Chapter VII:

The Pacific Shores stretched as far as the eye could see. Amidst the smoke and wreckage of the Battle of Hawaii, which ended in victory for the "Witches" and the Peach Creek boys, it was barely a "moment's peace" before entering the mainland and facing the greatest of the trials that lay there. The Eds contemplated the East, there lay their homeland, the town that saw them born and which, now, they recognized that there would be a time for tears, for they did not know how their homes, the neighborhood itself, would be. Perhaps they would have survived or it was "random luck" that some houses were spared and others went up in flames.

From the vast Ocean, the "Pacific Fleet" continued to bombard the enemy positions and seeing that the "Shadow Neuroi" guarding the Marshall Islands, West Virginia, Aleutians, Marianas, Hawaii, Guam and the others had been evacuated by the enemy, they began a fierce retreat to the mainland, dodging the missiles and other projectiles thrown at them from the warships. Many were hunted by the "Witches", they could not allow them to go to Liberion to regroup, as they would cause them more problems. A "War of Attrition." That was the most fearsome of all the military tactics Minna feared the Kanker would employ against them and thus delay their arrival.

Such a thing had been seen at the dawn of history. During the Middle Ages it had been employed in the "Hundred Years' War," when the French and British clashed over a series of territorial and political issues. The same happened in Spain when the siege of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada took place, where the Christians expelled the Muslims from their last stronghold in the 15th century A.D., just with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America.

The red-haired Commander watched and scanned the horizon for more enemy ships. Many were going down in flames by the "Witches" and she also decided to join the hunt with Trudie. In one swift move, they both destroyed a group of the aforementioned, causing sparks and tongues of flame to fly from the damaged interior and explode, one by one, into the air until there was nothing left but that thin layer of glowing "crystals".

- We don't have long to go to Liberion.- Double D announced.

- Yes, we will have to make our way through. If this area was very well guarded by the Kanker, the Continent must be a real "hornet's nest".- Said Nazz seriously, while he sheathed his katana for a while and recovered his strength. The good thing is that we won.

- Let's not let our guard down. The war is not over yet.- Said Ed to the blonde, while he drank some water from his canteen.

- Still, we deserve a rest. Today we have caused a great loss to the Kankers.- Objected Johnny, who proceeded to distribute some cookies among his friends. Yoshika and Lynne gave me a hand with their preparation.

- Let's see.- Asked Eddy, who was the first to try them and it was then when he felt a sweet taste.-Mmmmm, just like the ones my grandmother used to make.- He remembered those good moments of his childhood.- When we used to visit her with my grandfather, she always prepared a lot of cookies for us. Hehe, she baked like for a battalion.- Laughed the short boy and that was the end of that appetizer.

- Amazing, Johnny, my congratulations to you, Yoshika and Lynne. What are they made of?.- Asked Ed, interested in the recipe.

- Hehehehehehe, the "Trio of Chefs" doesn't reveal their secrets.- Laughed the bald man, while he hovered in the air for a while.- One of these days I'll tell you, but not now, since we are at war.- Said the boy, and from there we could hear several explosions, fire, enemy ships being shot down and the shots coming from the warships, the cannons and missile launchers that kept bombarding the enemy positions.- Hey, you guys, what are you doing? Hey, do you guys...?.- He paused to swallow the liquid mass in his mouth and then proceeded to take a sip from his canteen.- Do you think those shells will hit the target? The Kankers have designed a good defense system?.- He asked, and that was a harsh reality that they could not escape.

- As seen from here, they do hit them, but I wouldn't put those doubts aside, my friend Johnny. Rolf fears that they are waiting for us with the worst and most dangerous inside Liberion.- Argued the foreigner, shrugging his shoulders and with binoculars in his hands, observing the fire burning in the military bases that the three sisters had captured and were now under the control of the "Liberion Marine Corps", who carried out a series of amphibious and aerial landings, taking the lost positions.- Uffff, this really makes Rolf's hair stand on end.

- You said it yourself.- Lynne approached.- And we still have a little more way to go before we reach our objective. So far, we don't really know what kind of machinations the Kankers will have, but one thing I am sure of is that they will be waiting for us there with a good "Welcoming Committee".- Said the blonde British woman, adding that they should not let their guard down.


A new explosion blew up what was, previously, an enemy base and was now burning in flames. It was rare that the Kankers did not send troops to retake the areas they had just lost.

Minna and Trudie scanned the horizon, there was nothing new on the front. Everything was calm, the wind moved their hair along with the sea water and salt water that flowed around, moving the boats until they reached the beaches. Its sands and marine life were going to be witnesses of a future war confrontation, the road was only a few kilometers away. Liberion was waiting for their early freedom but there was also the doubt of what would happen to the people they were holding hostage, so they must have fortified their positions very well and prevented any escape of civilians and prisoners they were holding as slaves.

- The California State Coasts are the first to go through, then we will go to the Northeast: They must have the Headquarters installed in New York, just like the "Seventh Hive".- Trudie deduced, noticing that the bombardments continued without ceasing, just like in Atlantic.

- According to the "Intelligence Reports", they are over New York, but they may be deceptions that they are using to distract us.- Warned Minna. The wind moved her red hair, almost dancing and touching her face softly. The dark brown Lieutenant turned around and knew that her words could be true. They did not want to jeopardize the operation, especially since it was an extremely important offensive like the one they were carrying out against the "Shadow Neuroi".

- What shall we do? Shall we continue? Liberion is not going to recover on its own.- Joked Ed, who was with Erica, causing the Commander and the Lieutenant to look at him.

- Heh, it seems that you have invested a lot of time together.- Said the redhead, shrugging her shoulders.- Well, I'm not one to judge... Go ahead and attack, Witches!.- Encouraged the young woman and they resumed their march, in the middle of the naval bombardments


The hours passed, little by little, the islands were taking another shape from their orographic aspect. These were changing and from there they came to form a "thin" land on the horizon. Eddy observed and made a signal to his friends. They were close to arrive, they had not left to fulfill the first part of the mission, however, at the moment of continuing with the advance, something stopped them, suddenly.

- Can't you notice anything?.- Asked Perrine, and then they fell silent.- The atmosphere...there's something I don't like at all.

- I'm with her: It's the calm before the storm.- Warned Jimmy, and then some of them nodded in agreement.

They were only a few yards from the California Coast when Sarah grabbed a pair of binoculars to make sure there was nothing in the way. The odd thing was that the site was well defended. She passed the object to Kevin and he did the same, furrowed his brow and pursed his lips.

- What do you see, my friend Kevin?.- Asked Rolf.

- You tell me.- He answered, handing him the binoculars.- They have formed a "Wall of Defense", they have fortifications, armies, ships and artillery along with other war machines, but you can feel that there is a certain level of "laziness". There are no patrols going around that place, neither are the "Guards". What do we do?" reported the red-haired man.

- We should send two of our people to investigate the place.- Proposed Johnny.

- But it could also be a trap. The Kankers have not reappeared with their videos where they make fun of us, so it would be best to launch a quick attack.- Said Yoshika, but there were more doubts about it.

- Even so...- Added Perrine and from there she looked to the side.- Even so, if we stay here, debating what to do, the damn Kankers are going to massacre all the civilian prisoners they have in the big cities. That would be a new blow against us, we already had to endure the bombings against London and Gaul, now what's next.- Said the French blonde. There was a certain ring of truth, the danger of massacres against innocent and unarmed people was something that terrified those present, so several took a deep breath.

- She is right.- Eddy supported the girl from Gaul.- We don't know what kind of tricks the Kankers are up to, especially when it comes to trapped civilians. Words no longer work here, as they are ruthless, they know no limits and are ready for anything.- Said the short boy.


Unbeknownst to them, a small "Drone" was watching them and recorded everything they were saying, transmitting the video to the HQ of the three sisters, who were watching everything they were saying and especially that they had already reached their destination.

- Well, well, it seems they got to talking, how about welcoming them "Kanker Style".- May proposed.

- Do us the honors, sister?.- Lee backed him up and then took the microphone, giving an order to those guarding the "Pacific Wall".


- It is decided.- Said Yoshika.- Let's go, we have to...- As she was about to finish the sentence, the brown-haired Sergeant turned around, felt a strange and familiar buzzing sound and then watched as a trail of smoke approached them.- Shit, they discovered us, evasive action, now!.- She exclaimed and they obeyed just in time.

The projectile that the enemy had launched almost reached them but Nazz and Mio were the first to intercept it. With a double arc traced by the two girls, the device exploded in the air, leaving a second layer of smoke and now debris falling down, wrapped in flames.

- It came from the Coast!.- Alerted Kevin and from there, as fate would have it, he whetted his eyes and saw a strange "dot" moving in an easterly direction.- Huh? And...- Suddenly, his eyes widened as he realized the answer he had in front of him.

- Kevin!.- Shouted Johnny and the Captain of the "American Football Team" looked at a ship that had him in its sights.

- I'll take care of this heavy, I'll see you on the beaches!.- He gave them that mission and from there he took flight, launching a powerful blast of air that spun the opponent around. Come at me, you son of a bitch. Come at me!.- He challenged, mockingly, unleashing a series of shots that the enemy ship directed at him.


In turn, Nazz was fighting with all his might against the approaching "Shadow Neuroi Forces", while he heard gunfire coming from the "Witches" weapons. Shells from the ships kept bombarding the enemy positions and not to mention that the plan had taken a "small" turn for the worse when the Kankers sent their henchmen to fight. That was not a sign, so he braced himself when a new opponent crossed his path, ready to attack.

He traced arc after arc, destroying all those that got in his way and from there he looked at Kevin, who was being chased by a heavy ship but also noticed that silver "dot" in the distance.

- That's it, come on, that's it.- He continued to provoke his opponent and that's when he spotted that flying device.- I have you in my sights.- He exclaimed and fired his "Magic", which destroyed the "Drone", which exploded in the air and then went after the ship behind him.- Anything to say, Kanker?.- He asked and without any answer, attacked the aforementioned war machine.

It exploded, it looked like a firework that was launched into the heavens during the Christmas and New Year's celebrations, so that only very tiny remains and smoke remained. Once his mission was accomplished, the red-haired boy returned to where the others were fighting. The Battle of Liberion had barely begun and they had not yet reached the "First Level" of the battle.


- Look over there!.- Ed pointed out and noticed that Kevin was returning to where they were.

- You won't believe this, guys, but the bitches were watching us with a drone. I managed to destroy it but they are already aware of our presence.- The red-haired man told them.

- Goodbye to our "Stealth Plan".- Yoshika lamented but did not give it any importance.- Don't worry, let them do whatever they want, we are going to enter Liberion, stay together and do not separate!.- Ordered the Sergeant, taking her weapon and reloading it.- Let's go, friends.- Exhorted the girl and then they flew in formation, united and heading towards the center of that "Wall".

Standing guard, making sure that no one wanted to get in their way, the "Shadow Neuroi" were on the lookout for any threat that might get in their way. The artillery and other machinery they had was constantly opening fire on ships in the Pacific and Atlantic. Several fortified areas had been affected by naval bombardment. The smoke rising from the infrastructures, the tongues of fire that "licked" the skies and lashed it like a "whip", while new explosions razed the enemy positions made known the danger of a possible infiltration on the part of the "Witches".

Just as one of them was returning from patrolling and delivering his report, he did not see a "buzzing" sound pierce the head of his commander, who fell from side to side, staggering to the ground, and the Warrior looked up to the heavens. The last thing he saw was a burst of shrapnel that hit the target, leaving him lying next to others who were guarding the sector.

The attack had begun. The "Witches" descended with ferocity, launching a ferocious rain of bullets. They traveled at high speed, hitting the ground, raising tiny specks of whitish and gray dust. Those stationed on the perimeter were grazed by several of them, which began a curve in the air, returning to the attack and without stopping firing at them. Two "Shadow Neuroi" were hit when Yoshika and Johnny hit them. A third flew just like a cork as it was propelled by the pressure in a champagne bottle, while the "Guard Sentry" exploded in a huge fireball.


- They're attacking the "Pacific Wall"!.- Alerted Marie but she noticed that Lee was walking towards the "Public Address System" and was turning it on, the static echoing and from there she brought her lips to the microphone.


- "I see they have finally arrived and I have to admit: I thought they would never arrive. I thought they had peed themselves with fear and were hiding, but no. I congratulate you for coming all this way. I congratulate you for coming all the way here.- The redhead's voice was heard in one of the speakers that were scattered around.- "You don't know how much my sisters and I have been waiting for you. It seemed like ages but no, just a few days since our last defeat in Suomus and Orussia.- She continued speaking but her tone sounded much colder, almost mechanical, robotic and that alerted those present.

- What's the matter, Kanker? Afraid we'll kick them in front of the Courts of Justice?.- Asked Nazz, who skewered a new opponent with her katana, raising it from her chest until it almost reached her head. Then she pulled it out with force.

- "Quite the opposite, "Goldilocks." This place will be their grave. Maybe they were able to evade Death in Romagna, Karsland, Suomus and Orussia but here, the place where it all began, I'm afraid it won't be the same".- Warned Marie, who was laughing a little bit through the PA system.

Rolf attacked, in the company of Kevin, Yoshika, Lynne, Charlotte and Mio against the war machines that were firing at them incessantly. One by one they exploded into the air, leaving trails of fire and columns of smoke of different colors until they were as black as the night itself. The "Pacific Wall", despite the fierce resistance that the "Shadow Neuroi" were imposing against them, began to overflow and enter into a problematic, but, even so, they would continue to fight.

- If they are so brave as to kill innocent people, whole families who were unarmed, why come all the way here and fight!.- Double D challenged them, just as Eila, Sanya and he launched a new round of missiles, shrapnel and Magic against the laser and plasma cannons installed there.

Fair words for such disturbed minds as the Kankers. The moment a new war machine exploded, followed by the downing of three enemy ships and the incessant roar of cannons and missile launchers on the ships, silence fell. Only more explosions could be heard, the silence of the sisters was like a poison that corroded inside, destroying every fiber of their being, but they seemed to be emboldened, satisfied with what they were doing.

- Come on, speak or shut up!.- Shouted Lynne with fury.- I can tell that, somehow, you speak in such a sinister way but behind your henchmen, you don't want to fight face to face.- She said and from there a laughter could be heard growing from the deepest part of those sisters' hearts, which was felt all over the place.

- So we are the scared mice? Wow, I've never laughed like that in years. I don't remember a joke as funny as the one you just told, Lynne".- Marie scoffed, and then there was another pause for her voice to be heard again, this time in a very cold and hostile tone.- However, don't think that what they're hearing is the product of some app or some nonsense off the Internet either. No, not Witches. Quite the opposite, it is...a "revolution" that will make the weak Human Being tremble and kneel before the superiors but keep it under lock and key until we meet them. Let's see if they make it this far".- The dark blue hair mockingly sentenced and they laughed again in such a merciless way.

Sanya could hear them and those taunts sounded more like contempt for life, towards the fallen and especially against the countries they had destroyed without mercy, so she loaded her rocket launcher, aimed at the speakers and a round of missiles were fired towards those instruments, which were hit, fully, being reduced to fireballs and debris.

The Suomus albino lowered her weapon, she was breathing heavily, she felt agitated by what she had heard, so Double D and Eila went to be by her side. Minna saw the situation. She could feel that the Kankers had touched an extremely fragile fiber in all of them. Francesca and Erica had a serious expression on their faces, she also felt bad for the aberrant and acid words that Marie and her sisters threw against them, so she advanced and saw that the "Shadow Neuroi Forces" had been eradicated from the "Pacific Wall". It was then that he fired a flare into the air and that was the signal for the ships to cease their bombardment.

- Do you intend to give the order to establish a "Beachhead"?.- Asked Mio to the red-haired girl.

- Yes and we will also go ahead with the plan. Those crazy women have gone too far and now it's time for them to pay.- Swore the Commander, who clenched her fists tightly.

- Have faith.- Said Major Sakamoto.- We will bring them to justice anyway.- she augured, and once she nodded, she turned to those present.- All right, folks, listen up, now that we have the beaches of California secured, we will continue our march to find the "Seventh Hive" and the Kanker headquarters, so we must move on. The military are going to disembark and stand guard here, we have to go to where those damned ones are and stop them as soon as possible!.- Ordered the black hair and from there, once they regrouped and with their weapons reloaded, as well as having received more ammunition and other supplies, they set out on their journey.

The march was silent, through roads destroyed by the "Shadow Neuroi" and in the midst of all that devastation, a sign that was on the side of the road, with holes coming from the enemy weapons and something burned, you could still read, still, its message.

"Peach Creek: 10 kilometers away."


[Well... The return to the place where this war began. What will happen when they reach Peach Creek?

We'll see that in the next chapter. There are very few left, so get ready, folks.

I send greetings and thanks to all of you, especially Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the other Fanfiction and Wattpad fans.

I'll be seeing you and I wish you an excellent Wednesday, as well as a good beginning of June, Comrades.

See you next time].