Author's note
Hi guys. So here's the next chapter. Sorry to make you guys wait but this is a long chapter...well, long by my standards...so I hope it makes up for the delay. Anyways, I will be going back to the first person POV next month. Also I will be trying to make each chapter longer than the last. If there is any advice on that it would be greatly appreciated. Lastly any general feedback is also greatly welcomed.
Now enjoy the story!
Chapter 10
"They walked right into the trap Tom! Sparta High walked right into it!" Jerry commentated as he stood up in excitement. "And that ambush on Sparta High's Command Platoon! It was perfect! They were completely wiped out!"
"It was expected for Sparta High to walk right into the ambush Jerry. Afterall, TOR High is well known to follow their standard three line tactic." Tom explained. "No one would expect them to use an ambush. What would be interesting to see is how TOR High finish the encirclement and how Sparta High cope with it."
"You have a point there! Since TOR High hardly uses ambush tactics, they may not be able to perform it to the degree that would end the match!" Jerry concluded. "Oh look! The encircling group is closing in on Sparta High's Second Platoon on the right. They are not slowing down even after wiping out Sparta High's Command Platoon!"
"Boss! Second Platoon is taking heavy fire from the rear! Flag Platoon is assisting but facing resistance! I don't think they will make it in time!" Satoshi yelled out to Keiji. "I thought the Command Platoon was on its way to-"
"That means they're gone! Kyoji cap those machine gunners! Takashi get us an escape route and a new position!" Keiji called out. He already knows the fate of Command Platoon when he heard the Second Platoon was taking fire from the rear. It was supposed to be the direction that Command Platoon was coming from. He then tapped to his senior on the shoulder. The man and his squad has not yet been committed to any action and has thus far only been returning fire to the front. "Get your squad and make contact with Second Platoon! Reinforce them and help them to withdraw! Satoshi will relay the orders!"
"We withdrawing?!"
"Chain of command is gone! We are getting shot from everywhere! We need a better spot!" Keiji explained. Though he supports going down fighting he rather it not be in such a one sided manner. "We need a new spot to keep fighting you get me!?"
"Yes sir!" The senior replied quickly sprinting off. "My guys lets go!"
"C'mon boys! Let's go!" Ohgi, the third year leader of Flag Platoon said as his group trudged through the jungle. There was no sense of urgency in his group. It was after all a sideshow. Since the school has already got its spot in the competition, this match is just for them and newbie Keiji and his squad to flex their muscle. There was no need to give all their effort. If the opposing team were to demand for their surrender Ohgi would jump on it without a second thought. Half way through the forest, two hidden light machine guns open up on his platoon from the front. "Let's just get this over with."
"Shrink down the perimeter! We gotta hold out until help arrives!" Second Platoon's leader, Shiro, announced as he tries to keep the remnants of his platoon together. "Heavy weapons target those to the right and marksmen get those at the rear!"
"Hey! We're here to get you guys out! This place is shit!" The squad leader Keiji sent announced as he approached Shiro while his men added their guns to the depleted ranks of the Second Platoon. Shiro was about to argue when one of his men called out to him. Looking up, he can see why.
"Ya I think we gotta go now! Heavy weapons as reaguard the rest pull back! Have your men lead the way!" Shiro said as he gets his group ready to move.
"Negative! My job is to get you guys out! My marksmen will lead you guys out! The rest of us will rearguard!" The squad leader said as he rush to meet the advancing TOR High students. "My guys lets go! Marksmen get Second Platoon out!"
As nearly depleted Second Platoon hurried about, their opponents on the right, all twenty students of TOR High's first year platoon, started a rapid advance towards them. The rearguard resisted as best as they could. But they were unable to resist for long. Even though the machine gun fire from the rear has lessened significantly, they still faced fire from two different direction. To compound matters, the more experienced third year student towards the north are also advancing just as Second Platoon starts to withdraw. The result was the complete elimination of the entire rearguard of four person in the first ten seconds of the withdrawal by roughly thirty guns of TOR High. Needless to say Second Platoon was next and only six students managed to reach Keiji's First Platoon.
While Second Platoon withdraw, Flag Platoon was repositioning itself to take on its attackers when they too were ambushed. This time, by some of the third year TOR High students who were firing at the rear of Second Platoon. However, the ambush lacked the firepower needed to be effective. But it has served its purpose, to stop any reinforcements and to box in the bulk of their opponents. This ambush also presented TOR High's students with an unexpected opportunity of ending the match quickly by capturing Sparta High's Flag. Sensing the blood in the water, the TOR High's Third years, led by Tanaki the captain of the team, started to manoeuvre to isolate Flag Platoon and end the match.
On the stands the audience watched the development eagerly, cheering as each development became more intense than the last. Some cheered for TOR High to keep up the pressure while some cheered for Sparta High to turn things around. But soon it became clear that Sparta High is losing to many students at too high of a rate. The outcome is becoming more certain by the minute.
"What an incredible push by TOR High! Not only did they wipe out over half of Sparta High's students but they have managed to locate Sparta High's flag and is now isolating them!" Jerry narrarrated.
"Don't count Sparta High out yet Jerry. Look, they are sending a squad to link up with the flag group. They are most likely trying to withdraw towards the south western end of the map. Let's hope for Sparta High's sake that it will turn out better than that earlier attempt." Tom said without missing a beat. Sparta High cheered more eagerly at the news in the hopes that the situation can be salvaged. But the endeavor has cost Sparta High another nine students. Events are steadily turning against them.
'Alright! Flag is with us! We getting the fuck out!" Keiji announced as he and the remainder of Sparta High's team quickly fled to a more defendable position on the south west end of the map with the hill on the on their left to slow down any TOR High's advance from that direction. At this point, every cell in Keiji's body are screaming in pain at every movement made by him. His head is now a pounding mess and his vision sometimes blurred. At times he can feel the world spinning around him and nausea a constant companion at this point. However, he would not rest. Not yet. He and his friends has trained too hard and sacrificed too much blood sweat and tears for him to stop the match and call for medical aid now. He would see this match to its end, whatever that end might be, before he would surrender himself to the medical personnel that is on standby. Just as his vision focused itself again, he noticed two TOR High students unleashed a barrage on a squad from the Flag Command. He yelled out in frustration as he opened fire in their general direction.
"Nee-chan. What are you watching?" Miho asked her elder sister as she entered the living room of their home in Kumamoto City. It is her first year in Kuromorimine and she is currently on study break. Though she rarely has idle time even on these break, she actually have free time today as her mother is away on Senshado matters and Maho has already done the tasks her mother has given her.
"Hi Miho. A friend mentioned about SurCom while I was in Kuromorimine. She said that it is exciting and that I should try watching it." Maho said as she gestured her sister to join her. "I think this is a qualifying match for one of the larger tournament."
"It looks violent." Miho commented.
"But interesting. The tactics at least." Maho pointed out as she relaxed her posture and lean back on the sofa. "The match is decided. There is not enough men for Sparta High to win."
"And I think they are being cornered."
"Yes they are." Maho agreed. "But that one seemed to be driving his team to fight harder. He seemed interesting." Maho added pointing a student who seemed to be directing the others before returning fire at two of his opponents. Something about him piqued her interest. She continued to watch it for a while before the program went to commercial.
"Alright guys! Semicircle defense! Any person that is not Sparta High is to get a face full of simunition!" Keiji shouted as as they have finally reached their new position south of the hill on the west side of the map. Though not much, there were some large boulders and fallen trees that can serve as cover for were lucky that Takashi noticed it when they passed by the area.
'No. It was not luck. That gaming addict of a moron can recite the Bible backwards with just a quick glance. It's not a question that it was his memory that saved chicken shit of a genius is a blessing from the gods. Or a plot device. I can't decide with this fucking headache.' Keiji thought to himself.
The situation soon stabalised as TOR High's momentum is shattered against the defensive line of Sparta High. However, not all credit could be lay upon Sparta High itself. TOR High rarely conducted their battles in such a manner and now it begin to show its effects. Due to their inexperience in fighting with a different students, they are forced to put more effort towards maintaining communications and their combat capacity has weakened significantly as the situation became more fluid and requires fast and unified action. The inexperience in planning has dispersed the students on to wide area. It served them well initially when the shock of the ambush was in effect but now they found themselves lacking concentrated firepower everywhere. With the loss of momentum, TOR High stopped their assault to reorganise.
A lull is forced upon the battlefield. Both sides use this opportunity to take stock of their situation. Sparta High take stock of their ammo and men. They busied themselves by adjusting and digging in on their position. The result was a convex shaped formation with every gun facing outwards. They still have to decide on what to do next. TOR High also take stock of their ammo and men. They, however, busied themselves to reorganising and had reformed their standard three line formation with the flag at the centre of the last line. They ended up with three concave shaped formation with every gun facing inwards towards the remains of Sparta High. They had long planned for their next course of action and move to execute it.
"Welcome back folks! A short recap for those tuning in right now!" Jerry announced excitedly as the program came back on. "TOR High has successfully ambushed Sparta High resulting in Sparta High being cornered at the south western part of the map with only twelve Sparta students left in the match. While TOR High still have forty seven students left! What will happen now!? Can Sparta High pull off a miracle from this!?"
"I share in your excitement Jerry. This is an unusual match considering how TOR High has play up to this point. What would happen next is anybody's guess." Tom said and paused as he looked at the small screen in front of him. "And it looks like there is more drama from Sparta High."
As things settled down for Sparta High, Keiji discussed what to do next with Ohgi, the only other officer left in the team. Ohgi is suggesting a surrender. They had already participated in their third match and guaranteed an entry into ANSC so there is no need to have the team to remain in the match and risk the possibility of injury. This is, afterall, a combat sport and there is a higher chance of injury as compared to other sports. If any of the skilled members got injured, there is a lower chance of victory in ANSC and they want a win in that. Keiji on the other hand disagreed with him. To him it would be against what Sparta High stood for. There is a reason why the school's motto is 'To always keep fighting'.
"I admit there's no way we can win. But that doesn't mean we should surrender." Keiji said taking off his mask to get some fresh air. The nausea he felt earlier is getting worse and every second is a torture.
"We surrender so that we can perform in the actual tournament here man." Ohgi said slightly annoyed by his junior's persistence. But he is more concern about his junior's health at this point. The match started with his face a little pale but now, Keiji's face is sickly green. Clearly the guy is unwell. This match is like a side quest and Ohgi rather no one suffer any injury that would likely lead to them losing the actual tournament. "Do you even care about winning the tournament?"
"It's not about the winning. Its-" Keiji struggled saying before he felt heaving in his chest and quickly rushed to the side and released his breakfast and possibly last night's supper and dinner into the dirt.
The initially he only heaved out some of his stomach's content and for the briefest of moment, Keiji dared hope that that was the end of that. His hopes were quickly dashed as the next contraction in his stomach quickly and violently emptied out the rest of its content. And when his mouth proved insufficient for the evacuation, some of the content diverted to his nasal cavity and exited from there. Soujiro quickly rushed to his friend's side and stroke Keiji's back to soothe the poor guy. After finishing the deed, Keiji wiped off any dribble of stomach foulness from his nose and mouth with the back of his right glove. He then rested his back in a rock as he catch his breath. Soujiro wordlessly gave him a bottle of water and Keiji thanked him as he rinsed his mouth of the myriad of foul taste that has now camped in his mouth. Due to the violent sudden surge on the second round, Keiji's heart was now pounding at a very fast pace while his breathing has quickened. And as far as Keiji is concern, the ache in his body has lifted somewhat and he can feel his senses heightened.
"Looks like one of Sparta High's student isn't feeling too hot" Tom commented looking at the small screen between him and Jerry.
"No kidding Tom! Did you see how much chunks he hurled out just now!? Oh crap! And just when I think this match has reached its climax!" Jerry said while cringing at the thought of that student vomiting. "Who was that guy anyway? I don't recognise his squad badge! Is he one of the newcomer!?"
"Yes I believe he is." Tom said before the screen once again caught his attention. "But it looks like it is about to get more interesting Jerry."
On the announcer's small screen, the camera is on a first year student from TOR High approaching Sparta High's defensive line waving a white flag. Mid-way between both lines, he stood still and hold up the white flag to declare his intentions to deliver a message to Sparta High. After giving them a moment to process, he then turned three hundred and sixty degrees to show that he is not armed. Receiving the all clear from Sparta High, he continued his walk to Sparta High. The messenger was stopped ten metres from Sparta High and was asked to deliver the message from there.
"Sparta High, you are surrounded and have no hope of winning here. Captain Tanaki from TOR High demands your surrender!" The messenger declared and announce that an answer is expected in ten minutes and a ceasefire will be in effect before returning to his line.
"Oh my god! Tom! Are you hearing this!?" Jerry yelled out as he excitedly shakes Tom. "A demand for surrender! Even though this sports allows it, hardly anyone ever tries it! For a preliminary match this is truly something to incredible!"
"Yes it is. Calm down Jerry. And only done when the situation looks bad for the other team." Tom answered his hyperactive friend and adjusted his wrinkled clothes "Looks like there is some commotion behind Sparta's defensive line. I think they maybe debating on the surrender demand."
Suzaku watched the unveiling events of the match near the giant screen. He and the rest of the students who were out had cleared the battlefield and are now at a resting area for participants. Most of his teammates were not even interested in the match. They were chatting with each other or minding their own business. The only other person who is giving the match any interest was the captain of the SurCom team.
"Do you think the rookie will act like you hope?" Suzaku asked the captain.
"That one's a hard worker. He practiced longer and harder than the rest of us. And his squad always practice with him. You don't get that following with half ass convictions. That rookie has the will that could move mountains." The captain answered looking at the screen. Nearby, he can hear a woman yelling at their coach and medical personnel while her husband was trying to calm her down. She was demanding that medical aid is to be dispatch immediately.
"You are sick and need a doctor Keiji. That surrender demand is a good chance for us to end the match now and do that." Ohgi explained, earning agreement from every Sparta High student there. "Don't worry about it. This match is not that important so we don't need to win it. We need to save our strength for-"
"Is that all of you think of!? Is that what Sparta High is about!? Only winning the fucking tournament!?" Keiji yelled out losing his patience. He glared at every senior present as he got on his feet. "'To always keep fighting'! That is the Spartan way! I joined this damn school because of that value! I joined SurCom believing in it! I did not join to win big matches or to gain fame! I will be attacking TOR High myself if need be! You can all surrender after I am out!"
Keiji then trudged off to the rear of the line. After a moment of silence, Soujiro and the rest of Keiji's squad excused themselves and went after their squad leader. The group of seniors are now alone with their thoughts. His words had cut deeper than any of them thought possible. Where had they went wrong?
As far as they could remember, they were like full of fight like their junior when they first joined the school. They all knew of Sparta High's value and most of them were inspired by it. To fight to the bitter end, never to give up or surrender. Be it in a competition or a last minute rush of homework. When they first joined the school, they all had the spark that they saw in their junior. So what went wrong? How have their fighting spirit rot so much?
They remember joining SurCom and winning uncountable matches with that value engraved in their hearts like all students before them. Those victories were their pride. It was their fame. They wanted more. They wanted to win higher level competition. They wanted more pride and fame like their seniors. So they followed in their senior's footsteps and focus on the victories instead. There was no denying it, they threw away the value that they had hold so dearly for pride and fame. For the first time since they had joined the never ending pursuit for pride and fame, they were ashamed. They were ashamed that they had so casually tossed their values aside. They were ashamed that it took the outburst of their sick junior to make them understand what they had done.
"What happened to us?" Ohgi asked to no one in particular with a disappointing groan as he rubbed his neck. Around him, his teammates quietly agreed with him. They had strayed away. Everyone in the school had.
"You guys going to talk me out of it?' Keiji asked Soujiro and the rest of his squad as they joined him. He was studying the map, trying to figure out what can be done.
"Talk you out of something stupid?" Kyoji asked rhetorically. "We are stupid enough to be your friends so there won't be any of that." He then proudly hold up his Dragunov sniper rifle and reloaded a fresh magazine. "Besides, you need the hand of god to do the shooting."
"I don't know about the stupid part Kyoji said but I can agree with the joining you part" Takashi said.
"And I already had my broadcast pack approved by the SurCom Committee." Satoshi said showing his radio pack. "It'd be a shame if I didn't get to use it."
"And when all is done, you will need someone strong enough to haul your sickly ass to medical aid." Soujiro said and the five of them shared a short light hearted laugh.
"We will be joining you as well" Ohgi declared as he and the others approached Keiji and his group.
"Why the change of heart?" Keiji asked with a smile.
"What kind of senior would we be if we were to let our juniors attack alone?" Ohgi said patting Keiji on the shoulder. "We are sorry for our attitudes. We used to be like you. We would like to be again."
"And we would like you to teach us." Someone added.
"Besides, I think I have an idea of how those sneaky TOR High would be deployed now." Ohgi said with confidence.
"Well what do you have for us senpai?" Keiji asked now having more faith in his senior's resolve.
"I say they redeployed back to their standard three line formation." Ohgi said as he arranged some sticks to show what he was talking about. "They know they had us cornered. To maintain that they would need to have a tight surround in case we get any ideas. The ten minutes is to let us scout to see how hopeless it is. With that said, this is their best formation and it will be hard to break."
"How will we break their line boss? If what Ohgi said is true we will be taking heavy losses." Soujiro said.
"To be strong everywhere means that they are weak everywhere." Keiji said looking at Ohgi's makeshift map. He then pointed behind TOR High's lines."We will just need to punch through their lines. Even if we lose the match I want them to know that Spartan do not surrender."
"You going for the flag?" Ohgi asked.
"No. We don't have the manpower to hold it. But we will make them think that that is what we are going to do. Instead we will aim to wipe them out."
"You sure about this?" Ohgi asked unsure if it would work.
"It's a stupid plan." Kyoji said said with an over confident smile on his face. "That would be what they least expect and that is why it would work!" Soujiro and the other two agreed with him.
"You guys are all crazy." Ohgi said before getting up. "But then again, so is 'To always keep fighting.' Let's do it."
"One more problem though." Soujiro said once the finer details of the plan was worked out. "It is time like this that a rousing speech should be given."
"You serious?" Ohgi asked as if Soujiro has lost his mind.
"Very. It would jinx the whole thing if we didn't." Soujiro answered in a serious tone.
"Well, since this is Keiji's plan…" Ohgi said looking at Keiji. "Would you do us the honor?"
"Uh...okay I guess." Keiji said awkwardly and cleared his throat as he figure out what to say. "The phrase 'Come back with your shield or on it.' It is a cheer to send off anyone who is going for any competition. Many thought that means victory at any cost because you only come back on your shield when you are dead and your body is transported on the shield. What it actually means is that even if it cost you your life do not surrender. Because to come back with the shield means that you would have died holding it."
"So it means that you never surrender even if it means you die." Ohgi concluded.
"Yea. So let us fight to the bitter end I guess?" Keiji said in an uncertain tone.
"You can suck at speeches at times." Kyoji said bluntly.
"Oh! Can I use my broadcast system?" Satoshi said raising his hand like a small kid asking for permission. "I got it approved and everything!"
"What broadcast system?" Ohgi asked in a confused tone.
Satoshi puts on additional hearing protection and unveiled the pack he has been carrying throughout the battle. Everyone's jaw dropped as they gawked in awe at the so-called broadcast system Satoshi had been carrying around like a bag pack. The whole rig consist of several portable mini speakers that is somehow connected to an iPod and hooked up to a motorcycle battery at the bottom of the rig. He then explains that he can use a bluetooth controller to select any song he so chose to play as well as being able to have some of the speakers rotate to blast the music forward by use of some swivels and hinges.
"They actually approve that?" Ohgi asked out of disbelief.
"Wasn't easy though. I tell you the revisions I had to go through to get this. Ugh." Satoshi said with a groan.
"At least the enemy may pause and wonder what was going on giving us time to attack. Maybe we can even scare the crap out of them." Keiji said impressed by his friend's ingenuity. Ohgi breaks out laughing as he smacked Satoshi on the shoulder to show his approval. Everyone soon returned to their positions to get ready for the final stand.
With the ten minutes up, it is finally time for Sparta High to answer TOR High's demand. The crowd is restless. Both announcers were on the edge of their seats. There was some discussion from Sparta High but its content was unknown to everyone not present. Suzaku and the captain sat quietly observing. Nearby, a woman is sitting down on a chair provided by the organising committee with her husband apologising to Sparta High's coach for causing a scene. Medical aid will be dispatched as soon as the match ends. Maho, from the comforts of her home, imagined her Senshado team in Sparta High's position and is currently running simulations in her mind on what she could do while Miho watched the match curiously.
"Sparta High! Your reply!" The messenger shouted from his line. He then hears what appeared to be a banjo playing from Sparta High. Confused he looked at his platoon commander for some instructions only to find him and the rest of the platoon equally stunned by the music
"TOR High! We fight to the end! Open fire!" Keiji yelled out just as the music switched to a mix of metal and punk rock. It is Ready to Die by Andrew W.K. Satoshi had picked a fine song.
The cease fire was off. The match is back on. The forest is peppered with a mix of gunfire and loud music. TOR High's first year was the first line and took brunt of the fire. They returned in kind but they were no match for the Sparta High's experienced third years, or second year to Sparta High, and was soon suppressed.
This is your time to pay,
This is your judgement day,
At the centre of the line, TOR High's radioman tries to contact their senior for help when paint splattered onto his face shield taking him out. Another quickly reach for the radio. But a burst from Keiji's AK-47 stopped him permanently. It is then that the platoon commander looked at the enemy lines. Fear grip the poor soul as he was tackled to the ground by Keiji who pulled out the platoon commander's side arm and pumped the entire magazine of 9mm simunitions to him.
We made a sacrifice,
And now we get to take your life,
Keiji then turned to the right and bashed another opponent on the helmet with his rifle butt and pulling the poor soul's sidearm out to put two simunitions into that person's chest. Keiji then started firing point blank through TOR High's first line with both the stolen sidearm and his AK-47. As the guns to his rear turned on him, they were quickly dispatched by Soujiro with his M60 and Satoshi and Takashi's M16s.
We shoot without a gun,
We'll take on anyone,
The three of them had advance through No Man's Land under cover fire and they now joined Keiji in TOR High's first line. Just then Keiji ran out of simunitions for both his gun. He dropped the side arm and reloaded in the open. He does not need to take cover. Takashi was covering him from behind. He is firing quick burst at anyone who was aiming at Keiji's general direction while Satoshi shot at anything else there. They had only need to worry about the flank they are facing. The other side of the line was Soujiro's and Kyoji's job after all. Facing that side, Soujiro is working over the entire flank with his M60. It was a loud gun and it added to the music blasting out of Satoshi's device. And if Soujiro's M60 is a sledgehammer destroying anything within sight, Kyoji's Druganov is a scalpel carefully taking out anyone with incredible precision.
It's really nothing new,
It's just a thing we like to do,
As Keiji and his squad went to town, the rest of Sparta High's participants got up.
"They are charging Tom! Sparta High is charging!" Jerry yelled at the top of his lungs. "They are even blasting music!"
"Not only that Jerry! Look at that Sparta High who charged the platoon command earlier! He is dual wielding his main weapon and a sidearm he got from one of TOR High. He is effectively pinning one whole flank for his team!" Tom called out also losing his cool. "I think it is the same student who threw up earlier! He was also seen talking to the whole Sparta High group during the ceasefire!"
"Who is that guy? I don't recognise his or his squad's insignia! It's a white wolf's head! Tom look it up! The name list! Look it up!" Jerry yelled.
"Later! The rest of Sparta High has smash into TOR High's first line! They are going for close quarters combat!" Tom answered.
"It's CQC Tom! CQC! I've never seen it on such a scale!"
Ohgi and the rest of Sparta High has reached TOR High's first line while Keiji kept them busy. There was no question of what happens next. Tor High's first line is no more. While Ohgi's group was engaged in melee, Keiji had already left charging towards TOR High's second line which was rushing to aid the first line. The adrenalin rush has focus Keiji's vision and sharpened his senses. It had numb the ache in his body and enabled him to temporarily block out the headache. At that moment, he was as effective as any one of his squadmates. Chucking aside a sidearm after emptying it, he grip his main weapon firmly and fired directly into the centre of the reinforcing second line. On the edge of his periphery vision on the left, he could see several guns aimed at him. But he is not concern about it as Soujiro opened fire and splattered them with simunitions. On the right, Satoshi and Takashi also protected Keiji. While the four of them lay a suppressing fire taking out anyone brave enough to attack, Kyoji, with his Druganov sniper rifle, picked off targets as a rapid pace by working through those with heavy weapons first. There was no communication. There was no need. They had trained to the extend where can operate like a well oiled machine without so much as a word. They can read each other's movement and take the best course of action. It is as if they were linked to a hive mind and were dancing to its beat.
You better get ready to die (Ready to die),
You better get ready to kill (Ready to kill),
Keiji soon entered melee range with TOR High's second line. By this time Keiji has emptied his AK-47 and quickly used it as an improvised club as one of the TOR High's second year decide to test Keiji's CQC skills. With his left hand firmly gripping the gunbarrel, using it as a club, Keiji draws out his own sidearm and took down another target. He then tackle a guy who was contacting the third and most experienced line.
"What the hell is going on!? Who is blasting that music!?" Tanaki yelled out in frustration into the handset of the radio. Ever since the time limit is reached, there was no news from both lines in front of him. And the music some distance away is growing louder and louder. Sure he knows the enemy is attacking but he would appreciate it if someone were to update him so he can decide to commit his platoon! He cannot just commit the platoon that is carrying the flag after all.
You better get ready to run,
Cause here we come,
You better get ready to die!
The second line quickly fell into confusion. Some were trying to shoot Keiji, who was engage in CQC with another, only to be shot by Keiji's squadmates. Some who tried to return fire at Keiji's squadmates soon found either a barrage of 9mm simunitions heading their way or an emptied sidearm followed by Keiji himself. But it didn't take long for TOR High's second line to decide to gang up on Keiji before dealing with his support. Four men surrounded Keiji and were about to deliver the coup de grace. They were interrupted by Takashi's and Kyoji's charge while Satoshi provided cover fire. Soujiro also closed in for better fire support. It was then that a nearby TOR High student saw a chance to remove a dangerous enemy. As his gun was empty he charged Soujiro. As a second year student, this was a smart thing to do. Any normal person wielding that big of a gun would be worthless in CQC. But Soujiro was no normal person. For a junior, he is considered strong even to a Sparta second year. Add countless hours of CQC training with his M60 and he is a dangerous machine gunner to engage in CQC as the brave TOR High student soon found out when Soujiro used his M60 to throw him to the ground before getting his chest painted.
Your life is over now,
Your life is running out,
By this time, Ohgi and his group has finished with the first line and was charging into the second line with Ohgi holding the flag with one hand and his sidearm in the other. There were more TOR High remaining in this line than the previous one. This was probably due to the second line being more experienced in combat. This time they were taking fire in their charge. But it did not faze anyone in Ohgi's group as they smashed into the second line for another brawl.
Suzaku and the captain watch the match more closely now. They knew the rookie would not allow a surrender and set up for a long siege. They had not expect him to rally everyone that is left and charge head first into the enemy. The other Sparta students had also taking notice a while ago. Where there was once disinterest, now they were cheering at the top of their lungs and cheering at every tackle and every shot fired by their team. Nearby, the lady who has made a scene earlier was now on standing on her chair and cheering for her son while her husband was worrying that her chair will topple over causing her to fall.
"Show 'em what mama's taught you Keiji!" Shouted Takagi, the lady in question.
"C'mon Ohgi! Whoop his ass!" Shouted a student as Ohgi tackled a TOR High student to the ground.
"Fuck 'em up rookie!" Another shouted.
When your time is is at an end,
Then it's time to kill again,
Not wasting the momentum they built up Keiji and his whole squad now left the second line. Their sights were now firmly on the third line that decided to send out a pair to scout. They quickly open fire on Keiji and his squad forcing them into cover. These shots were far more accurate than the others before them and it was expected. They were TOR High's third years after all. Soujiro, being the one on the far left easily slipped out of their line of fire and shot at them from the flank taking both scout out. But in doing so he ended up on the third line's sight. Soujirou called out to Keiji and tossed his machine gun before charging the third line with his sidearm to draw fire. Keiji caught the machine gun and followed behind Soujiro with the rest of the squad. Soujiro was quickly taken out but he has allowed his squadmates to get closer to the third line. But now the entire third line is focusing on the four Sparta students in front of them forcing them, once again into cover.
"Pop smoke!" Keiji called out and a few smoke grenades were tossed to the front filling the small patch of land between him and the third line with smoke. He then calmly walked out from his cover and into the smoke.
We cut without a knife,
We live in black and white,
Tanaki's nerves are on the verge of breaking at this point. He had not been able to ascertain what was going on. What is worse is the distant music that was growing louder and louder as if foreshadowing the doom that approached them. And when he decide to send out scouts, they were instantly taken out and before he knows it the enemy was already in front of them. He can feel the fear gripping his men when they open fire on the enemy. There was no aiming. Everyone just shot in the general direction of the enemy.
As smoke starts to block vision, Tanaki and his men reloaded. He then decided to scan his surroundings. For the briefest of moment, he thought he saw a humanoid figure moved through the smoke. He started pointing his gun at it but a small opening in the smoke appeared. And what he saw in that opening paralyzed him with fear. In that opening, he saw a pair of eyes. No, rather, his eyes met those eyes. In them, he saw the fire that burn within them. A fire that cannot be reasoned with. He felt the gaze burn directly into his brain. A gaze that tells his it does not care for victory or logic. A gaze that only care for a fight. For the first time since his first SurCom match, he felt a primal fear crept up his spine. A fear that has been pass down by his ancestors from the stone age when they were hunted by predators that is long extinct in this day and age. Then, just as quickly as it struck fear into him, the pair of eyes disappeared back into the smoke.
As Tanaki gathered himself, he noticed that his hands were shaking. Looking around, he can tell that he was not the only one who saw that pair of eyes. Taking a deep breath, he swallowed his fear and motion for his group to remain focus.
You're just a parasite,
Now close your eyes and say goodnight
From the smoke, Soujiro's M60 barked to life as it sends round after round into the third line. Keiji then break through the smoke running towards the third line's far left flank as he continued to fire the M60. He reached his destination just as the M60 ran out of ammunitions. A nearby TOR High saw a chance and aimed at him. Keiji saw the gun and dodged the first two shots. By the time the third shot is fired, he had already forced the gun to point upwards and elbowed the poor man in the chest. As the other TOR High turned and fired at Keiji, he used that poor man as a shield and pushed towards the next TOR High student. He then pulled the sidearm of his victim and emptied it at the nearest TOR High's student.
You better get ready to die (Ready to die),
You better get ready to kill (Ready to kill),
Now Keiji's squad broke cover and charged and the far right flank, screaming as they went. They grabbed the attention of a few TOR High students who opened fire. This time, Satoshi and Takashi were not so lucky and was shot before reaching the third line. Only Kyoji made it. He quickly took out two nearby TOR High student's with his sidearm before using his Druganov to ricochet a round off one of his victim's helmet towards another that was behind cover But that was the extent of his contribution as another seven guns peppered him with simunitions.
As the the third line's right flank was busy with Keiji's squadmates, Ohgi's group, by now only three, quickly advance behind them. And when Kyoji finally felled, Ohgi's group was on top of the right flank and quickly entered melee combat.
You better get ready to run,
Cause here we come,
You better get ready to die! (Get ready to die!)
Tanaki, knowing Ohgi's group would pose more of a threat, send whatever men he could to face them. Ohgi's group was now taking more casualties as they inflict just as much damage themselves. Some were firing at the incoming enemies while others were fighting in hand to hand combat. As the fight went on, the outcome was clear. There is just simply too much people for them to fight. But none of them thought of surrender. Not when their insane junior decided to take on an entire flank of the most experience TOR High students alone. They will fight to the last man.
You better get ready to die
(Ready to die)(Ready to die)(Ready to die)
Ohgi had already fought off two TOR High students when he ran out of ammunition. As he look around him, he saw the final member of his group grab an enemy and wrestle him to the ground. Nearby the remaining reinforcements sent by Tanaki, three by now, decided they had enough and shot at the Sparta student and their own comrade. By the time they saw Ohgi, he was already able to shoot one of them and used him as a shield before picking him up and tossing him at a second one. Before the two hit the ground, he had tackle the third one and finished him off with that guy's sidearm. Ohgi turned around and shoot the second one, who was pinned down by his comrade, just as the second one shot him. The flag Ohgi was holding all this while fell to the ground. That entire flank and Ohgi's group has mutually annihilated each other.
You better get ready to die
(Ready to die)(Ready to die)(Ready to die)
"Sparta's flag is down! Their flag is now up for grabs!" Jerry yelled with a hoarse voice. "Will TOR High capture it!?"
"There is no one there to claim the flag for TOR High! Will they do that or just wipe out Sparta High!?" Tom added in a similarly hoarse voice.
You better get ready to die
(Ready to die)(Ready to die)
Keiji saw the flag went down as he punched a TOR High student in the chest before shooting that guy. He then fired at another before being tackled to the ground. He gave out an angry roar as he punch his tackler in the sides, took that guys sidearm and shot him. He then got up, still clutching his sidearm as Tanaki and the remaining five member of his platoon surrounded Keiji. The end is near as the music blared out its final lyrics. Keiji locked eyes with Tanaki for a second. Letting out another roar, he pointed the sidearm at Tanaki and opened fire just as six guns showered him.
Been a long time coming,
Now you better get running,
And you better get ready to die!
"The match is over people! But that was such a close one!" Jerry announced on his microphone. "I have never seen such a come back in my career! What should have been an obvious outcome is turned upside down by just one student! The one with the wolf insignia! Tom check the name list! We need to know that hero of a man! Even sick he still fight like a lion!"
"No Jerry! I heard stories that when an injured wolf is cornered it would fight without regards to its life! That is what we saw today! A wounded but fierce wolf!" Tom said as he went for the match's name list.
"I think you're right Tom! The one we saw here is the champion of wounded wolf!"
The crowd, in particular the Sparta High supporters, was going wild at the match. It has been a while since anyone saw a match so full of spirit and they were glad to have witness it. This mood was also shared by the rest of Keiji's teammates who were also cheering for the rookie. Suzaku is now allowed to contact his team that was on the battle area and ask Satoshi to pass him to Keiji while the captain just stood there and smiled at the result.
"Hey Keiji. Can you hear this?" Suzaku asked as he pointed the handset towards the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have confirmation that the one who led his team in the final moments to be Shinamura Keiji, a first year student of Sparta High School! You heard me right! A first year student has led his team into such an amazing comeback! For those of you watching at home, the cheering you hear are from the supporters of Sparta High School!..." Jerry announced and continued to go on and on.
"The rookie did well." Suzaku said still holding up the handset.
"Yes he did. He will be the one to bring Sparta High back to its values." The captain said feeling a sense of pride towards his junior. He had finally found someone to carry on the struggle that he, Suzaku and headmaster Kenshin has been facing. He had found someone to bring the fire back to Sparta High.
In the battlefield, Keiji was now resting against a boulder breathing heavily. His strength has now left him and his body and mind screamed in agony. Beside him, Satoshi is calling for medical aid just as Soujiro and the rest of Keiji's squad joined them. Nearby the TOR High students looked at the exhausted figure with awe and astonishment.
"Is he really the one that almost defeated us?" Tanaki asked to no one in particular.
"Hey boss! Don't black out now!" Kyoji said as he smacked Keiji's face.
"I am tired. What is it?" Keiji asked out of annoyance.
"Well you know, this situations rarely present itself. And now that it did, I would regret it if we didn't play out a cliche movie death scene before you pass out." Kyoji explained with a smug smile.
"Seriously? I am about to pass out and maybe throw up into my head gear and that's what you're worried about?"
"Medical aid is on its way so we have nothing else to worry about." Soujiro said with a calming smile.
"I really hate you guys." Keiji said with a groan. "Okay fine which death scene?"
"What about the Lord Of The Rings? The Boromir death scene?" Satoshi suggested earning some approvals.
"Can we go with something shorter?" Keiji groaned feeling his head is about to explode. "Fuck it let's do it."
"I do not know what strength is in my blood but I swear to you, I will not let the white city fall nor our people fail." Kyoji said with a satisfied devious smile.
"Our people...our people…"Keiji said and was given a sidearm that he clutched to his chest. "I will follow you my brother. My captain. My king."
"Be at peace, son of Gondor." Kyoji said as he lean forward to kiss Keiji's forehead.
"Whoa whoa whoa. We just agree to the lines okay. None of this kissing nonsense." Keiji said as pushed Kyoji away. The five of them shared a moment of laughter as the medical unit neared them.
Additional note...
I hope you enjoy that little bit with the song. Was introduced to it by Youtube channel TeamFourStar's series Hellsing Ultimate Abridged...I hope i don't get copyright strike for this. Is that even possible on this site? Anyway back to the current topic...If you haven't watch it go watch it. Its awesome! Was not ask to advertise if anyone was wondering. I really like it and I wanted to express it some way.
And for the wonderful people of Hellsing Ultimate Abridged, if by chance any of you are reading this, please don't copyright strike my ass for this. On a brighter note...The work you guys put out always brings laughter to me even on the worst days! Keep up an awesome work! Am looking forward to the new episode! Also...bitches love cannons!