Chapter 259

Chapter 259: Mustang Outrage

“According to intelligence, the enemy has a helicopter! I hope you can take it down!” Abik took a deep breath. According to Omar’s report from yesterday, a reconnaissance team had encountered the enemy’s helicopter and had since lost contact, likely falling into enemy hands.

“Don’t worry! I’ll take care of it for you,” Lin Mo replied calmly, wiping his hands as if he had just finished breakfast. He tucked his legs away and stood up, saying, “Good luck, Abik!”

“Take care!” Regardless of the outcome of this battle, the mercenary leader and the village chiefs completely recognized Lin Mo as one of their own. This status was unchangeable.

Lin Mo did not plan to tell Abik the full truth about what had happened the night before. It was not appropriate for him to know, as such information could bring trouble—things beyond the grasp of someone at their level.

The saturation madness of the "Metal Storm" had completely triggered the unprecedented appetite of the Gold Giant Dragon.

After the shooting stopped, the normally starved giant dragon suddenly found itself "fasting" just when it was about to gorge itself, which must have soured its mood immensely.

It was like enjoying a delicious meal only to have someone take the plate away; the anger would drive any dragon mad. In fact, that’s exactly what happened.

Lin Mo initially planned to keep the Gold Coin in its armored state, preparing it to rush in and decimate the enemy, but this dragon of slaughter finally lost control due to its overwhelming desire for food.

Instead of obeying Lin Mo’s command, the Gold Coin used Lin Mo as a pillar, suddenly growing two giant metal wings, instantly disintegrating into countless metal feathers that swarmed towards the group wielding the "Metal Storm."

The Dragon of Slaughter made a rare and dramatic appearance in this world. This not only showed disdain for the enemy but also carried a sense of gleeful revenge, maximizing its consuming instinct.

As Lin Mo saw the feathers created by the Gold Coin, he nearly froze in shock. If this disobedient giant dragon was exposed to human eyes, it would be the end, and to make matters worse, they were on a chaotic battlefield filled with onlookers.

This presented Lin Mo with a massive dilemma.

To protect his secret and this greedy creature, Lin Mo devoted all his Battle Energy, once again utilizing the transformation of quantity into quality. He unleashed a dazzling burst of Light Battle Energy and shockwaves around him, fully covering the dragon’s actions.

Countless silver feathers, sharp as blades, tore into the heavily armored soldiers in an instant, ripping them to countless fragments. These heavy armors, made of considerable amounts of flexible nano-metal, were just the kind of delicacy the Gold Giant Dragon craved, leaving not a trace behind.

Simultaneously, two eight-wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers vanished without a trace, an act that took barely a second, becoming part of the dragon’s feast.

From the moment it flew out until its return, it was barely three to four seconds. The dragon, now burping, finally knew to return and landed back upon Lin Mo inside the silver armor, bringing along several one-cubic-decimeter “ignition” component standard modules; undoubtedly, it had devoured non-digestible electronic components and had taken them home in a bundle.

After unleashing this tremendous move, Lin Mo, feeling depleted of his Battle Energy, took a deep breath to stabilize his emotions. He checked to confirm that everyone within a hundred meters of him had been knocked unconscious. Any enemy still alive found a sword at their forehead from Lin Mo.

This served as a wake-up call for Lin Mo. Although this giant dragon no longer posed a life threat, if it wasn’t fed well, it would eventually cause him big problems.

The armed militants who initiated the night attack, along with the reinforcements that followed, had no chance to escape, resulting in a complete rout.

……

At nine in the morning Kabul time, outside the mountain pass of Gem Valley, bullets began to fly fiercely with the dawn, leaving little pause between gunshots.

Stone fragments erupted from both sides of the mountain pass as figures struggled to move toward the pass, facing various obstacles. Occasionally, a grenade would strike, knocking one or two figures back, quickly followed by a hail of bullets that left the exposed combatants bloodied corpses.

Bullets aimed toward Gem Valley’s mountain pass intensified, with grenades and mortar shells continuously landing on the mountain positions, exploding in balls of fire. Even the flying shrapnel held lethal force. Digging trenches on the slopes created solid fortifications to protect those inside.

The defenders at the mountain pass did not hesitate to fight back, seizing captured mortars to roar in retaliation. The matching firepower of both sides led to a stalemate in the battle for the pass, with the attackers suffering heavy losses for every inch gained.

With the daylight illuminating the battlefield, the strong young men and mercenaries of Gem Valley excelled, fully utilizing their advantageous position.

Mercenary leader Abik and his capable subordinate Kadiya shouted from their positions, “Aim and fire; don’t waste bullets! No continuous fire; I want you to use aimed shots! No unauthorized attacks!” The Bearded Squad Leader, proud of his dashing appearance, was now covered in dirt, making him look decades older. He wasn’t concerned about his looks now; if the enemy charged, he would have time in hell to groom his precious beard.

Last night’s lesson led Kadiya to sternly warn the Pashtun strong young men against acting without orders.

Military discipline was strict; any saboteurs of the battle plan would face immediate execution, whether intentional or not.

“Fire, aim and shoot!” Kadiya aimed his AK-47 at an enemy hiding behind a boulder and pulled the trigger, blood spraying as an armed militant fell, flailing before becoming still.

“Fire, Machine Gunner! Take out those RPGs; they’re so annoying!”

“Mortar, drop shells behind that boulder! Dammit, what are they pushing? Blow them out!”

“Bak, bring your team to support the west; their firepower is too strong, and it looks bad over there.”

“Fight with me!”

While firing his AK-47, Kadiya continuously observed the battlefield, issuing orders and managing troop movements. If chief Abik were present, he would surely feel pleased to see another excellent commander emerging.

“The enemy’s firepower is too strong; we can’t hold out!” someone shouted from a position pinned down by intense fire, calling out to comrades behind.

“Hold on! Grenades are coming to support us! Hold on, hold on!”

The sounds of gunfire melded together on the battlefield, not only demonstrating the armed militants’ cautiousness but also their careful, steady approach without recklessly charging. In the wide-open mountain pass, even newcomers with automatic weapons could make seasoned bandits think twice.

The attacking enemy numbered over three hundred but was effectively obstructed by the young men and mercenaries of Gem Valley, making any advance extremely difficult.

Bullets zipped through the air, acrid smoke filled the area, and many covered their mouths and noses, wide-eyed, wary of bullets that might come from unexpected corners.

The firepower now was fiercer than that of World War II; however, it only resulted in occasional cries of agony, nearly three thousand rounds for a single casualty. Most shooting ended up being blind, with no accurate target in sight.

“Look, a helicopter! Damn, the enemy’s air power is on the move. Everyone get ready,” Kadiya shouted upon hearing the roar of engines.

Suddenly, a helicopter rose behind a ridge outside the mountain pass, with gunners clinging on each side of the fuselage, starting to open fire on the pass.

The combination of ground and air attacks placed tremendous pressure on the defenders. Bullets swept across the positions, accompanied by the cries of mercenaries and Pashtun young men, as casualties unexpectedly increased.

“Calling Gem Valley! Calling Gem Valley! The enemy has deployed a helicopter! We need support! We need support!” Facing the enemy helicopter, Kadiya couldn’t guarantee how much of their positional advantage would remain. The trenches and shelters were nearly defenseless under the helicopter’s firepower.

Just as Kadiya desperately called for help over the walkie-talkie, behind the mountain pass, a powerful engine roar surged from within Gem Valley. A shadow suddenly burst out of the pass, soaring into the sky, a vintage propeller fighter without any markings but recognizable in its old gray paint.

The defenses at the mountain pass erupted with excitement.

“An airplane! Our airplane! Haha, praise Allah!”

“We have an airplane too! Come on, you fools!”

“Shut up! The enemy is coming again! Where are your eyes? You’re the real fools!”

“Get down! Don’t stand up! Watch out front; they’re coming! Don’t look up at the sky!”

The Pashtun young men, originally suffering under the oppressive helicopter fire, couldn’t help but cheer loudly and even chanted verses from the Quran. Still, nearby mercenaries quickly silenced them, reminding them that aerial tactics weren’t business for foot soldiers.

“Helicopter! I see it! Fire!” Lin Mo’s cockpit dashboard lit up with several Light Mirror Techniques, completely replacing the radar. He had locked onto the helicopter with the onboard fixed sight and gently squeezed the trigger. Flames shot out from both sides of the wings.