Chapter 98 of 100
Chapter 98
10 min read2,461 words
98. Mercenary Survival Game
"Today's training will be KCTC training…."
The instructor introduced the usual KCTC training and then explained the format of today's training.
"Today, we will be conducting guerrilla warfare in teams of seven, with four teams. The team that eliminates the most enemies wins. Think of it as a survival game."
Team 1: 7 cast members.
Team 2: 7 former Special Forces reservists.
Team 3: 7 former Army Search Unit reservists.
Team 4: 7 former KCTC professional opposition force reservists.
"There are no restrictions in combat. However, if your team's flag is taken, all remaining combatants will be treated as prisoners and immediately eliminated."
Scores are given based on how many opponents are subdued, how many flags are captured, and how many survivors remain.
The positions of Team 1's cast members and Team 3's Search Unit were close to each other,
while Team 2's Special Forces and Team 4's KCTC were close to each other.
The arrangement reflected the intention to have teams with closer positions fight each other first.
Once the first round is completed, and if there is enough footage of the cast members' team, the filming will end.
"If the cast members' team is eliminated too quickly, we will proceed to the second and third rounds until we have enough footage."
At first glance, the top contenders for victory were the former Special Forces reservists, including a non-commissioned officer.
The Search Unit, known as the strongest general infantry, also had significant power, including a former officer who was a platoon leader.
However, there were strong players that the general public didn't know about: the former KCTC professional opposition force reservists.
"Hehe. Isn't this too easy? This training ground is like the palm of our hand."
The former KCTC professional opposition force reservists had practically lived in this training ground.
Perfectly knowing the terrain was a powerful advantage in combat.
Think about it. In an online game, when the other team sends out scouts, having a cheat key that lets you see the map like the palm of your hand.
Of course, the other teams are given time to explore the terrain before the training, but it's impossible to become familiar with all of it in such a short time.
That's why the former KCTC reservists, who served as the professional opposition force in this area for two years and knew every hiding spot and cover, were the hidden strong players.
The former Special Forces reservists, who were facing a close position to the KCTC reservists, were in the middle of a meeting.
"We didn't expect them to attack so quickly. Leave one person at the base, and let's win with a speed battle."
Since it wasn't a typical fort capture with all kinds of weapons, but a survival game format with just rifles.
A former Special Forces reservist, confident in their shooting and individual tactics, said to the former non-commissioned officer who was acting as the squad leader.
The former non-commissioned officer shook his head.
"No. Don't you know that the KCTC guys have this place down pat? If you rush in relying only on individual tactics, you'll be wiped out immediately. First, let's thoroughly scout our base area and lie in ambush. They will definitely come first. Since they are familiar with the terrain, they will definitely have a trick up their sleeve. Let's take out the attackers first and then attack slowly."
While the former Special Forces reservists were carefully scouting and preparing for ambush,
the KCTC reservists were discussing.
"The Special Forces guys will come straight up, given their nature."
"Hehe. That's right. Two people are enough to defend this base due to the terrain."
"Then, when the Special Forces attack, you two should buy some time. Our attack team will immediately raid their empty base once we confirm it."
One of the reservists chuckled.
"They won't even think we'll approach from that route, right?"
"Of course not. It's a place only we know."
The plan of the KCTC reservists was as follows:
Five members of the attack team would approach the Special Forces base through a secret route known only to former KCTC professional opposition force members.
When the Special Forces attack team attacks their base and combat begins, the two defenders would buy time according to the plan.
Meanwhile, their attack team would raid the empty Special Forces base and take the flag.
Then, the entire Special Forces attack team would be eliminated and captured.
It was a strategy for certain victory.
***
"First attack Team 2 and Team 4?"
Jinhyuk's suggestion to attack the Special Forces and KCTC teams first, despite the nearby Search Unit base, made everyone's eyes widen.
"That side will have intense combat."
"Take advantage of that gap?"
"No, no, then what about our base?"
"First, four people will guard our base."
"What? Then three people will attack? Come on, that doesn't make sense."
Actually, it wasn't three people. Jinhyuk alone was enough for the attack. He just needed two people to act as decoys to quickly eliminate the enemy.
"Um… Can you just follow my instructions for the first round? If we are quickly eliminated, there will be a second round. Then I'll follow your advice."
It was an unreasonable request. For six veterans to follow the orders of Jinhyuk, who had never been in the military.
But the seniors who had spent the past five days with Jinhyuk were already strangely unable to easily oppose his words.
There was something heavy in Jinhyuk's words. It felt like if they followed his orders, they would win even in a real battle.
Charisma? Aura? Whatever it was, all the cast members had already come to agree with Jinhyuk's words.
"Okay, okay. Let's try it Jinhyuk's way."
"Thank you. Then…."
Jinhyuk began giving orders without hesitation.
"Four of you will guard the flag. Only one person, Senior Jang, will stay at the base, and the other three will lie in ambush where I indicate."
Jinhyuk had already identified a clear ambush position that could block the enemy's infiltration.
As long as they held these three points, they would have a significant advantage even in a 1 vs. 10 battle.
Jinhyuk had almost perfectly mapped out the battlefield during the short exploration time given beforehand.
Jinhyuk's ability, developed from navigating countless battlefields, was a very special ability that ordinary people couldn't imagine.
"And, Senior Oh Young-pil and Senior Baek Gi-hyun, the two of you will follow me."
The two most agile people among the cast members, excluding Jinhyuk.
Jinhyuk led the two to the KCTC team's base, the farthest from the cast members' base.
The two struggled to keep up with Jinhyuk's incredible speed.
Even then, this was only because Jinhyuk was adjusting his speed to accommodate the VJs carrying cameras.
'Wow… This is no joke.'
The VJs following the three were the most agile and physically fit people from the production team, assigned based on Jinhyuk's request before the operation.
One of the VJs following Jinhyuk was a staff member who had the confidence to run mountain courses, having lived the life of a cross-country amateur athlete as a hobby.
Even this VJ was amazed at Jinhyuk's speed, which he couldn't catch up to without consideration.
"Shh."
Jinhyuk, who had been moving at an incredible speed, slowed down and put his hand to his mouth.
Jinhyuk guided Oh Young-pil and Baek Gi-hyun with hand signals, using appropriate cover and concealment.
They stopped and hid appropriately just before the open area leading to the enemy base.
Then,
Jinhyuk disappeared from their sight for a moment, not even allowing the VJs to follow.
Only the unmanned cameras installed in various places could track Jinhyuk's movements. Jinhyuk, moving like a ghost, scouted the enemy base.
When Jinhyuk returned, he gave instructions to Oh Young-pil and Baek Gi-hyun.
"Okay, the two of you will start shooting at the KCTC base in about five minutes. Use just one magazine."
"Appropriately?"
"Just create the atmosphere of combat. Slightly expose your helmets and shoot from behind cover."
"Okay. So, we're just pretending, not a real fight?"
"Yes."
The two nodded.
"After you finish shooting?"
"Just observe the enemy base. If the enemy comes out, shoot immediately. Of course, they won't be that foolish."
After giving instructions to the two, Jinhyuk started moving.
Jinhyuk, moving alone, increased his speed even more, and the VJ, with the pride of a cross-country amateur athlete, did his best to keep up.
But,
'Isn't this the direction of the Special Forces base? What…?'
The VJ, who naturally expected Jinhyuk to head to the KCTC base, tilted his head.
Jinhyuk quickly approached the Special Forces base and hid. By the time the VJ caught his breath,
Tick. The second hand moved, marking exactly five minutes.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The sound of gunfire signaling combat began from the KCTC base.
It was the fake attack planted by Jinhyuk, Oh Young-pil, and Baek Gi-hyun.
But to the KCTC's five-member attack team, who had reached the Special Forces base through a secret route, it sounded different.
"The Special Forces attack team has started attacking our base."
"Haha. This is all in our hands. Shall we launch a surprise attack?"
In their minds, the Special Forces base would have only one or two people left.
If they raided and took the flag, the entire Special Forces attack team would be out.
The KCTC attack team shivered in anticipation of the thrilling sensation.
Assuming there would be no ambush since the Special Forces had all gone to attack, the KCTC attack team advanced boldly, revealing themselves.
Bang!
Bang!
Rattle!
"What, what is this!"
Bullets rained down from the Special Forces ambush team, who had not sent a single person out and were lying in wait like a fortress.
The KCTC attack team, caught off guard, tried to hide quickly,
Zing— Zing— Death.
The sound of death from the electronic units indicating bullet hits rang out.
"Damn. I'm dead."
Already, a casualty had occurred.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Rattle!
The combat between the Special Forces and the KCTC attack team ended anticlimactically with the complete elimination of the KCTC attack team, who were flustered and confused.
"KCTC attack team, all five members eliminated."
The smiles on the faces of the Special Forces, who had anticipated the KCTC's first move and were lying in wait, bloomed.
"Hmm. This is strange…."
The KCTC attack team leader tilted his head, but the former Special Forces reservists were still unaware of the meaning.
"Hehe. So, there are only two people left at their base?"
The former Special Forces non-commissioned officer said to his team.
"Leave one person at our base, and let's all six go to the KCTC base."
"Let's go!"
"Okay, I'll brief the plan, so gather in front of the base."
Just as the Special Forces ambush team, who had revealed themselves, were about to move towards the base,
"Huh?"
Suddenly, a strange feeling of unease came over everyone.
"But… What was that gunfire from the KCTC base?"
A fact they had forgotten in the heat of battle and in the euphoria of victory.
The Special Forces members' spines shivered as they finally sensed something was wrong.
At that moment,
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
With exactly six shots,
Zing— Zing— Death.
Zing— Zing— Death.
...
Six electronic units signaling death.
"What, what is this!"
The former non-commissioned officer, who had just confirmed his own death, saw
the last Special Forces member, who had just stepped out of the base and stopped upon hearing the gunfire.
Forgetting that he was already dead and shouldn't speak, he shouted,
"Hey! Get back…."
Bang!
The last shot rang out before he could finish his sentence.
Zing— Zing— Death.
All seven members of the Special Forces were dead.
It was a clean and complete elimination.
"What, what is this!"
Not only the dead former Special Forces reservists but also the KCTC reservists looked in the direction of the gunfire with expressions as if they had been possessed by a ghost.
Perfectly concealed and covered, the VJ's body, who was filming Jinhyuk up close, trembled.
'Wow! Is this even possible?'
Is this even possible? From the perspective of someone who had been in the military, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Jinhyuk's unbelievable strategy, executed without hesitation in an instant, was one thing,
but hitting all seven with such rapid fire without missing a single shot... Is this even possible?!
"Wow… Wow…."
In the VJ's amazed silence, Jinhyuk, who had eliminated the enemy, stood up.
To retrieve the flag from the Special Forces base.
Thud. Thud.
Jinhyuk moved towards the base.
Jinhyuk's figure, revealed from the shadows, appeared before the eyes of the completely eliminated reservists.
It was surreal.
The seven shots and seven deaths.
His silhouette, which didn't seem like that of a fierce predator who had just finished a terrifying hunt,
but was beautiful.
And,
his chiseled face, even with camouflage cream applied.
***
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Damn. How did he get the perfect position?"
The five former Search Unit reservists were pinned down by a single member of the cast team, who had taken the perfect position.
'Wow…'
The cast member, lying in ambush, was also amazed. As Jinhyuk had said, it was a perfect spot where one person could easily hold off ten.
The gunfire temporarily subsided.
"1st Team Private Woo Jinhyuk. He has taken the flag from the 3rd Team's base. All 3rd Team survivors are out! They are now prisoners."
"What?!"
The former Search Unit reservists, who had been eliminated in a ridiculous manner, looked at each other in disbelief.
At that moment,
Jinhyuk, who had eliminated the defense team at the Search Unit base and taken the flag, straightened his back.
Jinhyuk's hand gripped the flag of the Search Unit.
The camera zoomed in on Jinhyuk's fist,
following the prominent veins and the well-defined muscles of his arm.
The camera then moved up to
Jinhyuk's lethal gaze, visible through the camouflage cream.
Clearly,
the most handsome hero in history,
the strongest soldier who had never been in the military,
filled the TV screen.
"Wow! Damn. Hey. Is this even possible? It's not even a movie!"
"That's what I'm saying."
"Wow. I'm getting goosebumps."
Chaos erupted in the military barracks where people were watching TV.
"Seriously. While the Army is doing this, what is the Air Force doing?"
The Air Force command and
"We have the Marine Corps in the Navy. Are we falling behind the Army?"
The Navy command, whose pride was hurt, was also in an uproar.
Of course, the place that was truly in an uproar was the internet forums, where viewers were discussing, and the TV station that was reaping high ratings.