Wind Bullet

The governor said there was nothing to worry about, so there really was nothing to worry about.

The governor outranked heaven and earth.

The outstanding training results and performance had brought about a major change in the mindset of everyone in the Waste Mine Company. Once they learned they were going to war, they threw themselves into it, determined to win a glorious victory and show the governor their loyalty and courage.

They did get to fight, but things hadn't gone quite the way Pobov had first imagined.

After surrounding the estate, he had volunteered to lead the charge, but the governor had turned him down. He could only follow behind the armored vehicles and take part in the second wave of the assault.

That was certainly easier than leading the first wave, and the casualties would be fewer, too. But he and his men all felt it was a disgrace.

And now one of his own young soldiers was still shouting in front of the governor. Pobov was mortified.

After reprimanding the young soldier, he turned to Gu Hang and saluted. "The enemy has refused to surrender. May we begin the attack?"

Company Commander Pobov looked eager to get started. He was just waiting for the governor to nod so he could lead his brothers into the fight.

He already had the whole plan worked out: the mortar teams would shell the first- and second-floor windows; the squad machine guns would rake the main entrance; then, once they were done, the best-performing infantry squad from training would charge through the shattered front door and ground-floor windows to secure the lobby...

"We are going to attack, but you won't be involved."

"Huh?"

"I'll handle this one myself." Gu Hang then called out, "Yan Fangxu! You're coming, too. Bring two assault teams."

"Yes, sir!" The captain saluted, then turned to gather his men.

"Governor..." Pobov was getting worked up.

But Gu Hang raised a hand to stop him. "I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush."

The governor looked toward the building before them. His eyes turned blue and white. He could see a mass of wind gathering inside the house.

"There's a difficult enemy in there."

"We people of Waste Mine aren't afraid!" Pobov puffed out his chest. "You gave us a new life, Governor. We're ready to prove our loyalty with our lives!"

"That's good." Gu Hang smiled. "But loyal soldiers shouldn't make needless sacrifices. Your lives still have greater things to accomplish."

Pobov looked like he wanted to say more, but Gu Hang waved him off. "Carry out your orders."

"Yes, sir!"

The company commander returned to his troops, still reluctant. As several soldiers crowded around him, all asking whether they were finally going in, he relayed the governor's order.

The soldiers were just as disappointed as he was. They tried to talk him into volunteering again, but he glowered and sent them packing.

Gu Hang paid no attention to what the officers were doing. He kept observing the situation inside with his psychic sight while estimating how much Psionic Power he had left.

He had spent some earlier, but not much. It should be enough for the battle ahead.

By then, Yan Fangxu and the elite Marines were ready. Gu Hang would be joining them in the fight himself.

Overall, the troops who had come down from the Quintet were worthy of their reputation as an elite force. Their equipment was excellent, and their tactical skills were impressive. They were highly reliable.

Of course, even they wouldn't simply charge through the doors and windows.

They were good, but refusing to use available support and forcing their way in anyway would be foolish.

The Waste Mine Company could still play a role in this battle. The company's mortars, along with the Servitor Company's mortars and squad machine guns, had all been brought out separately.

The machine guns raked the windows and main entrance with sustained suppressive fire. Mortar shells flew through the windows and exploded inside. At such a short range, well-trained soldiers could put the shells right through the windows. If one occasionally missed and hit the outer wall, that was no problem; they could just reload and fire again.

Gu Hang's territory still had no way to produce ammunition or shells to replenish their stocks. The ammunition they were using was still being scrounged from the starship. But their reserves were sufficient for now, and they didn't need to ration their supplies.

After two rounds of bombardment, Gu Hang and Yan Fangxu led the Marines in a sudden breach.

They weren't attacked at first.

The places they were assaulting had already been through a barrage. No mercenary would dare stay in a room covered by machine-gun and mortar fire.

The Marines then began rapidly clearing the building.

They split into well-trained teams. After confirming the exterior and corridors were clear, they kicked in the doors one room at a time. They followed their breach procedures to the letter: a battering ram to break the door, a tactical grenade tossed inside, then covering fire from multiple angles before entering...

They followed the same procedure whether or not anyone was inside.

If a room was empty, it only wasted a little time and a grenade. If it wasn't, the efficient, lethal assault usually left the occupants no chance to fight back.

They cleared the estate room by room.

As Gu Hang walked up the stairs, he heard gunshots crackle briefly from different parts of the building, then quickly die away.

The battle was already decided.

He could see the mass of wind still gathered in the same room, unmoving.

"Not even daring to fight back? All that caution for nothing..."

As the Marines cleared the rooms one by one, Yan Fangxu came to Gu Hang and reported quietly, "Every room in the estate has been cleared. Only this one remains."

"Good," Gu Hang ordered. "Breach it as you normally would."

"Yes, sir!"

The Marines who had been standing by sprang into action.

But this time, things didn't go as smoothly as before.

The moment the wooden door was smashed open, a dense, visible spiral of white wind—the Wind Bullet—blasted out from inside.

The Marine who had just broken open the door was caught off guard and had no way to dodge. He was about to be hit.

But in that instant, the Wind Bullet collapsed.

Gu Hang had intervened just in time.

The clash of psychic forces had shattered the spiraling Wind Bullet.

The force left behind was still a powerful gust. It blew the breaching soldier backward, leaving him in a sorry heap, then swept down the outer corridor, making everyone stumble.

They might have been blown around, but at least no one was hurt.

A man's voice came from inside:

"Don't come any closer! Nobody come any closer!"

His voice was full of panic.

It was clear that the man inside wasn't much of a fighter.

But the Marines outside weren't about to let that soften them.

Even though they realized their enemy possessed some kind of extraordinary power, they continued their advance without the slightest hesitation.

Yan Fangxu was the first to react to the gust. He leaned into the room himself and immediately spotted a pale middle-aged man with two bodyguards beside him.

The bodyguards in black tried to shoot him, but Yan Fangxu was far too fast for them. As they raised their guns, the captain's Electromagnetic Rifle had already fired. The magnetically accelerated metal spikes killed them instantly.

He then turned his weapon on the middle-aged man. When the man raised his hand, apparently preparing to do something, Yan Fangxu fired again without hesitation.

A miniature storm swirled around the man. Psionic Power flashed as it deflected the metal spike rounds.

But several soldiers entered right behind Yan Fangxu and opened fire together.

The Storm Shield's defenses were in immediate danger of collapsing.

At last, Gu Hang stepped into the room.