Chapter X:

One second, that's how long it took for the two groups to collide. The "Witches" with the Peach Creek boys against the Kankers. The "Central Vanguard" of them deployed in horizontal formation and tried to repel them but it didn't work as expected. A shadow covered the Sun for a brief space of time and accelerating their flight, they noticed how a female figure, blonde and armed with a katana, pierced the head of the first of the "Shadow Neuroi" that composed that defense, sinking the blade all the way through, almost skewering it like a sausage. Nazz had gotten into the enemy flasks and was destroying every opponent that stood in his way, using the technique Mio had taught him. With a fierce punch into the air, it sharpened and annihilated more that were around, giving them no time at all. They jumped debris, parts of their metallic "bodies", circuits, among other elements until they disappeared forever.

That blonde-haired Cheerleader did not come alone, her friends and the other "Witches" clashed against the "Central Vanguard" of the Kanker and began to cause severe casualties in their ranks. Kevin, Johnny, Sarah, Rolf and Jimmy did not stop attacking with their Magic. The same could be said of Nazz, who directed a look of fury towards the three sisters who did not flinch at all.

It seemed to be getting out of control for the Kankers but they could recover, once they crushed their opponents. And just at that moment, the Eds and their partners collided against them, provoking a fierce combat never seen before. Lee reacted after a few seconds of shock and amazement. He was face to face with Eddy, who was holding his "Magic Shield" in one hand and in the other he had his power ready to fire. The "Elite Guard" was going to come to his aid but Rolf, Kevin, Johnny and Jimmy attacked them, destroying a good amount of the aforementioned.

- Give those crazy women what they deserve!.- The red-haired Captain wished them and that was a compliment they were going to carry out.

- So they plan to beat us?. Hahahahahahaha, I want to see it!.- Lee mocked them and then attacked Eddy. The boy had time to raise his "Magic Shield" before the other one hit his defense.

Francesca, for her part, was clearing the way and watched her boyfriend fight against that redhead. She knew very well that the others also had their opponents, so she would give everything she had so that the war would end soon. It was then that she fired her "M1919 A6, Breda-SAFAT 12.7 MM Machine Gun" at a new horde of enemies coming towards her.

- "Be careful, Eddy. When I'm done with these madmen, I'll come help you".- Promised the black-haired Italian, unleashing "Hell" on the aforementioned.

Returning to them, Ed and Erica were engaged in a fierce duel against May. The blonde did not seem to know any limits, since she evaded all the attacks they threw at her, especially when she disappeared among the clouds to descend, violently, against them in a brutal counter-offensive. It looked like a bird of prey swooping down to grab them. Karsland's blonde took aim with her MG 42 and a series of bullets flew at her.

She tried to dodge them but several hit her body. One of the projectiles hit her left cheekbone, making her bleed, while her legs and arms took the brunt of the impact. He tried to defend himself but that didn't help, so he increased his anger and went, directly, towards Erica but she defended herself. She raised her right leg and May felt the greatest pain against her abdomen.

The impact was certain and sent her flying several meters backwards. She was coughing blood, she was short of breath, it seemed as if she had been left in Outer Space, without any help to alleviate her suffering and from there she saw how her pride had collapsed in a matter of seconds but, still, she didn't plan to give up yet.

She exclaimed, enraged, but Ed and Erica stepped in, creating a solid defense that made her body feel a much more piercing pain.

With May busy, Marie was engaged in her fight against Double D, Eila and Sanya. She had ordered her hosts to retreat to cover the other areas, however, as she was about to head towards where her ex-partner and the girls accompanying her were, she didn't see that the Eds' reinforcements had arrived and started to eliminate the "Shadow Neuroi Forces" under her command. Still, the explosions didn't seem to stun him, even though he was taking serious casualties but his mind was focused on those rivals.

It was then that she gathered all her courage to herself and attacked. Eila saw her approaching and deployed a "Magic Shield" that Marie dodged, hitting a great leap in the air and falling into her position but she had no time for anything, as Double D raised his sword and fearlessly drew a powerful slash that hit the face of the rival, rising from the right cheek to almost hit her in the eye but she was lucky to avoid that, possible, fatal outcome with evade it although she was left with a deep wound that began to bleed.

- Now, Sanya!.- She heard Double D's voice and there she saw how a round of missiles fell against her, weakening her little by little. The dark blue hair, between the bleeding and the explosions caused by the rockets caused her to go into a rage. She was still not defeated, she was still imposing a great resistance, just like her other sisters, so she attacked them again.

- I won't let you!.- Swore the girl from Orussia and from there she returned to the bombardment with her weapon. Double D protected her and from there hit the opponent in the face, under the chin, leading to a tooth popping out between mixed with droplets of saliva and blood. Marie recoiled and took another step back, glaring at the boy who could have been her husband.

- Consider this as my "divorce" from you.- She spat at him cruelly.

- Still, I would never marry a genocidal woman like you.- The boy counter-attacked and the two collided in a fierce melee. They rolled in the air, the girl punched him and fired several laser energy shots at the black-haired man, but he defended himself with the "Shield".- You're crazy!

- Hahahahahaha, it may be true but, still, this is very funny!.- Mocked the opponent, who formed a laser "tentacle" and was ready to pierce her opponent's chest but Double D gathered all her strength and threw her backwards, turning her into a projectile that had the bad luck to impact against the "Esplanade".

- Marie!.- Lee observed the fall of his dark blue-haired sister.

The Kanker girl was like a meteorite hitting the surface of that place, raising a cloud of dust and debris that fell, mostly, into the void. Double D knew well that she was no longer the one who had always haunted him, being, from that moment on, a terrible monster they had to defeat. It was then that he noticed Eila and Sanya approaching him.

- Are you feeling all right? Asked the Suomus girl.

- Calm down, yes I am.- He answered, holding her and the albino's hands.


Marie reacted instantly when she felt some very hot sparks falling on her back. She woke up and from there she noticed that a part of the "Core" had received a significant damage as it was hit by her when she was thrown by Double D towards the bottom. The force field was losing its power and the "Seventh Hive", which was still launching its minions for combat, would be defenseless.

- This is not over yet!.- She announced, but as she was about to resume her march, she felt her body begin to weaken. A fierce drop in her blood pressure caused her to prostrate herself on the floor and a coldness she had never seen before began to run up and down her body, preventing her from moving.- What... What's wrong with me? I feel dizzy, nauseous...like I want to vomit...Agh!" She grabbed her chest and tried to shoot at the other "Witches" but only a few flashes of energy came out...I don't understand...why is my power failing?

Having seen Marie fall, May and Lee counter-attacked with a fury never seen before, leading to Eddy, Francesca, Ed and Erica having to give ground but they didn't see that the other Peach Creek kids and the "Witches" led by Minna, Trudie and Mio were coming to their support.

The short boy was resisting the blows and attacks that the redhead was throwing at him. They were fighting hand to hand and with his "Magic Shield" still standing, Eddy could see the face he had so much hatred for.

- It's a pity.- The older Kanker sister began to speak.

- What? That you'll soon be rotting in jail?.- Asked the short boy.

- Ha! In your dreams.- She defended himself and mocked him.- I mean, when this is all over, we'll put you through the worst torture. What your friend did to Marie, along with those two whores Suomus and Orussia, have only fueled our hatred for you. Once the war is over and you are captured, you will suffer every day and you will have to beg me, on your knees, starving and ragged, to kill you so that you will not suffer, something I will not grant you. From there, he attacked both Eddy and Francesca, grabbing her by the hair, since she was unprepared.- And as for you, I swear I will burn you in a bonfire, I will enjoy hearing your screams and after I will give your bones to the dogs.- She swore, lowered an extremely sadistic figure, never seen before.

Eddy wiped off the blood and saw Jimmy holding out his hand for him to get up from where he was. He looked at that scene and clenched his teeth tightly, surrounding himself with his "Magic". He then concentrated a good amount of energy in both arms, just like a machine gun, and from there he propelled himself, thanks to the support of Kevin and Rolf, as if he were a freshly fired cannonball, towards Marie.

Francesca spat in her opponent's face but she shook it off. She was not going to let herself be humiliated by a "Witch" as had happened in that building in Romagna Center. No, that had been, along with the defeat in the Battle of North Africa, where he lost the sight of one of his eyes, two extremely serious events and had to be executed as such. He cocked his head to one side. He finally had that "Witch" in his clutches but the "fun" was just about to begin.

- How I am going to enjoy your suffering.- She said, taking out a laser dagger and placed it under the Italian's belly. She began to feel the heat and the sharpness of the weapon. The tip of the dagger dug into her skin and from there she clenched her teeth tightly.- What's the matter, "Witch", aren't you afraid of fire? Many of you were burned at the stake during the Middle Ages.

Francesca kept her composure. She was a military woman, she would not let herself be humiliated by that madwoman, so she would resist as long as possible. It was then that she looked up and from there Lee could see the determination of her opponent.

- Even if you hurt my body, my spirit will always be alive.- She said to him, words that made the other one furious.

- Too much nonsense: The spirit is nothing without the body.- She "corrected" him and from there she directed the dagger to the black hair's skin but, suddenly, a first "magic shot" destroyed it.- Hey, who...?.- The redhead turned around and it was too late for what was coming at her.

A rain of "magic bullets" hit her opponent. She let go of Francesca and the latter took the opportunity to hit her in the face, but not before giving her a series of punches all over her body, as punishment for attacking a military officer. But there was no end to it, as the "shrapnel" continued to pierce every part of Lee's body, who could barely defend himself. The blood began to flow through the holes and from there, just like a comet, it grabbed the Italian woman, pulling her out of there.

- EDDY!.- Shouted the opponent, just as he and his girlfriend traced an oblique arc towards the Heavens.


Only May remained, who, like Lee and Marie, continued to offer a terrible resistance against Ed and Erica. Despite the efforts of the "Shadow Neuroi" to stop them, the picture had become even more complicated for the three sisters. The blonde noticed that her other two sisters had been defeated and hoped that they had a plan to continue the fight.

At one point, the latter managed to separate her ex-boyfriend from the Karsland girl, whom she began to repeatedly hit and hurt with her power. At one point, after several blows against her abdomen, Erica noticed that "fire" burning in her opponent's eyes.

- What's wrong with you, Erica, are you afraid of dying?.

- Fuck you.- She reproached, smiling in spite of her wounds.

- Heh, it's good to die laughing, don't you think so.- She said, but when she was about to give him the final blow, Ed arrived and directed a powerful attack that took her by surprise, saving his girlfriend, "Damn you!.- She exclaimed and began to shoot him with her power, but the boy defended himself with a "Magic Shield", which began to return the blows received.

Erica went for her weapon and from there started to shoot May. Despite the wounds received, the rival still wanted to fight, so they had to "invest" a little more of their time to defeat her as soon as possible.

- You, yes, you, Ed, are dead to me! Did you hear?! DEAD!.- She exclaimed, full of fury and with that she headed towards where they were, but the blonde from Karsland bombarded her with her shrapnel, causing her to start feeling pain and her power to diminish more and more.

Soon, the girl was rescued by Lee and they headed towards the "Esplanade".

- This is not over yet!.- Warned the red-haired girl and flew in a dive to the aforementioned place.

The enemy hosts could no longer continue the fight, so they had to retreat from there, abandoning the Kankers, for the first time, leading Marie to watch them flee.

- No...NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU DAMNED BITCHES OF SHIT! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW OR I'LL TURN YOU INTO A COFFEE MACHINE!.- She exclaimed, pointing towards their position but none of them answered.- You asked for it!.- She sentenced but at the moment of firing, his power could only throw some thin violet "threads" that disappeared like small streamers from a can that were used in birthday parties.- How? What...? What happened?!

A massive retreat, in the midst of combat, is something that no Army, be it of any Nation, Empire, Kingdom or Civilization would ever want to accept. Many would be punished for desertion, especially high ranking Officers and Commanders, who would have to pay the price. During the times of Ancient Rome, such disloyal and cowardly acts received the "Death Penalty" or even banishment as they were considered useless for having lost some extremely important area.

And that same thing was happening with the "Shadow Neuroi". It seemed as if the link between them and the Kanker had evaporated for some unknown reason. Even Marie didn't quite know what it was, so she waited for Lee and May to arrive, both of whom were swooping in to solve the double problem before them.

- Lee...- She heard the voice of the blonde, who was broken and no longer sounded terrifying.

- Shh, calm down, we'll find an answer to this.- She promised him, but her flying power also began to be affected when, a few meters away, she had to make a "crash landing" on the ground, avoiding hitting her head and her sister's head.

Once Lee and May got up, they also noticed that their power was fading. A group of "Shadow Neuroi" doctors, among the few who stayed there, examined them but found nothing in their blood.

- I don't understand, we had a great power and now...we lost it all.- Said the redhead speechless. She looked towards the "Core" and walked towards it, touching its futuristic metallic surface: "No...Not only we lost it...the "Seventh Hive" is also weakening! Damn "Witches"! She roared: "Let's go, sisters, let's defend this place, you'll see what happens when they mess with the "Kanker Clan"!.- She ordered but they had no time to fortify or prepare a good defense, since their enemies had arrived and had them surrounded.


- Everything is ready, Admiral Rogers: You can start the landing on the Atlantic Coast," announced Minna, who had her communications radio with her, talking to those who were in the East, waiting for her orders, "For some reason, the Kankers have begun to lose their power but they are still very dangerous. Don't worry, we have it under control", he augured and after hanging up, a series of images could be seen, both on the beaches and on the "Command Bridge" of the Kanker, where the landing craft were leaving the Marine Infantrymen and other Liberion Army Forces, which ended up forming a "Second Beachhead" and from there they would start with a "Pincer Movement" to close the way to the rivals.

The loyal "Shadow Neuroi" remained in their posts and were ready to attack them. The "Seventh Hive", despite looking weakened, continued to look imposing and dangerous to those present but it remained to be seen whether it was true or not. Minna stayed close to the others, in the company of Trudie and the others, scanning the surface, the destruction caused in the "Esplanade" and the hostility that the Kanker continued to offer.

- We will have to be careful. They continue to demonstrate terrible combat strength.- Said Charlotte seriously.

- Yes.- The Commander understood the message.- But don't worry.

- What plan do you have in mind?.- The red-haired Liberion wanted to know.

- I will only say this: Let's destroy that "Hive" at any cost!.- She swore, and it was then that, emboldened, they launched an assault, just as pirates do when attacking a ship that sailed alone through the waters of the Caribbean Sea or other regions to keep the treasures as booty, as well as to capture important people to ask for ransom.

The Kanker were ready to face them once again. However, the mystery of why their powers had begun to decline remained a real enigma. Was it impossible, or had their grandfather miscalculated that "Last Resort"? They needed more information about it and for that it was better to finish with their enemies once and for all.

The defense was coordinated and they should resist the onslaught long enough, although there was also the doubt of whether they would succeed. The force field was weakening even more and not to mention when the adversaries were ready to strike their next blow.

- Witches, this is as far as they have come! They have destroyed almost all our armies, knocked down half of the fleet, but we will continue this war at any cost!

That seemed to have been just as strong as a missile strike. The "Witches" and the Peach Creek boys had hit the target, right in the center of the defense, initiated by Nazz and Double D, causing the defense to destabilize until they were spread out all over the "Esplanade". In the blink of an eye, the place became a real battlefield, where shrapnel was flying and bodies were falling, riddled with sword and katana blows.

The Shadow Neuroi formation was hit by the impact and a few fell. The Kanker were in grave danger, they had almost no Units available to carry out their operations. Many had fallen and those who were deserting became easy targets for both the "Witches" and the military.

- It's now or never, girls! Let's attack!.- Eila encouraged them with Sanya, Erica and Francesca, seeing that they had only one chance to end the war.

- Don't let them do it!.- Marie shouted, as they tried to resist when they could.

The breeze was tightening, the air seemed to "freeze" and with it the time itself that was going "slow". What was going on? The Kankers were maintaining their defense, a resistance never seen before, but that seemed to be taken out of some movie in which everything seemed to stop. They didn't see that the Peach Creek boys had created a breach and now their forces were at a disadvantage, again.

- NOT SO FAST!.- Lee warned them and fired what little was left of his power at them.

Sarah and Jimmy worked as a team and created a "Magic Wall" to prevent the laser beams from reaching them.

- Let me do it, sister.- Intervened May and then set out to attack them, but it was Nazz and Kevin who repelled her, attacking with their katana and Magic, knocking her back a few meters.

- All right, I'm out of patience.- Said Marie and then she started to attack them with her power but it was in vain, since Rolf and Johnny bombarded her way.

- Come on, we have to destroy the "Core".- Ordered Kevin, while Nazz led the charge.


A few meters away was the target. The "Seventh Hive" continued to "boil" with activity, but it was clear that its time was running out. The casualties caused by the "Witches" and their Allies caused a terrible "deficit" of troops and with it was the resistance of their infrastructure, which was taking casualties in the tension, tremors and internal explosions that did not seem to stop. And there it was. It seemed like a dream come true. The Eds contemplated that energy source, swallowed saliva for the imposing size it had, as well as the long way it had cost them to travel, but they were already one step away from fulfilling their mission.

- Do they do the honors.- Johnny joked.

- Please, ladies first.- Joined Eddy in the middle of this "comical" situation, but they noticed that the Kankers still wanted to fight.

- DAMMIT!.- Exclaimed the three of them, being a few meters away, so they concentrated their Magic in a fierce and last attack together with the "Witches", who pointed their weapons towards the target.

- This is as far as they got, Kanker. After all the damage you have caused, now Justice will be done for all the fallen and the destruction you left behind you.- Eila said and then put her fingers on each weapon.

- Ha, do you think that will stop us?. That we are going to ask for mercy, we would rather die than be submitted to Justice!

- Even so, be it God's Justice or the earthly one, you condemned yourselves from the beginning.- Eddy warned them seriously.

- Don't let them, attack! Attack, damn it!.- Ordered Lee, desperate, seeing that the "Core" was in their hands and it was then that, when both powers violently collided, a great "Void" was produced, one that seemed to have taken every last drop of air.

("Escaping Gotha", OST "Medal of Honor: Frontline")

At that moment, a very small fissure began to form in the middle of the "Core" and stopped. The Kanker and it seemed that they were about to laugh because their plan had worked, however, the cyst advanced again, little by little, extending until it reached the very "heart" and from there the cracking of its interior was heard. And from there came the first explosion, which started from above but, inside the "Seventh Hive", it was reaching the different levels of the fortress. Tongues of fire erupted from several floors, smoke began to rise, and that was only the beginning.

A series of tremors hit the "Esplanade", the Kanker and the others fell to the ground, while the "Shadow Neuroi" were taking them to try to get out of there.

- This is going to explode, we must get out of here as soon as possible!.- Ordered Minna but the Eds saw the opponents lying on the ground.

- Wait, Commander!.- Intervened Ed, who ran with Erica to grab the Kankers, accompanied by his friends.

- Guys, hurry up!.- Called Yoshika, since it was true that time was playing against them.

They got to where the three sisters were but none of them dared to look at them. She felt disgust and that deep hatred that consumed them inside, even when they were offering her a hand to get them out of there and go to trial for their crimes but, in spite of everything, they detected that powerful "trace" of the "Kanker Pride". Nothing prevented them from leaving it behind, even if it was a life and death situation, so they stood up, "intact" and from there they showed that disgusting smile, the same one with which they had gloated at the death of millions of people throughout the world, having seen their cities, capitals, towns and other places of utmost importance burn, become the flames' pasture like Emperor Nero's Rome.

- Would you rather die to be "Martyrs"?.- Asked Erica with disappointment and coldness.

- Heh, what's the matter, Goldilocks.- May spat at her.- Did you think we were going to turn ourselves in, that they would save us as if this were some silly hero and villain movie where they have to rescue them, bring them to justice or end up repenting and seeking forgiveness?

- They would never understand.- Lee maintained, shrugging her shoulders and looking "serene".

- That you were "victims"? That you always treated the Eds as if they were objects? No person in this world deserves that. Never.- Said Eila, looking at Marie, who still hated her.

- Too bad.- Said the dark blue hair.- Too bad we couldn't kill them, but... at least we exterminated a good amount of people. Grandpa's going to be proud of us.

- They are mentally ill!.- Exclaimed Francesca with disgust and repulsion for the girl's words.

- What you did is a heinous crime and goes against the "International Laws"?. You broke countless of them!.- Added Sanya, but then a new explosion shook the place, causing parts of the "Esplanade" to fall into the void.

- Shit, this place is falling apart! Let's go!.- Demanded Eddy and they had to do it. There was no way they were going to be taken away. They were determined to do anything, even die for their cause.


Soon, the group took off and moved away from what was to come.


The three sisters were left alone and holding hands, accepting their ultimate fate.

- It was a good war, wasn't it," Lee asked.

- You said it yourself.- May answered clearly.

- And our ancestors will be proud of us.- Marie finished and it was then that, after closing her eyes, the fortress, their headquarters, the "Seventh Hive" ended up exploding completely.


[Well, friends. There are still two more chapters left and that's the end of this story. You must be wondering what will happen in the end. Well, we'll see about that later so, possibly, this week, I'll be wrapping it up.

We'll be seeing each other. I send greetings and thanks to Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the rest of the Fanfiction and Wattpad followers.

Take care and have a good start of the weekend, Comrades].