Chapter VI:
In times past, the technique of ambush had perfected the "Art of War". Enemy armies of one side or another positioned themselves in areas such as mountain passes, forests and hills of difficult access, fortified them and from there became their bases and camps of operations to carry out this tactic against their enemies. A very famous case, occurred within the "History of the Ancient Age" was the Battle of Cannae or Cannas, during the "Punic Wars" and in which the Republic of Rome and Carthage faced each other. In this, considered as the worst defeat for the Romans, since they were ambushed by the troops of Hannibal Barca and his allies, who launched a surprise and fierce charge against them, ending in a resounding massacre where a large number of Senators died, leading, as a consequence, a series of political tensions, especially between the Scipio and Maximus Families, in addition to the fact that two "Legions" that had fled the battlefield were sent into exile, being catalogued as "cursed" and could only return when Hannibal Barca and his Armies had lost the war.
But now, in the Present itself, in the "Provisional Capital of Orussia", located in its borders with Suomus, Marie Kanker's strategy had given a very good result, since the ground was shaking like hell and she was enjoying it, in spite of her wounds received in the combat she had against Double D. She felt renewed, in spite of the help her own enemy had given her. Now it was as if she had been reached by some "Divine Gift". "Divine Providence" was over her head and she was laughing, contemplating, waving her arms, almost waving them in the air when a huge, dark, living "fortress" emerged from the depths of the earth. The ground exploded, it seemed as if the entire perimeter was boiling just like a cauldron and from the depths gushed huge plumes of steam and smoke that became "heavier" as it cooled from the low temperatures.
Double D could not believe what he was seeing with his own eyes. In a couple of seconds the whole atmosphere had changed, the battle that could mean the expulsion of the "Shadow Neuroi" from there had been disrupted in a complete twist of fate and in which Marie's hosts had reorganized again, launching a counter-offensive against Kevin, Nazz, Johnny, Rolf and Mio.
The Nipponese charged the first enemies and launched her "Magic" but was barely able to destroy a few of them. The latter went on the attack just like a plague of locusts on the crops. Even the red-haired man and the blonde could not make a direct attack on the enemy ranks. Everything had been tilted in favor of the Kankers.
- There are too many of them, Major Sakamoto, what do we do?.- Asked Rolf, seeing that those formations continued their course.
He hated to say it, so he clenched his katana tightly. A "Shadow Neuroi" lunged at her but traced an upward arc that destroyed it, slicing it in half, while its remains fell everywhere. A second one came to its aid but ended up suffering the same fate. Rolf and Kevin were surrounded by more opponents, more enemies that were feeding on the "energy" that Marie transmitted. A huge force that drove the "engine" of destruction itself. Of war itself. Ares would be proud. He saw everything from Olympus and the desperation that was lived in the city.
From that ship that had been deployed for them, May and Lee made their way to their sister's position. The amount of energy growing over that area was impressive, it looked like a "Sun" that kept increasing in size until they noticed how a strong tremor unleashed what was down there, chained. The redhead got up from her seat, her henchmen made a "path" for her to see what was in front of them. She raised one of her hands and pressed it against her face. May also could not believe what her eyes were witnessing. It looked like a scene out of some Sci-Fi or superhero movie where the villain achieves his goal.
- Isn't that the...?.- The blonde asked, but her words were left hanging from her lips when she saw the answer from her red-haired sister.
- It is: It is the "Sixth Hive". It has come to their aid.- Lee alleged earnestly.
- But...it's a card in our favor... We can win, Lee, you understand. We have nothing to lose or fear," said the blonde, looking excited, "We have them where we want them. Marie's armies have encircled them, the oil wells and industries in East Orussia will fall. There will be nothing to stop us now...We must help her!.- She asked, she suggested, but something did not sit well with her sister at all.- Lee?
Her question remained unanswered. The girl got up and went to where Marie was, ordering them to land the device.
- I hope you're right.- She asked and the blonde nodded, aware that everything was going to go as planned.
Double D noticed, as did the others, the landing of that ship. The earth had stopped shaking and with it came that monstrosity, an aberration of technology, a "black sheep" that no one wanted to see. A fierce "roar" came from inside the "Sixth Hive", which led the boy with the black cap to cover his ears, but with that artificial scream, a curtain of dust covered the area, leading Marie to give a signal to the "Shadow Neuroi" of that fortress.
- Finish him off.- She ordered and they charged the laser cannons. A red and violet glow began to grow in the surrounding area, while visibility was reduced to nothing. Double D was lost in the middle of that "sandstorm" and unaware that danger was just around the corner. At a given moment, the temperature began to rise, an intense dry heat took over the place and from there he noticed that bicolor glow that was increasing to no end until, somehow, he knew what it was all about.
With a quick movement, the boy threw himself against the ground and fired several rounds of "Magic" at the enemy gunners. The latter had no chance of being able to discover where the attack was coming from because, even though they had reduced visibility, it had played a "trick" on them and caused the roles to be reversed. In turn, the boy rolled and reloaded, just like a sniper engaged in a duel to the death with another of his own kind. A new fusillade hit the other opponents, who were reduced to mere debris and smoke everywhere, whose burning smell permeated the nostrils, becoming toxic.
- Have you seen Double D?.- Johnny asked Eila and Sanya.
- Wasn't he with you?.- The silver-haired girl wanted to know with concern and from there she ran to his aid, since she noticed, thanks to Sanya, some golden sparkles coming from the dusty area.- Shit, Double D, hang in there!
- Damn it!.- Kevin observed the disaster that was looming before his eyes. The red-haired man clenched his fists tightly and with Rolf and Johnny launched a magical bombardment against the opponents. Each enemy line was disintegrating until they managed to open a breach and dissipate the dust storm that was rising in the surroundings.
- Kevin, come with me, Eila and Sanya need cover!.- Called Nazz, who traced a series of arcs against a group of enemy Kanker members and from there they had to hold position.
- You heard her, let's go!.- The boy received that message and went to their aid.
While they contained the "Shadow Neuroi" together with Mio, Eila and Sanya made their way until they reached the spot where Double D. The boy was lying on the ground, exhausted. That scared them, as they could be different theories of what could have happened to him. However, the moment the albino bent down and felt his pulse, she noticed that he was alive.
- He is fine, he has only lost his strength after fighting against the enemies there.- She pointed to a whole field of dead that were part of the Kanker ranks.
- I can't believe it...- Eila was speechless and looked for Marie with her eyes...- Where is that damned woman?.- She asked but her words came true when she noticed a mysterious light spreading across the skies and with it she observed a ship landing next to the apparition of the "Sixth Hive"...- Impossible... they are...".
The ship touched the ground and after shutting down its engines, the other two sisters who were there emerged. The doors opened wide until they revealed the figures of the two sisters as they descended and were reunited with Marie. Eila could not believe her eyes, and it was then that she opted to take Double D out and take him to a safe place.
- Hello, sisters, take a good look at what...!.- Marie welcomed them. She felt happy and confident of her actions but, when she approached them, she received a strong slap in the face, first from Lee and then from May. Both girls were furious at what she had done. The other ran her hand over her cheek, feeling the recent heat against her skin.- What's wrong with you?! This is how you thank me?
- "Thank you", you say?!.- May questioned, stepping forward.- Look what you have done: You brought the "Sixth Hive" to take over a "Provisional Capital"? Do you know the expenditure of resources that had to be made from the East! The blonde was not in her right mind when she noticed that the fortress was razing the enemy positions and from there she went back to where they were.
- I still managed to get those "Witches" to retreat! Soon we will have the "Provisional Capital" and from there the oil fields along with the industries in the Eastern Front! Isn't that worth it or are you going to question me!
- I won't deny that, Marie.- Interjected Lee seriously, taking a step forward.- You achieved a very good advance against the enemy and with this pathetic city, whose time is already short, we can only consolidate our victory and from there continue with the main objective. Even so, you deserved that slap in the face: you were so close and we had to bury you somewhere. What would grandfather say if one of his granddaughters died on the battlefield.- Said the redhead, congratulating her, on the one hand, but on the other, criticizing her audacity in launching herself against the "Witches" on her own.
- Well, I can't deny that, but they didn't have to slap me either.- Marie replied.
- Enough talk: Now concentrate all your attention on the target.- Ordered Lee and from there he looked towards a "Witch" that was retreating along with the body of an unconscious Double-D.
Covering the retreat with her MG 42 with one hand and protecting the intellectual with the other, Eila felt that the battle could be lost with the sudden arrival of the Kanker. Everywhere she looked, she could only encounter much devastation as far as the eye could see. If that area fell, then the border between Suomus and Orussia would be at the mercy of the Kankers and above all she feared for the fate of the refugees. He went back to "rewind" those words the villagers had told them about families being slaughtered and the younger ones being sent to factories and mines captured by the enemy, using them as labor in the forging of weapons and machines.
- Well, well, but look who we have here and who is running away like a coward.- Observed Marie, thanks to some binoculars she had with her and from there she lowered them to go towards some lackeys who were with a laser cannon in their possession, "Hey, you, move your ass and point in that direction.- She ordered them loudly and without refusing, the bomb squad loaded the weapon and directed it to the position where the girl was pointing at them with her right hand's index finger.
Unbeknownst to Eila, Marie's henchmen had begun to raise the weapon and from there a series of explosions were heard that shook the earth completely. One after another, the area was covered with holes, product of the enemy artillery and one of the shots fell a few meters from where Eila was with Double D. The deflagration sent them both flying several meters forward until they fell near some ruins that once formed an apartment building. The silver-white hair rubbed her head, brushing off the remains of the dirt that had fallen on top of her, and found Double D beside her, still unconscious.
A lackey passed Marie the images of where the "Witch" and the boy in the black cap had fallen, so she nodded, silently, and from there she went on to give the next order.
- Move forward with me. I want her dead no matter what.- Was the message he gave them and a "Squadron" made up of the "Elite Guard" began the march.
- Come on, Double D, get up, you can do it, open your eyes, come on, let's go.- The girl from Northern Europe encouraged him, but there was no way for him to wake up. All her attempts were in vain, since he was still unconscious.- Shit.- She cursed under his breath and clenched his fist, looking to the South, where he could hear a march of several opponents heading in his direction.
Her blood ran cold when she saw that a rather large group, commanded by Marie Kanker, was heading towards her. She decided not to let herself be carried away by such a negative emotion as that, so she grabbed her MG 42, took cover against a fallen wall and from there waited for them to be in the sights of her weapon.
Meanwhile, returning to Kevin, Nazz, Mio, Johnny and Sanya, they were facing almost no resistance from the "Shadow Neuroi". There was a strange stillness in the air and more so when the Kanker appeared. From the walls defending the "Provisional Capital of Orussia" was where the opponents were most concentrated but in the other areas it was different. The albino girl was with her communications team, trying to establish contact with her friend and her partner, with negative results.
- Anything?.- Asked Mio to Sanya, who shook her head.- Damn, I don't like this.
- Major Sakamoto, if Double D and Eila got caught in the line of fire, they won't be able to get out. They will need our help.- Nazz insisted with launching a rescue operation, but the black-haired woman closed her eyes.
- I admit it, but I smell that the Kankers are using them as a decoy to take us by surprise. Even so...- Mio was silent for a while and clenched her fists tightly.- I refuse to leave them alone, let's go! We will rescue them!.- She ordered to those present, who nodded their heads and from there they advanced to the area in question.
- I will call for help. We will need the others to come.- Informed Sanya.
- We will need them and more for when all this ends here, we will have to be together for when the time comes to go to Liberion.- Mio said seriously and from there the albino began to communicate with the other "Witches" and Peach Creek boys to come to their aid.
The MG 45 was ready, loaded and with the ammunition in a belt that would be fired as soon as the enemy stepped on the first meters that separated them. Eila was in command, Double D was still unconscious and was begging for her to open her eyes so they could fight against those "Shadow Neuroi". She whipped up her sights and from there, when they reached the "security perimeter", a fierce volley of their rifles fell on them. The first line gave way and collapsed like a house of cards before the relentless wind. Two more that made up the second line fell victim to the shots that pierced them completely. Eila did not stop firing at them, her MG 45 seemed to boil from the inside, columns of smoke gushed out just like the fumes coming from a boiler, while the ammunition lay scattered on the ground, with their smoking shells until the belt was finally exhausted.
- Reload!.- She exclaimed to herself but had to duck when an enemy shot hit the facade of the building she was stationed in, causing her to summon a "Magic Shield" to protect both her and Double D from the debris. One of the debris hit the smaller boy and caused him to open his eyes with difficulty.
- Eh? What... What happened?.- The boy wanted to know when he noticed that a new explosion shook the place. Oh right, the "Shadow Neuroi"!.- He exclaimed and from there he was taken by Eila, who sat him down again on the floor.
- Double D.- She was glad to see him awake and gave her boyfriend a tight hug, taking him by surprise.
- Eila...I...- He said, still dizzy from what had just happened, "Where are the others? What happened to Sanya, Kevin, Nazz, Rolf, Johnny and Mio? he asked and looked around without any news.
- We are...- The silver-haired girl took a few seconds to think about her words, however, when a new shock took them by surprise, she charged again with her weapon against the enemy ranks.- I'll tell you later, now we are in trouble with the "Shadow Neuroi".- The girl informed him, while shots were heard being exchanged between both sides.
For their part, from Karsland as well as Romagna, those who had stayed there had picked up an extremely important message and were now heading towards Suomus and Orussia to assist their Comrades on the battle front.
The Battle of the Frontiers had become untenable for the defenders. Their positions fell into the hands of the Kanker, the fire consumed everything in its path and there was no longer any way to contain the "Tide" that was advancing mercilessly from all fronts. The "Provisional Capital of Orussia" was going to fall. Everything was coldly calculated, on the part of the sisters and those who were still fighting with all their strength, implored God to send them help to save their families and children from the clutches of the enemy. Eila could hear the walls falling, from her battle station and all she could do was to take down as many of the "Shadow Neuroi" until she ran out of ammunition and "Magic". Double D was backing him up with a series of very severe bombardments against the enemy formations but all his efforts were in vain, each fallen was replaced by another and so on. There seemed to be no end to all this movement of armies and with the "Sixth Hive" in the vicinity, which did not stop sending more armies to the front, it tipped the balance even more in favor of the Kanker.
- Let's see.- May asked and then read some reports that some assistants had brought for them.- Hmmm, excellent work. Very good what they have done.
- What happened?.- Asked Marie, who was recovering from her injuries.
- We are about to take the "Provisional Capital" and from there we have our forces in position, ready to assault the oil fields and industries in Eastern Orussia. I have to admit that this plan you have made, Marie, has been a complete and resounding success.- The blonde congratulated the other.
- Oh, stop it, you're making me blush.- The dark blue hair joked at that fact.
Lee, for his part, contemplated what would be a great day. The beginning of the "Kanker Empire" that would expand throughout the world. She heard what her sisters were saying but she was serious, quiet and calculating the probabilities of success. To her surprise, they gave her a good percentage but she wanted to avoid going too fast, she didn't want to see all her plans falling apart because of the defenders.
- Well, Lee, it looks like someone owes me an apology.- Marie pointed at her, placing her hands on the latter's shoulders.
- Yes, it seems so. I owe you.- Replied the redhead and then turned to talk to both girls, "Enter the "Provisional Capital", raze everything to the ground. Do not leave a single defender alive and those who surrender, you know what to do with them," she said and they nodded their heads and went to prepare for the final fight.
The "Shadow Neuroi" employed a large combat force to storm the gates and from there began to break them down. The roar took Eila, who had reached her limit with ammunition, by surprise. Her MG 45 was empty, the cannon was blazing and, to top it all off, the enemy kept coming with no end in sight. The gates of the "Provisional Capital" fell with a clatter and from there she noticed that the invaders entered, ready to conquer her under a fierce bloodbath.
She stood up and clenched her fists. She still had her "Suomi M1931 Submachine Gun" with her and Double D on her side, who kept launching attack after attack against the enemies. At one point, they both grabbed each other's hands and began a charge, one that could be considered the last for both of them, as they headed towards the largest stream of invading concentration.
Marie sighted them and from there gave the order to fire the gun at them again. The gun was loading, but when it was time to give the signal, a mysterious series of shadows began to take shape across the skies until they covered the enemy positions. Who could they be at that moment? Suddenly, a hail of shrapnel and magic rained down on them, destroying the laser cannon their henchmen had and causing a fierce explosion, followed by a plume of black smoke rising into the Firmament.
What had that been all about? Eila looked up and noticed a combat formation coming toward them. She smiled, she knew who they were. Shrapnel and magic continued to fall from the Heavens. Soon, the enemy ranks began to be overwhelmed by the casualties and from there they had to start a desperate defense against those who were attacking them.
A flash came from up there and discovered those who were there.
- We're sorry we took so long to get here, but we had to get ready," apologized Yoshika, who was with Lynne, Perrine, Jimmy, Sarah, Ed and Erica.
- Friends.- Eila welcomed them.- You're just in time! The Kankers haven't taken over the "Provisional Capital" yet, but we need to drive them out of here," the silver-white hair informed them.
- Don't worry, we'll make them pay for everything they've done!.- She heard Ed's voice, who was standing next to Erica, Francesca and Eddy.
When it was believed that all was lost, the light of hope shone on those lands but it announced a new part of this story: A battle was about to be unleashed that would mark the beginning of the end for both sides.
[We are approaching the end of this "Arc" but there will still be a couple more things to see here before it closes and then we will move on to the last one.
I hope you had a very good weekend and an excellent start to the week. I send greetings and thanks to Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the rest of the followers.
Take care, friends, and have a good start to Tuesday from me.
See you next time].
