Volume 1, Chapter 23: Full Firepower!

The roar of an engine shattered the morning silence. A camouflaged CSK181 Mengshi assault vehicle, like a steel beast unleashed from its cage, surged through the reinforced gates of the villa district.

Close behind the Mengshi followed a squad of infantry, advancing rapidly in a loose tactical formation. Squad leader Wan Yu, holding a Type 191 assault rifle, stayed at the core of the team, issuing concise commands through his individual radio. The assistant squad leader followed close behind, coordinating the squad's firepower. Two riflemen, also equipped with Type 191s, flanked the left and right, vigilantly scanning the ruins of buildings and abandoned vehicles on either side. Two machine gunners, carrying QJY-201 general-purpose machine guns, scouted for advantageous cover, ready to provide suppressive fire at a moment's notice. The designated marksman, armed with a QBU-203, drifted like a ghost behind the squad, his high-powered scope constantly sweeping the windows of higher vantage points. The rocket launcher operator, carrying a PF-16 thermobaric rocket, held a relatively safe position toward the rear, his heavy weapon primed and ready.

Approximately 50 meters above them, a "Hummingbird" micro-reconnaissance drone, deployed by the Snow Leopard Commando, hovered silently. It transmitted high-definition, real-time aerial footage and thermal imaging signals back to the rear command node, as well as to the tactical tablets held by squad leader Wan Yu and Snow Leopard captain Chen Feng. Lin Ye, stationed in the operations room, acted as a spectator.

"Hummingbird report: At the intersection ahead, near the entrance of the 'Good Neighbor' supermarket on the right, there is a cluster of heat sources. Approximately 15 to 20, currently relatively stationary. In the entrance of Unit 2, Building 3 of 'Warm Home' on the left, there are three active heat sources moving toward the street."

Chen Feng’s calm voice echoed in Wan Yu’s ear via the encrypted channel.

"Received! Mengshi, fire suppression on the supermarket entrance! Machine gun team, prepare to intercept at the entrance of Building 3 on the left!" Wan Yu ordered immediately.

"Mengshi, received!" the driver responded steadily. The vehicle executed a sharp drift, angling its front toward the supermarket entrance. The remote weapon station on the roof activated instantly. The motor-driven turret hummed softly, and the heavy 12.7mm barrel swung into position.

"Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom—!!!"

A deafening roar erupted. The terrifying recoil, far exceeding that of a standard machine gun, was absorbed by the sturdy chassis and efficient muzzle brake, leaving only a violent torrent of fire. The heavy 12.7mm rounds, like the scythe of death, swept mercilessly across the supermarket’s glass doors and the interior.

"Crash—boom!" The fragile glass doors and the adjacent brick wall were shredded as if made of paper. A dense rain of bullets tore into the supermarket, obliterating shelves, freezers, and the zombies that had been roaring as they rushed out. Black blood, shredded flesh, and debris from merchandise splashed everywhere. The leading zombies were instantly bisected, their upper torsos still lunging forward from the momentum. The supermarket entrance was cleared in an instant, leaving only swirling smoke and a scene of devastation.

Almost simultaneously with the Mengshi’s opening fire, three zombies, drawn by the gunfire, screeched as they rushed out of the unit door of Building 3 on the left.

"Dat-dat-dat! Dat-dat-dat!"

The two machine gunners, who had already taken positions behind an abandoned mailbox and a pile of car wreckage across the street, unleashed fire from their QJY-201s almost simultaneously. Two dense barrages of 7.62mm rounds precisely covered the unit exit. The three rushing zombies struck an invisible wall of steel, their bodies twitching and disintegrating under the hail of bullets until they were riddled with holes, collapsing at the doorway.

"Target cleared! Move out!" Wan Yu ordered decisively.

The squad accelerated, using the Mengshi as a mobile shield to quickly cross the intersection.

"Hummingbird report: 50 meters ahead, second-floor window of 'Blue Island Coffee.' Heat source detected. Suspected observer. Non-zombie characteristics," the drone operator’s voice rang out again.

"Designated marksman," Wan Yu signaled toward the rear of the formation.

"Understood!" The marksman had already heard the intelligence through his earpiece. He quickly dropped to one knee behind an overturned courier truck, his QBU-203’s slender barrel held steady. The crosshairs of his high-powered scope locked onto the window on the second floor of Blue Island Coffee, where a curtain was drawn halfway. He could see a blurry figure moving behind the gap.

"Bang!"

A crisp gunshot, distinct from the others, rang out! The 7.62mm sniper round passed precisely through the gap in the curtain and buried itself into the wall inside the window frame, less than ten centimeters from the figure's head! Concrete dust sprayed into the air.

"Ah—!" A terrified scream came from the second floor, and the figure vanished instantly.

"Warning shot! Unauthorized personnel, cease surveillance! Stay hidden!" Wan Yu shouted coldly through the vehicle’s loudspeaker. The marksman’s shot had demonstrated both presence and precision, avoiding unnecessary killing while providing a powerful deterrent.

The squad continued to advance, clearing sporadic zombies. The Mengshi’s 12.7mm heavy machine gun served as the vanguard, highly effective against clusters of zombies or targets behind cover. The infantry squad's riflemen and machine gunners worked in seamless coordination to clear threats in the immediate vicinity and on the flanks. The rocket launcher operator had no immediate target, but his heavy thermobaric round remained ready for any sudden, large-scale horde.

Soon, they reached their first major objective: a six-story commercial and residential building. According to the drone scan, there was a high concentration of heat sources inside.

"Mengshi, blockade the street in front of the building, keep watch! Machine gun team, provide cross-fire coverage for the first-floor entrance and both sides! Rifle teams 1 and 2, follow me to clear the first floor! Designated marksman, find a vantage point and monitor the surroundings and upper-floor windows! Rocket launcher operator, stand by!" Wan Yu deployed his team rapidly.

Just as the infantry squad prepared to storm the entrance, Chen Feng’s voice came over the radio: "Snow Leopard is in position, responsible for clearing the upper floors. Squad leader Wan, the first floor is yours."

No sooner had he spoken than several figures rappelled down from the roof of a taller building behind the commercial complex, moving like geckos! It was the four members of the Snow Leopard Commando. They had utilized the complex rooftop environment to reach the roof and the windows of the higher floors of the target building completely undetected.

"Snow Leopard Team 1, take the roof and provide downward suppression!"

"Snow Leopard Team 2, breach the window on the 5th floor and clear from top to bottom!"

The Snow Leopard operators moved with lightning speed. The two members on the roof (a machine gunner and a marksman) quickly set up their QJS-161 light machine gun and QBU-203. Their barrels pointed toward the street below and windows on the opposite side where threats might be hiding. The two assault team members, having rappelled to the 5th floor, used a breaching tool to silently shatter the glass before tossing in a flashbang!

"Boom!"

A dull explosion echoed through the building, accompanied by a blinding flash and a powerful sonic wave!

"Assault!" The two Snow Leopard members vaulted through the window like panthers, their Type 191 assault rifles spitting precise short bursts!

"Puff-puff-puff!" Several zombies, temporarily blinded and deafened by the flashbang, collapsed to the floor.

Hearing the signal, Wan Yu let out a low growl: "Go!"

Two riflemen moved left and right, their tactical battering ram smashing into the locked glass door of the first floor! The assistant squad leader followed, a fragmentation grenade rolling precisely into the depths of the lobby!

"Boom!"

The blast wave and shrapnel instantly cleared several zombies near the entrance!

"Clear!" Wan Yu and the other rifleman surged in, the muzzle flashes of their 191s flickering in the dim hall. The sound of their shots was crisp and lethal. They worked in perfect harmony, providing covering fire for each other as they rapidly cleared the zombies pouring out of the lobby and the side corridors.

Gunfire intensified on the upper floors as well. The Snow Leopard operators cleared the building level by level from top to bottom; the muffled reports of suppressed weapons and the thud of falling zombies were constant. Their movements were faster and their coordination even more refined, often resolving battles with minimal noise and ammunition. When they encountered clusters of zombies in rooms, they even utilized GLX-160 under-barrel grenade launchers for high-efficiency clearance.

"First floor clear!"

"Fifth floor clear!"

"Fourth floor clear!"

...

The progress went smoother than expected. The infantry squad handled the relatively open areas requiring heavy firepower, while the Snow Leopard Commando tackled complex terrain and conducted precision hunts; the two units complemented each other perfectly.

Just then, the drone suddenly issued an urgent alert: "Warning! A massive number of heat sources are approaching rapidly from three streets to the west! The quantity is immense and they are moving fast! Estimated contact in two minutes!"

"Horde!" The voices of Wan Yu and Chen Feng rang out on the channel simultaneously.