Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.

Chapter 3:

Latifah sighed as she rubbed her eyes. The last few weeks had been hectic. First and Second Squad, along with many others, had been sent to get the animals and humans that were on the side of Big Green safely into Big Green Base.

They hastily set up preparations as well as they can, going through all the weapons and transport. The Eagles were worked hard delivering message after message to animal kingdom after animal kingdom, before going down to the humans, who also hid, sheltered in either their villages if they were far enough, or in Big Green if they were too close to the East Citadel.

Not too long after that, preparations got even more hectic after a Panther arrived, her calm presence announcing the arrival of the panthers and the declaration of War Twin Masters had sent them via the Cheetah, who had told them before he had died.

The Jaguars, apparently, had followed the Panthers, and both animal kingdoms were in Cheetah Castle, and would join the armies of Big Green as soon as possible.

Big Green grew rushed, checking everything over and nearly not having enough time to finish so that they could check one last time in case of a last minute malfunction. The turtles, after a long nap, were ready to carry anyone who they needed to. The Elephants were ready on their own tanks, and the Air Force was ready, with the Bats and Chickens.

The Navy was bigger, and therefore needed more time in order to get ready, but they were nearly prepared by the time the Panthers, Jaguars and Cheetahs arrived. After checking everyone was safe, Woo activated Big Green, and put up the shields.

Even after the explanation that Lin Chung would be gone for some time, most of Big Green wondered when Lin Chung would return.

The Panthers and Jaguars had arrived to help, and, using their experience of warfare, they enhanced the ammunition and army, the panthers' religious connection to the living force all around them giving them an advantage, close to Harmonic or Chaotic Energy even though it was none. Humans revealed to have been raised from children by the two animal kingdoms helped greatly with training with humans.

After some questions, Panther Queen had revealed that Lin Chung had once been one of the children, but he left when Big Green was constructed, the first to do this. Many other panthers were also originally humans, turned to panthers at the age of 25. The Jaguars went through the same thing, although they, sugar coating it, 'kicked out' the humans once they turned 25, instead of offering them the change to stay.

The Army needed the help, though the Panthers, Jaguars and half-animals couldn't help the Navy, not going anywhere near the water, which was a surprise to some of the Big Green's people, who knew that Lin Chung and Lady Green had dived into the ocean before.

It was not a game anymore to any of them.

Now, they were all preparing for war.

The cry of an alarmed Jaguar had prepared everyone instantly as they looked in awe at the army Twin Masters' had managed to gather in such a short time. Animals that had yet to join Big Green were mutated, nearly unrecognisable as mythical creatures. The Eagles seemed slightly alarmed, but got with the Air Force to prepare for any air assaults.

The Jaguars and Panthers were at the front, ready for battle. They only carried either a single blade or a bow, loaded with arrows in a quiver hanging off their back.

The Heroes of Big Green also got ready, the air crackling with tension that was so thick that Panther King could cut it with his blade. But they stayed still, watching the army carefully as it stopped, lead by Highroller, sitting on Bearstomp's head, looking down with smugness and slight surprise at the Panthers, Jaguars, and in-betweens (the names given to the half-Panthers/Jaguars, half-humans) though the army was still considerably smaller than his own.

With a loud battle cry from the other side, the enemy charged, Highroller charging in front, a blade swinging in his/Bearstomp's hand. Looking at Panther King, who was in the front, the army waited, and when his hand shot down, a cry echoing back at the enemy, Big Green's forces charged.

They met in a cacophony of sound in the middle, where Big Green warriors found out that the enemy now would not hesitate to kill, after the first few minutes on the battlefield. Several soldiers of the Army fell quickly, which caused Guan Yu to scream at his soldiers to work harder.

And so, reluctantly, they quickly adapted and returned the favour, much of them suffering from minor wounds because of their clothes and inexperience of war.

The Panthers and Jaguars, however, were doing well, dodging with grace and elegance, though fighting with aggression, Lady Green amongst the Jaguars, doing the same. The first battle was on land rather than in water.

Time was lost completely as they fought, each side growing tired.

Highroller's force might have been more, but they were easier to kill and faster as well. As soon as a blade pierced them or squashed them, they exploded into dark dust, which soon covered the field nearly right outside of Big Green completely like a dark powder settling in, causing many of them to trip and stumble through the dust that clouded the sky when used correctly.

However, even though it was a small victory, the first round was won by the forces of Big Green. The enemy started retreating when it saw it's small numbers, with Highroller in the front of the retreating party, before Jaguar King smirked and threw the hilt of his blade into Bearstomp. Bearstomp stumbled and fell, causing a sort of domino reaction, but Panther King raised his hand as they prepared to attack, letting the enemy retreat.

He looked around at the forces. They all looked well on land, but the ones in the sky looked slightly worn out.

They quickly picked the body of their dead and buried them, retreating themselves back to Big Green, getting a quick rest, before Panther King had them all starting to move a few miles away from Big Green and setting up camp. The Air Force and Navy remained at Big Green, ready to fight any sort of enemies that decided to come to Big Green, all the while also defending the waters. The Air Force would join the Army whenever they could.

Panther King and Jaguar King were seen disappearing into the forest for a few hours, before returning, covered in black dust, though it was not evident on Panther King's dark skin. The Panthers and Jaguars had originally been concerned, but they immediately shook it off, seeing both of them alright.

As it turned out, they had sensed a force trying to attack Big Green from the back. A petty attempt at trying to get into Big Green.

They weren't allowed to celebrate their victory, and ate dinner quietly that night, before falling asleep. The Panthers and Jaguars quickly arranged for night shifts, being able to last longer than humans at not sleeping.

Time was limited in the battle, and was everything now.

They had to get ready to fight the next battle without any weaknesses. Another shift was created, where the more medical adapted animals and humans would stay and take care of any wounded animals, while the rest would fight in turns, resting whenever they could when it was time for a change. Searching through their own forces for any weak spots, the Jaguars quickly settled them as hastily as possible, before turning as the sun rose, outlining the figure of another army.

Panther King cursed. "Faster than I thought he would."

And then all of them got ready. Twin Masters seemed to have learnt from his mistake. There was definitely less warriors, but it surely would be harder to kill them.

Great.

But one thing weighed more heavily on their minds than this fact as they started the second round.

Where was Lin Chung?

AN: Hope you enjoyed.

08/02/14 - Repeating the statement: Hope you enjoyed :P