Chapter 147

*Thump-*

*Boom! Crash!*

Numerous explosions and flashing lights erupted everywhere.

This was a plain near Kaesong, North Korea.

The combined assault of the Republic of Korea Army’s combat armored divisions and the Integrated Security Command’s Hunter combat units was unfolding in an instant.

The North Korean forces fell like dominoes under the momentum, as if all their hidden power had been unleashed in a single, overwhelming burst.

*Thump!*

First, long-range artillery and self-propelled guns devastated the area to gain the initiative, then Hunter combat units and tanks fiercely pushed through the breach.

The tanks indiscriminately shelled and shattered North Korea’s conventional forces, while Hunters sought out and annihilated North Korean Awakened individuals.

Against this perfect combined assault, North Korea collapsed like a sandcastle, unable to mount a proper defense.

In truth, even if Kim Jong-un were alive, the outcome would likely have been the same.

In a way, the current attack was a concentrated display of South Korea’s full might, a make-or-break effort.

The attacking forces were relentlessly aggressive and incredibly focused.

Having swiftly neutralized the defense lines in the Kaesong region, they immediately pushed northward, driving the front line upwards.

Operation Name: Northern Campaign.

A strategy to first secure Sinuiju and Rason, then use forces pushing up from below to devastate the entire North Korean territory.

Just hours after the Northern Campaign began, Kaesong fell, and Republic of Korea combat units pushed all the way to the doorstep of Pyongyang. Only then did North Korea realize the severity of the situation, and the various warlords attempted to form alliances to counter the threat.

But it was already too late.

After Kim Jong-un’s death, they had been snarling at each other, eager to devour one another.

Even if such factions formed an alliance, their strength would never truly coalesce.

The warlords surrounding Pyongyang put up a formidable front, but they too collapsed just like the forces defending Kaesong.

This happened because South Korea had prepared a make-or-break strike, while North Korea was caught completely off guard.

And the Republic of Korea’s combined assault force did not stop at the fall of Pyongyang.

Their objective was not merely the capture of Pyongyang.

It was to reach the defense lines connecting Rason and Sinuiju as quickly as possible!

That was their highest priority.

As the main vanguard swept forward, support units following behind would persuade and win over any remaining North Korean attack teams or units.

The operation was proceeding step by step.

As they pushed northward, forces that had been lurking on the other side of the Amnok River began to stir quietly.

The 125th Black Wind Unit.

Their sharp fangs were bared.

*****

The commander leading the 125th Black Wind Unit, Cao Xiong, gazed at the Amnok River, faintly visible in the distant pre-dawn light.

Astonishing intelligence had just reached him.

“South Korean forces raid North Korea! Black Lion, commence action.”

Black Lion was the callsign for the 125th Black Wind Unit.

They had been stationed north of the Amnok River to assess the internal situation in North Korea, when suddenly, in the dead of night, urgent news arrived.

The 125th Black Wind Unit was an elite force specifically cultivated for times like these.

Under its command were elite armored divisions, special operations and intelligence units, and an assault team comprised solely of Hunters.

Like an aircraft carrier at sea, each component of the Black Wind Unit was massive in scale, possessing the might of a former corps-level force.

Initially, the 125th Black Wind Unit was tasked with clearing paths and sweeping away all obstacles.

But now, South Korea had suddenly made its move.

A counter-punch delivered at a completely unexpected moment.

However, Cao Xiong believed that if they moved now, they could push back the North Korean forces and, riding that momentum, even set their sights on South Korea.

That was why he remained unfazed.

“Inform all units. The operation commences now.”

At Cao Xiong’s calm words, his aide swiftly transmitted the order.

With that, the colossal beast that had been lying low in the darkness revealed its immense form.

*Thump, thump, thump, thump-*

Along with state-of-the-art tanks, armored vehicles packed with Hunters began to tear through the pre-dawn stillness and cross the Amnok River.

Rason.

Kang Yuseong was atop a tall mountain.

Intelligence that the 125th Black Wind Unit had moved had already been received.

But they were too late.

General Lee Gyeong-guk, leading the Red Flag Unit, as if to prove his capabilities, established a perfect defense line in North Hamgyong Province through rapid coordination with surrounding units, all main cannons pointed north of the Amnok River, ready for an enemy attack.

And it wasn’t just North Hamgyong Province.

Originally, North Korea’s warlords had sworn loyalty to the Kim Il-sung family and had served for a long time.

Their bonds were stronger than imagined.

Of course, around Pyongyang, many ambitious individuals made cooperation difficult, but field commanders near the border, faced with this crisis, were able to quickly unite.

Thus, the situation on the primary defense line began to take a strange turn.

An eastern defense line centered around Rason in North Hamgyong Province and a western defense line centered around Sinuiju had been established. This was a robust defense line on a regional, not just a city, scale.

This meant that General Lee Gyeong-guk, leading the Red Flag Unit in Rason, and Lieutenant General Yoon Tae-ho, leading the Black Torch Unit in Sinuiju, were highly respected among their fellow commanders.

The 125th Black Wind Unit’s southward invasion immediately encountered its first variable here.

*Thump!*

The moment they set foot south of the Amnok River, they were greeted by terrifying artillery fire.

*Boom! Crash! Roar!*

Gil Ji-yeon and Kang Yuseong had already brainwashed the North Korean forces into expecting their arrival, so they mercilessly rained down shells on the 125th Black Wind Unit.

The 125th Black Wind Unit faltered, caught off guard by the unexpected bombardment.

Commander Cao Xiong of the 125th Black Wind Unit frowned, watching armored vehicles and tanks ablaze from shell impacts.

“What is this?!”

North Korea daring to shell them, who were part of China!

And how did they know about the 125th Black Wind Unit’s movements?

It was as if they had been waiting for them, deliberately unleashing a barrage of shells.

“Could the operation have been leaked?”

However, the 125th Black Wind Unit alone possessed corps-level firepower, and combined with the Hunters within, their offensive power was unimaginable.

If they decided to counterattack in earnest, the North Korean forces would be annihilated in an instant.

Furthermore, if J-20 fighter jets, stealth fighters, were scrambled from the nearest airbase at their call, the ground would simply be scorched earth. North Korea had no forces left that could even challenge J-20 fighter jets in air-to-air combat.

Considering all these factors, North Korea’s current attempt to block China was akin to suicide.

With the Kim Jong-un regime collapsed, it would be far better for them to submit to China.

The 125th Black Wind Unit had been operating under this assumption, but they were momentarily staggered by the unexpected blow.

Cao Xiong’s face was thoughtful for a moment, then he made a decision.

In any case, North Korea was the one who had turned their guns first.

So, there would be nothing to say if they crushed and annihilated them.

The 125th Black Wind Unit was a force created for such slaughter.

But they hadn’t tasted blood in too long.

A cruel smile appeared on Cao Xiong’s lips.

If that’s how they wanted it, then they had no choice but to respond in kind.

“Annihilate them.”

As Cao Xiong’s order was given, the 125th Black Wind Unit, which had been standing in the shadows, moved once more.

The difference from before was that they were now baring their sharp claws.

And endless hostility surged from within them.

*Boom! Crash! Roar!*

Tremendous flames erupted from the barrels of China’s Type 96 tanks and the Dà Nǎo (大脑), or SR-5, multiple rocket launchers.

*Whoosh!*

*Boom! Crash!*

Immense flames erupted across the entire region south of the Amnok River, sweeping away all North Korean forces that had opposed the 125th Black Wind Unit.

*Thump, thump, thump, thump, crash-*

And countless Type 96 tanks and armored vehicles rolled over the ground.

*****

The massive defense line connecting Sinuiju and Rason was gradually being eroded by the 125th Black Wind Unit’s attack. Kang Yuseong was already aware of this.

To fully stop them, the Republic of Korea’s forces pushing up from the south were needed.

Kang Yuseong silently watched the crimson flames erupting in the distance, then suddenly glanced down at his watch.

‘It’s a close call.’

It was a chaotic situation, making it impossible to predict whether the Republic of Korea Army would arrive first or if the 125th Black Wind Unit would breach the Sinuiju-Rason joint defense line first.

But the crucial thing was that if the line was breached before the Republic of Korea Army arrived, things would become much more complicated.

They had to hold the line while the two-point defense was still intact.

“Assault team.”

Kang Yuseong suddenly looked at him, then turned towards the assault team.

“Yes, Commander.”

The assault team stood uniformly facing him.

Kang Yuseong smiled faintly.

“It seems we’ll have to step in. They’re not to be underestimated.”

“Well, that’s welcome news.”

And someone stepped forward, brightening.

It was none other than.

Gil Hyeok-jun, naturally, with his two axes.

He had been standing there with an eager expression, itching for action for a long time.

The thought of finally drenching his axes in blood brought a flush of excitement to his face.

“So, can we play with fire now?”

And another person adjusted his fedora and spoke.

Kim Do-jin. It was him.

Kang Yuseong grinned at him.

“As much as you like.”

A cold smile also played on Kim Do-jin’s lips.

“It’s what I’ve been hoping for.”

Kang Yuseong looked at the rest of the assault team members.

Indeed, an undeniable excitement was visible on their faces.

They had been filled with dissatisfaction at not being able to fight the enemy before them.

“Of course, we’re going too. Hehe!”

“It’d be a shame if you left us behind, Commander!”

Kang Yuseong chuckled and nodded.

“Stardust. Let’s go.”

There was no need for many words.

The enemy was before them. That was enough.

*Clang-*

The assault team checked their weapons one last time, their eyes gleaming fiercely.

*Whoosh-*

And they began to sprint down the mountain slope.

*****

*Thump, thump, crash!*

Everything around them was flames and death throes.

The screams of the dying were always chilling, but the 125th Black Wind Unit swept everything away as if they didn’t care.

The formidable conventional weapons were one thing, but they truly began to shatter the North Korean forces when Hunters burst out of the armored vehicles.

As soon as they disembarked from the armored vehicles, they precisely identified their targets and immediately acted. They neutralized long-range artillery and tanks, slit the throats of North Korean infantry, and assassinated high-ranking officers, throwing the chain of command into chaos and beginning to destabilize the defense line.

The greatest strength of the Black Wind Unit was precisely these Hunters.

In fact, the J-20s or Type 96 tanks were nothing.

These Hunters, meticulously cultivated by the Chinese government, were their most prized and powerful weapon!

That’s why the Black Wind Unit was called the strongest.

“These damn bastards, where do they think they are… Ugh!”

North Korean officers fell like scarecrows.

And in front of a barracks, Lieutenant General Choi Dae-il sat, watching the approaching dark figures.

The field commander’s expression was unwavering.

Nearly ten assassins approached him.

*Shing-*

And one man drew a dagger, aiming for him.

But Lieutenant General Choi Dae-il stared back, not even blinking.

The man plunged the dagger towards his neck without hesitation.

It was just as Lieutenant General Choi Dae-il’s eyes flickered slightly.

*Clang!*

Suddenly, sparks flew before his eyes, and the dagger was deflected.

The Black Wind Unit Hunter stared wide-eyed at something.

*Thud.*

A man appeared from that spot.

The Hunter flinched, trembling as he faced the man who appeared with a longsword.

“This is as far as you go.”

The man approached the Black Wind Unit with an expressionless face.

“This is the only place I’ll allow.”

A wry smile appeared on the man’s lips.

“Because this will be your grave.”