Reboot: Mechanic

With the elite soldiers now divided into two teams, Shi Tian knew it was his moment to strike.

He couldn't let their arrogance go unpunished.

Carefully, he pulled the pins from both the stun grenade and Blv-21, holding them in each hand.

As the soldiers continued to advance, they remained cautious, taking slow and deliberate steps. Shi Tian knew he had to time this perfectly, or his plan would fall apart.

Finally, when the soldiers were within the ideal range, Shi Tian stood up from his coverage.

He hurled the stun grenade with all his strength towards one of the teams. It soared through the air, emitting a blinding flash of light and a deafening explosion as it detonated.

The soldiers in its vicinity were caught completely off guard. Blinded and disoriented, they staggered, their shields dropping as they clutched their eyes and ears in pain.

Seizing this opportunity, Shi Tian unleashed the Blv-21 flashbang towards the second team of soldiers. Another blinding flash filled the air, leaving them temporarily incapacitated and vulnerable.

As the effects of the grenades subsided, Shi Tian wasted no time. He emerged from his hiding spot in the tall grass and took aim with his pistol, which was loaded with Esper's special bullets.

Firing with precision, he targeted the soldiers who had been hit by the stun grenade, aiming for the gaps in their shields. The special bullets, designed to penetrate energy shields, found their mark, and several soldiers dropped to the ground, incapacitated.

Shi Tian's accuracy was no joke, and each shot of his directly penetrated through the mask of the soldiers. So not only did the soldiers receive damage from the Esper special bullet, but they were also losing oxygen, and having to tank the pollution directly.

The soldiers who had been hit by the flashbang were still struggling to regain their senses. Shi Tian advanced quickly, taking advantage of their disorientation. 

His shots were accurate and deadly.

However, the leader of the elite soldiers reacted swiftly, barking orders to his remaining troops. They formed a defensive line, using their shields to protect themselves from Shi Tian's shots.

'Tsk, the leader recovered quite fast.' Shi Tian exclaimed inwardly. 

Realizing that a direct confrontation with the leader and his remaining soldiers would be difficult, Shi Tian made a split-second decision. 

He retrieved a smoke grenade from his belt and hurled it towards the soldiers.

The smoke quickly enveloped the area, obscuring vision and creating chaos. 

Shi Tian used this cover to reposition himself, moving closer to the leader's team while remaining concealed.

Now hidden in the thick smoke, Shi Tian knew that the soldiers would be disoriented and unable to see him clearly. It was the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack.

His heart raced as he closed the distance, his senses heightened to the max. 

The leader and his soldiers were shouting and trying to reorganize in the smoke-filled chaos. 

"Group together and keep your shield up. The enemy is among us so make sure to form a circle." The leader shouted, giving clear and strict commands. 

Meanwhile, Shi Tian's pistol was ready, and he approached them silently, careful not to make a sound. 

He knew that this moment could determine the outcome of the entire encounter.

With his pistol aimed at the leader, Shi Tian prepared to make his move. 

The smoke provided him with cover, but it wouldn't last long. He needed to act swiftly and decisively to secure victory against Theobold's elite soldiers.

Just when Shi Tian thought he had found the opening, the leader suddenly turned his head in Shi Tian's direction.

"Everyone, fire your gun in the direction of your 3 o'clock!" The leader suddenly commanded, stunning Shi Tian slightly in the process. 

'Damn it,' Shi Tian realized the opening was a trap, meant to deceive and reeled him closer to the precise location of the firing range.

Luckily, Shi Tian wasn't going to become a firing dummy for the elite soldiers as he activated his boosters' suit. With lightning speed, Shi Tian quickly retreated from his current position.

Alas, he could only go so far when the round of firing bullets were ricocheting and spraying everywhere. 

Unable to avoid all of them, Shi Tian was shot in the back, his arm, and some on his thigh.

Gritting his teeth to muster through the pain, Shi Tian gave it his all to retreat from the scene. 

His retreat was a painful one, both physically and mentally. The bullets had found their mark, and his body was searing with pain from the wounds. His armor had absorbed some of the impact, but it wasn't enough to prevent injury.

As he stumbled back, he knew he had to find cover and assess his wounds. The smoke still hung thick in the air, providing some concealment. 

However, the elite soldiers had likely pinpointed his location with their synchronized gunfire.

With sheer determination, Shi Tian managed to put some distance between himself and the soldiers, using what little cover he could find in the smoke-filled chaos. 

He needed to tend to his wounds and come up with a new plan.

His arm throbbed with pain, and blood oozed from his thigh and back. He tore a strip of fabric from his torn clothing and quickly fashioned makeshift bandages to staunch the bleeding. Time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to lose any more blood.

While attending to his injuries, Shi Tian's mind raced. 

The elite soldiers were clearly highly trained and disciplined. They had managed to anticipate his movements and set a trap despite the commotion. 

He needed a new strategy, one that would catch them off guard. Though the chances of the soldiers being caught off-guard were very unlikely.

'I was too careless. Even with all the grenades and element of surprise, it wasn't enough to deal enough damage.' Shi Tian thought to himself, realizing how naive he was to believe the leader was truly an arrogant person without any ability.

He had set the traps initially but had stepped into their traps later on, causing him to be severely wounded.