Strongest Soldier King

Some words among men don't need to be overly dramatic; a decision is enough. Luo Zheng didn't persuade further, just kept this friendship in mind, sincerely gave Hook a hug, and then sat down with Lan Xue, Ghost Hand, and Mountain Eagle to discuss the operational plan. But there were too many variables, and the plan couldn't be finalized. After some discussion, they decided on the order of personnel going down. Once down, they'd have to act according to circumstances.

An hour later, everyone was prepared, and the ropes were all connected, ready for action at any time. Luo Zheng, carrying a rope, moved along the crevice. As he approached the exit, he tied one end to an outcropping rock, ensured it was secure, then cautiously looked down from the crevice's exit.

There were far fewer people below the cavern now; a few small caverns still had their lights on, and the wounded were still groaning. The man called Bloodsucker, with a few others, sat around the stone slab discussing something. There was a metal box on the stone slab with a combination lock. Luo Zheng was stunned, quickly retreated, and called Cheng He over, saying, "Go confirm if the box on the slab contains the activation device. Once confirmed, come back immediately."

"Understood," Cheng He replied seriously and moved forward along the crevice. Luo Zheng, wary of Cheng He's loyalty, watched him vigilantly. If Cheng He dared to act rashly at a critical moment, Luo Zheng wouldn't hesitate to kill. Luckily, Cheng He didn't and quickly returned, affirming to Luo Zheng, "It's that metal box, I'm sure."

"Excellent," Luo Zheng said with joy, suddenly recalling the conversation he overheard earlier. His expression turned serious, and he decisively said, "It looks like they're about to evacuate; we can only seize it forcefully. Everyone, follow me, charge down, hit them with a surprise attack. Once down, Ghost Hand and I will snatch the metal box. Mountain Eagle, with your main squad, provide firepower cover. Xue Er, assist Hook and the others, handle the ones entering from outside the cave."

"Understood," everyone replied in unison.

"Be careful, let's move." Luo Zheng said in a low, tense voice, glanced at everyone, and without hesitation, started moving along the crevice. The others followed closely, keeping in line to reach the ground as quickly as possible.

Luo Zheng reached the crevice's exit. Once everyone secured their ropes, he glanced down at the cavern below. The situation was the same. Several people near the stone slab seemed to be confirming something. Bloodsucker stretched his hand to grab the metal box, and the others began dispersing, appearing like they were going to rest in the smaller caverns.

"Now," Luo Zheng's expression turned cold. He grabbed the rope with one hand and jumped down, descending straight. With his other hand, he quickly pulled out his pistol and fired as soon as he raised his hand.

"Bang!" The sudden gunshot shattered the silence, startling everyone in the cavern. Without checking where the shot was fired from, they all quickly sought cover—well-trained. If they were rookies, upon hearing a gunshot, they wouldn't hide but look for where the shot came from, missing the best chance to conceal themselves.

The middle-aged man named Bloodsucker, hearing the gunshot, also instinctively took cover beneath the stone slab, ignoring the metal box on the slab. Bullets struck the stone slab, sparking wildly. This was exactly the effect Luo Zheng wanted. As the gunshots continued from his hand, his body rapidly rappelled down.

The others grabbed the ropes and jumped down, firing their pistols mid-air at visible targets, forcing them to hide and preventing them from retaliating. Within about three seconds, Luo Zheng landed, rolled forward, quickly got up, and dashed towards the stone slab.

The Bloodsucker members reacted and fired back, but Luo Zheng had already ducked behind a stone pillar five or six meters from the slab, swiftly changed his magazine, peeked out, and saw that the middle-aged man named Bloodsucker was also trying to get the metal box. Decisively, he fired his gun, charged ahead ferociously, ignoring the danger.

The quick-reacting Bloodsucker members fired at Luo Zheng, but pressed for time, they were using regular pistols. Bullets pierced through the Bullet-Resistant Vest but couldn't penetrate the form-fitting innerwear. Though it felt like ribs were breaking, Luo Zheng gritted his teeth, persevering, charging forward with rapid strides, his gunshot forcing the middle-aged man named Bloodsucker to evade.

Luo Zheng's desperate assault spurred the others to unleash powerful combat prowess, fearlessly firing at the Bloodsucker members, even at the risk of exposing themselves. Precision shooting made it hard for Bloodsucker to cope. Seeing Luo Zheng grab the metal box first, Ghost Hand rushed to provide cover for retreat.

They had launched a surprise attack on Bloodsucker, temporarily gaining the upper hand, but it didn't mean victory. Luo Zheng dared not delay, immediately shouted, "Retreat quickly, Ghost Hand, charge out, take out the machine gun emplacements outside."

"Understood." Ghost Hand roared, turned, and sprinted outside.

Mountain Eagle immediately organized the squad to cover Luo Zheng's retreat. After everyone emptied their pistol magazines, they all pulled out their sniper rifles. The rifles were loaded with incendiary bombs specifically arranged to enhance deterrence. A few gunshots, and the Bloodsucker members hiding under the cover were hit by the flammable agent, emitting horrific screams. Seeing this, others dared not show themselves and quickly concealed.

Just then, Lan Xue and Hook's team also rappelled down, with Lan Xue being the last. Before descending, she cut the rope with a military knife, leaving only one for herself. Upon landing, someone immediately retracted the ropes as instructed, while others fired suppressive shots at the Bloodsucker members trying to counterattack.

Everyone fired and retreated, avoiding prolonged engagement. Luo Zheng quickly ran towards the cave's exit, finding Ghost Hand in a firefight at the front, unable to break through. Clearly, the Bloodsucker members outside had reacted. Luo Zheng, infuriated, urgently shouted, "Mountain Eagle, lead the squad to clear a path, everyone else cover the rear."

"Yes," Mountain Eagle shouted, turning his squad's gunfire towards the front. If blocked on the path, pinned down by Bloodsucker from both front and back, death was certain. Breaking through was imperative. Mountain Eagle understood this, and so did his rapid-action squad, who charged forward with loud yells.

Ten snipers were placed at the front as a vanguard instead of hiding at the back to snipe the enemy. This tactic only someone like Luo Zheng would dare use, yet its effectiveness was remarkable. Their precise shooting and swift reflexes weakened the gunfire outside. Ghost Hand, with a stern expression, shouted, "Cover me," then recklessly dashed out into the open.

"Provide cover fire!" Luo Zheng exclaimed in shock, shouting angrily.

"Whish, whish, whish!" The others aimed forward, firing swiftly at any anomaly they detected, from heads peeking out to gun barrels, shooting them all directly, creating an intense, explosive scene.