The Saga Of Levi the Just

Chapter 8

Strategic Operations HQ, Berun

"With Dacia conquered, Now we can focus on the Entente Alliance and the Republic." Rudersdorf said, "Guess that rapid response Mage Battalion was a good idea. Thanks to the 203rd with Degurechaff and Blitzlowe in charge, we won the southern front."

"I agree, if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't last a second with the continuous onslaught of the Republic and the Alliance." Zettour said, "I'd say that the next course of action is to take out the Entente Alliance and then we crush the Republic and end this war fast."

"Yes, the Alliance will have to be dealt with." Erich said.

"Then we'll have the 203rd deployed to Norden as soon as possible." Zettour said, "The Alliance is putting up a solid defense despite having their military in disarray. It's about time our ace in the holes head out and prove the enemy just how much of a mistake they made in challenging the Empire."


Parasii, Republic Of Francois

"I'm being redeployed to Norden?" Joan asked.

"Yes, your newly organized Battalion head out. We need to give as much aid as possible." Pierre said.

"But sir, I'm-"

"You are a Major now as of today. I expect you to do it in the name of our people." Pierre said.

"Y-Yes Sir!" Joan said.

Joan left his office. Pierre sighed.

'I'm sending a child into hell's jaws again. A saint must see hell before he conquers hell.' Pierre thought as he sighed, feeling regret of what his trusty Lieutenant Colonel might think of his actions concerning her, 'Forgive me Bientôt. I know it would be against your morals and the fact that you see her as your own daughter, but she must be brave by fighting with every inch in her body.'


Berun

"We are being deployed to Norden? I thought the Alliance would surrender after what happened to Dacia." Levi said.

"Well, Yes, but I'm afraid times at Norden have been getting rough." Viktoriya said.

'Their army is in disarray, they shouldn't be going on like this. Unless….' Levi thought, "When do we leave?"

"1800 Hours." Viktoriya said.

"Good, tell Weiss to assemble the men and have them briefed on our redeployment." Levi said.

"Yes sir!" Viktoriya said, "Also, Major Degurechaff wanted to speak with you."

'Tanya?' Levi thought.

Levi went and met with Tanya. The two sat in some chairs.

"So What is this about?" Levi asked.

"Well, it's about our redeployment." Tanya said, "Don't you think something fishy is going on up north?"

"Yeah, I can't shake it loose." Levi said.

"Well, I know exactly what it is." Tanya said, "Foreign intervention."

"And I think we know who's intervening," Levi said.

"The Allied Kingdom and the Republic. Only they would aid the Alliance. They need them to stretch the Empire out while one or the other tried to invade." Tanya said, "If we can confirm our suspicions, we should be able to disrupt their ability to help one another."

"I'll make a report about my suspicions before we head out then," Levi said.

"Good, go ahead and do that while we get ready to head off to Norden," Tanya said.

Levi got out of his chair and left to write his report. Weiss began briefing the men on their transfer. However, the briefing was interrupted by an emergency deployment order. The Entente Alliance was making an attack on a supply base at Norden.


Later…...

Norden

The skies were filled with mages. Republican and Alliance Mages were fighting side by side. A flight of bombers was headed its way towards a supply depot that would keep the Empire going during the winter. The Imperial Mages were being overwhelmed.

"Viper 01 to Control! My battalion is getting killed out here! Requesting a withdrawal!" The mage said.

"Request denied, if those bombers hit that supply depot, we won't last during the winter." Control said, "Delay the enemy as long as possible."

"Are you kidding me?! We'll be dead!" The mage said.

"Those are your orders, hold the line until reinforcements arrive." Control said before cutting out.

"Damnit! Don't they know what situation we're all in?!" The mage said.

The Mage Battalion was being chewed up by the enemy mages and the bombers. One by one, they were taking a serious beating. The radio crackled to life.

"Viper 01, change of plans, withdraw immediately!" Control said, "Reinforcements have arrived! Battalion size, callsign Pixie! Retreat Viper!"

"Pixie?" The mage asked.

"The Commander Of the Battalion is a named mage! I repeat, a named mage with another mage! It's Demons of the Rhine!" Control said.

"Alright! We fall back!" The mage said.

His battalion ran off as the enemy mages watched them run.

"Guess it's a victory for us." One of them spoke.

A shot came in from afar and struck the mage, exploding on impact. Clicks from their position were the 203rd Battalion.

"Alright, Pixie 012 to all units, me and 01 will take the bombers, 013 will take the first division and provide support and then commence a pincer attack after the bombers are downed. Second and Third Divisions will deal with the mages. Divisions 4 and 5 will sweep in and attack the enemy." Levi said, "Charge!"

Everyone but the first division flew out.

"I'm sorry, did you say you were gonna deal with them yourself?" Viktoriya asked.

"Me and her are the only ones who can take them." Levi said, "You just stay back and let me and the Major handle this."

"God, give me the power to destroy these sinners so that your name will be etched in them when they face death." He and Tanya said as their eyes turned gold and flew straight for the bombers.

"My word, I see something coming at us." A pilot said.

The copilot got his binoculars out and saw the two mages coming at him.

"My god… They're mages." The copilot said.

"So?" The pilot asked.

"They are coming in fast, and they seem to be flying over 8000 ft." The copilot said, "They might catch up to us."

"WHAT?!" The pilot said.

Levi fired a shot. The bullet rams itself into the bomber, right beneath the two men. The explosion destroyed the front of the lead plane. The plane lost control and fell.

"Oh my god! Climb! Climb dammit! Fire at will!" The other pilot said.

The bombers machine gunners began firing, but the bullets missed the tiny mages. Levi fires again, scoring the second bomber by blasting its engine, setting it on fire. The engine exploded, taking parts of the bomber with it. Tanya and Levi rushed in. They fired at the bombers, setting one after the other ablaze. The gunners kept firing.

"Stop firing! You're hitting our allies!" A pilot shouted at the gunners.

"We are under attack by children! I'd rather shoot than let those bastards kill us!" One gunner said.

"But still-!"

"Hello there," Tanya said before leaving a grenade behind.

"TOO LATE!" The copilot said as the grenade went off.

Levi brought the hatchet, letting it be bathed in green light. He slashed an engine on one of the bombers, the heat melts the engine and causes the engine to flare up. He brought his submachine gun and shot the bomber out of the sky. Tanya shot the front of the plane, killing the pilots. The remaining bombers turn tail and run. Levi and Tanya bring up a magical optical display. The bombers are locked on. They fired at the same time. The magical energy splits the bullets into multiple bullets, scoring hits on the bombers.

"Guess now they'll have to call us the Demons of Norden as well." Levi chuckled as both his and Tanya's eyes turn back to normal.

"I think Demons of the Rhine seems better," Tanya said.

"Alright, the bombers are down, All divisions will crush the enemy, we won't be needing reinforcements so fight until you drop." Levi said, "I'll deal with the enemy and help the others while you look for survivors to bring back as prisoners."

"Just remember I'm the commander of this battalion," Tanya said.

"Good hunting then old friend," Levi said.

They both flew their separate ways.

Joan's Battalion was making for the battlefield. She was in command of the 301st Republican Mage Battalion, callsign Saint. Her vice commander was Captain Frederick Guynemer, a middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes. Joan's comms begin to crackle.

"Saint 01, this is Control, we just lost contact with the 70th Alliance Bomber Group, we fear the enemy shot them down, reports suggest it's the Demons of the Rhine you fought," Control said.

'They got the bombers? Shouldn't they have deployed fighters with them?' Joan thought.

"Well madam, what do we do?" Frederick asked.

"We cover their retreat, stay in formation and provide cover fire, engage only if needed," Joan said.

"Alright, I'll tell the men," Frederick said.

'Those two again?' Joan thought, 'Time to end this.'

The battalion flies towards the battlefield at top speed.

"There they are." Frederick said as he spotted the mages, "They're pinned down."

"Alright, Divisions 2 through 5 will force the enemy Mages to break off formation. Division 1 will engage the enemy and help our allies retreat." Joan said, "For the Republic!"

The Battalion splits up. They fly in at high speed, firing on the Imperial Mages.

Levi saw the incoming mages as he took out one of the mages caught in the pincer formation.

"Division 1 will break off formation and regroup on me, Divisions 4 and 5 will engage the enemy mages. Division 1, prepare to engage the lead battalion." Levi said.

"Roger!" Rhiner said.

"Got it, Cap!" Wolke said.

Divisions 4 and 5 broke off while 2 and 3 kept the enemy from escaping. Levi began shooting at the incoming mages. The Republicans break away and begin engaging the three divisions.

Joan fired at a few Imperial Mages coming at her. They broke off. She managed to score one Mage down. She saw one of the Demons of the Rhine engaging her men.

'The Demon Lord!' Joan thought, 'This time, I'll defeat you!'

Joan sped towards the Demon Lord as he kept firing.

Levi got behind one of the Scandinavian Mages and severed the Flight equipment from the Mage's back, letting the mage fall.

"A present and a trophy from me for the Empire." Levi said, 'Maybe with this and the many theoretical uses of magic will help with our military's technology.'

He saw the enemy battalion and saw the girl from before.

'So you came here after all.' Levi thought.

He flew down and left the flight gear by a tree and marked it. He sped back into the fray and fired a few shots at the girl. The girl dodged the incoming fire. He fired more and more shots. The girl dodged the shots and fired back. He dodged the incoming bullets and sped towards her.

'Hit him! Hit him!' Joan thought.

She tried to keep herself from losing it. She kept shooting but the shots missed. The demon had appeared again in front of her and kicking her off. She managed to hang on and flew the Chariot out. The Demon Lord pursues her with a killing intent.

'This time, you won't escape!' Levi thought.

He and the girl continued firing at each other as they kept flying.


Tanya searched for survivors. She found one pilot who was hanging on a tree. He was hardly breathing and his chute was deployed. Tanya cuts the man down from his chute. As she looked for survivors, she saw a white wolf looking at her. The wolf stared at her for a few seconds.

"Well now, how does it feel to have blood on your hands?" The wolf spoke.

"You!" Tanya said as she pointed her rifle.

"Don't, you'll be wasting your bullets." Being X said, "Your friend was quite the brave one, saying that he would dethrone me and become God himself."

"It's better than letting you get off," Tanya said.

The god chuckles.

"So you don't believe in god, but you believe you make a better god?" Being X asked.

"I don't need to be a god. Just as long as you're not in the way of my life and everything, maybe I won't have to kill you." Tanya said, "But do anything that you think will force me into believing that stupid crap and I'll have you burn in Hell."

"My, you really are troublesome." Being X said, "If you intend on ending this war, then end it however you see fit. But….."

Tanya felt her back getting heavy all of a sudden.

"... your sins will be pressed on your back, never to leave you. You yourself chose this path because it was your own free will." Being X said.

'My sins? On my back? Like hell.' Tanya thought.

"H-Help me!" A voice cried out.

'What?' Tanya thought.

She turned around to see hands reaching out to her. The sight disgusted her. She saw that she was in something close to the river Styx. She felt horrified. The screams filled her with dread. The hands reached out to her, trying to claw at her flesh to drag her into hell.

"As long as their screams live in hell, so shall your sins. Until you die, they shall not rest. Until you bow before the lord, you will never find peace in your actions." Being X said.

Tanya turned around to see that Being X was gone. She had returned to reality. She heard a howl. She growled as she held her rifle in anger.

'That bastard! Is he going to give me Vietnam flashbacks now?!' Tanya thought.

She tied the pilot up and made sure he never got anywhere. She found another one. The pilot was dead. She went to check up on the body to see if it had anything useful. She soon pulled out a journal. She opened it up.

December 15, 1925

It's been hell ever since this whole war started. Ever since the Empire's offensives gotten more and more brutal, now we have to rely on forces from the Allied Kingdom and the Republic. It's madness if you ask me. Our country is on the verge of subjugation and this is it? A do-or-die resistance? I would have dropped my gun and hide my knife than this. I'd rather wait until I get revenge on the bully rather than pick up a fight with him. To hell with this.

'Called it. Republic and the Allied Kingdom. I wonder who else is in this deal?' Tanya thought.

She flipped to the next page.

December 16, 1925

My family is leaving on a boat to the Unified States. They aren't being involved, they don't care. They are just staying out of this. All these countries are involved and they won't help? Do they care for themselves? If that is the case, why take in refugees? That makes no sense at all. What has the world turned into? What is going on? Why is this happening?

'Exiles….. they'll become a problem soon enough. Guess I'll have to write a report on that.' Tanya thought.

Tanya decided to take the Journal with her. She goes to look around the area.


Levi kept firing at the girl. The girl kept dodging the bullets. The girl fired back. The boy backed away and fired again. He realized he was out of ammo. He lights up the bayonet and charged at her. A man got in between him and blocked the bayonet with his bayonet. He fired a few shots at Levi. He dodged the shots and thrusts the bayonet. The man moved. The bayonet struck the shoulder. The man winced before shooting the boy's shoulder. Levi broke off.

"My lady, I think a withdrawal is advisable. Most of the men have escaped. We must too." Frederick said.

"Right. I'll light the signal." Joan said as she fired a flare spell.

The mage battalion retreated as the Imperial Mages were confused.

"They're backing off," Weiss said.

"Let's go after them!" Wolke said.

"No. Pixie Battalion is to rendezvous with Pixie 01. I'll hand in my prize to the higher-ups to see if we can reverse engineer it." Levi said.

Levi grabbed the flight gear and headed out. His arm dangled.

'Damn…. seems like she has a good second.' Levi thought, 'She has a long way to go.'

Out in the forests of Norden, there was a cabin. Inside it was a group of British men. One of them was Sir Isaac Newton, Commander Of the Allied Kingdom's 21st Battalion. His black hair felt warm in the cabin. His eyes of emerald never cease to shine. Command has deployed this man along with three others to gain data on the two Imperial Aces. He was astounded by the results he gained.

"My my, those two managed to shoot down an entire bomber flight," Isaac said.

"To think the demons were relentless with them. It might be worth it." One soldier said.

"Maybe we should have brought an observer plane." Another one said.

"Yeah, but I guess we don't need that now we have enough sufficient data. We get ready to leave." Isaac said, "Guess we'll be late for tea."

An explosion blasted a wall of the cabin.

"What the hell?!" The soldier said.

The soldier was shot in the head. The other two were shot as well, leaving Isaac unscathed.

"I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but…."

That was when he saw her. The Demon Witch Of the Rhine has walked right in his cabin. At that moment, he knew he had made an error in thinking she wouldn't find him.

"Don't you think it's rude to spy on a little girl?" The girl asked.

"Why you-!"

Someone came in and knocked him out. Last thing he saw was a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Alright, gather everything you can find and take these prisoners with us. Looks like we got onto something big." Tanya ordered.

The men were working their heads off to get everything scoured. Weiss came in and reported to Tanya about where Levi went.

"He's headed back?" Tanya asked.

"Yes, his arm got shot and he's retreating. He managed to steal flight gear from one of the enemy mages." Weiss said.

"And he told you to regroup on me?" Tanya asked.

"Yes." Weiss said.

Tanya sighed.

'Worried about my well being I suppose. He never stops to worry about me.' Tanya thought, 'more than that, we got what we needed. Now we have solid proof of everything.'

The mage battalion headed forth to Norden HQ, carrying their prisoners back with them.


Norden, Northern Border

Levi made it back, seeing Rudersdorf and Zettour on his way to land. He landed and dropped the gear.

"Welcome to Norden Captain, sorry about the abrupt deployment." Zettour said.

"No need, it's only my arm. I'm just glad I brought something of interest." Levi said.

"Oh, the gear you stole?" Rudersdorf asked.

"Yeah, hand it to Schugel, Say it was a present from me." Levi said, "The others will catch up."

"We got a warm welcome laid out for them. For now, just get healed up." Zettour said.

"Yes sir." Levi said as he went to the medical wing at HQ.

The 203rd soon arrived at Norden, carrying intel and prisoners.

"Now what's this? The Witch Of the Rhine now brings prisoners of war to us?" Zettour asked.

"Caught them trying to spy on me. Caught him red handed. They'll be talking in minutes." Tanya said.

She handed them documents and the journal she found.

"So, it seems that the inevitable is sooner than we thought." Zettour said.

"Yes, it seems that explains everything." Rudersdorf said, "Guess now we will have to disrupt the Allied Kingdom's ability to support the Republic and the Alliance."

"Where is Captain Blitzlowe?" Tanya asked.

"He's resting in the medbay. He gave us Alliance Mage Gear. He says we might be able to make use of it." Zettour said.

'While I'll be damned, he's literally taking every opportunity available.' Tanya thought.

"Anyways, welcome to Norden Major." Zettour said.

"We have a warm welcome for your Battalion. Come on in." Rudersdorf said.


Parasii, Republic Of Francois

"You did what?!" Bientôt asked.

"I'm afraid I had no choice. She was the only one to survive the Demons of the Rhine along with you, I thought maybe she could slay them both and save us the trouble." Pierre said.

"I know that sir, but-"

"Not now Colonel. For now, we have to keep our heads cool." Pierre said, "Now what do we have?"

Bientôt calmed down and fixed his hair.

"Well, the attack on the depot has failed. We sent a report to their HQ that leaving the rear will invite another Dacia. Complete and utter defeat." Bientôt said, "Are you sure about this? If we continue backing them up, we'll be left defenseless."

"I know, but we must do everything to ensure the people are safe. Naturally, they will do the same. We must defeat the Empire, even if it means we have to pay the ultimate price." Pierre said.


Orse Fjords, Scandinavia, Entente Alliance

Anson Sioux was walking out of the door of a meeting room. He had been promoted to Colonel. The man had brown hair and brown eyes. He had a scar on on his right eyebrow. He was a middle-aged man. His second, Major Gunner was walking with him. Anson was in command of the 5th Mage Battalion. The Alliance has been on edge ever since the war began to bog down the army to disarray. He didn't trust the Brass. Not even on his patrol when it all started. His own men were slaughtered by the Demons of the Rhine. The infantry was wiped out by an artillery bombardment. He still had nightmares about that day.

"Well Commander, you might as well be in charge of the place after you get one more promotion." Gunner said.

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind while you keep yourself straightened out when you get a girlfriend." Anson said.

"Hey, not cool Commander." Gunner said, "So about your daughter, do you think she'll-"

"Stay out of the war? Yes." Anson said.

"What I meant to ask was, do you think she'll like me?" Gunner asked.

"Do I hear a man asking for a father in law to snap his neck?" Anson asked.

"Oi! It was a question Commander!" Gunner said.

"I was joking. How could she fall for you?" Anson asked.

"Dude, not cool." Gunner said.

"Just being a very protective father is all, Major. Parenthood is a serious responsibility to keep out for." Anson said, "My wife would kill me if I let anything happen to her."

"Right….." Gunner said, "Still, I don't get it, how come we stay in the rear while our guys get slaughtered."

"Well, maybe it's for the best. We can defend the Fjords in case an attack happens." Anson said.

"The enemy won't hit us at the Fjords. Even if they did, our naval guns will blast them out of the water." Gunner said.

'True…. but…. I fear that even guns won't protect the Fjords. Not against them.' Anson thought.

He remembered that day. The day that lived on in infamy in his eyes. The day he saw those Demons. He felt that they would come here, it was a feeling. A feeling that would not fade until they are dead. He looked at the picture of him, his wife, and his daughter, Mary Sioux.

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