Chapter 14 One Against Two or Two Against One

The environment was quiet, and both men moved with extreme caution, every step taken gently to avoid making noise.

Their bare feet proved advantageous in the darkness, allowing them to approach their target silently, much like predatory cats on the hunt.

Soon, they arrived at the next room's entrance. Due to the ongoing renovations, the room lacked a door, giving them a clear view inside.

As they suspected, the moonlight revealed a table by the window, cleared of its usual clutter to accommodate a sniper rifle mounted on it. Behind the table stood a man in camouflage gear, standing ready by the weapon, with a large section of the window glass removed to allow the night breeze in.

McClane signaled that he would go first. Moving ahead with Owen following, they stealthily approached the man. Suddenly, a "crack" sound underfoot broke the silence, alerting them to their presence. Owen cursed silently, realizing they had stepped on small round pellets, likely an alarm set by the sniper.

The sniper reacted instantly, rolling aside and reaching for his sidearm. Owen charged forward, with McClane close behind, only to see McClane swiftly repelled with greater force than his approach.

Owen, barely processing McClane's swift ejection, attacked the sniper with an elbow strike and a stab towards the hand reaching for the gun holster. The sniper blocked the elbow but was caught off guard by the lower attack, resulting in a pained grunt as the compass pierced his hand.

Owen managed to disarm the sniper of his handgun, but before he could aim, the weapon was knocked out of his hand, flying out through the open window. A kick then sent Owen flying back, mirroring McClane's earlier fate.

Owen quickly got back to his feet, his training in mixed martial arts and high pain tolerance helping him recover swiftly. McClane, however, struggled more visibly, indicating the sniper's kick had hit him hard.

Despite the sniper's unassuming appearance, his strength was formidable. Owen and McClane were both in pain, realizing the challenge they faced.

The sniper removed the compass from his hand without a flinch and prepared for another attack. He lunged at Owen with a side kick, which Owen narrowly avoided. The sniper's combat experience was evident, pressuring Owen into a corner and forcing him to absorb more attacks.

Owen knew he couldn't continue like this and decided to use a grappling technique, despite not being an expert. As the sniper attacked again, Owen maneuvered behind him, securing a chokehold and wrapping his legs around the sniper's waist.

They fell to the ground, struggling and rolling, but Owen maintained his grip. The sniper tried to reach back to grab Owen's hair, but Owen, anticipating this move, stayed out of reach.

The sniper then attempted to pry Owen's legs apart, failing initially but then targeting Owen's toes, exploiting the lack of footwear. Owen had to release the hold as the sniper increased his efforts, standing up and slamming Owen against the wall.

Despite the impact, Owen held on, knowing the effectiveness of a chokehold. But the sniper's resilience surprised him, enduring longer than most would.

As Owen braced for another impact, the sniper executed a backflip, catching Owen off guard and slamming him onto the floor. The force of the fall made Owen lose his grip, illustrating the sniper's formidable strength and agility.