Arc of Fire

Chapter 18

Wang Zhong didn't hear Sergei badmouthing him, nor did he hear news about Lyudmila whom he kept thinking about.

His attention was entirely focused on the ambush squad.

The squad was completely spread out. With his cheat ability, Wang Zhong could see each person's name and rank - it was almost identical to a game he'd played called "Men of War," except he couldn't inspect their equipment.

However, in Men of War you could switch to control individual soldiers, which Wang Zhong couldn't do - he could only watch them advance.

Grigori led three men, infiltrating the supply depot from the two sentry positions they'd just taken out, then headed straight for the fuel storage area.

Two Prossenians appeared to be inventorying the fuel when Grigori charged forward and stabbed one in the back while the enemy was looking down at the list.

The other only had time to look up before a dagger pierced his throat.

Grigori then sent one man to check the fuel area for stragglers while he took the other two and approached some chatting Prossenian devils under cover of trucks.

Meanwhile, another group targeted the patrolling sentry by the machine gun. The sentry was killed and dragged into the bushes without even crying out.

This group then moved near the machine gun and repair shack crew, readying their submachine guns.

The third group circled to the side of the only wooden house in the fuel depot corner.

Suddenly Wang Zhong noticed something: previously in Overhead Perspective, enemies would be highlighted, but now they weren't!

After some thought, he considered one possibility, switched back to normal vision, and raised his binoculars.

When he returned to Overhead Perspective, enemies were highlighted again - damn, so only enemies he could see personally would be highlighted!

Not only that, but enemies inside the wooden house that weren't visible before now appeared - probably because the house had windows, and the cheat assumed Wang Zhong could see inside through them.

Wang Zhong could already imagine himself charging ahead in a jeep on future battlefields.

With this brainless enemy highlighting, even revealing enemies inside buildings - he might even highlight machine gunners inside bunkers just by looking at them.

No hidden bunker could escape detection!

Wait, wouldn't this ability make him an excellent tank commander? Just sticking his head out of the turret could reveal all enemies...

Unfortunately, Wang Zhong didn't have a single tank at his disposal right now.

While Wang Zhong was distracted, the battle began.

Sergeant Major Grigori struck first, spraying bullets at the group of chatting enemies.

The Prossenians were caught off guard. Clearly second-line troops armed only with bolt-action rifles, they stood no chance against submachine guns at close range even if they reacted.

The gunfire made the Prossenians at the entrance turn around, completely unprepared for the Ant soldiers who suddenly appeared behind them. A submachine gun burst sent the two machine gunners spinning to the ground.

Three men near the repair shack survived because they were spread out, but their weapons were too far away!

One Prossenian charged with an entrenching tool only to be gunned down by the second submachine gunner.

At the house, a scout kicked open the door and sprayed bullets inside, instantly killing the officer and orderlies.

But the Special Ops member got too excited and emptied his magazine. While reloading, an enemy emerged from the bathroom shouting and stabbed him with a bayonet.

The operative collapsed immediately, being shoved out the door, when another team member at the window opened fire, dropping the Prossenian.

The battle ended relatively cleanly.

Grigori rushed to the stabbed team member, though from Wang Zhong's perspective, he could already tell the man was dead.

When Wang Zhong had ordered the 3rd Rear Amur Regiment to attack earlier, many must have died too, but he hadn't seen it.

Now watching soldiers die by his command firsthand left Wang Zhong with mixed feelings.

Coming from peacetime, he might need more time to adjust to the job of sending others to their deaths.

But Grigori was clearly accustomed to comrades dying. After checking the fallen man's pulse, he just took his dog tag, straightened up, and fired a red signal flare into the sky.

Wang Zhong switched back to normal vision: "Yegorov, have the troops advance to take over the supply depot and seize the trucks."

With that, Wang Zhong got into the jeep.

Captain Sergei asked: "To the supply depot?"

"No, wait until Yegorov finishes giving orders," Wang Zhong said.

To ensure his vision wasn't blocked, Yegorov had to stay with him.

If they could get walkie-talkies later, this wouldn't be necessary. But that Prossenian spy had said Ant Empire's radio technology was poor, and Wang Zhong hadn't seen a single walkie-talkie since arriving.

The enemy didn't seem to have walkie-talkies either.

Yegorov soon finished giving instructions. Turning around and seeing Wang Zhong watching him, he asked: "Should I... continue following you?"

Wang Zhong: "Yes, get in."

Yegorov reluctantly boarded the vehicle.

By then, the 3rd Rear Amur Regiment's vanguard had already started moving up the reverse slope behind the mountain.

Wang Zhong: "Let's go."

Sergei floored the accelerator, and the jeep charged forward like a bull released from its restraints, the wind whipping the flags on the vehicle.

**

Private First Class Ashmi of the 3rd Rear Amur Regiment asked the sergeant walking beside him: "Platoon leader, did the Count really wet himself? This always-charging-ahead behavior doesn't seem like a coward."

The sergeant glanced at the distant flags and clicked his tongue: "The battlefield changes people. Maybe pissing himself made him brave."

Another PFC ahead turned back: "In war, demons choose their champions. My neighbor was a gentle soul before the Civil War, but came back changed - the temperature dropped around him even in summer!"

"The village bishop said he might be possessed and performed an exorcism."

A Private Second Class gasped: "Then aren't we in trouble?"

"What do you know! The possessed keep winning battles. Two hundred years ago, Suvorov was possessed - they say he single-handedly killed two hundred Carolingian heavy cavalry!"

The PFC rubbed his nose: "Just watch - I think the Count will rise high! Our casualties will be lower than other units under him. Look, we're already out of the encirclement while other regiments are still fighting trapped!"

The PSC said "Oh."

The sergeant interjected: "Don't overthink it. We're just grunts - staying alive is what matters. You've almost survived your first day, rookie. Cheer up."

"Yeah," the young PSC nodded.

**

Sergei drove straight into the supply depot, stopping before the small wooden shed.

Wang Zhong got out and examined the building: "This looks like a farmhouse. What happened to the people who lived here?"

The house was quite large with a loft - probably home to a big family.

Grigori's face darkened as he remained silent.

Su Fang said: "Probably fled when the war started. Many people ran away."

Grigori finally spoke: "No, this family didn't leave."

Wang Zhong had a bad premonition but suppressed it: "Then where are they?"

Grigori just said "Follow me" and headed to the backyard.

Wang Zhong followed Grigori, with Yegorov and Su Fang trailing behind.

Captain Sergei stayed in the jeep as if glued to the seat: "I'll guard the vehicle here."

Grigori led Wang Zhong into the backyard toward another small shed.

A powerful stench emanated from the shed, reminding Wang Zhong of childhood visits to northern rural outhouses.

The nauseating mix of feces and methane gas.

His ominous feeling grew stronger.

Grigori opened the door and stepped aside: "The family's here. See for yourself."

Pinching his nose, Wang Zhong stepped forward and saw the entire family in the cesspit - all bearing bayonet wounds, the two adult women stripped naked.

Su Fang took one look, turned and ran to vomit against the house wall.

Wang Zhong silently clenched his fists.

Modern Chinese history naturally bred hatred for such civilian massacres, and Wang Zhong was no exception.

Back home, photos of hospital bombings had filled him with rage, making his teeth ache with hatred.

Now was no different.

Before Wang Zhong could voice his feelings, Yegorov punched the outhouse wall so hard the wood cracked, his knuckles immediately bruising.

"Those damned Prossenian devils!"

Wang Zhong patted Yegorov's shoulder: "One day, we'll bring the war to their homeland. Just wait - one day!"

Even Wang Zhong didn't realize his goals in this world had shifted slightly.

Of course, for now it was just a small, negligible shift.

(End of Chapter)