The second underground parking lot was filled with a damp, moldy smell and the scent of engine oil. Pale fluorescent lights hummed overhead, some already broken, casting long shadows.
Concrete pillars were as dense as a forest, and a dozen dust-covered cars were parked silently, serving as the only cover in the area.
Actually, in the confined space of a basement, there isn't much difference between using a suppressor and not using one. In fact, with a suppressor, the direction of the sound becomes easier to discern.
That muffled sound was too obvious, and Johnny only realized this after firing his Pistol.
Leo also confirmed Johnny's position through that shot, but the distance was still uncertain; the echo in the basement was too great.
Even with a Pistol equipped with a suppressor, a sound as soft as a cough was still difficult to pinpoint.
Leo, however, quickly moved forward and hid behind a pillar.
The opponent fired first, giving him an advantage, and his own position was already exposed, so he could only quickly change positions.
Unfortunately, he only had two Pistols and four magazines on him, and no effective means of counterattack, so he would have to rely on instinct and professional skill from now on.
Leaning against the pillar, he held his Pistol with both hands, pointing downwards. He pressed his left shoulder against the load-bearing pillar, then looked to his right.
There was a small L-shaped wall section there, and he had to get to it as quickly as possible to be in a safe range. Otherwise, with his current cover, the opponent could expose him to their effective Shooting range by simply moving a few times.
Johnny leaned against the hood of a black SUV, his breathing steady. His glock 34 Pistol was fitted with a suppressor, making the barrel appear exceptionally long.
He cocked his ear, and aside from the sound of dripping water in the distance, only the thumping of his own heart could be heard.
Suddenly, footsteps.
It wasn't running, but a rapid, cautious movement. The soft scuff of leather shoes on the concrete floor came from the three o'clock direction.
Johnny immediately crouched down, using the car wheel as cover.
He gripped his Pistol with both hands, adopting a Weaver stance, the muzzle pointed towards the source of the sound.
Tactical thoughts raced through his mind: he didn't know what kind of Pistol or skill level the opponent had. If he fired, he would expose his position, but he had a bulletproof suit and vest, so in a head-on engagement, he only needed to protect his head.
Click.
An insignificant sound, like a small pebble being kicked away. Johnny immediately rolled to his left, silently.
Bang! Bang!
Two deafening gunshots almost vibrated the air. Bullets pierced the SUV window at his previous position, and glass shattered to the ground.
The smell of gunpowder instantly permeated the air.
Leo was using sound for intimidation and probing.
A weapon without a suppressor is both a disadvantage and an advantage; the loud noise in an enclosed space can intimidate an opponent and even temporarily affect their hearing.
Johnny did not return fire.
He used the brief interval after the opponent fired to move quickly, shifting from behind the car to behind a thick concrete pillar. His suppressor's advantage lay in its stealth, and even if the difference wasn't significant here, it was still an advantage, and he couldn't waste this opportunity.
A Shooter's instinct would anticipate results; he wouldn't rashly attack again without determining if the target had been hit.
He held his breath, hearing the subtle sound of the opponent changing magazines.
Johnny quickly peeked around the left side of the pillar, glimpsing Leo by the door of a silver sedan, indeed reloading.
In less than a second, Johnny immediately pulled back.
Bang!
Another bullet grazed the edge of the pillar, sending concrete fragments splashing onto his face.
Leo's reload was a feint; it was a trap.
Both men were wearing bulletproof gear, so aiming points had to be the head or pelvic area.
Johnny thought, his heart racing but his hands steady.
He decided to create a diversion.
He picked up a piece of broken glass from his feet and threw it forcefully towards his ten o'clock direction.
The glass hit the hood of another car with a crisp 'clang'.
Almost simultaneously, Leo fired a series of shots towards the sound.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Muzzle flashes flickered in the dim light, illuminating his momentary silhouette.
At the exact moment Leo fired, Johnny fully darted out from the other side of the pillar, knees slightly bent, holding his Pistol steadily, aiming.
Leo reacted, trying to turn his muzzle back.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Three low, crisp gunshots, almost like the sound of air expelling. The glock 34's suppressor effectively suppressed the muzzle flash and loud noise.
The first bullet struck below Leo's right shoulder; the bulletproof vest absorbed most of the impact, but still made his body jolt.
The second shot hit the slide of his glock 17 as he was turning it, a metallic 'clink' sounded, and the Pistol almost slipped from his hand.
The third bullet grazed his cheekbone, leaving a trail of blood.
Leo grunted, using the impact of the bullet to fall backward, and simultaneously rolled behind a car, disappearing from view.
Johnny immediately retreated to cover. He heard the opponent's heavy breathing and a suppressed cough.
One bullet might have injured his ribs; even with a bulletproof vest, blunt trauma would be painful enough.
Again, only the 'drip-drip' of water and the 'hum' of fluorescent lights filled the air, mixed with gunpowder and a faint scent of blood.
Both men fell silent again, slowly moving in the shadows, calculating the distance, angle, and opportunity for their next encounter.
Life and death swayed in a moment's calculation and reaction.
Leo hadn't expected this guy to be so difficult to deal with. It seemed the opponent's track record was genuine, his paper stats earned with every shot he fired.
"He's truly terrifying. I didn't expect Night Demon Wick's disciple to have this kind of style!"
Leo rubbed his ribs. That bullet had indeed hit him in the ribs, and it hurt quite a bit, but the impact wasn't that significant.
He began to retreat, holding his Pistol in his right hand. His original intention today was just to probe, a quick test. If he could eliminate the opponent at the same time, that would be ideal, but it now seemed like it would be a prolonged battle, which wasn't very advantageous for him.
If the opponent's skill wasn't fake, this encounter would be very difficult. After all, the opponent had fought his way through the global assassin rankings.
Just from the initial skirmish, he could already judge the opponent's true strength, so the best course of action now was to retreat immediately and fight another day.
Johnny waited for the opponent's next move, but heard no sound. He immediately lay on the ground, observing the opponent through the clearance beneath the car, but found no feet.
Following that, Johnny quickly got up and leaned against the car wheel. This spot had the wheel behind it, and further back was the engine, so it offered some bulletproof capability.
At least Pistol bullets wouldn't easily penetrate the engine and wheel hub, but if it were 7.62mm bullets, it wouldn't be reliable.
After waiting and finding that the opponent still hadn't made a move, Johnny decided to move first and take the initiative.
After getting up, Johnny quickly began a flanking maneuver, but as he searched, he couldn't find any trace of the guy.
Johnny's boldness grew, and he eventually searched the entire second basement level before confirming that the opponent had left.
"What's going on? Did he just come here to meet me?"
Johnny was momentarily confused.
"Are you crazy?"
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