Chapter 51: Exhilaration

Similarly calibered at 7.92 millimeters, due to the use of the "Kurz" round, which was nearly one-third shorter than the standard rifle round, the recoil produced by the MP44 assault rifle in single-shot mode was naturally less than that of the Mauser 98k. Consequently, when Lynn fired in short bursts at intervals of two to three seconds, the "soft" push from the stock to his shoulder felt like a relaxing massage on his sore muscles, and a firearm with less recoil often meant it was easier to control. Without any prior training, Lynn, a rookie who had been on the battlefield for less than eighty hours, managed to hit his targets within the expected range, albeit with some deviations. The real challenge lay in the aiming mechanism of this assault rifle—although it adopted the traditional "iron sights" aiming method, the sight notch was located in the middle of the gun body rather than at the rear position near the bolt, as with the Mauser rifle. Soldiers accustomed to rifles might initially find it awkward. Fortunately, Lynn was highly adaptable, not only in terms of mentality and awareness but also in his physical abilities. Whether it was in major or minor sports, once he received guidance from a professional, he could quickly correct himself in a short amount of time. This was also a major reason for his outstanding athletic ability despite his average physique.

However, the advantage in sports did not truly benefit Lynn when he stepped out of the campus and into society. People around him seemed to cling to their own interest circles. While they superficially treated newcomers politely and amiably, when it came to matters of honor, promotion, and other real interests, they would absolutely stand on their own ground. Notions of fairness, justice, and transparency were ruthlessly thrown into the garbage can. This situation was prevalent not only in the political and military spheres but also in the battlefield, especially at the forefront of direct combat. Interpersonal relationships were often less important than capabilities. When comrades were preoccupied, only oneself could determine one's fate. Lynn crouched alone behind the turret of a T-34, swiftly shooting down several Soviet soldiers one after another with his assault rifle. Suddenly, he caught sight of a Soviet submachine gunner about to fire at him. In this competition of speed and accuracy, he won with lightning-fast reaction speed. After shooting down his opponent, the gun mechanism made a crisp "click" sound!

Leaning against the cold tank turret, Lynn fumbled to remove the curved magazine. Considering the current scarcity of German logistical supplies, he pocketed it with a movement that could have been spared. Then, he took out a spare magazine given to him by the tall officer. While reinstalling the magazine, he encountered a minor technical issue, which caused a hint of anxiety in his heart, but he consciously suppressed it. Fortunately, the magazine eventually slid into place smoothly, and the "clack" sound of pulling the bolt resembled the starting gun at a sprinting race. Lynn erupted instantly, rising, turning, scanning, aiming.

Bang... Bang... Bang...

Although the recoil was not significant, after each shot, the muzzle of the MP44 naturally rose. Lynn exerted force with both hands, quickly returning it to its original position like a spring, and three consecutive bullets flew towards three Soviet soldiers attempting to climb into the same tank. One fell at the hatch, another fell backwards from the turret, and the third collapsed directly against the side of the vehicle.

With a calm heart, the muzzle shifted to the right, locking onto two Soviet soldiers carrying submachine guns. They might not have been dedicated combat infantry, but they were fighting hard to resist the German attack. At this moment, Lynn felt no admiration or pity for their courage. He pulled the trigger without any emotion. Both shots hit the upper bodies of the targets. Even if they were lucky enough to survive, they probably lost their combat effectiveness at this moment. So Lynn allowed his former targets to struggle and convulse on the ground while the muzzle continued to shift.

In an instant, deafening explosions came from nearby again, and the heat wave hit his back, but Lynn remained unmoved. About thirty meters away, two Soviet soldiers successfully boarded a Gaz jeep. The one in the driver's seat started the car at lightning speed, while the one in the backseat used the vehicle's body as cover, firing his submachine gun outward. Although they were not conspicuous in the chaos, Lynn noticed this combination from his elevated position. His mind couldn't calculate whether they were the most worthy targets at the moment. He slightly lowered the muzzle, aiming precisely at the targets in the driver's seat of the Gaz jeep. The accurate shots immediately had an effect. The Soviet jeep had barely driven a few meters before it crashed into an assault gun. The collision result between vehicles with vastly different physical properties could be imagined, but the Gaz's speed was not high, so the likelihood of the gunman in the backseat being seriously injured was minimal. Therefore, without directly observing the situation of the enemy, Lynn aimed at the open backseat and fired two shots in succession.

As the bullets left the barrel, Lynn felt a slight regret: it seemed somewhat wasteful to invest two bullets in an ordinary submachine gunner who might end up being severely injured! After all, this magazine only held 25 rounds, and although firing the assault rifle in bursts was exhilarating, it also consumed ammunition at an accelerated rate. When this magazine ran out, he would have to pick up the Mauser 98k again and continue with "manual" mode!

Like a prodigal son inheriting a substantial legacy from his forebears, Lynn occasionally felt ashamed of his extravagant behavior, but as soon as he entered the melee, he couldn't resist reaching for his money pouch. Seeing targets in his line of sight that provided excellent opportunities for kills, Lynn's eyes, shoulders, and hands worked in harmony to "commit the crime," with his index finger pulling the trigger unrestrainedly. The crisp sound of gunfire delighted every part of his body—his ears, heart, and every small component of his body.

Click...

Continuing to hunt down more than a dozen Soviet soldiers with astonishing efficiency, the limited supply of bullets in the magazine finally ran out. Lynn withdrew his head and looked around. The two "night warriors" from before were no longer in their original positions, and the tall officer was nowhere to be seen. Although there were still several "night warriors" using assault rifles to shoot from a distance, they all seemed busy. Even if Lynn could ask for help in German—and even if they had ample ammunition themselves, they might not respond actively at first. As for the closer companions, they were either busy setting explosives or firing submachine guns. Lynn had no choice but to pull the sling to move his MP40 from his back to his side and then slant the assault rifle over his back—although the gun body was not visibly stained with blood, it could be inferred that its original owner had already perished; otherwise, the tall officer would not have entrusted it to someone else.

From the situation of the accompanying "irregulars," submachine guns also exerted considerable pressure in such a melee. So far, more than half of the Soviet casualties were probably due to MP38/40 or PPSh-41. If Lynn had sufficient ammunition and confidence in his shooting skills with the submachine gun, he wouldn't mind exploring his talent in using it. However, he only had the magazine given by the "Butcher," and even if it was fully loaded, it was only 32 rounds. Considering the firing mode of the submachine gun, the duration of combat that this ammunition could sustain was probably not as long as the 25-round magazine used by the assault rifle.

As the saying goes, "Good steel should be used on the edge of a blade," and similarly, precious bullets should be used in the most critical positions. After disengaging the safety of the submachine gun, Lynn didn't rush to shoot but calmly observed the battlefield: the assaulting German soldiers still held the upper hand on the scene, and they had just blown up several Soviet tanks. However, in just a short while, many Soviet armored troops managed to return to their vehicles and get them running again. Moreover, the significant difference in the number of troops on both sides remained unchanged. Now would be the best opportunity for the German forces to retreat entirely. If they waited for the Soviets to recover from their initial chaos, it would be easy for them to mobilize their forces and tanks' advantages. If their neighboring friendly forces arrived to reinforce them, even the German elite soldiers' infrared night vision goggles would struggle to cope with the situation.

Many German soldiers participating in the battle seemed to have realized this point as well. Just during the short period when Lynn stuffed the ignited explosives into the turret from the hatch and then jumped down from the tank, explosions from the surroundings became increasingly frequent. The successive loud noises shook the earth and everyone's eardrums, while flames soaring into the sky illuminated the chaotic battlefield...