Of course, this led to mistakes. Originally, Sophia Dean had ordered Henry Cooper's E squad and the "Fe56" C squad to attack a small team from 魔爪 holed up in a warehouse. However, unexpectedly, after losing just two people, the enemy managed to wipe out the entire "Fe56" C squad. Then, another 魔爪 squad arrived just in time to reinforce, forming an eight-person team that turned around and flanked, suppressing the remaining four members of Henry Cooper's squad.

They were all pinned down behind some ruins.

Meanwhile, the teams of Sophia Dean and Andrew Miller were engaged in a fierce battle with 魔爪's main force, and it was clear they couldn't spare anyone to help.

Earlier, Henry Cooper's two squads, eight people in total, had surrounded four enemies, yet four of their own were killed. Now the enemy had the numbers advantage, and the balance of power shifted dramatically.

The broken wall of the ruins was riddled with bullet holes. The four of Henry Cooper hid behind the wall, and every time they peeked out to shoot, countless bullet impacts would spray across the wall. When they ducked back, they were left with only half health, forced to desperately bandage up and take medicine.

In no time, their supplies were running dangerously low, and everyone could see they were about to run out of ammo and meds. The main force could only worry helplessly, since they were all pinned down themselves.

"The enemy's firepower is too strong, and their aim is too good! It's at least five hundred meters across that forested slope. At this distance, even with a scope, the bullet spread is too wild—I can't hit anything!" Henry Cooper said anxiously over the channel.

Everyone else felt the same. "Yeah, their suppressive fire is too intense. There's barely any time to aim when you peek out, and the distance is too far. They've already set up their guns! If we go out, we'll just get shot!"

"The circle is shrinking. They're already inside, so they don't even need to flank us. All they have to do is block our way into the zone, and they can trap us here until we're dead!"

They tried to break out with single shots, but it was barely effective and extremely dangerous.

"The AK kicks way too much. After a burst, the muzzle's pointing at the sky. There's no way to hit anything at this range!"

"I'm only good with SMGs. I'm not used to rifles."

Kevin Miller, who was with the main force, couldn't help but feel relieved—thank goodness he wasn't with Henry Cooper. Right now, Ethan Brooks and Henry Cooper's squad definitely wouldn't make it into the circle; they'd just get blocked and killed outside. He couldn't help but chime in, "Don't bring your experience from those low-tier games here. This isn't one of those second-rate games. The guns here are all modeled after real combat! That means the real-life stats are exactly what you get in-game! Running and spraying with an assault rifle and still hitting targets hundreds of meters away? That's just a myth here!"

Even our own teammates are like this, and you still have to argue!

Saying stuff like "the second-rate games you used to play can't compare to the realism of 'Hot War'"—who says things like that? We're already in this mess, and you're still showing off your so-called superiority? Why can't you just keep your mouth shut?

Henry Cooper and the others were all furious, but they didn't have time to deal with him right now, just stewing in their anger.

Kevin Miller, on the other hand, felt a surge of excitement—Ethan Brooks was doomed, and he was about to win their bet.

With only one assault rifle, Ethan Brooks scavenged a 4x scope from under the ruins' low wall, then returned to the front line where Henry Cooper and the others were pinned down. He leaned against the wall, peeked out, and fired a few bursts.

"Don't peek! There's a sniper on the other side!" someone warned Ethan Brooks.

"Don't waste your bullets!"

Kevin Miller couldn't pass up the chance to mock him. "You think this is like tossing grenades in a closed space? If you go out now, you'll get your head blown off!" Of course, he was hoping Ethan Brooks would die quickly.

Just as he finished speaking, a notification popped up.

'"Please Call Me Shitai" was eliminated by "Wuming" with an assault rifle!'

Henry Cooper: "......"

E squad: "......"

Kevin Miller: "......!?"

Everyone was stunned.

Five hundred meters away! Not only did he hit, but he finished someone off from a downed state. If that's just luck, it's way too good. Or was it Sophie's "mascot" comment coming true?

As if in angry retaliation, even more bullet holes appeared in the wall from the enemy's gunfire.

Ethan Brooks waited for a lull in the enemy's barrage, then moved to the left, peeked out, and fired another burst and a few single shots.

'"Where Can I Find Little Chicken" was eliminated by "Wuming" with an assault rifle!'

Super Shadow squad: "......"

On the 魔爪 Net City side, the livestream had already switched from the main battlefield to this squad's fight, with the main camera focused on Ethan Brooks's "Wuming." The 魔爪 fans watched in silence as the character peeked left and right, firing.

There's something off about this guy!

After Ethan Brooks's suppressive fire, Henry Cooper and the others didn't sit idle—they coordinated with him, providing covering fire.

Then Ethan Brooks said, "Move into the circle!"

He immediately took control of "Wuming," vaulted over the low wall, and advanced toward the ruins ahead. Along the way, he kept changing positions and firing. Every time he fired a burst or a single shot, someone on the other side would go down—either entering a downed state, getting finished off while being revived, or getting knocked while trying to revive someone! Even when the enemy threw smoke grenades, it was useless—at best, it just delayed the inevitable.