Stronger with More Jobs-Chapter 429 - 228: The Abandoned Village of Black Pine Ridge (20,000-Word Update 1/5)_3

Chapter 429: Chapter 228: The Abandoned Village of Black Pine Ridge (20,000-Word Update 1/5)_3

They are pure "battlefield bulldozers" and position destroyers.

The staff officer explained while playing the blurred footage captured by battlefield recorders and processed.

Iron-Eating Ghosts, like steel centipedes, tore through the ruins, unleashing a storm of metal.

Like living darkness, the Shadow Weavers flickered in the shadows, faces of fallen soldiers around them frozen in extreme terror.

The huge body of the Baboons swung their massive claws, smashing an abandoned building like a pile of blocks...

The scene was accompanied by the harsh sound of metal grinding, the silent wailing phantoms, and the thunderous roars of the Baboons, full of suffocating pressure.

"In addition to these three main threats, there are also numerous common Shadow Dogs, Corrupt Poison Flies, Rock Puppets, and other medium and small Life Ghosts mixed in, forming tidal assaults."

The staff officer finally added, "The terrain at Black Pine Ridge is a typical mountain valley with three sides surrounded by mountains and only a narrow valley path leading out. The ruins of a village lie at the valley floor. Our strategy is to hold the valley entrance, to trap and destroy the Life Ghost Tide inside the valley. If the entrance is lost, the surge of Life Ghosts would directly threaten multiple towns and villages several tens of kilometers away."

The amount of information was enormous, and the level of danger was frightening.

Chu Kuanglan listened with a grimace, Lu Jiuyuan’s eyes were sharper, Wei Banmeng’s cool face was full of gravity, fingers tapping unconsciously on the tabletop.

Jiang Wei watched the Iron-Eating Ghost paused on the tablet screen, her small brows slightly knitted, seemingly deep in thought.

Fang Qingyu silently noted down all the key information.

Particularly focusing on the weaknesses and attack patterns of those large Life Ghosts.

In the molten gold-like depths of his eyes, there was an extreme calm analysis.

After the explanation, Zhou Zhenguo said in a deep voice, "Captain Fang, this is the situation. Black Pine Ridge is in your hands! In addition to your team, an enhanced company will accompany you, responsible for perimeter security, communication support, logistics supply, and wounded transport. The company commander will report to you."

Soon, a tall and robust officer, like an iron tower, briskly entered the tent.

About thirty, with dark, shiny skin, a square face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, a gaze as sharp as an eagle, exuding a fierce, iron-blooded aura as he walked, the muscular body beneath the training uniform nearly bursting the fabric.

The shoulder insignia displayed the rank of Captain.

"Report!" The officer stood firm before Fang Qingyu, his voice loud as a bell, "Anjiang Battle Zone, Only Witness Corps, Third Mobile Brigade, Fierce Tiger Company Commander, Zhang Tiezhu! Ordered to lead Fierce Tiger Company, to cooperate with Hidden Dragon Special Team, stationed at Black Pine Ridge! Awaiting instructions!"

"Commander Zhang, thank you for your hard work."

Fang Qingyu rose, calmly extending his hand, "I am Fang Qingyu. This is Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, Lu Jiuyuan, Jiang Wei. The defense of Black Pine Ridge requires our joint effort."

He paused for a moment particularly on Jiang Wei, but without any doubt, only pure obedience and a hint of curiosity.

He shook Fang Qingyu’s hand with force, a grip coarse and powerful like iron pincers: "Captain Fang, rest assured! The entire troops of Fierce Tiger Company will support to the death! Ensuring the completion of the task!"

No superfluous words, action is the best language.

Ten minutes later, at the camp entrance.

A convoy of three reinforced and modified military off-road vehicles and five wheeled armored personnel carriers carrying soldiers and supplies had already started their engines, emitting a low roar.

Warriors of Fierce Tiger Company moved swiftly, boarding the vehicles silently and orderly.

Faces of the young soldiers were filled with determination and a touch of gravity as they headed to the battlefield.

Zhou Zhenguo stood with a group of officers, solemnly seeing them off.

Fang Qingyu and his four comrades boarded the lead off-road vehicle.

Zhang Tiezhu personally took on the role of driver.

"Move out!"

Zhang Tiezhu lowly roared into the communicator.

The convoy kicked up a trail of dust, slowly moving away from the camp, along the winding mountain road, towards the valley dozens of kilometers away, shrouded in deep red markings.

Zhou Zhenguo stood in place, long watching the convoy disappear around the bend of the mountain road, until the last trail of dust vanished from sight.

The heaviness on his face didn’t fade, instead growing deeper.

He slowly turned to his longtime aide by his side, his voice low yet resolute, imbued with an undeniable command tone:

"Old Liu, immediately detach an elite squad from the brigade’s direct reconnaissance battalion. The best troops, the finest equipment. Deploy them secretly to the perimeter of Black Pine Ridge, staying hidden and awaiting orders. The task is singular: at all costs, ensure the safety of Captain Fang Qingyu and his team! If you receive my order or if Black Pine Ridge faces insurmountable danger, cover their retreat without delay! Understood?"

Hearing this, the aide Liu Weiguo’s face instantly turned extremely bitter, even with a hint of disbelief: "Commander! This... Black Pine Ridge has been entrusted to the special team, but the pressure at our other points hasn’t decreased at all! The Second Battalion just reported that the disturbance at Red Willow Gully is unusually intense, while the Third Battalion is struggling to hold Eagle Beak Cliff, manpower is short everywhere! The elite squad... that’s the brigade’s last bit of mobile reserve! If they’re deployed, and in case..."

"I know the manpower is insufficient." Zhou Zhenguo’s voice was low and hoarse, carrying an undeniable iron-blood tone, "The defense line can be thinned, pressure can be withstood, but this elite squad must be dispatched! Execute the order immediately!"

"Yes, sir!" The aide glanced at the hard side profile of the commander, his heart clenching, not daring to advise further, and immediately took the orders to leave.

Zhou Zhenguo stood alone, the mountain wind blowing against his graying temples.

He slowly closed his eyes, the echoes of a few hours ago replaying in his mind.

The solemn exhortations of the mysterious old man during their communication:

"Commander Zhou, that young man named Fang Qingyu, his survival is more important than holding a province. If necessary, at any cost..."

At any cost...

Zhou Zhenguo suddenly opened his eyes, looking towards the thick gray clouds in the distance, the undulating dark green mountain ridges like the spine of a giant beast, his gaze extremely complex.

All he could do was silently pray...

Hoping that the elite squad would never be needed.