Daniel, stationed in the rear of the formation, was not unaware that an Allied bombing squadron had arrived.

Boom! KWAANG—

Explosions shook the ground, sounding not far from his position.

The moment he recognized it as an enemy bombing raid, urgent voices began flooding through the radio, one after another.

“—It’s an attack by an Allied bombing squadron! Bombs are being dropped from high altitude! Damn it!”
“—We’re in danger! A unit that appears to be enemy armored forces is simultaneously infiltrating from both left and right flanks!”
“—At a point 5km to the north, we've detected enemy tanks—around thirty of them—along with armored vehicles and infantry support units!”
“—Same for the south! Enemy armored forces are approaching from 4km out!”
“—At their current rate of advance, we have ten minutes until engagement!”

The barrage of radio chatter pounded at his head.

‘What the hell? It really was a trap?’