Last time, we witnessed a meeting in which the operation was discussed. But Gen. Rose brought up Umbra, and that he should be taken out as well at the end of it, which would mean killing Snow, something she said is a small price for taking out The Terror. Her words, though, were completely cut by Gen. Anderson, a very respected man judging by her attitude in his presence. Now a vote is in session to decide what to do with Umbra and Anderson decided to meet him...Over a small brush.
Umbra slowly changed his body. Like before, his clothes were absorbed into his body as his size increased and he was almost unrecognizable. He stood in front of Anderson, he looked down on the man standing before him. But the general only laughed.
"Wonderful!" The general exclaimed with a wide smile of excitement on his face. "No wonder you're a commanding officer in the enemy's rank- oops! Excuse me. Ex-superior officer."
Umbra let out a small growl before talking. "Thanks…I guess?"
"Sir. What is it you wish to-" Before she had the chance to finish, the general drilled his fist in Umbra's stomach, making the wolf flinch. "Sir!"
"Damn!"
"Think fast!" While bra was still in a state of confusion from that quick punch, the general got behind him and tried to land a kick to his head. But the wolf managed to react and caught his boot as it was coming towards him. "Now that's better! But you need to try harder to put a dent in MY tracks!" He began putting more force into his leg, slowly pushing back Umbra's arm.
"So that's how you wish to play!" Like a cloth, he lifted Anderson and threw him in one of the tents. "Then so be it!" He leaped at Anderson, growling aggressively.
"Hey, hey, hey! Is this really ok?! He is thrashing a general!" Leonna had a point. Normally, someone would either face life prison or straight up the death sentence for doing what bra's doing right now.
Snow looked around and noticed that the man the general brought were not doing anything. They were just watching. " I don't think so." She had an uneasy feeling about those guys, especially about the woman who was behind the general. She could swear she saw her eyes twitch when she saw Umbra.
The general managed to dodge Umbra's assault by sliding to his right and placed his hands on the ground, allowing himself to kick the wolf in the side with both his legs. Umbra was pretty surprised by Anderson's reflexes and sheer strength. It was…exhilarating for him. Finally finding a human worth fighting.
"I must say…" The general spoke as he three away the top part of his uniform, remaining in a tank top with his arms exposed. And damn! He's ripped for his years. "That was a fine throw."
"Same goes for your kicks…" The wolf actually praised him. "I never met a human who hits that hard before." He whipped his lower jaw of filth and narrowed his eyes at Anderson as he said those words.
"What can I say? Hard work, hellish training…" He stopped for a moment. "And many, many Lycani heads under the belt." His voice changed when he said those words. From a friendly tone to a more murderous one. But did Umbra care? Of course. It meant things are getting more interesting.
" I never knew there was a human like you alive on this planet. It makes my short life well lived." He said as he brought his claws out. "COME! SHOW MECWHAT YOU GOT, MAN!"
"With pleasure!" Anderson replied to Umbra's battle cry by charging at him with a fierce fire burning in his eyes. The 2 we're not giving heavy hits anymore, no. They punching one another at close range. Anderson got himself punched and scratched until his blood spilled, Umbra's hits were focused where his stomach and collarbone were. But the general ain't any weaker. Anderson was getting solid strikes in his jaw.
"Yes…" Umbra whispered as the 2 continued waging war.
"How long has it been…?" Anderson did the same before getting punched hard into the face, making his glasses fly off his face. Yet he kept going at it.
Both shouted. "Since I've fought someone like this!" The 2 clenched their arms, trying to push the other and see who's stronger. Umbra was bigger in size, but Anderson was not giving up. Despite his feet going into the ground, he kept pushing up as he held the wolf's claws in his fist.
"Anderson! You damn monster." Umbra said. "You're one of the few, one of the ONLY humans who ever pushed me this far!"
"Thanks for the praise…" Anderson replied. "But…Ill be the first to defeat you bear handed!" The general put a foot back and retreated his right arm, making Umbra, who was pushing, to lose his balance a bit and an opening was made. The general then gave the wolf a hard jab right into his chest and lifted him up.
Umbra coughed as the hit knocked the air out of him, but the general was not done as he threw Umbra on the ground. Tired, but still able to fight, Umbra got up again, planting. "Are you sure…" He panted "You're human?"
"Are you sure you're Lycani?" The general asked back as he was in no better shape than the wolf. Both were exhausted. "You're awfully stronger than normal…"
"Touché"
"Anyway…" He looked at Snow. "You said you live a short life, yes?"
"What does that have to do with our brawl?" Umbra asked and traced the direction Anderson was looking "You wouldn't…"
" Make it shorter than you think" He snapped his fingers and one of his men grabbed Snow.
"What?!" She tried struggling but he had a strong grip "Let me go!"
He began growling furiously "Release her at once!" He shouted. His fur parked up and claws out to kill.
"With a choice." He pulled a gun and pointed it at him. "What do you choose?" What was his game? At first, he didn't seem like the type to pull such a dirty trick. He even fought unarmed against a being who eats humans like him for breakfast. Of course, not literally speaking.
He growled at him. "What a disappointment…" He sighed looking at him. "You are no longer a leader, wolf. You surrendered your alpha status." Anderson nodded at the soldier holding Snow and he pulled a knife which he began pressing against her neck.
"Wait!" Leonna tried stepping in, but the soldiers blocked her path.
"No one shall interfere! That's an order!" Anderson shouted as his gun was pointed at Umbra. "Do it-" In that moment. In that crucial moment he acted. He launched himself at Anderson and stepped on him, using him as a trampoline to jump higher into the sky, distracting everyone.
The moment he landed, he did so by kicked away the soldier then he grabbed Snow with an arm and put her against his chest, holding her with one arm. He let out a strong howl and growled at the other ones like a guard dog would when its master is threatened. "WHO WANTS TO DIE?!" He shouted " Just try and do something!" Snow was still shaken by what just happened, but she had to admit it…Having a wolf can be nice.
As he got up, Anderson looked at him stupefied -He didn't even think! She gave no precise order to be saved, and yet he reacted. It may be just the primal instinct Lycani have, but what if...- He aimed his gun and tried shooting Snow, but his bullet was caught by Umbra.
The wolf narrowed his eyes at the general. He was furious, no doubt about it. " Never. Attack. MY QUEEN!" He shouted
" Amazing…" Anderson muttered with a low tone of voice. "He took the bullet and he didn't even think about his own well being." He smiled "My vote is set!"
"Vote?" he was confused. "What did he mean by vote?"
Snow turned around to look at them. "I don't know…"
Sasha cleared her throat and went closer to the 2. "I can explain." She carefully explained the situation to them...but Umbra did not have a good reaction
"That cowardly hoe!" he raised his voice "She doesn't even have the courage to face me, so she tries going after Snow? Pathetic!" It seems Sasha don't leave out Gen. Rose's proposal of killing Snow to kill him. And that angered him a lot. "I'll rip her to shreds!"
"Not exactly my words about the situation, but pretty close..." He said as he got himself a new pair of glasses. " And I got my vote. You're safe, wolf."
"Sir?" Snow turned to him, confused as to why he put someone to kill her.
"Hold up! So you did all that just to test him?!" Leonna seemed pretty upset, and honestly, she has the right to be. The guy threatened her bestie "You looked like you tried to kill her!"
"Leonna! Watch the tone of your voice!" Sasha scolded her.
" No, no! I deserve that!" Anderson said. He had to admit, he might have jumped the gun a bit…much.
Leo sighed as she called herself. "But anyhow, what now? Are you going to leave?"
"We are about to attack a general class Lycani right in its yard! No way I'd leave!" He replied with excitement. It seems Umbra is not the only fight-loving freak around.
"So, I take it you'll stay and throw down with us?" The wolf asked.
"Yes! This old man still has some fight left in him after all." He said looking up to him.
"Then it is settled...We shall attack next-"
"Tomorrow at the first light!" He cut her off and shocked everyone by the time.
"But Sir-" Sasha tried to protest but to no use.
" No buts! I saw your resource situation, and with all these waves of attackers they are going down faster than a cold drink during a hot summer day! We move in tomorrow! Period." There would be so many objections if he wasn't right about the resources. They cannot waste more of them, or else they'll find themselves in a bad spot to be.
"Yes Sir…" Sasha said. "I will make sure the preparations are done by then"
"I have to prepare as well…" Snow said as she jump from Umbra's grasp. The wolf taking his human form once more afterwards.
" And I need to get some training in before going in as well. Can you help me, wolfy?"
" Sure. But no calling me wolfy! wolf is bad enough." Umbra said.
Shortly after, Sasha made the announcement and everyone started getting ready in a hurry. That night, not everyone managed to get a good sleep. But everyone was surely nervous about the upcoming fight.
" Hey, Leo. Are you awake?" Snow was whispering
"What do you think?" She also whispered " Is he awake as-"
"I am...my ears are more sensitive than normal humans, remember." Umbra replied in anticipation. He was in human form inside their tent.
"We do. But that's not what it's on my mind." Snow said.
"What's the problem then, Snowy?"
"we'll be going into battle tomorrow, and I...I'm afraid. Many of us will never return." As pessimistic that may sound, it is the truth. This is war, after all.
"Know what, you're hella right!" Leonna didn't even try saying otherwise in a hopeless attempt to cheer her up. " Many of us will kick the bucket out there. But think about it this way: For each live sacrificed, 2 will thrive." At least she knew how to say 'sacrifices are needed' in a nice way. I think.
"Basically, the sacrifice of one is no concern for the good of the many?" And Umbra had to make it sound…cruel.
"Heck no! It means that you must stand up and fight so others won't have to in the future!" Leonna snapped at him a bit to correct his words.
"The future?" The wolf muttered.
"The future..." Snow stared at the roof of their tent "How do you think the future will be after this war is finished?" She asked solemnly.
"I don't know. But I got my own agenda, and that's seeing my ancestors land. Africa." Leonna said.
"I see. And you, Umbra?" Snow asked him, but the Lycani was silent. Something was…strange. But not the in I'm the strange-strange way, but rather in the unknown-strange way.
"I have no future..." Finally, he spoke. But his words were so…sorrowful.
"That's bull and you know it-" Leo remembered what they talked about "Oh yeah...your life spam on only around 35 years old in human years…." She looked around before asking. "How…many are you now?"
" 16. I am 16 in human years. I am already at half of my life." He replied. Despite his life being wasted on killing and living under orders, he seemed rather unaffected by that.
" But...what did you mean 'I have no future'? What does it have to do with your- "She remembered the words of the doctor "Umbra..." She looked at him with a look full of sorrow.
"I know…I knew for a long time now…" Except Leonna who was only aware of his short life spam.
"What are you 2 hiding? Snow, tell me, what is it?" She asked her friend as the wolf looked away.
Snow inhaled before beginning to talk. "Umbra's d- " Her words were interrupted by the alarm " What?!"
"Hell!" Everyone jumped out of bed and took their weapons hoping it was just an exercise...but it was not.
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" Umbra shouted as he took his general form. Howling as an additional alarm.
The guards at the walls reported approximately 30-40 Lycani's of sergeant class followed by at least 3 dozens of soldier class ones. The bullets were raining down on them, but they kept charging and 2 bull-type sergeants hit the walls with force, multiple times until the wall came crashing down and all hell broke loose.
They were fighting to survive, but the Lycani's were not retreating. They kept going forward, killing any human in their path. Umbra was fighting them with all he had, but even he couldn't stand up to such a crowd. The fight took a lot of everyone, but they managed to fend them off with minimal casualties. But with the wall destroyed their defense was clearly no longer an option.
"General!" Sasha shouted as she went to Anderson. "What are your orders, Sir?" Since he was there, he held the highest rank, thus he had the command.
"What time is it?" He asked as he looked around. He knew they had to move.
"3. 47 AM" Sasha replied.
"Very well, in that case, order everyone to gather what little we have left and move out! We are attacking now!" He ordered then walked away to get his own stuff together.
"YES SIR!"
After the order was passed down everyone took what resources they could and began moving out. The army was led by the general's vehicle which carried some wounded soldiers. Umbra was in his sergeant form, carrying Leonna and Snow on his back with the resources tied to his side. They were moving S towards the coast where the last general was waiting. But he was ready...At the coast was a whole army of Lycani's, all of the remaining ones left in the Britannic Isle.
When the sun rises, the army arrived and saw the forces of the Lycani's waiting. Like a horde of savage beasts, they were roaring at the humans then the chaos was silenced by a strange sound coming from behind them.
Anderson was standing the front of his troops and even he narrowed his eyes knowing what was coming "Here it comes..."
From behind the army, out of the water, a Lycani leaped out. Its body, like Umbra's and the Shadow Wing's, was a mix of human and animal. It had the head of a shark, which made it clear what it was, its body was black like the rest, it had legs and arms similar to human ones, except that a membrane connected its fingers and had a tail going down.
Abyss Dweller, the last of the Britannic Isle's general Lycani. He stared at the humans but he mainly focused his gaze on Umbra. Umbra growled as he stared right back at him.
"Easy there boy…" Leonna said noticing Umbra's reaction.
"I take it that this is it, huh?" Snow was nervous and her hands were shaking.
"Yeah...the fight for England. I just hope I get to see the fight for Africa one day." Leonna said as she looked at the mob of beast in front of them.
"Let's first hope we get past today." Snow said.
"Everyone!" Anderson shouted "Set up the line! I want the turrets fully loaded with Vibros modified ammo at each 5 M of it!"
"YES SIR!" They immediately began working
While the front line was being set up, Sasha couldn't help but notice Anderson's expression looking at the Lycani's. "Sir? Is there something wrong?"
"Just like Umbra, they are not completely mindless and wild. They are waiting." He said looking at the enemy.
"For what?"
"Waiting for something that'll break this eerie silence and start the battle. Yes...they are waiting for someone to sound the horn of war." The general knew of this…
In only one hour, the front line was set. A mechanical wall with soldiers equipped with Vibros weaponry for long-range battles stood behind it and turrets fully loaded were locked and ready as well. Umbra took his general form as he was ready to begin. His gaze still focused on the Abyss Dweller, he remained silent.
Leonna and Snow strapped their gloves and loaded their guns respectively, getting ready for the big fight. "Ready Snow?" Leonna asked as she popped her knuckles.
"I think so.." Snow put her weapons up slowly and took aim. But Leonna could tell she was afraid when she saw her weapons shaking from her unsteady hands.
"Hey, try to relax, ok? Everything will be just fine." Leo said to reassure her.
"How do you know?" Snow sure had high doubts about everything.
"Call it black instinct" She winked at her friend, making her laugh.
" I guess we all have to trust our instinct once in a while." Snow replied with a slight smile on her face.
" Yeah. See? You get it."
"If you 2 are done, then I suggest you focus. The battle is starting." Umbra said, grabbing their attention.
"What do you mean she looked at the Lycani's They are not moving." Leonna said, pointing out the unmoving army in front if them.
"That's because you're not looking behind!" he pushed her away and before he could react as well he was grabbed by 3 sergeant class falcon-type Lycani's that took him towards the army.
" Umbra!" Snow shouted. The horn of war had been sound.
"An attack from behind? Damn it! Everyone! Attack!" Anderson ordered and so it started, the last fight for the Britannic Isle.