lcionline Chapter 740: The Fiery Fire That Devours Everything
Chapter 740: The Fiery Fire That Devours Everything
After the first round of high-explosive rockets' devastating blow, the entire Nanjiuzhou City was shrouded in silence and ruins, but Brigade Commander Wang Qiu knew that the cruelty of war did not allow for any slackness. He quickly re-examined the battlefield situation through the telescope, with a flash of determination in his eyes.
"Signalman!" he shouted, his voice penetrating the surrounding noise and smoke, "Immediately convey my order to the artillery position and prepare for a second round of fire coverage!"
The signalman immediately responded and quickly transmitted the order to each artillery position via radio waves. At the same time, Brigade Commander Wang Qiu continued to issue detailed professional instructions: "This time, the fire coverage will use incendiary bombs to attack, and the target is still the key areas in the city, ensuring that the enemy's will to resist and manpower are completely destroyed. Attention, all artillery positions, change the type of ammunition, check the status of ammunition, and ensure that the incendiary bombs can fully exert their effectiveness."
After receiving the order, the soldiers on the artillery position acted quickly and orderly. They operated the artillery skillfully, taking out the originally loaded high-explosive shells and replacing them with incendiary shells. These incendiary shells contain flammable substances. Once exploded, they would form a large area of flames, causing continuous burning damage to the target.
"The ammunition has been replaced and all gun positions are ready!" As the artillery commander's report came, Brigade Commander Wang Qiu confirmed the combat plan again to ensure that there were no mistakes.
"Okay, listen to my orders now," Brigade Commander Wang Qiu's voice resounded throughout the camp through the loudspeaker, "The second round of fire coverage begins! Target - the core area of Nanjiuzhou City, fire incendiary bombs!"
As the order was issued, the Katyusha rockets on the artillery positions roared again. This time, they no longer spewed out cold explosion sparks, but blazing dragons of fire. The rockets streaked through the sky, carrying the mission of destruction and purification, and headed straight for Nanjiuzhou City.
Inside the city, the already devastated scene became even more horrific under the attack of incendiary bombs. The flames spread rapidly, engulfing the ruins and broken walls, forming a sea of fire. The air was filled with the pungent smell of smoke and the stench of burning objects, which was suffocating. The surviving soldiers and civilians fled in all directions under the pressure of the flames, but often had nowhere to escape, and could only wail in despair before being engulfed by the flames.
Inside the city, the fire was like an out-of-control beast, roaring wantonly and engulfing every inch of land in raging flames. Thick smoke billowed, covering the sky and dyeing it gray and black. Even the sun could not penetrate the thick smoke, and could only powerlessly cast mottled light and shadows on the ground. The air was filled with suffocating heat and burnt odor, as if even breathing was burning the lungs, making it unbearable.
The flames were like greedy tongues, licking every building. Whether it was a solid castle or a simple house, they were all reduced to ashes under the flames. Brick and wood structures quickly collapsed in the sea of fire, turning into piles of burning ashes. Although brick and stone buildings were stronger, they also began to crack under the continuous high temperature, and finally collapsed, becoming another pile of ruins in the sea of fire.
On the streets, the survivors ran desperately, their faces full of fear and helplessness. However, in this boundless sea of fire, their speed seemed so insignificant that they could not escape the pursuit of the flames. Some people tried to jump into the river to survive, but the river water had already been heated to boiling by the flames upstream, and they could only slowly sink to the bottom of the water in painful struggle.
In the sea of fire, screams were heard one after another, which were the wailing and despair of people in the last moments of their lives. Some were burned directly into charcoal by the flames, curled up into a ball, unable to move anymore; others fell down while running and were quickly devoured by the flames, leaving only painfully distorted faces and endless wailing. These sounds, echoing in this purgatory-like city, formed a series of heartbreaking pictures.
In this sea of fire, there are also people who are too seriously injured to move. They lie helplessly on the ground, watching the flames approach step by step. Their eyes are full of despair and unwillingness, but in the face of this ruthless flame, all struggles seem so futile. In the end, they can only silently accept the arrangement of fate, be swallowed by the flames, and turn into ashes.
At this moment, the entire Nanjiuzhou City seemed to have turned into a huge furnace, burning all life and hope.
Deep in the raging sea of fire in South Kyushu Castle, there was a refuge that was temporarily untouched by the flames - the bank vault in the city. The heavy steel door was tightly closed, as if it was the only way to survive. In this isolated space, several soldiers of the Changfeng Division survived, they were Sato Ichiro, Yamada Jiro, Nakamura Saburo and Matsumoto Shiro.
Ichiro Sato curled up in the corner, hugging his knees tightly with his hands, looking ahead with empty eyes, and said in a trembling voice: "We...we are still alive, but outside...what kind of hell is that!" His voice was full of disbelief and horror.
Jiro Yamada sat aside, his back against the cold wall, gasping for breath. He looked up at the closed iron door and sighed, "Yes, being alive is like being trapped in another cage." A trace of confusion flashed in his eyes, as if he had lost direction for the future.
With shaking hands, Saburo Nakamura pulled out a blackened pocket watch from his pocket and tried to tell the time, but it was in vain. "Time, time has no meaning anymore." He muttered to himself, then looked up at the other three people, "What should we do? If we escape, we will die. How long can we last if we stay here?" His tone was full of despair.
Matsumoto Shiro, the calmest soldier on weekdays, seemed a little helpless at this moment. He looked around, trying to find a glimmer of hope, "We must stay calm and not give up. Perhaps, after the fire is over, we can find a chance to escape and seek reinforcements." Although his words seemed weak, they were still the only positive voice among the few people.
Ichiro Sato smiled bitterly, "Escape? The fire is so big, where can we escape to? What's more, will the enemies outside let us go?" His eyes were full of despair, as if he had already seen his own end.
Yamada Jiro lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "I just want to go home, back to the place where my parents are waiting for me. But now, all this has become a luxury."
After hearing this, Nakamura Saburo and Matsumoto Shiro fell silent. They looked at each other, with the same fear, confusion and helplessness in their eyes. In this small space, they seemed to be forgotten by the world, and could only snuggle together, seeking that little bit of insignificant warmth and comfort.
As time passed, the fire outside showed no signs of abating. The soldiers of the Changfeng Division could only wait for their unknown fate in despair and fear.