Well, heres the first Chapter, read and review plz!

The Battle of Rabao

"Sir!" Myloko saluted, coming up to Amand's tent in South Gustaberg

"We have a report from the allied scouts, and it's not good." She said

"Great, what is it?" Amand asked

"Well, it seems that our earlier report of the number of Antican soldiers was inaccurate. Quite a few more showed up…and…"

"And?"

"And they didn't account for the Antican allying themselves with the local Goblin population, so our new estimate of their numbers is upwards of 9000 soldiers." She said

"Nine…Thousand…" Amand said in astonishment "Do the other Commanders know about this? He asked

"Yes sir, they are calling an emergency strategy meeting in ten minutes inside the Metalworks." Myloko said, jerking her head in the direction of the city.

"Okay, watch things while I'm gone, I'll be back." He said, and took off at a run toward the city gates.

Amand slowly came to a halt in front of the meeting room door. He reached forward and gripped the handle, slowly turning it and pushing it open. It opened to reveal the five other commanders, all arguing what should be done about the current situation. Amand stepped forward and cleared his throat loudly.

"Surely you don't expect to win a war as you are now." He said sternly. "If we want to win this war we will HAVE to be patient and listen to each others ideas."

Chster looked up at Amand, then around the table at his fellows.

"You are right, of course, do you have a plan?"

"Of course." He said, placing a large piece of paper on the table

"Full frontal assault will no longer work in this battle, if we want to win this battle, and minimize our casualties, I suggest this."

He then outlined his plan, it consisted of three formations that he called Phalanxes. These formations would be 150 men wide and 10 men deep, all packed closely together, wielding 14 to 18 foot spears, thusly creating a wall of spearpoints that would cut down any enemy that made for it. On top of that, the back row would be a line of shield carriers that would push the Formation ever forward, and Protect the back of the formation. These three Phalanxes would charge the enemy army at three points, plowing through as much as they can.

The second part of his plan involved a feint attack; they would devote the majority of their force to attack the left flank of the Antican force, Kiary and Chster would lead a force of about 3500 to the left side of the Antican line, Ziggeraut and Vexed would lead the attack of 1000 on the Center and Kadak and Amand would lead the attack on the remaining side with about 1300 soldiers. This will deceive the Antican to adjust their lines, reinforcing their left side to compensate for the larger force. Then, during the charge, using the dust for cover, 2000 of the soldiers Kiary and Chster were commanding would wheel to the left and attack the center portion of the Antican line. Meanwhile, force of 1000 that was hidden behind the left Phalanx would also use the dust to cover their charge.

The six commanders agreed one by one, seeing this plan as ingenious, they rallied their troops, and the next day the formed their lines, and made sure to keep the force behind the left Phalanx well hidden.

The six commanders were gathered around each other at the front of the line, and the soldiers observed them, with the massing Antican force as a backdrop.

"Are we prepared to launch the assault? Chster asked.

"Yes, all soldiers are in position, and special strike teams know their roles." Replied Amand.

"Then let's move out." Said Vexed.

The commanders joined their respective forces and simultaneously called for the advancement, and the forces made their way forward, at a slow jog. As they advanced, more of the town of Rabao could be seen, it was now ravaged by the beastman occupation, and it would take some time before the town would be inhabitable to anyone but the beastmen.

They came to a halt, perhaps 200 yards away from the Antican army, which was seething with bloodthirsty Antican and Goblins. As they had expected, slowly but surely the Antican were reinforcing their left side, so far their plan was working out, but the real test was soon to come.

The Antican leaders and the six commanders made their way to the center of the field, for the traditional before-battle meeting.

"Llllleavve the Altepppa, and we willll sppppare your lllivvesssss." Hissed the Antican general.

"Not a chance! The Antican will be crushed here and NOW!" Kiary shouted right in the face of the general.

"Verryyyy welll, you havvve chosen deathhhhhhh!" he hissed, and walking away, the air rang with what must have been Antican laughs. The commanders returned to their sections of the army, pumping them up. However, this soon ended, and they all turned toward Rabao.

"Prepare to attack!" yelled Ziggeraut from his position, and the three Phalanx formations formed themselves, and lowered their spears. And the three sections of normal attack forces all drew their swords, and readied their shields, and battle cries could be heard from every section of the lines.

Amand, unsheathing his own sword, called out to his Shinsengumi

"Hirazuki formation! Prepare to charge!"

They raised their sword to eye level, and held them off to one side, preparing for their specialty thrusting technique.

"Forward!" yelled the commanders, and the force slowly advanced, the hidden strike force behind the left Phalanx making sure to keep well hidden.

When they were 100 yards from the Antican army, each of the six commanders exchanged a glace, and in perfect unison they called…

"CHARGE!"

The Phalanxes and their accompanying forces instantly charged forward, Kiary, leading the forces on the right, started to pull ahead of Chster and his forces. Just as the three Phalanx formations connected with the Antican lines, Chster and his 2000 soldiers wheeled away from Kiary's and charged the center line. At the same instant, Kiary's forces stopped short of the Antican force and created a 15 row archer formation, and let fly with their arrows, to cover the charge of the some 750 soldiers that rushed forward to join the Phalanx in the fight.

Meanwhile, Ziggeraut and Vexed charged forward as well, merging with Chster's attack and meeting the Antican line with such force that none could have stopped that initial strike, and in addition, some of the so called warriors of the group cast aside their armor, revealing their magical robes, and raised their arms to the sky, calling forth the mystic Avatars. Now, in addition to the might of Vexed, Ziggeraut and Chster was the might of Ramuh, Garuda, Titan, Shiva, Ifrit and Leviathan.

Amand, clad in his red armor, led the Hirazuki charge on the left side. And beside his forces were Kadak and his warriors. However, as the army charged beyond the dust cloud they had created, the Antican were surprised to see 1000 more warriors than they had expected. They braced themselves as both the Phalanx and the charging forces of Amand and Kadak struck them in full force.

After the initial thrust, Amand gave the order to fight freely to the Shinsengumi, who proceeded to tear up the Antican as they saw fit.

Amand, running forward, sliced through Antcan left and right, and stopped to support the left side of the Phalanx. He struck again and again at lightning speed, stabbing into the abdomen of one Antican, just to whip around, separating one's head from its neck, then; leaping high above them flung himself downward, cutting one of the bug-like creatures in half. He ordered a small group who had been looking for new targets, forward to his position, even as he sliced another Antican in half at the waist. They arrived at just the right time as the Goblin force came forward to double the attack power of the army.

Ziggeraut, Vexed, and Chster, though supported by the mystic Avatars and a larger force, were having a bit more trouble. The group fighting with Ziggeraut was starting to become overwhelmed, and Vexed, upon seeing this, leaped toward them, throwing her Ninja shurikens, five from each hand. It wasn't much, but this gave Ziggeraut the time he needed to regroup and renew the assault. Chster was bearing the majority of the load of the center line, but he himself was taking little damage, owing mostly to his superb Paladin's armor. He struck again and again at his foes, ordering his soldiers ever forward, in an attempt to break the lines.

Kiary, amazing archer as she was, managed to keep the front forces of her side covered from her position, with the help of her comrades in the Silver Arrows of course. However, they made no move to break the lines, knowing that their purpose was to hold off the brunt of the Antican until the rest of the forces could join them.

Amand and Kadak quickly began to overwhelm their adversaries, the Shinsengumi leading the attack. The two commanders quickly regrouped their forces, and the Phalanx was dissolved, the force charged and mowed down the remaining Antican and Goblins on this side, and wheeled to their right, striking the unsuspecting center line from the side.

Chster, seeing the help arrive, rallied his men, driving them, forward, cutting through to the center of the force, meeting Amand and Kadak. Soon the forces with Vexed and Ziggeraut joined them and they pushed forward slaying all in their path. However, at that moment, the Antican archers, which had been devoted mostly to the center line, opened fire, and the soldiers raised their shields to protect themselves. However, this would prove to not be enough for some, as several warriors fell to the arrows. Kadak, not realizing that his shield had not been covering his left shoulder, was struck by an arrow, and he fell to the ground in pain. Vexed, seeing this, turned away from the battle to help him. Just as she did so, an Antican came up behind her, raising his sword high and swinging it down at her. She turned, wide-eyed as the clang of metal on metal was heard. Amand had seen what was about to happen, and now held the Antican's sword at bay. He then knocked it aside and slashed it across the chest and its green blood splattered across his face and armor.

'Let's break these insects!" Amand called out to the soldiers around him, the taste for battle ringing in his voice.

"Yeah!" Chster called out raining his sword into the air.

"Defeat is not an option!" Yelled Kadak, ignoring the pain as he yanked the arrow from his shoulder, and took up his sword once more.

Inspired by their leaders, the soldiers charged forward once more. Breaking through the back of the line, Amand and 100 members of the Shinsengumi squad charged into the platoon of Antican archers, and without the advantage of their bows, they were slain easily. Amand then led his soldiers into a charge to the back of the Antican lines, which were now occupied with the force in front of them. Amand thrust his sword through the spine of one Antican, then, putting his weight against it, pushed it out through its side, and using the momentum he sliced through three more Antican the same way. Soon the two-sided attack quelled the last of the Antican line here, and the remaining forces turned their attention to the remaining side, which had turned their attention to the soldiers who had charged them in an attempt to annihilate them. The commanders, seeing this as a golden opportunity charged for them. However, they were ready, they raised their spears to skewer the oncoming attack, but Vexed was prepared for this.

"Black Mages!" She yelled "Stun spells!"

Then, large bolts of lightning magic flashed past the warriors heading the charge, hitting the spearmen one right after the other. This gave them just the advantage they needed as they leaped over the spears of the now-immobile Antican front, slaying them as they went by, and the army merged with the Antican for the final skirmish of the battle.

Kiary, having seen the final charge, cast aside her bow, and drew her close combat weapons, and the Silver Arrows charged into the front lines. Also, the final Phalanx abandoned their spears, and drew their normal swords, charging to join Kiary.

The two forces quickly joined each other and their combined force began to overtake the Antican. However, just when they began to push them back, a blinding light illuminated the battlefield, and a blast of fire energy struck a platoon of Chster's men. Then, they came from several places, and the soldiers scrambled to avoid them, while their commanders tried to keep the lines. The Antican were using Magic Bursts of flames as a last ditch effort to defeat them.

Chster, who had been pushed far to the right by his scrambling men, saw as another large burst flew through the air, heading right for Kiary!

"Kiary!" He shouted

But in vain, she didn't hear him, and she was too busy fending off an attack. Chster made a split second decision, glancing down at his custom-made armor, charged with all his might toward Kiary, racing the Magic Burst to her. Realizing he wouldn't arrive in time at this rate, the sped up as much as he could, and took a flying leap into the air, clutching his arms to his chest and shouting.

"Invincibility!" he yelled, and just as a veil of light covered his body, the blast of flames slammed into him.

Kiary, hearing his should, looked up just in time to see Chster take the hit.

"Chster!" she screamed as she saw her comrade flung backward by the force of the attack. This lack of attention, though, would cost her, while she watched Chster, and Antican slashed her across the shoulder and arm. And her soldiers dragged her away from the battle, much to her dislike.

"Kiary and Chster are wounded!" yelled Kadak, having seen the whole thing. "We have to end this NOW!"

"Then let's do it!" Zigg agreed.

"WEAPON SKILLS!" they cried out at the same time.

"Let's see how THEY like it! Red Lotus Blade!" yelled Kadak as he and every other warrior slammed their swords into the ground, sending wave after wave of fire energy tearing through the Antican army.

"Full attack! ANNIHALATE THEM!" Amand ordered, raising his sword high. The Army charged, and after not even five minutes of fighting the Antican began to draw back, and then turned in flight from the fierce commanders and their soldiers.

"Archers!" Zigg commanded "Strike them down!"

All who had any skill in archery then took up their bow, and sent a volley through the air, felling the majority of the Antican retreat. A few skirmishes were sent to attempt to follow and slay the remaining Antican, but they escaped to their caves.

The rest of the army marched forward into the ravaged town of Rabao to rest, and root out any Antican that may have been hiding there.

And so did the Battle of Rabao end, with a final tally of 1623 casualties for the forces of Vana'diel, owing mostly to the Magic Bursts in the final attack. Nearly the entire Antican force had been destroyed, and they would be No factor for the remainder of the War. Chster, thanks to his Invincibility spell, was for the most part, unharmed, and Kadak's and Kiary's wounds were treated well enough that there would be no lasting damage.

Amand, stood at the center of the battlefield, the bodies of thousands of Antican and their own forces scattered around him. He lifted his sword in front of his face, seeing that no part of it was recognizable through the blood of his enemies. He drew a rag from underneath his armor, carefully cleaning the blade. He made his way to the edge of the field, sheathed his sword, and bowed slowly to the fallen warriors of both sides.