novellhall Chapter 169 The Essence of Practical Combat Action Performance [7000 words]
Chapter 169 The Essence of Practical Combat Action Performance [7000 words]
Chapter 169 The Essence of Practical Combat Action Performance [7000] (Double monthly votes, please vote!)
The two stood a few steps apart on a relatively flat open space outside the film set.
Vin Diesel, Paul, Gayle, and others had just finished filming a scene and were taking a break to drink water when they saw the commotion and looked over curiously.
Let's begin!
Out of professional habit, Raphael was initially conservative, tentatively stepping forward and throwing a straight punch at Chen Xun's chest. The speed was not fast, and the force was restrained.
Chen Xun's body reacted almost automatically the moment he started.
Instead of taking the hit head-on, he slightly turned his body, deflected outwards with his left hand—not to block, but more like to guide—while his right foot silently stepped forward, blocking Raphael's path.
The movements were so fluid that they didn't seem pre-planned, as if Raphael's punch trajectory was something he had anticipated.
Raphael's heart skipped a beat. He withdrew his fist and changed his move, delivering a low sweep kick to Chen Xun's shin.
Chen Xun stepped back half a step to easily avoid the attack. In the instant Raphael lost his balance as he pulled back his leg, he suddenly cut in like a ghost, his right hand forming a palm shape, swiftly slashing towards Raphael's neck.
However, just as he was about to cut Raphael's neck, Chen Xun suddenly stopped.
The entire movement of cutting in and striking was fast, accurate, and had a peculiar rhythm. What should have been a dangerous attack looked like a calm and effortless maneuver.
"So fast!"
Paul, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but gasp.
Raphael broke out in a cold sweat; if that blow had landed, he estimated he would have been stunned for a few seconds.
He dared not hold back any longer and unleashed his true skills, his punches and kicks becoming even more fierce and compact, carrying the ruthlessness of street combat.
Chen Xun, however, became increasingly composed.
The fused skills functioned perfectly on him.
He no longer needs to think about "what move to use"; his body will automatically choose the most efficient way to respond based on the opponent's attack.
Parry, deflect, dodge, counterattack.
His movements were concise and efficient, without any unnecessary actions.
Yet, they always manage to make a block or counterattack look incredibly cinematic at crucial moments through subtle changes in angle or rhythm.
He even followed up a dodge with a slightly rotating elbow strike feint, which vaguely showed a bit of Jackie Chan's agility and fun, but the core was real lethality.
The two exchanged blows, their speed increasing rapidly, the muffled thuds of fists colliding and the sound of clothes tearing in the wind clearly audible.
Raphael grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.
The pressure is immense.
He felt like he wasn't sparring with an actor, but rather fighting against a highly experienced and unpredictable master of combat.
His opponent's strength, speed, and reaction were extraordinary, especially his intuition that seemed to predict his movements and his effortless, natural combos, which left him struggling to keep up.
Vin Diesel had put down his water bottle at some point, crossed his arms, and was watching the match unfold.
A look of surprise appeared on his face.
He remembered that Chen Xun's performance in action scenes wasn't like this before.
Was it because they were afraid I would get hurt that they deliberately kept it?
He had seen actors who could fight and knew real martial arts masters, but he had never seen Chen Xun's fighting style, which subtly blended the entertainment value of performance with the danger of real combat.
This is definitely not something you can learn by spending a few months learning some routines.
Paul, beaming with excitement, whispered to Jordana beside him, "My God, how many more surprises does Chen have up his sleeve? His skills are more than enough for a pure action movie!"
Gal Gadot watched quietly, her blue eyes sparkling with a strange light.
She has received combat and weapons training, which gives her a better understanding of the intricacies of the game.
Chen Xun's movements have no fixed routine, yet every move is practical, and his control of rhythm is excellent. The feeling of effortless mastery is full of power and beauty.
Director Justin Lin was also drawn in, and he simply picked up the walkie-talkie: "Prepare to pause the dialogue scenes over there! Don't move the lights or the camera yet!"
He wanted to see this unexpected performance.
During the match, Raphael made a fierce lunge, but Chen Xun skillfully deflected the force, causing Raphael to almost lose his balance.
Chen Xun turned around in one smooth motion, his hand already hovering over the back of Raphael's neck.
Raphael froze, knowing he had lost completely.
He was panting, raised his hands, and said something in Portuguese with a wry smile, then switched to English: "Stop! Mr. Chen, I give up, amazing—absolutely amazing."
He genuinely admired him.
Chen Xun immediately stopped his attack, the fluid and graceful fighting style he had just displayed receding like a tide. He returned to his usual demeanor, reaching out to help Raphael up: "Sorry, I got a little carried away. Are you alright?"
"It's alright, it's alright."
Raphael waved his hand, still shaken.
At this moment, applause broke out from the crowd.
Vin Diesel walked over first. He didn't say anything, but patted Chen Xun's shoulder hard, harder than usual, and his eyes showed undisguised approval.
Paul charged straight at him: "Chen! You're a fucking gem! You're a madman when you drive, and an even bigger madman when you fight! Those moves you just made were so cool!"
Gail also came over, smiling, and said, "Impressive, Chen. It seems that if Giselle needs close assistance in the future, she'll know who to turn to."
Her words drew a burst of good-natured laughter.
Director Justin Lin stroked his chin, looking at Chen Xun with excitement at discovering a new continent: "Chen Xun, we need to make good use of your skills. I think we can add a little something extra to the small-scale conflict scene between Chen Zhen and some gang members in the original plan. I'll have the action director talk to you about it later!"
The final scene was filmed in the central square of the Rossinia slum.
It's called a plaza, but it's actually just an open space surrounded by all sorts of messy buildings.
Night falls.
The huge light fixtures illuminated the place as bright as day.
The surrounding shantytowns appeared unusually dark.
Tonight's shoot will be a night scene depicting a fierce clash between Dominic's team and Reyes's men near the location of the stolen money, involving a lot of running, gunfights, and vehicle movement.
The film crew was on high alert, raising security to the highest level.
The number of military and police personnel in Rio has doubled compared to usual, and they are on high alert at various strategic high points and control points.
The main actors were closely followed by their respective security teams.
Filming has officially begun!
Director Justin Lin shouted "Action!"
A sudden change has occurred!
Suddenly, a local samba dance troupe dressed in brightly colored costumes and wearing heavy makeup appeared out of nowhere!
They pounded the drums, danced enthusiastically, and cheered as they rushed into the filming area from a side alley!
There were thirty or forty people.
It instantly disrupted some of the pre-planned movements of the extras and blocked the view of several cameras.
"Cut! What's going on? Who arranged this?"
Lin Yibin frowned, picked up the walkie-talkie, and asked the on-site producer.
This was clearly not in the plan.
The on-site producer was also bewildered and hurriedly waved his hand to indicate that he knew nothing about it.
The military and police responsible for the perimeter blockade seemed to be taken aback by the sudden revelry and did not immediately move forward to disperse it.
The drumbeats grew louder and louder, and the dancers' movements carried a wild rhythm, attracting the attention of all the residents in the surrounding area.
The crowd that had been blocked outside the cordon began to stir, cheer, and sway to the rhythm.
Many people took the opportunity to squeeze through the weak points in the security, and the number of onlookers instantly surged to over a thousand, causing the scene to become chaotic and noisy.
"Clear the area! Let them leave first!"
Lin Yibin realized something was wrong and immediately gave an order.
Security personnel and some military police began trying to guide the dance troupe away and persuade the influx of bystanders to leave.
Just when this chaos reached its peak!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The crisp, realistic gunshots drowned out the samba drumbeats.
It wasn't the muffled thud of a blank round fired by the crew.
The bullets came from several different directions, targeting the expensive filming equipment vehicles on the sidelines, as well as several modified luxury cars parked a little further away for filming!
The bullets struck the car, sending sparks flying and shattering the windows, causing screams!
"Enemy attack! Take cover! Protect the personnel!"
Security chief Harper’s roar echoed throughout the venue via walkie-talkie and shouts.
The crowd erupted in chaos!
Screams, cries, and running sounds—
Countless people were running around like headless flies.
The samba troupe seemed terrified, dropping their drums and scattering in all directions, which only exacerbated the chaos.
Several gunmen armed with pistols and short-barreled rifles approached the equipment vehicle and luxury car from different directions under the cover of the crowd.
They fired shots to suppress any potential resistance from security personnel while attempting to seize the property.
Their goal is clear!
The modified cars and equipment used in these films are worth a fortune on the black market!
The well-trained security personnel quickly huddled together, using their bodies and vehicles as cover, surrounding the main actors, including Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Gayle, and Chen Xun, as they attempted to move towards the pre-designated emergency evacuation point.
Rio's military and police also reacted, evacuating the crowd while attempting to return fire at the gunman's position.
Just then!
From the dark alleyways and rooftops outside, another group of gunmen with even more intense firepower suddenly emerged!
They are using automatic weapons.
"Da da da da—"
The sound of automatic rifle fire instantly drowned out the sound of pistols.
Several soldiers and police officers were caught off guard and fell to the ground, their blood a shocking sight under the searchlights.
The enemy's firepower, coordination, and tactical skills were clearly superior to the rabble inside that tried to steal the car!
"There's an ambush! They're in cahoots! They're grabbing things inside to draw attention, while they take out the enemy forces outside!"
Harper immediately grasped the situation, his heart sinking to the bottom.
The enemy's plan was meticulous, with inside and outside forces working together, all to take advantage of the chaos and devour them!
Making money on a film set is tough!
He didn't expect the attack to occur just as filming was about to finish.
Some members of the security team were also injured, and screams were heard.
The passage was blocked by the chaotic crowd and crossfire, making the planned escape route impassable.
"We can't go together! We'll be too conspicuous!"
Harper made a decisive move, yelling into the headsets of the various security teams, "Spread out and break through!"
"Group A, protect Van and Paul, head north!"
"Team B, protect Gale and the others heading east!"
"Team C, protect Chen Xun as he heads west!"
"Fight individually, find an opportunity to disengage! Return to the hotel to regroup! Repeat, disperse and break out, regroup at the hotel!"
Maintain communication, and do not make calls that reveal your location unless it is an emergency!
Chen Xun was tightly protected by his security team member Yuan Raphael and two other team members, hiding behind a prop truck that was riddled with bullet holes.
Bullets whizzed past overhead and around me, striking the car with a clanging sound, and stinging fragments from stray bullets grazed my skin.
The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, blood, and terror.
While nervously surveying the surroundings, Raphael shouted to Chen Xun, "Follow me! We're retreating to the alley to the west! The terrain there is complicated, making it easier to hide!"
Just then, with a muffled "thud," a security guard who was peering out from next to Chen Xun was shot in the forehead and fell to the ground without a sound, the warm liquid splashing all over Chen Xun's face.
Chen Xun's mind went blank.
The palace was in turmoil as people who were just alive turned into corpses in an instant.
This is different from the bandit he killed.
The familiar face he had been caring for day and night for the past few days collapsed beside him.
Raphael's eyes were bloodshot. He cursed, quickly dragged the teammate's body behind cover, took the Glock 17 pistol and two spare magazines from his hand, and shoved them into the hands of the still somewhat dazed Chen Xun: "Take these! For self-defense! Stay close to me!"
Chen Xun subconsciously gripped the still-warm pistol.
His memories of firearms consisted only of Jack's safe operating procedures and basic postures during training, and the performances he had just seen on set.
Zero practical experience!
They began to move, using vehicles and debris as cover, inching towards the entrance of a dark alley. Another security guard led the way.
Suddenly, a dark figure flashed at the alleyway ahead! A gunman seemed to have spotted them and raised his gun to aim!
"Be careful!"
Raphael shouted and shoved Chen Xun into the corner of the wall, while simultaneously raising his gun to return fire.
Chen Xun crashed into the wall, nearly dropping the gun from his hand.
His heart was pounding and his adrenaline was surging.
His survival instinct kicked in, and he abruptly raised his gun, aiming it at the general direction of the dark figure, his finger on the trigger.
"Don't shoot! You might hurt yourself—"
Raphael's warning was not yet finished.
"Bang!"
Chen Xun fired the gun.
The recoil was greater than he had imagined, making his wrists go numb.
The bullet flew off somewhere, seemingly hitting a tall figure on the opposite wall, kicking up a little dust.
This is so different from the modified lightweight pistol that the people who robbed him before!
Chen Xun's shot not only failed to hit the enemy, but also revealed their exact location, attracting even denser suppressive fire and nearly hitting Raphael, who was returning fire.
"Fuck! Don't shoot randomly!"
Raphael yelled in frustration and retreated into cover to change his magazine.
Chen Xun broke out in a cold sweat, realizing he had done more harm than good.
My hand holding the gun was trembling slightly.
Just then!
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a purple attribute ball floating up from near the body of the fallen security guard.
[Basic Firearms Use and Yang Hao's Shooting Mindset]
Source: Mario Description: Firearms handling and shooting skills honed through life-or-death training, abandoning all fancy techniques.
It includes the most basic principles of stable gun handling, rapid aiming, overcoming first-shot errors, and the underlying logic that firing is better than waiting to die.
There's no time to hesitate!
Chen Xun absorbed the ball of light almost instantly upon seeing it!
A faint stream of information rushed into my mind.
There are no complicated techniques, only a few simple and straightforward ironclad rules:
Grip the weapon tightly, lock your wrist, keep your eyes on the direction of the threat, not the crosshair, pull the trigger decisively, and even if you miss, use the firepower to deter the enemy.
The absorption process is still in the digestion stage.
Although Chen Xun felt he was gradually becoming more familiar with guns, it wasn't enough.
The bullet could pierce his head in the next second.
Don't let it become instinct!
Chen Xun looked at the skill bar on his panel:
Individual skills cannot be combined, and now he only has the [Street Driving Instinct Complex] absorbed from Carlos.
Direct fusion!
Without hesitation, Chen Xun placed the two skill attribute orbs directly into the skill synthesis slot.
One and a half million US dollars vanished!
[Integration in progress—]
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Chen Xun felt a throbbing pain in his temples, and his vision went black, as if something was exploding and then reforming in his mind.
【Fusion is successful! 】
[Gain environment-limited skill: Street Vehicle Offense and Defense Instinct (Purple)]
[Skill Description: A special state that arises from the extreme fusion of vehicle handling instincts and basic shooting instincts in complex street environments. In this state, you have an extremely keen sense of the dynamics of the vehicle you are driving or riding in, and you can apply this dynamic perception to stability compensation and rapid aiming correction in your gun-holding posture.]
[Your heightened sense of danger in the street environment allows you to more quickly eliminate usable cover and evacuation routes. This skill is highly dependent on environmental stimuli and the host's condition.]
Become!
And it was a one-time success!
Chen Xun shook his head abruptly, feeling that the world seemed a little clearer, yet also different.
The gun in my hand no longer felt so unfamiliar.
Chen Xun suddenly knew how to hold it more firmly, how to use body posture and breathing to counteract some of the trembling, and how to quickly determine which direction posed the greatest threat.
He glanced at an old, wrecked car that seemed to still be working, not far away.
Several blurry images flashed through my mind in an instant:
If he were in that car, how could he stabilize his gun and fire at a certain angle the instant it started moving?
Then he used the vehicle's turning to create brief firing windows, and even used the car door as a temporary firing fulcrum—these were instincts he had just acquired after completing the synthesis.
"Chen! Let's go!"
Raphael's roar pulled him back to reality.
The team members in front temporarily suppressed the gunman at the alley entrance. Raphael dragged Chen Xun, and the three of them tumbled and crawled into the alley that reeked of garbage and urine.
As they rushed into the dark alley, the gunfire from the square behind them suddenly subsided.
Raphael leaned against the damp, mottled brick wall, panting heavily, his gun pointed warily at the way he had come.
With no pursuers following, his tense nerves relaxed slightly.
"Mr. Chen, how are you? Are you injured?"
Raphael quickly glanced at Chen Xun.
Chen Xun wiped the sweat and blood from his face, shook his head, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I'm fine, there aren't even any scratches."
His grip on the gun had steadied; his "street vehicle attack and defense instincts" made him highly vigilant at every fork in the dark alley and every pile of debris.
This skill is truly one of eight techniques!
Raphael nodded, put down his earpiece, and heard a broken, crackling communication intermittently filled with static and rapid breathing: "Team A report! We're pinned down by fire in the abandoned warehouse in the northeast corner! Mr. Fan is in good condition, Mr. Paul has abrasions on his arm! Need backup! Repeat, need backup!"
"Team B—Team B calling! We and some of the crew's administrative staff are trapped in the church basement! The exits are blocked! Someone has been shot and needs medical attention!"
"This is Harper! All teams report! Do not reveal your exact location! Move in the designated evacuation direction as much as possible! Military and police communication has been cut off; we have to rely on ourselves!"
a0000n
The bad news came one after another.
Raphael's face turned ashen.
His team lost one member, Chen Xun was unharmed, and the other member was slightly injured.
Just then!
From the direction of the alley entrance came hurried, chaotic footsteps and suppressed breathing!
More than one person!
Raphael and his teammate instantly raised their guns and aimed, their hearts leaping into their throats once again.
Chen Xun immediately crouched down, pointing his gun at the source of the sound.
Did those gunmen chase us in?
Or were they just scattered crowds?
In the darkness, several figures staggered into the depths of the alley, their outlines seemingly outlined by the faint light at the alley's entrance.
Raphael pulled the trigger with his index finger!
"etc!"
Chen Xun suddenly whispered and lightly touched Raphael's arm.
Raphael was taken aback.
Chen Xun stared intently at those figures, or more precisely, at the top of the head of the tall figure running slightly behind in the middle.
Perhaps due to the upgraded panel, his favorability rating is clearer than Hamatoki's.
Although the distance and lighting were very poor, he could barely make out a number floating above the person's head in the middle:
[Favorability: 70].
70 points!
This is not low compared to the people he has been in contact with so far.
The key point is that, at this time and place, the only person who could appear with such a high level of goodwill is someone you know.
Moreover, they were acquaintances who had a very good impression of him.
"It's someone I know!"
Chen Xun lowered his voice, his tone certain.
Raphael was skeptical, but instead of firing a shot, he shouted sternly in Portuguese, "Who is it? State your identity!"
The running figures on the opposite side suddenly stopped, and a low but clear female voice came from behind, filled with vigilance: "Raphael's team leader? Is that you? I'm Anna, Miss Gale's security guard!"
He is a member of the Gale Security Team.
Raphael breathed a sigh of relief, but the gun barrel remained raised: "Come slowly! Keep your hand gestures visible!"
Several figures cautiously approached.
By the light of what was occasionally a signal flare or a burning object streaking across the sky, Chen Xun could see clearly.
It was indeed Gail and her four female security guards.
The situation is very bad!
The female security guards were all in bad shape; some had strips of cloth hastily torn from their arms, and some were limping.
Gail herself was pale, her right hand tightly covering her left upper arm, dark marks seeping through her fingers, where her black cycling clothes were even darker.
is blood!
Her beautiful bald head was covered in dust, with a few strands clinging to her sweaty forehead. She looked disheveled, but her eyes were still sharp, like a wounded but unyielding jaguar.
Seeing Chen Xun and Raphael, especially seeing that Chen Xun, despite being covered in dirt, was able to move freely, Gale and the female security guards visibly breathed a sigh of relief, their tense bodies relaxing slightly.
"Mr. Chen, Raphael's teammate, that's great!"
Anna, panting, spoke quickly: "It's completely chaotic outside. Those two groups are working together seamlessly. The square is completely blocked off, and their firepower is too intense. We tried to evacuate via the planned route on the east side, but we were driven back by crossfire and two of our sisters were injured. We barely managed to shake off the pursuit and sneak into this alley."
Raphael's expression turned even uglier.
"All five of us in the group are here, and two of us need to treat our wounds as soon as possible. Miss Gale's left arm was grazed by a stray bullet; the wound isn't deep and just needs to be stopped and bandaged."
Anna quickly reported, then delivered even worse news: "We just discovered something new near the western exit!"
"Outside the alley, there are suspicious vehicles and people setting up roadblocks in at least two directions. They don't look like scattered gunmen; they look more like an organized interception."
"We've discovered that several of the main exits from this area are likely being monitored by the other side. They are deliberately driving away and surrounding the survivors, either to take them hostage or to silence them."
The alleyway is surrounded!
This news sank Raphael's heart.
If it's just a chaotic skirmish, experience might give you a chance to slip away in the confusion.
If the other side is carrying out a planned clearing and encirclement, the situation is much more dangerous.
Chen Xun listened, his mind racing.
The instinctive perception of the environment brought about by the newly integrated "Street Vehicle Offense and Defense Instinct" is coming into play.
The other party has a car, people, and is organized.
Forcing your way in would be unwise.
Are there any other routes?
Chen Xun's gaze swept towards the darker part of the alleyway.
He had observed this when filming the alleyway scenes before.
The alleyways in the slums are mostly interconnected, with very few dead ends.
Before Raphael could answer, Gale, enduring the pain, said in a slightly trembling but clear voice, "When Anna and the others were scouting, they noticed that about a hundred meters behind this main alley, there was a gap formed by a collapse at the base of the right wall. Behind it seemed to be an abandoned courtyard. Further back—it wasn't very clear, but it seemed to be an even narrower passage leading to another group of buildings."
"However, the place was piled with garbage and debris, and it's uncertain whether the other party has discovered it or blocked it."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Chen Xun, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
At the critical moment of life and death, she noticed that Chen Xun's actions of firing back went from clumsy at the beginning to quickly becoming more skillful. Although he was far from being a master, his quick adaptation and composure were rare in this chaotic environment.
He now appears to be the calmest of all.
Raphael made a quick decision: "We can't stay here. We'll be found sooner or later. Let's go check that gap! Anna, are you still able to leave?"
"Yes!" several female security guards said through gritted teeth.
"Mr. Chen, stay close to me. Miss Gale, please have your men cover the rear and watch out for us."
Raphael reassigned simple tasks, and the team grew to eight people, beginning their ascent into the depths of the alley.
The ground was slippery with sewage and garbage.
The air is polluted.
Everyone held their breath and tried not to make a sound.
Chen Xun gripped the gun, and that peculiar perception greatly enhanced his ability to read the surrounding environment.
He could roughly sense where the ground might be unstable and where there might be blind spots around corners.
While this skill is primarily designed for the "vehicle + gun" environment, it also seems to have diminished his intuition about the complex terrain of the streets.
Gail followed behind Chen Xun, supported by Anna.
She watched Chen Xun's steady figure moving forward in the darkness.
He then decisively stopped Raphael from firing to avoid accidentally injuring his own men.
Then I recalled Chen Xun's driving and fighting abilities, as well as his ability to keep thinking even in this desperate situation.
My opinion of this Chinese-American actor has risen even higher.
Her favorability rating fluctuated slightly, jumping from [70] to [72].
At times like these, a reliable and clear-headed companion is far more valuable than a momentary lapse in judgment.
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