He was a prince of the nation and a career soldier, faithful to his country and duty, his story began with a simple reconnaissance mission. However, like a bit of mischief by fate, he is forced to fight a battle against an overwhelming number of Grimm alone while defending a village and drawing the Grimm's attention from the villager at the same time.
After nearly being overrun by Grimm. He self-destructed using his semblance and managed to escape death. He was now hailed as the Army hero.
He is Prince Jaune Louise Arc, the soldier prince.
"I'm being reassigned?"
He asked the officer in charge of Personnel assignment who was sitting behind the rich-looking desk in front of him.
"Guess the brass isn't about to let an accomplished officer like you just hang around."
He said to him as he handed him an envelope that contained his reassignment information.
"you're being reassigned to the 212th Assault Jaeger Company, now as a platoon leader."
What the officer is saying makes sense. After his achievement in the north, he received the Golden Lion Assault Badge. The most prestigious decoration of the Vale military. On top of that, he had also been awarded an alias by the head of the Arc family, in the Arc family alias were given to the family member who had done deeds worthy of being recorded in the family history.
He was given the alias "Golden Death" Jaune after the golden glows of his aura whenever it was active.
What followed was days of ceremonies and interviews as the central command see it fit to bring him back to Vale for propaganda boosting.
Now in the Middle spring of 123 After Great War, the northern Grimm incursion was stopped dead in its track by the army. Seizing this opportunity of an early end to the northern incursion, the Vale military now began focusing on the southwestern front to close it.
"you should be glad, lieutenant."
The elderly officer said to him with a smile on his face.
"you will be a part of a new offensive aiming at dismantling the southern super horde."
"Thank you."
He replied with a stoic face, well at least this gives him a chance to get out of the spotlight and away from those flashing cameras and interviews. God knows he hated people singing praises to him, that's why he liked the army no people here treated him like royalty no your highness just lieutenant.
However, it also seems that the central command is gathering every resource they can for this new mysterious plan. He had heard a few rumors while at a gathering, saying that many veterans are being pulled out of the instructor unit and given frontline duty. He supposes if many of the veterans are going then, he should be there too alongside them.
But hopefully, his situation isn't so bad. He was finally going to be leading his very own subordinates, at the very least he isn't fighting alone this time.
So in the meantime, he racks up achievement at the front, brings as many subordinates under him back alive, and aims for a place in the officer course for the military academy.
Vale South-western edge of the nation livable border,
The South-Western Font
Compared to the relatively hilly and green grassland scenery of the northern front, the southwestern is hell landscape compared to it. The southwestern front is known for its muddy landscape, the crater-filled land, trenches stretching from the Glenn mountains to the coast, constant artillery, and machinegun fire, and let's not forget the constant Grimm raid and major attack.
Usually, when new soldiers arrive they would arrive at the makeshift train station miles behind the trenches and later taken into the forward camp where they would call home for months to come.
However, his special reassignment and new unit meant that he didn't arrive at the familiar makeshift train station, instead he arrived at the Vale military staging area, A provisional command post. An old Gothic-styled government building turned into military use at the start of the conflict.
As soon as he arrived he was escorted by the guard inside the building into a large meeting area where many of his fellow officers were staring at the large map on top of the table at the center of the room.
"Leader of the second platoon, 212th Assault Jaeger companies, Second lieutenant Jaune Arc"
He saluted the leading officer in the room, a silver-haired middle-aged man with a scar across his face. He looked at him up and down, as if judging him. He hoped there is nothing wrong with his uniform. The officer uniform of the Vale military is a simple dark grey collared jacket with four pockets two up and two down.
"thanks for coming lieutenant and welcome back."
He said to him, his face indifferent.
"I am company commander first lieutenant Anastasius Robin."
The officer in front of him moved forward and brought his right hand for a shake.
"commander Robin, sir, pleased to meet you."
He shook back.
"great. Let's get down to business Arc."
He said to him as he walked toward the tables at the center of the room.
"do you have any experience leading a platoon?"
"it's my first time."
He replied as the commander stopped on the other side of the table while he leaned in to take a grasp of the situation on the map, not realizing he was being eyed by the commander. Unbeknownst to him when the commander in front of him received that he was getting an experienced soldier from the northern front, a recipient of the Golden Lion. He expected a seasoned veteran with experience leading a platoon.
There is some murmur among the officer in the room.
"Lieutenant I'll be straight with you…"
For the commander, if the record he got from the central was true, the boy or the prince he was speaking to is a significant asset who has distinguished himself in battle both here and the northern front in the past. However, being a good soldier is different from being a good leader.
"The 212th assault company is meant to be made up of three platoons…"
He said to him as his face was overshadowed by the sunlight.
"but after a failed assault, our number dropped, and we have been operating with number barely enough for two-platoon."
The commander knows his situation, attrition, and casualties are catching up to the army. As such many of the recruit given to him is green so he had hoped this new leader given to him would be a veteran.
"can you command…"
"green recruits straight out of Jaeger corps training program?"
To the commander, a platoon consisting of a heroic soldier with no leadership ability leading rookies on the battlefield is a disaster waiting to happen. Depending on his answer the commander might request a new reassignment for him.
"Give me the order, I'll bring the results"
"if any of the rookies is useless then I turn them into a distraction for the Grimm at least."
He added with a serious face, the commander smiled.
"I have a high expectation of 'Golden Death'"
He said. Taking out a wooden pointer the commander began explaining their current situation on the map. Numerous chess pieces were placed in the place of interest on the map. While line drawn on the map crisscrossed the map representing the trench dug by the army.
"as you know, the southwestern army is currently being reorganized."
The commander explained to him, while the northern front became active the avian type Grimm of the super horde compromised of dark two and three class nevermore and wyvern launched a massive aerial attack on the south-western front numbering around one thousand, the resulting massive attack was repelled by the Vale Air corps with a huge cost.
This move could only be theorized by the General staff as a legitimate attempt to defang Vale Air corps. In the aftermath of the attack, a medium-sized Grimm horde compromised of Dark two and Three class heavy hitter Ursa major, deathstalker, and Beringel supported by dark one class beowolves led by one of the super horde alpha, Baragon. Smashed, through the front nearly breaking it.
The advance created a bulge in the battle lines, 212th was mobilized alongside the 17th airborne regiment to counter the assault and held the line. A counter-attack from the left flank by the 11th Armor regiment forced the horde on the retreat. Seeing the Grimm broke the 212th alongside the 17th airborne regiment were ordered to go on a counter-attack and kill Baragon one of the super horde three main leaders. The attack fails as the Grimm rallied around the alpha and attacked the force with an overwhelming number.
The 212th fought a desperate rearguard to cover the 17th airborne, which resulted in the near annihilation of the company.
"it will take some time for fresh Jaeger reinforcement from the central to arrive."
Said the commander about reinforcement.
The original plan of the General staff was to let the Grimm throw themselves on the lines and for a division of highly mobile mechanized units, Jaeger forces included to react effectively to dangerous attacks that had the potential to break the line. Meanwhile, the South-Western army would held-out long enough until either the horde exhaust itself or the alpha would break into a natural fight of dominance with each other.
What the general staff didn't expect was the fact that the Grimm horde alphas leader seem smarter than normal. It began to learn and now countered the strategy with spread-out attacks all across the front pressuring most of the lines and overwhelming the specialized division.
Then the northern attack happened and the specialized division was mobilized north to stop it from becoming a second south-western front. That's why he got pulled from the central, the south-western front is on the edge of breaking.
"how is the assembly of the second main forces and reinforcement from the north going?"
He asked examining the map, especially the location where three white soldier pieces were facing against five black soldier pieces.
"Not good"
The commander replied grimly.
"in addition to the loss of manpower up north, they also suffered the loss of vehicles and transport assets."
"The train would be severely under-performing until the new Vale rail lines are finished, the air corps has lost multiple transport V-Tol and the loses during the air offensive caused a shortage of combat class V-Tol for an escort mission."
"the navy meanwhile despite Admiral Raeder enthusiasm to aid the army, still have nowhere near enough convoy ship to use to transport manpower and supplies needed for the front."
He asked pointing at the Mulberry makeshift port near the coast.
"so for now with the Vehicles shortage they would need two more weeks to come south."
Based on the commander's explanation he could deduce one thing.
The logistical line is slowly being overwhelmed and with it comes the potential failure of the 'interior lines strategy'.
"so we've given up on mobile defense along the south-western line. We're switching to limited attack to quicken the rate of the super horde declining."
The commander places the pointer on the table before crossing his hand behind his back and sighing.
"what about the super horde? Any new group joining them recently?"
He asked the commander.
"yes, according to the air scout two groups join it recently, but interestingly alpha of other group is starting to fight the super horde alphas which tell us that the natural struggle is kicking in."
The Grimm work akin to human society pre-industrial. The Grimm would form a group and roam the land, a suitably aged Grimm would lead the group. In time Grimm from outside the group would challenge the group alpha and if it won the Grimm would become the group's new alpha.
In time the Grimm alpha would either kept the group to itself or keep challenging the new group and bringing it under its rule before eventually, the group became a horde. The super horde is a result of that three Grimm alpha leading the largest group of Grimm in Saunus numbering at least twenty thousand Grimm of all sizes each forming a symbiosis relationship and attacking Vale managing to overrun two of the three coastal cities on the northern coast.
"but Baragon the four-legged dragon would still defeat them right? And two others alpha are still attached to it"
"you are correct which is why we are not depending on natural order and hastening the super horde death ourselves."
The commander turned to face him with a serious look on his face.
"however that is the classic easier said than done. Which is why I'm asking this of you…"
He turns back to the map, taking the pointer and pushing a single knight piece toward the black soldier pieces.
"the original strategy is for the defensive line to obstruct Grimm's advance and for the special division to annihilate the Grimm that advanced too deeply. With said strategy going into the dumpster, we need you to seize any opportunity of weakness the Grimm displayed and annihilate the Grimm, which wouldn't be very fun."
He understood what that means, 'cause as much damage to the Grimm as possible'. A possibility is floating around in the army that if a Grimm group number went low enough it would disperse as a way to survive. But with the Grimm group is rarely seen on the border of Vale nowadays that possibilities remain a possibility.
He knows what the commander is alluding to, offensive battle isn't fun. But in this situation rather than letting the Grimm exhaust the nation, the army is going to attack and end this horde before it overwhelms the kingdom logistic.
"understood."
He replied.
"We are soldiers, if command tells us to do something, we do it."
"no question ask."
Unbeknownst to him, the commander is staring at him with a look of admiration. Now he understands why there is a floating idea suggested by some of the military leadership on giving the seventh prince a commission of unit leadership like the Crown Princess Victoria, who commanded the Palace guard regiment.
The man in front of him isn't some simple prince or heroic soldier but rather a model soldier willing to do what needs to be done, befitting the name of 'Golden Death'.
"quite right lieutenant"
"now back to the situation at hand"
The commander said to him as he gesture for a soldier behind him, the soldier then place two cups of coffee on the table. He could hear some murmur among the officer behind him.
"yes sir"
"the 212th assault company have been selected as a mobile strike force in the next battle."
The commander pointing at the potential of the Grimm attack on the map in front of him.
"We are going to be the vanguard of the counter-attack. I look forward to seeing your famous amplification semblance in action."
"I'll do my best to protect this Kingdom!"
The word that comes out of his mouth somewhat inspires the many officers behind him. As a new murmur broke out among the officer in the room, something along the line of…
'A prince is willing to work harder, I need to up my hard work too.'
'the soldier prince for you…'
'a guy with a higher position than me is willing to risk death to defend the kingdom…'
He meanwhile is worried about his platoon roster because depending on the roster he might struggle at first in the next battle.
"good, any question?"
He perked up at the commander's question.
"yes sir, will our launching point be the defensive line?"
The commander smiled.
"rejoice lieutenant. We all will be at the most forward line."
Look like he will face combat more often than he liked it to be.
"it will be an honor to be there alongside others sir!"
He replied while the officers looked at him in admiration.
Being at most forward line meant that he needs to double as defensive personnel as well as mobile strike personnel other than the side job of being a distraction to the Grimm.
"so we'll act as mobile offensive forces but also as the defense?"
"that is correct, but our main mission is eliminating the enemy. Bring enough destruction to their numbers"
The commander placed a clipboard on the table next to him, on the clipboard were his new platoon dossier.
"This is the dossier of your platoon."
As he took a look at the dossier he saw the three new members of the platoon. A Faunus and two human ones however catch his eyes. A crimson-haired, green-eyed lady Named Kassandra Pyrrhus. Having a high amount of aura and already unlocked semblances named polarity.
"so my understanding was that since we were affected by the lack of personnel on the south-western army group, the only replacement was fast-tracked rookies…"
He said to the commander but his eyes still on the dossier of Kassandra.
The Jaeger forces organization was different from normal military organization the basic standard organization was five made a fireteam, ten make a platoon, and thirty make a company. However, his platoon only has four which is why the commander says their number could barely make two-platoon.
"but somehow a strategic resource personnel also managed to make it ways here alongside the rookies."
The commander also looked at the clipboard, seeing the image of the crimson-haired soldier he smiled.
"ah yes private Kassandra, normally she would be in the academy longer but the demanding situation made it an exception, from what I heard she was conscripted as part, of an agreement after Vale granted her family asylum status."
He contemplated his situation, two rookies and an untested future combat monster.
"Are we permitted to retreat if needed?"
Choosing to accept the card he was given, he then asked the crucial question thus far. Depending on the answer his field modus operandi might change.
"rejoice lieutenant it's your favorite order… we can choose victory or sacrifice."
Abandoned Inn, Repurposed
Vale Army Staging Area
Lodging
'your new platoon leader has arrived'
'I'm going to introduce him so be on standby'
That's what her officer said but it has been at least an hour since then.
She Kassandra Phyrrus is so nervous she couldn't move a muscle. She could never get used to this… battlefield atmosphere, the smell of rotting carcass, sulfur, and discharged dust. Just a few days she was sleeping in the Military academy comfortable dorm.
Several days ago.
Cadet Dorm
Military Academy.
"Cadet Kassandra open the door please!"
She was woken up from her sleep by the loud knocking at her door, getting herself up from the trap that is her bed, she quickly answered the call.
"Please wait a moment."
She replied as she hastily grabbed a hairbrush to fix her hair, before going to her study desk chair and picking her military coat to cover her sleeping wear. Opening her dorm room door, she was greeted by the tall and imposing sight of her drill officer.
"Good morning Cadets."
"good morning sir!"
She saluted despite her unprepared look.
"Sorry for waking you up so early but there is an urgent order from central for you."
He said as he handed her an envelope with the word 'Classified' on it. Taking it from his hand she opened the envelope to a sight of paper with the title 'Immediate Order of Deployment'.
"Deployment!"
Shocked she gaped at the content of the envelope, she is going to be shipped to the south-western front.
"Look like many cadets and trainers are also getting the same order"
"Don't worry Cadet I know you will do well at the front."
Her drill officer said as he left her alone in the dark hallways of the academy. Entering her dorm and closing the door behind her she slumped down both hands covering her face.
How did it come to this? Once she was a Mistral champion by the name of Pyrrha Nikos, her future was bright and she was about to enter the hunter academy at Beacon.
But then her family the illustrious Nikos dynasty decided to support a monarchist loyalist who wanted Mistral to return to their old imperial status. To strengthen his faction her family decided to arrange a marriage with the fat man who called himself the emperor descendant, causing the Nikos to split into two.
The neutral faction of the Nikos managed to spirit her away to Vale, but when they arrived in Vale. The government of Vale placed a requirement of her serving in the army in exchange for asylum and protection for her mother and other Nikos that followed her.
Perhaps fearing her remaining family fate if they were deported back to Mistral at the hand of the Nikos loyalist, she agreed and she was immediately inducted into the Jaeger program.
For better or for worse Vale abide by their word and her remaining family was relocated to a secure 'technology town' somewhere at the foot of mount Glenn.
presently,
The news of finally leaving the harsh training of the Jaeger unit is a relief to her but at the same time…
She is at the frontlines!
As she lamented her luck the officer in charge of her and her new comrade strode into the room and stopped at the center in front of them, his hand crossed behind his back.
"I'd like to introduce you all to the leader of 212th Assault Jaeger Company, second platoon. Come in lieutenant."
As her officer said so the sound of the door opening followed by the clacking of boots filled the hall and in come a man her age wearing the same officer garment. His straight body posture and the way he walks exuded confidence.
He stopped right next to the officer and stared at them. Eyes as bright as blue sky stared at them like a predator looking down on prey, judging their every move. He has a stoic face and bright blonde hair, his right hand went into a salute.
"I'm second lieutenant Jaune Arc of the Jaeger unit, Nice to meet you brothers and sister in arms."
Her first impression of her direct superior, Second lieutenant Jaune Arc was "Lion that is about to kill". His eyes scarred her. He looked at them as if they were fools who stepped inside his territory. Her current platoons are also eating her conscience. The two next to her already spent fifteen months into the training while she has only done ten.
Meaning she needs to be able to keep up with them or risk holding the entire platoon back.
"Corporal Wulf Brown from Vale Cadet House, battalion A, First Trainee Company."
"Corporal Evan Eis also from Vale cadet house, battalion A, First trainee company."
Nearly all of the platoon is from the first trainee company, recruits on their way to officer training. She felt out of place being in this platoon.
"Corporal Kassandra Phyrrus from Vale Cadet house, D Battalion, eleventh trainee company."
Normally according to the field operation manual, she will be placed in five men cell but with the low number of the platoon it was likely, they will switch into a two men cell. So she will be paired with the lieutenant. she hopes that she can keep up in the field.
There is a difference between fighting on a chaotic battlefield and in a controlled environment fighting against other humans or Faunus where the match can be stopped at any time.
The lieutenant walked past her but not before whispering something only she could hear.
'You do that for your family? You have my respect.'
Did the lieutenant know her circumstance?
As she stands there dumbfounded.
"to both of you from the first trainee, don't die before her, she's from eleventh the conscript company."
He went back to the front as he crossed his hand behind his back and looked at them.
"I'll make one thing clear. Vale needs a capable officer and soldier you three have high expectancy riding behind you. However, waste my time or cause any danger to the rest of the company, I'll make you bait for the Grimm."
He said coldly as the three of them shivered at his declaration with all of them sharing one thought in their head.
'he going to kill me if I screw up!'
"that is all sir."
He turned to address the officer behind him.
"they're all your lieutenant, we're going on stand by."
At this, he turned to face them, her two comrades flinched as he gives them a simple smile.
"Okay troops, perform check on your equipment and meet me in full gear here…"
He paused for a while.
"as a former soldier who served for two years here, let me give you a little tour of the front, shall we?"
South-Western Region of Vale
Defensive position
On the Border of Vale livable land.
'This isn't a tour at all!'
She screamed in her head as she sprinted down the trench as machinegun tracer fire and the sound of artillery fire boomed overhead. The lieutenant led the group as they passed soldiers firing or taking cover. She could barely saw what is over the trench and soldiers have to stand on a prepared pedestal to shoot.
As she focused on keeping up with the lieutenant the earth rumbled as the sound of clanking metal became closer and closer. She looked to her left to see what it is only for the back of her grey heavy coat to be strongly pulled by something stopping her.
It was the lieutenant now in crouching position.
"I said, stop corporal."
"Forgive me, sir!"
He sighed as a metal track suddenly appeared from the top left of the trench, a tank, a fully armed double-barreled tank just crossed the trench and she nearly lost her head if not for the lieutenant stopping her.
"Remember when a tank or APC decides to cross the trench go into crouching position don't want to lose your head before the battle."
He said as he stood up and moved forward, her two other allies following closely. As they sprint the smell of metal and rotting carcasses became heavier, the scream of humans and the roar of Grimm could be heard despite the deafening sound of gunfire and artillery shelling.
"Grimm! brace for an attack!"
A soldier shouted as an artillery shell far not too far from the trench, she suddenly felt an invisible force pushing her from the back as her face kissed the muddy floor of the trench.
"move! Or the next Grimm you encounter will have a field meal prepared for it!"
Easy for him to say this mud she fell onto is smelly and hot.
She contemplated what she felt, it was akin to hot water however as she looked at what the hot water is she flinched.
The hot water is blood leaking from a headless body nailed to the trench wall.
"AGH! AHH!, AHHHH!"
She screamed in shock, as soldiers and her two other platoon members around her looked at her weirdly for causing such a fuss. Now she understands this is the battlefield, a dead body is a norm here. She looked to the skies as the sound of Jets engine buzzed overhead. Imagine to her shock and amazement a fleet of V-Tol flying overhead dropping bombs on the enemy.
As she sat there in shock the soldiers and her two other platoon members and lieutenant manned the pedestal as Grimm approaches their position. A group of beowolves jumped into the trench. Wulf and Evan went forward to assist the soldiers struggling against the Grimm as they fixed bayonets at the front of their rifles.
Jaune meanwhile stayed near Kassandra waiting for her to come out of her shock. A beowolves attacked him trying to bite off his head as he brings out his trusty bolt action rifle to the front of his face horizontally as the beowolves bite the wooden part of his rifle. Bring his right hand to his side channeling his aura into it he drove it forward piercing its body as his hand came out of its back.
Another appeared from the top of the trench as he aimed his rifle and fired piercing its head.
Meanwhile, as Kassandra sat there in shock she was suddenly overshadowed by something she turned to see a beowolves were about to claw her with its hand only for it to stop as its body was split into two it body fall on the ground revealing her lieutenant standing his right hand enhanced by aura.
All of them were numbers, they had no choice, they had to be sacrificed so the Grimm wouldn't advance into human civilization. Reminding herself that what she is facing while flailing in this sea of mud, blood and dust was for a greater good.
Yet, she could barely move. She had no idea what is happening around her, she could see soldiers scurrying around earlier but as she shrieked, the world around her grew quiet.
When she was told by one of the veterans that this attack was 'regular' deliveries that they received every day, something occurred to her and from that point on she know when she woke up next nothing will ever be the same again.
"you survived corporal, well done."
She turned toward the source of the voice, it was the lieutenant. his grey heavy coat was covered in mud and blood as her blond hair move gently with the wind, his gun was slung at his back as he holds his bowl-shaped helmet with his right hand.
"you missed the counter-attack, however."
He said as she sat there surrounded by her own vomits and mud.
"That was miserable huh."
He said as he took a seat at the edge of the trench looking down at her with a gentle smile.
"it's good we are the ones who need to face this, at least future generations don't need to see this when we are done."
He said with a rather melancholic look on his face.
"corporal starting tomorrow second platoon will be a two-man cell."
He said to her, not wanting to question the order she was given and the fate of the other two in her platoon, she acknowledges it.
"Ye… Yes Sir!"
He just stared at her before standing up and leaving her to her own devices.
She didn't know what happen, but a while later after the live combat, the company commander acknowledges second platoon status as a two-man cell team. She didn't know what happen but her two other former platoon members were transferred after disobeying the lieutenant order and advanced too deep into the Grimm-held land.
He stays true to his word and turned them into a Grimm bait, they were transferred into a forward defensive position and later got double promoted after the position was attacked and wiped out.
"We are recapturing a lost forward position! The 212th will act as support for the 11th Armor alongside another infantry group!"
It was the next morning, she didn't even manage to get a wink of sleep, the ground shook accompanied by the booming sound of an explosion as they all crouched down in trench while the commander is explaining their mission today.
"We are going over with all this shell falling?"
She said a little bit fearful. The sound of a whistle being blown shocked her as her left shoulder was shaken by the lieutenant.
"what are you doing corporal?!"
He asked as he prepared to go over the top.
"stay close before you get lost!"
"yes sir!"
She replied as she follows him over the top. Multiple large tanks are moving forward in front of her in a checkered formation as two lines of soldiers followed behind the tank. She ran following the lieutenant before ending up behind one of the tanks.
The land in front of her is dark and filled with mud as soil exploding like a volcano resulted from artillery shelling could be seen in the distance.
"attention 212th a group of small fries is approaching the tank! Stop them from overrunning the tank group!"
With this, the lieutenant and the others leap out from behind the tank and began aiming. True enough a group of beowolves, borbatusk, and a few small bipedalled Grimm is approaching the Tanks fast. The machinegun on the tanks opened up first downing a swath of Grimm but many escape it by attempting to go around.
At this they opened fire, the tracer round of aura enhanced bullet light the battlefield in support of the tanks. As they were busy with handling the dark one class group of Grimm a single bright crimson light shot out and hit one of the forward tanks causing it to explode in fury.
"A celadon!"
She screamed.
"take cover!"
Her lieutenant screamed as both of them jumped into one of the craters.
"What should we do sir!"
"ignore it! Our job is to keep the class one off the tanks, let them handle the Celadon!"
And with this they resumed defending the tanks, they were too many of them, and she was worried that she is going to exhaust her aura before long. Meanwhile, a shell launched from the double-barreled tank killed the Celadon.
The situation is the same as they advanced, the Grimm try to overrun the tank and they repel it, it kept repeating until they arrived at the target.
"you are late lieutenant."
"apologies commander."
The commander said to her leader as he carried her by the shoulder, she overused her aura during the battle by channeling too much aura into her gun. She could not help but felt like a burden on the battlefield.
She could see the position, it was filled with Grimms. The lead tank commander come out of his copula and looked down his binocular.
"there a creep there! If my group advances they going to tangle the track and disable it!"
He shouted at the commander, he turned to look at the position.
"call in an artillery strike."
He said as a said to the tank commander, but before he could do so, the lieutenant raised his arm.
"excuse me, sir, if you allow it I could use my semblance to blow the position for you."
The commander looked around as if contemplating his word, he shakes his head in agreement.
The lieutenant moved forward, unslinging his antique rifle and aimed at the position. She watched in awe as the lieutenant body started to glow in bright gold as an aura sphere formed in front of him.
"aura formula: Combust"
He whispered loud enough to be heard by those around him and with that he pulled the trigger followed by a loud bang and a bright projectile flew at the sphere in front of him. The bullet hit the sphere and come out of the other side larger?
She looked in shock as the enlarged bullet flew at the Grimm before hitting the position and glow bright before combusting into a large explosion large enough to shook the ground.
Everyone stared in awe.
"Praise be to the lady! She gives us our walking musical instrument! And his name is Jaune Arc!"
The commander shouted enthusiastically.
"Just listen to that rhythm!"
Look like the commander has unique taste in music. She smiled at the rather chaotic behavior of their commander before others in the company also shouted.
"walking Artillery!"
Many of them shouted as the devastation in front of them continued. Meanwhile, the surviving Grimm scampered away from the position. The commander looked at them as if they were prey.
"prepare to attack!"
The commander ordered as the other began checking their gun and arming their bayonet. She can sense the nervousness in the air as the lieutenant fall in line beside her. The tank engine rumbled as it advances.
She is scared.
"time to earn our pay!"
The commander shouted.
"charge! With me troops!"
with that, they surged forward opening fire on retreating Grimm, despite being low on aura she fires upon the Grimm. Many fall from being shot in the back while the tank machinegun mowed them down in mass.
"Fire on the Ursa!"
A soldier shouted as her lieutenant charged up his gun and fire upon them with impunity piercing the backbone plate in a single shot. Never underestimate human or Faunus' potential and for that she pitied the Grimm.
When united and utilized correctly, these Grimm is becoming a future fertilizer for experience among their ranks.
She stood there as the other advance now she sees all those things she learned in the evening class.
Armor and infantry advance, Jaeger support, and artillery plow.
She remembers learning that in the class on a nice evening, the lesson she learned while looking at the beautiful sun. but after seeing them in real-time she realized that it was an effective strategy for killing in mass numbers.
She turned to see the lieutenant pumping out aura-enhanced bullet after bullet some explode while others pierced the mean and bone. While a normal Jaeger has a limit on how many bullets of aura enhanced they could fire her lieutenant seem to have an unlimited aura capacity.
So this is the one who was awarded the 'Golden Lion Assault badge'.
'company commanders to all troops! Bombardement will resume in two hundred seconds! We have done our job. Retreat!"
The company commander said as they halted their fire. Today has been an insightful and tiring day for her.
Vale army
Forward camp area
"AAGH!"
She shouted as she sits on the dirt inside the tent-filled camp, she smelled like sweat and mud, gross. She knows that everyone is the same but she is a young lady at a delicate age. She needs a shower and perhaps a hot bath.
"corporal."
Her lieutenant called to her as she stood above her, looking at her weirdly.
"come on you'll be sharing a tent with me."
She immediately perked up, a shocked expression on her face.
"what? Vale don't enough resources for personal tent. either you come quickly or you sleep outside on the bench."
"ye..yes sir!"
She shouted as she followed him.
The tent they were placed in is a medium-sized one, she could see the lieutenant already sleeping on the bed as a rucksack of his belonging laid haphazardly on the floor. Her bed located not too far next to him.
She needs to change and here hoping he wouldn't wake up.
"Company fall in! on the double!"
The voice of the commander on the loudspeaker shocked her as she still in a state of undress, she slowly turns to the lieutenant bed and saw him grabbing his gun and getting out of bed.
"get dressed corporal and hurry."
He said as he strode out of the tent. like it was nothing. Was she underdeveloped enough to warrant no reacting by a man such as her lieutenant?
"okay company listen up. I have some bad news."
The commander said to them as they lined up perfectly in front of him in the cold night.
"an urgent message has come, 16th Jaeger sniper group suddenly encountered one of the three alpha leading its group…"
The alpha! Is this close to the line are they preparing for a night attack? She questioned as she listens to the commander.
"scout suggested that they might be preparing for a major night assault but our attack today breaks one of their rallying points."
However, one thing comes to mind what was a sniper unit doing that far forward? Are they planning something?
"so we will need to rescue the bastard alongside the artillery spotter too!"
Artillery spotter just likes the lieutenant before coming here. It was a widely known knowledge in the academy that he achieved his status after returning from spotting for the artillery battalion.
"That reminds me you were returning from doing the same thing before encountering that Grimm group right Arc?"
"yes sir, I'm not looking for a repeat, however."
The commander looked at him before turning to look at the others.
"what's your opinion Arc is the rescue possible?"
He seems to contemplate something before he glanced at her and then looking back at the commander.
"I can go but… my subordinates are at her limits. I don't want to be remembered as a superior who goes out of his way to rescues someone but lost a subordinate."
She stood there in shock, after all the hardship she has given him, he still trying to let her rest.
"very well then corporal Phyrrus break up your two-man cell."
Break up the platoon? No… no way she didn't want to be a burden anymore and she will not let the lieutenant fight alone.
"Commander if I may!"
she shouted unbeknownst to her she activated her aura through her unchecked emotion.
"I'd like to volunteer! For this mission!"
"corporal!"
Her lieutenant shouted activating his aura to shield those around him in case her aura imploded.
"I am a soldier of Vale! I can handle it!"
Meanwhile, the commander looked at the small bickering in front of him with a smile.
"that what she said, lieutenant. Move out."
He said simply as Jaune turned to face him with a rather worried look.
"But sir.."
"I understand the concern but I believe from her willpower alone she will make it."
He had done a lot of things for her and it only been two days, now she realized that his subordinates are important to him.
"very well then corporal"
He said as he turns to face her with a stoic expression on his face.
"are you ready?"
Bringing her rifle up to her chest, she smiled.
"yes, lieutenant!"
"Good! It's time we'll get to work!"