Chapter 162: Against the Black Wolf

Inside the "Zhu Long" Base, within the Holographic Tactical Training Ground codenamed "Abyss."

Eight newly promoted "Zhu Long" squad members had completed the initial neural link with their respective Living Performance Mobile Battle Armor. The armor clung to their bodies like a second layer of skin; the dark bio-armor flowed with a faint sheen under the lights, and the faintly visible internal energy conduits pulsed like breathing.

They were adapting to this sudden, explosive power. A light leap could carry them across a trench several meters wide; a casual strike could punch through thick special-grade steel plating; and the all-around vision and data streams provided by the Tactical Goggles had elevated their battlefield awareness by several orders of magnitude.

Novelty, excitement, and a trace of awe toward this unknown power filled every heart.

Qin Feng and Gao Yuan stood on the observation platform, watching the adaptive training of the squad members below.

"The armor's performance far exceeds expectations, and their basic qualities are solid enough—they're adapting very fast," Gao Yuan said with an objective assessment, though his eyes could not conceal his shock. Even though he had known about this project long ago, seeing the finished product with his own eyes and the enhancement it brought still made his blood surge.

Qin Feng nodded, his gaze falling on the burly man codenamed "Bedrock," formerly a Delta Force heavy-firearms specialist, now equipped with a defense-and-fire-support-oriented model of armor. He was attempting to operate the Micro Multi-Barrel Rapid-Fire Cannon extending from the armor's back for precise aimed fire, his movements still slightly clumsy.

"Strength and equipment alone are not enough," Qin Feng said lightly. "They need a real baptism of combat, to hone at the edge of life and death the fighting instinct that fuses them with the armor. You can't raise beasts capable of tearing apart jackals in a greenhouse."

Gao Yuan's expression sharpened: "You mean...?"

Qin Feng did not answer directly, but called up an encrypted information interface, which displayed intelligence that had just been intercepted and deciphered by "Amber" through Special Channels.

"The 'Black Wolf' Mercenaries have been very active lately," Qin Feng said, pointing at the information on the intel. "They've been hired by a multinational energy giant and are currently in a turbulent region of West Africa, helping local warlords suppress resistance organizations. Their methods are extremely brutal, with massive civilian casualties. More importantly, the core objective of this operation is to seize a Mine Vein that has just been discovered, one containing a special Radioactive Element. According to our preliminary analysis, that element is extremely unstable; if improperly mined or used, it could trigger a regional ecological disaster, or even be used to manufacture a Dirty Bomb."

Gao Yuan's gaze instantly sharpened: "'Black Wolf'... one of the top five hard nuts in the international mercenary world. Its members are mostly retired special forces from various countries, well-equipped, fierce in style, and... utterly without bottom lines."

"Exactly," Qin Feng said, a cold arc curving at the corner of his mouth. "A fine whetstone, isn't it? It can rid the people of a scourge, test the armor's real-combat performance, and prevent a potential humanitarian crisis and ecological disaster."

He looked at Gao Yuan: "Notify everyone. In one hour, the 'Zhu Long' squad's first real-combat mission briefing."

One hour later, the Base Briefing Room.

All eight "Zhu Long" squad members were present, in civilian clothes, but the gleam in their eyes showed they were already fully in the zone.

Qin Feng conducted the mission briefing personally. On the giant Holographic Sand Table, the terrain of the target area, the warlord's sphere of influence, the known bases and troop deployments of the Black Wolf Mercenaries, and the location of that critical Mine Vein were all clearly marked.

"... Intelligence shows the Black Wolf main force numbers about forty, equipped with heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, and possibly even man-portable air-defense missiles. Local warlord forces number about two hundred, with mixed equipment but large numbers. Our mission objectives are: one, completely eliminate the Black Wolf Mercenaries and stop them from seizing the Mine Vein; two, gather as many samples and data of that special Radioactive Element as possible; three, where conditions permit, conduct a 'decapitation' strike on the local warlord chieftain to dismantle his armed forces. This operation is codenamed 'Purging Flame.'"

The mission content was clear, but the disparity in forces between enemy and friendly was vast, the environment complex and unfamiliar, and the difficulty extreme.

There was no fear on the squad members' faces—instead, they were eager to try. Now armed with "Zhu Long" armor, they longed for a real battle to prove themselves and to test the limits of this equipment.

"The mission area is one hundred and twenty kilometers from the coastline; we will infiltrate covertly via HALO jump," Gao Yuan added, filling in operational details. "Remember, this is not a drill. The 'Black Wolf' are experienced butchers—any hesitation born of mercy may cost you your life. But equally, we are not butchers; try to avoid involving innocent civilians."

"Understood!" the eight replied in unison, their voices steady and forceful.

"Finally," Qin Feng's gaze swept across each resolute face, "remember who you are. You are 'Zhu Long,' Guardians in the shadows. In this battle, you are permitted to win, but not permitted to lose. Not only must you win, you must win cleanly and decisively, and strike terror into the hearts of 'Zhu Long'! Let certain eyes hiding in the dark see clearly—some bottom lines must not be crossed!"

"Yes, Leader!" the eight thundered in reply, their eyes burning with fighting spirit and conviction.

Several hours later, a disguised ultra-high-altitude stealth transport plane, under cover of night, quietly flew over the target area.

The cabin door opened, and a powerful gust of air howled in.

The eight "Zhu Long" squad members were already fully suited up. The streamlined dark armor nearly merged with the shadows in the dim cabin light; only the Tactical Goggles flickered with a cold, faint glow.

Gao Yuan, serving as tactical commander and likewise equipped with a Command-Type Battle Armor, stood at the cabin door and made a hand signal.

"Zhu Long, deploy!"

Without a word of excess, eight figures leapt from the cabin one after another like ghosts, swallowed instantly by the clouds.

High in the sky, the gale howled fiercely. The Adaptive Camouflage on the armor's surface activated, blending perfectly with the night sky. Relying on the armor's powerful flight-stabilization system and navigation, the squad members adjusted their posture and, like eight silent meteors, glided precisely toward the designated drop point.

Qin Feng remained at the Base Command Center, monitoring the entire operation through the real-time data and first-person visuals transmitted back from the squad members' armor.

His expression was calm, but deep in his eyes, there was likewise a trace of anticipation.

This was "Zhu Long's" first cry—and the first time this hidden force in his hands bared its fangs to the world.

Target: West Africa. Enemy: "Black Wolf."

The hunt begins.