Bang bang bang…

Rushed bullets abruptly rang out from the top of the hill. The bullets flew from the top to the bottom and lodged itself into the tree trunks. It caused a rain of wood shards and falling leaves.

“He’s right there!” One of the Japanese samurai called out.

“Charge!” Fuma Kotaro roared back.

The few that survived the unannounced attack earlier began sprinting uphill as they returned the favour with their MK17 assault rifles. This particular rifle was used by the American Army, so it was safe to say that its overall performance was highly praised. Other than this excellent weapon, the Japanese samurais were armed with traditional ninjutsu weapons as well. They were more capable than regular soldiers in both close combat or long-distance attacks.

Bang bang bang…

Bang bang bang…

Fire from both parties ensued. At this point, the rain of bullets was aimless and blind. They were shooting at whatever they could see in hopes that it would hit something in the process. However, the stray bullets had only gotten as far as breaking trees and grazing past boulders. The accuracy was perhaps less than one per cent.

Fuma Kotaro was dashing for the source of the bullets, where the snipers were presumably. His ensemble was a little different from the rest. In his grip was not an MK17 but his trusty kusarigama. He had vehemently refused to even touch the MK17, citing that only cowards would settle for a firearm. Sure his body was huge and strong but his speed was incredible. The way he sprinted along the forest ground without a damn made him feel like a human tank! All the smaller trees in his way were all knocked into odd orientations!

The distance between them was getting shorter.

Bang bang bang…

Bang bang bang…

The increasing volume of gunshots was the tell-tale sign of their growing proximity.

The fire in the Japanese samurai’s eyes was fiery. As soon as they got close to their target, there was no doubt that they’d go for the kill without any reservations! No one could walk away unscathed in an outnumbered battle with so many veteran ninjas, not even Xia Lei could survive this!

“Charge!” One of the Japanese samurai roared like a beast, hands dropping to swap their bullet magazine.

Ka-boom! Before he could even toss away the empty magazine, his legs were mutilated into blood and meat chunks. His upper body was sent flying upwards by the impact waves. The man had tasted the freedom of flying seconds before his consciousness went out.

“Watch out! Landmines!” Another Japanese samurai was fast enough to alert his comrades.

But a bullet had flown over and hit the ground beside him.

Ka-boom!

The unfortunate Japanese samurai instantly lost a leg and half of his stomach. His intestines and organs were sent up into the sky. Pitter patter, a sea of red began raining down onto the others. The suffocating smell of blood and soot began to spread everywhere in the forest.

All of the Japanese samurais halted their footsteps and were forced to go into hiding. They swiftly dispersed off to hide behind sturdy trees.

Bang! One of them was shot in the calf. As soon as he doubled over in pain, another bullet zoomed over and exited his skull clean.

It seemed as if the assaulter could see everyone’s hiding spot clearly from where they were at. The slightest show of their bodies was enough to get them killed. There was no doubt that the sniper had fearfully amazing marksmanship!

Fuma Kotaro’s mind abruptly clicked. He finally realized who he was up against. It was Xia Lei! He was suddenly reminded of how Hattori Mei had constantly described him as the world’s best sniper and how the man was capable of precise aim within a three-kilometre radius. If he was capable of killing someone who was three kilometres away, such a short distance was certainly not an issue for him.

“He’s at my left!” A Japanese samurai shouted out from behind a tree trunk in an attempt to warn his comrades about the sniper’s position.

Just as his sentence fell, another bullet was sent his way from the left. Another headshot.

Fuma Kotaro urgently barked, “Keep quiet!”

Bang!

The tree shielding Fuma Kotaro from danger was shot, causing it to wobble slightly from the impact. If this tree wasn’t a sturdy American red oak, it was certain that Fuma Kotaro would’ve already met his end!

This jolted the large man awake. He had to stop underestimating his enemy

The Grim Reaper was right here in the woods, suppressing everyone with the stress of imminent death. Everyone who had survived the earlier ordeal had hopes that they’d be able to take out Xia Lei with ease but that confidence had all but vanished. At this point, half of them were gone and any leeway of their bodies would result in an awful death. Heck, even their voices would betray their position. Waiting it out would only result in death too! They were forced to a corner!

One of them decided that they could no longer bear the stress. He turned around and dashed for the foot of the hill right away.

Bang!

Another gunshot rang out.

Ka-boom!

One of the planted landmines was triggered and broke the fleeing Japanese samurai into halves. His steps had missed the explosives but the sniper was capable of triggering it with a bullet!

The impact a bullet brought was all it took to activate a landmine. The unconventional but smart usage of landmines would no doubt send chills down everyone’s spine on the battlefield.

Bang bang bang…

The last three remaining Japanese samurais began firing their assault rifles into that direction.

Just as the three of them successfully suppressed the other party with firepower, Fuma Kotaro darted out of his hiding place and bulldozed his way over.

Ka-boom!

An explosion was heard from the other side of the woods, the battle over there had begun too. The other battle had begun with a slight delay of a few minutes.

Within a flash, Fuma Kotaro had made it to the presumed sniping spot. Weirdly, no snipers were in sight, let alone Xia Lei. The only thing present there were two bullet magazines still smoking hot.

Bang!

“Ah!” Someone screamed from behind.

That made Fuma Kotaro snap his head around, only to be welcomed by more ringing gunshots and screeches of agony. Cold sweat began to bead across his forehead. Those who trailed behind him in the woods were selected elites by the top samurais themselves. Despite that, they were slaughtered like pigs at a slaughterhouse. What made it worse was the fact that they had yet to catch a glimpse of their enemy’s face so far!

Bang!

This time, there was no scream that accompanied it. Fuma Kotaro just knew that the last Japanese samurai that entered the woods with him had met their end. Other than the missed shot fired at Fuma Kotaro, not a single bullet was in vain!

It meant that the only ones left in this side of the woods were Yagyu Yuichi and him. However, Yagyu Yuichi was evidently not in the same area as he was. If the older man was present, there was no way he’d be forced into a defensive position.

“Come out!” Fuma Kotaro gave up hiding, revealing himself in plain sight as he stepped out from behind a tree. He screamed in the direction of where the bullet had come from. “You fucking coward! What else are you capable of other than firing cold shots while hiding? Chinese coward! East Asian sissy!”

His booming voice echoed throughout the valley. His voice was exceptionally loud, even those on the other side of the forest could catch his words clearly.

The other side was still in the midst of a fiery battle without a drawn line between victory and defeat.

The battle on this side of the woods, however, was nearing its end. Just as Fuma Kotaro’s provocative words had echoed twice across the valley, the formidable killer had finally decided to show himself.

Xia Lei stepped out into a clearing, like a deity descending from the skies.

Atop his shoulder laid a sniper rifle while the man had his grip around a Gust assault rifle. Using a sniper rifle for long-distance attacks in a forest battle was a great choice but wasn’t ideal for close-range battles. Its body was too long and it had a slow rate of fire. Despite that, his choice of weapons wouldn’t make much difference in this battle. The most eye-catching point was how clean his body was despite the intense battle. There was not a corner of his clothing that was soiled by dirt nor blood, let alone dust! It was almost as if he was here for a shooting game instead of a real-world battle!

He was just too clean.

And that was their first encounter.

Fuma Kotaro was unfazed even at the sight of Xia Lei’s brandished assault rifle. His menacing build was an advantage that made him look like an ape that conquered the woods. Fuma Kotaro narrowed his gaze at Xia Lei with murderous intent. “Come on! Fight me with your fists like a man, fucking coward!”

Xia Lei pulled the trigger without offering another word.

Clack!

No bullets were produced from the Gust assault rifle.

Xia Lei pressed on it a few more times and all that was produced were empty clicking noises. It was obvious that he was out of ammunition.

“Go to hell!” Fuma Kotaro lunged forward. As he sprinted over, the kusarigama in his grip was thrown out towards Xia Lei’s neck. There was no way Xia Lei’s neck would be tougher than the lizard he decapitated earlier.

Fuma Kotaro was freakishly fast but Xia Lei was faster. Just as the kusarigama had escaped the man’s grip, Xia Lei stomped his foot against the ground and leapt backwards. At that split second, the bladed ends of the iron chain missed his neck by a hairline. Fuma Kotaro’s aim was so precise that it felt like he had measured everything out with a ruler!

“Hahaha!” Fuma Kotaro bulldozed over Xia Lei. He started to provoke Xia Lei as he worked his weapon, “Come on, put in some elbow grease! Can’t reach for the gun anymore, aye? You may be a skilful shooter but you’re out of luck here!”

Xia Lei dodged the slash with feline-like agility. One slash from the kusarigama was powerful enough to slice through a young red oak tree. The young tree was cut off in the middle with a cut so smooth that it looked like it was subjected to a polisher!

Xia Lei clambered up from the ground, the Gust assault rifle nor the XL2500 sniper rifle no longer in his hold. He was now armed with a military dagger instead.

Fuma Kotaro was taken aback. He could clearly see that Xia Lei had a pistol strapped to his outer thigh and he certainly had a chance to pull that out just now. For some reason, Xia Lei had reached for the blade instead of the convenient pistol.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Fuma Kotaro snorted with evident disdain.

Xia Lei finally spoke, “I had the choice to make your death quick and easy but you called me a coward one too many times. That’s why I decided to not make your passing easy for you. I’ll slash your tendons then chop your tongue off. And as a finishing touch, I’ll slit your throat.”

“Ptui!” Fuma Kotaro spat. “Fucking coward! Just admit you’re one like a champ, dude. You’re a coward through and through. In fact, all of you are cowards!”

Xia Lei shook his head. “Jeez, guess I gotta add another move to the list. I’ll cut your dick off before slitting your throat.”

“Fuck you!” No one had ever in Fuma Kotaro’s life dared to belittle him. Doused in raw fury, he strode and tossed his weapon at Xia Lei’s throat.

Xia Lei did not back away nor did he dodged it. He merely bent over like a cat and kicked the ground. Utilizing the momentum, he lunged forward like a cannonball towards Fuma Kotaro who still had his arms extended.

Was Fuma Kotaro fast?

Yes, he was without a doubt.

However, in Xia Lei’s eyes, his movements were sluggish. Each of Fuma Kotaro’s moves was made clear to him!