Chapter 907: Chapter 25: Becoming a Storm That Never Looks Back (9K)_3

“Then he will charge on foot, he’s done it before,” Popov replied.

“Sukabule!” Pavlov cursed again.

Popov: “Think positively, maybe they’ll rush straight into the Melania Capital?”

“He left with the Guard First Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment; even if the path is clear, it will be already deep into the night by the time they reach the river!”

Popov: “Isn’t that just perfect?”

Pavlov stopped and looked at Popov.

Popov: “Right?”

Pavlov pressed his lips together and slammed the receiver onto the phone.

——–

The First Division of the Melania People’s Army was resting.

Sergeant Jeduski sat down next to his friend, Corporal Zambrowski, and said, “How are you feeling?”

“Terrible. Look at our hometown, what has it become?”

At this moment, even the quartermaster came over with a backpack: “Bullets are being issued, twenty rounds each.”

Jeduski shouted: “How come only 20 rounds, not even enough to fill a magazine!”

“Then go pick up the Prosens’ weapons, that’s all the bullets we have.”

With that, the quartermaster counted out 20 bullets and handed them to the warriors who had come to collect them.

Zambrowski: “If the enemy counterattacks now, we’ll have to go with bayonets.”

“Then we’ll use bayonets; we’re not afraid of hand-to-hand combat.”

At that moment, a sudden noise in the distance drew all the Melanians’ attention.

Everyone looked to the east, listening intently, even the quartermaster forgot to count the bullets.

A few minutes later, Zambrowski mumbled, “Sounds like someone’s giving a speech in Melanianese.”

Jeduski repeated what he heard: “I am Helman, the leader of the uprising, you may have never heard my name before, because I have been avoiding the Prosen military police’s pursuit.

“But now, avoidance has no meaning.

“The uprising committee has betrayed us; they have fled from the battle. We are holding the broadcasting station, but the final moment has come.

“I am Helman, I am the spokesperson for every Melanian who dreams of freedom…”

Jeduski involuntarily stood up; he seemed to remember that this Helman was the highest-ranking military officer of the Melania Resistance Army.

The voice from the east became clearer: “My belief tells me that resistance is not just an optional path; it is a duty. I hope this battle will become a new chapter in Melania’s struggle, with all resistance organizations united and becoming partners in the same trench, facing an enemy who never spares children, the elderly, stones, or trees.”

Many Melanians came out of buildings and, together with the soldiers, looked toward the east.

“I left nothing behind as a personal legacy. For every Melanian who dreams of freedom, for every mother who bears her son on her shoulders, for every father watching his daughter writhing in pain after being hit by the enemy’s bullet, crying sorrowfully.

“My last wish is for everyone listening to the broadcast to remember forever that resistance is not in vain.

“This is not just a bullet; it’s a life of dignity and honor.”

Jeduski saw the source of the voice, it was a Rocossov I type heavy tank, raising clouds of dust as it approached.

“Red Flag!” someone shouted.

Yes, the tank had a Red Flag hanging on its long antenna.

“It’s the Red Flag!”

“Could it be Marshal Rocossov?”

Meanwhile, the speech continued: “This is my will: do not put down your weapons, do not put down stones, do not forget your martyrs, do not abandon your dreams, this is your right.

“We will remain here, stay on our land, remain in our hearts, remain in the future of our children. I urge all of you to take care of Melania, a land I love to death, a dream I bear on my shoulders, like a mountain that refuses to bow down.”

Even the roar of the tank couldn’t drown out the passionate speech.

“If I fall, do not fall with me; instead, take from my hand the flag that has never touched the ground. Build a bridge with my blood for our descendants to rise from the ashes.

“When the storm strikes again, and I am not among you, please understand that I was the first drop of the wave of freedom, and I lived to see you complete this journey.

“Continue to be the thorn in their throats, become an unyielding storm until the world knows we represent justice, then we will rest. We are not just numbers recorded in the news!”

By this time, the tank had come very close, and everyone could see the silhouette on the turret.

It was a young Marshal, his chest covered in medals.

The Marshal shouted loudly: “Davarish! What are you doing? There are still thirty kilometers to go!”

Someone replied: “But we have no bullets left!”

Jeduski responded on behalf of the Marshal: “Fix bayonets!”

All the officers and non-commissioned officers seemed to awaken from a dream, shouting: “Everyone, fix bayonets!”

The gleaming bayonets were drawn and fixed into the slots under the muzzles of the Thread Cutter guns.

In the glow of the sunset, the bayonets seemed as if dyed red with blood.

“Fix bayonets!”

The Marshal’s tank charged through the street, the Red Flag leading the way forward.

Jeduski exchanged a glance with his friend; they wouldn’t lead their troops anymore, just started running, following the tank.

They knew that everyone under their command would follow, using their last bit of strength to run.

From afar, someone else was shouting: “Fix bayonets, forward!”

——–

Podoliskov turned back to look, excitedly saying to the Marshal: “They are all keeping up, sir, turn around and look, the forest of bayonets is running with us!”