The Saga of Levi the Just
Chapter 4
Military Office, Berun
"What?" Levi asked.
"That's right, Degurechaff is being deployed to test the Type 95 Computation Jewel. You will be going to the Rhine border. The squadron commander will come to pick you up as soon as you get off the train station." The officer said.
"Is that all I'm doing sir?" Levi asked.
"Yes, don't worry, even without her, you'll last." The officer said.
"I don't know sir, I feel a bit worried." Levi said.
The door opened and a tall man with squinted eyes came in. He was holding the box. The officer immediately recognized the man.
"G-General Zettour!" The officer said as he got up and saluted.
"General?" Levi asked.
He turned around and saw the markings that made the man a general. He saluted upon seeing it. He head sweat falling from his pale face.
"Now now sir, you done enough." The man said.
"Yes sir, I'll be going now." The officer said.
The officer left, leaving Levi to sweat nervously.
"You must be second lieutenant Levi Blitzlowe." The man said, "I am vice chief of Strategic Operations, General Hans Von Zettour."
"Hi- I mean a hello General Zettour, sir!" Levi said, 'Crap. Crap Crap! Triple Crap!'
"No need to be scared. I can be a gentleman." Zettour said.
"Well, you're a general, I-"
"I understand. The major wanted me to hand you something." Zettour said.
He was holding a box. Levi hadn't noticed the box up until he saw it. He opened it up to reveal a submachine gun that looked like the German machine guns Levi remembered when he was looking at old WW1 guns on the Internet in his previous life. It had a drum magazine, and could have sights on it. It also had a bayonet. Beside the gun was a hatchet. He took the gun and hatchet out.
"He wanted you to have it since he heard you were going to the Rhine Border." Zettour said.
"I… Don't know what to say." Levi said.
"Trust me, there are things that are even more worthy than a promotion, a medal and a new set of teeth and claws." Zettour said, "I know you will find those later on."
"Thanks sir." Levi said.
"Now, if you would, get to the train station. For the Fatherland." Zettour said.
"For the Fatherland." Levi said.
He took his new gifts and left.
'I'm sending a kid to a place that will be hell… Then again, he is theoretically the best Mage we have. I'm not sure if he'll… No. Have faith in him. God will look out for him.' Zettour thought.
Berun station
He got to the train station. He had waited for the train. He heard a sound that could mean one thing, a train. The train arrived. He got on the train and took his seat after showing his ticket. The train began to move. It puffed and puffed as it blew off steam and got off the station, taking its passengers with it. Levi looked out the window. He enjoyed the view.
'I wonder how Tanya is doing?' Levi thought.
Meanwhile…
"Good thing it didn't explode." Tanya sighed in relief as she was testing the new computation jewel.
The jewel exploded.
The train
'Nah, she'll be fine.' Levi thought.
The train kept moving. A few birds were passing by. Time suddenly stopped. Levi knew what that meant if he was the only one moving while time froze.
"Why hello, little boy. Love what I have done?" The god asked using the birds.
"What do you want?" Levi asked.
"You see, I have come to give you power. The power I give you requires a simple prayer from you." Being X said.
"Prayer? You still want faith from an atheist?" Levi asked.
"Silence. I give you something to end this war with, not a weapon." Being X said.
"And what is that I ask?" Levi asked.
"You will see when you pray unto the Lord." Being X said.
"Um, sir?" A man's voice asked.
Rhine, Western Border of the Empire
He woke up. He looked at the train attendant.
"We arrived." The attendant said.
"Oh." Levi said, "My apologies."
He got off the train. He made his way out of the station and saw a tall man outside the gate. He must be the squad commander.
"Squadron Commander?" Levi asked.
"Oh, you must be Second Lieutenant Blitzlowe. I am First Lieutenant Ihlen Schwarzkopf." The man said.
'He seems like a good man.' Levi thought.
He got through the gate. There was an automobile. It looked more militarized. A combat Jeep. He got inside the Jeep as Schwarzkopf started the engine. The Jeep drove off. Levi looked up and saw the sky. It was cloudy. He saw lots of smokestacks off to the distance. The city had lots of industry, no wonder the Republic wants Rhine, with it, they could make more tanks, more products, more weapons, more money.
"Rhine is becoming a living hell. With you around, morale might go up. I'll introduce you to your squadmates that you will be in command of." Schwarzkopf said, "The Republic is as bad as the Entente Alliance, we keep them back, only for them to come at us even more in numbers."
"Sounds like a problem. Seems like 315 isn't holding up then." Levi said.
"Maybe you're right. 315 just might fall apart." Schwarzkopf said, "You know, you're as old as my kids are."
"You have kids?" Levi asked.
"Yup. Sneaky little devils they are." Schwarzkopf said.
He thought about what Being X said.
'A power that requires a single prayer? Is that even possible?' Levi thought.
Rhine, Sentry Post 3
The Jeep arrived and stopped. They got out and went into the post, which was made up of tents. Schwarzkopf led Levi to a tent. He saw three men and a woman.
"Alright you four of the 201st Imperial Mage Battalion, I bring you Second Lieutenant Blitzlowe." Schwarzkopf said.
"That's Commander? He is tiny!" The tall man with blonde hair said as he howled with laughter.
"Sir, I didn't sign up to be under the command of a pint-sized midget." A black haired man said.
"Hey there, little guy!" A brown haired man said.
"He seems adorable." A red-haired woman said.
Levi turned to Schwarzkopf. He had sweat on his face.
"Are you sure this is my battalion?" Levi whispered.
"I know they can have a few screws loose, but they are fine," Schwarzkopf said.
'You better be right or I'll be dead before I know it.' Levi thought.
"Do not worry tiny Commander, Sergeant Bar will protect tiny man." The man called Bar said.
'You don't sound serious enough.' Levi thought.
"The Name's Adler. I may be a corporal, but that doesn't mean you have authority over me, just make sure we live, and maybe we might be best friends." the man called Alder said.
'Jerk!' Levi thought.
"Harpyie's the name. I'm a corporal. I hope we have fun together." The woman called Harpyie said in a seductive voice.
'I need an adult.' Levi thought.
"Wolke is my name, and I am a Lance Corporal." the man called Wolke said.
'Sounds casual.' Levi thought.
"I am Levi Blitzlowe-"
"We heard your name already. Just get to the point." Alder said.
"Alder! You do not interrupt commander when commander speaks!" Bar said.
"Whatever, you half-Russy half-Imperial nut," Alder said.
"Bar is not nut!" Bar said.
"Uh, guys, he's a kid. I don't think we should-"
"Enough!" Levi shouted.
The three straightened out.
"I only expect all of you to obey whenever I give an order. I expect all of you to kill your enemies. Wipe them out however you see fit, just get it done." Levi said.
"Right!" The four said.
"I'm sure you five will get along fine." Schwarzkopf said, "Now if you excuse me, I have to go now."
Schwarzkopf left the tent, leaving Levi to look at his new battalion he has been given command of.
"So, what's on today's to-do list?" Levi asked.
"I don't know, you're the commander," Alder said.
"Right…" Levi said.
Levi went and got himself a map of the Rhine area. He went and took a look at the map. The red area was Imperial territory, the purple area was Republican territory. He heard of the ongoing strife in the Rhine front. He wondered if there was anything he could do.
"How about a few assault missions?" Levi asked.
"Well, our forces are having trouble with the enemy artillery, maybe we ought to smash them up," Wolke said.
"Tch, what else is there to do? Go on patrol?" Alder said.
"Guess we should deal with them," Harpyie said.
"Let us destroy artillery for Empire." Bar said.
"So it's decided then. We head out." Levi said.
"Right!" The four replied.
The five went and geared up. They got their gear on, loaded their weapons, brought their charms and readied themselves for battle. The Mage Battalion got outside and activated their Computation jewels.
"201st, move out!" Levi said.
"Yes, sir!" the four soldiers replied.
The Mage battalion flew up and went out. The battalion was flying off to the saw the ground below. He saw a place that was death. In his previous life, there was a place in WW1 called "No Man's Land". In No Man's Land, there is death. The time you come out of the trenches, artillery guns fire as machine guns rip apart soldiers as the shells fell from the sky and splattered blood and burnt body parts everywhere. Death was the only thing that came from such a place, where no man could survive, even if it was a Mage, it would matter not, for they themselves are vulnerable to anything, even with barriers and spells. What he gazed upon was exactly the same, a landscape that could be described as hell, a place crawling with death, a place that was once beautiful and now not even a single bird, save the crows, ravens, and vultures, comes down. He was reminded of the situation and its reality, knowing that he cannot be brought back from death. He must survive, even if it means becoming the very definition of evil.
"Are you done staring?" Alder asked.
Levi broke out of the trance and looked at Alder.
"There's fighting going on," Alder said.
He saw it clear as day. The enemy was charging. Now was the time to rain death upon the enemy.
"Rhine Control to Lieutenant Levi. Come in Lieutenant." Control said.
"Levi here, what is it?" Levi asked.
"You're battalion is to hold off the enemy. Delay them long enough for the enemy to retreat. Your callsign is Galm." Control said.
"Galm 01, roger." Levi said, "Galm Unit, report in."
"Galm 02, ready." Bar said.
"Galm 03, good to go," Wolke said.
"Galm 04, ready," Harpyie said.
"Galm 05, ready," Alder said.
"Galm unit, delay the enemy, support our troops and drive the enemy back." Levi said, "Annihilate them!"
"Roger!" The soldier said.
The battalion grabbed their rifles out. They sped off to aid their troops. They began firing artillery spells against the enemy. The enemy infantry scattered. The infantry began firing volleys at the Mages. They dodged the bullets and kept firing. The enemy infantry was being blown away by the explosions of the spells. Some of them screamed in pain and horror, some of them wandered, looking for their severed limbs, hoping they would be reattached, before being picked off like fish in barrels, some of them showed defiance before they died, some of them retreated, eventually being picked off. The enemy infantry was in disarray. Levi fired his rifle at the enemy infantry. An artillery gun fired a shell into the air, which then detonated close to him. He put his shield up. He knew artillery in this age were used for mostly bombardment, not anti-air fire, that was for machine guns.
"Galm 01 to control, permission for my unit to engage enemy artillery," Levi said.
"Permission denied, hold the enemy off." Control said.
"But control, the infantry are in retreat. They are turning back." Levi said.
"No-go Galm 01, no-go," Control said.
'They're gonna be a problem and they don't- no. only a rookie would say that. I got to keep my cool.' Levi thought, "Roger control, sorry for speaking up."
"Good, continue with your orders," Control said.
"Copy Control, Galm 01 out," Levi said.
The guns kept firing. The mages dodged the incoming fire.
"Sir, I say we go at 'em!" Wolke said.
"Negative Galm 03, stay where you are. Just dodge the incoming fire-"
"Wait a minute… the guns. They stopped." Alder said.
"Bar have bad feeling. Bar does not like feeling. Bar suspect mages." Bar said.
"Galm 01 to control, the artillery is silent. Confirm position of enemy Mages." Levi said.
"Control to Galm 01, readings suggest positive, Enemy Battalion is heading on your 11 o'clock high. Altitude, 6,000 ft." Control said, "You are clear to engage, destroy the mage battalion, reinforcements are headed your way."
"Confirm size of the enemy force," Levi said.
"Enemy Battalion is about 3 divisions," Control said.
"You hear that Galm Unit?" Levi asked, "Enemy Mages at 11 o'clock high at 6,000, the moment they come down, let them have it as soon as they enter range!"
"Yes sir!" the soldiers responded.
The enemy Mage Battalion roared in from the clouds, riding on top of what looked like steel stallions using Mage equipment allowing the steel steeds to fly. The enemy began firing.
"Begin evasive maneuvers. Engage!" Levi said.
Levi fired at the Mages. He dodged the incoming bullets. The enemy was in pursuit. These were different from the Entente Alliance Mages, they were much faster. The enemy mages were on to him. He dropped speed, letting them pass him. He fired at the enemy, one of them got hit and was heading straight down. The other Mage swung around and fired back. He dodged the shots and fired back. The shots missed. He dodged the incoming bayonet charge from the mage. He gave chase. The Mage was trying really hard to shake Levi off. Bar shot down an incoming mage. Harpyie shot down another Mage. Alder was pretty livid. The enemy mage was trying to shake him off, only for him to finally shoot the mage down. Wolke was dodging the incoming fire. He managed to shoot down two Mages. Levi was losing it. The mage was doing lots of risky maneuvers and eventually dragged the fight down to the ground. Levi couldn't afford to slip up even once. He had no room for error. The Mage did a U-turn and charged at Levi. Levi fired a few shots. The Mage soon finally exploded into a fireball. Levi pulled up and got up high. He saw that his unit was doing fine. His radio crackled to life.
"Warning! Enemy reinforcements! The enemy is approaching at high speed!" Control said, "Galm Unit, intercept and maintain air supremacy!"
Levi looked everywhere to see a battalion of 3 platoons moving through the clouds as the Mages his unit fought off retreated. He was looking at pros. He was looking at professional Mages. They moved in a single formation. Not one dared to split up. Suddenly, he remembered what Being X said.
"You will see when you pray unto the Lord."
"Galm 01 to Galm 02 - 05, regroup. I'll handle them." Levi said.
"What?!" Wolke asked.
"What the hell are you doing?" Alder said.
'Something I assume is pretty stupid.' Levi thought, "Follow my orders and fall back."
"But-"
He cut off his radio.
"He cut off! He cut off!" Bar said.
Levi closed his eyes. He didn't know if he was right in his mind about putting what 'God' told him. He felt as if he had no choice. He closed his eyes.
"Oh Heavenly Father, Head my words," Levi said.
The enemy Mages split into three. The first group headed for Levi.
"Give me the power to protect all my people hold sacred. Give me the strength to protect the Fatherland from its enemies. Give me the power to defeat these faithless non-believers, so that I will send them back to hell, from whence they came….." Levi said, "Though Thou I be chained, to Hell itself!"
His eyes opened turned gold. A golden aura surrounded his body. He felt an unimaginable power flowing through his veins. His eyes glowed with the power of his own prayer. It was as if the moment he had prayed unto God itself, God blessed him with the powers of one, making him, what he thought of it as, a god in mortal flesh. A god in the form of a child who would become evil itself to destroy a greater evil if he willed it. Not only that, he had felt his body and mind extend far beyond any normal human's capacity.
'Now, let's put this 'power' to use.' Levi thought.
The Mages circled him. They took aim and fired. A huge explosion occurred where he stood and where they shot him.
"Confirmed a direct hit. He's down." The Platoon leader mage said.
The smoke cleared. There was nothing.
"What?!" The mage said.
A shot came forth. The bullet struck the mage's heart. He fell off his steel steed and fell to the ground below. It was Levi. He left a decoy and moved quickly. He put the rifle on his back and took out the machine gun he received from Zettour as a gift from his drill instructor. The gun's barrel glowed green. He rushed at the Mages with blinding speed. He got up and fired at the Mages, shooting them all down in a few seconds. He saw another platoon coming. He charged forth at the Mages, with the intent of slaying them for the Fatherland. He gripped his gun tightly and charged into battle. He fired at the enemy, forcing them to split. He moved much faster than what the standard Imperial Mage could go with anything. He fired a storm of bullets that destroyed the entire platoon in seconds. He charged towards his comrades, they had been firing back at the enemy. He withdraws the gun and pulls out the hatchet. The blade glowed. He got close and slashed the Mage in half. He saw an approaching Mage and blocked the bayonet charge. He swung the hatchet down on the Mage, killing him as it cut into his head. He withdrew the hatchet and brought out the gun again, firing without a care. His men saw him mercilessly shoot and slash the enemy down without remorse. They couldn't believe it, a child, becoming a demon with golden eyes, killing men as if it was mere child's game with great skill and thinking. Wolke saw an approaching enemy Mage charging at him.
"Sir, behind-"
The boy turned and cuts the rifle in the mage's hand, severing the bayonet. The boy soon caught a glimpse of his attacker. His eyes widened.
'But….. That's….' Levi thought as his eyes revert to their original color.
He saw a girl just about his age. Her blonde hair and Amber eyes caught his attention. It reminded him of Tanya, only struck with fear. Fear of dying all too soon. He felt his power fading, along with his strength. It seemed that the gospel's effect worn off. He felt weak and tired. His jewel lost power and fell, only for Bar to catch him. The girl and the other mages retreated.
"Commander! Wake up! Bar is worried about you!" Bar said, "Bar does not want commander to leave!"
"He's only tuckered out, he'll be fine," Alder said.
"Damn, he's even more handsome and cute when his eyes were golden just a second ago." Harpyie said, "Now he's all tuckered out."
"Dude, that was some hardcore metal shit he just pulled off," Wolke said.
"Control to Galm Unit, return at once, the enemy force has been driven back. Get some rest." Control said.
Rhine, Medical Hospital
Levi was knocked out. The gospel's power had drained him. He laid on the bed as he was being carefully maintained. His unit was already at camp. Soon, it was deduced that the lack of strength has put him into a deep sleep, it will take time for him to recover, but all can do now is rest while he lives.
Sentry Post 3
"Golden eyes?" Schwarzkopf asked.
"Yeah, his eyes were golden as pure gold sir. I don't know what the hell happened to him. It was like he was in some sort of… Whatever it was. All I know is that his eyes were gold and it was like he was moving unpredictably." Wolke said.
"Bar does not joke, small child had gold eyes." Bar said.
"He looked as if he had walked out of the gym, the very next second we still saw him, he fell as if he had drunk himself a ton of booze." Alder said.
"He had some hot stuff lieutenant. He had what it took." Harpyie said.
"Where is he now?" Schwarzkopf asked.
"In the hospital." Wolke said, "Thought it would be better if he hid there."
'Man, I got a lot of writing to do in my report.' Schwarzkopf thought.
Republican Sentry Post 9
Joan couldn't believe it. The battalion she was sent in with got massacred by a single Imperial Mage. She was only his age at that. She could never get those golden eyes out of her head. It was as if she had seen what could have been a demon. Her golden hair and Amber eyes would never shake that feeling. She was once a man, an American that hadn't believed in God. She died in a car accident, only for Being X to reincarnate her as a girl. She joined the military, knowing the only way to survive in a world where there was a widening gap in the economy, only to see the brutality of war. She was scared out of her wits but was not afraid of death. She knew she rather die for her country rather than having to see her countrymen suffer, yet she felt powerless in front of one Imperial Mage her age. She had seen the devil, the Devil of Rhine and lived to probably tell every one of it.
"You seemed scared. Was it about what happened today?" She heard a voice.
It was her Squad Commander, Second Lieutenant Grande Chaîne, a tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes. She felt relieved to see her.
"No, sir. It's just we lost good men." Joan said.
"At ease Corporal. Tell me what happened." Grande said.
She told him what had happened. It was a simple mission, go in and take over the skies and help the troops advance. It all went south when the Imperial Mage she saw slaughter everyone in front of her eyes.
"Sacre bleu! A child?! Your age!? A Mage?! And you say he had golden eyes?!" Grande asked.
"Yes, sir," Joan said.
"I-I have to report this to HQ at once. Give me a moment, no?" Grande said.
He ran off to write his report. She looked back. She knew she would see that demon in the skies again. She felt sorry for anyone who would face him in battle. She gripped her fist.
'Someday, you'll pay for what you did to those men. I promise.' Joan thought, 'I will offer my heart to my country as you would yours, you demon. I will take you down!'
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