Sub-Chapter: Acadia May369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyS06FSRmu
‘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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuc5MlLJ2T
‘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. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIYeAfRcJK
‘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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXXTuBvEP7
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. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaf1c6w5Tc
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’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxevUyQ9cTv
Hypocrite. I didn’t believe in my country all that much, or the newfangled ideas coming from the elite, much less die for it…369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfahLPYvWq
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mpZfWvC2Q
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sxx1lA3wP
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yqbzXSwZC
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...’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w0Xew4ipd
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?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsiraKUHnB
‘Hold on a second Major! What’s the basis order? Just defend this area?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtThWT5OESP
‘You got it!’. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDJO9f31tl
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FXiLDoiOy
BAAM369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGorH4JxZn
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. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnrpIgxGi6
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNro8YqLkh
CREPITUS!369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ3m7uAnL8
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFsSvVBIIX
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUWetOD04t
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. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm3KyRDtaE
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOyumpW97W
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRkGijxEW2
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFh0R4yMxe
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.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPZjPk4rXh
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.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOajg56R1w4
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUmBVXJvcD
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?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmh9IS38gk
‘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.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01RTy5LHDl
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3ewOg7Kgq
Well, there was something…. Ah it was probably nothing important.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrhdNPQwJH
SUB-CHAPTER 2: A Breath in the Wild369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCr3A6HtL2
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCmYNMmwqi
‘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.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjDZto59Nr
The Yeri Officer giggled a bit before saying ‘Well that would’ve been bad. Anyways, that’s in the past...’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHAOUiBCQG
‘That was just four seconds ago you idiot. What the sheo is so important that you had to wake me up at what, midnight?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8XiUPbPAZ
‘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.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS1WS7PPfu
‘You’re what, 32 years old?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9DzAA6rG3
‘Oh, thanks, but no, I’m 37.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A7eR7HLpj
‘Well then, you have nothing to worry about.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC4ZMM3zna
‘huh?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xD99vWFKY
‘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.’.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtxSYxE93C
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.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetUNd0hn5O
‘I know what you mean. This war seems to be dragging along for a while now.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAsfwIDWqv
After awkward stares and glances at the ground, Juna would ask “So, do you have any dreams? Maybe someplace you want to visit?”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5sBc9OsDY
“Yeah, but they seem far away at this point.” I replied369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiTptxl8fn
“Well, you can always wish, right? After all, what’s the point of life if you don't aim high?”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoPAnEXI3J
“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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrB9pHNOMe
What about you?”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAWbks8fmo
“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.”.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmN97U0JDB
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…369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe6mmLtBTB
I’m just joking, those would be worth a fortune, whether selfmade or not. Not something I would be looking at.”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxjbzHqMWf
“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.”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDY5agGK5Z
‘That’s pretty coolio.’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6Pk5Tf7h5
‘Coolio? What, is that some new made up word from the Capital?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQoUbMdU3h
‘Oh, uh… no, it’s some term I heard from a Oslionia... I mean Ern Soldier once!’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAdcb2bcxE
“I see. Coolio… sounds weird, but… I like it.”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO57AYz8D1
I simply nodded as both me and her glanced at the stars, with my eyes betraying me as they quickly slammed shut.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4OpYfZjVz
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!’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1qcpurSoH
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….369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfVl0xW9EN
‘MAJOR, we need our orders!’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgBhAEeSDB
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!’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO19s5Xk1d
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEa2sY3XQH
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTubA4J5kO
As I did, the fighting grew distant by the second, I could finally think and catch my breath.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aUS5x3C3s
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rQy1MUDAC
I can’t give it too much thought though, I have to make sure I can get away first.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38xEchhgVL
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,369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn9kj4UD8g
‘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?’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeabrtjI4qs
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...’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnJEmMUjgv
‘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. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiLKQApPl2
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CAkC1qz3O
‘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...’369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbWydwqQHL
‘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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIV9sEycef
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF1I4gVxgK
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v7wkDpwzE
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. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpONzdE31q
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSQqxHIM70
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aiOjS7puG
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. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxuLGJv1ff
I wish… I could’ve had some fun too.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHnXRybRXs
But, there’s no fun for the dead.
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