Chapter IX:
"It is excellent to have the strength of a Giant, but it is tyrannical to use it like a Giant."
Julius Caesar.
It was impossible to describe that scene in words. Maybe some enthusiastic photographer would take some good pictures with his camera, if he was not dead or imprisoned in some prison camp the Kankers had all over Liberion. As far as the eye could see, the "Shadow Neuroi Forces" had converged in all directions, sealing off even the smallest nooks and crannies of the front. The "Witches" didn't waste a single second and readied their weapons, while the Peach Creek boys turned on their Magic. The three sisters were still there, watching, from their HQ, the future combat that would bring defeat. They could feel it, it was sweet as honey, they longed to have it under their power and with no one else standing in their way. Only those military girls and her ex-boyfriends were left, once the whole thing was sealed, forever, they would begin to regain the ground lost long ago.
At one point, a "Shadow Neuroi" prepared to attack them from behind, but Double D was quicker. He unsheathed his sword and with a perfect arc that he traced in the air, the rival fell sliced in half, just like a pie. The undaunted face of that being of "Artificial Intelligence" showed, for the first time, a grimace of astonishment and terror when he looked him in the eyes, straight at his adversary. Double D moved away from the deceased, attacked another one, jabbing with that white weapon the left side of the rival, causing him to stagger and from there to skewer him until he reached his neck. He fell dead instantly, he did not even have time to touch the floor with the last rales and spasms that ran through his "body".
Eddy was fighting with his "Magic" and eliminated any "Shadow Neuroi" that got in his way. Whether on the ground or in the air, the young man of short stature kept striking hard blows that caused them to flee to regroup and advance, in a quasi-formation of "Roman Legions". He was "calling" them. He stomped hard and held his position. A group of them treacherously rushed forward, wanting to attack him from behind, but he reacted and from there he launched a round of "magic projectiles" that hit the bodies of the adversaries. Three of them fell fulminated, just like lightning striking the unfortunate ones who were out in the open. Four others wanted to take revenge and the boy still had a lot of strength, so he returned to the charge and knocked them all down.
He looked around and about ten meters away was Ed, who was facing a slightly larger group but was accompanied by Erica. He deployed a "Magic Shield" to resist the hits so she could reload her weapon. As she searched for more ammunition, an enemy ship was coming down towards them but one missile round hit it, sending it flying and crashing near Eddy's house, not affecting it but damaging part of the lawn and knocking down a good portion of the fence. Soon, a smoking crater was all that was left, along with the flaming remains of what was once an aerial enemy.
- Well, at least it didn't explode near my room.- Eddy pointed out, shrugging his shoulders.- But no matter, if something breaks, it'll bounce back. Now we have to win this damn war.- He said, talking to himself, and from there he returned to the confrontation.
From the "Command Bridge", the Kanker was watching the development of the Battle of Peach Creek. He would not say a word regarding what was happening there. They saw a fierce fight to see who would emerge victorious but something was bothering them. Marie noticed that the ranks of her armies that had survived the defeats at Suomus and Orussia were being depleted and weakened. Little by little they were losing troops and it would take time to replace the casualties. On the other hand, a satellite image appeared, in the middle of a small frame from the screens, showing the area of the Stream, where smoke columns were rising.
- What? I didn't expect that.- May observed and after typing a couple of times, zooming in and out, she noticed that there was something missing.- Very clever, too clever," she congratulated her opponents and then turned to her sisters.- They blew up the dam we had built. The Peach Creek has returned to its normal course.- She warned the others.
- Let it go, it was a waste of time.- Said Lee, who looked quite calm.- Now, let them come here.
- Are you sure?.- Asked Marie and the redhead nodded her head.
- I am. Don't try to hide those feelings of revenge, girls. Soon those wretched girls will meet their end.- Announced her sister and from there they began to move more chips towards the "Board of Destiny".
None of them would give up the ground they were gaining. For every "Shadow Neuroi" that fell, another one replaced it and so it went on, a sort of "loop", a life form with no limits of its own and which was now showing its teeth. Minna, having blown up, in the company of Trudie, Charlotte, Yoshika and the others, several ships of the enemy fleet, headed towards where the others were on the ground, landing with their "Striker Units" and raising a light curtain of dust.
All at once, the enemy formations stopped attacking and were retreating from there. They rose to the skies, taking their dead with them, but the Commander was not going to let them escape.
- Let's go after them, let's finish with the "Seventh Hive" now.- Ordered the redhead, insufflating new courage in those present and from there they began a chase through the skies.
Between ships and "Artificial Intelligence" warriors who fled from there, being chased by their opponents. The "Shadow Neuroi" had never experienced a feeling as deep as fear. They recognized that it was part of Human Nature. We all had some, whether from childhood or now. There are different types of it. There are people who have Thalassophobia, fear of the sea and the unknown that can hide its dark depths. No one would want to run into a Megalodon while surfing in the Pacific or swimming in a river and suddenly feel that something has brushed against them. It could have been a harmless passing turtle or a school of piranhas. Others were afraid of Death. Since Ancient Greece there was this fear of what could happen in the "Beyond".
The Greeks, in ancient times, having done good or bad things, went to Hades. There was no salvation until the God Dionysus came and announced the "Rewards and Punishments": The "Elysian Fields" and Tartarus, thus regulating the destiny of those souls condemned for their Mortal Sins. Once that fear had passed and with the arrival of Christianity, there was a spiritual calm for the World but now came a true form of terror that even the "Witches" themselves were unaware of, from the metaphysical and existential side.
- Be careful, we don't know what kind of tricks the Kankers will have in store for us, so keep your eyes open and don't let them intimidate you.- Erica advised those present.
- Do you think they have injected themselves with something? As in my Science Fiction comics, many villains, when they are overcome and on the verge of defeat, choose to sacrifice everything they have in exchange for lasting a little longer in combat.- Ed theorized and those words fell like a bucket of cold water.
They looked at each other, so Erica had to take a deep breath and then look at her boyfriend, holding his hands.
- Maybe this battle will be much crueler, harder and we will even have casualties. I don't want to scare anyone but...- The blonde paused and when she let out those words from the deepest of her being, some paled like Johnny. Yoshika went to his side and gave him a hug.
- Unfortunately, guys.- Eila interjected so that Erica could catch her breath.- It may happen that some of us won't make it back alive. The Kankers must have some kind of power that is beyond the borders we know. The ones I'm talking about are not visible to our eyes, but prove to be much wider and dangerous.- Said the silver-white Suomus hair. Double D took her and Sanya by the hand.
- Still, we will protect each other. No matter what happens: Today we will put this tyranny down once and for all!.- Swore the albino girl from Orussia and from there they renewed their flight.
The doors leading to the "Command Bridge" opened and there they saw them walk out. The three of them together, united, without distancing themselves even by a millimeter and in silence. Those undaunted faces, devoid of any human emotion, filled the corridor with their air of superiority and pure contempt for life itself. Their henchmen who stood guard and prepared the others to launch into combat, unalterable, remained close to their posts. None dared to utter a single "word" in their natural tongue.
Soon, once they reached the outside, they felt a beautiful cool breeze caressing their hair and faces. Still, with that power coursing through their veins, the Kanker sisters went up some stairs that they had there, in their headquarters and that ended in a kind of "Esplanade" where a gigantic "Nucleus" boiled, protected by the force fields provided by the "Shadow Neuroi" artificers. The pale light enveloped the artifact and it seemed to have a "life of its own", as it launched a series of powerful "roars" that tore the air, just like a blade.
A detachment of the "Elite Guard" that they had, were watching and maintaining order until they noticed their arrival. It was then that the Commander gave the signal to move and they took up positions at the "Cardinal Points" of the "Esplanade". With their weapons at the ready, the Soldiers noticed, out of the corner of their eyes, the march of the Kankers to the "Core" and from there they stopped.
- All right, sisters, the Witches will be here in a matter of minutes, so get everything ready.- Lee ordered and they nodded, bringing their hands to the surface of the force field and from there a series of ripples were produced, much like when a stone is dropped on the surface of a lake. They grew until they reached a vast expanse and did not stop, it seemed like the "Mobius Band". There was no end, but infinity in that force that was growing in the Kanker and in the artifact.
- With each wave of energy, I feel more power growing in my inner self.- May inquired, while her eyes shone with intensity.- Yes, it is as if it were a fire that did not stop consuming everything in its path.- She added, "And this world is a real "buffet" to feed on the energies carried by the various devices. A pity that the Humans are slaves, but they chose to turn their backs on their grandfather when he was offering his knowledge in the service of a Future for all of us," he pointed out with disdain and from there he could see, through a series of images, the escape from one of the mines and the search that the "Elite Hunters" were carrying out.- They really are pathetic. Running away to want to continue the resistance. They will never get that far, they will only get the death of themselves and their loved ones.
- Our "Hunters" are taking too long to arrive. Either they have died in some ambush or they ended up finding them somewhere else in Liberion.- Lee argued seriously.
The last gasps of that party saw, before their very eyes, the military that had landed on the California coast, establishing a "Beachhead" after the naval bombardment against the enemy positions. With those civilians who had managed to flee, now being in good hands, they took it upon themselves to lend a hand to the "Witches" and the Peach Creek boys after their arrival along with the news of the other liberations of countries that were under Kanker control.
In the West, a reconquest of territories was beginning, although the march was slow due, more than anything else, to the presence of enemy forces stationed on the roads, checkpoints and the fact that, still, entering the big cities could mean a massacre against the people who were held there. Anyway, at any moment, there was going to be a landing but, this time, on the East Coast of Liberion, forming a "Pincer Movement" to close the way to the sisters.
Their "Elite Hunters" had fallen prey to the military and civilians who obtained weapons. Dedicating themselves to the tasks of sabotage and guerrilla warfare, the first targets were to be factories, Research Centers, mines, prisons and other places where those who had fallen fighting for the Fatherland were held hostage.
Back at the Kanker Headquarters, the three sisters found themselves in front of the "Nucleus" that made up the structure, energy and defenses of that place. It was as if it were a living "brain", one that compiled all the data and from there created a series of orders to keep the system running with which they wanted to command the world. The ripples continued to grow until the girls' eyes opened, revealing that red, hostile glow. Lee sensed a presence as the air changed direction and there he turned to see what was happening.
Ahead of them, to the south, the retreating "Shadow Neuroi Forces" had arrived there, meeting them and from there making known what had happened. Although the defeat and escape from the Battle of Peach Creek was an embarrassment to them, the Kankers were not displeased.
- They had been chasing them all this way. All right, that's just what we wanted.- Lee announced.
- That's right. It's going to be a battle to remember.- Added Marie, cracking her knuckles.
- What are we waiting for?.- May asked excitedly, as she longed for a good revenge for the beating she received in Karsland.
They stood with their eyes fixed on the horizon, waiting, watching for the enemy to arrive. A flash suddenly burst into the Southern Skies, something or someone else was coming towards them.
The time had come to fight and see who would win.
The advance party of "Shadow Neuroi" ships stopped and turned around, forming an extensive "chain" that protected the enemy's flying fortress. The Peach Creek boys were the first to notice this presence and stopped their march. Eddy raised a hand in the air, signaling the "Witches" not to follow, and a few seconds later the first shot rang out. A laser beam, coming from the enemy cannons, was launched towards them, so they formed a "Magic Shield" with which they reflected it and it hit a group of ships that were stopped at that moment.
"Friendly fire", when Armies are attacked by others of the same side. That was what had happened.
Without wasting any more time, the hosts launched the attack, unleashing a fierce aerial battle. Between laser weapons, plasma, ions and other kinds of war machines, the "Shadow Neuroi" regained that characteristic hostility they had lost during the Battle of Peach Creek. They were showing a terrible resistance that made the "Witches" plan pale in comparison, but they still attacked.
It was not easy to fight their way through the ships and other flying beings attacking with their futuristic missiles. Between the smoke, explosions and shrapnel intermingled with Magic it was a "cacophony" never before seen by both sides. Lynne charged with her "Boys Anti-Armor Mk.1" rifle to pierce the invaders' defenses and armor, being supported by Yoshika, Rolf and Johnny.
Nazz was no slouch either and went with Kevin, Mio, Minna and Trudie into the fray. With her katana, the girl was annihilating every enemy that was in her way, without caring if he approached and was in the "Line of Fire". The red-haired Captain was firing every "Magic Projectile" that hit the target. At one point, when a "Shadow Neuroi" tried to attack Mio from behind, the blonde-haired Cheerleader threw her katana, which pierced the opponent's chest, leading to it exploding and her retrieving the weapon.
Observing the course of the Battle of Liberion, the Kanker gave the order to the "Seventh Hive" to advance. It seemed to boil, boiling non-stop, just like a volcano when it enters its eruption stage. Its "structure" was moving towards the battlefield, moved by that internal force and with the Kanker feeding that impulse, one that surpassed those of its "Neuroi" predecessors. An "engine", a "generator", beyond good and evil, between what was right and wrong, it was now an amalgam of emotions, decisions, forces and other appellations that could join such a concoction until they gave an optimal result.
A series of new explosions furrowed the Firmament, more ships were falling, the fleet could be reduced in number but, even so, the Kanker began to fly in the direction of where the "guilty" of all evil were. Lee, May and Marie spotted the "Witches" fighting against their forces and from there they nodded silently, with cool heads, and then they began a fierce descent.
- All right, folks, that's the way to do it. Let's continue with the offensive and we can get to the "Seventh Hive"!.- Charlotte encouraged them, just as she pulled her "Bowie" knife out of the head of a rival whose "life" she had just ended.
Suddenly, a "roar" came from the top of the sky and the thick layer of clouds that made up the incessant rain that fell. The air became much colder, below zero and they noticed how a mysterious figure, silhouetted on the horizon, floated towards where they were together with their "swarms" that were launched in offensive plan. Liberion's redhead had no time for anything, she only managed to utter a thin line of prayer before the astonishment that ran through her being.
- It's...! It's...!.- She exclaimed but the words got stuck in the deepest part of her being.
- I...can...not...believe...it...- Nazz stammered, while holding his katana tightly.
There she came, armed and ready to sustain a fierce defense against the siege to which she was being subjected. Indomitable, fearsome, powerful and with a "power" that frightened even the bravest. The "Shadow Neuroi" continued to pour out from within her. The air itself became much colder and heavier, almost reaching a great weight on her shoulders. The pressure caused them to fall downward, but he used all his power to avoid hitting the ground. Eila, Sanya and the others opened fire but nothing seemed to have any effect, since their attacks hit against a mysterious "protection".
- What?!.- Wondered the white haired Orussia, she fired again but the flying fortress repelled the missiles, directing them towards where she was. Eila went after her, firing at the projectiles that were against her but it didn't do much good. Double D went up to them and invoked a "Magic Shield" that tried to stop the impact, reduce the blow but they did not see that a shadow was hovering above their heads and from there attacked them without a word.
- Double D, Eila, Sanya!.- Flew Eddy with Francesca to their aid, however, both were hit by a violet shot that almost made them lose consciousness.
- No, friends! What's going on?!.- Shouted Ed, who flew with Erica to give them support but they were also shot from above.
Trudie, Minna, Charlotte, Yoshika, Lynne and Perrine along with the other Peach Creek kids could not believe what they were witnessing. Between the fortress just a few feet away and the mysterious surprise attacks that put the others in check. There didn't seem to be a single movement on the part of the "Shadow Neuroi" but they went back on the attack when they noticed their presence.
- So they finally made it to our site.- That joint voice of three that came floating in the air, in front of those who were wounded and now looked at them with superiority and contempt.- A pity and to think that they could have been killed, since a good time, on the other fronts. But they are persistent. We recognize their courage in place and coming this far but...- They stopped, tilted their heads in sync- This is the end of the road, "Witches". This is as far as you all have come. It is time to say goodbye to your accomplishments. What you have done will end in vain. Say goodbye to those you love and accept Death itself.- They pointed their index fingers in a mocking gesture, but a few meters below, the Eds and their partners were not going to let them give up on them.
- Never.- Double D spoke, while helping Sanya, who had been wounded by shrapnel from their own projectiles.
- How?.- Asked the Kankers at the same time.
- You heard it, you fools: We will never give up.- Francesca joined Eddy.
- This World has already seen too much blood spilled because of you.- Said Ed, while holding Erica's hands, looking defiantly at the rivals.
The laughter of the Kankers... It was impossible to describe. It seemed to have come out of some Hell, perhaps from the "Circles" of Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy" and united with the darkness that reigned in their hearts: "Truly, you were and still are very funny: You say you are going to bring us to Justice? But you can barely stand and float through this encounter. You could not discover our surprise attack and now you come to threaten us that you can defeat us. What nonsense, but don't worry, we'll make it a little more fun, killing those whores they have for girlfriends! They said coldly and prepared to shoot at the girls, but the Eds were faster.
Eddy with Ed and Double D drew a "Magic Shield". The Sci-Fi fan positioned himself and aimed his right arm, just like a cannon, while the short guy summoned a series of "Magic Spheres" which he threw into the air and they surrounded the Kankers, who didn't flinch at all. This one also summoned his defense, just like his friends and that caught the attention of the others. As "Legionaries" of the Roman Empire, the Eds brought their right hand fist up to the "Shields", holding it tightly and from there they struck them, in a clear act of defiance towards them.
- So you are going to protect them, even at the cost of paying with your lives?.- The trio of sisters asked.
- If you so much as lay a finger on Francesca, I swear I will show you no mercy, Lee.- Eddy threatened, while his fist seemed to glow with the "Magic" he carried inside.
- I tried, by all means, to make you change, May, but I was wrong. Even so, from this mistake, I will use it to do Justice for those who were killed by you.- Swore Ed, while they listened to their girlfriends going to where they were, with their weapons loaded and their "Striker Units" working at 100%.
They felt the hands of the girls on their shoulders. They looked at them and knew very well that they were not going to turn around, they were not going to leave them alone, they were going to fight together for the Future of Humanity.
- They have changed, Kanker. Not like you, who have only withdrawn into yourselves and your desires for the World to be under your feet. But it ends here and now.- Francesca announced earnestly.
- She is right.- Sanya backed him up.- You did great damage, you destroyed countries, you massacred entire populations, what you did against Orussia and Suomus is unforgivable!.- Double D was surprised to see the albino girl furious for the first time. The intellectual went to her and hugged her, which produced some resentment from Marie towards her.
- Try to hurt them and you'll have to deal with me too, dammit.- joined Eila, who was with Double D as her partner, as well as Sanya.- Come on, Kanker, let's go!
- You three, especially the motherfucker you got there, led a bloodbath against Karsland. Now it's my turn to finish you off by knocking all your teeth out for the damage you did.- Erica pointed at May and it was then that, one way or another, they created a defensive position. Ed, Edd and Eddy were the first to attack and defend. Double D with his sword and Magic, hit with his "Shield" the first attacker that was going to charge, leading him to raise his head and in the midst of the commotion caused, he plunged the tip of his weapon into his belly.
Eddy fired wildly against the members of the "Elite Guard" and Francesca gave supporting fire to him. Ed along with Erica, had become a veritable "pair" of bombers, as they were launching fierce attacks against the ships and decimating the defensive lines. Sanya and Eila were no slouches either, and began firing their large-caliber weapons at the enemy positions.
The Kankers, for their part, saw that their plan to destroy them emotionally had failed, but they still had their tricks to prolong the Battle of Liberion.
- We are here and doing nothing...They have already become strong and brave men together with them...- Sarah spoke, while she saw her older brother fighting, shoulder to shoulder, with Erica. It was then that she flew in that direction: "Come on, guys, the Eds and the girls need us!.- She exclaimed and in the company of Jimmy, Johnny (who had Plank with him), Nazz, Kevin, Rolf and the other "Witches", they left the past and the differences they had with that group of friends behind, and now they were going to help them.
[More than 4000 words and this is just beginning. We have three chapters left, friends, and in them we are going to see what will happen during the Final Battle for Liberion.
I send greetings and thanks to all of you, especially to Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the other Fanfiction and Wattpad followers.
Take care and I wish you a good start of the day Friday, Comrades.
See you next time].
