Eugen, who was the same age, couldn't stand it anymore and spat out a curse.

Gu Ji shook his head.

"We can't wait any longer. The pilot knows our approximate position. If we keep dragging it out, we'll be surrounded by the Hawk Army's ground forces just the same."

Saying this, he tried once more to push hard against the tank commander's hatch, but it still wouldn't budge, and the turret was pitch black inside.

"The hatch won't open at all, which means we're buried quite deep. Officer Ler, is it possible to drive out in this situation?"

"Reversing the original path is possible."

Ler acknowledged, restarting the engine.

The Tiger Tank used a Maybach high-speed gasoline engine, which, despite having a maximum horsepower of 690, struggled with the heavy weight, resulting in insufficient traction.

The tank moved back a few inches with a push on the gas pedal, and then stopped.

Gu Ji faintly heard the sound of stones rolling, similar to what he experienced digging a tunnel in the Jinyuan Building.

His eyes brightened immediately.

"Officer, try slightly shifting the vehicle left and right to reverse, utilizing the sliding stones to reduce resistance."

"I'll give it a try!"

Ler followed his method.

Surprisingly, it worked. As the vehicle gradually moved back, a "crash" sound followed, letting light shine through the observation window.

Finally, they emerged!

An excited Eugen opened the gunner's hatch and was about to survey the surroundings when suddenly, a figure came running toward them from the front.

"Enemy…"

"It's Lieutenant Luca."

Gu Ji squinted to see Luca, with blood flowing from his forehead, running over with a fine automatic rifle in hand.

No mistake.

It was a real automatic rifle: the StG-44 assault rifle!

It was the first widely-issued automatic rifle in the world, combining characteristics of rifles and submachine guns, providing intense continuous firepower within a 400-meter range.

Gu Ji took the initiative to open the commander's hatch, allowing Luca to climb in.

Nobody seemed to expect the lieutenant to survive the rocket explosion, leaving everyone speechless, the atmosphere awkward.

Gu Ji was the first to react:

"Lieutenant Luca, the others…"

"A rocket hit the side armor of the driver's cabin. The driver, loader, and radio operator were killed instantly. The gunner escaped with me, but was unfortunately hit by a fighter's cannon."

Even this iron-blooded officer of the elite unit could not conceal his sadness at the moment. Comrades who had fought together for years were now dead on a foreign battlefield, an unpleasant feeling.

After a moment of silence, Luca adjusted his emotions.

"How did you escape the air raid?"

"All thanks to Herman."

Eugen, now even more in awe of Gu Ji due to the elite unit's downfall, answered proudly.

Luca reassessed Gu Ji, more seriously than before.

"Seems the 29th Division has a talent. If we get through this battle, you might as well transfer to the 1st Guard Banner with me."

"It would be an honor, Lieutenant."

Gu Ji first expressed his "sincerity," then took the opportunity to present his analysis:

"However, the counterattack of the Fog Eagle Alliance is more violent than expected. We must hurry to contact headquarters, quickly gather troops. Remaining scattered like this, we can't hold out for long!"

He remembered one of the reasons for the failure of the South Southernwa war:

The inconsistent opinions among Hans and Roman high commanders, uncoordinated actions, and dispersed main forces got picked off one by one by the Fog Eagle Alliance.

Clearly, this passage gained Luca's attention again.

"Where's the wireless operator?"

"I'm here, Lieutenant."

Apu timidly raised his hand from down the shaft.

"Contact command immediately, confirm the nearest distance to the main force!"

"Regrettably, Lieutenant, the tank's radio equipment is already broken…"

"Damn it!"

Gu Ji quietly observed Luca's expression, fueling further:

"Lieutenant, since that's the case, we should head northwest. The 29th Armored Division I'm with is near the Rutana Volcano."

"That's our only choice for now."

Luca made up his mind, "The squad is now temporarily under my command, Herman as the gunner, everyone else stays in your positions, target Rutana Volcano, move out immediately!"

"Yes!"

All answered in unison.

Ler drove the tank steadily up along the western main road.

Reaching the heights above the town, Gu Ji finally saw the coastline and the endless Mediterranean Sea through the observation window.

The battle on the shore left everyone dumbfounded.

Three aircraft carriers, six alliance battleships of the Fog Eagle, and countless attack ships were bombarding crazily at the shore. The water and land confluence was ablaze, as if a volcano erupted from the sea, hundreds of Hans and Roman tanks littered the beach like stranded turtles.

This marked the complete collapse of the defense in the eastern area of South Southernwa Island.

The urban battlefield wasn't optimistic either.

The white Peace Goddess statue in the plaza ahead lost half from an explosion, and the ground was covered with charred, mutilated bodies. Loudspeakers on either side of the street blared not just air raid sirens but warnings for civilian evacuation:

"All civilians, rest assured, the soldiers of our homeland will prioritize your safe retreat from the war zone…"

Faintly, Gu Ji heard desperate cries from women and the wailing of children, instinctively recalling those eyes hiding in the ruins before.

Luca and Eugen's faces first reflected disbelief;

Then anger;

Finally transformed into despair.

1943 was truly a year of comprehensive deterioration for the Hans Army.

...

...

The island city couldn't be too large.

It took less than twenty minutes for the tank to leave the town.

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