AN: I am so sorry this took so long!

I got really sick from a Stomach Virus, which took me a while to get over, and the holidays also got me too busy!

Augh! Real life!

But really, here is the new chapter and the format in which they will be made this Arc. So I hope you guys can enjoy it, I will work really hard to get the next one done faster and better, I hope you people can forgive me.

Chapter title is from another Foreigner song, per usual this Arc.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the day, and please...ENJOY.

Arc Five: The World War

Chapter 25: I'll Get Even With You

It was now three weeks into the war.

VOLLACHIA THEATRE

Underneath a stone bridge, some men waited. The Lewes Clone was close behind, using the shadows to obscure herself. There were distant pops and bangs, an obvious battle being commenced somewhere else in this foreign kingdom.

Ahead, was a field of gold; wheat fields as far as the eye could see. Further out, a single dead oak tree...further out, much further, black smoke rising up to the beautiful orange hued skies.

Bougatsa got his Metia Rod, and grabbed a small glass scope. He used it see what was intended, knights and mercenaries guarding the wheat.

Their mission: Kill or capture the guards, take out their food supply and occupy a nearby town as a base of operations.

Like that, Bougatsa nodded, behind him Jolokia did as well, putting his claws out to make a walking motion. His commander understood, and snapped his fingers, the soldiers hiding in the shadows, sprang into action lining up their Metia rods, getting each a specific target.

A female mage, had a fireball lit up and was ready to toss it.

"...Now."

The whisper was the signal, and they fired.

The Vollachians were unaware of this, and the surprise attack killed several of them. The mage flung the fireball and it had a large section of the field catch ablaze. Using the flames and smoke as cover, they all ran for it, using the river as a path to go around.

The Vollachians reacted by having some men charge through the unburnt wheats right at them. Jolokia charged and used his battleaxe to carve through some of them. He got stabbed through his shoulder pad by a spear, but bum rushed to him and bit him in the neck. His fangs tore through his flesh and veins, he kicked him away, leaving hs enemy to bleed out. Several of the men around him began helping out, even as the Vollachians outclassed them. Jolokia did his part well, taking lives left and right. He then grabbed one dead man and used him as a weapon splitting him apart and breaking the other guy's neck.

Sagittarius hid under the stone bridge and provided covering fire, taking out her victims.

Bougatsa fired from his hip, before using the Metia Rod as a club and smashing a man's face in. He took out his Iklwa and finished him off. The female mage flung a fireball, blasting a man's head open, letting Bougatsa spear another in the face. Several men charged forward, with a Ma-Beast tamer running along the waters of the stream. He removed the muzzle on his Wolgarm and clicked his tongue twice.

"Get them!"

The Wolgarm charged and bit a man on his arm, before letting Moussaka's Wolgarm bite him as well, both beasts tearing him apart. Moussaka got his Metia Rod and fired once, injuring an opponent enough for someone to toss a knife into his neck. The complete chaos was getting to Moussaka, but he smacked in the head by Jolokia.

"Snap out of it! GRRR! We have to move!"

The trailing commander barked orders to take the town...as an arrow hit him in the head. He fell over a bit, but had time to grab the arrow. Maybe he was trying to pull it out, or maybe he just wanted to feel what hit him. Who knows?

But he fell on his face, right into the waters. They made it to a fence that went along the trail to the village, when someone got shot by another arrow, his body falling on the wooden boards.

Before anyone realized it, two more men, including the Ma-Beast Specialist and his Wolgarm, were both shot to death by arrows.

"Down! DOWN!"

They all got flat on their bellies, even as they got soaked by the waters, arrows landed around them.

"Shit! We have to get out of here!"
"FUCK! GRRR! Get Sagittarius-dono!"

Bougatsa ran back to the bridge, dodging arrows, as the female mage flung fireballs, and men who still had their Metia Rods, fired blindly into the Town.

Bougatsa reached her, and gave a peace sign, then a fist, understanding well, she ran with him. They moved along, the field of golden beauty, now almost completely on fire. But Sagittarius got her specialty Metia Rod and ran across the water, the sounds of Vollachian screeches and the shots from Metia Rods, mingled well with the bell rings coming from the Town Square.

How odd, that a bell used for celebrations and festivities; was now the signal for impending horrors.

Sagittarius fired expertly, taking out the Crossbow wielding snipers with ease. Just then, with the last one dead, Bougatsa used his lense to see movement in the Town.

"They're in the Town! Jolokia what are we doing about it!?"
"Give me the Conversing Mirror! GRRR!"

He got it and barked into it.

"Hey! This the 2nd Expedition Wave! Red Team!"
"This is Screaming Eagle, 2nd Raid! What'll be?"
"GRRR! The Town south of base, Ruther! We need a bombardment! Over! GRRR!"
"Got it. Give me two!"
"You have one, GRRR! OVER!"

They looked up and far off in the horizon, a small dot appeared. In reality, it was a Zeppelin, the men in the metal carriages built under the blimp, aimed their magical cannons at the town.

"Distance?"
"Good, adjusted."
"Alright, fire now."

The cannons fired, going far, and hitting the targets, raining death onto the town.

Seeing the town engulfed in smoke and debris, they saw their chance. Making a run for it, they squished flowers, stepped over rocks and ran through bushes. They made it to the town, using the walls of undestroyed houses as cover.

Sagittarius ran around a house and fired three shots, taking out two men. Jolokia jumped a fence, grabbing a pitchfork on the ground, using one hand to pierce him, and in the other hand, his trusty battleaxe decapitated another man. Bougatsa smashed a window, and was prepared to toss mana stones inside, but his brother shook his head, and instead kicked down the door instead...finding an entire family hiding, clenched together, in complete fear.

Both brothers watched them silently, before they walked away. They ran forward...just as the house exploded behind them, they both turned around in sheer shock. Only to see the youngest girl walk out, covered in dust, her face completely bloody, whimpering.

"Momma? Poppa?"
"Oh god."
"Momma. Poppa. Uwaaghhh."

The brothers could do nothing, and left her there, hoping someone else could take care of her. No matter how much guilt was buried into their hearts.

Jolokia jumped through a window and expertly killed three men, before smashing a table across the room and injuring a Vollachian, one of his soldiers fired his Metia Rod, killing the Vollachian.

"Damn Vollker!"
"C'mon, Grrr! The houses in the edge are probably filled with them."

Moussaka's Wolgarm jumped over a rock wall and bit a man in the face, giving an opening for them to attack. The female mage lobbed a fireball and a house exploded, she then got shot in the arm with an arrow. Moussaka saved her by firing his Metia Rod, killing him. He grabbed her hand and dragged her away, his Wolgarm covering him. Several Lugnican soldiers were killed by a magical booby trap, resulting in a massive crater forming in the path. Bougatsa went around and used his Iklwa to stab two men, before grabbing a rock and smashing the survivor's head in. He then put out his hand, getting an arrow stabbed in his palm, but saving his life.

"FUCK! OW!"

Sagittarius fired her Metia Rod, slaughtering a group of them, and saving Bougatsa from anymore attacking. Jolokia smashed through a door, punching a man twice, before stomping his neck in. He had blood leaking out of his nose, and the arrow wound was bleeding badly.

Moussaka ran to him, reloading his Metia Rod with a mana stone.

"Jolokia-san! You're bleeding!"
"No time for that, grrrr! Let's sweep through!"
"Um, okay!"

They ran through each house, either taking a prisoner, or just mercilessly shooting them. Villagers were gathered up in the middle of the town, letting these people see the devastation. Some cried, some fumed with anger, but they all realized their mighty soldiers were defeated. Moussaka swept through a house, aiming his Metia Rod, the quiet ambience of the house, freaking him out.

Then a door swung open and the gleam of a blade caught his sight, and he fired on instinct. Falling on their back, was just a boy, no older than twelve. His mother ran out of that closet and screamed, hugging her child as Moussaka flinched in horror in what he did.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry!"

She fumed in anger and grabbed the knife, an incoming soldier saw her lunge at him, and so he fired, blasting the back of her head open.

Now even the soldier saw the boy, and the horrified look on Mousakka's face, putting two and two together.

He ran over and hugged him.

"I didn't. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay, son, you did nothing wrong. You did nothing wrong."

He helped him up and they walked out, letting Moussaka look one last time, at the family. His teary eyes, wandered away, as the mop up operations...came to an end.

Jolokia took a deep breath, looking over the town, from atop of a roof.

The smoke and debris flew behind him.

Both brothers sat near a wall...only to see the young girl they witnessed earlier, being held by her hand, a look of disillusionment frozen on her face, made them both shudder. Still completely covered in blood and dust, she stared at them...then was taken away to be healed.

The female mage sat on a pile of rubble, watching the wheat field almost completely ablaze.

"Well, no food for us."
"But it also means no food for them."
"That's one way of putting it, Bougatsa-kun."
"Yeah."

Jolokia went through the avenue, seeing blood all over the floor and the bodies of both Vollachian and Lugnican soldiers almost hugging each other, an eerie embrace.

His Conversing mirror shined, giving him some important info.

He went to the middle of the street, and announced loudly.

"We will taking a one day rest, before heading west to meet with the other companies, in order to take a fort. Grrrrr! I have also been promoted...I am your commander now."

No one celebrated, cheered or clapped. They were simply too exhausted.

"Grrrrr. Get some rest, all of you."

Moussaka sat as he allowed his Wolgarm to rest his head on his lap.

"Runther."

He gave him his name, as remembrance to this fateful day.

Battle of Runther

Lugnica Losses: 123 dead, 231 injured

Vollachian Losses: 1,072 dead, 1,121 injured

The next day came, and Jolokia, now the commander of his unit moved into their meeting point, a base set up in a lush forest. He met with the other commander, Bertha.

"How goes it, Bertha? Grrrr?"
"Fine, we had minimal casualties on our end."
"Same here, grrr."

They went over the plan, going over the fort intricacies, this place known as Helios Battle Castle. They were take the fort, giving them a chance to get access to the nearby mountains.

This was part of the grand plan to take the capital in a surrounding snap.

Giving the Vollachians the two options of surrender or complete defeat.

But to do this, several Mist Serpents were deployed to go after the islands south of Vollachia, while another army was to head south east, and their team was due west. Even with them still being so far away from the capital, getting these mountains would be great points for artillery strikes and Zeppelin landings.

It had to be done.

Jolokia sipped on some tea, as Bertha looked over the map.

"It's harrowing, this fort has never been conquered."
"It's what they say, Grrrr."
"Even now it is accurate...two campaigns, and we haven't even gotten passed the front gates. We've lost twelve thousand men trying to take the damnable spot."
"No airstrikes? Grrr?"
"We tried, but their Flying Dragon Riders, constantly attack the Zeppelins, it's a pain."
"They have underground means?"
"Yes, they hunker down and avoid artillery strikes."
"So we have to go, by physically pulling them out, grrr? Damn, this is tough."
"Regardless, we have to make it in."
"Right."

He growled as he chugged back his tea, glancing at Bertha.

"How are things with DuPont going?"

"...I don't know what you are talking about."

She turned her face away, beet red and annoyed.

"Ahhhh, Grrrrr, Your face is saying otherwise."
"Ridiculous! I have no desire to be with a flirt like that, even as charming as he is."
"Your words are getting mixed up there, grrrr."
"Hmph!"

She brushed her purple hair, staring out the open tent, seeing DuPont chatting away with some buddies. Never noticing Jolokia moving next to her to stare at him as well.

"Hmmmm, quite perplexing, grrrr."
"GWAH! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"Hahaha!"

She pushed him back, making the big tiger laugh. He got to his feet and patted her on the shoulder.

"C'mon Bertha, we have some work to do!"
"Goodness, you may be a trusted ally, but you can be such a brute!"

Now they walked out to speak further about the plans to take down the unconquered fort.

Bougatsa and his brother saw their old colleagues and waved at them.

"Well, if it ain't the Twin Baby Boys."

"Hello Stanley!"

"What's up?!"

They shook hands and allowed the brothers to sit down.

"Hey Moussaka, did you name him yet?"

Moussaka glanced at his Wolgarm, who sat down, wearing his armor and his muzzle on, but he still petted him.

"Runther."
"Welp, I would have called him Admiral Lightning Bolt."
"That's a bit of a s-stretch Stanley-san."
"Maybe, ladies might of liked it."

Moussaka glanced over at Juel, who shook her head in response making the young man smile.

"How was you fight Juel-san?"
"...Fine."
"Uh, right."

Juel smiled, making Moussaka turn away embarrassed, of which his brother grabbed him and gave him a playful noogie. But this was interrupted...

"Oh h-hey ya guys!"

They all flinched in terror, hearing that distinct voice, and they all turned their head, seeing Lisette show up out of nowhere.

She wore her napsack filled with medical supplies and a helmet with a red dragon wing on it, showing her occupation as a healer assistant.

"Oh, hey Lisette."
"Bougatsa-san! I heard you guys fought in Runther, earlier, are you all okay do you need h-healing?!"
"Uh, nah, we should be-"
"-Here is some alcohol to disinfect-"

She had the bottle in her hand but fumbled it, before tripping on a rock and hitting Bougatsa in the head...it didn't break or anything, but he fell back, making everyone go wide mouthed.

Though he'd be fine, Lisette was reprimanded harshly by her superior, and everyone had to watch her teary eyed acknowledgement.

Juel pretty much spoke for everyone.

"I hope she'll be okay."
"Yeahhhh.

And so, all the generals including the newly appointed Jolokia met in a main tent, which included Midge and Bertha.

Midge stood up, even at his dwarven size, and spoke up.

"We are going for a night attack! That's what's bloody been decided!"
"And what if they use a Nightbanisher Spell, to project daylight?"
"Bertha, If it's the bloody Vollkers we are talking about, they'd definitely use one."
"Then why a night attack?"
"We're using the fact that they have had almost no rest to head straight at them, while they are still exhausted."
"Are we going to shake them up?"
"Yeah, we are already having Conquistadors and some Magic Cannons pummel them right now. Once it stops we send our lads to go up and begin attacking."

Jolokia scratched his chin.

"Grrr. No backup?"
"Unless we can take out the suicidal Flying Dragon Riders, we ain't getting any Zeppelins nearby."
"Conquistadors? Cannons? Grrr?"
"We have some extra ones coming to assist, but they're running late, and we sure as hell cannot wait for them."
"Hmmm, this is going to be a real struggle."
"We'll keep them put until our backup arrives."
"Grrrrr, yeah, got it."

They all came to an agreement, even if the loss of life, could be exponentially high, it had to be done. Everyone left to gather their people.

With the night sky welcoming them, the soldiers marched through the forest, seeing the smoke and fire up ahead.

There was unease, tension and fear mixed in with their bravery, excitement and stern stares.

100,000 men and women marched to take the Fort.

But it was more of a citadel, split into triangular sections, on top of a grand hill. In fact, if one looked at it from high above, one would see it was in the shape of a hexagram.

It had two underground levels, though one side of the second level had caved in, making it a dead end. Magic cannons on all sides, crossbow marksman at the top and the side of the hill had ports, where more marksman could fire upon them. Only gate to let you in, and though they had an emergency exit, it too caved in by a strike.

One way in, no way out.

They must fight to death, to protect this site. It was too important, too significant. It gave them a vantage point, access to the mountains, and were they to lose it, it would be the perfect spot for Zeppelin deployments and for long range strikes. With so many cities and towns within range, the Vollachians could not afford to lose it.

And also...there was something else in that fort, waiting for them...or someone.

In the side trench, these men used the cover of large boulders and a slope to wait, the strikes still pummeling the Fort. Then, it stopped.

One could hear the crackling of flames and the harsh winds, leaving them to only breathe in and out. In and out. In and out.

Then, a flare shot up, an explosive noise, and the Nightbanisher spell activated, putting out a bright white light, that turned the night sky into as clear as the day.

But they fired their own flare, all their men covered their eyes and the flare exploded flashing multicolored lights...making some Vollachian soldiers cover their eyes or fall over convulsing, the seizures freaking out nearby companions.

As the Vollachians got a bit disoriented, the Lugnicans had their chance open.

'CHAAAAARGE!"

The roars of men followed suit and they ran forward, running and running, huffing and snarling, they all went uphill, trying their best to not trip whatsoever. Sure enough the Vollachians made no qualm in firing arrows from their crossbows upon them, some with mana stone tips. Thus all these men, ran while explosions went off around them, pushing through the madness of it all. Some just weren't lucky and got their limbs blown up by those explosives arrows, yet everyone kept running, until they were pushed against the walls, with almost no way inside.

"Fucking walls are still up!?"
"Grrrr! The strikes must have never targeted them fully! Shit!"

All these men were now stuck, and any demi-human or beast man who tried to climb the walls or use their bestial abilities to run up...were met with arrows, killing them. Some magic users made attempts to fly up, but soon saw in the far off smoke, something coming at them.

"Dragon Riders!"

Men in light armor with spears and javelins, rode armored dragons that were flying at them like a huge flock.

The magic users fired at them, but each blast missed due to their expert aviation skills, and some were impaled by spears. The Dragon Riders were soaring at them, so the men aimed and fired their Metia Rods, only taking out a handful. The Riders lobbed explosive spears killing groups of men.
Jolokia tossed a small axe which killed the dragon the rider was on, making him crashland, and eventually stabbed to death by six different men.

Midge saw a spear heading to him, so he used his hand to quickly spin it, toss it back, and stab a Rider on the side, killing him and two other riders in the resulting explosion.

Bertha got on her Conversing Mirror.

"Get the mortars ready, anti-air now!"

In the far distance, mages got their large magical mortars to fire up, simple looking beams...with bags somehow in them.

The Riders ignored.

Only for the blasts to explode in dust like particles, like flowers blooming early...in reality, this was superheated shrapnel that fired out taking out many riders by surprise. Some were blinded and others had their dragons wings ripped apart, causing them to crash. This continued, as the men on the ground were still being killed by arrows and even windslices and fireballs.

Bertha ran over and grabbed a sword lobbing it up and impaling a man on the wall.

Jolokia scratched his head as he was seeing men cowering and hugging their weapons, feeling defeated. Then in the corner of his eye, he saw a man carrying a box.

"You! Grrrrrr! Are those mana stones?!"
"Yes sir!"
"Pass them! Grooooar! All of you charge your mana into it as you pass it over HURRY!"

They did as he asked and the box was moving closer and closer, until he finally grabbed it, holding it on his shoulder.

"GROOOOARRRRR!"

He ran across the wall, as arrows barely missed him, then when he finally found the chance, he lobbed it and it landed right where the Vollachians stood, those very men stared in shock as the box shined.

Jolokia landed, rolled on the ground and yelled.

"MOVE!"

They did make a space, as the box exploded atop, blasting the wall apart and the pieces collapsing below. With the confusion and devastation shaking the Vollachians, Bertha unsheathed her sword.

"MOVE! INTO THE FORT!"

They roared as they went into the hole, or lizardmen and beastmen climbed the unbroken sections of the wall. Running through the hole, but up the rubble of this once standing wall, they met resistance, and some clashed their weapons against the Vollachians, and others went through these massive halls firing their rods at anyone who popped out. They made their way out into the courtyard.

The ones who climbed the walls engaged in brutal one on one combat; the Lugnicans being overwhelmed by the superior Vollachians. Yet this was war, and those that climbed also had their projectile weapons and fired them at their enemies. Then...Sagittarius jumped off her hitched ride on the back of a wolf demi-human. She used her specially crafted Metia Rod to fire at these men, who charged at her brutishly, and then used her own hand to fire a light spear, killing another. She then perched herself and began firing down at Vollachian reinforcements, soon joined by others in this firefight.

A man got help from a fox beastman and set up a Panther Gun on the roof of the mess hall, and fired it down at them, mowing down an entire group of Vollachians. Then they saw a wall of another building break apart and Jolokia ran through completely covered in enemy blood, a spinal cord in his hand. He then stabbed the spine through a man's face. He then used both hands to swing his battleaxe and sliced three men completely in half.

The sight of this grey furred tiger beastman, completely dyed in red, was an absolutely terrifying thing to witness.

Then an orc combatant, wearing a long ponytail attached to a mohawk, eyes red like Jolokia's, and in tribal armor...one hired by the Vollachians out of chance, charged at him, slicing through several men. They had both their weapons, both battleaxes clashed. Then both lost their grip on their weapons, and soon went to punches. Jolokia landed a flying knee, but the ogre caught him and powerbombed him to the ground. Jolokia got him a triangle hold, trapping his neck. But the Orc used his strength to lift him up and slam him onto the ground, breaking the pavement, and so Jolokia began punching the top of his head.

Feeling his grip loosening, he let the hold go but kicked his face and rolled back up. The Orc ducked under a punch and landed a devastating uppercut, followed by heel kick. Even though it clearly made Jolokia's snout chuck blood, this tiger followed up with two massive punches, then a shoulder tackle, and soon they were in a massive grappling match. One would get the upper hand, only to lose their grip and get caught in a catch. But soon, both jumped away lobbing a few punches, of which only about two landed on their opponent.

With enough distance, Jolokia tried a high kick, but the Orc blocked it and did a straight jab at him, hitting him on the nose. Jolokia took it like a champ, and charged, landing a chop on his face, then pushed over and landed an elbow strike, causing the Orc's eye to sink in.

The Orc lost his temper and used a headbutt to get him back, and he landed a striking blow on his face. But Jolokia landed a sweeping palm thrust under his chin, then a straight punch to below his collar bone, before using his claws to stab him there, getting stuck. The Orc punched him on the head, with Jolokia following each one with a knee to the ribs, then he shifted his body, freed his claws and tackled him, straight through an entire building.

They both rolled to the ground as everyone else was fighting around them. The Orc got up and landed a downward punch on him, causing a horrible cut above his right eye. Jolokia roared as he did a sweeping kick, even when on his knees and his massive size, catching the Orc by surprise.

Jolokia did two rapid uppercuts, then an elbow strike on his neck. Disoriented by the last strike, Jolokia stepped his foot down, readied his thighs and buttocks, putting all his strength into this swinging motion.

And he threw an incredible punch.

It landed, and the air was painted in red, like an abstract art of just a single ink splat. Crimson fluid filled the air, and their passionate fist fight was just over.

With the Orc completely out of it, by that monstrous punch, Jolokia grabbed his head, and with an intense momentum, spun his body and slammed him headfirst to ground, before following through and committing a flying knee on his neck.

His neck cracked open and blood spurted out, the fight was truly done.

But suddenly, his shoulder armor broke apart and a huge chunk of his shoulder muscle bursted. He took to the floor, rolling on the ground, then ran to his weapon, forcing him to dodge the rocketing strikes. He couldn't see the opponent well, one of his eyes shut by blood. He made it finally, picked up his battleaxe and got his battleaxe to block the attack.

Even he went wide eyed by who he was facing.

A tall, burly, beauty with white hair in a pixie wedge. Wearing purple armor that matched her light violet eyes, a long red scarf fluttering behind her and a beautiful gold earring. With her, striking at him, was her specially crafted Pata Sword.

Everyone there recognized her, The Ninth. Of the Nine God Generals, strongest group in Vollachia, she was Portugues Mithril.

Across the ways, the Tzantil brothers were firing their metia rods, reloading their single shots, and pushing through the assaults, Bertha slicing through several men with her sword. DuPont kicked off the air and skewered a few men landing next to her.

"Are you alright my dear?"
"You should be worrying about yourself."
"When a gorgeous gal like you is under threat, I get a little anxious."

Becoming red faced, she irked at him.

Making him chuckle...only for fifteen men to burst into bloody chunks, just barely missing the brothers. Walking through the flames and catching his mace, attached to a chain, was a humongous dark blue armored man, from head to toe. The closest armor one would think of would be something straight out of Dark Souls, almost like a dark blue version of Havel.

Yet red paint across the chest, changed it, and the glowing red eyes seeing through the slits of his helmet, made him very scary.

DuPont could only nervously ask.

"Bertha,, is that-"
"-Yes DuPont...The Seventh of the Nine God Generals, Absinthe K. Livemont."

He swung around his Mace, swerving it around him.

"You damnable Luginicans have made a grave mistake, if you think you'd take on our mighty Empire, without complete annihilation imminent!"
"Crap! Bertha this is bad, we're completely unprepared to take on God Generals!"

Not enough time left, Absinthe flung his mace, which curved, taking out walls and smashing people apart. Bertha and DuPont barely ducked under it, but she glanced up and was immediately kicked across the jaw by a charging Absinthe.

DuPont angrily aimed his sword at him.

"El Fula!"

A windslice shot out...only for it be deflected by the armor.

"Oh no!"
"Oh yes Lugnican!"

"Magic nullifying armor!?"

Before he could punch out DuPont, the ever amazing Midge Ure jumped over a fire and struck at him with a falchion sword, before blocking a punch with a shield as big as him.

His feet skidded across the ground, as he pointed at him.

"Fire men!"

A line of men fired their Metia Rods at him, but the armor made those shots bounce off of him. Absinthe rushed at them, using the chain to break off several mens heads clean. Midge slid across the ground and sliced at his achilles heel, but the armor made sparks fly instead. Absinthe punched the ground, and tossed a piece of stone at Midge, who once again used his shield to block...and then the mace hit him, making him fly across the ground. He raised himself as he was a bloody mess. DuPont attacked him from behind with his sword, but Absinthe caught one swordstrike and headbutted him, making him lose two front teeth and broke his nose.

Stanley saw the issues they were having and tried to rush over, but a massive blast flung him away. Finally getting up he could see the heated battle between Jolokia and Portugues.

It was such a sorry state, Jolokia was covered in shallow holes and he eyes were having trouble keeping open. Portugues kicked him across the jaw and then puntcutred him on the chest with her Pata sword.

He used his battleaxe in several swinging motions, but she got behind him...and dodged several shots. She skidded across the ground as Juel tossed a dagger at her, blocking it effortlessly.

Jolokia charged and the two actually got in a boulder crushing trade of strikes. Jolokia barely dodged a neck slice, before shifting his body and curving his axe upwards, Portugues landed a kick on his face.

"HUH?!"

Jolokia pushed forward against the kick, and pressed his foot down, launching a massive flying knee which hit her on the abdominals. She coughed before stabbing him in the shoulder rapidly. Then, he reached out his hand, and allowed the blade to stab through his large paw. Gripping it, she was unable to get it free, and he grabbed her into a bear hug with his other arm, biting down on her shoulder.

"Ugahhh!"
"Jolokia-san!"

He ran with all his might, tackling her through several walls, before they actually fell off the hill where the fort was, tumbling down, hitting rocks, smashing through boulders and trees, and sliding on some asphalt.

Absinthe saw this, but was once again beset by Midge, whose little body seemed comedic standing ready to fight, to the hulking figure.

He merely tilted his body, looking down at the bloodied dwarf, almost as if to scare. Then he charged, just for Bertha to jump up and slice him on the back rapidly. He sighed and did a masterful capoeira spin kick, knocking her away and having the mace spin to hit Midge away. DuPont fired a Metia Rod at him, but it just bounced off.

"Miserable, pathetic, insufferable! Is this the strength Lugnica has?! You should've sent the Sword Saint or at least a Red Lantern to face us! Not these pathetic wastes!"

He walked over, using his mace to swing around and crush people on the way. It was like watching a tornado barrelling towards you.

Then, DuPont looked up and noticed something, making him smile.

"Hm? Insanity before death? That's not something I can dispell out of you...BUT I CAN BEAT IT OUT OF YOU!"

He raised his mace, the steel shining from the light of the flames, when Bertha ran behind him and tossed something on his back. Looking at his back...was a simple green smoke flare going off.

"And with is this supposed to do?! Make me an easier target for you to see?!"

He noted how Midge was speaking into a conversing mirror.

He then noted DuPont still smiling at him, and something bothered him about it.

He then looked up into the air and noticed it easily.

"OH."

All the dragon riders were gone, no, they simply died off. All of them, shot apart in the ensuing battle.

He then heard a noise in the distance, and in quick sheer shock he tried to smack the flare off of him. He was instead shot with a hail of magical shots from the Metia Rods all around him. DuPont launched a windslice at him, and Bertha flung a nearby spear at him.

"DAMN IT!"

It was too late, a sudden barrage of blasts slammed him into the ground, making it impossible to escape. They cheered in splendor...as the Zeppelins entered the fight. Given orders to strike first at the green smoke, they continuously fired, men and women loading mana stones into the cannons and relentlessly firing.

Absinthe couldn't even try to get up as he was crushed under the attack, all the while being still shot at by the soldiers who weren't busy fighting off the others.

Sure enough it worked, and the limitations of his armor was evident, it began to crack and break, and he actually screamed in panic.

"YOU FUCKS! AGH! NO! AGHHHH! FUCK YOU! AGHHHH!"

He tried to crawl, but was slammed down by more and more blasts. Until finally, he was getting up, the majority of his armor crumbling off and his plain, boring, yet large visage got up, bloodied.

They took advantage.

Midge leaped up into the air and buried his sword into his neck.

Bertha sliced open his stomach.

DuPont impaled him from behind with his sword.

Bougatsa shot his face with his Metia Rod.

Done for, his large body fell back and his defeat was finalized.

Bertha breathed erratically, exhausted from the grueling battle.

But she recalled the daunting situation occurring elsewhere.

"WHERE IS JOLOKIA!?"

Outside the walls, Jolokia still had his hand impaled, but used it to his advantage as the two were simply trading vicious punches and kicks. Portugues landed a kick to his groin, which was met with a headbutt. She followed with her own.

Again.

Again.

And again, they slammed their foreheads together, with enough force to crush concrete, hoping to one up the other.

But it was one last one, that Jolokia slipped his hand from the sword, caught the wrist with his elbow, then shifted himself and got his other right under her own elbow, like a awesome jiu jitsu move. And with a growl and explosive momentum, he made both elbow press in opposite directions...snapping her arm like a twig. Retaliating, she punched him several times, before trying to get her legs around his neck in a hold, of which Jolokia obliged and tackled into it landing a hammer fist directly on her face.

Her gums bleeding and left eye swollen shut, she gritted her cracking teeth as they both wrestled onto the ground. Portugues shifted her weight and neary clamped her legs around his arm, before he finally spun his weight and landed two vicious ground and pound hits on her swelling face. Half her face purple and his own completely drenched in blood and bumps, they howled at each other as they both got back up to their feet.

They collided a punch, which sent a shockwave out, before Portugeus used her sword in a incredible dash attack.

Just in time too, for Jolokia to allow the stab to simply graze his side, shift his weight and land a devastating kempo style wrist jab to her face, then sliced open her swollen mess with his claws. She had not time to react or whimper even, no, Jolokia stepped hard forward and hugged her head before using the momentum she herself used and twisted fast and hard. His muscles screamed in pain and his throat was parched, he could feel his heartbeat in his neck, and he was blurry eyed. But he got the job done, and with one last twist in the opposite direction, he heard a loud snap.

He let go and her body fell limp onto the bloody gravel. He sighed as blood chunked out of his nose. He growled as he did a small prayer with his hands.

"You were a warrior until the end, Portugues-san, I'll never forget you."

He picked up her earring and put it on, as well as grabbing the sword she used and putting it around his waist band.

And with that he walked up the hill and took in a deep breath.

"GROOOOAAAAARRRRRR!"

He raised his fist, right as he stepped back into the fort, and they cheered.

The Vollachians were completely demoralized, and the Lugnicans were filled with pride. Even if the Vollachians did not surrender, and fought to the very last man, one could feel the strength in their swings and strikes lessened, and ultimately the battle was over.

Walking through the rubble, Bougatsa stepped carefully around, each one was just over the yet unrecovered corpse of a Vollachian soldier. The morning sun was rising quietly, as men walked through the smoke filled halls, finding things to loot. Stanley found documents about tunnel systems that could be used, also giving them clues as to future troubles for the other tunnels the enemy could use. He rushed out, passing by Juel who sat near a destroyed barrel, sleepy as all hell.

Moussaka and his Wolgarm decided to sit next to her.

"Are you okay, Juel-san?"
"Hm, okay."

He struggled to get comfortable, but finally leaned his body on the barrel, Runther laying his muzzled head on his lap.

Now they were there, they gazed out, as the sunlight smothered the corpses, so many corpses littering the place. Some wolgarms were allowed to eat, some men pilfered items from the dead and others hauled off the Vollachians to a large ditch, their burial grounds until the foreseeable future.

Jolokia handed Bertha her gift.

"A pata sword?"
"Grrr, you did good out there, so I think it'd be fitting if you got a reward like this."
"But, you worked so hard to get it. You single-handedly killed one of the Nine GOd Generals! I think it's unbefitting of me, to earn this."
"Haha, you do. Grrrr. You were an excellent warrior out there, and you helped lead our guys to victory. I think it'll fit you, plus your sword broke right?"

She unsheated her sword and showed off, how half of it indeed snapped off, grimacing the sight. So she made a stern face and took the sword.

"I'll work hard to earn the right to truly call this sword my own. Thank you."
"Grrrrr, it's alright."
"By the way, how are your injuries?"
"Grrrr, I did a stop at the Healer Ward, they got me back to strength, though I got to drink plenty of water and soup for awhile."
"I see, well take care."

She bowed and rushed over to speak with some others. Jolokia gripped his axe, his body covered in fresh bandages and sat on a piece of rubble. DuPont limped over to him, patting his shoulder.

"Have you seen Bertha?"
"She just left earlier."
"Oh, I see."

He made a somewhat saddened face, but pepped up really quickly.

"Guess I should just let it go."
"Nah, grrrrr, you still have a chance."
"Really? Even the way I look?"
"Come on, what's a few missing teeth going to cause? Grrrrr, she still worries about you."
"She does?!"

He got really excited by it, making Jolokia chuckle.

"Sure, now, why don't you go find her, and figure that out yourself?"
"Hmmm, I guess I will."
"Hahaha, you two are something."
"Who knows, she could be the one!"

He waved him goodbye, as Jolokia did the same, in the corner of his eye he could see Bougatsa speaking with Stanley about something trivial, mugs in their hands.

Juel teased Moussaka with a noogie, making Runther watch as he wagged his tail.

Sagittarius sipped on some tea, kicking her legs around, enjoying her break.

Dupont was walking with Bertha, walking side by side, trying his best to woo her...she hid her bright red face from him, so anyone could guess.

Lisette was being screamed at by his cat eared female captain, after overly wrapping some poor dude in so much bandages he looked like a mummy. She apologized profusely.

"Come on you little boys and girls! Fill yer guts up with enough booze to fix up yer courage! Jahaha!"

Midge found barrels of wine and beer and was allowing the soldiers to parch their thirsts and celebrate their victory.

Jolokia was handed his own mug, which he gratefully accepted, but after a few gulps...he spilled a good amount to the floor.

"Sorry, grrrrr, you guys deserve some too."

Allowing some closure to the men who were lost, in the ever coming struggle.

Battle of Fort Helios

Vollachian Casualties: 95,000

Lugnican Casualties: 25,000

A few days passed and Jolokia and all his comrades watched as they finished the set ups. Bougatsa whistled at the sight.

"So fast too, can't believe they set this up so quickly."
"I know, the marvels of trying to whoop ass is incredible."

Stanley agreed as they all marveled at the large cannons resting at the top of the mountain, which aimed far out to their intended targets.

Juel tapped Bertha's shoulder.

"Where then?"
"They're aimed at two cities, both have large remnants of the guards and another cannon is aimed at a mining town, have to cut off their mana stone crafting."

"...Aren't there, well, people there?"
"...Sadly so, but this is what a war brings to the table."

Juel peeked away, not wanting her to see the sadness from hearing that. Lisetta gave her a half hug, comforting her just a little bit. DuPont did the same for Bertha, exasperating things further, making her look as if she was about to faint.

Moussaka patted Runther on his head and Jolokia got in front of them all.

"We are going to move soon, Grrrrr, so just sit back and watch."

The cannons were raised by magic users, and furthermore, they began to shine.

Everyone watched with bated breaths, letting the eerie silence fill the air.

Then with loud thunderous roars, the magic cannons fired, letting steam escape everywhere and winds to pick up. They all watched the balls of light curve in the air, going far off into the distance. Knowing what awaited them, they had to wait…

On a far off mountain, where they would eventually travel near, a pair of reptile-like golden eyes stared. Their body hidden in the darkness of a cave, watching...

"Oro? What's all this?"

….in dubious curiosity.

In the mining village of Tyvecius, people were working overtime, trying to provide the stones needed in the war effort. Some children played, pretending to mine for stones, and some play fighted with friends, pretending to be proud Vollachian soldiers. Then a young boy pointed up.

"Hey, what's that?"

His passing by mother, glanced up, and sheer terror froze on her face. Grabbing her child, everyone began running for their lives, soldiers stationed there, pleaded with everyone to head to the mines. But in the end, it would be chalked up to fruitless, the balls of light were beginning their descent.

Nothing could change what was to come.

1st Divisional Bombardments

7,000 Vollachian casualties….mostly civilians.

KARARAGI THEATRE

The fury of the chaos around her, made her head spin.

Orlena used a Metia Rod and fired up at the top of the rocky hill, sniping a knight descending after her. She then grabbed a sack of mana stones and tossed them inside of a crevice near her. Once it exploded, she could hear screams inside, one Kararagian soldier crawled out, so she madly staggered to him and stabbed him in the neck.

She was almost stabbed from behind, in a sudden sneak attack, but that very man and his fellow men were mowed down by a Panther gun. Several Conquistadors charged up the hill completely overwhelming the men in a bunker. The main cannon fired and demolished it, men ran out, covered in smoldering steam. She raced across the rocky terrain, this dry hellish environment was tough on her, but she pressed on, not wanting to become a nuisance to the others.

Kararagi had its areas with trees, forest even, but almost half of this country was sandy, rocky terrain, covered in grass and palm trees for sure, but the rigged air, left much to be desired.

Still they all charged taking already two large rocky plateaus and a mountain, giving them the vantage point to fire upon their charging enemies. Orlena crouched behind a rock seeing a small garrison of men walk up the side trail. Pulling out her special metia, she aimed it, and rained a fire stream on them. Being forced to watch these men run around in agony over the flames that covered them from head to toe.

Sliding down the rocks, she gazed up at a large mountain, and several bunkers that were clearly on fire.

She leaned herself on a palm tree, trying to catch her breath. But she peeked down and saw a fellow Lugnican soldier dead, almost as if he was staring at her. Creeped out, she made a rush for it, barely noticing the skies turning pitch black, from all the smoke.

Then as it was evident that the mountain, was going to be taken and with excitement...she was lead to horror. Countless of her own fellow brethren were running the other way, and she could see why.

200,000 Kararagian soldiers were making a banzai charge straight at them. She fell to her knees, knowing full well there was no way even with their Conquistadors there, could they take them on.

Feebly watching as the Conquistadors were overwhelmed, and several straggles were murdered by the charging men, she aimed her Metia Rod, firing once and killing a single man. They charged over him, and her fate-

-A meteor crashed behind the army, sending bodies and debris flying into the air. The charging army almost came to a complete stop, but did when they saw who just landed in front of her.

Her eyes were shut, with all the excess winds caused by the meteor and the dust in the air. But after a few coughs and rubbing of her eyes, she finally opened them, opening them wide.

"Hey, you're from Irlham Village right?"

Clad in his red uniform, he was a beacon of salvation.

"Wait here, I'll take care of this."

Natsuki Subaru had appeared, to turn the tide of this battle.

The men charged at him, hoping the claims about him, were exaggerated.

So he obliged and brought his Revenga Art Shiroyama. Flying through the horde, he twirled it around, the chainsaws cutting through the enemies foolish enough to take him on. He smiled wickedly, his face and teeth being covered in the blood of already hundreds of victims. Some men tried to fight back, but Subaru stabbed his end of the weapon onto the torso of a yet undead man, balancing on it and kicking his assailant, before summoning a spear construct and stabbing it through his teeth.

Subaru saw more charging, so he vomited a projectile of his blood, burning them to liquidy flesh. He continued, his masterful display of slaughter, continuing the complete death filled dance he found himself in. Eventually, he actually got bored, and dissipated the weapon, making two hatchet constructs, using them kill as many as he felt.

In between his mad massacring, he muttered, yelled and screamed at them. With one specific phrase being uttered over and over again.

"I'll make you pay!"

Who he directed it towards, was unknown to her, but it was clear who he was referring to.

A heavily armored man tried swinging his zanbato sword straight at him, but before Subaru could cut him down, he was shot on his cheek, falling over dead. Looking at the general direction in which the blast fired from, he watched Orlena reload her weapon and jog in his direction. He nodded and continued his attacking, continuing to seemingly enjoy it.

With Orlena joining in, the fleeing soldiers, turned right back around and cheered, as they knew as long as a Red Lantern was there, they had nothing to fear.

The fighting continued.

Subaru sat on a corpse minding his business, just watching Lugnican soldiers and even reserve Royal Guards combing through the deceased. Sensing someone coming up behind him, he glanced eerily, startling Orlena, who had two mugs with her.

"Um, sorry Natsuki-sama, but I thought you might be thirsty, so here's some lukewarm tea."
"Sure, thank you."

Taking the mug, he sipped on it, puckering his lips and fixing his posture.

"Sorry we couldn't do more, we had to rely on you in the end."
"Nah, I was passing by, and your commander was requesting help on his conversing mirror, so I decided to help out a bit."
"And the others? Frederica-sama, and Nijino-sama?"
"Frederica is helping take out a underground base and Nijino is providing assistance in bringing down a huge amount of bastards in a large temple, a few mountains away."

Orlena glanced, and sure enough there was a plume of smoke in the distance.

Feeling comfortable enough, she sat with her legs crossed, but she was obviously unsure of what to talk about.

After a brief, almost uncomfortable length of time, in complete silence…

"Hey Natsuki-sama."
"Hm?"
"Um, let's see, how do I put this? Where exactly does the Red Ring you have come from?"

He shifted his eyes directly at her, making her swallow saliva in panic, but he sighed and let the mug rest on the ground.

"I guess you might have a right to know, besides, everyone will find out eventually."
"Oh?"

However, many other nearby soldiers heard the conversation, and basically gathered around them at top speed. Just like that, Subaru was surrounded by a mob of people, like vultures surrounding a corpse.

Letting out a slight groan, he picked up a nearby branch and drew a circle.

"Alright, let's say that this circle represents the world we are in right now."
"Well of course Subaru-sama, where else would we be?"
"Now see this?"

He drew another circle, right next to it.

"This is where I am from."
"Huh? I don't understand, what does this mean?"
"Like I said, this is where I am from. I am from a world outside of this one."
"You-You are just joking, right?"
"No."

Stunned out of their minds, some were even baffled, beyond their understanding of things.

"Natsuki Subaru-sama! Are you meaning to tell us that, that, you are from beyond the Great Waterfall?!"
"Yes. And so is this ring. In fact, it's from another world entirely as well."
"WHAT?! There's another world?! How many are there?!"

He then made twig constructs and began making circles on the dirt, more and more, so many that they numbered in the hundreds. Finishes, he eerily glanced up at them, making a smirk, blood floating out of his mouth.

"Yeaaaah, that's not even a fraction, either."

Dumbfounded, silent, swallowing their breaths, and sweat dripping from their faces, no one could grasp this.

The very idea that their very life, was so astronomically benign in what seemed to be an infinite spectrum of worlds, it was scary for sure. Yet Subaru poked the stunned Orlena on her forehead.

"Should I continue?"
"Y-Yes please, um, where is this ring from?"
"Okay, ahem. It's from a world, filled with 'Super-Heroes'."
"Super? Heroes?"
"Yes, I world filled with both magic and technology. A world, of costumed vigilantes, giant monsters that make the WHite Whale look like a guppy, gods that can destroy entire planets, aliens, ghosts, and just so much more that it makes even my head spin."
"Oh...OH! OH! Is this a world we should be worried about?!"
"Well, if we fought that world one on one, even with Reinhard on our side, hahahaha, we'd lose spectacularly!"
"LOSE?"
"Yeah, some of these guys are tough, fast and strong. But we shouldn't worry too much, I got a friend on our side in that world."
"WHO?!"
"Atrocitus-shisho."
"Atrocitus?"
"Ahuh, my teacher, the first Red Lantern."

Those that were members of the Church of Crimson Truth, got on their knees and bowed to Subaru.

"Huh?"
"To inform us that the mighty and holy Red Lantern Corps was started by you and your teacher! Ah! Thank you Natsuki Subaru-sama! We shall spread the word! We will inform the people of the name of he who is the bearer of light! The one who started the heroes!"
"Oh okay?"
"May we be able to see what he looks like?"
"Sure."

Subaru did as asked, and he created a full scale construct of Atrocitus, shocking them with his intimidating figure, but all were enamored by the symbol on his chest.

It was as if they were looking at the Son of God.

And Subaru was the Patron Saint, an apostle of such a being. His stake was raised.

"Like he said, he is the first Red Lantern, representing rage in the Emotional Spectrum."
"Emotional Spectrum? Does that mean-"
"-On the nose there, Orlena-san. There is more than one Corps."

He created constructs of the emblems for each of the Corps, they easily recognized the Red Lantern Symbol, but were taken aback by the other symbols.

"What do these false Corps represent?"
"Heh, false Corps huh? Cute. Well, they all represent different emotions of the Emotional Spectrum, anyways, the ones Atrocitus-shisho warned us about, were these three."

He dissipated the others and left three symbols floating in front of them. He pointed at one on the left.

"This here is the Corps representing Fear, the Sinestro Corps."
"Sinestro?"
"Yeah, he's like the Atrocitus of the Yellow Lanterns, he egotistically calls his Corps that. But luckily, he's focused on his own thing, so we shouldn't have to worry too much about him."
"And the one on the far right?"
"Ah, that's Agent Orange. Or just the Orange Lantern, he represents Avarice."
"Wait, why'd you say he, and not them?"
"Kinda obvious right? Avarice, hm? There can only be one Lantern who uses that power, and yeah, he's scary strong. But if we stay clear of him, and not start trouble with him, he should be harmless?"
"Who is this Agent Orange?!"
"Larfleeze, I think is his name. That's all I know about him."

He then dissipated the two, and poked the middle symbol.

"But I was warned to beware this one in particular."
"Who?"
"The Green Lantern Corps, they represent courage. And boy, Atrocitus-shisho gave me specific details in how much of a menace they are. They attack the other Corps, enforce rules like a bunch of bullies and they are much more numerous than any of the other Corps."
"Should we be worried?"
"Well Orlena-san, I am really more nervous about these guys than the others. EVen with their leaders the Guardians being dead and their strongest Lantern, Hal Jordan being also deceased, their violent means and huge numbers, make them easily the biggest threat."

They went dead quiet as he dissipated the constructs, leaving them all to-

"Thank you Subaru-sama."
"Huh, what for?"
"Telling us this, we know we can trust you, it probably was so hard to tell us."
"Mostly I thought you wouldn't believe me."
"Maybe so, but after all the things you did for us, we can't say otherwise."

They raised themselves, and did a humble nod.

Subaru also got up, finishing the mug, and glancing into the distance, seeing the pops of explosions and the high pitched sonic boom noises of a certain diving Red Lantern.

"Our history lesson is over, whether we ever have a run in with the other Lantern Corps, is irrelevant right now. We're in the middle of a war for this world. Not some other one, but this one!"
"Yes sir!"
"Let's keep moving."

And so they did, Subaru walked for a bit, before raising his fist, his ring having him fly up into the air.

They followed him, into the heat of destruction.

Battle of the Three Mountains

Lugnica Casualties: 16,547

Kararagi Casualties: 215,100

The torii, one that looked like a regular old shinto shrine akin to Japan, was burning, and the large building, three stories tall was also smoldering. Men and women were in the drumming of war as they fired, stabbed and flung weapons everywhere. Then the torii was levitated and slammed down on an entire division, the perpetrator flew above this destruction. Skidding her feet across the bloody concrete tiles, Nijino glared at her enemies.

They ran to her, but her expert kicking, soon took care of them, she then flew forward, creating a giant hammer construct, smashing her enemies to bits. But as she rounded the corner, right above a small coy pond, she dodged a massive white fireball, which spread like napalm.

She floated over the flames, glaring at her attacker.

Wearing a robe, similar to Roswaal's, she was a tanned beauty wearing a intricate blue armor. Her raven black hair, matched her cold grey eyes.

"I have come to break this formation, and save this shrine. Achoo!"
"Well look at that. A filthy whore. Straight from the Kararagi Elite!"
"The Warriors Elite are nothing to scoff at! Achoo! A traitor like you, should just die and be forgotten by history! Achoo!"

Several spinning orbs of magic floated around herself, announcing herself as humbly as one could in this stressful situation.

"I am Nassau Bonney! 'The Magnificent of the Warriors Elite'! Ahcoo! My magic will end a disgraced life like yours easily! Achoo!"

She flung the beams at her, some of which bounced off her rings aura, but one slammed her through a window of the shrine. Nassau had to dodge a morningstar construct, but soon found herself face to face with her enemy. She fired a white beam from her fingertips, which cut Nijino's cheek, but followed it with a knee to the chin. This rocked her for a moment, but she shook her head and created two sai's made of pure blue magic. She attacked, before Nijino noticed her eyes glowed orange. She aimed her ring, and Nassau successfully fired beams from her eyes, which collided with the red beam from Nijino's ring.

The resulting shockwave, sent both of them flying back.

Catching themselves, Nassau sneezed yet again, but fanned her sai, blasting a shockwave at Nijino, who activated her Revenga Art, arming her legs. She kicked the attack which bounced and took a huge chunk of the shrine apart. She flung herself and landed a sharp and brutal strike on her shoulder. Retaliating, she had druidic symbols appear and slam right into Nijino blasting her back. With her nose bloody, Nijino roared out, spraying her smoldering blood onto Nassau, who screamed at the pain. Nijino then kicked her arm, which snapped like a twig. Nassau, filled with her own rage, aimed her palm.

"AL HAUTUR!"

A huge beam shot out, slicing through four entire mountains, it could be seen for miles away.

Surviving the attack, Nijino landed a kick on her chest, making her cough blood. She then followed it with a huge slap across the cheek then a wrist hit on her chin, once again rocking her. Nassau blindly fired foreballs all over the hill. But not one of them hit Nijino.

Nijino growled and caught Nassau's head in a frankensteiner move, snapping her feet shut. With a massive twisting of her entire body, she heard a snapping sound. Satisfied, with her own hideous grin, she freed her legs and the dead body tumbled down. Landing in the shrine, where it was cremated in the wild flames.

Nijino floated down, where she saw many Kararagian soldiers, pretty much run for their lives. They had lost the morale from earlier, the sight of Nassau being defeated, was too much.

Nijino watched the soldiers chase after them, in the distance Kararagian reinforcements were taken down by the arrival of two Zeppelins. Just then, Subaru landed by, he glanced around.

"How'd things go here?"

She brushed her hair, before winking at him.

"Not too bad. Very easy!"

He snickered, before she ran to him, doing a quick sloppy make out with him, before tapping his forehead and walking seductively away.

"Easy huh?"

Behind him, the shrine collapsed in on itself, the flames overtaking it.

Battle for Hakka Shrine

Lugnica Casualties: 10,014

Kararagi Casualties: 69,157

Within the catacombs of this eerie prison, Halibel and a short girl, covered in talismans...met with this chained up man. Suspended in chains and almost staring daggers at them.

"Hey, how is it going?"
"Not much, heh, just waiting to hear news from the outside. Heh, I can smell blood in the air, right?"
"Creepily correct as always. Yeah, we're in the middle of a war, all the Kingdoms are going against Lugnica...but it failed, big time, they've invaded us, and getting closer by the day."
"And the others? Heh?"
"...They're doing their best to push back the attacks. But we just got word, Nassau has been killed."
"Heh, damn. She was a strong magic user too. Things must be bad then."
"Naturally, we need an edge in this fight, we need you. But…"
"I get it, I get it, heh. If you let me outta here, I promise I won't go all crazy like last time."
"Crazy is pushing it, you went on a rampage and murdered those kids, even I would rather see you rot in here, for the rest of your life."

It went silent.

"But Kararagi is in danger. We need you, Garavito."
"Hell, heh, I'm in. I've waiting to carve up some flesh, biting my lips is way too boring for my taste. Heh."
"...Release him."

The mages obliged and used their mana to untangle the chains, allowing the completely buff and tall man to land on his feet. All over his body were cuts and tribal looking tattoos, his face and entire being had no hair. He walked over, wearing nothing but a speedo.

Halibel kicked over a suitcase, he opened it and smiled hideously, his single blue eyes and completely white one eerily shaped.

He retrieved his claw gloves, similar to that of Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street series, he also retrieved black pants covered in spikes. He also carefully put on a padded black vest, with him also putting on spiked elbow pads, knee pads and chin strap.

With that he also wore the bondage mask, pitch black, with a zipper covering his mouth and spikes all over it.

He opened the zipper and smiled.

"Listen Garavito, you need to get back with us, rejoin the Warriors Elite and finally redeem yourself."
"Heh, back as I used to be."
"...Yes, we need the 'Bloodthirsty of the Warriors Elite' back in the fold."
"Then consider these dragon fucks done!"
"...Welcome back then, Garavito Bianchi Chikatilo. Please do your best."
"NO PROBLEM, HEH!"

Walking out of his cell, he brushed past the terrified guards, once outside the underground prison, he took in a deep breath.

"So were' working with the other kingdoms, right? Heh, so is my half brother involved?"
"You know he lives in Gusteko, so he's fighting in their front. But if we win this, or when we win this, we'll get to see him, eventually."
"Heh, sure enough. I can't wait to get my claws back to being a beautiful cherry red. Ahh, heh, so much fun."

With this psycho in the ranks, Scheibe, "The Silent of the Warriors Elite", glanced over and sighed. Far off in the distance, the pillars of smoke were getting ever closer, and soon they would all have to step into this ever changing dance of death.

War for Kararagi, continued…

On the marshes of this area of the country, a three armed warrior, known as Delirante Konchu, "The Mysterious of the Warriors Elite", glanced through the slits of his komuso, something Subaru would gush over, readied his sword. Wearing his traditional monk like outfit, he pointed his sword a her.

"Leave miss, I'd rather not take down a girl like this."
"I heard you are the second strongest warrior this nation has to offer, is that correct?"
"Well, I am tied with an inmate of our prison, but for now, yes I am."
"...Then if I kill you, I'll demoralize this entire country, won't I?"
"The same could happen to you, right?"
"Maybe."

So she landed on the sticky mud, glaring her emerald eyes at him.

"I am Delirante Konchu, the warrior who defeat you, miss?"
"...Frederica...Frederica Priestella."
"Priestella? The city that sunk in your war against the Witch's Cult?"

"Indeed, I was reborn in that crumbling city, and in honor of it...I have decided to make my surname as such. To represent myself, as a daughter of Lugnica, and a proud Red Lantern!"
"...I'll remember to write it on your tombstone."

The third arm on his back, got another sword, and readied himself, the fight about to begin…

GUSTEKO THEATRE

Wearing a dress that matched the snowy environment, this large sized woman, who went by the name of Tiriena, sighed as she sipped on her tea. Looking out her window, it was blissfully snowing. Her husband was exiting the carriage, which had arrived, she smiled and rushed out to go see him. Once outside, she hugged him tightly, making him lose some air. But once he patted her back, she let him go, smiling beautifully. She took his hand and began walking with him, their servants bowed in a usual greet...when around the corner, a heavily clothed Lugnica soldier stepped out. Everyone froze.

The soldier stared wide eyed.

Tiriena trembled, terrified by the sight.

But behind him, more showed up, and instantly aimed their Metia Rods at them.

"DON'T MOVE! DON'T MOVE! NO TRICKS, NO PUNCHES, NOTHING! Keep still and no one gets hurt!"

As they yelled, a Conquistador rolled on behind them, aiming their main cannon straight at them.

"Please wait!"

Reinhard jumped down from out of nowhere, blood splotches on his uniform.

"Reinhard-dono!"

"They were allies in the past, please just take them alive! I'll take the verbal scolding later."
"S-Sure."

Still aiming their Metia Rods at them, they took everyone in, chaining their hands together and leading them away. As they made their way down the hill trails, all of them were amazed by the massive force heading their way. Thousands of soldiers, Conquistadors and experimental magic cannons were marching through the snow. With them, Tiriena let out a shriek when she saw Attero strutting near a Conquistador. It's red eyes glared at her, before he snarled, yet he got bored of terrifying her, so he looked away in arrogance.

Once placed inside a carriage, with other noble prisoners, they saw one of the magical cannons aim...and fire a multitude of beams, curving over the hills and blasting the area. Smoke rose up, and a red light flew through the air and dived down at that very area.

After a few minutes, the red light shot out of there and flew right next to the carriage, letting them see him.

Genau, stared blankly at them.

"New prisonerssss?"
"...Auh."
"Don't ssssay anything, it'ssss not worth it."

Genau flew away, and back to the men near her now stolen home. All she could do was watch as it got smaller and smaller, taken to be locked away in makeshift prison near the Lugnica border.

Genau let his feet touch the snow, which matched the pure white fur of his. Reinhard walked over, just to chat.

"How did it go?"
"Thisssss issss the third training basssse we've taken down. It'ssss ssssstupid, how weak thessssse men are. Mosssst of them, giving up too! How dumb."
"This country has powerful knights, but their actual military capabilities are strewn by issues, due to the gap in wealth and freedom here."
"I heard people join the military here, jusssst so they can get out of debtssss and being flat broke."
"That is sadly true."
"If I had a point to make, I'd ssssuggest, we jusssst bombard them from far away."
"We have to make sure civilians aren't caught in the battle.
"Hahhhhh, look Rein-"

Both of them sensed intense bloodlust, and they hopped away from the sudden attack. Snow flew up into the air, and all the soldiers got into their battle formations. But many of them had their heads blow up, at least thirty men died in this barrage of….PUNCHES.

"Wow! That was intense!"
"Please, let's focus, these two are incredibly troubling."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm serious!"

A woman, wearing a white fur coat and thigh high black boots, her tied back blonde hair matched her golden eyes, gorgeous ferocity. She had on black painted gauntlets, which had studs on the knuckles.

With her, a tall man with a ridiculously long beard, flowed down, up to his knees. Slick black hair, white eyebrows and a monocle, his sharp black eyes studied them up and down. He wore an elegant tuxedo with red shoulder armor. He swung around a thin whip like sword.

"Greetings, Sword Saint, Red Lantern. I myself am Xiali Victor Aruval the Third. This lovely beauty next to me, she is Serihy Kamoroff."

"Yo! We're part of the Squadron of Death! I'm the 'Fists of Justice' and he's 'The Keeper of Peace'! Cool right?!"
"Quite a crude way of putting it, but yes, those are our titles."

Genau snarled at them and Reinhard narrowed his eyes. He put out his hand, and like clockwork, a soldier tossed him a sword. Catching expertly, he took a step forward, and Genau did the same.

The two Squad members split up, picking their adversaries.

Genau vs. Serihy.

Reinhard vs. Xiali.

Charging forward, the men cheered ecstatic, as a bloody fight had begun.

Genau rolled down a snowy hill, before lobbing several spinning spike constructs at her, which she punched out of the air. She flipped over and punched the ground, making snow fly up and even made a crater ten times her size. Genau zipped forward and created Stegosaurus like spike constructs on his tail, which traded hits with her fists.

She rushed him and landed two punches across his face, which he beautifully edged out with a claymore construct across her face, then a mace construct on her stomach, lurching down from a curved hook, he struck her on the chest with a warhammer construct.

Unbelievably, she was smiling immensely from all this, bending her back uncomfortably, she landed a devastating uppercut on him, which let out a shockwave, sending some men flying in the air. Blood escaping her face, her eyes gleaming, she landed a monstrous 17 hit combo on him, before grabbing his arm and judo tossing him through a snow covered boulder.

He picked himself up coughing up blood, and staring daggers at her. She jumped at him, only to find chain constructs wrapping around her neck, he bit down on them and yanked her down. Once crash landing, she stomped on her head like any dog would before biting into her left forearm, she retaliated with seven well placed rapid punches to his face, he let go and hopped back.

She hopped back up and punched the air, shooting out a shockwave blast which blasted it's way to Genau, he roared out as his tail aimed and a red beam blasted the attack away, Serihy got low and dodged it.

Again and again, she tried to keep the distance with her shockwave punches, but Genau dashed side to side, kicking up snow and dirt to be best dodge them all. He then finally did the best thing possible, grinning so deviously it could send the biggest of men shivering harder in this cold hell.

"Revenga Art 1: Overkill!"

The curved blade constriuct in his mouth was bit down, and he practically disappeared from view, but Serihy got her moment and punched the attack, releasing actually sparks, electrical streams and a shockwave….just for her hand to get completely cut into pieces.

He made it next to Serihy, as she held her blood spilling hand, only to give him a grin.

"No one's ever hurt me this badly. Wow, you really are strong aren't you?"
"Hmph."
"Okay then."

They both made their move.

"LET'S DO THIS!"
"FUCKING DIE!"

In extreme speed and ferocity they attacked, such speed and crumbling air, made men watch breathlessly. Until finally, Genau landed his fangs on her neck, using his body weight to push her down. He ripped into, shaking his head, like any dog would once capturing its prey. He then yanked out her flesh, before she punched him on the neck, making him roll away. Picking herself up, she hobbled to him, large sections of her neck were ripped to shreds, near her windpipe the skin was hanging off as blood glooped out of the grisly wound.

Finally she winked weakly at him, fell face first onto the snow, and died. The snow around her becoming red like roses.

Genau spit out some blood, before kicking some snow on her, growling as he did. Hearing the sounds of battle across the hill from him, he knew Reinhard was still...messing around.

"C'mon, hurry up already."

Reinhard swung his sword, and effortlessly, like a child pushing away a butterfly, blocked all Xiali's strikes. He then skidded across the floor and fired ice spears at him, but his ominous skills as a Sword Saint, made it impossible for them to strike him.

Hearing the distant noises and seeing the snow flying into the air, Xiali sighed.

"It seems my dear Serihy is having the time of her life against that Ma-Beast you brought with you Reinhard-san."
"The same could be said for Genau."
"I find it audacious that you actually named that freak."
"...Genau still is a beast through and through, yet he yearns to protect his 'family' and sadly, that means participating in this war."
"Ghoulish response at best, Reinhard-san."

He then waved his hand against his sword, the blade glew orange with blue swirls of energy flowing through it. Through his Divine Protections Reinhard analyzed it, coming to a conclusion.

"You have enhanced the blade with heat of fire magic, before using water magic swirl around the blade, this allows the blade to cut through even the strongest of materials."
"How astute of you."

He charged and once again used masterful swordplay against, Reinhard, only for the Sword Saint to knee him on the chest, sending him careening back, just for a backflip to land him back on his feet.

Reinhard let out a out of character groan and charged him, slapping him across the face so hard, it broke his monocle and bruised half his face. Reinhard got low and dodged a curving slice, making his hand strike his chest, which incidentally touched his heart, without breaking the skin. That moment of well placed precision, made Xiali lose balance and almost pass out, but he bit his lips. Releasing a flurry of sword strikes, Reinhard nonchalantly made through it, and karate chopped downward, cutting open his chest. Reinhard then ddi a rapid hop and landed a headbutt on his chin, breaking his jaw into pieces.

Trying to get away, he zipped back, but Reinhard made it behind him, in a astonishing sweeping motion, kicking him in the ribs and easily snapping two of them, which pierced his lungs.

Xiali made a blind slice at him, but only cut a piece of his hair. Stumbling back, he heaved and panted as he was a complete mess, but he got the courage to fight on...only to see Genau sitting on some piled up snow, watching the fight.

"Serihy?"

His eyes widened, his clattering, as Genau yawned, showing him the blood covering his teeth.

"No. No! That's Impossible! She couldn't have-"

Yet it was these words, that were his last. That moment of distraction, for someone he held dear...as Reinhard ducked down, hsi sword shining blueish damnation and swung it up. This obliterated everything just above his chest, sword included.

Reinhard won his fight.

Sniffing against the snow, Genau chewed on some ice to clean his teeth of the excess blood. Far off in the distance, they both could see the plumes of smoke, and on the newly conquered Nobles Estate, a Conquistador fired it's 'presents' to the areas needed, taking out more Gusteko men into the afterlife.

"The capital isssss really far away from usssss, right?"
"Correct, we need to head more north east of here, and let the rest of our divisions disperse the enemy."
"Hmmm, good idea. Givesssss ussss more of a chance to at least attract the ssssstronger dudessss and take them down."
"That is one way of putting it."

Suddenly, they felt a gust of wind blast through the area, and looking over his shoulder, Reinhard saw who it was.

"Oh no."

A woman, wearing a light blue fur coat and green hair indicative of an axolotl horns, glared her bright orange eyes at them.

"The Sword Saint dares to invade my land, kill my people does he? And you bring a bloodthirsty beast with you as well?! I see I must aid in the punishment of your wretched country-"

Without a moment to speak further, Genau tackled her into a hillside, covered in armor constructs.

"Sssstupid yapping bitch."
"Genau! What have you done?!"
"Huh?"
"That's Odglass! The Great Spirit of this nation, considered it's founding mother."
"Oh….Reinhard help me kill her."
"Damn."

Reinhard unsheathed his Dragon Sword, as it began drawing in mana.

"I need some time, please distract her!"
"Can do!"

Genau flew into the air, opening a Blood Portal which he flew through, then came back out, with a chained up meteor, making it crash into the spot Odglass was.

He then made it over hurling his blood at her, which she blocked with a barrier. She stomped the ground and fog attacks similar to the White Whale attacked, Genau masterfully flew around them, like a damn fighter jet.

He then made a rolling spiked ball construct attack her, but she used water tentacles to slam it away, making her unable to block a scythe construct, which made her scrape across the hillside. She kicked off the rocks and used a blue shockwave to slam him across the snow. Once again firing the fog attacks, Genau once again boomed through the air, honestly making himself maneuver and fly like something a modern jet could not even compete with.

Finally, Reinhard's trusty Reid, the sword passed down the Sword Saint lineage shined like a mini blue sun. He jumped into the air, and aimed his sword down, plunging towards her. Trying to block the attack, she found herself wrapped in chain constructs.

"BEAST!"
"Bwahahahahaha! DIE! GO, BROTHER REINHARD!"

He did, his sword breaking through the barrier and stabbing right into her chest, she erupted into a huge pillar of blue light, which cut a hole into the clouds, showing the dawn filled sky.

With specks of white light fluttering away, Reinhard sheathed his sword again. Genau landed by, raising his paw, for a moment nothing happened...but Reinhard gave a weak smile and shook his paw.

"Ready?"
"Exactly!"
"Still using that word improperly, but I get your feelings through it?"
"...I think I ussssed it right."

Grumbling his words, Reinhard and Genau returned to their cheering soldiers, as they would continue their draining push to take down Gusteko.

All the fronts, kept on moving.

Battle of the Tempir Hills

Lugnica Casualties: 178

Gusteko Casualties: 18,900

LUGNICA

Near the walls that were created very close to the Kararagi border, several men watched from a tree. Separating the wall from the border, was a large lake. In the end, this General, Tora Himura, nodded and motioned to his men.

With him...200,000 men and women, with large dragons, an ogre and several cannons.

They decided to use illusionary magic to create a massive fog which would help in their amphibious invasion of the country.

With the signal given, the army activated the spell, and fog spread out, covering a vast amount of the immediate area. Sure enough, they got on boats and had begun trying to travel close to the wall, even hoping to blow a hole in it and try to hunker down, making this very spot a beginning point to counterattack this nation, waiting for reinforcements to eventually catch up.

Like that, the commander was on the large wooden boat, as men rowed them closer and closer. The thick fog made it impossible to see, but they hoped nothing would be detremental in this mission.

The sounds of the boats tapping rocks and water slowly wanning, made it clear they made it across. Dismounting, these thousand men quietly marched up the hill...got behind a small trench, and looked up.

A faint light was seen.

Suddenly the fog busted, blowing their cover. The faint flair of a Nightbanisher spell smothered itself out.

At the top of the hill, men, women, even some children aimed their Metia Rods straight at them.

"OH COME-"
"_FIRE!"

They did, and a hail of beams rained down on them, killing almost half of these men. The commander was saved as a man died right in front of him, taking the brunt of the hit. He looked back and tried to signal the other boats following them, to stop. But one boat exploded sending men flying into the air, the lake water continuously erupted from far off hits by their magic cannons.

The commander crawled across the ground, his samurai armor not making things easier. Beams flew across the air, as stragglers were mowed down. In viewing point in the wall, three men set up a Panther gun and fired wildly across the lake, others followed suit. The remaining men made mad dashes to escape the attacks, but many were too slow and were injured or simply killed.

The Ogre they brought with them, went around with several men, using the trees as cover. They were assured that they had made it away from the sheer onslaught.

But suddenly a Conquistador stormed through the trees and fired it's main cannon. It blasted a hole straight through the Ogre, making it collapse right on top of three men, killing them.

They tried to get around it, but the ports on the side, still had men with Metia rods and they would fire on them. Left with no choice they ran back, only to be slaughtered by the sudden appearance of Church members carrying a Panther gun. They roared out as they took a position on a timbered log and helped each other fire into the chaos.

Like a pure scene of hell on Earth, smoke, fire on the water and shots of light flinging down into the smoke ridden and dust filled battlefield.

The commander tried to get his bearings and hopefully swim across, to escape this mess of an operation.

Yet it was when the magic cannons, hidden far into the forest where they invaded from, suddenly lifted in the air with red light, only to be tossed back down and explode...did he know.

"No! NO! WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY!"

Sure enough, a red streak of light flew over him, high in the sky.

"RED LANTERN!"

In particular, it was Ovidius who made his entrance.

He flew across the air, dodging fire from the cannons with expert air maneuvering. He then shot down and fired electrical bolts from his iconic Metia. Killing some, he then tossed it, yes, it.

"Revenga Art 2: Reflektor Cubes!"

The cube erupted into countless others, slaughtering over a hundred men in the process.

"Not enough."

He then created a curved blade constructs and swung it, which sliced through men, trees and boulders. He saw two more cannons, which the men were turning trying to fire directly at him.

He shook side, from side to side.

"My goodness, how nice of you."

He shot through the air and killed them with various knife and sword constructs. He then levitated the cannons with his ring and flew up to the air. Getting them just close to him, so his hands could reach the back of them, and aiming them at the fleeing army.

"Ahaha, now this really, seems unfair."

The cannons began to shine, as thousands of constructs of pikes appeared.

"OH WELL."

With no mercy, or distinction of humanity in his voice, he fired them.

The cannons blasted the ground, the pikes stabbed into people and the complete senseless slaughter, a massacre had begun.

The entirety of this forest was aflame, explosions as far as his sight could envision. One could look away, this was no longer a fair conflict, not here. No, this was beating a dead horse, these men had no desire to continue fighting. Yet Ovidius would not allow escape, they already had enough prisoners, enough guinea pigs for his experiments. These were just a nuisance.

A gathering of cockroaches.

And he had to smash them.

Until none were left.

The commander, watching the complete destruction ahead of him, slammed his fist onto the dirt.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Then he heard steps behind him.

Glaring back, was a beauty unlike any he had seen before. White hair, brown eyes, elegant black dress and a long red scarf.

"Pitiful sight, I suppose."
"Who are you?!"

Brushing her hair away, she answered.

"Betty is Beatrice."
"Beatrice? Just Beatrice?"
"...Hmmm, you're right, in this new body, I should really make up a distinguished name. Shouldn't I, I suppose? That is the case in fact."
"Huh?!"
"Since Betty was born there, reborn there and made so many memories there...Betty can use that."

She hugged her elbows, sneering down at the exhausted man.

"I am Beatrice, Beatrice Sanctorum. A play on words for Betty's home, I believe Subaru said it was something called Latin, I suppose. Not sure really."

"Why should I care about that monster or what he calls you?!"

"Hm?"
"I swear, when I get out of here...WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE! Urhk! I'll get even with you! All of you! I'll kill all of you! Including Natsuki Subaru!"

Beatrice tapped her chin, disappointed in what this man said.

"Goodness, what a fool you are."
"What was that?!"
"Had you said nothing, and given up, we merely would have taken you in as a high prize prisoner, I suppose. But your awful threats directed at Betty, at Betty's friends, and finally at Betty's beloved Subaru...LEAVES BETTY WITH NO CHOICE."

She fired four Minya spears, obliterating his arms and legs, not even giving him a chance to do anything.

He screamed in agony at his predicament.

"DAMN YOU! FUCK YOU! YOU HAG! BITCH! AUGHHH! MY COUNTRY WILL DEFEAT YOU!"
"Even if that does occur, which Betty calculates at being from slim to abysmal, you can see it from the next life...I SUPPOSE."

She kicked him, making him fall into the lake.

Limbless, wearing heavy armor, he began to sink.

Taking in big gulps of water, and unable to do a single thing, he kept sinking, until he hit the bottom of the lake. There, he let out a howl, unheard by anyone, but seen by the bubbles he let out.

Surrounding him, were his fellow men, sunk down to their watery graves.

Soon he ran out of air.

Ran out of thoughts.

Ran out of life itself.

The invasion was over.

Ovidius soon flew down, his feet barely scraping across the surface of the water. He landed elegantly as Beatrice walked over to him.

"This went on a little too long, don't you think, I suppose?"
"Maybe so, but remember, these people are just draftees and volunteers. We have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Besides they did well right?"
"All things considering, they did excellently."
"Truly so."

Ovidius sat on a dead body, elbow on one of his knees.

"And the commander?"
"...He probably died in the fight, I suppose."
"Yeah, that was surely a chaotic slaughter. Welp, can't get mad over spilled milk, let's get this mess cleaned up."
"And shall we, you know?"
"Yeah, we'll clear up this burnt up forest and make bases, help out with long distance strikes."

Beatrice stared at the completely destroyed Kararagi forests and sighed.

"Subaru."
"Don't worry, he should be fine. Regardless of how much we are worried about all of them, we should focus on our jobs. It's the one way we can help."
"...Alright, I suppose."

A small breeze blew through this devastated area, leaving Ovidius to stand up and catch a piece of ash in his hand.

It was snowing...ashes.

Blanketing this graveyard, as if it was the only send off these dead would ever get.

The Invasion of Lugnica

Lugnica Casualties: 12

Kararagi Casualties: 193,213

Emilia sat on a couch, looking out the window, across from her, Ram laid on a bed.

Emotionless, tired and quiet.

"Ram?"

"..."

"Don't worry Ram, when this over, we'll get you the help you need."

"..."

"I'm sure, we can help. All of us, Subaru included, can find a way."

"...Su-baru?"
"Yeah."

She rolled over in her bed, facing away from Emilia and hugged an extra pillow.

Emilia went quiet, as the disembodied voice spoke to her.

"Emilia-sama, please, let us leave Nee-sama. She just needs time."
"Okay."

Emilia got up and left, taking the necklace with her.

Ram laid there, clawing into her pillow.

"Who?"

Tears rolling down her eyes.

"Who do I kill?"

And before she went quiet.

"What do I do, with all this...hate?"

Ram fell asleep, emotionally drained.

Ignored by the rest of the world, this war kept its rhythm of death on pace.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AN: Next time, Red Lanterns, more fights, more foreign sights, OH MY!

Chapter 26: "The Damage Is Done" See ya!