulled out a dagger from my combat boot and with the momentum of running, did a forward roll, dashing to Little Beard's back. One stab into his heart ended his life. Then, in the shortest time possible, I picked up Little Beard's shotgun and together with Jie, shot and killed several other enemy soldiers. At this moment, the aircraft had flown above Zha Yi Er, who looked at us with disdain and made a throat-slitting gesture towards us.

  A beam of white light shot down from the aircraft, enveloping Zhaiyel and his entourage. Jie shouted urgently: "No good, Zhaiyel is going to be taken aboard the aircraft! Muddy Carp, cover me, I'm going to go with him in a blaze of glory!" After saying this, Jie began to climb up a tall Tadou tree.

  I grabbed Jie and said, "Jie, what are you doing? What's going on?" Jie tore open his shirt, and I was shocked to see a purple light flashing on his chest. Jie anxiously told me, "Listen, Mudfish, do you remember what I once told you? I won't be able to leave this place alive. My body is equipped with an ultra-nano explosive device. If the cult headquarters detects any abnormal behavior from me, it will activate the device. Now, there are only 30 seconds left before it explodes. I have no choice."

  "I won't let you die, there must be another way!" I almost cried out to Jie. Jie gritted his teeth and said: "Mudfish, don't waste any more time, cover me, let me go down with Zha'er, this is my last wish..." I held back tears and nodded firmly at him. Jie forced a smile and said: "Mudfish, good brother, it's great to have fought alongside you... live well! This is for you..." As he spoke, Jie dug out his own left eyeball and stuffed it into my hand, then gave me a victory sign before turning and climbing up the Tadou tree.

  I held the shotgun and desperately fired at Zha Er, while Jie climbed to the top of the tree and swung towards Zha Er using a vine. Jie's impact was extremely powerful, directly charging towards Zha Er. At this moment, Zha Er seemed to be in no hurry to escape either, he assumed a fighting stance as if wanting to engage in close combat with Jie. Just as Jie was about to land, Zha Er suddenly jumped up and delivered a mid-air side kick, kicking Jie to one side.

  "Zha'yr shouted loudly: 'I treated you with such importance, but you still betrayed me! Today I will kill you with my own hands!' Seeing Jie in a desperate situation, I couldn't care about the dense firepower of the enemy soldiers. After throwing out two hand grenades, I rushed towards them while shouting. The followers saw the danger and pulled Zha'yr back together just as he was about to rush out at light speed. Just as they were about to board the aircraft to escape, Jie used his last bit of strength to shout and rush over, firmly grasping Zha'yr's leg."

  Enraged Zayil kicked Jie's head with his heavy military boots. Jie's head was cracked open and blood flowed out continuously, but he still held onto Zayil tightly without loosening his grip. I knew I couldn't save Jie anymore... I cried and yelled as I exchanged blows with Zayil's followers, venting my anger towards the enemy and the pain of losing a comrade.

  The beam of light became extremely bright, and suddenly flashed. Zayle and his entourage, along with the already lifeless Jie, were sucked into the flying vessel. After taking in Zayle and the others, the flying vessel made a sharp turn in mid-air, ready to fly away. Just then, the nanometer-scale explosive device inside Jie's body finally detonated. A deafening explosion was heard, and the flying vessel was blown to smithereens...

  Quickly... I wept, screaming loudly for my comrades...