A/N: Sorry for the delay, some things just weren't clicking it right for me. Anyway, the battle is now going in full swing!

Angel Beats!

What We Live For

Operation 38

Battle for Fortress

"Push them back!"

She shouted, throwing a punch straight at a shadow. The flat piston device on her forearm fired, sending additional impact to her punches. That one punch sent the Shadow flying straight into the air before it exploded.

"Don't let them get the upper hand!"

She rallied those around her, spurring them to push on against the tide of enemies that swarmed towards them. No matter what, they must retake the guns. They were essential to push back the tides. Without those guns, the enemy would just keep swarming up the walls without end. There must be at least a hundred spawner class Shadows out there. She shook her head to clear those negative thoughts away.

"It isn't about how many there are. Come on Tomoyo, you've gone through worse than this."

She muttered to herself, slapping her own cheeks to focus.

"Yosh!"

She ran towards the next Shadow, cocking back her fist and throwing it at the enemy. Her weapon, a pair of long fingerless gloves, called Conviction. The glove ran from her hand all the way to her elbow. Adorned with a metal plate on top of her palms, it was meant to add impact to her punches. Attached to the gloves on the forearms were flat rectangular tracks that held a metal bar powered by pistons. By throwing her punches forward, the piston would fire the bar across the track, adding kinetic energy into her punches. While she did not have the same piston devices for her legs, her boots had metal plating over the shoe cap and heel. Her shins were also protected by additional metal plating. This weapon, Conviction, was something that was made by her former student, Kisaragi Setsuna, before he went off on that dangerous mission for the Guardians. Being a Guardian, Setsuna had access to a lot of privileges and technological supplies. These gloves were one of them. Together with her own Programs of enhancements, her attacks were like atomic explosions compacted into punches and kicks.

'"It isn't much, but I've been putting together a weapon for you, Sakagami-sensei."'

He smiled sheepishly when he handed her the Conviction gloves.

'"I've been learning some basic weapons crafting from Himura-san and I immediately set about making these for you. They're thanks for all of the training you've given me."'

He had often told her how those old worn out gloves of hers were too shabby. Perhaps he was right. She swung her leg at the head of Shadow. The moment she hit the shadow, she twisted her body, hooking the Shadow with her foot and slamming it into the ground. The impact caused a crater to form with the Shadow's head stuck into the ground before it disappeared into strings of numbers.

"Man those guns!"

She shouted as they managed to push the enemy forces back. Fort members immediately rushed towards the machine gun nests and auto cannons, despite the danger not being completely cleared, and used them against the enemy forces below the wall.

"Protect those gunners!"

She shouted, directing the assault members forward, but even with their fast based tactics, there just weren't enough of them to protect all of the gunners. Some were being devoured right before her eyes.

"IYAA!"

"Save me!"

"I don't want to die!"

She wanted to save them. She wanted to protect them. But she couldn't. They were too far off. Cut off from the rest of them, enemies between her and those brave Fort defenders. She could not reach them. All she could do was watch them be devoured. Watch as their bodies were slowly devoured by the darkness. Watch as they slowly disappeared. That feeling of them disappearing. It was hollow, cold, unforgiving. The darkness, the fear. Tomoya. It was like that dreaded day. The cold darkness. The emptiness of not him being there with her any longer.

"No."

She clenched her teeth so hard that her gums began to bleed. That's right. She promised herself to prevent the same pain happening to anyone. She promised him that she would be strong.

"I will not allow this to go on any further!"

She raised a fist, the piston device locking in position.

"Access: Earth-Shaker!"

She slammed her fist down into the ground, the piston in her glove firing off at the same time, causing giant cracks to form, streaking across the floor to the Shadows. The cracks soon split open, swallowing all enemies unfortunate enough to be in its range. She dashed forward, catching the remaining enemies by surprise.

"Access: Rampage!"

[Power levels Up]

[Speed levels Up]

[Program Rampage; Initializing]

She could feel the additional surge of power flowing through her from the program. Power that flowed throughout her body. She charged straight through the enemy ranks, her fist and feet flying out and knocking every enemy in her way even as she ran. Her right fist swung down with the might of twenty tonnes, the Shadow slammed into the ground. She jumped, twisting her body and bringing her left boot one long arc over and down onto the next Shadow. Using its body, she sprang off, using her knee and sending the third into the air. Extending that same leg, she crashed her boot into another Shadow, springing off its corpse and throwing a punch straight into the next. With the program of 'Rampage', her movements were all fast, swift, accurate, powerful, deadly. She did not stop in her run, destroying and plowing through the Shadows like a bulldozer.

"Tomoyo!"

A voice called out to her, making her stop after she slammed her boot into another Shadow. Looking up she saw reinforcements coming to her from the direction she was heading towards. Leading the reinforcements was none other than Fujibayashi Kyou. The leader of the War Boars main Assault force. Kyou emptied a few rounds into a Shadow before rushing up to Tomoyo. The two girls rushed at each other. Tomoyo swung her fist. Kyou fired her rifle. Tomoyo's fist smashed the Shadow behind Kyou into the ground. Kyou's rounds peppered the Shadow behind Tomoyo with holes. They backed up and had each other at their own backs.

"You're late."

Kyou muttered, spitting out some blood from her mouth. Tomoyo smirked, wiping her sweat from her brow.

"Well, it's still better than not coming at all. Where's Ein?"

"He disappeared. After giving me a pep talk and making me lose five teeth he had the guts to just disappear on us."

Two Shadows lunged at them. Tomoyo twisted her body and sent a round house kick into one Shadow. Kyou took the butt of her rifle and rammed it into the Shadow's face. They leaned back on each other's backs once their enemies were defeated.

"He gave you a pep talk?"

Tomoyo wondered.

"Yeah, and did I mention he made me lose teeth?"

"Besides that, where's Yuki?"

Tomoyo asked as she punched an attacking Shadow, sending it skyward.

"... You and your ridiculous mountain gorilla strength... As for Yuki-san, she disappeared as well."

"So... we're right now leaderless."

Tomoyo concluded, which Kyou reluctantly agreed to.

"Afraid that is the case now."

Kyou muttered, jamming a fresh clip into her rifle.

"You're next in line to lead, Kyou."

"Don't remind me."

"So? What is your plan?"

"..."

"... You don't have one."

"... No."

Tomoyo sighed in utter disbelief. Well, not complete utter disbelief. This was Fujibayashi Kyou. No matter which life she was in, she never really did have a solid plan put together. She was always more of a 'on-the-fly' type of person.

"... Tomoyo! Cover me!"

Kyou suddenly shouted, dashing forward.

"Wha- Wait!"

Tomoyo rushed after Kyou as the latter ran towards an Auto Cannon placement.

"What are you planning to do? !"

Tomoyo shouted as she punched a Shadow away from Kyou. Kyou pushed the half-devoured body of a SSS2 Fort defender off the cannon and pulled the charging hammer back, loading the weapon.

"The siege will never stop and unless we can punch a hole through their lines, we will definitely be overwhelmed!"

Kyou shouted just before she tilted the auto cannons to aim at the swarms of Shadows beyond the wall. She trained her sights and squeezed the trigger. The rhythmic thunderous booms from the twin barrels of the auto-cannons shook the entire cannon platform with each burst round. The rounds from the auto cannons were large 30mm rounds, each able to punch holes through the ranks of the enemy. As Kyou continued to shred through the enemy, Tomoyo kept the Shadows at bay from Kyou, protecting her with all of her might. Kyou focused her attention onto the Shadows climbing the walls, knocking most off the walls and allowing time for more Fort defenders to rush to their posts, pushing the enemy back off the walls.

"We're doing it!"

"They're not getting the advantage again!"

"Push them back!"

"Man those guns!"

"Anyone who can still move grab a gun and keep firing!"

"The wounded can wait! Right now just focus on the counter-attack!"

The roar of cheers erupted as more SSS2 forces stormed the walls, joining in the fray and pushed the Shadows away from the walls. But even that was short lived. A thunderous boom echoed from the forest, taking the defenders by surprise. Emerging from the tree line, a giant dark figure lumbered towards them.

"GIGAS!"

Someone shouted.

"Focus all attacks on that Gigas!"

Kyou ordered and the defenders all turned their guns at the Gigas, peppering it with everything they have. The auto cannon in Kyou's hand fired without pause with her finger tightly squeezed on the trigger. But the sudden chink sound from the gun was a worrying sign. She pulled the charging handle, trying to dislodge the jam, but it would just not budge.

"Damn piece of junk!"

Kyou screamed, banging the side of the gun but that did not do anything either.

"Kyou!"

Tomoyo shouted, grabbing the attention of Kyou, who turned around and saw the former tossing her a bag. Kyou caught the bag and looked inside. Within was a whole pile of small pebbles, as well as a capsule of pills from the medical centre. Without waiting, Kyou popped the entire bottle of pills into her mouth, causing her body to suddenly recharge itself immediately.

"Kyou! We'll do 'that' combo!"

Tomoyo said, to which Kyou smirked, grabbing a bunch of pebbles from the bag.

"I hope you're ready for this, Tomoyo."

Without waiting for Tomoyo's reply, Kyou clenched her fist around the pebbles tightly.

"Access: 300mm round"

The rocks in her hand exploded in a ball of light, grew into a giant bullet large than Kyou herself. Kyou used her might and tossed the round towards Tomoyo. Tomoyo grounded her feet in stance, focusing her energy into her right fist.

"Access: Knuckle Striker"

Tomoyo breathed. When the giant round came into her line of sight, Tomoyo threw her strongest punch at it. Her knuckle contacted with the striking point of the bullet, acting like a striker in a gun, and the bullet exploded in a thunderous bang. The giant round went straight at the Gigas, exploding upon contact, causing the creature to stumble a few steps backwards.

"Hmm, looks like we need a bigger bang."

Kyou muttered, grabbing more rocks.

"Access: 800mm round"

The rocks transformed into an even larger round. This wasn't even in the realm of being realistic. Tomoyo once more grounded her feet, gathering up energy as Kyou threw the round into her firing line. The very shadow of the giant round blacked out the entire Northern wall. Tomoyo gritted her teeth. She needed a more powerful punch to fire this round.

"Access: Knuckle Breaker"

With one more swift punch, Tomoyo sent the giant round off, exploding and punching a hole through the Gigas, finally felling it. Tomoyo stood straight, her fist smoking as she shook it to ease the tension in her wrist.

"That was too big, Kyou."

Tomoyo said to her friend, who slumped her weight against the auto-cannon, showing a tired smile.

"Ha ha, don't you dare complain. I'm the leader now."

Tomoyo smirked at that.

"Yeah... you sure are."

But just before Tomoyo could sit down to rest, a SSS2 assault member ran over, panting, face stricken with fear. This was not good.

"R-Report!"

He shouted, reaching Kyou and Tomoyo.

"Hah hah hah... E-enemy forces are advancing through the forests!"

This report stunned the two of them.

"What? ! From which direction?"

Kyou demanded.

"F-from all directions!"

Was the reply. And that one reply was all Kyou could hear. Her mind was not able to comprehend. All directions? They were already struggling against waves from one point. But from all? No. They cannot win. Not at this rate.

"G-GIGAS!"

She was almost afraid to turn, but her instincts made her. Emerging from the tree line, those menacing giants. Five, six, seven... they just kept appearing. Kyou looked down to the rocks in her hand. There wasn't enough to fight all of them. Not even that. She did not have enough energy to fight them. Fear gripped her. Her entire body was shaking uncontrollably. This was... impossible.

"Kyou! Kyou! Get yourself together!"

Tomoyo shouted, trying to shake Kyou back to her senses.

"It's... pointless... We cannot win."

Kyou muttered, the rocks in her hand falling out of her loose grip. She had no will to fight. She could not do this. She could not overcome this hurdle.

"Ein... I.. I can't do this... This is too much... even for me."

Kyou muttered, falling to her knees.

"Kyou! Get a grip!"

Tomoyo shouted, trying to get the proxy leader to get up. Tomoyo would never give up. She would never let something like this get to her.

"Kyou! Tch... ALL TROOPS TO THE WALLS! MAN THOSE GUNS!"

Tomoyo shouted, shaking the confusion from the SSS2 soldiers and rousing their energy once more. The SSS2 soldiers rushed about, each knowing that what they were doing might be useless, but they nonetheless focused on their own duties. That was all they could do.

"Move the injured behind the wall! Load all guns! Bring all spare ammunition you can find! Anyone without a gun, pick on off the ground!"

Tomoyo barked at them, grabbing a rifle herself and walking over to the wall. It's been a while since she used a rifle, but she would not let that stop her. The thunderous footsteps of the Gigases could not mask the rustling sounds of the smaller Shadow running through the forest. Soon, the army of their enemy would arrive.

"Don't fire until they break through the forest!"

Tomoyo heard the sudden explosions within the forest, seeing smoke appearing at different points. Mines. Scouting parties had placed mines earlier on and it was starting to prove useful. Looking up, Tomoyo could see the sky starting to brighten. It was now morning. One entire night of hell, and now they were going to face the worse of it at dawn. She closed her eyes. Was this how it was going to end? No. If this were to end, she would go down with a bang.

"Do not falter! Do not break! They may crush our bodies, they may torture our minds, but they will NEVER. TAKE. OUR. SOULS!"

She shouted, rallying the others with her cry. Their combined roar of approval showed their enemies their iron will. It showed their unwavering determination.

"We may lose today, We may die today. The SSS2 would no doubt fall this day. But by what God there is out there, we will make sure this World and all others will remember that this is the day that the SSS2 fought! That we fought and died this day! That we stood up against oppression, that we stood up for what was rightfully ours! No matter the odds against us! No matter what they said about us! We chose this path willingly! We chose this path of carnage! For our lives, for our regrets, for our guilts. For our yesterday, for our today, for our tomorrow. This is why we fought. So that all will know of our struggles. This is why we died. So that all will feel our pain. This... is why we lived."

"The enemy is in range."

"Load explosive rounds."

"Round in."

"Ready to fire at your command."

"All sections report in."

"Artillery batteries are ready to fire."

"All units are in position, ready and waiting."

"Good... All units, on my mark... FIRE!"

A/N: This chapter is short cause I still need to fix some parts in the next few chapters. Hang on tight! They will be out soon! In the mean while, share your thoughts on this chapter if you wish. Or any chapter or story.