Chapter 8: Retaliation

In the Undying Lands, Belgermine was positioning the retreating party, a party more than fifty summoners.  They saw a large mob, approaching fast, coming towards them.  It must be the Bevellian army.  Belgermine smiled as she saw them fall to their trap.  However, most of the summoners were trembling in fear.  One simple mistake could lead them to their end… 

"Everyone! Focus! We have the upper hand. We must not let fear overcome us!" Belgermine shouted.

            Everyone stood into position.  Belgermine's words helped partially, but fear was still present.  No one could blame them.  It would decide their fate in the end.

            The hastening army finally reached the point.  Belgermine signaled her unit to summon their Aeons.  They had to make it realistic.  They had to make the Bevellian army to believe that they were losing or suspicion might take place.

"Take them lightly! We must act as if we are losing!" Belgermine ordered.

            One after another, the summoners' summoned their Aeons and ordered them to go to the army.  The army countered them with their advanced machina weapons.  Using their machine guns and rifles, they tattered the attacking Aeons until they dissolved.  There were some enormous mech machinas, which swiped numerous Aeons.  The summoners were losing. Thinking it was the right time, Belgermine signaled them again to stop casting and to retreat.

            The unit fled away as quickly as possible towards the mouth of Mount Gagazet.  The Bevellian army fell for their bait.  Thinking that the summoners were losing, they roared and hastily rushed towards the retreating unit.  Finally, the unit reached Mount Gagazet.  They went further in as they led the army deeper in Mount Gagazet.  Soon, the unit reached the ambush point.  They halted and waited for the army to arrive. 

            The army had reached them, but the cold of Mount Gagazet made them shiver.  The captain taunted them as if they already claimed victory, but to his surprise, Belgermine just smiled.  Becoming suspicious, the captain ordered them to move, but it was too late.  Belgermine had already signaled the ambush party to unleash their Aeons.  Now, the whole army was trapped in cold as the Aeons attacked them.  Many tried to flee, but failed.  The intense cold of Mount Gagazet hindered them to escape the wrath of the summoners.

            With the last machina destroyed, everyone cheered for victory.  Phase three was about to begin: the infiltration of Bevelle camp in the Calm Lands.  The retreating unit merged with the ambush party.  Led  by Belgermine, they headed straight to the other end of the Undying Lands where the Bevellian camp was located.  Reaching a kilometer distance from the camp, the summoners started to call out their aeons again to attack the defenseless camp. 

Suddenly, a huge machina, a gargantuan one, appeared out of the camp.  It looked like a tank with a body of a robot with broad shoulders and an arm that looked like a cannon.  It started shooting at them as they evaded the shots.  Their formation was disrupted as this machina started to attack.

"I never have expected this! I thought…" Belgermine shouted shockingly.

"We have to attack. This is their last line of defense.  Once we defeat this monster, we can destroy the camp." Lenne said.

            Belgermine nodded in agreement as she summoned her Aeons.  From the sky, three lights appeared.  Hitting the ground, three flowers blossomed.  Coming out of them, three Aeons sprouted: a girl dressed like a bee, a tall woman dressed like a red flying ant, and a fat lady dressed like a ladybug.

"Magus Sisters… I count on you." Belgermine prayed.

            Beside Belgermine, Lenne summoned her aeon.  It was one of the most unique of them all.  Not all summoners were gifted to control this kingly aeon.  Out of a dark portal, an armored stag appeared together with a man that looked menacing.  Protected by a heavy silver armor and demon-like helm, the man rode the stag. His great sword marked with the emblem of Yevon fell down from the sky as he grabbed it precisely and accurately as it reached the ground. 

"Odin, protect us." Lenne whispered.

            The four Aeons rushed towards the huge machina.  As the aeons started to attack it continuously, the machina started to cripple.  The Magus Sisters unleashed their ultimate attack, their overdrive.  [1]The three held hands as a huge ball of energy hit the crippling machina.   On the other end, Odin positioned himself as he unleashed the attack of death, [2]Zantetsuken.  His horse swiftly ran towards the machina as he raised his sword. Symbols started to form on the machina as Odin slashed the machina numerously.  With a final strike, the machina was cut in half and was destroyed.

"… Three… Two… One… Self-destruct mechanism activated…" The machina announced.

            The machina exploded.  Summoners ran for the huge rocks scattered around the Undying Lands to take cover.  On the other hand, Lenne was far too near the machina to hide from its explosion.  Suddenly, debris was coming towards her when Shuyin jumped to her rescue.  He hugged her tight with his hands as he protected the summoner from harm.  The explosion ended… The menacing machina was defeated.  Everyone roared as they cheered and headed straight to the camp.  In a matter of time, the camp was destroyed.  They had finally won a victory against Bevelle.       

*Footnotes*

[1] This is the Delta Attack sequence.

[2] Zantetsuken – the ultimate attack of Odin where he slices the opponent in half causing instant death.