Louise seemed to sense something too and began scanning with the reconnaissance device on her Aom Shield Helmet.
[+Squad Leader, did you find something?+] Horatio observed Louise's unusual behavior.
[+Nothing, maybe I'm just overthinking it...+]
Louise frowned.
Although she didn't think the Sergeant Majors would let them reach the training grounds so calmly, the tactical analyzer in her helmet showed no abnormal warnings.
[+Horatio, look at the trees over there.+]
Archie quickened his pace, running to stand beside Horatio, and while panting, pointed to the bushes diagonally to the side, saying: [+There are traces of the hedges being pressed down over there, and there are human footprints on the fallen flowers and plants.+]
Horatio used the Aom Shield Helmet to zoom in, and after re-scanning with the tactical analyzer, confirmed that the traces here were very recent.
[+There are only three Storm Sergeant Majors in the entire running team; it's worth speculating where the others went.+]
Archie's insight seemed very sharp, as he calmly analyzed.
[+The Sergeant Majors said it was a live-fire exercise, but they never said it would definitely be at the training grounds.+]
Horatio nodded.
'Activate: Precognition Shard.'
He saw.
In the bushes, several Kill-teams composed of Storm Sergeant Majors were extending their gun barrels, preparing to snipe. One of the guns was aimed at the unsuspecting Louise.
He suddenly opened his eyes and almost immediately pushed Louise to the ground.
"Attack!" Horatio quickly prostrated himself, shouting at the same time. A laser beam grazed Louise's Aom Shield Helmet and shot behind her.
Terrifying red lights flashed from the trees and bushes by the roadside.
Before he finished speaking, dense laser beams shot towards the cadets.
"Pugh!" The entire group closest to the bushes was instantly struck down by a sudden burst of accurate volley fire.
Almost all of the laser beams fired in the first round hit, striking down over twenty cadets, mostly new recruits. Only the shot aimed at Louise missed.
The ambushing instructors used shock power. Even with armor worn, it wouldn't kill the cadets, but it was enough to give them a hard time after being hit. Their bodies would feel numb and weak, like an electric shock, making them unable to exert any strength.
"Ah! It hurts, it hurts!"
Ravensberg, the second son of the Ravensberg family, was very close and among the first to be struck down. He was dazed by the sudden attack and crawled on the ground in a sorry state, then was struck down again, rolling on the ground in pain.
Henry Harvey very skillfully arranged the Kill-team's positions with hand gestures for suppressive fire.
Horatio immediately took out a smoke grenade from his waist and threw it into the field to provide smoke cover for the cadets in the open, helping them quickly run behind cover. Then, using suppressive fire and smoke cover, he went forward and dragged David Beatty back, kicking him into the roadside drainage ditch to find cover and let him recover.
"Lydos, Fidio, flank cover, suppressive fire!" Louise knelt halfway, protecting Horatio in front of her, suppressing fire, and commanding the other two teammates.
"Horatio, you come with me, let's leave this place first. They will provide us with cover."
"Yes."
Horatio sprinted, skillfully coordinating with Louise for alternating fire.
The advanced Aom Shield Helmet would instantly frame the shooting priority and threat level for Horatio based on the ambushers' muzzle directions.
Coupled with Horatio's quick reactions and good marksmanship, he quickly suppressed the Sergeant Majors who were shooting at them, forcing them behind the bushes.
The four individuals did not stay too long in the dangerous open ground but quickly moved around to the flank of the ambushers.
The Navy Heir veterans generally performed well, reacting quickly and each formulating tactics for counterattack.
Many groups with more new blood also quickly sought good cover using their surroundings and exchanged fire with the ambushers.
But obviously, comparing marksmanship with the Storm Sergeant Majors was an overestimation of their own abilities. Moreover, the Storm Sergeant Majors had dispersed throughout the forest, changing positions after every few shots. Their reconnaissance wave frequency anti-interference device prevented them from being identified by the tactical augurs with the same signal on the cadets.
This was a small form of cheating, but it effectively simulated the various undetectable monsters and demons the Childer of Loyalty might encounter during Kill-teams missions.
[+Maintain stealth, light footsteps.+]
Louise said over the communication network.
Under Louise's guidance, Horatio also activated the same signal shielding, fighting fire with fire to hide their tracks.
The four individuals crouched behind the bushes, circling to the right rear of the Sergeant Majors.
Valina, not participating in the battle, sat in a tree, observing every move of these four cadets from above.
Lydos and Fidio stopped at the right rear, while Louise led Horatio further around to the very rear.
Horatio slightly peeked out. The Sergeant Majors had deployed four individuals at the back to watch their rear, not participating in the main battle, showing clear division of labor.
After identifying the targets, Louise clenched her fist, and Horatio also understood, quickly stopping his steps.
[+We are in position, Lydos, Fidio, fire!+]
At the Female Sergeant's command, two gun barrels extended from the bushes, firing scorching laser beams towards the Sergeant Majors.
[+Fire from the right rear! Evade!+]
Suddenly, Horatio found that he could hear the Sergeant Majors' channel voices in his squad's communication channel.
[+Lydos has cracked their communication equipment.+]
Louise explained.
One Sergeant Major was struck down by Fidio and then quickly dragged away by the two, instantly reducing three sources of firepower for the cadets at the front.
Seeing that the Navy Heir group at the front was preparing to launch an assault, the Sergeant Majors chose to immediately adjust their combat positions and retreat to the rear.
Of the three Sergeant Majors who were guarding the rear, only one remained to continue watching their back, while the other two began to guard the flanks of the entire team.
Of course, they did not know that two cadets had already stealthily circled to the direct rear.
[+A few brats came from the left side too, I took one down.+]
The Sergeant Major's channel called out.
Another Sergeant Major who was watching the rear moved to guard the left rear position, leaving only one Sergeant Major to guard the team's rear. If the two could quietly take him out, they could launch a surprise attack.
But how could they take him out silently?
Horatio, who was only separated from this person by a bush, prostrated himself on the ground, looking at the opponent's combat boots, thinking.
[+Squad Leader, we can do this...+]
Although Horatio's plan was very bold, the Female Sergeant still nodded in approval.
Horatio held his breath, moving little by little according to the plan.
[+Steady, steady.+]
Louise vigilantly observed the Sergeant Major, relaying information to Horatio.
Snap! Swish!—
Horatio's iron hand, like a swift silver snake suddenly emerging from a cave, grabbed the Sergeant Major's leg and instantly dragged him into the bushes.
[!]
So fast that by the time the Sergeant Major realized he had been touched, a Cadia trench knife was already held against his neck.