Chapter 1: liability
"Boom!"
A shell exploded near Qin Chuan, and the heatwave and sand it kicked up rushed at him like a tidal wave, accompanied by the sharp whistling sound of shrapnel flying past.
A shell?
Qin Chuan was stunned... How could there be a shell?!
He blinked and took a closer look. Not only were there shells, but also tanks, machine guns, artillery, and groups of soldiers dressed in German uniforms. They were firing their weapons towards the other side, which was returning fire with a hail of bullets and shells.
Qin Chuan immediately realized that all of this was real because the sound of the shell, the blood splatter from bullets hitting bodies, the soldiers convulsing on the ground in their final moments, and the scattered limbs from a shell explosion were all too vivid.
But Qin Chuan also couldn't believe it was real, because just a second ago, he had been in a German submarine, holding the Führer's medal... Wait, the Führer's medal!
"Flick! Ammo, bring that damn ammo over here..." A German machine gunner shouted at Qin Chuan.
It took Qin Chuan a moment to realize that the machine gunner was yelling at him, and when he saw the ammo box lying not far from him, it confirmed his suspicions.
So, I'm called "Flick" now?
There was no time to think about it because Qin Chuan understood that this was a real battlefield. If he got distracted or became a burden to the unit, it could cost him his life.
He reached out with trembling hands to pick up the ammo box. After taking a few steps, he noticed the machine gunner giving him a bewildered look. Qin Chuan quickly understood... He should be crouching low to the ground, a basic tactical move for any soldier, or else he wouldn't last long on the battlefield.
Qin Chuan cursed inwardly... He hated being a soldier, despised being on the battlefield, but there was nothing he could do.
The machine gun soon roared to life beside him, and Qin Chuan, with his deep interest in German history, easily recognized it as the German MG42 general-purpose machine gun. He knew all about its performance and history, like how it could be used as both a light and heavy machine gun, could be fed with 50 or 100-round belts, or 75-round drum magazines. It was a product of the Versailles Treaty and the world's first general-purpose machine gun, among other things.
But seeing it in action, spitting fire right before his eyes, was a first for him, especially as those bullets were taking the lives of enemy soldiers... It gave Qin Chuan a sense of irony, like a man who loved dragons only to be terrified when he finally met one.
Gradually, the gunfire and explosions began to die down. The machine gunner cautiously raised his head to look ahead and then said something that made Qin Chuan feel a huge sense of relief: "Alright, the enemy is retreating!"
As soon as the machine gunner finished speaking, Qin Chuan collapsed onto the sand like a deflated balloon. He reached up to loosen the chin strap on his helmet because it was making it hard for him to breathe, but after several failed attempts, he just gave up.
"What's wrong, Flick?" The machine gunner asked as he started packing up his gun. "You looked like my brother who suffers from autism just now. Don't tell me you're already scared stiff!"
"Does Flick ever act normal?" Another German soldier, his face smeared with black soot, walked over and gave Qin Chuan a nudge with his boot. "We'd be more surprised if he ever did!"
Laughter erupted from the surrounding soldiers.
Qin Chuan ignored their mocking. All he wanted was to lie there and rest for a moment, to figure out what on earth was happening.
But even that small wish was soon crushed.
"Move forward!" An officer shouted, glaring at Qin Chuan. "Get your ass up and moving, Flick, or I'll make sure you stay here forever!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone