The smell of fires burning, and the remaining smoke, was still in the air thick above their heads as Ace bent down, neatly snagging the few cards that were fluttering over the cracks and crevices caused by the army. He sighed heavily, the weight of seeing the dead heavy on his shoulders. He could only watch, it seemed, as the army moved farther ahead. He was trying, to catch up, and a deep scowl covered the soft frown on his face as he rolled his shoulders. The blonde male was determined to complete his goal, and he gently brushed a hand over the cut from a close shot on his right arm, where it had cut the fabric just below the elbow.
Bright blue eyes scanned the area again as his cape gently waved in the breeze, but he only subconsciously noticed it was waving, ignoring it in favor of walking around a few chunks of building that had fallen over. He hadn't expected this, not one of his other missions in Class Zero had prepared the sixteen year old for the chaos and destruction he saw before him.
Despite his age, Ace was a valuable member to Class Zero. it had taken a while for him to convince them he was more than just a little wild card, but now his calm, yet reckless attitude was very important to the team. He looked up at the sky with a soft frown. No matter how hard he tried, a phrase was stuck in his head. "Don't look back... Move forward. Keep you eyes on the enemies beyond. And one day, save this country." He murmured the words, and sighed to himself. He could only guess it was because of the doctor, or, Mother, as all Class Zero called her, that he knew this phrase, but he had the nagging feeling it wasn't that that had kept the phrase in his head.
Ace shook his head. "I don't remember you... The one who said it... But I'm not going to let you down." He whispered as he saw Nine and Queen moving towards him, killing the last of the soldiers in their way. "... I promise."