Near the hill, the squad commander "Tombstone" suddenly raised his fist again, and the whole squad instantly froze. All the members tacitly searched for the nearest cover, their gun muzzles vigilantly pointing towards their respective sectors of responsibility.

"Anything?"

The deputy commander inquired softly through the throat microphone, his voice tense.

"Not sure..."

The voice of "Tombstone" carried a trace of barely detectable doubt, as he strained to widen his eyes, scanning the dark sandy slopes on both sides through his panoramic night vision goggles.

Too quiet. Even the annoying wind from before seemed to hold its breath deliberately at this moment.

This was an unnatural silence, as if the sound of the entire world was being sucked away by some invisible force. The unease in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

Just as he was about to issue the order to retreat for more thorough reconnaissance—

Whoosh—

Whoosh—!

A sharp, piercing tearing sound suddenly ripped through the suffocating silence!

The sound came from the darkness above, approaching fast, faster than imaginable!

"Mortar!!!! Take cover—!"

The seasoned "Tombstone" immediately recognized the type of shell from the distinctive sound slicing through the air, and issued the warning at the fastest speed.

Yet, his roar had barely left his throat when it was completely swallowed by the deafening explosion of the first round!

Boom!

Three 82mm high-explosive mortar shells crashed almost simultaneously into the center, front, and rear of the squad's marching column!

Clearly, this was a salvo.

Not even a test shot!

This meant that the coordinates here had long been marked.

The artillery data of the enemy's artillery was already set!

Dazzling orange-red fireballs exploded suddenly in the darkness, instantly illuminating the twisted gorge and faces filled with terror!

A massive shockwave expanded spherically, wildly sweeping outward, carrying deadly preformed fragments and shattered gravel, sweeping everything like a steel storm!

"Ah—! My eyes!"

"God! Save me!"

"Medic! Hamid's hit!"

The shrill screams and painful groans burst briefly in the gaps between the explosive bursts, then were covered by more intense shelling!

Jiang Feng gave the enemy no time to react!

As soon as the first salvo exploded, the observer confirmed within just a second that the deviation of the shell impact was almost zero, and all pre-set mortar positions poured down the rain of death at the highest rate of fire!

Boom boom boom boom—!!!

The entire valley instantly turned into Purgatory!

The continuous explosion of fireballs illuminated this area with an uncertain flicker, thick smoke mixed with dust shot into the sky, forming a dense wall of smoke.

Scorching metal fragments screamed sharply through the air, mercilessly penetrating limbs beyond the bullet-proof plates, tearing equipment, reaping lives.

The ISOF members at the forefront were initially subjected to devastating blows; facing the overwhelming strikes coming from above, their training levels and individual protection were clearly inadequate to cope.

The "Delta" members displayed stronger battlefield survival instincts, executing actions such as diving and seeking low-lying areas or craters the moment they heard the whirring sound.

But the lethal radius and explosive power of an 82mm mortar, in such relatively narrow terrain, were exerted to the fullest!

There's nowhere to run!

"This is 'Gray Fox' squad! We've encountered heavy artillery ambush! Coordinates...repeat, coordinates...request immediate..."

JTAC "guide" was thrown to the ground by the blast wave of the first explosion, struggling to get up, grabbed the AN/PRC-163 multifunction radio hanging on his chest, desperately calling out, his mouth and nose filled with choking smoke and sand.

Boom!

Another shell exploded less than ten meters behind him!

The intense shockwave slammed him back on the ground, the radio was flung out, bounced off a rock, and its indicator light instantly went out, likely damaging its internal components.

He felt dizzy, his ears left with nothing but a buzzing sound.

"Baghdad Command Center! Baghdad! 'Gray Fox' calling! Do you read? We need emergency air support! Repeat, emergency air support! Position..."

The deputy commander used a large rock for cover, took out a spare satellite phone, desperately pressing the send button, but only a flashing error prompt appeared on the screen—

The intense shockwave severely damaged the equipment, significantly disrupting communication quality.

"Establish a circular defense! Deputy, left wing! 'Doctor', right wing! Rescue the wounded!"

"Tombstone" spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, a flying fragment had cut the corner of his mouth earlier.

He shouted hoarsely, trying to rally the remaining strength.

But under this earth-shattering artillery bombardment, the so-called defense circle was as fragile as paper, with each explosion reducing the number of survivors.

The relentless bombardment continued for nearly two minutes, seemingly as long as a century.

When the echo of the last shell finally faded in the canyon, the valley temporarily fell into an eerie silence—

Compared to the previous explosions, now only the painful groans of the wounded, and the survivors' ears filled with an all-encompassing roar.

With the aftermath of the cannonade not yet fully dissipated—

"Assault! Group One left, Group Two right, Group Three frontal suppression! Capture them alive!"

Jiang Feng's cold and clear order instantly broke the brief silence!

In an instant, the slopes on both sides of the previously dead silent valley erupted with countless figures, as if a hive had been startled awake!

Hundreds of "Musician" Defense Battalion mercenaries, draped in desert camouflage, faces painted with camouflage, eyes flashing coldly behind night vision, swiftly charged down the slopes towards the bottom in deft three-person tactical group formations, like a pack of wolves that sensed blood in the air!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com