The Tycoon's Odyssey

Chapter 171: 171:The Tribal Land

As the boat cut through the saline waters towards the Nicobar Islands, the crew maintained a taut vigilance.

The tribals would often sail in search of fish which could appear before them at any moment, so tried to stay vigilant, fortunately, they didn't encounter any.

The towering trees of the forest loomed larger as they approached, their thick canopies casting deep shadows over the advancing team. The roar of the boat's engines gradually faded beneath the rustling of leaves and the calls of exotic wildlife.

Evan, Suri, and Big Mac were the first to disembark the boat, their advanced suits catching the sunlight as they stepped onto the shore. Before them stretched a dense foliage, a wild expanse of greenery that seemed to swallow the sound of the approaching boat. Evan gestured for the team to follow closely.

Each member of the team had undergone a realistic trial of virtual simulations that had toughened their mind for unpredictable situations.

Big Mac, with his towering and formidable body, led the way with a confident stride while his gaze scanned the surroundings meticulously, his sharp instincts alert for any sign of danger. The rest of the team, clad in their sleek, high-tech suits, followed in tight formation, their helmets providing augmented reality feeds and constant tactical updates.

Evan, with Suri close by, moved cautiously. The forest ahead seemed like a maze of thick vines, gnarled roots, and the occasional burst of colors from tropical flowers. Yet, despite the beauty, there lingered an underlying tension as the reputation of the Tribal people for defending their territory was well-known.

The country had tried to venture deeper into the lands, only to be warned by arrow shots and were forced to retreat.

"Stay in formation," Evan instructed through the comms. "Our priority is to locate the designated area and secure it. The Tribal people won't hesitate to confront us if they sense intrusion."

With her eyes sharp and alert, Suri kept pace with Evan. "Any intel on what kind of defenses we might encounter?" she asked, her curiosity piqued as this was her first encounter with the Indigenous people.

"From the preliminary reports, we expect traps, ambushes, and potentially hostile encounters," Evan replied. "We need to be ready for anything."

Moving with deliberate caution, Big Mac led the group deeper into the forest. His experience in handling delicate situations was evident as he expertly navigated through the dense underbrush. His broad shoulders and imposing presence provided a sense of reassuring buffer for the team.

The forest was alive with movement; the team's advanced suits occasionally picked up traces of the Tribal people's presence, which was an abandoned campsite with charred burnt patches, a fresh trail through the foliage. The trackers built into their suits fed real-time information to Evan and his team.

As they pressed on, Evan signaled for a halt. He crouched down and examined the ground closely.

"We've picked up signs of recent activity," he said, his voice low. "Be alert."

Suri took a moment to scan the area with her enhanced vision. Her eyes sweep over the surroundings, noting every detail. "Looks like they're using natural cover to conceal their movements," she observed. "We should expect ambushes from higher grounds."

The dense forest grew eerily silent as Big Mac led the team through the underbrush. His imposing figure seemed almost invincible, until suddenly, with a sharp clang, he stumbled and fell, caught in a hidden trap. The ground beneath him gave way, and a spiked pit had ensnared his leg, pinning him down.

Before anyone could react, a high-pitched whistle sliced through the air. An arrow sped towards Big Mac, but he reacted with lightning speed, rolling to the side just in the nick of time, but that wasn't all.

More arrows began to rain down from concealed positions among the trees.

SWOOSH!

A volley of arrows conveyed with the shafts glinting menacingly in the fading light.

Evan's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Use your gear to shield yourselves! Don't let the arrows touch your skin!"

The team swiftly deployed their advanced gear and the next moment, a network of shields of tactical gear and armor began enveloping them. The arrows clattered harmlessly against the protective barriers, but the tension remained palpable.

From the corner of his eye, Evan saw Suri move with ghostly movements.

She darted through the onslaught of arrows with fluid and precise movements, slipping past the encroaching arrows, and toward a nearby tree. With the deftness of a skilled acrobat, she scaled the tree in a matter of seconds.

From her elevated vantage point, Suri spotted one of the attackers, a lithe figure clad in animal skins and adorned with tribal markings. With a swift, powerful kick, she sent him crashing to the ground below.

THUD!

The man screamed, causing a temporary lull in the attack as Suri leaped down.

Her landing was silent as if she had never moved at all, and she struck with deadly precision, dispatching the fallen warrior with a well-placed blow.

Meanwhile, Evan and the rest of the team advanced toward the hidden attackers. The tribal warriors, with their faces painted with fearsome designs and their bodies draped in a mix of feathers, bones, and leather, emerged from their camouflaged positions.

Their weapons included jagged spears and crude bows, while their eyes gleamed with a wild, desperate determination.

Evan crouched down, spotting the trials preparing for a frontal assault.

He dodged a spear thrust, and the weapon sliced through the air where he had stood just moments before. With a swift punch, he sent one attacker staggering backwards, the impact resonating through the forest. The tribal warrior, a tall figure with a headdress of bones, screamed in a guttural language, his scream echoing through the trees.

What followed was Evan's men clashing against the tribals, chaos erupting around them.

The fight was chaotic, with punches connecting with meaty thuds and kicks driving the attackers back. Each blow was met with fierce resistance, and the movements of the tribal people were wild and unpredictable.

They lunged and swung their weapons with primal force, their cries mingling with the sound of combat. One tribal warrior made a quick strike, but Evan's reflexes allowed him to dodge and counter with a precise kick, sending the attacker crashing into a nearby tree.

Suri joined Evan and leaped down from the tree with an agility that contrasted the brute force of the tribal warriors. She incapacitated another attacker with a well-aimed elbow to the face, taking him down with a single, efficient blow.

Big Mac found himself trapped as arrows rained down, and Evan's team quickly engaged in the ambush.