Chapter One: The Mission

At this moment, it was midday, yet the sky was heavily overcast. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense clouds, barely illuminating the ground below. Without a watch or any timekeeping device, one might easily suspect it was either just before dawn or after sunset.

Meanwhile, a violent storm raged overhead, as if the entire world’s rainfall had been concentrated upon this single region. Yet, despite the downpour, the air remained oppressively hot. This was the quintessential climate of the Amazon rainforest—a tropical torrent, testing the willpower of any tasked with a mission within its bounds.

Amidst these conditions, in some remote corner of the Amazon, a pursuit was underway. A squad of the Feilong Special Operations Unit from China, led by their captain Zhang Desen, were chasing a formidable armed faction of an international drug cartel, together with special forces from other nations.

Despite the tempest, the determination of these multinational elite units was unwavering. The rain reduced visibility to almost nothing, but it could not halt their relentless advance. This pursuit was the final trial of their joint training—the ultimate test in live combat.

The storm, however, scattered the various national units. Fortunately, each country’s soldiers retained a deep, hard-earned mutual understanding with their own compatriots. Though separated from the others, they never lost track of their own teams, thanks to the camaraderie forged through rigorous training.

Facing these circumstances, the resolve of the Feilong Unit was unshaken. Zhang Desen led his team onward, pressing through the wind and rain until they reached a densely forested mountain.

The mountain was tall and shrouded in thick woods—ideal for concealment. Though the foliage could obstruct their view, the special forces soldiers quickly climbed the trees as instructed by their captain to scout ahead.

Sure enough, they spied a massive, mysterious structure on the far side of the mountain. At this moment, Tang Shijie, one of the team, turned to Zhang Desen and asked,

“Captain, there shouldn’t be any buildings here. Could it be...?”

Zhang Desen replied immediately,

“You’re right. This place is rarely visited by anyone. Building a base here is a brilliant move. If it were me, I’d choose it too. And if it weren’t for the heavy rain, we’d see even more of its scale.”

Tang Shijie responded,

“Should we wait for the other countries’ special forces before making a move?”

Zhang Desen answered decisively,

“No need. Besides, even if we waited, the others wouldn’t arrive.”

Tang Shijie was puzzled,

“Why?”

Zhang Desen explained,

“Did you forget how we got separated? And according to the intel before we set out, this cartel is extremely powerful. If you use the radio to contact the others, their surveillance equipment will instantly pinpoint the location of both units. It would do us no good, only harm. Have you forgotten?”

He continued,

“That’s why the Chief Instructor emphasized radio silence before departure. We must not let our signals give away our position. Did you forget?”

Tang Shijie, growing anxious, said,

“So what do we do? This cartel is known internationally as the ‘superpower among drug organizations’! Can we handle them alone?”

Zhang Desen replied, irritated,

“Tang Shijie, I’ve always suspected you got into special forces through connections, and now, seeing you like this, I wonder if you’re fit for this unit at all.”

He then declared with unwavering determination,

“Let me tell you, I’m going after this so-called ‘superpower among drug organizations.’ If you’re scared, go rest. When we return to base, I’ll help you apply for early repatriation—spare our country any further embarrassment.”

Tang Shijie, feeling indignant, retorted,

“Captain, I’m not one to abandon my post. I’m just worried our strength isn’t enough. What if we get trapped and there’s no reinforcements?”

Zhang Desen smiled,

“No need to worry. Once we make a move and cause a stir, the other countries’ special forces will hear it and come. This storm is our best cover—comrades, prepare for action!”

“Yes, sir!”

Immediately, the Feilong Unit assembled from their dispersed positions. Zhang Desen stepped forward and addressed them,

“Elite warriors of China, you must realize that here, in foreign lands, you and I are China.”

He paused, then continued,

“Today is the moment we fulfill our mission and bring glory to our nation. Before us stands a globally notorious drug cartel, bearing the title ‘superpower among drug organizations.’ But are they a country? No. At most, they are a large terrorist organization.”

With a hint of disdain, then resolute conviction, he added,

“But now, they don’t even qualify as a terrorist group. They’re nothing—merely tools for us to win honor for our nation and our Feilong Unit. Let’s march out and reclaim the honor that belongs to China and the Feilong Unit!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good! Let’s press forward through this storm. Move out!”

“Yes, sir!”

With that, Zhang Desen led his warriors, using the dense rainforest vegetation and storm as cover, toward a thicket near the mysterious building.

However, the storm that had shielded them now became an obstacle, obscuring their sight. As they drew nearer, they realized the structure they had seen was just one part of a vast complex, ingeniously hidden within the rainforest. Even from above, only the largest building would be visible.

Nevertheless, Zhang Desen signaled silently to his team, issuing the order:

“Everyone, infiltrate as planned.”

The soldiers responded with hand signals, and, relying on their hard-earned rapport, took up positions for cover, support, and attack, slipping in unnoticed.

Patrolling sentries were silently dealt with, and two were captured—interrogated for the whereabouts of their leader, and from them, the team obtained a map of his residence. They advanced swiftly toward their target, planting explosives along the way for an eventual escape.

Around the cartel leader’s residence, guards were lulled into laziness by the rain. This base had been hidden for over a decade, never discovered by outsiders, so their vigilance was lax. The heavy rain kept them indoors, and their leader rested inside, leaving no one paying attention to the perimeter—some played cards, others drank.

The Feilong team, observing this, relaxed slightly but remained alert, for they were operating right under the enemy’s nose.

Soon, they spotted an ideal weak point: a large open window guarded by only two drowsy sentries, with no others nearby. The team silently rejoiced—this was the perfect entry.

Armed with assault rifles, the team maintained vigilance. Two members, equipped with special forces crossbows, simultaneously took aim and fired, striking the sentries in the chest before they could react, dropping them silently.

Zhang Desen immediately ordered the team to storm through the window.

As planned, the unit split into three groups: one with Zhang Desen to assault the interior, one to secure the entry room, and one outside for concealed support.

Zhang Desen personally led the assault team forward. Just as they crossed two stairwells and prepared to follow the map, two guards appeared ahead. Tang Shijie opened fire.

Unexpectedly, Tang Shijie’s rifle lacked a suppressor, and the gunshots alerted the rest of the guards. Alarms blared.

Zhang Desen wanted to curse Tang Shijie’s carelessness, but with the situation already escalated, he ordered a full-force assault.

Despite waves of guards trying to hold them back, the cartel’s poorly trained men were no match for the elite soldiers. The team quickly broke through and reached the rooftop where the local leader was holed up.

When they burst in, over a dozen armed guards opened fire. Thankfully, the Feilong Unit’s practiced coordination allowed them to dodge and take cover, ignoring the barrage.

When the gunfire paused, Zhang Desen and his team tossed grenades inside. After the explosions, resistance ceased. They stormed in—finding the cartel leader wounded but alive, having hidden behind a heavy rosewood desk. The special forces seized the opportunity and captured him.

The previous battle had alerted the cartel forces outside, who began to converge on the building. After securing the leader, Zhang Desen’s team prepared to defend their position.

Meanwhile, the outside support group followed the plan, sabotaging gas lines and power boxes, causing as much chaos as possible to relieve pressure on Zhang Desen’s team.

Those guarding the entrances cleared out remaining enemies inside, eliminating all cartel members in the building and joining the rooftop defenders.

Outside, the support group engaged cartel reinforcements in fierce firefights. Gunfire and explosions intertwined, flames engulfed the complex.

The team had seized weapons from the guards during their infiltration. Now, with recoilless rifles, anti-tank missiles, and heavy machine guns, they inflicted heavy losses on the cartel forces.

After two hours of intense fighting, the Feilong Unit’s ammunition was nearly exhausted—only a couple of magazines remained. All were prepared for the ultimate sacrifice.

Just then, guided by the sounds of battle, special forces from other countries arrived to reinforce them.

Though outnumbered, special forces do not rely on numbers but on skill. The earlier sabotage led the cartel to believe an overwhelming force had arrived, sending them into panic and disarray.

The tide turned instantly. Overjoyed, Zhang Desen and his team joined with the international units to destroy the base.

Within an hour, under concentrated assault, the base’s hundred-plus vehicles, thirty helicopters, and three fighter jets, along with their radar and command center, were annihilated.

The special forces, covering each other in rotation, began a full withdrawal, racing against time before more cartel reinforcements could arrive.

Unexpectedly, the captured leader had a remote detonator. The base’s timed explosive system was now activated, irreversible once triggered.

The leader sneered and uttered a phrase. Zhang Desen, understanding even without translation, asked the interpreter, who replied,

“He said: ‘Let’s all die together!’”

Hearing this, Zhang Desen knocked the leader unconscious and ordered,

“Notify all international units immediately: the base’s auto-detonation system is active! Evacuate this damned place—now!”

“Yes, sir!”

Zhang Desen and his team, escorting their prisoner, joined the multinational forces in a rapid retreat.

As explosions multiplied and drew closer, the escape became a race against time. The teams, disciplined and swift, dashed for the exits, but blasts erupted from both sides, rapidly approaching.

Seeing the imminent danger, Zhang Desen shouted,

“Charge through! Don’t hesitate!”

Everyone saw the explosions surge forward, nearly engulfing them in an instant.