Chapter 99: 『Modern Warfare』: A Solo Duel Against the Five Permanent Members (4.2k)

Shen Yan’s brain felt like it had exploded with a 'buzz'.

No ammunition?

He found it hard to believe that this was the reason.

But looking back now,

it seemed that at the very start, many of the Republic soldiers on the front lines were carrying broadswords, and guns with bayonets were few and far between.

So it wasn't that they didn't want to use them...

It was that they simply didn't have many guns or bullets, and could only engage the little devils in close-quarters combat.

Shen Yan was a bit dazed.

He had originally thought that in the previous scenario, when fighting the American Freedom Federation, the Republic soldiers had already suffered enough.

He hadn't expected that before the Republic was even founded, the situation was even worse.

And this was just one battle. If one looked at the entire Republic,

Shen Yan’s scalp tingled just thinking about how much they must have endured to become the powerful Republic seen in 【Republic Blue】.

As Shen Yan stood there slightly stunned, the tall, burly man spoke up to comfort him:

"It's just a lack of ammo, it's fine."

"We've made it this far anyway, and one day we will drive the little devils out."

"Let me tell you, these little devils, if you're weak, they're strong. Don't look at them squealing and shouting like little ghosts; you just go up and give them a slash."

"I guarantee you'll send them back to their old home. Next time you see a little devil, you just follow behind me..."

Shen Yan finally snapped out of it, listening to the tall, burly man’s experience on killing 'devils'.

Elsewhere.

In 【Highland Reaper】.

Qu Guang and the members of the Second Special Battalion who entered the plot were not separated at the start like in 【Republic Lu Bu】. Their perspective appeared directly above Highland 597.9.

They could clearly see the situation on the battlefield.

The American troops below the highland were continuously shelling the position, and soon, due to injuries and deaths, only one young Republic Volunteer Army soldier remained on the highland.

Looking at this situation, and the American troops below,

everyone truly couldn't imagine how to hold out for 12 hours and repel 41 enemy attacks.

However.

Facing the American troops surging in like a tide, this Republic Volunteer Army soldier did not retreat at all. His left hand dragged a crate of grenades under him.

His right hand pressed down on the machine gun to fire, while his left hand continuously threw grenades. Just one person created the illusion that an entire squad was still there.

This scene left the members of the Great Xia Federation stunned.

The screen kept fast-forwarding.

The first wave of the charge.

The second wave of the charge.

Watching the Republic Volunteer Army soldier on the position, throwing grenades with his left hand to create smoke, and quickly moving between two positions with a demolition tube in his right hand, then immediately firing the machine gun upon arrival.

The soldiers of the Great Xia Federation imagined themselves in that position—could they do it?

But many of them shook their heads.

The ninth charge.

Until the tenth charge of the American troops was repelled, before anyone could recover.

The next second.

A flash appeared before everyone's eyes, and each person appeared on a position, the smell of gunpowder smoke hitting them.

At this moment.

Qu Guang looked around.

He discovered that he had already replaced the position of that young Republic Volunteer Army soldier, and the American Freedom Federation army below had not yet begun their first charge.

Seeming to understand, Qu Guang looked down and searched, soon dragging a grenade crate back.

The American troops below soon launched their charge. Qu Guang took a deep breath, his left hand reaching toward the grenade crate, taking out a grenade.

And such a scene was playing out in other scenarios as well.

All of them were replacing the Republic Volunteer Army soldiers to defend the position, and once the American troops stepped onto the position,

they would exit.

Before long.

One by one, the soldiers of the Great Xia Federation retreated and stayed in place, waiting.

Even with the demonstration,

the battlefield situation changed in an instant. Sometimes the American troops would readjust their attack based on the firepower on the highland, and toward the end, it was entirely relying on the instinctive counterattacks of the Great Xia Federation soldiers.

But instinct couldn't last long either.

Until everyone had retreated, and the figure of the Republic soldier appeared again, and this time it was facing the eleventh charge of the American troops...

A night passed quickly.

The next day, early morning.

Shen Yan led the men of the First Special Battalion and was the first to wake up from the virtual pods.

Because the fighting in 【Republic Lu Bu】 was not as long as in 【Highland Reaper】, Shen Yan had led the First Special Battalion to continuously start the scenario and train throughout the night.

Their technique for killing little devils was becoming more and more proficient.

The entire battalion, including Shen Yan, had unconsciously developed a fierce aura.

It was all hacked out with broadswords.

Shen Yan looked at the soldiers of the First Special Battalion and nodded with satisfaction:

"Practiced all night."

"Now, just standing there, it's quite scary."

The feeling of hacking devils inside the plot hadn't dissipated, and they still looked a bit frightening.

Everyone laughed out loud upon hearing this, and Shen Yan laughed along, then raised his hand to press down:

"Alright, everyone adjust."

"After eating, go back and get a good sleep."

At this moment.

Qu Guang’s experience had also ended, and everyone sat up from their virtual pods. Shen Yan grinned and walked over:

"Old Qu, how was it on your end?"

Qu Guang looked up at Shen Yan:

"Did you just come back from killing people?"

Shen Yan was also a bit surprised:

"Why are you so calm?"

Having just spent the night killing devils, not knowing how many had been hacked down with broadswords, the fierce intent was displayed vividly on the soldiers of the First Special Battalion.

But Qu Guang rolled his eyes and said calmly:

"Look at the changes in us overnight."

The soldiers of the Second Special Battalion, although not as fierce as the First Special Battalion, had eyes that were incomparably firm. Although none had successfully repelled 41 attacks,

with the demonstration of the battle and their integration into themselves, the highest had repelled nearly thirty attacks.

The soldiers of the Second Special Battalion who had just retreated had incomparably firm gazes. Shen Yan was also shocked to see this, his gaze sweeping over everyone before he gave a thumbs up:

"Not bad."

Then he looked at the soldiers of the two battalions and instructed:

"Everyone go back and rest. Have the battalion commanders of the Third and Fourth Battalions come over to lead the training."

"Tonight, the First and Second Special Battalions will swap scenario experiences."

Shen Yan dismissed everyone, then followed Chief of Staff Qu Guang toward the conference room; he still had to write a summary.

But it had to be said, the effects of these scenarios were simply too good.

They completely filled the void. Before today, the soldiers of the Seventh Special Operations Brigade couldn't have imagined that close-quarters combat could be so tragic.

The close-quarters combat and assassination practiced before... hmm... it wasn't useless.

After all, they wouldn't carry broadswords around now, but perhaps they could consider asking the higher-ups to exclusively produce a batch of folding broadswords. After all, it was different from 'Earth'.

With the technology and materials of Blue Star, folding broadswords could also ensure hardness.

A few days later.

Polar Star Company, President’s office.

The entire room was enveloped by virtual projections. At the edge of the room were virtual stars, and in the center, a water-blue 'Earth' projection was slowly rotating.

And on this 'Earth' projection, blue dashed lines appeared, spreading outward.

On the other side of these blue dashed lines were projections of planets of various sizes, also looking like 'Earth'. Zhao Ming walked to one of the projections.

Knock, knock, knock!

There was a knock at the door, and Zhao Ming said without looking back:

"Come in."

The company receptionist opened the door and said:

"Mr. Shen, please."

Then Shen Qinghan appeared, the sound of her high heels 'clacking'. Seeing the room full of projections, she said with some surprise:

"What are you doing, filling the room with... 'Earth'?"

Zhao Ming spoke up:

"You can think of it as games the company might make in the future. These are all different Earths from different times, separated from this 'Earth' in the very center."

"Using AI to calculate until I'm satisfied."

As he spoke, Zhao Ming clicked on an 'Earth projection' in front of him:

"This is 'WWI Earth'."

Then a picture appeared: on a wide avenue, decorated with colorful ornaments, the public on both sides cheered for the motorcade slowly driving by.

As the picture played slowly, a person suddenly rushed out from the crowd and threw something at the motorcade. The guards on the car reacted quickly, raising their umbrellas while shouting:

"There's an assassin!"

"Protect the Archduke!!!"

Zhao Ming clicked again, the picture disappeared, leaving only this 'WWI Earth' projection in place.

Then Zhao Ming walked to the other side and clicked on a projection slightly larger than 'WWI Earth'. What appeared was a circular hall that Shen Qinghan was somewhat familiar with.

A man in a yellow robe was speaking on the podium:

"The United Nations is now just an empty shell, serving only the (Five Permanent) countries."

As he spoke, he tore up the booklet in his hand, calling out the names of other countries one by one:

"The American Freedom Federation has long been plundering Libya's oil... France's colonization in Africa... If the British don't release the people, we will launch..."

"And the Republic..."

Zhao Ming clicked again, the picture disappeared, then he said with a smile:

"This is 'Modern Warfare Earth', a very interesting point in time."

Then Zhao Ming clicked on a few more Earth projections, some historical, some futuristic. Zhao Ming then raised both hands and made a closing gesture.

All the projections in the room disappeared instantly:

"How about it?"

"These Earth projections are all separated from the center, past and future, it doesn't matter, the photonic supercomputer doesn't cost money, just let the AI control the calculations."

"After all, human energy is limited, it's better to leave it to the AI I trained."

"Calculate development toward specific directions, if not satisfied, just start over."

Actually, the few he just clicked on were only a part of the data he had exchanged, and there was nothing else if he clicked on other Earth projections, but Shen Qinghan didn't need to know that.

Anyway, this could also count as a layer of cover.

And Shen Qinghan, upon hearing this, also twitched the corner of her mouth:

"You certainly know how to find ways."

"How much computing power does this take... but anyway, the Federation is paying, so it doesn't matter."

Zhao Ming smiled, walked back to the desk, and sat in the boss chair:

"How was the new scenario experience?"

Shen Qinghan said:

"The feedback from the Federation is very good, these two scenarios have greatly improved the soldiers."

"Next, the Federation officials will organize daily rotations to show the public the demeanor of our soldiers and enhance the public's sense of security."

As she spoke, Shen Qinghan pushed out two cards:

"Each card has 30 million Federation coins, which is the reward for these two dungeons."

"The agent in the Antarctic Star Federation has also made the Great Xia Federation higher-ups pay more attention, so the reward has increased a lot."

"In addition, the Federation also asked if you have anything you want, you can bring it up."

Zhao Ming leaned back in the boss chair and thought for a moment, then shook his head:

"Doesn't seem like it for now."

"Can I keep it?"

Shen Qinghan nodded and said:

"Yes."

"By the way, how is the game going?"

Zhao Ming leaned back in the boss chair, raised his hand and clicked, and the real-time map of the Polar Star official website popped up:

"The Empire is about to reach the outskirts of Moscow, adjust the game progress."

"It can be opened just in time for the holiday."

At this moment.

Sky Shark Live, Game Section.

In Huang Hao’s live stream room.

In the game.

The hundred or so people brought from Moscow, after the fighting during this period in the game, now only had thirty or so left.

Relying on the trenches dug by countless women and children, and the muddy land after the rain, they barely held off the Empire’s offensive again.

It was mainly because the roads were too muddy, and the Empire’s armor would get stuck, otherwise they would have been pushed over in one wave by now.

When the Empire’s troops retreated, Huang Hao and Political Commissar Alexei were cleaning up the battlefield under the cover of night.

Suddenly.

The body of the Imperial soldier at Huang Hao’s feet suddenly moved.

Not dead?

With this thought flashing through his mind, Huang Hao did not hesitate at all and immediately fired.

Bang!

After one shot, the soldier wearing the Imperial uniform was still not dead, struggling with difficulty, seemingly trying to grope for something. Huang Hao raised his gun again, saying:

"Are these guys really beasts? Their vitality is so strong."

Alexei walked over, shook his head, and said:

"Those are just rumors spread by ignorant people."

"If they were really beasts, that would be fine."

"But unfortunately, our enemies are not bloodthirsty beasts, but ordinary human beings one by one."

"And this... is also the most terrifying part of war."

"How long has it been since 1918?"

"The world has become a mess again."

Political Commissar Alexei’s words inexplicably shocked Huang Hao and the viewers in the live stream.

They also forgot about the struggling Imperial soldier.

Alexei bent down and felt along the direction the Imperial soldier’s palm was struggling.

He felt the Imperial soldier’s pocket.

Then he took out some snacks and a wallet. Alexei opened it.

What came into view was a family photo and a few letters. It looked like he hadn't had a chance to send them yet. Alexei opened the letter and couldn't help but read it:

"Dear Anna: The Imperial troops I am with are marching toward Moscow. I am afraid there will be no time to send the letter in the later fighting. I will attach some things in the letter. The money is for my mother, the chocolate is for you, please pass that box of cigarettes to my father..."

"I've said so much, but actually what I want to say most is... I love you."

"Wait for me to come back, yours... Ben."

After Alexei finished reading, he shook his head, then raised his hand and fired a shot.

Bang!

This time, the Imperial soldier stopped struggling forever.

This scene left Huang Hao and the Blue Star netizens feeling inexplicable. Why was he so sentimental before, and then suddenly so decisive?

Huang Hao was dazed, his mouth agape:

"You..."

9

Alexei stood up and picked up the Imperial soldier’s gun:

"Principles are principles, enemies are enemies."

"These guys are invading my motherland."

"Let's go, Regiment Commander."

"With these weapons, we should be able to build a new defensive line."

Huang Hao nodded subconsciously, then reacted:

"Aren't we retreating a bit?"

Alexei sighed:

"Retreat again?"

"Any further retreat, and it's Moscow."