Chapter 258: You Should Get Used To It (1)
In combat, one could read the flow to determine who had the upper hand.
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Du du du! Pew! Pew! Du du! Du du du!
Kang Chan put bullets into more of their enemies' heads. With Gérard stepping up to help him and Seok Kang-Ho assisting them from below, the enemy’s ferocity began to weaken.
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Even if the Quds could be considered as one of the best special forces among the Arabs, the teams they were up against were some of the best in the world.
The fight quickly tilted in the South Korean team’s favor when they gained momentum.
Du du du du! Pew! Du du! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang!
Judging by the flashes of gunfire, the enemy numbered about two hundred. In African tribal wars, the insurgent rebel forces easily added up to at least a thousand men. Even so, Kang Chan couldn’t understand why so many Quds had shown up here today.
Fortunately, in addition to the forty-five Spetsnaz and Green Berets, they also had twenty South Korean special forces. They weren’t at too much of a disadvantage.
Peeew! Pew! Du du du! Peew! Pow pow pow! Pow!
Shooting an enemy right in the forehead from only thirty meters away could seem easy, but in truth, it was impossible. In actual combat, even hitting an enemy running just twenty meters ahead would already be difficult. After all, behind such a target, someone would always be providing suppressive fire to cover them. Moreover, one had to get up and back down to hide in a split second in this situation, making it hard to properly aim at the enemy.
Du du du! Pow pow! Pow! Thud! Peew! Pew!
The dirt and dust right next to the shooter would splatter up, and the boulders they were hiding behind could break into pieces, overwhelming them far too much to do anything.
Du du du! Pow! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Pew! Pew! Pew! Bang, bang!
Before Kang Chan got back up, Gérard covered fire for him. In situations like this, Kang Chan was always more than grateful to have someone he could trust his life with.
Likewise, Gérard and his men shot back believing that Kang Chan would eliminate all their enemies.
Du du du! Bang, bang, bang! Pew! Pow! Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!
When the Spetsnaz and Green Berets started their triumphant descent, the tide of the battle began to turn completely in their favor.
In just fifteen minutes, they had killed over fifty enemies. At this rate, they would clear out this side in an hour.
Du du du! Pow pow pow! Du du du du! Peeeew! Pew! Pow pow pow!
Haah, haah.
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Click!
Kang Chan fired four consecutive bullets before crouching over and releasing the empty magazine in his gun.
Pew! Pow! Pow pow pow!
More rocks shattered and dirt splattered.
Click!
Kang Chan was inserting a new magazine when the radio crackled.
Chk.
“There are trucks in pursuit of our vehicles, and they’re shooting at us from the back! I repeat! We’ve got trucks on our asses, and they’re shooting at us!”
Could they be the SBS?
Du du du du! Pow pow pow! Du du! Peeew! Pow!
Still crouched over and keeping his head down, Kang Chan raised his hand to his helmet.
Chk.
“They might be the SBS! Flash your lights to send them a signal!” Kang Chan ordered.
The army interpreters relayed Kang Chan’s command in their respective languages.
Chhhhk!
“This is the vehicle at the entrance! Check the lights! We need backup! I repeat! We need backup!”
Rough engines, gunfire, and shouts mixed in with the crackles of radios.
Chk.
“Cha Dong-Gyun! Fire the Iglas at the approaching vehicles! They’ll have us surrounded if they get around us! I’m putting all Bravo members in your location under your command!” Kang Chan shouted in Korean, then repeated it in French.
Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta! Weeew! Boooom!
Along with flashes of light, they heard a cacophony of gunshots, splattering dirt, screams, and shouts from the entrance. It was pandemonium.
Chk.
“Daye! Head back! There’s been a new development!” Kang Chan ordered.
Chk.
“Got it!”
Seok Kang-Ho’s response was mixed with the sound of gunshots. Kang Chan couldn’t even hear it properly.
Pew! Pew! Pew! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Du du du!
Chhk.
“Captain! We need cover!” Seok Kang-Ho shouted.
Chk.
“On three, start running!” Kang Chan responded.
Chk.
“One! Two...!”
“Cover them!” Kang Chan ordered the others.
Pew! Pew! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang! Peew!
As commanded, the soldiers began to send bullets flying in the direction that Seok Kang-Ho would be returning from.
Pow! Pow! Peeeew! Pew! Pow pow pow pow!
A moment later, Seok Kang-Ho reached Kang Chan’s position.
Chk.
“Charlie! Delta! Come back this way! The enemy is at the entrance trying to overwhelm us with numbers! Keeping our forces split will be dangerous! Withdraw and provide support to the soldiers at the entrance!” Kang Chan shouted.
Chhhk!
“Understood!”
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Tu ta ta ta ta! Tu ta ta ta!
Chk.
“Charlie! We got wounded over here! Provide cover!” Kang Chan ordered.
Chk.
“This is the entrance! We’ve got three SBS soldiers in critical condition!”
Du du du du! Du du du! Du du du! Weeooo! Boom!
Another bright flash lit up their dark surroundings.
Chk.
“We’ve got more injured! The enemy’s too many!” Cha Dong-Gyun shouted, his words buried under the gunshots.
Chk.
“Retreat up the ridge!” Kang Chan commanded. The situation had taken a bad turn. “Gérard! Take charge of this place!”
Du du du! Du du! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!
“Daye!” Kang Chan shouted as he climbed up.
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Peew! Pew! Du du du! Pow pow pow! Du du du du!
While Gérard and the soldiers were providing suppressive fire, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho climbed up the ridge.
Du du du du! Du du du! Tu ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta!
Damn it!
Trucks were all around them in front of the mountain, and the unmistakable M60 gunfire and a mass of white flew up from them.
Pow pow pow pow pow pow pow pow!
Chk.
“Drag the injured to the back!” Cha Dong-Gyun shouted over the radio.
Rustle! Rustle!
Kang Chan went down the ridge so fast that he almost slid down. “Retreat! Go back up!”
As he issued commands, Spetsnaz and Green Beret soldiers appeared next to him.
“Defend that side! Don’t let the enemies get up there no matter what!”
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Du du du! Tu ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta!
Pow pow pow pow pow pow pow pow pow! Pow pow pow pow pow pow!
Several of the men were sent flying backward, and a big part of the ground in front of Kang Chan sunk in.
Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho rushed forward to take a look at the wounded soldier. Half of his chest was missing.
“Daye! Hold this position!”
Hisssss!
Kang Chan sprinted and pulled the dead soldier up the ridge when he heard the loud boom of mortars ringing out in the distance.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
“Get down! Get down!” Kang Chan shouted.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Clumps of dirt flew into the air and rained back down toward them.
“Lee Doo-Hee! Focus on getting those bastards!”
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang! Pew! Pew! Pew!
“Snipers! Eliminate the enemies manning the mortars and RPGs first!” Kang Chan ordered both in Korean and French.
Tu ta ta ta ta ta! Tu ta ta ta ta ta!
As a French soldier let his M240 loose, the snipers eliminated the men near the mortars, forcing the enemy’s offensive to enter a brief lull.
“Move the wounded over here!” Kang Chan shouted.
Hissss!
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Du du du! Du du! Tu ta ta ta ta ta!
Sparks flashed all over the area as different kinds of gunshots mixed.
After putting the dead and the wounded to one side, Kang Chan immediately turned to Seok Kang-Ho. “Daye! Let’s retreat to where the tribe is! Gérard is blocking the bottom of the mountain, so you lead the way! I’ll cover for you from behind!”
“Copy that!” Seok Kang-Ho replied.
Pew! Peew! Du du! Du du du du!
Chk.
“Charlie! Delta! We’re moving to where the tribe is! Keep your guard up as you follow our lead! I’ll be taking the rear!” Kang Chan commanded.
Chk.
“Understood!”
After getting the other teams’ confirmation, Kang Chan headed down the ridge.
“Cha Dong-Gyun! We’re heading to where the tribe is! Retreat!”
Pow pow pow! Peeew! Pew! Pew! Pow pow pow! Pow pow pow pow!
The dirt around them splattered.
“Go up!”
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!
The enemies hiding behind the trucks were no more than thirty meters away.
Du du du! Pow! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Du du du!
When another soldier fell, Kang Chan immediately dashed toward him and pulled him by the arm.
“Ahh! Argh!”
The bullet likely hit the soldier in a vital spot. As Kang Chan tugged him to safety, the soldier shook his head from side to side, screaming over and over again.
Pow!
“Kegh!” Kang Chan groaned, suddenly feeling searing pain in his right thigh.
“Take him! Go!”
Pew! Pow pow pow! Pow! Pew! Du du du! Du du!
It was too much for them to handle a hail of bullets from over four hundred enemy soldiers. They could’ve taken this in stride if they were up against rebel forces, but their opponent right now was four hundred Quds.
Pow! Thud! Pow pow pow pow! Peeew! Pew!
Another soldier fell backward, hitting the ground hard.
Kang Chan extended his thumb, index, and middle fingers. He then pointed upward, signaling the others to form a three-point perimeter and cover their allies who were climbing up.
“Carry the wounded on your back! Daye! Go!”
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Peeew! Pew! Peeew!
“Andrei!” Kang Chan called just as Andrei let a round of bullets loose from behind the Spetsnaz. “I want you to take four soldiers and hold the rear with me!”
“Understood!” Andrei replied.
Du du du! Tu ta ta ta ta ta ta! Pow! Pow!
Another soldier fell to the ground. Their men who were at the front of the mountain had almost all gotten up to the ridge.
Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!
“We’re low on ammo!” Andrei shouted out through gritted teeth.
You motherfucker! Considering how much you were firing, I’m honestly not surprised!
It wasn’t his fault either, though. The sparks from guns were getting closer to them from Gérard’s side as well.
Chk.
“Gérard! Take your soldiers and fall back! Daye will open up a path for you!” Kang Chan shouted.
Chk.
“Yes, Cap!”
Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang! Du du du! Du du! Du du du du!
Cha Dong-Gyun and his men ran along the ridge, carrying the wounded on their backs.
“Snipers! Fall back!” Kang Chan shouted.
Click! Click!
While Lee Doo-Hee and the French sniper got up, Kang Chan swiftly got a hold of the M240.
Tu ta ta ta ta ta ta! Tu ta ta ta ta ta! Boom! Boooom!
Two of the trucks soon exploded. Kang Chan saw bodies fly up and crash back down to the ground.
“Andrei!”
Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Du du du! Pow pow pow!
Andrei and his soldiers dashed past Kang Chan.
Tu ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta!
Kang Chan fired the M240 at the enemies coming up from below.
Click! Click! Click!
When he ran out of bullets, the enemies began to scramble up to the ridge in a flutter of movements that resembled cockroaches streaming out of the trucks.
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!
Kang Chan backed away as he shot at the enemies.
“Gérard!”
Bang, bang, bang! Du du du! Du du! Du du du du!
With the wounded on their backs, the French soldiers ran up the mountain. Gérard and Choi Jong-Il were the last to reach the ridge.
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!
Kang Chan rained more bullets down on the incoming hostiles, protecting Choi Jong-Il until he got to safety. Gérard and Choi Jong-Il then fended off the enemies climbing up from the sides as he blocked off the front, but it was hard to beat their overwhelming numbers.
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Du du du! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Mortar strikes followed right after the gunshots.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Hissss!
This time, the bombardment fell on the enemy on the other side.
As they ran along the ridge to go around the mountain, Kang Chan finally got some breathing room. If they hadn’t taken out the sniper on the opposite mountain, this fight would have ended then and there.
Du du du du! Pew! Pew! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang!
The narrow path made it impossible for the enemies to come up all at once.
“Run!”
Rustle! Rustle! Clack!
A French soldier carrying a wounded soldier on his back tripped and fell forward.
Kang Chan and Gérard sprinted toward him, grabbed him by the shoulders, and lifted him to his feet. At the same time, Choi Jong-Il carried the wounded on his back.
Pew! Pew! Pew! Click! Click! Pew! Pew! Pew!
Kang Chan kept their enemies under constant fire as he retreated. Whenever he had to swap magazines, Gérard covered for him.
The ridge was quite narrow. The enemy’s offense momentarily paused as a series of bullets pierced their men’s foreheads on their way up.
Running through a slippery path in the middle of the night, the soldiers with the wounded on their backs kept sliding, preventing them from going any faster.
Pew! Pew! Du du du! Bang, bang, bang! Pew! Pow pow pow! Pow!
Every time sparks flashed, another person went down.
Kang Chan was almost grateful that the road to the tribe had a lot of twists and turns.
Chk.
“Where do you want to go?”
Chk.
“Go up to where the enemy’s snipers were!” Kang Chan replied.
Chk.
“Got it!”
Five minutes after Kang Chan responded to Seok Kang-Ho’s question on the radio, they finally reached the tribe.
Kang Chan gritted his teeth. On one side of it was a large pile of the corpses.
Du du du! Pew! Pew! Pew!
Turning around, he fired at the enemies chasing after them, landing headshot after headshot.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Soon, he heard sniper rifles firing from the mountains overlooking the tribe's homes.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
When the enemies started falling, Kang Chan ran up the mountain.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The gunshots were like music to his ears.
Du du du! Du du du du! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Going deeper into the mountain made him feel a bit more at ease.
“Move the injured to that side! I want all snipers prioritizing the enemies manning machine guns, mortars, and missiles! Gérard! Have ten men hold this position!” Kang Chan commanded.
Gérard assigned six soldiers from the French team and four from the South Korean team to guard the path into the village, giving them a bit more breathing room. It would be difficult to enter the village from the mountains behind them.
“Cha Dong-Gyun! I want three soldiers guarding that area and these two others!” Kang Chan pointed to three different locations. “Get the snipers up there when you’re done!”
“Understood, sir,” Cha Dong-Gyun replied.
The enemies were likely regrouping as well, considering they weren’t rushing in yet.
Now that time was no longer against him, Kang Chan started to feel a sharp pain coming up from the gunshot wound on his right thigh. Choosing to ignore it, he looked at the tribesmen’s houses when someone came up to him.
“I’m Tyler. I have eight dead and five wounded,” said the commander of the SBS. He was as burly as a gorilla, and dust and blood were all over his face. “It bothered me that no one was at the UN command center after everyone left.”
Exhausted, he took off his helmet and met Kang Chan’s gaze.
“We were armed, yet they still suddenly attacked us.”
“You did well,” Kang Chan commended.
He raised his hand to remove his helmet, releasing the heat that had been trapped inside.
“I won’t forget your help today,” Tyler said.
“Let’s talk again after we get out of here alive,” Kang Chan replied.
“Sure.”
Tyler glared at the entrance of the village, turned around, and walked away.
After a while, Gérard walked over to Kang Chan. He took off his cap and slung it over his left shoulder.
“We’ve got four dead, four wounded,” he said. “Our chick is in critical condition, Cap. Can you come over and take a look?”
Damn it!
The two walked over to the wounded.
The chick, lying on the rightmost of the four French soldiers, smiled weakly at Kang Chan. Shot in the left side of his forehead, he likely wouldn’t be able to survive.
“It was... a glorious battle,” the soldier managed to utter.
Kang Chan sat down next to him in silence.
“I was lucky... to have met you.”
Kang Chan smirked. Lucky? How was he lucky to meet on the battlefield and part ways like this?
“Captain... that smirk... I can’t do it...”
“Hurry and get up. I’ll teach you how to do it.”
“Can I... smoke a cigarette?”
“The enemies can’t see us from here. You don’t have to worry about them shooting at us, so it’s fine. Do you want one?”
The chick thanked him in response.
Kang Chan turned back to look at Gérard, and Gérard handed him a cigarette and a Zippo lighter.
Kang Chan took out two cigarettes and lit them up, putting one in the chick’s mouth. As the soldier struggled to draw on it, the flame on the end of the cigarette flickered and died.
“Hoo...”
Swish.
The soldier’s head dropped to the side as he exhaled the smoke, a corner of his mouth curved into a smirk.
“Hoo!” Kang Chan blew out a long puff of smoke.
“Gérard.”
“Oui.”
“Since we just took a hard blow, isn’t it only proper that we punch them back twice as hard?”
Gérard nodded, his eyes glinting.
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