Suikoden One Half
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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Ranma 1/2. The Ranma 1/2 cast belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Suikoden 3 or any other characters that I put into this story except for my own original characters. Neither do I own any of the character in any of the crossovers I do. I'm just using them in this fanfiction and I have no money so don't bother suing me. You'll just lose money instead of gaining any.
Also note the warning for language in this chapter.
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Chapter 23 Part 2 – Defend Brass Castle!
Harmonia's Army has arrived in the outskirts of Brass Castle. They know that they can win as long as they have Blight on their side, but they're still fearful of him since they know all too well of his bloodlust. They also fear the fighters in Ranma's units. They did most of the damage to their side, especially the girls with their strange weapons. Those girls with 'guns' alone took them down fast and hard.
However, with Ranma out of the picture his men (well, mostly women) will have lower morale and fight sloppier. No one will stand in Blight's way, meaning they will be victorious today. They have the better tactics, better weapons and armor, basically they are better in every way and it is time for the Grasslanders to know that. Once they lose they will become Third-class citizens, the way it should have been from the beginning.
Ahead of them are the walls of Brass Castle, a mighty fortress meant to protect the lands under control of Zexen. Along the way they found large mounds of hay set around in front of the castle. It's better than the 'other' things they ran into and was harmless when they treated it like a pincushion to check for hidden fighters. Pits, rockslides, and arrows falling into their ranks had caused a lot of harm to their side. Nothing too serious but it did lower their numbers a little and some severely hurt their horses.
Now one more obstacle lay before them. Trenches have been laid out all along the field a thousand meters from the castle bridge, all interconnected. They stepped in, attempting to cross it, and immediately became bogged down and ankle-deep in mud. They can lift their feet from the sludge only with great effort. As for the ones in armor they had the hardest time pulling their feet out. Only the ones on horseback had an easy time with it.
"What the hell?" One of the struggling soldiers exclaimed. "This isn't mud, it's pitch!"
"Pitch?" another soldier asked. "Why would anyone fill trenches with pitch?"
"Sir?" one of the soldiers asked a nearby captain. "Shouldn't we find a way around or over these trenches?"
"I don't care. If it's just a little mud just march right through it." The captain happened to be the same one that was driven back by Reni and her two parents. After that disaster he knows this is his last chance at saving his rank. Being driven off by a little girl isn't something that the higher ups can look the other way with. He is so lost in thought that he didn't even hear one of the soldiers saying it's not mud.
When the Harmonian soldiers arrived the gates of the castle opened and a unit of troops came out to greet them. At the lead is the son of the Karayan Chief. "I am Hugo, son of chief Lucia! Let me talk to your leader!"
His demand is met when the cavalry parted to create a path for two men. Two very serious men rode to the head of the army. The one in blue robes spoke in an emotionless but regal voice. "I am Sasarai, Bishop of Harmonia. What do you want? Have you come to surrender?"
"Never! Both the Grasslands and Harmonia made a treaty 50 years ago! Why do you attack as soon as the treaty ends!"
"Harmonia never intended for the treaty to be eternal."
"I bear the True Rune of Fire of the late Flame Champion. I have taken his title and I am the new Flame Champion! Fifty years ago the Flame Champion used the full power of the rune! Do you want to face it again?"
"Ah." He looked very pleased. "Very well, I will make you a deal. Surrender now to us yourself and Ranma. There need not be any bloodshed. What we want is you, Flame Champion, and the one called Ranma. I will even pull this army back and pardon the crime of raising arms against us. What do you say, Hugo? Two men for the lives of your people."
"Do you think we're fools! You're the one invading US and you're saying that we committed a crime against you!"
"It is irrelevant what you say. You have two choices, either surrender yourself and Ranma or we will take the two of you by force. We will get what we want either way. The difference is that we will annihilate anyone that gets in our way."
Hugo's temper flared and so did the army behind him. "You asshole! Who are you to make demands on us! I will not let anyone fall under your mercies you hypocritical prick! Here you are meddling with people's lives like there are dolls! I'll make you pay you jackass! I'll use the True Fire Rune's full power on you before I let that happen!" (A)
Sasarai watched the Grassland Army cheer, and then turned to the man next to him. "Dio, we can't take any chances with this. Caution is the best way to go."
"Yes, I understand. Withdraw no more than half of the troops!" Half of the troops from the rear fell back and waited.
"So, withdrawing half of your troops just because that little pest has a True Rune," Blight mocked as he walked up to them. "I would cut off your heads if you were working for me. Oh well, I don't need a big army anymore. Not with the power I have now." He grinned, his blood singing for battle.
Dio muttered under his breath, very unhappy at having him here. Sasarai, meanwhile, watched as the main Grasslander Army marched out. Then he saw a glint off of something metallic from the walls of the fort.
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On top of the walls –
Maria, Kohran, and Reni took their positions along the wall, to the far right of the castle bridge. It's their job to fire at the Harmonian Army with their long-range weapons. Reni would fire into the back ranks of the soldiers with her gatling-lance since she cannot really aim her weapon that well at such a large range. However, with the number of bullets she has, her rate of fire and how the soldiers are tightly packed together she is bound to hit a lot of them. She is also in charge of taking out as many bug troops as she can. Kohran would protect them from magic attacks with her shield and send it back with her cannon into the tightly packed troops. Iris, who was supposed to provide a shield for arrows and beam attacks from the bug troops, isn't there since they couldn't pry her away from Ranma's side. From where they stood they can hear the drums of the marching Harmonian Army as they came to their side, keeping a steady rhythm to press the troops forward. Maria has something special planned for them.
Opening a metal suitcase that she had brought along with her she pulled out parts for a custom made Walther WA2000 Sniper Rifle. With the help of Mind and Rally she had redesigned the rifle with a six-shot revolver style cylinder clip that can handle not only regular bullets but also her caster bullets (1). It also has a longer barrel and a telescope for longer range. Putting all of the parts together Maria placed her bullets in different clips, categorized by type, and put them around her so she can grabbed whatever types she needed easily. She loaded six incendiary (B) rounds into the rifle, put the gun on the wall to balance it and looked through the telescope.
Taking careful aim Maria shot the round into the pitch filled trenches, setting them on fire. The round immediately ignited the black pitch and caused the trenches to erupt in a horrendous wall of fire that shot all along the trenches like lighting. The soldiers who were crossing the trenches were cooked before most even had a chance to scream. Others quickly jumped away from the ditch, their pitch-covered feet blazing furiously, the flames quickly spreading up their bodies. Even worse are the ones on horseback, their horses going berserk and toppling their riders off. Their dying screams as either the fire cooking them or their horses trampling them could barely be heard over the thunderous roar of the inferno. The trenches cut the Harmonian troops in more than half as the trenches were designed to force the rest of the army to march around it to get to the Grasslander Army or march single file on the main road. Maria then started shooting at the hay bales, sending thick smoke that blinded and gagged the enemy troops. Also the smoke would make any incoming Mantor Riders back off since they can't fly in the smoke filled skies.
Taking careful aim again after reloading her rifle she began shooting down the officers of the Harmonian Army thanks to the fact most didn't wear headgear or theirs were different from what the foot soldiers wore. If she took out the commanders then the enemy troops would be confused on what to do. An AP round punched a hole through a captain's armor and out the back, hammering him off of his horse as the round punched its way through other soldiers that were behind him before losing its power after about the sixth soldier. The rounds were meant to pierce tank armor after all.
When the two armies met she began aiming for the magic units to stop them from casting attack spells and using the wind to blow the smoke away. One of the soldiers had told her that that was how they countered their smoke tactic in the previous battle. She also aimed for soldiers now and then when she sees someone on her side in trouble. Then Kohran and Reni opened up their weapons. The mantor riders couldn't get close with those two trying to hit him. Even Franz and Ruby couldn't get close.
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Down at the battle below –
The Grassland Army crashed headfirst into the Harmonian Army. Chris and her knights took the center since they are wearing the most armor and mounted on horses. Sakura and the other girls joined her as they fought their way through the thickly packed soldiers. Even if they not on horses their tenacity made even approaching them hard. Training with individuals like Ranma and Tina had caused them to be qualified to enter the ranks of the NWC, meaning the Harmonian soldiers are nothing against them. The Grassland troops took the sides as they fought at their best in open field. They had to hold off the soldiers that are going around the flames with the Lizard fighters serving point to stop the cavalry units that are making their way around the fire.
The Harmonian cavalry charged at the Grassland troops. They need to get past them and into the castle. If they can get inside they can make way for their troops to get inside as well and eventually overwhelm them. Seeing the mounted troops charging at them the Lizard fighters stopped. The first three rows of Lizards carried along with their spears another weapon, three times longer wooden ones. Fred, who had study up on warfare in Ranma's world, had told them how to use them against cavalry units. As the Harmonians closed in on them the lizards brought their wooden spears up and stepped on the ends of them, making a wall of spears in front of the incoming cavalry. The horses slammed into the spears, impaling themselves or stopping, sending their riders onto them instead. Having halted the cavalry charge the Grassland troops behind the spear-toting Lizards ran around them and attacked the stunned survivors, pulling the riders off and killing them.
The Harmonian drummers continued to pound out their battle drums as the soldiers on their side rushed to meet the Grassland Army head on. Suddenly a Harmonian drummer stopped beating his drum when an arrow went into his chest. He looked at it with deep curiosity before keeling over. His drum rolled down a slight slope. Aile knotted another arrow and sent it into yet another drummer. Geddoe and his team are fighting along with the Grassland troops on the left flank, giving them a helping hand.
Jacques picked off a Harmonian commander with his huge crossbow. He and Aile stood at the back as the front line fighters of their group fought. Ace, using his twin sais, cut into the weak points of the armor of the soldiers he face as Joker pounded the living daylights out of any soldiers that cross him. A captain, the same one that had told his men to march through the pitch-filled trenches, rode up on horseback swinging a battle mace. He headed towards Joker to take off his head when one of Maria's bullets shot his horse out from under him, throwing him over his intended kill.
Landing hard he swung at Joker as he got back up. Raising his arm he took a back swing at Joker's head when his arm is cut off by Geddoe's sword, then followed by Queen's sword going through his back. He fell to his knees, holding his wound with his remaining arm. Geddoe and the others didn't even bother to see him fall dead because they had to meet new soldiers heading for them. (2)
Several Harmonian bowmen regrouped, nocking their bows and then fired a volley of arrows into the attacking mob. A dozen Grassland warriors dropped to the ground dead, others wounded. Seeing this, their fellow warriors raised their weapons and headed straight for the cluster of bowmen, chopping them into pieces while they were reloading their bows. Hugo flew overhead riding Fubar, using the True Fire Rune to burn a path for the fighters to follow.
"Forward!" Lucia shouted. Beecham as always stood at her side fighting off any incoming attackers heading for her. Half a dozen Karayans surrounded her as well as she went into the fight. Hallec, Twaikin, and Wan Fu fought along with them. Hallec roared, shaking the Harmonian soldier's bones before swinging his two massive axes that would have taken a normal person to hold with both hands, cleaving them in half. He flung soldiers that weren't cut in half, flying and crashing back down upon the soldiers in back of them. Twaikin brought up his shovel, slamming into the enemy soldiers and knocking them back or causing them to fall to the ground. Since he is a dwarf and therefore short he had an easy time at hitting their legs so that his fellow fighters could then finish them off. Wan Fu used his pole to slam into the helmets of the soldiers, knocking them out and sending them crashing into the people in back of them.
Flying into the fray Futch, Sharon and Milia took the skies, blasting the Harmonian troops while on their dragon mounts with Sharon riding along with her mother. With Bright's fire breath and Trash's ice breath coming down upon them the Harmonian troops are starting to falter, especially since the bug troops and magicians that are supposed to handle them are dwindling in numbers due to Maria's efforts.
At the middle of the battlefield Chris and her knights are slowly pushing back the incoming waves of enemy soldiers. The knights in front carried large shields and used them to push the Harmonian soldiers back while stabbing with their swords as they did. Chris had taken that formation from the Roman Army that she had read about while in Ranma's world and told her knights to form into those ranks. She had known that when they do get back to her world she needed better tactics and got as many books on pre-gunpowder warfare she could get her hands on. Borus and Percival are fighting in the holes that formed when the Harmonian soldiers managed to break through their lines. Leo, swinging his huge battleaxe, cleared a pathway for the other knights behind him to follow.
Sakura and the other girls are also clearing a pathway that the knights had a hard time keeping up with them just to follow. Now and then the barrage of bullets coming from Reni would punch a hole in the enemy ranks or a blast from Kohran's cannon, but still it is slow going for them.
Roland sent an arrow into an enemy soldier, giving Salome cover fire as he turned to Chris. "Lady Chris, I think its time to use those Arbalests you brought to the castle."
Chris agreed. "Yes, send up a flare!" Salome nodded as he used his Fire Rune to light a flare in the sky, signaling the men in the castle to use the weapon that Belle and her mother Meg had made. They had found a book on siege weapons in the books Ranma brought with him awhile back and made three models of one of the weapons. Then Chris had the three working models be sent to Brass Castle when Lulu had flown to Lake Castle to get them, knowing that they might have to fall back to Brass Castle if they couldn't turn back the Harmonian Army.
The 'Arbalests' are deadly weapons that they had brought up on the castle walls before the battle had begun. They closely resembled giant crossbows and worked on the same principle. The bowstring is drawn back tight and attached to a trigger and then loaded with ammunition. When the trigger is pulled the Arbalest sent its ammunition flying. However, where a crossbow shot arrows the Arbalest fired six-foot-long lances. The weapon is not only deadly but also highly accurate and reliable. The large one had three rows of lances on top of each other so it fired three times the lances that the smaller ones could fire, but it does take longer to reload it after it has been fired than the smaller ones took.
At the sight of the flare the soldiers on the wall uncovered the three Arbalests. The large one is situated right in the middle of the wall right over the gate, the two smaller ones at the two sides of the larger one. The combined firepower of all three would break the formation of the Harmonian ranks.
"Now!" Maria shouted, firing a Flare Round into the mass of Harmonian troops to show where she wanted the Arbalests to fire. The Flare Round would light the area that it hit so that the crew working the Arbalests would know where to fire their payload.
The three Arbalests fired their missiles into the Harmonian main force trapped by the flames, dropping several men at once. One lance skewered two at the same time and another other nearly cut one soldier in two. All of the bodies are hurled backwards, knocking several of their comrades down along with them. One Harmonian soldier who had somehow been missed by the storm of lances looked around and saw that he is the only one left of his unit. That thought quickly left his mind as Roland shot an arrow into his neck and the other Zexen knights rushed forward pass him into the huge gap left in the enemy ranks.
As quickly as the Arbalests are fired the soldiers reloaded and fired again. By the sides of each of the long rang weapons laid stacks and stacks of lances – hundreds of them. As far as the soldiers manning them are concerned each one of those lances is destined to puncture at least one enemy soldier body. With Maria firing Flare Rounds to show them where to fire they made gaps in the enemy ranks. (3)
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In Top Hat's room –
"Is something the matter, mistress?"
Top Hat turned to the Harpy Lady that had asked her a question. "Nothing too serious. Originally Ranma is supposed to be the one planning all of these strategies, not my little sister or his other fiancées. But since he is unconscious right now I'll let it go. Hmph, it figures that he did something even I did not expect. Well, we'll see what happens when he wakes up."
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At the command post of Harmonia –
Sasarai and Dio watched as their soldiers are being slowly pushed back. The tactics their enemy is using are nothing like they have seen before. Only someone like Albert, who is not here for reasons they do not know, would have thought of something like this. Next to them with his arms crossed is Blight, who is smiling at the battle and enjoying the show down below. Yuber is also nearby watching the battle.
"This is bad. The troops trapped by the fire can't break through the Zexen Knights, not with that kind of fire power that's coming from the castle walls," Dio said as Reni once again fired her gatling gun into their ranks.
"So it is true that some of Ranma's group have guns to fight with," Sasarai said as one of the magicians units fell with a hole through his chest. They are far from the castle, but that girl he had spotted on the castle walls can still hit someone at about half a mile away. They had moved farther back when a stray shot thanks to the strong wind hit one of the flag holders near him. He had to duck and run as shots were fired at him. He never heard of a gun that could fire at that kind of range. Those bullets are also like magic spells scrolls he have seen now and then, sometimes casting magic spells after hitting its targets. She alone has been causing a lot of damage to their army since she's been targeting the captains, commanders and magicians, causing a lot of confusion.
"What a bunch of weaklings your troops are," Blight lazily said as he watched the Grasslander Army push the Harmonian troops back. "My old unit would have smashed through them by now."
"Then why are you here then?" Dio growled. Even on horseback he still had to look up to meet his face.
Sasarai turned to him, his expression never changing from the very beginning. "Yes Blight. Why don't you go and give our troops a helping hand?"
Blight shrugged. "Why not. I could use a slight warm up." His blood sang for violence.
"I'll go as well," Yuber said as both of them walked to the battle in no hurry.
"He's very powerful. However, Bishop Sasarai, is it wise for him to be here? He's uncontrollable." Dio has been against having Blight in their ranks all the way from the beginning.
"Yes, but if we want to win this we have to have him on our side," Sasarai replied. Blight was bad before, but now that he's been upgraded he's even worse than when he was as a human, if you could have called him that. "This has escalated to more than just a battle for True Runes and power. I do not like that so many new things are being introduced into this war and we need an equalizer on our side. Let's just hope that we'll be able to handle him when he turns on us."
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In the middle of the battlefield –
Chris brought her sword at the incoming halberd from an attacking soldier, knocking it away before stabbing her sword into a hole in his armor. Using both hands she ripped her sword across the face of another soldier rushing at her. The other Knights then stepped in front of her, slashing wildly at everyone that approached them. A female knight brought her shield up, blocking an incoming arrow aimed at Chris. Grabbing a spear from a dead body Chris threw it into the crossbowman that was aiming at her. Smiling at her fellow knight she fought on as they pushed the Harmonians back. Then a loud war cried rang throughout the battlefield.
At first she thought it's just Hallec shouting his war cry, but then they all saw the huge figure walking through the ranks of Harmonian soldiers. Standing well above the rest of the soldiers Blight reached the front line where the two sides met together. Looking at the Zexen Knights with a grinning face he let out another war cry. With a lighting quick downswing he slammed his double bladed sword on the knights in front of him, crushing their skulls. Then he began swinging his sword, using the blunted side of the blades he started slamming the knights through the air with each of his swings. He is only using the flat end of his sword since he is having too much fun whacking them.
"Blight!" Tina shouted as she jumped through the air to land in front of him. When she saw him she knew her turn had come. She purposely kept herself out of the fight so that she can remain fresh in case he showed up. "I challenge you!"
Blight looked at the jade-haired girl challenging him. He immediately classed her as inconsequential "You think you can beat me girl?"
She smirked. "Power Ball!" In less than a second a red energy ball formed in her hands and went flying to Blight's chest, sending him flying and burning a hole all the way to his flesh. The wound bled heavily.
Blight stood up shakily. "That actually HURT you WENCH? I'll make sure you pay for that!" He immediately ran at her and punched towards her face.
She easily caught his fist even though his is even bigger than her palm. "I'd like to see you try." She slammed her foot into his face.
It took him a moment to get the stars to go away from his vision. "That's it! No more playing around!" He transformed into his werewolf form and engaged her.
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At the other area of the battlefield –
Hugo had made Fubar land and began fighting alongside with Geddoe's group. A Harmonian soldier yelled as he brought his halberd like axe down at him as Hugo jumped back and the blade imbedded itself into the ground. Pulling it free the soldier lunged at him again as Hugo sidestepped the pointed end of the weapon. He knocked the halberd weapon away with his knife then plunged it into the soldier's neck.
Hugo, seeing more incoming soldiers, sent a wave of fire at them, stopping their charge. Sgt. Joe joined his side, fighting with his long handled fish shaped axe blade. He smashed his way through the soldiers as he watched Hugo's back as he said he would to Lucia. Bazba and Shiba two lizard fighters join with them giving them a hand. Shiba is a first-class fighter in the Lizard Clan, and an impressive one at that. He is also noted to be the fattest of the lizard fighters, a fact of which he is conscious of but is also one of the strongest. Bazba assistant to Dupa, a very strong fighter in the Lizard Clan, despite being smaller than other lizard fighters. But he's also a lot faster then other lizard fighters too. With their help Sgt. Joe and Hugo began pushing back the Harmonian soldiers.
Nearby, Lexx and his group are fighting their way through the mass of enemy soldiers. With their many years of experience these soldiers are amateurs compared to them. Lexx and Jowy are using their 'Buddy Attack' against the horde of soldiers facing them. It only took only swipe for them to knock out or kill the soldiers. Nanami is using her three-piece flower rod and her own brute strength to send the enemy soldiers packing as she powered her way through them. Rina with her sister Eilie are throwing their weapons of choice into the mass of enemy troops, though Eilie is keeping to the back due to her being pregnant. The younger sister casted spells every now and then to heal her teammates and husband. Bolgan stood in front of her, using his brute strength to punch any soldiers or throwing them into the other soldiers as they came near him or Eilie. Now and then he used his Fire Breathing Rune on the soldiers, causing many of them run back from the flames.
Then Yuber suddenly ran into the fight. Swinging both of his swords he brought down every Grassland fighter that tried to face him. He stabbed one of his swords into the gut of a Karayan fighter and then brought the other sword into the chest of a Lizard fighter who tried to get him from behind. He slashed left and right, cutting down anybody non-Harmonian that got in his way. Many tried to stop him but died for their bravery. He killed his way over to Geddoe.
He swiped his swords to the side to make the blood come off. "Geddoe, its time to pay for the pain you caused me." At the Alter of the Flame Champion Geddoe had used the True Lighting Rune to blast him when they first fought each other. Now it's time for payback. Yuber sprang at him quickly to finish him off.
Geddoe froze at the sheer speed Yuber displayed. He never moved so fast before! His team members screamed out his name just when a sword is about to pierce his heart.
However, just before it pierced his skin the blade is deflected by another sword. Yuber leaped back when the sword that had stopped his made a swipe for his chest. When he landed he faced off against an old enemy.
Geddoe's savior straigtened up slowly. "Yuber, your fight is with me." The new player said ominously and loudly. Everyone only now noticed that a dozen Harmonian troops now lay dead behind the man. He's a tall man wearing full body black armor with a dull yellow flowing cape. He wore a horn helmet with a faceplate that hid his eyes. Four metal plates hung from his waist protecting his lower half and on his shoulder plates are long spikes, giving him an even more dangerous look. His sword is huge but just shy of being a Bastard Sword. Even though it must weight a lot he wielded it with just one hand, his other arm holding a black shield. To hold a heavy weapon like that meant that he's very strong and has a lot of skill to handle that kind of weapon.
When the new person spoke Lexx and his group heard him, drawing their attention and gasps. They know who he is since he had been with them briefly during the Zero Unification War. He's Pesmerga, the Black Knight who has been in search of the Black Knight Yuber for who knows how long. His age, history and place of origin are a mystery. He had been in both of the Toran Liberation Army and later the Zero Unification Army in hopes of finding Yuber. He did find Yuber at Gregminster following the defeat of the Imperial Army and a duel ensued, but it was inconclusive since Yuber escaped when he was going to lose the fight. His name means "he who chases after death" in Kurdish.
Yuber smirked and twirled his swords around; enjoying the freedom not wearing heavy armor gave him. "Hehehe, so you finally found me. Took you long enough. I didn't think you'd find me until the end of this war."
"I wouldn't have if luck hadn't been on my side," Pesmerga said calmly. "I was in Camaro when I overheard there is a war going on in the Grasslands. I would have just dismissed it when I heard rumors of a warrior that can beat even the likes of you, meaning you are here if people are talking about you. I followed the Free Knights of Camaro to where this battle is taking place. I knew you wouldn't resist being in a big war like this. Now I'm here and we can finish our duel without you running away again."
Hugo, who just killed a Harmonian cavalry member, overheard the conversation. "You mean Mua is here?"
Without taking his eyes from Yuber Pesmerga answered him. "Yes. He should be here with his fellow knights by now. Now, let's fight Yuber!" With a battle cry he launched himself at his enemy. Yuber raised his swords and blocked the first blow.
Hugo watched as the two fought each other. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed together. The two fought ferociously, Pesmerga having the better defense and offense but Yuber had the advantage with his speed and skill. The other soldiers and fighters of both sides made room for them as their fighting took them away from the Hugo's sights. He watched them as they disappeared in the fighting mass.
From the north Mua came riding upon horseback with his fellow knights. He had finally come back to the Grasslands after calling for reinforcements from Camaro to push the Harmonian Army away from the Grasslands. He would have come back earlier when he heard that Ranma and the others of his group had beaten the Harmonian Army back, but he decided to wait for awhile to gather up more fighters so that when they come to their aid they would have the numbers to make a difference in the battle. He had gathered a group of over 5,000 strong fighters to come to their aid.
He also came with a small band of Thomas' group of fighters he had brought along from Lake Castle. After receiving word that Ranma had been injured during the fight in Duck Village Thomas wanted to come to the aid of his friend. The students who have been training under Ranma and his people had been enraged when they found out and formed a small unit. They're small in number, only around 200 strong, but they make up for it with skill. The very intense training that Ranma and those that came with him is better than any basic training the surrounding countries can come up with. Along with the other fighters of the castle they are a formidable force to reckon with. Piccolo hovered on his magic cloud above the small band of fighters, right above Estella and Rody.
Also in the back row of Thomas' group is Mr. Green Turtle. Strapped to his back is a harness with a small seat as well is a Rune Cannon. The ship at the back of the castle came from the Island Nations, specifically from Razril. There are a few rune cannons and shells left on the ship, though no one knows what they are except two people. The ammunition they use are cannonballs called Rune Shells that needs someone who has an elemental rune affixed to them to be fired. The stronger the rune user is the more powerful the Rune Shells are. Rune magic is sealed into the spheres and its power is instantly magnified, then fired by passing through a lens-like cannon.
Sitting on the seat is none other than Jeane, wearing a very skimpy white dress that barely hid anything (C). Right next to Mr. Green Turtle is Gadget Z carrying a large box of rune shells, with Hinako hitching a ride on its back. When Hinako and Viki had returned to Lake Castle Viki had begged her to help out, as in fight alongside them instead of being just a rune sage. Jeane figured 'why not' and went to fetch the rune cannon. With her Charm Rune and Hinako's help it had been easy getting the cooperation of the reptile. She hasn't felt this exhilarated for over 150 years! She wondered why she had given up on being a front-line fighter when the war in the Island Nations finished. She was one of the most powerful spell casters in the group! She and Viki had decimated boss after boss during those days! With her using a Thunder Orb and her RIDICOLOUSLY high magic rating she decimated anyone that stood in her way.
Viki has also switched to the clothes that she wore during the war in the Island Nations. Her tight fitting white robes that showed off her wonderful figure and bare shoulders offset the frightening power of her attacks. Her Rage Rune caused almost as much damage as Hugo's True Rune. Sometimes her attacks DID since she has a WAY higher magic rating than Hugo does. (D)
Hugo looked up when he heard trumpets blaring. Coming from the south leading an army unit are three familiar figures that he knows too well. It's Lilly Pendragon, the daughter of Gustav Pendragon, the President of the Tinto Republic that went independent after the Zero War. At her side are her two attendants Samus and Reed. She had entered the Grasslands searching for the Flame Champion to bring justice to him, believing him to be behind many of the raids on the Tinto caravans crossing the Grasslands. She had enlisted Hugo, Fubar, Lulu, and Sgt. Joe to help her navigate her way through the Grasslands to help her in her quest. When they had run out of money they went looking for a Tinto trader, but finding none ended up going back to Tinto.
Hugo couldn't help but go googly-eyed (complete with shine due to tears) and have a happy expression on his face as Lilly stood in front of her unit and ordered them into the battle. That spoiled, prissy brat had come to help him! She never looked so beautiful before! Spoiled, but still beautiful! Thankfully for him the soldier he was fighting got so creeped out that he ran away. When his opponent ran away Hugo snapped out of the weird moment, shook his head then went on to fight another soldier.
Lilly put her hands on her hips as her unit crashed into the Harmonian troops. "Finally! It's good to back in the Grasslands." She took a deep breath and blew it out. "Now to find that Flame Champion. Where's that Hugo?" She scanned the battlefield looking for him.
"I agree that it's good to be back here, but did you HAVE to bring the Tinto Grassland unit along too?" Samus asked as he slapped his forehead.
"Did we really need such a large force?" Reed asked as he shook his head.
Lilly turned around and glared at them, cowing them instantly. "What. Did. You Two. Say?" she growled.
The two gulped noisily. "Nothing!"
Lilly muttered to herself about incompetent help and turned around to continue her search for Hugo. "Don't EVER question my orders, fools. Now, where is he? Hugo! Hugo!" She shouted as she searched around the battlefield, unmindful of the people around her. Reed and Samus panicked and protected her as best as they could as she went around calling out Hugo's name.
The Tinto Army attacked the south flank and Mua and Thomas's units attacked the northern flank, forcing Dio to call in the other half of the army. However, before the other half could go in and help a swarm of arrows flew out of the nearby tree line and attacked them. The warriors of the Alma Kinan Clan have come to give their aid. Leading them are Yumi and Yuiri, firing their crossbows and unleashing arrows into the enemy ranks rapidly and accurately. Yun and Viki had gathered them to send help to the other Grassland Clans.
It doesn't look good for Harmonia.
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In the center field –
Tina fought with all of the skills and power her very long life had given her. However, even though she should have the upper hand the two of them are about equal with her being just a little better. He's nothing against her and her siblings normally, but there are two things hampering her. On is that he is a berserker, and no matter how skilled or strong or fast you are a berserker is always hard to deal with. Another reason is a mistake her husband-to-be had also made a while ago. She forgot to take off her limiter, and Blight is not giving her a moment's rest to take it off.
His magic attacks, which she can easily dodge, not only killed people on her side but people on his side as well. While she had to hold back on her attacks or she might hit her allies he had no such limitation and threw attack after attack.
"Twin Air Blades Strike!" Fight shouted, making an X strike using air blades. Blight mostly dodged her attack, but got a cut on his arm that quickly healed.
Her opponent decided to taunt her even as to fight her. "Sorry girl, but you have to do better than that. See what's on my right hand?" He fought her one handed for a moment to show her. "This is no ordinary Sunbeam Rune. This one is more powerful than your usual ones because this one is from Harmonia. This combined with my own healing rate just makes tiny cuts useless against me, and that's all you can really do girly."
"G-G-GIRLY!" Screamed the very pissed off Fight Hat. Her aura intensified to near blinding levels. "I'm gonna kill you! Power Ball!" She let loose all of the energy her limiters would allow her into her attack.
"Wolf Fang Fist!" Blight's left fist transformed into a silver-blue wolf's head and shot towards Tina's attack. The two attacks hit and exploded on contact.
The two attacks were just par for course in their fight. However, Tina made a mistake that cost her. When she glanced to the side she saw a Karayan woman down on the ground, wounded and trying to get away from the fight. However, a soldier had seen her and is advancing with his halberd poised to kill her. She could not let that happen and rushed to her aid, killing the soldier with a vacuum blade.
With her attention on something else Blight rushed her. Instead of punching or kicking her he decided to punish her for her divided attention and backhanded her, very hard. Tina is sent flying back and upwards, her body spinning as she headed towards where Maria stood. With a sickening thud she hit the stone wall and went through it and landed right next to Maria.
'Should've taken off my limiter or that wouldn't hurt!' she thought before loosing consciousness. She had been unprepared for it so the hit and the crashing through stone had hit her hard enough to knock her out.
Seeing Tina down Maria took aim at Blight, sending her last two AP rounds into him and out his back. Blight growled as he had felt those two rounds go through his chest.
"Bitch! White Fang Strike!" he shouted out as he threw a magic attack in the shape of a wolf's head, sending it at Maria as she reloaded her weapon. Maria's eyes widened as she saw the attack coming at her. Kohran stepped in front of her and used her shield to block the incoming attack, but it's too much for her machine to handle. The resulting explosion sent the two of them flying back and Reni falling to the stone bridge down below.
Acting fast Reni started firing at the ground to slow her descent and landed the way her father told her to. She's still not too used to it so her legs hurt like hell from falling from such a height. Her arms are also shaking from the use of the gatling gun. When she looked up she saw Blight leaping over her mother's knights and the other Grassland fighters, landing a few feet away from her. She shivered when Blight's wolf form growled at her in feral delight.
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Help Wanted
We need a Pre-reader please! The last one we had couldn't do it. Please e-mail my Co-writer and me for the job.
Madhat's: madhat886(at)aol(dot)com
Glazedlookineyes101: ilikesecret(at)comcast(dot)net
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Author's Notes
1 – It is the rifle that the old hunter guy uses in 'Wolf's Rain'.
2 – That's how the Orc Commander in the 'Return of the King' died in the Director's Cut.
3 – Think of the general in 'Red Dead Revolver' where he fires flares to show his men where to fire their cannons.
Co-Writer's Notes(A) Sorry for the language, but I wanted to show how much Hugo is pissed off.
(B) I hope I spelled that right. They are the same type of rounds used in Parasite Eve 2 to set things on fire.
(C) Does anyone need me to tell them where this is from? Anyone? …Thought so.
(D) Hehe, my main party in Suikoden 4 always consisted of the hero, Viki, Jeane and whomever I felt like adding. Those two are the greatest!