Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.
Chapter 4:
This time, the casualties had been more severe. Wounded limbs that had to cut off in order to prevent infection… those were the worst. The victim would scream and cry depending on who it was, or else they stayed calm and simply let it happen.
Twin Masters had enabled beings to use the Chaotic Energy, causing most of the enemy to easily kill many beings from the other side.
The Panthers had then started using charms against the Chaotic Energy, but sometimes, if they were unlucky, the charms lost their work in the midst of the Chaotic Energy, which only grew stronger as the round raged on around them. The chaos that most of them were unknowingly producing were giving their enemy the strength to last longer and stronger.
Lots of humans and animals were both wounded, but not too fatally, so they were treated quickly, before gathering the ones not injured or still had enough energy to fight the next day, and continued to prepare for the enemy.
Animals and humans had their fair share of injuries and deaths. The ones that died were hastily buried back at Big Green, taken back by the Air Force, and joined by some Panthers (Master Chou had backed down. After all, these were battlefield conditions. What was he going to do about it?)
"RETREAT!" The order was echoed as Big Green's forces began to get overwhelmed, the Panthers and Jaguars surging to the front to hold the enemy off for as long as they could while they allowed the others to retreat.
They knew it was hopeless. Within minutes, they would be overwhelmed completely and be forced to surrender.
This round has been particularly hard, with the enemy being more hardened than before. The new ones were still a touch too soft, but the ones who had lasted from the rounds before were on a killing rampage that didn't bode well for any of the ones on Big Green. As much as Panther King hated doing this, he had to, unless he wanted to lose more warriors than absolutely necessary.
The warriors trickled back into their make-shift camp, not too far from Big Green, with explosions still falling overhead, causing screams and shrieks of either terror or fright as they ran to avoid the bombs. The Air Force flew overhead, trying to knock out each individual animal, instead of severely wounding them. However, that only made progress slower, even with the Bats' ability to sense what the person in front of them wanted to do.
And as more birds came in the battle, they got more and more confused, until the Air Force, too, had to retreat back to Big Green, trying to hold off the birds long enough to retreat properly.
The camp was only still standing because of the charms that the Panthers had set on them. Slowly but surely, the Panthers started trickling back inside, making sure that no enemy got close enough to the entrance to enter and attack anyone inside.
Immediately, as anyone went inside, they were given a look over by Woo, and if they were wounded, they were sent to the medic team. If not, they went to join their friends/family, and try to get some sleep. The animals worked hard to improve conditions, but most were exhausted and now at all up for it today. Today had not been a good day.
Suddenly, there was a bang amongst the enemy.
Heads turned as someone, a blur of black and grey, came forward, a purple blue either knocking them unconscious or trying deliberately not to kill them. They moved quickly and with efficiency, not lingering on one long enough for it to strike back, and acting silently.
Only now did the animals realise that behind them, their friends were already all unconscious, or had already exploded in black dust. Apparently, when the person found this out, they started stabbing and hacking. Panther King smirked. He had a good idea who it was, but he needed confirmation. For now, though, they had to take advantage of the enemy's confusion.
He signalled for the remaining Jaguars and Panthers to attack. All drew their weapons and ran straight into battle, ducking and dodging any clumsy and unexpected swipes at them, and generally making their enemies burst into black dust. The element of surprise worked well.
The person, whoever it was, had surprised the enemy long enough so that the enemy was confused. Then, when that happened, the Panthers and Jaguars could also take them by surprise in their confusion and take upper hand. The lone figure soon found it's way to Panther King, fought beside him, each covering each's weakness, blocking any unexpected strikes, and attacking as one.
Panther King laughed as he saw who it was. His suspicious were right. "Lin Chung."
Lin Chung grinned back at Panther King, before turning and now joining a Jaguar as they turned and ducked, and swooped around the battlefield gracefully, one being defence, and the other being offence.
It was only after the enemy was gone: either killed, retreated, or had given up and suddenly killed themselves, did Panther King allow himself a small smile of triumph, and rushed towards Lin Chung, seeing him wince and suddenly collapse. He moved up quickly to Lin Chung, and checked him over temporarily. Seems to be fine aside from a few cuts and scratches. Must be exhaustion then.
The Harmonic Energy user looked tired, but a grim smile graced his lips as he looked around, supported up by Panther King. "I hope I wasn't too late?"
"So?" Kowloon asked desperately as Lin Chung calmly sipped at his tea. It had only been 15 minutes since anyone had said anything, but now, all were getting particularly desperate at the image of the calm teenager in front of him, almost looking like he didn't have any care in the world. "Have you learnt anything?"
Lin Chung shook his head, finally looking up. "But I know how Twin Masters is transferring his powers to his clones-"
"Clones?" Panther Queen interrupted. "Weren't they banned?" Lin Chung shook his head once again, sighing.
"No. When most forgot about it, the rule was uplifted, for some reason." Panther King frowned, scowling.
"Wait. What is cloning?" Kowloon asked.
"You know what it is, Koowloon."
"You mean like actual cloning?"
Lin Chung frowned. "Yes. What else could I mean?" Kowloon shrugged, simple looking astounded like the other humans and Jaguars at the thought of actually being able to clone someone. This was new to them, but to the Panthers, this wasn't good news.
"Twin Masters is sending clones of the original forms out, so that he can keep the animals and warriors fresh and new, while he himself stayed behind, transferring some of his magic to them. Do you understand? He and the original warriors will stay fresh and keep pounding Big Green until we have to surrender and we are took weak to stand. The Chaotic Energy is a bonus from the battles as well."
Yen, a warrior from the Jaguars, frowned. "Then what do you propose we do?" He had only heard stories about Lin Chung, but didn't believe any of them thoroughly…until he actually met Lin Chung. Now, all doubts were erased, and he was intent on winning the War.
"Play back at the same game. And start paying attention to air or water assaults. Twin Masters won't focus on the land attacks so much anymore."
"You can-?" Panther King asked, and received a nod in response. "Can Tien Kwan do anything to help?" He had heard of the name before, some good sorcerer or something with his brother, an evil force that supposedly trained Highroller, and hoped that he would be able to help. It would be a big advantage.
But his hopes were crushed when Lin Chung shook his head, his expression emotionless as he set the tea cup down.
"He-" He hesitated, looking lost for a second, like he didn't know how to explain it properly. "He faded."
AN: Not a lot of explanation there. Might expand in After the War.
08/02/14 - (About previous statement) Hm…might…not sure.