Leitao lay prone on the edge of the building’s roof, eyes fixed intently on the battle unfolding below between the Japanese Army and the remnants of the Guo'an Army. The carnage on the battlefield stoked a fire of rage in his heart; seeing the brutal atrocities the Japanese Army inflicted upon innocent civilians only hardened his resolve to strike them a crushing blow.
Just then, Leitao spotted a weakness in the Japanese position. A Japanese company commander was standing near a mortar firing position he had specifically ordered set up, shouting orders for the artillerymen to shell the remaining Guo'an troops. Leitao’s gaze sharpened instantly; he knew this was a golden opportunity.
Leitao quickly retrieved the adjustable zoom scope and silencer for his AK200 assault rifle. With practiced movements, he fitted them onto the rifle, raised the weapon, and pressed his body against the ground, focusing all his attention on the fuses of the mortar shells stacked at the firing position.
He pulled the charging handle back, set the safety to single-shot mode, and roughly calculated the wind drift, making slight adjustments to his angle of fire. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves.
"Puff, puff, puff." With the silencer attached, the AK200 emitted only faint sounds. Leitao fired three shots in quick succession. The bullets streaked like lightning toward the mortar shells, hitting the stack where the fuses were installed.
One bullet struck a fused shell with surgical precision. A thunderous "boom" erupted as the shell detonated instantly, the powerful shockwave rippling outward like a violent beast. A flash of fire burst forth, as if the sun had shattered in an instant, blinding in its brilliance. The heatwave from the explosion rolled outward, as if to melt everything in its path.
Immediately following, the adjacent shells were triggered, setting off a chain reaction. Deafening explosions rang out one after another, as if the god of thunder were roaring in fury. Pillars of fire shot into the sky, while thick smoke billowed out, rapidly engulfing the entire mortar position.
The mortar site was reduced to a sea of fire. The previously orderly mortars were shattered by the blast; barrels were twisted and mangled, and mounts were sent flying through the air, tumbling before crashing heavily to the ground. Some shells were hurled into the sky by the explosions, only to fall back like meteors, cratering the earth upon impact.
Panic swept through the Japanese soldiers. They scattered in disarray, their orderly ranks dissolving into chaos, their faces masks of terror and despair. Some were thrown to the ground by the blast wave, while others were struck by flying shrapnel, writhing in agony. In the confusion, soldiers collided with one another, falling and being trampled by those behind them.
The Japanese company commander was also thrown to the ground by the shockwave, his face twisted in horror. His cap had been blown away, his hair disheveled and matted over his face. He stared wide-eyed at the wreckage before him, unable to comprehend this sudden catastrophe. He tried to stand, attempting to restore order to his men, but his body trembled uncontrollably and his legs gave way, leaving him unable to find his footing.
The situation on the battlefield shifted in an instant. The Guo'an Army remnants were stunned by the sudden explosion, but they quickly rallied, seizing the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Their morale soared, and their battle cries filled the air. The exhaustion and despair that had clouded their eyes were replaced by fighting spirit and hope. Gripping their weapons tightly, they charged toward the Japanese Army like starving tigers pouncing on their prey.
The Japanese, meanwhile, were plunged into chaos, their earlier arrogance shattered. Under the assault of the Guo'an survivors, their defensive lines began to crumble. Some soldiers attempted to resist, but their actions were frantic and weak. Their gunfire became sparse and erratic, stripped of its former intensity.
Leitao watched his handiwork with a strong sense of accomplishment, but he knew the battle was far from over. He had to keep the pressure on. Quickly adjusting his aim, he began scanning for new targets.
His focus settled on the Japanese platoon leader, who was screaming hoarsely, trying to reorganize the defensive line. Leitao aimed calmly and squeezed the trigger. With a soft "puff," the bullet struck the platoon leader in the head like a silent bolt of lightning. The officer's skull burst open, spraying blood and brains in all directions. His body slumped forward, instantly still.
Leitao then shifted his aim to a machine gunner who was firing wildly in an attempt to halt the Guo'an advance. Leitao waited for the perfect moment; the instant the gunner moved to change magazines, he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the machine gunner in the chest, causing him to convulse once before collapsing over his weapon.
A sergeant became Leitao’s next target. Waving his sword, the sergeant was busy driving his men to resist. Leitao aimed for his abdomen and fired. Struck, the sergeant clutched his stomach and fell to the ground, writhing in agony.
Leitao continued to shift targets, picking off key Japanese personnel with clinical precision. Each shot was like a summons from the reaper, driving the Japanese deeper into fear.
With Leitao’s support, the Guo'an survivors’ offensive grew more successful. They engaged in fierce close-quarters combat, locked in a desperate struggle using bayonets and grenades.
However, the Japanese soon realized there was a sniper positioned on the nearby high ground. Sensing the grave threat this mysterious marksman posed, they dispatched a squad to search the top floor of the building where Leitao was positioned.
The Japanese squad advanced with extreme caution, rifles raised, their eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly. Every movement was careful and deliberate, terrified of being targeted by the sniper again. They crept up the stairs, step by step, closing in on the top floor as the air thickened with tension.
At this moment, the Japanese company commander, Tada Riichiro, stood nearby, his face contorted with rage. He bellowed, "Baka! To have a sniper attacking us from the shadows—this is an insult to the Great Japanese Imperial Army! Find this sniper and tear him to pieces!" His eyes burned with a fire that seemed ready to incinerate any enemy who dared to resist.
Tada Riichiro ordered the soldiers around him, "You! Split into groups and search from different directions! Find that sniper! The moment you spot him, open fire—do not hesitate!" His tone was stern and decisive, filled with unquestionable authority.
"Hai!" the Japanese soldiers shouted in unison before quickly moving to carry out his orders.
Leitao sensed the Japanese maneuvers and knew he was about to face a brutal fight. He quickly checked his weapons and equipment, preparing for the showdown to come.