Chapter 009: Victory and Defeat are a Fine Line

After listening to Zdoctor's degree, everyone fell silent

In a moment of despair, a young man in black, who was closely guarding Zdoctor's degree, brandished his large revolver and fired continuously at the western window and the broken wall, while the middle-aged man in black struggled to lift his long gun, ... engaging in this final battle ...

Snap ... ... Crack!

Enough! The Zdoctor, who had been mostly silent, suddenly spoke up, "Gentlemen, you have done your best. If we continue fighting, the result will be total annihilation. Since the Norman Empire values this old body of mine so much, let them take me back and grind me to dust! Please help take this box away and convey my message to the President. Although the military technology of the Free Federation cannot compare to that of the Norman Empire, the faith of our warriors in defending freedom contains boundless strength, sufficient to thwart the expansionist ambitions of the Norman Empire time and again! Gentlemen, please cherish your freedom, and treasure every minute you live and fight for freedom!" Please help take this box away and convey my message to the President. Although the military technology of the Free Federation cannot compare to that of the Norman Empire, the faith of our warriors in defending freedom contains boundless strength, sufficient to thwart the expansionist ambitions of the Norman Empire time and again! Gentlemen, please cherish your freedom, and treasure every minute you live and fight for freedom!

Weiss wanted to raise his gun, but he found that he felt as if all his strength had been drained, and he could not lift it at all

The Norman Empire's troops, are they not like those white wolves from last night, relentless and insatiable? However, since there are reserve forces available, when a wave of attacks is on the verge of victory, why not deploy this reserve unit to secure the win? This is illogical and contrary to common sense

As Weiss's research was nearing completion, the enemy's "Mule Driver Combat Group" finally began their assault. Under the commands and urgings of one or two officers, they charged out of the woods, each carrying their respective weapons—some with guns, others with branches resembling guns. Their skirmish formation was more form than substance; some were well spaced, while others overlapped, making them vulnerable. If they encountered a skilled marksman, a single bullet could take out two of them.

Weiss did not act arrogantly; instead, he humbly sought advice from this soldier on the use of the enemy's rifle and the essentials of shooting

Upon hearing this analysis, Weston immediately became excited: "Ha! Buddy! You are truly a genius! Quickly, everyone gather the enemy's weapons and ammunition; dealing with a group of muleteers is more than enough for us few!"

Boom

Next, the extremely disheveled team will return to Shelter No. 9 on the snow-capped mountain, awaiting the arrival of the patrol ship for rendezvous

The people in the room fell to the ground one after another, leaving no firepower to obstruct the enemy's attack. The Norman dogs must have taken off running wildly. Weiss struggled to get up, picked up his gun, and staggered forward a couple of steps, only to suddenly discover two enemy soldiers outside the broken wall of the east wall, staring at him with a fierce gaze.

"Muleteer! It is a muleteer!" a soldier suddenly exclaimed, "It takes three days to travel from the border of the Norman Empire to here, and there is a baron in the convoy. They must be using snow mules to transport various supplies. The number of mules will determine the number of muleteers!"

Weiss took the rifle filled with bullets from the tall man again, ready to continue in its heated state, when suddenly he heard someone shout from his side, "Caution, explosives!" His heart sank instantly: what was this all about now?

At this moment, Weiss realized that the tall man's waist and back were a bloody mess, and such wounds were clearly caused by a large-caliber rifle bullet

Weiss sat down heavily, coughing, and spat out another mouthful of old blood

Snap ... ... Crack!

On the beam, Weiss spread his legs, straightened his upper body, and leveled his rifle. His shooting actions became increasingly proficient, and his shooting stance grew ever more stable. Four shots were fired, two of which hit the target, and both were headshots, the bloody scene delivering an additional psychological shock to the remaining enemies

Taking up the telescope, Weiss carefully observed the movements in the woods to the west and finally discovered a clue: "Something is not right! Those people are not quite the same as the soldiers who just attacked us! They seem timid, some are examining the guns in their hands, while others appear to be holding sticks. They do not look like soldiers; rather, they seem to be coerced into this..."

The warrior looked at him with admiration: "You are a born officer, and you will undoubtedly become an excellent commander"

Moments later, someone turned the tall figure over from above, anxiously checking his condition, and also "liberated" Weiss.

Thinking of this, Weiss exclaimed: "Everyone, please do not rush; I believe the enemy's actions are part of a conspiracy"

Weiss did not respond, but instead lowered his head to search for the previously changed "Falcon". As a result, he found the sniper rifle, but the scope on the gun was shattered and could no longer be used

Ding dong

After a short while, the gunfire ceased, and the wooden house was filled with the remains of the fallen.

Is this the rhythm of hanging up?

Weiss turned his head to look out the window; in the western woods, he could faintly see about twenty to thirty people preparing to launch an attack

Weiss heard two consecutive gunshots, followed immediately by a violent explosion, and the sensation of a heavy weight pressing down on him made him feel as if he had returned to the moment of killing the polar bear. However, this time, the weight on him was that of a large soldier

In the past, Weiss would have likely given up resistance, but after experiencing the recent battle, especially witnessing Luke's death, he stood firm and, in his own way, turned the tide. The spirit of a warrior had been awakened within him, and he glared fiercely at the two enemy soldiers, clearly prepared to face death with valor.

"Who has the telescope? Hmm?" Weiss asked while searching for his backpack. Fortunately, the room was quite small, and he found it quickly. Moreover, the items in the backpack had provided some cushioning during the previous explosion, and the binoculars remained intact.

In terms of construction principles, the standard rifle of the Norman Empire is quite similar to the "Grumman Fire Stick"; however, the feel and evaluation of the two are worlds apart. The reason lies in the more advanced metallurgy and casting technology of the Norman Empire. A barrel of the same thickness can withstand greater chamber pressure, and the quality of the firing pin is also superior. Therefore, they are able to produce lighter and better rifles. The Ulster Free Federation can only ensure that its standard rifle does not fall behind in effective range and power by increasing the thickness of the barrel and the size of the firing pin. A barrel of the same thickness can withstand greater chamber pressure, and the quality of the firing pin is also superior. Therefore, they are able to produce lighter and better rifles. The Ulster Free Federation can only ensure that its standard rifle does not fall behind in effective range and power by increasing the thickness of the barrel and the size of the firing pin.

Ding dong

At a distance of less than five meters, they only need to move a finger to bring about their own Game Over

To the east, Weiss and the tall man joined forces to fend off the enemy; to the west, two warriors fought alongside a middle-aged man in black; to the north, three injured soldiers worked together to carry the line

With the threat of enemy snipers diminished, the room was filled with the exhilarating sound of gunfire

If Luke were still alive, he would definitely be proud of him

Turning around to look at the tall figure with the best physique, he did not come back to life, but lay there motionless, his face already devoid of color.

Indeed, he has saved himself once again! This time it was a selfless act of rescue, exchanging life for life

"Mr. Long, you are the genius," said the soldier who had just received praise from Weiss. "Seeing the enemy gathering their troops, we didn't think of anything else, nor did we observe carefully; we almost took the initiative to abandon the mission."

Weiss originally planned to eliminate these two individuals and then climb back onto the roof to launch a counterattack against the enemy advancing from the west. However, upon seeing the enemy soldiers throw dangerous explosives, he immediately sensed that the situation was dire. He glanced down briefly, jumped straight down from the beam, and rolled to the side.

Speaking of which ... what exactly is a patrol ship ! ? If there are still pursuers from the Norman Empire behind, the patrol ship should be able to eliminate or drive them away, right !

Taking a deep breath, exhaling deeply, after two deep breaths, I feel my breath has calmed down significantly

Ding-dong

Accompanied by a deafening explosion, the ground shook violently, smoke billowed, and countless wooden fragments, snow, and mud splattered into the air. Weiss fell to the ground, feeling as if his internal organs had been shattered. When he turned his head to look, he could not help but feel fortunate for his decision to jump down from the beam: the east wall of the wooden house had been blown open with a gaping hole large enough for a horse to pass through, the entire fireplace had collapsed, and several beams had been shattered. Had he remained on the beam, even if he had miraculously survived, he would have inevitably suffered fractures, concussions, and internal bleeding.

Weiss pinched his own arms and thighs, hmm, it seems he is still a bit lacking compared to these muscular men, but he is much stronger than his past self

Ding dong

Hey, officer, how are you? Officer! Wei Si was slapping his face and pinching his acupoint, yet there was still no response

Snap ... ... Crack!

In less than half a minute, Weiss fired another four shots, resulting in three hits and one that went slightly off target. Among the more than ten enemy soldiers who charged out of the woods, only six remained. They did not hesitate or retreat; instead, they continued to advance towards the wooden cabin in a skirmish line. Clad in identical white trench coats and wielding rifles approximately the size of a "Grumman fire stick," they moved swiftly across the snow. However, for Weiss, these clearly well-trained soldiers had a fatal flaw: during their offensive, they would periodically stop to shoot from a kneeling position before rising to advance again. While this brief pause for shooting provided some cover, it also offered the enemy an excellent opportunity to take aim!

But they did not open fire; instead, they pointed their guns at Weiss and shouted, "Drop your weapon, hands on your head, you lowly Alster worm!"

A "Thunder Bomb" was thrown from the opposite side, and another was launched from the wooden house. They exploded simultaneously in less than a second. Weiss watched as several Norman soldiers were blown away, snow and mud swirling in the air; he saw the west wall of the wooden house blown apart, countless splinters flying chaotically inside the room; he felt himself being thrown backward, crashing heavily onto the floor, and immediately spat out a mouthful of old blood that sprayed three yards away.

Recalling his previous admonitions, remembering Luke on the roof, Weiss felt a heavy heart, as if even the breath he exhaled carried a profound chill

Snap ... ... Crack!

Weiss's small universe erupted in an instant

Under the beam, the tall figure timely handed another fully loaded "Grumman Fire Stick" to Weiss, replacing the empty rifle. With the stock against his shoulder and the muzzle pointed towards the ground, without even looking, he deftly pulled back the bolt, loading bullets into the chamber one by one

"Conspiracy? What conspiracy?" the injured middle-aged man in black replied cautiously.

The young man in black hesitated for a moment but still took the box from Zdoctor's degree. His weary yet resolute young face was now filled with helplessness and sorrow, and his bright, expressive eyes could not hold back the tears streaming down.

Thus, everyone eagerly picked up the enemy's rifles, collected bullets from them, while the young man in black also returned the small leather case to Zdoctor's degree, softly comforting a few words before joining the ranks of those preparing for battle

The last two enemy soldiers attacking from the east stopped simultaneously. One knelt on one knee, raised his gun, and fired. The bullet pierced through a hole in the roof, grazing Weiss's right cheek and nearly ruining the face that had just regained its confidence. The other stood sideways, holding the gun in his left hand and using his right hand to throw a dark object.

Looking around, the only survivors on this side, apart from the Zdoctor's degree family of three and two men in black, are 3 soldiers and myself, who is merely an onlooker. Each of them has suffered greatly, and the intensity of the battle is not to be overstated. The soldiers are tending to each other's wounds, while the young man in black is bandaging the middle-aged man in black. They have removed their outer garments, and each one is broad-shouldered, muscular, and robust. Could it be that in this perilous world, the creatures that have survived the process of natural selection are exceptionally strong? Therefore, both rifles and handguns are of large caliber, and the probability of being killed by a single bullet is higher than that of being merely injured?

Without waiting long for Weiss to indulge in his wild thoughts, a soldier suddenly shouted: "Look! Norman dogs! They have many more people!"

"Four hits in a row!" Weiss roared, "This is me! The unique me!"

Weiss's heart sank sharply: Indeed, the Norman Empire is quite arrogant, sending troops across the border to pursue. It would be acceptable if they sent one or two small squads, but this is a continuous wave after wave without pause, determined to annihilate us completely!

Beware! As soon as the warning from the tall man reached Weiss's ears, a thunderous explosion erupted from the west side of the wooden cabin, causing the entire structure to shake. If Weiss had not been somewhat mentally prepared, he might have fallen from the beam and injured himself severely.

"Counterattack!" shouted the tall figure, "Throw the explosive!"

The immense shock from two successive close-range explosions, coupled with the violent impact of hitting the floor, left Wei Si's body in turmoil. He hoped that the tall guy would get up and give him a hand, but this fellow remained motionless, his only remaining left eye now vacant and unfocused.

The smoke of gunfire had not yet dissipated, and he stood up unsteadily, as if walking on cotton, making his way towards the west wall. Outside the window, a Norman soldier approached with wide eyes and an open mouth, his expression one of fierce aggression.

Is there really no choice but to sit and wait for disaster to strike

"In the face of events, one must remain calm and learn to think in reverse; this way, it becomes difficult to fall into the enemy's trap." - Weisdahl

Upon hearing this, Weiss knew without turning around that the so-called thunder explosion was something similar to a hand grenade. He raised his gun, took a deep breath, and unleashed his newly mastered phantom shooting technique, executing a rapid four-shot combo, taking down the enemy soldiers who were already within thirty to forty meters of the cabin one by one

He picked up the "Grumman Fire Stick," turned around, and fired a shot out of the west-facing window, immediately knocking down a Norman soldier. In the blink of an eye, he pulled the bolt, reset, raised the gun, aimed, and fired, creating a bloody hole in the chest of another Norman soldier

At that moment, a dark object suddenly flew out from the east wall of the room, and before Weiss could react, a robust figure suddenly pounced, knocking him aside