30: Chapter 30: Map Refreshes, Fierce Battle in the Battle Zone!

The midnight mountains were wrapped in thick darkness, and even the moonlight was swallowed by heavy clouds.

Su Han leaned against the trunk of an ancient pine tree, his breathing so light it was almost inaudible.

His tactical watch showed that there were still 57 minutes until the map refreshed.

In the observation room, the numbers representing the remaining personnel of each unit flickered on the electronic sand table:

[Falcon: 4 people]

[Divine Sword: 5 people]

[Snow Leopard: 3 people]

[Wild Wolf: 4 people]

[Desert Wolf: 4 people]

[Dragon Shark: 3 people]

...

"Current leaderboard." The Chief Referee signaled the technician to switch the screen.

[Falcon Special Forces Brigade: 11 points (Su Han personal 9 points)]

[Divine Sword Special Forces Brigade: 9 points (Long Bao personal 6 points)]

[Snow Leopard Special Forces: 5 points]

[Wild Wolf Assault Team: 4 points]

The twelve Captains stared at the real-time updated leaderboard; the air was so thick with tension it could almost be wrung out like water.

"Hahaha!" Wang Yuanchao slapped the table and laughed loudly, making the teacups jump. "See that? One private from our Falcon took 9 points! That's more than your entire Snow Leopard and Wild Wolf combined!"

The Captain of Snow Leopard's face turned ashen. "Don't get happy too early, it's only the first day! The competition is a war of attrition!"

"A war of attrition?" the Captain of Wild Wolf interjected sarcastically. "Except for Su Han, your other three Falcon members only have 2 points combined. Are they all hiding?"

Long Zhan from the Marine Corps suddenly pointed at the screen: "Look! The map is starting to shrink!"

On the large screen, the green area that originally covered the entire field was shrinking at a visible speed, finally settling on a circular area 8 kilometers in diameter. The electronic sand table automatically calculated the distance between each participant and the new combat zone—

"Su Han is 12 kilometers away from the new zone!" the technician exclaimed. "He's the furthest one!"

The Captain of Divine Sword, Liu Bo, grinned. "Now the show begins. Anyone who doesn't reach the safe zone within two hours is eliminated. It looks like Falcon is going to stumble this time!"

Wang Yuanchao stared intently at the screen, only to see the blue dot representing Su Han suddenly begin to move at high speed, nearly twice as fast as the other participants!

"This kid..." Wang Yuanchao murmured to himself, "is really putting his life on the line..."

At this time, whoever could reach the combat zone first would be able to quickly occupy the most advantageous terrain for hunting and defense; those who arrived late would likely become the prey!

...

In the dense forest, Su Han's figure moved through like a ghost.

His tactical watch showed that he was 11.3 kilometers from the safe zone, with 1 hour and 52 minutes remaining.

"I'll make it." Su Han's lips curled slightly as he suddenly changed his route, heading toward a dry riverbed—the terrain there was flat, allowing for a full-speed sprint.

12 kilometers in 2 hours; on a normal road, this could be easily accomplished within an hour.

But this was in the mountains, where the paths were rugged and uneven, filled with countless obstacles.

Furthermore, one had to guard against other enemies lying in ambush along the way.

All of these were factors that affected speed!

Meanwhile, at the edge of the safe zone.

Five Marines from the Southeast and North were quickly assembling.

In past competitions, the Marine Corps participants were relatively weak.

Therefore, whenever they encountered fellow Marine Corps members, they would choose to form an alliance first to counter the Army.

The leader, "Tiger Whale," looked at the locator and grinned, revealing porcelain-white teeth: "Brothers, we are the first batch to arrive. It's time to prepare a little 'surprise' for the latecomers."

"Water Ghost" smiled sinisterly as he pulled thin steel wire from his backpack: "I'll set up trip-mines on the east side."

"Crab" checked his rifle magazine: "Leave the northern high ground to me."

Within a short twenty minutes, a perfect death trap had taken shape—

Five naval elites controlled three high points and two essential paths of the safe zone, forming a cross-fire network.

"Tiger Whale" lay under a camouflage net, observing the distance through night-vision goggles: "The prey is here."

...

In the observation room, Wang Yuanchao suddenly stood up: "Not good! Zhou Mo and Monkey are walking right into the trap!"

On the large screen, two red dots from Falcon were rapidly approaching the safe zone, completely unaware of what awaited them ahead.

"Hahaha!" the Captain of the Southeast Military Region Marine Corps stroked his chin smugly. "Our Navy boys have such tacit cooperation. These two from Falcon are likely going to meet their end here."

Wang Yuanchao's fists clenched until they cracked, but he could only watch helplessly as the tragedy unfolded—

If it were Su Han, he wouldn't be worried.

But now it was Zhou Mo and Monkey.

While Zhou Mo's strength wasn't weak, if he faced a five-man encirclement, he would definitely be unable to win!

"500 meters to the safe zone!" Monkey lowered his voice, sweat dripping down his tactical mask.

Zhou Mo made a gesture to stop, and the two crouched behind a patch of bushes.

Under the moonlight, the forest ahead was eerily quiet.

"Something's wrong," Zhou Mo narrowed his eyes, "it's too quiet."

Just as Monkey was about to speak, Zhou Mo suddenly tackled him to the ground!

Swoosh—

A bullet whistled past Monkey's helmet and exploded against a tree trunk.

"Sniper! Three o'clock!" Zhou Mo rolled behind a tree, quickly judging the source of the gunshot.

Just as Monkey tried to move, a second bullet hit his calf.

"Damn it, luckily it only hit my calf," Monkey cursed under his breath.

"Monkey, stay hidden!" Zhou Mo shouted, only to see three dark shadows flanking them from different directions.

"Friends from Falcon, surrender." The Marine Corps' "Tiger Whale" approached slowly with his rifle raised. "You are surrounded."

Zhou Mo leaned against the large tree and quickly checked his gear: a Type 92 pistol, 7 rounds of ammunition, and one smoke grenade. He took a deep breath and suddenly shouted: "Monkey, smoke grenade!"

Almost simultaneously, the two threw their smoke grenades together!

Boom!

White smoke instantly enveloped a ten-meter radius.

Zhou Mo lunged out like a leopard, rushing straight for the nearest "Water Ghost" under the cover of the smoke.

Bang! Bang!

Two precise pistol shots; the first hit "Water Ghost's" right arm, and the second hit his chest.

The sensor on "Water Ghost's" chest immediately emitted white smoke—a hit to the upper body, direct elimination!

However, Zhou Mo was also hit in the left arm by a bullet coming from the side; the sensor lit up red but didn't smoke—the arm would need another hit to be eliminated.

"Hit in the left arm!" Zhou Mo gritted his teeth and rolled, but the gun in his right hand remained as steady as a rock.

He dove behind a rock, firing two more shots on the way. The second bullet grazed "Sea Snake's" tactical vest, but it only hit the edge and didn't trigger the sensor.

Although Monkey was hit in the leg, he remained prone on the ground observing the battle: "Captain Zhou, there's another one to the east!"

Just as Zhou Mo turned his head, a bullet hit the spot where he had just been.

He fired back with a backhand shot; the bullet flew past "Tiger Whale's" cheek, giving the opponent a cold sweat.

"Damn it, how is this guy's marksmanship so accurate!"

"Tiger Whale" cursed as he changed his magazine.

Zhou Mo took the opportunity to change his pistol magazine, but by now his position was completely exposed.

Four Marines slowly closed in from four directions.

"Brother from Falcon, you've been very heroic."

"Sea Snake" shouted, "Put down your weapon."

Zhou Mo leaned against the rock, but a cold smile curled on his lips.

He looked at the red sensor warning light on his left arm, then at his remaining 3 bullets, and suddenly gave a resolute smile.

"You want my life?" he suddenly roared, "Then come trade your own for it!"

At the moment the four opened fire, Zhou Mo suddenly leaped from cover and fired a precise double-tap at "Sea Snake"!

Bang! Bang!

The first shot hit "Sea Snake's" right shoulder, and the second hit him directly in the chest! White smoke erupted from "Sea Snake's" chest, and he was eliminated on the spot!

But Zhou Mo himself was hit by two bullets in succession—one in the right leg and one in the left chest!

The chest sensor immediately emitted thick white smoke!

"No!" Monkey watched helplessly as his Captain was "killed," but in the final moment before falling, Zhou Mo used all his strength to toss his pistol to Monkey!

"Catch!"

Monkey caught the pistol and fired two consecutive shots at the nearest "Tiger Whale"!

The first shot hit the opponent's thigh, and the second grazed the tactical vest without hitting a vital spot.

"Tiger Whale" returned fire with a sneer, and both bullets hit Monkey's other leg—with one shot in each leg, Monkey was finally eliminated!

In the end, the five-man Marine alliance took out Zhou Mo and Monkey at the cost of two of their own being eliminated.

The electronic leaderboard flickered:

[Falcon Special Forces Brigade: 13 points (Zhou Mo +1 point, Monkey +1 point)]