Long-term salvation

"It is speculated that the lizard may have been in a hibernating state before and then became stronger as it became more awake."

After a brief explanation, Kashiel glanced at the closed ward door and asked in a low voice:

"Boss, will we engage in the upcoming battle?"

"Just wait for notification," Rhode didn't respond immediately. He stood up, put on his all-seeing eye patch, and carefully examined the two wounded soldiers. Then he smiled and said, "After you're discharged from the hospital, prepare to start training. Don't let the extra weight affect your movements."

Upon hearing this, Cashel and the other two exchanged glances, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Yes, BOSS!"

After chatting about some trivial matters, Rhodes left the ward with the farewell of Kashiel and others, and stepped into the cold corridor filled with the smell of disinfectant.

After taking a few steps, Cang Sen Meiya suddenly asked Rhodes:

"Sensei, um...will the Knights of the Covenant also join the battle? I heard about them from Mari and Mika-sama, and I know a little bit about them."

"Rather, isn't it the case that we're preventing them from joining the battle? Their combat effectiveness is self-evident, and some teams even perform as well as the Mobile Task Force." Rhodes felt a headache as he spoke of this, scratching his silver hair. "On the other hand, the Covenant Knights are rapidly infiltrating every area with a large Christian population, and with the help of the Vatican's intelligence network... these guys are more useful than I thought."

"Is it because it's more useful that it's a headache?" The girl's face scrunched up as if she'd just licked a lemon. She sighed and said, "No wonder Sensei doesn't allow us to get too involved in religious politics. Whether things are good or bad, they can all become tools for their exploitation."

"Don't worry about it, Miya, just follow your own path. This is my responsibility as an adult."

Rhode smiled and reached out to touch the girl's head. After receiving a slightly embarrassed protest, he turned his head to look at Rapunzel and asked:

"For the upcoming battle, you two must be prepared. Medical treatment in the rear is no easier than on the front lines, and you may also be involved in rescue and battlefield medical work... After we leave the hospital, I will give you Frigga bullets. You know how to use them."

"Yes, I understand, Sensei." / "Yes, Commander."

After she finished speaking, Meiya suddenly remembered something she had been wondering about for a long time, and she decided to take this opportunity to ask:

"Sensei, what kind of work do you do when you're alone with the others? Even I want to do something for you, but Mari, Yuu, and Mika-sama won't tell me... You look so strange."

"Cough cough."

Hearing this, Rhode coughed awkwardly and said seriously:

"You'll know when you're alone with me, Miya. And of course, Rapunzel too... Wait, why do you look so weird too?!"

Chapter 377: Dark Clouds Rising (1/4)

The late spring wind rolled in from the direction of the Great Lakes. The sky was gray, blurry and gloomy. The unmarked convoy was moving forward in the silent rain clouds that were about to come.

Rhodes sat in the slightly trembling back of a truck, a chessboard in front of him, but no one was facing him. After waiting for a few seconds, dozens of screens on both sides of the truck gradually lit up, revealing black figures inside.

The signal transmitted over such a long distance was still a little fuzzy, causing the light on the screen to seem slow and flicker like waves over and over again, but it was enough to illuminate the dim carriage.

"We are moving into deployment position."

Such sounds were heard on the screen almost simultaneously, overlapping and echoing, like the prelude to a symphony being played in the carriage.

"As an alliance-like organization, the enemy will most likely not cooperate on security, and this will remain the same in the future... Not to mention, there are many other secondary companies that tend to organize their own security."

Rhodes said this, reaching out to pick up a chess piece and wiping it clean with a handkerchief. This was a recommendation from Mr. "Jackal." Although he was a killer and now an agent of the Army Without Borders, he still had a good sense of taste. After placing the pawn back on the chessboard, he continued:

"This is our chance, everyone."

"I must reiterate the core of this mission. Our primary objectives are to raid enemy facilities, collect experimental data, and capture or kill test subjects. Simultaneously, we will target heavily defended nodes and attack their reinforcements... We must annihilate the enemy's elite forces to ensure they have difficulty organizing a large-scale counterattack or delay its arrival."

"We also need to consider the national strength of the region where each unit is located. This requires us to strike quickly and withdraw quickly, and we must not entangle ourselves in it. If the situation reaches a stalemate, you will need to abandon the data that has not yet been recovered and instead completely destroy it to slow down the enemy's research into the other world."

"After a long period of intelligence gathering and preparation, the time has come for us to carry out this operation," Rhodes said calmly. He leaned back in his chair, polishing a chess piece in his hand. "We will learn from our experience, address any shortcomings, and become even stronger."

The screens on either side flickered slightly. In the shifting shadows, Marian quietly leaned in, her eyes lowered, awaiting orders. On this mission, she was the only one accompanying Rhode.

"Now, the coordinated combat schedules and operational communication keys for each area are being distributed. You must complete communication with allied forces within your area within one hour, and then launch your respective operations according to your previously scheduled times."

Rhodes raised his head, and with his all-seeing eyes, he scanned every screen, taking in the faces of every commander of the Army Without Borders. The fully armed officers had solemn expressions. Behind them was a hanging topographic map, densely dotted with military markings in markers, and on a corner of the blackboard, the precise coordinates of artillery coverage or air support were written in chalk.

The commanders and staff of the various units of the Army Without Borders have been preparing for this for a long time, and even live directly in the command center to prevent leaks... The enemy's intelligence capabilities are not weak, otherwise, their actions would have been exposed to the vision of various governments long ago.

"After and during the battle, be aware of any unusual individuals within your respective units. Intelligence personnel will contact you accordingly." Rhode retracted his gaze, pleased that there were no traitors or spies among the mid- and high-level commanders. "This is also a cleansing operation for our ranks. It will be a test for us both internally and externally. Act with caution and fight boldly."

“…Please ask.”

"Go ahead, Colonel Allen Faulkner (Chapter 178)," Rhodes nodded slightly. "I'm all ears."

"According to the intelligence we have so far, the research facility we're attacking contains... This attack isn't just comprised of troops dedicated to resolving otherworldly incidents; the soldiers from other units are less experienced."

Colonel Faulkner said this, and General Hammer on the screen beside him also showed some agreement. After waiting for a few seconds to ensure that his voice was not ambiguous due to the delay, the colonel continued:

"Also, to maintain confidentiality, many secrets will not be released or disclosed to peripheral forces until a few hours before the battle begins... So, in order to avoid causing trouble during and after the battle, it is necessary to clarify this point."

After hearing the colonel's words, Rhodes understood in his heart——

Currently, in the Army Without Borders' sequence, the core is the Mobile Task Force/elite force dedicated to dangerous otherworldly incidents. The next layer is the "Combined Battalion (Chapter 259)" that resolves small incidents and performs blockades, clearing, blocking, and fire support missions. The outermost layer is various security forces, mercenary forces, and other well-trained forces that are assessed to be unsuitable for otherworldly missions... The troops used to fill the front are equally important.

In this battle spanning several continents, in order to achieve the best results, the outer two layers of troops were also planned to be deployed in large numbers into the battle, not to mention the troops from Atlas Corporation.

There are still too few qualified teams for handling inner-world events, especially compared to the entire world.

"Tell the soldiers that every researcher in these facilities is a bad person. As for the test subjects... we'll have to make a decision on the spot."

Rhodes spoke seriously. He, Colonel Faulkner, and General Hammer all nodded knowingly, and the other commanders' faces also changed slightly. After a few seconds of silence, Rhodes let out a long breath and slowly said:

"Execute if you feel danger is present, execute if there's no time to evacuate, execute if you refuse to leave. The lives of the soldiers in the combat units are our top priority. All decisions will be made by the commanders on the scene and the soldiers on the front lines. I will bear the consequences!"

If they can't even handle this little thing, Rhodes might as well hand over the Army Without Borders to Ains as soon as possible!

"Now, please make final preparations. The codeword for the start of the operation will be sent globally simultaneously," Rhodes said. He wiped the last chess piece clean and placed it back on the board. "Make preparations for the war, and leave the rest to detailed intelligence, rigorous training, careful planning, and a tiny bit of luck... For humanity, we will fight until death!"

"Until death!"

The screens in the car dimmed one by one, and finally only the silhouettes of Rhodes and Nikki who was approaching slowly were reflected.

Marian sat down in front of Rhodes. She reached out and picked up a chess piece, examining it carefully, while Rhodes closed his eyes and rested.

He will also lead the team to participate in the battles at important nodes, and the overall command and coordination work in North America will be handed over to General Hammer, Colonel Allen Faulkner will be responsible for the African region, and other smaller areas will be coordinated by Colonel Orlovsky (Chapter 259). Irons and other directors of the Cogito Foundation will observe the battle situation.

Everyone is watching the outcome of this battle, to see whether this borderless army composed of soldiers from NATO, the Warsaw Pact, China and even more third world countries can take on the responsibility of suppressing all evil forces that endanger human civilization.

Rhodes was silent, waiting for that moment to come.

After a long silence, Nikki noticed something and looked at the time. Then she whispered to Rhodes:

"The others have dispersed to various nodes. If any creatures from the other world go out of control, they will intervene immediately, and the Nikkis will directly participate in the battle... We are ready."

"Thank you for your hard work," Rhode said gently. He leaned forward, touched Nikki's head, and said with a smile, "It would be better to shoot me than to ask me to formulate a detailed battle plan. So, now I can only do something more appropriate - like showing people the way or charging with a flag."

"Equally important is the heroic leader who determines the future direction and guides the world, the commander."

Nikki smiled, a bright light flashing between her eyebrows. The machine gun named "First Affection" was hanging at her feet. As she moved, it collided with the metal folding table legs, making a crisp sound.

"Now, before we begin our operation, do you want to play a game? Just to relax. I've learned a lot of chess moves from Himari."

"My pleasure, Marianne."

Rhode took one last look at the time and slowed his breathing to clear his mind of distracting thoughts. Like the directors of the Cogito Foundation, he was a little nervous, but this wasn't about the life-or-death battle he was about to face. Instead, he was worried about the Army Without Borders troops in other regions.

This is the first time such a large-scale operation has been conducted. Can soldiers from different countries work together to complete the assigned mission? Will there be heavy losses? Will there be logistical coordination issues? Can the troops that have entered the facility survive the enemy's desperate struggle? These bastards will not show any mercy when they blow up the base and release poison gas!

Rhode felt a bit uncomfortable with the overwhelming worry, but these thoughts only lingered for a few seconds before being shattered by past memories—the ordinary people who tenaciously faced the disaster in the other world, the horn-eagle squad enraged by the disaster and the slaughter, and the soldiers of the 24th Independent Mechanized Infantry Regiment who volunteered to stay behind to stop the enemy and were annihilated for the sake of the people...

There were too many, so many heroic spirits watching him, asking him why he was so worried.

So, Rhode put all of this behind him and from today on, he no longer had any hesitation:

"I trust my men, just as they trust me... Now, let's get started."

Rhodes pushed the chess piece forward.

"The enemy will hear the thunder and remember our names."

Chapter 378 Codename Thunder: East Africa (2/4)

The Savior of mankind took up the chariot piece and put it down:

Several main battle tanks rumbled across the barren African landscape, their tracks grinding the red dirt road with a strange, creaking sound like countless rusted gears gnawing at each other. The resulting dust clouds blew over the infantry fighting vehicles following closely behind, casting a dirty, muddy yellow hue on the exterior armor painted in desert camouflage.

The unmarked torrent of steel rushed straight towards the research base located on the edge of the forest, but the piercing scream reached the ears of the guards faster than the sound of the tank's main gun firing -

Three Mi-24 "Hind" attack helicopters were flying close to the treetops. The airflow stirred up by the rotors pressed the plants below into rolling yellow-green waves, startling the birds to scream.

Lift the fuselage and launch rockets!

Dozens of 122mm S-13 aerial rockets, leaving orange-red trails, penetrated into the research base. The building debris and soil that were blown up formed gray-black fountains in the air. As sand and gravel fluttered down, they were mixed with chunks of human tissue and flesh.

Dirty blood mixed with mud and gun smoke fell to the ground, forming countless ugly tiny pits. The next second, these pits were stepped on by the guards who had luckily survived. The deep and shallow footprints trembled amid their screams:

"Enemy attack!!!"

The guard operating the heavy machine gun at the gate looked up at his companion, who was standing there, stunned, telescope in hand. Six T80-BV main battle tanks pointed their gun barrels in the distance, brazenly displaying their presence and advancing with reckless abandon. Steel and ingenuity had forged this terrifying killing weapon, allowing humans to sit within it with peace of mind, slaughtering their own kind at will.

The air wave from the muzzle brake suddenly lifted up the sand and gravel in front of the vehicle. The high-explosive grenade that was fired out instantly turned into thousands of metal fragments after penetrating the sandbag wall, tearing through the air and flesh, and severing bones and lifelines!

Amidst the piercing alarms that never ceased, the concrete walls surrounding the research base were violently blasted open. Before the T80-BV main battle tank's loader could finish its operation, the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle's 30mm cannon began to roar, unleashing its fury.

Lines of fire, crimson like molten lava, shot in from beyond the collapsed wall, piercing through the tents and thin walls of the base, shattering the unsuspecting guards and researchers into pieces! Clouds of bloody mist exploded in the dry air, attracting countless flies and insects.

At this moment, the scorching African sun was already shining down on everyone, both attacking and resisting. It made their sweat steam up through their clothes and turned the straps of their equipment into vicious whippings, causing pain to be felt even through their clothes. But for some, this discomfort would only last for a few minutes, or even seconds.

"The attackers definitely have an entire mechanized infantry battalion! We don't have enough troops or anti-tank weapons!"

"Go to the armory, go to the underground armory and look for it..."

Some smart guards wanted to fight back. They took out RPG-7 rocket launchers from the weapons depot, but before they could fire, they were penetrated by 7.62mm 7N1 bullets fired from a distance! Then, the soldiers of the Army Without Borders using SVD precision marksman rifles would start looking for the next target.

In just a few minutes, the outer edge of the research base was completely destroyed. Soldiers who got out of the infantry fighting vehicles filed in with AK74M rifles, shooting at the corpses on the ground one by one, and throwing grenades and high-yield explosives converted from anti-tank mines at the enemies who were still resisting with the help of the wreckage of the building.

Dust clouds gathered by the explosion rushed out from the cracks in the collapsed buildings, and when the soldiers entered cautiously, they saw enemy bodies with blood coming out of all their orifices or blown to pieces lying in the gravel. These soldiers from the former Warsaw Pact regular army were clearing out the enemy with cruel efficiency. Each of them was wearing a mechanical exoskeleton.

Expensive, but worth it!

At this moment, the entire research base only has the central U-shaped building, the underground control center and the laboratory, which is the core of the base.

"Who is attacking us?! Is it people from Atlas Corporation?" The director of the experimental base pounded the console angrily, looking at the screen in front of him where the base guards and other personnel were being continuously strafed by various machine cannons and machine guns - the attackers were cruel and cold-blooded, and had no intention of leaving anyone alive.

"The enemy has main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and attack helicopters. Who else is around here besides Atlas?!"

"Damn it! We have absolutely no conflict of interest with those arrogant bastards. Wait—they're here to steal our experimental data!" The base director vaguely sensed a glimmer of truth. "Have you contacted our company yet?!"

"Our communications have been completely cut off! We can't even contact the personnel of the nearby African warlord!" A technician shouted, his face full of fear. Even deep in the cool underground, his clothes were soaked with cold sweat. "What should we do now... I don't want to die..."

"...Then distribute all the weapons and explosives. Let those brain-damaged experimental materials unleash their last bit of energy, buying us time to destroy the data."

The experiment director took a deep breath and said slowly:

"The rest is up to fate."

But the goddess of fate will never cast a glance on such evil villains!

Just as the soldiers of the Army Without Borders were preparing to launch an attack on the U-shaped main building, a group of wild-like African children frantically rushed out from all corners of the building. However, under the influence of addictive drugs that destroyed their brains, they could only grab the rifles in their hands and attack the steel like sticks.

This was clearly not their method of attack—the child in the front was just mowed down by the machine gun when the bomb on him exploded! The orange-red flames instantly engulfed the frail body, vaporizing flesh and shredding bones. The shockwaves that carried this all around created a dust storm that rolled in all directions!

"Sukkable, those damn scumbags! Let the doe come over!"

Then, the Hind helicopters began to swoop down.

The flames from the rotating machine guns plowed out dancing columns of dust on the ground, and the red light spots connected into lines, directly tearing those pitiful creatures into pieces, making it impossible for the impact of the explosion to hit the soldiers attacking this place.

The soldiers were angry, but they didn't roar. They just fought back with rifles, bayonets and grenades. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles crushed the bodies of those dregs filled with sin. A slightly funny popping sound was heard, which turned into a weird music - but this music score had long been burned by the silent anger!

The heavily armored soldier blew open the door of the underground control center, ignored the voices of those surrendering and begging for mercy, and pulled the trigger without hesitation!

You sinners don't deserve to live in this world!

"...This is your fourth pawn that's been captured."

The savior of mankind said so, and after hearing the crisp sound of the other party putting down the chess piece, he pondered for a few seconds and picked up a new chess piece again.

Chapter 379 Codename Thunder: South America (3/4)

The Savior of mankind took up the pawn chess piece and put it down:

At night in Rio de Janeiro, darkness slowly descended but could not be dispelled by the dim lights that lit up one by one. The shadows created were even darker than the sky above, as if some monster was hiding in it.

The barbed wire at the end of the alley cast spider-web-like shadows on the walls of the tin houses in the slums on both sides, and at the corner, several stray dogs were rummaging through a garbage dump soaked in the smell of diesel - they would not live long before becoming food for some poor person, a little comfort to their numb hearts.

This place is full of people who are forced to live, poisoned and exploited by gangs, drug dealers, corrupt bureaucrats and all the creations of human civilization itself. It is a hotbed for chaos and sin to grow, and even big companies favor it... There is never a shortage of men and women in the slums who sell their bodies, whether they like it or not.

Right now, the troops of the Army Without Borders in Brazil are flowing like mercury. Most of them are selected from the ranks of soldiers whose families were killed by drug traffickers across South America. They have become warriors who hate crime and the creatures of the other world. This place needs people like them.