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An invisible shockwave erupted from Trens' right foot, slamming into the pitch-black cannonball.
Swish!
The shockwave sliced the cannonball in half, causing it to explode mid-air.
Trens strode forward, emerging from the flames and leaping into the air toward the enemy's main force.
"Infantry, aim at that one in the air and fire!" the Commodore barked, his eyes icy as he spotted Trens.
Instantly, the rifle squad trained their sights on Trens and opened fire.
"Damn it!"
Suspended in mid-air, Trens felt a sudden, icy prickling sensation all over his body, the unmistakable sign of being targeted by countless gun barrels. His heart clenched.
Compared to the artillerymen, the infantry outnumbered them significantly. In that instant, he knew countless rifles were aimed at him.
Peng! Peng! Peng! Peng!
As a chill ran through Trens' heart, the infantrymen had already pulled their triggers, unleashing a storm of fire.
Bullets streaked through the air, targeting Trens as he hung suspended in mid-air, making him a perfect target.
"Sandwall!"
A cold voice cut through the chaos. Crocodile, still under relentless cannon fire, extended a hand and clenched his fist.
A dense, impenetrable Sandwall rapidly materialized in the void before Trens.
Countless bullets slammed into the Sandwall, kicking up clouds of dust, but they merely embedded themselves in the barrier, unable to breach it.
Seizing the opportunity, Trens swiftly retreated to Crocodile's side.
This probing attack revealed the enemy's superior equipment and exceptional combat skills, honed by experience. Their fighting style differed sharply from the Marines', yet their lethality was undeniable.
"These guys are no ordinary soldiers!"
Trens glanced around and realized they were completely surrounded by enemy forces.
Snipers, infantry, artillery, and commanding officers, each face was grim, showing no sign of panic.
Even as they stood still, the Army soldiers continued to adjust their positions, moving swiftly to find the best defensive and offensive points.
"Trens, take out their artillery!" Jason roared, his face dark with anger.
The relentless cannon fire was their biggest problem, severely disrupting his assault rhythm.
If they could just break through the enemy lines, Jason and Crocodile's combined might would easily inflict heavy casualties.
"Understood!"
Gradually, the relentless cannon fire forced the trio to retreat. At the same time, Crocodile manipulated sand to form a powerful protective wall.
Flames erupted continuously, but the trio remained largely unharmed.
Click!
As the Black Gun shifted, Trens prepared to aim.
He focused his gaze through the sniper scope, his spirit and focus instantly coalescing. Through the lens, he saw a soldier loading a cannon barrel.
"Distance: 532 meters. Wind direction: slightly west."
"One shot, one kill!"
In an instant, he made his judgment and pressed down with his right hand.
Bang!
The Black Gun shuddered as a bullet roared from the barrel, piercing the artilleryman's forehead in a split second.
"Ugh!"
The artilleryman, caught completely off guard, slumped to the ground.
"Next!"
Trens' expression remained unchanged as he swung the gun around and pulled the trigger again.
Bang!
Another figure fell. After dozens of shots, chaos erupted within the main Army force. Half of the artillerymen were gone, their faces etched with panic.
"Sniper!"
The Commodore's face was icy as he glared at Trens.
"Order the Sniper Squad to take that kid down! And make it quick!"
His voice was cold and sharp as he barked orders, which his subordinates swiftly relayed.
In that instant, countless rifles aimed at Trens from the towering trees lining the alley and the rooftops of nearby buildings.
Trens' entire body tensed, sweat beading on his forehead.
"I'm locked on!"
A bone-chilling dread washed over him. His instincts screamed of imminent danger, yet he dared not move a muscle, his body frozen in terror.
"Trens, what's wrong?" Jason asked, noticing the sudden silence of gunfire.
"I'm locked on," Trens whispered, his lips barely moving. "They have a sniper too!"
Jason's face darkened instantly.
This enemy was proving far more formidable than he had imagined.
A sniper! As Trens' comrade, he knew all too well how difficult it was to defend against such long-range attacks.
"Are you alright? Are you in danger?"
Crocodile asked intently, scanning the surroundings but finding no sign of a sniper. He immediately realized this hidden enemy was unlike anything he had encountered before.
"I can handle this," Trens gritted out. "You guys take care of them. I've already taken out most of the artilleryman; he shouldn't be able to interfere with you now!"
His right hand tightened around the Black Gun, his eyes blazing with determination.
He didn't tell them that at least five snipers had locked onto him. His brutal assault had clearly enraged the enemy commander, who had ordered his immediate elimination.
"We have to find their positions!"
"But they won't fire, so how can we pinpoint them?"
"That means there's an opening!"
"A fleeting one!"
The light in Trens' eyes intensified. This life-or-death duel made his heart pound so hard it felt like it would burst from his chest. Adrenaline surged through him, making his entire body tremble with exhilaration.
The enemy snipers were clearly elites among elites, their hiding places meticulously concealed. Relying solely on his intuition, Trens had no way to locate them.
Gradually, everything faded from Trens' vision. He closed his eyes.
Two breaths later, he could only feel the wind, hear his own breathing, and the pounding of his heart, blocking out everything but himself.
"Just a moment, I have to seize it!"
A silent duel began, both sides holding their breath.
The five snipers realized Trens' tenacity. Their crosshairs tightened, the pressure from their barrels almost unbearable. Yet, at that critical moment, he closed his eyes.
"He's preparing a counterattack, waiting for the instant we fire!"
The five experienced snipers quickly understood.
Simultaneously, they felt a grudging admiration for their opponent. Few dared to attempt such a bold move, this was undoubtedly a high-level technique in the sniper realm.
"It's a pity, though. Courage and daring don't guarantee success!"
"Fire in sequence, with a time interval of..."
"Zero point two seconds!"
(End Of This Chapter)