Chapter 816: Heroes of War

13th January X111, offshore to Yeun bay of the northwest of Whuotan – the arrays of multiple ships laid in weight. The insignia upon the vessels were of the Imperial allied army, in the current entourage were two-motherships, known to the world as Kel and Del, the fortresses of the sea. Part of the reason why the empire stood as a sea-fighting monster was the very dedicated researchers.

Compared to Phantom’s ability of airstrikes, the oppositions focused on long-distance projectiles to be fired from anywhere in the world. Since the ships were at sea, there need not be the worry of fueling in mid-air. The pros and cons of each variant balance themselves.

Inland, if one were to walk from the shore of Yeun’s beach to the inclined hills, the rocky valleys, dense forest, and virgin from human intervention, a third of the province laid in green and gray.

“FIGHT TILL WE DIE!” echoed along with an abandoned mine of which borrowed from one side of the mountain and exited at the opposite extremity. Consider it to be the main path of invasion into Yeun beach, there was merit in holding the passage, supplies, and easy evacuation for once. The risk of toppling the structure remained nil as mages from both sides focused much of their energy on reinforcing the pillars. For a shaft, the height rose to be three time’s the size of an average man and wide enough to harbor a road. Barricades of sand, broken vehicles, exploded tanks, blocked any direct passage as well as give cover. An advance team from both sides fought arduously, the constant chant of bullets, the deathly scream of the injured, their prayer, and the regret of not seeing their families.

“Major Oyzel, we’ve lost platoon two and three. The squad leaders are asking permission to retreat.”

“No way,” voiced a boisterous man, the shoulder-pads held a golden symbol of his rank, “-we won’t be retreating,” the white hair pressed under a hat, “-no way,” he argued, frowns and coughs were commonplace, “-have the survivors from platoon two and three merge into a new platoon,” he glanced back to a yard of military personnel, “-send the medics in,” he said.

“Major,” refuted the second in command, “-I refuse to allow them to die needlessly. We’re hauling out soldiers as we speak...”

.....

“Second Lieutenant Alio,” the arms crossed at his back, “-look at the situation before us,” he said, “-graduating the military academy of warfare doesn’t justify such a senseless request. Did they not teach when going against the military hierarchy, one needs to be ready to present their case and face reprehension?”

“Sorry sir,” he shook his head, “-what I meant to say was to split the healing unit...”

“Take a look through the binoculars,” he said.

The young officer did so, the entrance grew close, at the foot were mortally wounded fighters. Some lost arms, others had rashes over the visage, many were pale and showed sign of poison gas infection, “-you see what the frontline fighters have to endure. The empire is a hard beast to win against. I control the Yuen’s shaft, I’ll sacrifice people if it means the survival of my country,” he rose a gesture at another officer, “-split the medics, have them aid the mages, have the following message broadcasted, ‘-those able to fight, those able to push through the imperial forces knowing it’s a suicide, are to do so without question. Know this, from the many battles I’ve led in the past, I know one thing, the death of a soldier is a thing of glory. We will climb over our fallen comrades; we will rise a mountain of corpses, if need be, to have a glance at the waning light. Go, my dearest comrades, onwards till death,’ we wait and see,” no matter the morale boost, the imperial forces proved vicious and famished, “-MAJOR!” screamed a reporting officer, “-message from the frontlines, it’s the imperial special forces, the more we fire, the stronger they get, we’ve lost 75% of our forces. The remainder is grievously wounded.”

historical

“Major?” inquired a troubled Alio.

The major’s high-held head fell onto the ground, “-there’s nothing we can do,” he murmured, “-the special forces have arrived, we’ve lost the battle,” he exhaled, “-the ships must have deployed their forces, an army of tens of thousands is on their way. Have the survivors evacuated, ask them to place mines – have ten of our best cover the retreat. We’ll conjure a barrier to stop their advancement.”

‘He’s going to block the entrance and trap them inside. I don’t see how that’ll work,’ wondered the young man, “-major,” he rose his head, “-allow me command over the remaining survivors.”

“Pardon?”

“I want field command of the survivors,” he said, “-sir, I’m ready to lay down my life for the safety of our people. Please, sir...”

“Don’t beg, the second lieutenant, I’m not so old a fool who won’t change his ways. Time is of the essence; you have the eyes of a resolute man. I won’t make promises of leaving the entrance open, if there is a remote inkling of the lines being pushed, the walls will crumble, have I made myself clear?”

“Yes sir,” he saluted, ‘-I will make you proud, father,’ he vaulted, grabbed weapons, and leaped onto a transport headed to carry the wounded.

“Lord Oyzel, was it wise to allow for thy heir to head to death?”

“Who is to say. Age has caught up to my better judgment. When odds are down, there’s a saying in where I grew, champions are forced to act on their impulses, once an innocent man has had a taste of blood... two paths present themselves, the path of the bloodthirsty or the righteous. Look at me spouting nonsensical shi-” thunder crackled over the mountain, ‘-it starts,’ the grip tightened.

A lovely blue sky of scattered white clouds washed the sandy beach vibrantly, “-Igna...” the living room had curtains sway under the passing sea-breeze, “-calling a war-council here?”

“Big sister,” he stood hunched over her filled belly, “-tis for the simple reason of relaxation. The babe ought to be away from the war and blood, I’m sure we don’t want the innocent to be stain scarlet, do we?”

“Tell us the real reason,” inquired Markus tapping away at raw vegetables.

“To shield the imperial family from the ambers of war. I’ve reached the general – éclair and him speak as we lounge. This war has had many heroes – tis time to bring an end to the years-long battle.”

“What do you mean by shield?”

“The conglomerates, I’m fearful they’ve turncoat and made much effort in buttering the emperor’s hands. I don’t understand how Iqeavea got that stage.”

*Knock, knock,* “-my lord,” entered éclair, “-I’ve spoken to General Rozemal, seems to be the Empire’s landed.”

“Right,” he ominously made for the view, the light rendered his back pitch black, “-I suppose it’s time for me to take to the battlefield.”

“Igna,” the pregnant Eira clambered to a stand, she made her way across and placed a hand on his shoulder, “-tell me, little brother, what about Easel Run Gard, are they not under attack?”

“Yes, they are,” he placed his hand upon hers, “-the empire’s force in quality and quantity is headed here, to Alphia, whilst the church is headed for Easel Run Gard, a kingdom without any military. They’ll use smaller ships and have at least a few hundreds to take what they need. The sea is a great o’ beast herself, when she grows angry, there’s no way a man-made twig will survive,” he side-glanced to Markus, “-Loftha’s healing, she’s out of danger and recovering in Rotherham. I’ve made sure the best tend to her needs. I should get my winning streak going again,” wings sprouted, “-they face King Igna Haggard of the United Nations of Alrosia, may this be a message to the onlookers.”

Meanwhile at the seas closing headed for Easel Run Gard, a black-shadow makes rounds over passing ships, an imminent vessel of chaos, “-Draconis,” said Saniata, “-you sure you want to drop onto their ships?”

“Yeah,” he smiled broadly, the sharpened canine eerily shimmered, “-using your powers of the sea is cheating. I want to fight them head-on,” the arms pointed east to a ship.

“That’s them,” she said, “-I sense their auras. If pops spoke true, they’re the scout unit. The quicker they’re defeated, the harder it will appear to invade. I hate being your taxi... pops asked us for help, I’m not going to ruin it,” she turned, “-Draconis?” her lashes fluttered, “-I guess he dropped?”

Below, an anvil sent waves across the deck, the figurehead upfront of which was the head of a beast, allured the illusion of nodding.

“WHO ARE YOU!” screamed men in religious outfits,

“Me?” he laughed and brushed his nose, “-the name’s Draconis. I need a word with your captain.”

“Look at this,” more gathered, “-a young fool’s gotten on board.”

“I’m not a fool,” he clapped, “-I’m like seven years old.”

“Yeah kid,” thundered a greater voice, “-we’re known as Malta, the pirate band from Swabia. What do you need?”

“Are there members of the church on board?”

“Come on kid,” a beast of a man hunched with arms akimbo, “-we have none here,” the entourage laughed, “-now then, where did you come from?”

“So you guys don’t have priests?” he tilted his head, ‘-I got the wrong ship?’ self-muttering increased in pace, the bystanders threw confused glances.

“Boy...” thundered the captain, “-don’t ignore me,” he kept on to his own devices, speaking in a low and inaudible tone.

An impatient crewman reached for a scabbard, pulled a scimitar, and swerved at the unsuspecting guest’s shoulder, *crack,* the blade shattered. The self-murmuring halted, a dark sentient shadow rose to cloak the body, “-did you attack?” inquired a terrifyingly monotonous tone.

“WHERE ARE THE SERVANTS!” a man in robe suddenly barged onto the deck, “-oh...” the flushed visage burped a hiccup, “-wrong timing?”

“You have priests onboard...”

“Boy, you spotted one earlier,” said the captain, “-who the hell are you?”

“Yeah, I did,” the visage gave a sigh of relief, “-I thought I done goof.”

“Done goof?” they exchanged glances and laughed, “-goof, BAHAHAHA.” Two orbs swallowed his fists, Draconis latched at a nearby bystander, the man fell instantly, “-have to kill you now,” he said and jumped, he broke swords with flicks and snapped necks without prejudice. A barrage of combos flung the majority of the crewmen overboard, the captain remained still.

“Boy,” he said in a low-menacing voice, “-DON’T HURT ME.”

*ROAR,* the ship rocked, “-Don’t listen to them,” exclaimed Saniata, “-just destroy everything already.”

“Fine,” he shook his head, pressed the palms in prayer, “-rest in peace,” the core of the vessel exploded, everything in close vicinity disintegrated.

“Damn,” she whistled, “-the powers of Gophy sure are scary. Talk about a loud boom.”

“I know,” he grinned proudly, “-I love to destroy stuff.”

“Still the advance party, they hired pirates to do their transport. The church doesn’t want to play their hands. Call it a day?”

“Yeah, I want to sleep. Vanesa said she found something delicious to eat.”

“Understood,” the griffin vanished into the clouds.

Hidden yonder, secretive onlookers examine the scene, “-powerful fighters,” they said.

“I know, we should take our time and wait for the empire to lose. Victory smiles on the patient.”

“We know, lord paladin.”

The mood altered heavily, “-on me,” cried Alio, “-aim for the gas canisters. We’ll use their gases against them,” a wide-area spell of protection kept the survivors alive.

“We’re running out of ammo,” said a badly injured fighter, “-we lack supplies.”

“We’ve held out for three hours,” they neared complete exhaustion, “-out the remaining fifty, we only have five left.”

“I didn’t realize,” he ducked undercover, they stumped the enemy’s advancement using guerrilla tactics, hits and run, using smoke grenades interspersed with poison gas, ‘-they don’t have the powers of unlimited stamina, once again, I stand alone.’

“Report,” said an injured technical fighter, “-the major’s ordered for a full retreat. Orders have come to barricade the tunnel.”