The crimson twilight gradually faded behind the mountains, and night fell. The people of Ripova began lighting lamps to illuminate their homes and streets.
Occasionally, patrolling soldiers marched through the streets in formation, and checkpoints were set up at several entrances and exits to inspect incoming and outgoing vehicles. After all, it was wartime, and the frontline was only a few kilometers away. Moreover, a division-level command headquarters of the Luvina Empire was stationed here.
Under the cover of night, the Fourth platoon quietly slipped into Ripova. Night had deepened, and most residents were asleep. The platoon split into two teams to take turns covering each other, moving through the empty streets. When encountering crowded areas, they climbed onto rooftops, moving like phantoms beneath the moonlight.
According to the plan, the Fourth platoon would directly raid the enemy's divisional command headquarters. Dazilet's forces were launching an attack at the frontline, and the enemy commanders would surely be gathered in the command post at this time. Platoon leader Otto had learned from informants that the command post had been temporarily set up at Ripova's town hall. The town hall was heavily guarded, and vehicles other than military ones were even prohibited from entering an area near the building.
"This is the town hall map drawn by our informants. We'll split into two teams. Nordhausen, you lead your men to infiltrate through the skylights on the rooftop. Edwin and I will enter from the west window here. The government building has two floors and is not large. Edwin, you take charge of controlling the entrances and exits, and Nordhausen will clear the rooms. Everyone clear on the plan?"
The task allocation was concise and efficient. No extra explanation was needed—both veteran squad leaders knew how to adapt on the fly.
"Understood!"
"Let's move!"
At Otto's command, the two teams quickly left their hiding spots, blending into the darkness.
At this moment, the Luvina division command in Ripova was busy beyond measure. The forces of the Dazilet Empire had launched a sudden night assault and achieved some success. Phones at the command post rang continuously, with reports from dispatchers and orders from superiors piling across the desk. The staff tried to piece together the shifting frontline situation—one moment a hill was lost, the next a mill retaken. Several units sent orders but had yet to respond. The white-bearded general, pipe clenched in his mouth, found the situation increasingly baffling.
Boom—
Lights flickered wildly before returning to normal.
The explosion and shock made everyone stop their work. The general brushed dust off his shoulders and stood up.
"What happened?"
No one replied immediately; the staff quickly returned to their duties. But gunfire echoed inside and outside the building, casting a shadow over their hearts.
"Enrik!"
The general summoned his guard.
"Go check what just happened outside."
"Yes, General!"
"Damn it, it can't be the Night Knight..."
After the guard left, the general muttered to himself. He moved to the window and looked down, but only saw patrolling soldiers firing inside the town hall. There was no sign of enemies outside.
"General! the east side of the second floor and the archive room on the first floor are under attack. Major Emrik is currently fighting fiercely at the stairwell."
Suddenly, a bloodshot-eyed guard burst into the operations room, his face smeared with black soot from the explosion.
"Grab your weapons, follow me!"
The old general drew his sidearm and led the charge out of the operations room. Others quickly loaded their guns. Some tried to stop the general for safety and command reasons, but he pushed them aside. At the corridor corner, the general signaled them to halt, then cautiously peeked toward the stairwell. The gunfire was thinning out—the battle there seemed nearly over.
The general directed some men to take an old office two meters ahead and waited quietly. Soon, two lightning-fast figures appeared from the stairwell and dashed toward them. Both sides opened fire immediately, but the two moved through the hail of bullets like ghosts, breaking through the office and turning the corridor corner. The general, relying on experience, was sure he had hit them, but they appeared unscathed, stunning everyone.
The submachine guns roared, mowing down a crowd behind the general. The general himself was shot and wounded, falling to the ground. Unintentionally, his eyes locked with one of the two attackers—but to his surprise, the shadowy demon under the dim light revealed a woman's face, with a trace of clarity and hesitation in her eyes.
"What are you doing again?"
Arcia turned back with displeasure, dropping two grenades among the fallen officers. Sennia hurried after her.
"Stay close."
Sennia followed Arcia deeper into the corridor, and soon the sound of explosions echoed behind them.
"Three, two, one."
Using hand signals, Arcia counted down, then kicked open the operations room door. Sennia rushed in the moment it swung open, followed closely by Arcia. The enemies hadn't even fired a shot before two bursts from their submachine guns knocked them all down.
"This seems to be the last room on this side."
Sennia glanced at the chaotic operations room, then quickly regained focus and said to Arcia:
"Let's check on Nordhausen's side."
The two returned the way they came and soon met Nordhausen.
"You're just in time. Is the west side all clear?"
Nordhausen had just finished his task and was ready to join Arcia.
"All clear."
"Good. Enemy reinforcements must have surrounded the area. Let's regroup with Otto."
Without wasting a moment, the squad hurried down to the first floor.
In the lobby, squad leader Otto was exchanging fire at the front door with enemy troops outside. Several Night Riders were wounded, but the second-tier medicine could heal those otherwise lethal gunshot wounds.
"Otto, we're done here."
The enemy's fire was intense; Nordhausen estimated at least two machine guns firing into the lobby. Bullet fragments and wall debris littered the ground, tracer rounds streaking through the dust. Nordhausen called out from cover to Otto, who was fighting inside.
"Prepare to retreat!"
Receiving Nordhausen's message, Otto ordered the squad to withdraw from cover. Nordhausen immediately commanded the team to provide covering fire. Two 20mm machine cannons erupted in rhythmic death, their high-explosive rounds detonating among enemy positions. The sudden strike silenced the machine guns, weakening enemy suppression.
"Move to the east side. The blockade there is weaker!"
Otto jumped into Nordhausen's cover and briefly updated him on the first floor's situation.
"Understood!"
Nordhausen confirmed the retreat plan, then turned to Arcia:
"Protect Sennia during the breakout. She's new and lacks combat experience."
Arcia nodded. Nordhausen glanced at Sennia, who was busy reloading her submachine gun, steady despite her rookie status thanks to training with Altasa.
"You finally arrived."
The room was dusty and chaotic, with a large hole blasted in the wall. Edwin was holding this position.
"This building's construction is ridiculous—one cluster grenade blew a hole this big."
Seeing everyone's attention on the hole, Edwin explained.
"What's the situation outside?"
Otto crossed the broken cabinet and stood beside Edwin.
"Enemies are blocking the southern alley near the square, the north side is still quiet."
After hearing Edwin, Otto pondered briefly then announced:
"Prepare to break north. Nordhausen, you cover the rear. Edwin and I lead the front."
"Understood!"
Both team leaders replied in unison. Otto dashed first through the hole in the wall.
Enemies on the south side opened fire immediately, but the squad responded with suppressive fire. The submachine guns' high rate of fire and low recoil gave the Night Riders a sharp advantage, and their superior physique helped control recoil for better accuracy. Seeing comrades fall one by one, enemies retreated behind cover. The squad took the opportunity to relocate, scattering into alleys and onto rooftops.
Bursting out of the alley, they reached a wider street. Otto scanned the distance from the rooftop to observe enemy movements.
"Get ready to climb up."
Arcia saw Otto's gesture from the rooftop and said to Sennia:
"Climb up? The rooftop?"
Sennia eyed the ten-meter-high building. Climbing wasn't her strength, but seeing others leap up, she reluctantly followed.
"Are you okay?"
Arcia peeked from the rooftop, watching Sennia inch up the drainpipe. Enemy troops had emerged from the alley and occupied both sides of the street, firing toward Sennia.
"Ah—!"
Sennia screamed, losing grip and falling.
Arcia turned back, noticed the rest of the squad had disappeared on the roof, then jumped down immediately.
"You okay?"
Knowing Sennia was likely hit, Arcia quickly injected second-tier medicine into her thigh and dragged her into cover.
"Can you stand?"
Sennia didn't reply. Though she felt nothing when hit, her left arm suddenly lost strength and collapsed. Pain soon followed in her shoulder, but the medicine's effect reduced it quickly.
"My left arm feels paralyzed..."
Despite the crisis, Sennia stayed calm, unsure what to do next.
"The bullet probably hit a nerve, it'll improve soon."
Arcia quickly checked for other wounds, then risked a glance at enemy movements from cover.
"We need to get out fast."
Though their smoke grenades obscured enemy sight, pressure was mounting. Arcia couldn't hold out much longer alone.
"Okay."
Sennia tried moving her left arm and was surprised it had mostly recovered.
"This way."
Before leaving, Arcia tossed two grenades toward the enemy through the smoke, then led Sennia through narrow alleys.
The raid on the command post had put the Luvina troops on full alert, sweeping the town from the command center and barracks. The residents were awakened by the unusual noises and gunfire but knew to stay home.
Arcia and Sennia weaved through alleys, trying to escape before Ripova was fully sealed off. They occasionally encountered small enemy patrols but managed to evade them with teamwork.
Suddenly, Arcia stopped, pressed against a wall, signaling Sennia to freeze. In a flash, a shadow dashed from the corner, aiming a gun at them—it was Nordhausen.
"How did you end up here?"
After marching with the main force, Nordhausen had returned to find Arcia and Sennia missing.
"Some trouble—Sennia got injured."
Arcia lowered her gun.
"How bad?"
Nordhausen asked anxiously, recalling Otto's "orders from above."
"Preliminary assessment: shoulder gunshot with nerve damage."
"Alright, let's get out of Ripova first."
Nordhausen breathed easier—it didn't seem serious. Even Sennia herself felt her arm had mostly recovered.
"This way—no blockade here yet."
Following their path, Nordhausen quickly plotted a new escape route. Eventually, the group crossed a creek through an open meadow and slipped into the woods outside town, safe from enemy sight.