Volume One, Chapter 11: A Great Victory Achieved! Coercive Warfare Changes the Course of Battle!!!

Han Cheng was still unaware that he had strayed ever further down a certain path.

He continued to perceive everything as a normal occurrence in a real-life battle royale, still regarding himself as an NPC in such a game.

Especially with the language barrier and the influence of the growth protection agreement he had signed with the system, his perception had never wavered!

After a quick sweep of the Odland Village battlefield and the confiscation of a large cache of weapons and supplies, Han Cheng set off with his three subordinates, following the Third Armored Platoon to support other units.

Regarding the support mission, although the order from Regimental Headquarters under Rodson was to primarily follow the command of Second Lieutenant Sankel, the platoon leader of the Third Armored Platoon, in practice, Lieutenant Sankel paid special attention to Han Cheng’s opinions. Han Cheng had just been promoted from a civilian to sergeant and appointed captain of Squad C.

This wasn’t out of mere politeness—Sankel believed Han Cheng was more capable than himself.

Despite Sankel’s confidence that leading thirty or forty men supported by the armored platoon’s heavy weapons to hold out against an enemy reinforced battalion of four or five hundred was commendably brilliant, he couldn’t help but feel inferior to Han Cheng.

Han Cheng, with only three men, was able to engage in direct combat with hundreds of enemy soldiers without falling behind, even managing to suppress and outmaneuver them.

Such individual combat skills and command ability were so formidable that even the world’s top soldier and commander would find it hard to match.

However, due to the language barrier, Sankel and Han Cheng often found themselves in ineffective communication, leading to a series of misunderstandings and comical situations.

For example, during the first mission to rescue a small squad trapped by the enemy in a valley, the terrain’s peculiarities and the enemy’s tight encirclement made things complicated.

Sankel proposed to Han Cheng that they split their forces and execute a feint to draw the enemy’s attention and create an opening in the siege to rescue the trapped squad.

Tactical discussions should have been straightforward, yet Han Cheng suddenly heard the word “GO” and charged headlong.

He single-handedly drew all enemy fire, but thanks to his three exceptional talents, the enemy—no matter how numerous—could not eliminate him immediately.

As the battle dragged on, enemy reinforcements kept pouring in to engage Han Cheng.

Eventually, the enemy’s encirclement focused entirely on attacking Han Cheng, abandoning the squad in the valley, who then managed to escape and regroup with the Third Armored Platoon.

Sankel was dumbfounded; the entire development bore no relation to any known tactical doctrine—it was utterly nonsensical.

Yet Han Cheng had pulled it off.

“Dragon, that’s enough. Our people are out. Find a way out—we’re retreating!” Sankel urged.

Using drone reconnaissance, Sankel discovered enemy forces advancing from the high ground surrounding the valley, their numbers substantial.

If they arrived, the enemy would be invincible.

Sankel quickly tried to recall Han Cheng.

But Han Cheng ignored the call and shouted repeatedly over the comms, “Don’t hesitate! Fire at me!”

Sankel was stunned. Fire at him? There wasn’t time for artillery now!

Then he reasoned that Han Cheng must mean the enemy was overwhelming, and he couldn’t withdraw alone—he needed fire support.

So Sankel reluctantly obeyed.

Missiles and rockets streaked toward the valley battlefield.

Having just replenished munitions after the Odland Village battle, the Third Armored Platoon bombarded the area with rockets and missiles as if they were free.

The bombardment was so intense it nearly leveled the mountain ridges flanking the valley.

They thought this would lift the siege on Han Cheng and allow him to return.

But the next moment, Han Cheng’s voice crackled over the comm, filling Sankel with despair: “I’ve spotted a group of enemy troops on the ridge above the valley. You need to come over.”

Gunfire and explosions erupted from the high ground.

Sankel was baffled. He had called Han Cheng back to retreat and avoid the enemy reinforcements, yet Han Cheng was actively engaging them?

Torn between withdrawing and attacking, Sankel hesitated.

Finally, after internal deliberation, he gritted his teeth and ordered, “Everyone, support Dragon immediately!”

Gunfire and explosions erupted in response.

This was a thoroughly coercive battle.

Han Cheng alone had effectively taken hostage his forty or fifty teammates, forcing them to clash head-on with the enemy’s hundreds-strong reinforcement force.

After over an hour of fierce combat, they even emerged victorious?!

Sankel’s head was buzzing. Since teaming up with Han Cheng, battles had become utterly chaotic.

There was no strategy—just reckless fighting.

At that moment, the Seventh Mercenary Regiment headquarters crackled over the comm.

Rodson’s voice was cold: “I know what you’ve been up to.”

Sankel’s heart sank.

The support mission had taken far too long—it was supposed to be a rescue of a small squad of merely a dozen men.

Instead, it dragged on for two or three hours.

Time was money, and Sankel dared not imagine how many friendly forces had been annihilated by the enemy during this delay.

Rodson’s icy tone was justified—they had missed a critical opportunity!

As Sankel prepared to apologize and admit his mistake, Rodson suddenly shifted his tone.

“You did very well. At the Battle of Mount Ryder, the enemy forces assigned to blockade the coordinates 113.42.321 southeast of Bebatsa were all drawn in.”

Huh?

Sankel was dumbfounded. Shouldn’t Rodson have scolded or blamed him outright?

Why was he praising instead?

Unaware of Sankel’s thoughts, Rodson continued: “Coincidentally, one of our battalions nearby was being pursued by the enemy. They seized the opportunity to slip through the blockade gap and infiltrate Bebatsa.”

“Along the way, they dealt a series of deadly blows to multiple enemy units, disrupting their deployment. The enemy has since contracted their blockade and dares not recklessly send reinforcements to the outer regions.”

“This has given some of our units caught in the enemy encirclement a chance to catch their breath. Several units have already broken through and are now on their way to provide support.”

“Soon, our reinforcement forces will completely shatter the enemy’s siege and relief blockade, regrouping for a counterattack!”

Hearing this, Sankel’s mouth dropped open, his mind blank.

He had never imagined that such a chaotic, coercive battle would play such a crucial role in the current campaign.

...