Sub-Chapter: Acadia May388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdjJ6JlXsy
‘Watch the right flank! The Avon are pushing hard!’
Now here was the challenge I’ve been waiting for. 15 years of the academy has led to this point, with me staring down the enemy I swore to destroy.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPa0aAOrhF
‘Watch from the rear, it’s the Ern!’
Yet, I wasn’t here because I hated them. I know, kind of hard to kill someone who you don’t really have that much opinion on. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGcH5W4S7k
‘Major, watch your left!’
I was in this for the adventure, the chance to see the world and what it was truly like outside the walls of Orto. I dreamed about it every day and night I could.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAmvYKwCCM
I saw an Ern from the corner of my eye. Just like I was warned, he was on my left. I turned my head and stared at the Ern. As I did he began to slow down. It was plain to see that he was starting to regret it. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO9WFIjO57
I didn’t see the point of killing him. He was just as scared as some of my men. If anything, he had more guts than some of them as well. I felt pity for him. He didn’t need to be here, yet here he was, seemingly charging for dear life. ‘Look, turn back now.’ I said with both pistols aimed right at his head. ‘Go home and live the rest of your days with your family. This is a place for people willing to die no matter what the cost for the idea they believe in’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEQuptVPCC
Hypocrite. I didn’t believe in my country all that much, or the newfangled ideas coming from the elite, much less die for it…388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0qoEg6gFU
I continued. ‘I can see it in your eyes, you don’t belong here.’. I then turned my back on him. Stupid mistake, I know. In fact, I might have made him mad a bit by saying that, because he charged me right afterward.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvFLwZhHQY
With his blade quickly closing the distance, I took out my magical devices, the alles and the könnte. Aiming both right at his kneecaps, he went down right as the shots made contact.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZH27tom9E
I quickly put both of my pistols away before saying ‘Take him to the temporary jail. See if we can get any information on his comrade's whereabouts and what not.’. One of the privates nodded as she dragged away the Ern.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0EQXKmPFG
Looking through the forest, I could finally appreciate the nice breeze as I stood there. For just a few moments, I felt relaxed. But as we all know, good things never last. I saw a few enemy units on either side of my unit. In that instance, my senses finally regained control of my thoughts, with it taking only a few seconds for me to yell at orders again, ‘Sergeant Rose, take squadrons one through five, and have them hold up the right flank. Warrant Officer Heta, take control of group B and squad eight, and secure the left and back. As for me...’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhc1XJ5ZC3g
As I talked, I started taking a few blood bags from the back. After making sure they were secure, I climbed up from the trench, and said ‘...I’ll be scouting out the front. Lieutenant Kea, take charge until I return, you got it?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8eZMijcxr
‘Hold on a second Major! What’s the basis order? Just defend this area?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3vLCxGQx0
‘You got it!’. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxeFMRLK91
I honestly didn’t care what they did to be quite frank. I just knew this was my chance. The world was waiting to be discovered, I was the one who was going to do that.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTluefHSrzT
BAAM388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPbZCarBb3
I could feel my right leg explode in pain as I collapsed on the ground. On the left was another unit of Ern. The one who shot me could be clearly seen. With sweat outline his entire face, and his comrades patting him on the back, him and several of his men took aim at me once again. Once the shots rang out, I instinctively attempted to dodge, but my leg screamed with pain as I rolled over. As I did, one of the bullets grazed my side. I couldn’t hide it, the graze and my right leg hurt like HELL. As I yelled out for help, both my lieutenant and a second lieutenant pulled me closer to the trench. I mean, I think I have the worst luck in the world. I tried to leave only for a second, only to get shot. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNKRZ2yOwv
As I was pulled, several flames and stones flew past me, with half of the Ern Unit easily knocked out. Only using a second of time I looked over and drew my main device, the Hecate. However, before I even saw them, I knew who they were. The Ritkan soldiers also recognized me pretty quickly as well, and within an instant, I began the most one-sided duel of my life so far.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnmj03yHCi
CREPITUS!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu3hxFfPcH
With that, a sudden explosion, much bigger than the barrel of my Hecate, was fired towards the Riktans. Right as it arrived at it’s target, one of the soldiers in the back of their unit raised their hand towards the sky and kicked into the air, summoning what seemed to be a two feet thick rock barrier. However, I could hear from some of the groans in the front that I left my mark.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v0rku7WFO
I had to think of one way or another to deal with them before the Ern had time to realize the opening. I looked to my side, but I could only find my blood bags…. That’s right! I quickly set up the bags to go into me as I began to conjure up the spell in my head, as I did I could see the blood bags quickly draining as my aura began to grow. I gradually stood up, though still unbelievably painful. After taking a few seconds, I yelled out for dramatic effect ‘ULTIMUS EKRIXI!’. In one sudden burst, a glowing yellow ball was fired from my Hecate. Once it reached the stone wall, it exploded on impact, with shrapnel flying all over the place. The size of the explosion was comparable to the size of one of the old redwood trees.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhoKPVgYCc
As I stared at the destruction, I almost forgot to protect myself from the after effects, with my roll into the trenches the only thing preventing any further damage. I stole a glance at the mess I made, only to see a 30 foot crater where the Riktans once stood. And within what seemed to be 50 feet of the impact, nothing existed, not even the trees that were there beforehand. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylKHRocEG4
I didn’t know how to feel. On one hand, I saved my unit the trouble of dealing with the Riktans, but I felt as if I should feel more guilty, more empathy, towards those I got rid of.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV2MIamAxz
After looking around for a bit, a couple of privates gave me their notes on the surroundings,as well as giving me their own thoughts.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSavVm3m4O
The guy on my right, he was the one to speak first. ‘If you to the east, a little down the path we noticed a friendly...’ as he talked, he’s supposed friend bumped him in his shoulder and coughed.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPmSqR3oa0
I laughed for the first time in awhile. ‘We’re in the middle of a war zone private, don’t worry about addressing me as the O’great Ion Major or anything like that. Right here and now, you are my fellow soldier-in-arms, nothing more, nothing less.’.
The private on the right sighed in relief, and started to speak a bit more casually, saying ‘Well, I managed to spot a friendly unit to the east. When I signaled them, they signaled back that we should hold our position. They also signaled that we should relax while we can. I think they’re right. After all, it’s predicted that the Ern have 100,000 on this field right now.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjm9q2PNy6
The private on the left chipped in, and said ‘I agree with Private Weru here, ma’am. If I may say, I think we might actually have a tough time with the amount those Ern are tossing at us.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUqR2smiTb
As they talked, I began to feel at ease. I mean, I did nearly kill myself with my own spell. With that in mind, I blurted ‘Y’all gonna die tomorrow’. As I finally laid down properly, the only response I got were cold glares, along with some trembling bodies.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqhbObd6jX
Finally, the private on the left, wait, what is her name?, spoke up again, and replied with ‘What do you mean we’re all going to die?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gblq4kQdh
‘Sorry, I forgot to mention that that’s IF you don’t pay attention and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be even more hectic than today, that much I can almost guarantee.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW0yAfPOeN
Most of the troops laughed, probably out of relief, as they cheered and sang the night the way. As they performed for the entire forest to hear, I slept peacefully, with nothing clouding my head as I fell asleep.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROKCsXkION
Well, there was something…. Ah it was probably nothing important.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa5qZtwlb7
SUB-CHAPTER 2: A Breath in the Wild388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoHBjWVrRu
I was quickly swatted away from my dream, with a couple of fingers poking my face as I turned over to those same fingers nearly going for my eyes.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx0637dMoF
‘OATE!!! What the actual SHEO are you doing, Ms.Juna!? You would’ve been the next day's meal if I didn’t see you first.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3uzi4cSQW
The Yeri Officer giggled a bit before saying ‘Well that would’ve been bad. Anyways, that’s in the past...’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9o2sPsGL4
‘That was just four seconds ago you idiot. What the sheo is so important that you had to wake me up at what, midnight?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Qqkkta8T
‘I think it’s one, but that’s not the point. I really just wanted to chat with someone. After, being the youngest one here is a bit, scary.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0cPacfzNc
‘You’re what, 32 years old?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluWX7ogzOZ
‘Oh, thanks, but no, I’m 37.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0GhLc00uo
‘Well then, you have nothing to worry about.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ2dWyQvKx
‘huh?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBqGwuZDbT
‘Don’t tell the others, but I’m actually 20.’ I said with a smile. Pulling out my alles and könnte, I took out a tissue and began to clean both pistols. Continuing on, I said ‘But no worries, I get it. Being around 43 is normal for this unit. After all, they don’t want all the new infirs getting killed right off the bat. That being said, just stick with me, and we’ll get through this. Maybe a cup of honey iced tea would be called for as well.’.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBACQVVoTI
With a happy, but distant smile, she said ‘I think I might take up that offer, that’s if we ever get away from this godforsaken bloodbath.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsTpyrSyyP
‘I know what you mean. This war seems to be dragging along for a while now.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jH9uIYPYY
After awkward stares and glances at the ground, Juna would ask “So, do you have any dreams? Maybe someplace you want to visit?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgutPEmzkV0
“Yeah, but they seem far away at this point.” I replied388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOlN3gwYrt
“Well, you can always wish, right? After all, what’s the point of life if you don't aim high?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3cHsA7He4
“I guess you’re right. Well, I guess if I had to pick, maybe the Persi Palace in the center of Ern. I heard it was huge, bigger than anything the Riktan, or the Oslionians could build. Though, in all honesty, instead of that, I would much rather just be able to see what the world has to offer.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37o5Skw3T2
What about you?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1RzZe0ZXE
“Honestly, five corners of Rikta always seemed neat. After all, it’s said that all five masters of each element reside in the area. Though I would be killed on sight, it would still be nice to see what it looked like.”.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhX5XWihs9
Silence quickly followed, with Juna then asking “So, what’s the story between those magical devices? Are they made by you or did you get someone like the Lord Chancellor to make those for you? Either way, I might want to buy it from you if ever you want to say… part ways with one of them…388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx1fCoYC4f
I’m just joking, those would be worth a fortune, whether selfmade or not. Not something I would be looking at.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSXLsWrjCL
“Oh, no worries. About what you asked though, these are self-made. Afterall, I couldn’t say I’m a proper Ion as well as Major if I can’t even make my weapons.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi7Vc4MxF0
‘That’s pretty coolio.’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkCIYvPOxj
‘Coolio? What, is that some new made up word from the Capital?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pZnA0yDXr
‘Oh, uh… no, it’s some term I heard from a Oslionia... I mean Ern Soldier once!’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPAXO9ZE7J
“I see. Coolio… sounds weird, but… I like it.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKRlsqT8Ov
I simply nodded as both me and her glanced at the stars, with my eyes betraying me as they quickly slammed shut.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGl13ioVNE
SUB-CHAPTER THREE: Chaos ensues
I was quickly awoken by the sound of whistles, with one of the privates from earlier screaming at the top of her lungs ‘ION MAJOR AKIKO, THE ERN DIVISIONS, THEY’RE CHARGING FROM THE LEFT SIDE!’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5WsORGVDa
I quickly jumped to my senses, twisting my head violently as I witnessed what seemed like thousands of Ern troops charging our position from the… the…. Left. The only place I didn’t bother to check yesterday….388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyncNsM7Gif
‘MAJOR, we need our orders!’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgd5l4YjTeW
After starring her in the eyes, I finally managed to place my full attention on Juna, and what she said. ‘Listen up! I need units eight through 16 to place protective barriers all around us. I need the rest of you guys to start extracting blood from yourselves and place them into bags along with grabbing the other blood bags for those putting up the barrier as I don’t know when we’ll be able to get out of this mess. Juna, I need you to work on communicating with the back to see if we can get reinforcements up here now. As for myself, I’ll see if I can go someplace to signal to the other packs that we need assistance. Lieutenant Dan, you’re in charge until I return. That’s all, now MOVE IT!’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3JcT0OdIL
The entirety of the troops yell “YES MAJOR” as they set to work. As they dragged on ahead, I looked for an opening to sneak myself out of the area. Within a few minutes, I found one at the same place I nearly got blown up. Looking at both sides, I quickly ran across, with none of the Ern noticing it seemed. Looking around properly though, I didn’t see much anyways.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF6VSNUDfO
All of a sudden, I realized what I could do. I could finally explore the world. I could see all it had waiting for me. Looking around one last time, I quickly began to run.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBqfwLCi69
As I did, the fighting grew distant by the second, I could finally think and catch my breath.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07E9JxoR6r
The war has been going for what, 350 something years since this started? It’s funny, I read somewhere that the Ern were weak because they couldn’t do anything but pray for some blessing of God. Yet, we still haven’t seen the end of this war with them, even if both Tufe and Ritka worked together, we still probably wouldn’t see anything finished and see much results. I bet all those guys who charged will be slaughtered still. I don’t see what a gun could do to a half foot thick wall.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G1qIpsCfI
I can’t give it too much thought though, I have to make sure I can get away first.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO8hc2RSk9
After another minute of walking, I finally reached a hill. Step-by-step, thump-by-thump, I worked my way up. As I did, I could hear what seemed to be metal rubbing against metal. As I kept on hearing it multiply as I got closer to the top. Half way up, I received a transmission from Juna. After using a couple drops of blood, I managed to connect. With a burst of noise, she spouted,388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v1jw0wwY5
‘Akiko, it’s getting bad down here! We’re running out of blood and some of the men have fainted, with one death so far. We managed to get several of them and stave off a majority of their attacks, but they’re putting on more of a show than we originally predicted. How about you? Did you manage to contact any of the other packs yet?’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4OpuQnaSE
With the metal friction noises becoming the dominant sound in the area, I began to yell out ‘No, not yet! However, I got a pretty good spot I… I...’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLRyLeIfc8
‘Major Akiko, what’s the matter? Akiko! Hey, what’s wrong?’. The sense of urgency in her voice was loud and clear, but my mind was trained on something else. After getting to the top of the hill, what I could see had my complete notice. What I saw, it, it, it was haunting. For miles, and miles around, as far as I could see, there was nothing but a land filled with craters, with nothing living in sight. Smoke was rising and I finally saw the source of the terrifying noise. Metal beasts, the size of small houses, crawled on the ground, with the amount of them ranging in the thousands. As they moved, they fired balls of pure destruction at the Avon in front of them, with the noise of each beast ringing louder than the one before. Behind them, I saw hundreds of thousands running like madmen, with the guns readied. And right on the side of the metal creatures, I saw, it was no work of the Avon. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p5V6sIoJc
The Oslionian flag was proudly displayed on the side of each one of those things. Worst of all, I did not see the end of them, the line of metal brutes stretched beyond my sight.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECiS8b0GdZ
‘Juna, retreat, now! The Oslionians have developed the creation of a Metal Beast, one that can fire balls of fire faster than anything we’ve seen before. They might send one down...’388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmClDmo9PQk
‘Akiko, I have to help quickly. Wait for me, once we finish these guys, we’ll head to your…...’. She was cut off right there. I knew what she meant though.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbSqN3zkaB
As I looked onto the battlefield, I tried my luck, and fired the same spell from yesterday, but with a bit less blood sacrificed to keep up my strength. As it hit, the ground was dislodged from where it originally sat. I impatiently waited for the dirt to settle. Once it did, I saw several tanks on their sides, but the rest of them seemed to only have a few scratches.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ8vCSBhXf
Within seconds, stone walls were conjured up by the Avon, and were destroyed within a second as the tank rolled over them as if it was a dirt mound. I could see, with what I had on me now, it was almost futile. So, I sat there, with nothing to do. I wondered for a bit if I should take the opportunity to run. Though, with how it looked, it seemed as if all the world was just a big battlefield, with no place safe for anyone.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUbWTVhHdJ
Out of nowhere, with a sudden sound of the earth crumbling, my body free falled into a hole, which kept getting deeper and deeper until my back hit the ground, with a few cracks from my body echoing inside. Within another instant, I was covered up by dirt. Right there, my body was held hostage by the very thing I found rest in. I heard footsteps along with a scream from someone I think I knew. However, it quickly died down in an instant. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡussOTs1cuN
I sat there for weeks I think. I couldn’t do anything with my body and weapons stuck. Another week passed before I tried something. If I was going to die, it was not going to be because some guy who could bend dirt buried me.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaOzA3KvP6
As I prepared myself, I quickly murmured the same spell I used on both the tanks and the Avon. As I did, I said the last letter, and allowed myself to use over half of the blood in my body. As the spell was released, I could feel my body fading away as the explosion opened up the ground around me. Lucky me, dying before I even got to explore part of the world.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDBDz1S8BP
But then, in all the silence, I heard some voices, though they weren’t rushed at all. It seemed as if they were having fun. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiKolijNO6
I wish… I could’ve had some fun too.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh3CBdc6aQ
But, there’s no fun for the dead.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
