A locust stone whined through the air, grazing the ear of Japanese Army machine gunner Sato before biting deeply into the rock behind him. Chips of stone flew as the sharp edge effortlessly sliced off half of Sato's earlobe. Instinctively touching the warm blood on his face, Sato flew into a rage and ripped off his blood-soaked gas mask, roaring at the top of his lungs, "Baka! How dare you toy with the Imperial Army!" He kicked away the corpse of a comrade blocking his path, grabbed the grips of the Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun, and suddenly felt a numbness at the base of his tongue.
The words dying on Sato's lips were cut short. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the gun frame, trying to open his mouth to bark an order, but saliva drooped uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth, mixing with blood to stain the gun stock a dark crimson. "Water... water..." he let out a muffled roar in his throat, stumbling back half a step and knocking over the ammunition box behind him. Right then, Goike Ichiro's curse came from behind: "Idiot! Open fire!" Sato was just about to turn and reply when a surge of warm black blood rushed up his nasal cavity, instantly blinding his vision. In a split second, his throat felt as though it were stuffed with burning hot charcoal; the fiery, stinging pain made his legs turn to jelly, and he dropped heavily to his knees.
"What... what is going on..." Sato's voice grew slurred, and he frantically dug his fingernails into his windpipe, trying to cl…
Chapter 450