[Congratulations! You've received the Talent Reward: D-Level Combat Team Card (Consumable)!]
A clear message flashed before Mike's eyes as a golden card materialized in his palm. It was about the size of a bank card, its surface gleaming gold, with the faint image of soldiers etched into it. At the top of the card was a detailed description of the item.
[D-Level Combat Team]: Consumable. Upon activation, this item summons a technology-oriented combat team of 3–6 members. Each member is at D-level strength, with adaptive equipment suited to the number of team members. The effect lasts for 2 hours. After that, the combat team will be withdrawn.
"Temporary summoning type! At least 3 soldiers with D-level strength!" Mike's eyes lit up. He'd seen firsthand how powerful D-level soldiers could be, thanks to Lin Yue. They were practically equivalent to special forces! With a team of at least three, they could wipe out these thugs in no time.
"Summon!" Without hesitation, Mike activated the card. Instantly, golden light surrounded him. When it faded, six fully equipped soldiers stood by his side, ready for action. Each soldier was dressed in tactical gear, wearing camouflage uniforms and combat boots. Night vision goggles were perched on their heads, grenades and navigation devices hung from their waists, and each soldier gripped a firearm of varying sizes. Their sharp, unwavering gazes spoke of intense training and battlefield readiness.
Mike glanced over the team. The soldiers were clearly organized—three main attackers with submachine guns, a medic carrying a medical kit, a communications specialist, and a sniper with a Barrett rifle. The team was ready for anything.
"Chief!" The lead attacker saluted Mike, his face masked, leaving only his eyes visible. "Please give us our orders! What's the mission?"
"Kill," Mike said, his voice steady as he pointed at the door. "There are people in this building threatening our lives. Wipe them out."
"Yes, Chief!" the soldiers responded in unison, their voices filled with unwavering determination.
Li Ya, who had been in shock beside them, quickly snapped to attention. "There's also a woman—Lin Yue. She's also a soldier and works for the chief. We need to rescue her!"
The soldiers exchanged looks, then turned to Mike, who nodded. "Understood."
"Roger that!" The lead soldier gestured to the team, and they split into two groups. The communications specialist and sniper slipped out the window, quickly securing rope locks and setting up sniper positions on the opposite rooftop. The rest of the team waited for Li Ya to open the iron door before deploying smoke grenades.
"Pop!" The smoke exploded, and panicked shouts erupted from the thugs waiting outside.
"Brother Li, the door's open... What the hell? Where did all this smoke come from?"
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" A burst of gunfire rang out, silencing the thugs' panicked voices. The soldiers, executing their tactical maneuvers, slipped through the smoke, their presence barely detectable.
Soon, gunfire echoed from outside the door.
"Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat!"
The rhythmic sound of gunfire continued, punctuated by the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground. The thugs had no time to scream, and most died quickly, cleanly. Each time a soldier spotted an enemy, the enemy was eliminated without warning.
Outside, the thugs' voices began to rise in panic.
"They're here! The enemy's here!"
"Soldiers? Are these real soldiers?"
"Are they here to rescue us? Damn, they're killing everyone!"
"I surrender! I surrender! Please don't kill me!"
"These aren't regular soldiers. They're attacking us! Fight back!"
The chaos outside intensified. The crackling of stun and smoke grenades mixed with the constant gunfire. Mike even heard the distant sound of the sniper's shots, each one a powerful strike.
"Boom! Boom!" The sniper's shots rang out with authority, each one capable of penetrating any cover. Thugs hiding behind obstacles were picked off one by one, instantly exposed under the thermal imager.
"There's a sniper! Hide!"
"Brother Li! Brother Li! No! His head just got blown off by the sniper!"
"Run! Run, brothers!"
Panic spread among the thugs as they scrambled to escape, but the soldiers were relentless. Mike stood by the window, watching coldly. He saw thugs fleeing in all directions, their faces filled with terror. The sniper's deadly accuracy ensured that no one was safe. In just a few minutes, several bodies had piled up outside, while the remaining survivors retreated into the building, only to face further gunfire.
Mike watched the carnage with a cold expression. His initial discomfort at seeing death quickly gave way to a strange sense of satisfaction. Revenge was being served, and it felt good.
"Have I gotten used to this?" Mike murmured to himself, his face as unreadable as ever. He had no time to dwell on the moral cost; Lin Yue still hadn't shown up, and the combat team would be withdrawn in just two hours. He hadn't gained anything yet, except a release for his anger.
The sweep was quick. Soon, Mike heard a voice through his communication earpiece.
"Chief, the threat has been neutralized. There are five captives, but their identities are unclear. What are your orders?"
"I'll go take a look," Mike replied, taking a deep breath. This was his first time stepping outside the shelter, and while he hadn't wanted to leave, these thugs had forced his hand.
Li Ya followed him as they made their way to the top floor. The stench of blood and death hit them as they walked through the corridor, littered with bodies. Li Ya instinctively covered her nose, but Mike pressed on without flinching.
"Boss, can't you block the smell? It's awful."
"No need. Didn't you tell me to stay cold-hearted?" Mike glanced at Li Ya, offering a strained smile. "Guess I'll have to get used to it."
They reached the top floor, which had been completely cleared out. The air was thick with the stench of death. Corpses were scattered around, many without heads, and the room was filthy, littered with garbage. In the corner, a dozen women huddled together, their faces etched with terror.
"Chief," a soldier guarding the captives saluted and reported softly, "The rebels are all dead. These women don't have any weapons. They were likely captured by the bandits. Should we… should we execute them too?"
"No." Mike glanced at the women, his eyes hardening. Among them, he recognized a few faces—women he had seen around the neighborhood: the young mother who used to take her daughter to school, the cleaning lady from the nearby company… They had all suffered at the hands of these thugs.
"Where are the others?" Mike asked, his voice flat.
The soldier pointed to a room across the hall. "There are a few prisoners over there. They've surrendered and are being guarded."
"No, I'm asking about Lin Yue. Have you found her?" Mike's gaze sharpened. "Is she here?"
"We've been searching, Chief. No sign of her yet."
Mike's heart sank. If she had been caught in the explosion… he feared her body would be unrecognizable.
He turned away from the women and walked toward the room across the hall, where three men were being held. They cowered on the floor, fear written all over their faces. When Mike entered, the lead thug called out, "Chief!"
One man's eyes widened. "It's you! Mike! You're the one from downstairs. I knew it! I knew someone lived here!"
Mike's eyes narrowed as he sized up the man. "You're the one with the daughter, right? Zheng, wasn't it?"
"Yes, yes, it's me!" The man hastily nodded, trying to move closer to Mike but was blocked by the muzzle of a rifle.
The lead soldier's eyes turned cold. "Stay back! Don't get close to the Chief."
Zheng shrank back, visibly nervous, but his desperation remained. "Mike, we're neighbors! There's been a misunderstanding. Please, tell them to let me go."
Mike's gaze hardened. "Where's your wife and daughter?"
Zheng hesitated, his eyes shifting. "I… I don't know..."
"Don't know?" Mike's tone was cold, almost mocking. "They're right next door. I just saw them. You sold them out, didn't you?"
Zheng's face reddened with shame. "I didn't have a choice… Li's men… I couldn't fight them off."
"You sold your family to save yourself," Mike said, his voice devoid of sympathy. "I don't care about that. But you tried to kill me. You were part of the attack last night, weren't you?"
Zheng lowered his head, guilt and fear written all over him. "I… I didn't want to…"
"You sold out your own flesh and blood. For that, you'll pay the price." Mike's eyes were icy. "I don't forget those who try to kill me."
Just then, one of the other men in the room spoke up.
"Boss, he's not dead!" he shouted. "Li's not dead! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Mike turned sharply. "What? What are you talking about?"
Zheng's voice trembled as he spoke. "Li… he's immortal. No one can kill him. People have tried—he was stabbed through the heart, his head cut off—but he came back to life!"
Mike stared at Zheng, disbelief in his eyes. "What did you say? He's impossible to kill?"
"Yes!" Zheng nodded desperately. "He's invincible! He can't die!"