Chapter 1094:

As they went deeper, evidence of recent activity became undeniable: abandoned wrappers, the faint glow of extinguished campfires, sporadic signs of blood, and spent cartridges scattered across the undergrowth.

The tension in the air was suffocating.

“We’re close. Stay sharp,” Corbin murmured.

Soon, the sounds of battle reached their ears—rifles cracking, punctuated by the dull, sickening thuds of blades meeting flesh. The group moved silently, lowering themselves behind thick bushes for cover.

When they glimpsed the clearing ahead, their stomachs twisted. Fifteen, maybe sixteen soldiers clad in East Islet jungle gear were converging on a lone figure.

Rylie squinted, recognizing him instantly. The iron tang of blood filled the air, and her chest tightened.

Bodies littered the ground—soldiers from both Eshea and East Islet. The East Islet forces, fighting on familiar terrain, were ready for anything. Even after suffering casualties, they used their greater numbers and heavier weaponry to corner Brad against the wall.

He pressed his back against the fractured concrete, battered and bleeding from multiple wounds. A deep machete slash cut across his shoulder, his blood spreading over almost his entire chest—a sight that made even hardened soldiers flinch.

He struggled to stay upright, forced onto one knee, gripping a rifle as a brace.

𝘑𝘰𝗶ո 𝗍𝗁оu𝗌𝗮n𝖽𝘴 о𝘧 𝗳𝖺𝗻𝗌 𝗈𝗻 g𝖺lո𝗈𝘃𝖾𝗹𝗌.cоm

His face had turned ashen, drained by blood loss and pain, with cold sweat streaking down his forehead. Still, his eyes stayed sharp and unflinching, fixed on the approaching foes with a chilling calm that betrayed no fear.

At his feet, the body of a senior East Islet officer lay sprawled.

Corbin’s eyes widened in recognition, and he muttered under his breath, “General Barton—East Islet’s delegate for the talks. He’s dead. Brad really lives up to his reputation as Eshea’s backbone. Taking out a commanding officer like this… East Islet is going to pay dearly.”

“Get ready to extract him.” The moment Corbin saw Brad’s condition, any remaining restraint vanished. He snapped the command without hesitation. “Pin them down, blast a path through, and get him out—now!”

“Wait!” Kari cut in suddenly, her gaze flicking over Brad’s battered, surrounded form as if calculations were running through her mind.

Then she spoke quickly, directing Corbin with crisp authority. “A head-on push is too risky. They’ve got the manpower, and backup could arrive any minute. Hit them from the flank and pull their attention. I’ll use the opening to get him out. Once he’s secure, we retreat along the original route.”

Corbin looked to Rylie without thinking. She answered with a small nod. It was the best option they had.

“Move!” At Corbin’s signal, the mercenaries unleashed a hail of gunfire, their bullets finding their marks and dropping several East Islet soldiers along the perimeter, shattering the encirclement.

Almost at the same moment, Kari and her two guards struck from the opposite flank, their gunfire and detonations pulling a large chunk of the enemy’s focus.

The East Islet troops hadn’t anticipated an attack from the rear. The thrill of finally taking Brad down and the promotions they imagined vanished instantly, replaced by raw panic. Their ranks crumbled into disorder.

Rylie stayed out of the opening salvo, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Brad.

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