The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 198: Forest Horror Trap

The night deepened, wrapping the forest tightly like a vast sheet of black silk. Another detachment from Kazuya Uesugi's special forces, led by Yamato Gono, rushed like ghosts toward a western area where flashes of fire and signals were visible. In the gloom, they searched for any sign of danger. They clutched their guns tightly, the cool metal feeling a reassuring feeling. Their steps were hurried yet gentle, each one carefully guarded against disturbing the slumbering "beast" of the forest.

Yamato Gono, a slender man with a fierce look in his eyes, walked at the front of the group. His hawk-like gaze constantly darted back and forth between the winding road ahead and the shadowy bushes on either side. From time to time, he whispered to the team behind him, "Hurry up! Get ready!" However, they had no idea that they were approaching a carefully laid death trap.

As they filed onto a narrow mountain path, the leading member suddenly felt something tighten beneath his feet. Instantly, a noose, hidden beneath layers of fallen leaves and almost fused to the ground, tightened like a nimble venomous snake, encircling his ankle. Then, a powerful force yanked him into the air, his body dangling helplessly from a branch like a captured rabbit. His weapon dropped with a clang, startling a flock of birds in the silent forest. He opened his mouth to scream, his eyes wide with fear, but at that moment, a sharp wooden spike, pulled by the force of the rope, crashed through the tree, piercing him through the heart. With a scream of "Ahh!", he was instantly killed, blood dripping from the wound along the edge of the spike and onto the head of one of the team members...

Hearing his teammate's screams, Yamato Gono ignored the danger of being shot. Veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot, and he shouted at the top of his lungs for the flashlight-carrying special forces member to turn it on. Trembling, the team member pulled the flashlight from his belt and flicked the switch with trembling fingers. A beam of pale light suddenly shone upon his fellow soldier, who was hanging upside down and impaled on a wooden spike rack. The team member's eyes were wide open, filled with despair and terror, his mouth still half-open as he screamed, his facial muscles contorted in agony. His body swayed slightly, and blood continued to drip, forming a small, dark red pool on the ground.

Seeing this horrific scene, the members of Yamato Gono's team couldn't help but gasp. Some of the more timid ones were so frightened that their legs gave out and they nearly collapsed. Seeing this, Yamato Gono gritted his teeth and shouted, "Come on, everyone! Beware of traps! This isn't our homeland. We're fighting in a foreign land, and every step could be dangerous. Be cautious. If you encounter the enemy, don't panic; follow my command and fight back. We shoulder the mission of the empire and must not fall here!" Although his voice sounded powerful, the slight tremor at the end betrayed his inner tension.

Upon hearing Yamato Gono's words, the team members suppressed their fear, gripped their weapons tightly, and quickly adjusted their positions. They kept their eyes vigilantly fixed on the ground and the surrounding bushes, advancing forward under mutual cover...

At that moment, a slight rustling sound came from the surrounding bushes, especially noticeable in the quiet forest. The team members stopped instantly, gripping their weapons in fear, their muzzles pointed at the source of the sound, their hearts racing. Yamato Gono suppressed his nervousness and whispered to the team members to be on guard, but his voice was still a little trembling...

As the rustling sound approached, the team members' breathing quickened, their eyes widening as they stared at the brush, fingers tightening on the triggers. Some began to tremble with the strain. Suddenly, a dark figure flashed through the brush and trees, and the agents panicked, firing blindly in its direction. The bullets flew wildly, missing their targets and exposing their position.

The shouts and gunshots mixed together, making the scene even more chaotic. Shan Teng Wuye shouted loudly to cease fire and maintain formation, but the team members were shrouded in fear and did not listen to the command at all.

In the midst of all the chaos, someone in the tree shouted in Japanese: "Under Mount Fuji!" Yamado Gono's heart was shocked, and he immediately realized that it might be one of his own people, and immediately shouted back: "The cherry blossoms are in full bloom!"

After the exchange of commands, two ninja scouts quickly descended from the tree. Katanas slung across their backs, their movements swift and agile, dressed in nightwear. Landing, one of the ninjas quickly scanned the chaotic special forces, a hint of disdain in his eyes. He then addressed Yamato Gono briefly, "Colonel, the situation ahead is complex. We've explored all the way here and haven't found the target, but there are traps left by the target. They're quite subtle, clearly carefully laid to thwart our pursuit. Judging from current indications, they must have evacuated not long ago. Presumably, they knew we were coming, so they set an ambush to delay us."

Yamato Gono's face darkened, his brow furrowed as he considered the situation becoming increasingly difficult. He gritted his teeth and asked, "So, in your opinion, what should we do?"

The ninja scouts exchanged glances, and one pointed to a less-visible path to the right. He calmly stated, "There's a path over here that seems less traveled. We suspect the target might have evacuated from here, and there are relatively few traps along the way. We can circumvent this route and perhaps intercept them before they leave the area. However, we must remain cautious along the way, as the enemy is cunning and there's no guarantee they won't have other tricks up their sleeves."

Yamato Gono pondered for a moment, knowing full well that he had few options left. He nodded in agreement and said, "Alright, as you say. All team members, brace yourself and follow these two ninja masters. Stay alert and don't make any more mistakes!"

Although the team members were still frightened, they still forced themselves to follow closely behind the ninja and carefully moved forward along the trail. Along the way, the ninja scouts, with their keen observation and agility, discovered and avoided several hidden traps in advance, allowing the special forces team to pass safely for the time being.