Greece suppressed shudders as he barred the door, preventing the wild dogs outside from entering. Their noisy barks and growls would eventually attract the doppelgangers' attention, but they had led the dogs to what they hoped was a remote location in the building.
"Don't worry. We're on the twentieth floor; we have a minute or two to think, da-ze," Korea said casually.
"A minute or two?" Taiwan gave Korea a stunned look. "How can you just say that? For all we know, we're trapped! We might be walking into our own...well, death isn't the right word because we can't die-"
"Not normally-" Korea started.
"Oh don't tell me!" Taiwan sighed. "I don't want to think about unsettling things. Greece, how are you doing?"
Greece grunted, "I'm okay. I don't like dogs. As long as I keep thinking about them being inches away from me, I will have the will to keep them at bay."
"How will we keep them there?" Seychelles asked. "The perfume only worked for a few minutes and the cell phone only distracted them for a few seconds. What can we do now?"
Greece scanned the room, pressing his back to the door. Hong Kong and Thailand exchanged glances and rushed forward towards him, pressing their shoulders into the door. "Go and think, we can handle this, ana!" Thailand said, giving Greece an encouraging grin.
Greece nodded slowly, as if he was in a daze. He left the door and Hong Kong and Thailand bolted a step back for a moment, shocked at the strength of the animals outside. Then they stared at Greece, who had been handling the door without any signs of much distress.
"We can't, like, hold them off for long," Hong Kong said under his breath, rooting his feet into the carpeted floor.
Even though Greece had been a child, Ancient Greece, his mother, had showed him how her people-who had later become his- were strategic in war. It had been so long ago, but Greece had remembered the tactics used. If he could find strong, sturdy shield-like objects for the team and spear-like things, perhaps they could stand a decent chance.
"Korea, dissemble the back of those chairs!" Greece commanded.
Korea opened his mouth to say something but paused when he saw the fire burning in Greece's eyes. Greece was no longer passive and calm in behavior; there was something in him that made Korea think twice before blurting things out.
Korea nodded, suddenly serious, and got to work.
"Seychelles!" Greece barked.
Seychelles snapped at attention, intently watching for Greece's next words.
"Gather as many weapons we have here right now. Count up the ammunition and report back quickly."
"Yes, sir!"
"Taiwan!"
Taiwan straightened up.
"Try to find melee weapons. Spear-like items will be most preferable."
"On it!"
Greece glanced back at Hong Kong and Thailand, who were starting to lose their footing every time the door bolted. He hastily returned to the door and told Hong Kong to join Seychelles and Thailand to join Taiwan.
Following the barking, Japan pulled himself upwards for several minutes, noting that he must be really high up by the time the barking was right below him. His best guess was that his team was holding the dogs off somehow because the dogs were in one place for the last couple of minutes.
It had taken Japan a lot of effort to climb up however many floors he did; he was no longer young, but that didn't mean that he still couldn't use ninja skills to travel through the ceilings and air vents.
Peering out through the slits of the grate, Japan stared at the pack of ferocious dogs, foaming at the mouth. "Where did they get dogs? And for what reason?" he wondered aloud.
He didn't dare to loiter. He feared that the dogs would eventually notice his presence and proceeded on. Japan was certain his team was in the room the dogs were scratching at. When he had glimpsed at them, he had noticed that the door was scratched and clawed at viciously. How long would the door last?
"Do we really still have that much?" Korea asked, surprised.
"We have plenty of ammo and I'm sure these fire irons will be fine for melee. There's only three though..." Taiwan said, placing them on the floor next to the firearms that Seychelles and Hong Kong organized.
"This can still work. Don't worry," Greece said, "and besides, we can scavenge a little after we get rid f the dogs."
A clank above them sent them jumping, eyes shooting upwards. There were scraping noises coming from the air vents and Greece scowled, "Could it be...?"
"Please tell me that's not another animal after us," Seychelles sighed.
The grate popped out and landed on the carpet with a dull thud. A head poked out and Taiwan exclaimed, "Japan! You're okay!"
"Japan," Greece sighed in relief. His voice shifted from firm to gentle again and he added, "How did you find us?"
Japan laughed nervously. "It's not hard to find dogs tracking you down. But if I was able to find you, then the doppelgangers surely will as well. Greece, I need you to...oh?" He examined the pile of weapons on the ground and eyed the dissembled chairs next to Korea.
"Never mind," Japan said hastily, climbing out of the air vents. "It seems as if you had the same idea I had. Can we do it though?"
Greece nodded. "If we think things through and stick together, we have a good chance. Just like the Spartans back at Thermopylae."
Hong Kong's eyes widened a little. "Are we going to reenact it?"
"Not exactly. We won't be camping, right da-ze?" Korea asked.
"No, we'll be on the move. We can't afford to stay in one place and wait for them to come. If they know we're in one place, never moving, they'll continue to do what they're doing," Greece said, his firm tone returning. "Thailand, Hong Kong, can you hold the door again? Just for a minute."
The two countries returned to the door and Greece left it for them. Hong Kong noticed that the door felt hollow and Thailand winced, feeling the claws scratch into the wood. There was probably an inche left; the door would break within a minute if not a few seconds.
Greece bent down and grabbed a fire iron in one hand and motioned for a 'shield' with the other hand. Korea handed over one of the backs of a chair and said uncertainly, "How are we going to hold that? There's no straps-oh...that's what the rope is for," he added, watching Greece cut one of the cords of rope with the fire iron.
Greece, tied the rope to the chair half, pulling it tightly with his mouth. His eyes flickered up at the others as they copied his movements and he smiled to himself. It was going to be a fun fight.
"Greece, the door's about to break, ana," Thailand called as the wood cracked a warning.
"Give those two equipment, now!" Greece ordered as Seychelles and Japan handed Hong Kong and Thailand guns and shields.
Greece gripped his fire iron and barked, "Formations! NOW!"
Hong Kong and Thailand sprinted from the door and to the middle of their formation. Greece, Japan, and Korea knelt at the front, shields held up so that it covered everything but the tops of their heads. Thailand and Hong Kong formed the second line, right behind Korea and Japan respectively while leaving an empty space behind Greece. Taiwan and Seychelles held the back positions, standing next to each other in front of that empty space with their guns aiming at the blast of wood.
"The three of us will keep them here," Greece yelled, bracing for impact, "and attack them with the fire irons. You four shoot at them but don't waste bullets!"
The dogs collided into the shields and Japan and Korea grimaced at the force. Greece grunted but held his shield steady.
"These work pretty good," Korea said in amazement. With Thailand blocking and covering the left side of the formation, Korea was free to stab and jab at the beasts in the front.
The deafening sound of guns rang in their ears and one by one, the dogs fell as their blood stained the walls and carpet.
Japan grimaced as he punctured one of the dogs' throat; the dog spewed foam out before it fell, twitching. "How gruesome," Japan muttered to himself, but he had seen worse in war.
"One last one," Greece said to himself. He sent the tip of his fire iron through the skull and the beast thrashed for several seconds before finally giving up. Greece pulled the fire iron out and wiped the blood on his pants before rising to a balanced stance.
"Japan, move to the middle and raise your shield up so that it blocks the top. Korea, shift over with me to the right. Thailand, Hong Kong, keep the shields up on the sides. Taiwan, Seychelles, block the back. Let's go."
The trip down seventeen floors was peaceful and for a split second, they thought they were able to investigate freely. When they crept into the third floor, they ran into trouble.
"Holy kimchi..." Korea hissed as Greece silently motioned for them to back up around the corner. Korea leaned out a little to peer around the corner but Greece pulled him back into formation. "That's a lot of dopelgangers, da-ze," Korea added with a scowl.
"Can we even manage with their strength?" Seychelles whispered.
"Japan,"
Japan stared at the back of Greece's head. "Yes?"
"Smoke bomb..."
Japan slowly slipped off his backpack, thinking over what he assumed was the plan. "That would alert our presence, but what do we do when they can't see? We can't swoop in and incapacitate them, can we?"
"That's exactly what we're doing."
"What?"
Greece turned his head to look at the rest of the team, absorbing in their shocked expressions. "What happened to sticking together as a group?" asked Taiwan.
"We still are," Greece said casually, "but this isn't the ancient times. All of their old tactics have to be...modified to fit with our situation."
"Modified? Like, how?" Hong Kong asked.
Japan handed Greece a few of the smoke bombs. Greece accepted them and rolled them in his hands. "I will throw them one at a time. The doppelgangers that get caught in it are our targets. The moment the smoke bomb goes off, we go in before we lose sight of them and I will move out of the way so that the place where I was once standing becomes and opening. We will move in and surround the doppelganger and I will move back while Japan ties them up. Everyone else, protect him; there will be other doppelgangers coming in to see what's going on."
"Can I tie them fast enough though? It may work for a few of them but eventually, Dark Mongolia will have all the doppelgangers surround us," Japan whispered.
"That is, if they can see us," Greece added, holding up the smoke bombs. "Everyone else, keep them in your pocket for easy access. Only throw them when necessary."
Korea grinned. "Alright, this sounds like fun, da-ze."
Greece nodded at the team and they nodded back. Taking a deep breath, Greece tossed a smoke bomb out towards Dark Indonesia and quickly followed the path the bomb took, making the rest of the team hurry after him in fear that they lose him.
Greece saw Dark Indonesia's face contort in resentment before the smoke covered them. However, Greece had already memorized where Dark Indonesia was standing and made a grab for the doppelganger. He caught onto Dark Indonesia's arm and Greece stepped aside, pushing the doppelganger towards Japan before slipping back into position, shield up.
The rest of the team knelt down, Thailand and Hong Kong holding Japan's shield up on the top so that the island nation was able to pin down the doppelganger by puncturing its throat before tying it up.
"Are you done yet?" Greece asked when urgent voices sprouted up in the distance.
"Hold on, I'm nearly done," Japan said under his breath, "just have to...there. Next!"
Taiwan and Seychelles stepped to the side as the group moved on so that they didn't have to trip over Dark Indonesia as they backed up. Greece had thrown another smoke bomb and they were quickly pulling in the next doppelganger.
Japan caught the doppelganger the Greece dragged in and stabbed his fire iron into Dark Papua New Guinea's throat. The doppelganger hissed furiously but Japan pinned it down and tied him up. "I'm already short on rope," he said to Greece.
"Here, take mine," Seychelles said, slipping the cords off her shoulder.
"Keep moving," Greece said as they continued.
Japan managed to tie four doppelgangers up before he became exhausted. The doppelgangers put up good fights and it took more effort from him to pin them down now that they know what they were doing.
"Japan, switch places with me, da-ze," Korea said urgently.
"Is it alright with Greece?" Japan panted.
"It's fine, but Japan, you'll have to stay strong with your shield. Ah, no, Thailand, Hong Kong, keep Japan's shield up there. Korea, give Japan your shield. It's easier that way. Move quickly," Greece added, throwing another bomb.
Korea had only finished tying up Dark Philippines before two doppelgangers approached them at once. "Korea, grab that top shield! Thailand, Hong Kong, hold onto your own! Keep it sturdy! Girls, same thing! Hong Kong, keep the one on your side at bay! Thailand, lure the one on your side over! Make sure not to break formation!" Greece yelled.
Gunfire broke out again and Hong Kong found it odd to be shooting at his own counterpart. While Dark Hong Kong was kept busy with Hong Kong himself and Japan, on the other side, Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan were trying to get Dark Palau.
"We can't get her if she knows what we're trying to do," Taiwan said.
"Here, allow me, ana," Thailand said. He cut quickly cut a long piece of his rope and fastened the end of it to his dagger. Aiming, he flung the handmade rope dart towards the doppelganger and the dart wrapped around Dark Palau, pulling her in.
Snarling, the doppelganger jerked away and Thailand crouched, trying to hold onto the rope. "She's strong," Thailand grunted, wrapping the rope around his wrist.
"You might get a rope burn if you do that, da-ze," Korea said, reaching for his pistol. He held the gun up and released the safety catch. He squeezed the trigger and sent a bullet through Dark Palau's head, distracting her momentarily for Thailand to reel her in.
"Here you go, and she already comes with a rope, ana," Thailand grunted as he handed the doppelganger to Korea.
"Thanks. Oh hey, do you want your knife back, da-ze?"
"That would be great, ana."
Korea nodded and fastened the ropes on the doppelganger before cutting the dagger free with his fire iron.
"Korea! Here's the next one!" Hong Kong called as he pushed his own doppelganger towards the middle of the formation.
Dark Hong Kong used his sudden transfer to his advantage and tackled Korea as he fell. Korea slammed into the ground, pinned down by Hong Kong' doppelganger who made a jab at Korea's chest with a hidden blade.
A bullet blasted through Dark Hong Kong's head, making him flinch backwards in retaliation.
"I got your back," Taiwan said to Korea, lowering her hand gun.
Korea flashed her a grin before sending his fire iron through Dark Hong Kong's face. Hong Kong, who had glanced back, grimaced and said, "I hope that doesn't, like, happen too me one day."
"Greece!" Seychelles called urgently, "There are four more coming! What do we do now?"
Greece gritted his teeth. He didn't feel like worrying the rest of his team but on his side, he could make out another three approaching in the thinning smoke. They coudln't possibly take one seven, could they?
"Turtle!" Greece roared.
"Turtle?" a few voices echoed.
"Shields up!" Greece snapped.
Alarmed by this more short tempered side of him, the nations huddled up, holding onto their shields as the doppelgangers approached.
"They could probably break the shields," Japan muttered to Greece.
"I know," Greece breathed.
"Now what?" Hong Kong asked as he readied himself for a kick.
Greece scolded himself for leading the group out into the open instead of using the wall to their advantage. He blamed himself for their situation and he knew that Ancient Greece would have looked down on him for such a costly mistake.
"Greece,"
Greece glanced over at Japan, who was watching him. "It's not your fault. You said that ancient tactics will not work without modifications anyway. Does it matter that we're surrounded? We can still move, can't we? We still have smoke bombs...what's next?"
Greece smiled back at Japan and fixed the determination into his heart. It would not waver, not now.
"Everyone have smoke bombs?" he called.
In response, the team raised their hand that held one or two bombs. Greece lifted his own hand and yelled, "Disperse!"
At once, a dozen bombs went off and an incredibly thick cloud of smoke bellowed from the formation. The team sprinted off in different directions before circling around to hug the walls. Quickly, they knew that they would all be searching for each other on the wall; they began to walk along it, hoping to run into each other.
"Who's this?"
"Huh? Oh, Taiwan, da-ze."
"Oh? Korea and Taiwan are here, ana,"
"Thailand! Oh, where are the others?"
"Who's here? I can hear Taiwan but there's got to be more..."
"Seychelles, da-ze!"
"Korea? Wh-oh!"
"So this is, like, where everyone is."
"Hong Kong? Is that you, ana?"
"Be quiet everyone! I can hear you!"
"Japan!"
"Taiwan, shhh, da-ze!"
"Wait, so if we're here, where's Greece, ana?"
"Everyone, follow my voice. We will reach the end of the hall and from there, we will locate him."
"Okay! Everyone, follow Japan, da-ze!"
"Korea, like, shhh!"
"Okay, okay, sheesh, da-ze."
Japan coughed as he escaped the cloud. Everyone but Greece emerged from the hall and they rounded the corner, waiting for any signs of movement. While Japan kept an eye around the corner, Korea examined his shield and laughed, "Well, mine is split in half. Sorry about that chair, Japan, but I don't think I can put it back together."
"If you like, ask the Nordics, I'm sure they can put it back together," Hong Kong said pointedly.
"Where are they anyway? I know that Sweden is with America but..." Seychelles said thoughtfully.
"They're with England, ana," Thailand said.
"Shhh! We still have a mission," Japan whispered.
Moments passed in silence and the team exchanged anxious glances. "What on earth is going on?" Seychelles asked nervously.
"Oh no...what if they captured Greece?" Taiwan asked.
Korea sniffed, "Oh no! The brave and valiant Greece! Sacrificing himself for our sake? Oh woe is him, da-ze! We will not let his sacrifice go in vain, I swear it! On my word, he shall be remembered as a hero throughout all of Kore-"
"Korea, stop it, this isn't a drama, ana."
"Oh, but it could be, Thailand. It very well could be. Where was I? Greece will be remembered as a hero throughout all of Korea and a gold-no, platinum- monument will be made out of him and will be displayed in-"
An explosion cut Korea's sentence in half. The blast shook the floor and caused some of the lights to shatter. As darkness overwhelmed them, other explosions could be heard from downstairs. The team crouched down to avoid falling down, leaning against the wall for support.
"What's that?" Hong Kong asked.
"Is it Greece, ana?" Thailand asked hopefully.
"Or is it one of the weapons going off?" Seychelles asked.
At once, the team sprung up and made a run for the stairs. Hong Kong and Taiwan dug out their flashlights and led the way with the others following them down the stairs. If they passed doppelgangers on the way, they didn't stop to think about it. When they made it down to the already destroyed foyer, they were stunned to see China and his team.
They were also alarmed at the army of China's people behind them.
"China?" Japan asked, stunned.
"That's me, aru!" China said, jabbing a thumb at himself with a grin.
"What is this?" Taiwan asked, bewildered.
"I'm glad to say that the Suzhou hideout is taken care of and I freed my people held captive there. And now, like Germany said, we're here to help you, aru!" China said with a smirk. He held up his right arm and beckoned for one half of his people to march forward, explosives in their hands.
"Have you found out where they're keeping weapons here yet?" Vietnam asked.
Japan sheepishly shook his head. China frowned for a moment, but then he brightened and said, "No matter, we'll blow the whole place up."
"Blow the whole place up, da-ze?" Korea asked excitedly. "Oh aniki, I should have known that you would come up with a brilliant plan like that! You know, plans like this one originated from me."
China's face darkened considerably as Korea laughed carelessly, oblivious to China's expression. Malaysia coughed and patted China's back. "Shall we move on? This half will take care of this floor. The other half will plant explosives on the supports throughout the building. Make sure we account for everyone so they won't get caught in the line of...well, fire. And explosives. Everyone, move out!"
Hundreds of people stampeded past both teams, trampling over the debris and mess in the foyer. Japan weaved his way through the people and reached China. "China, can you ask them to help find Greece? We lost him recently and we are concerned for his safety."
China gave Japan a blank look. "You lost him? How can you lose a guy as big as he?"
"Smoke bombs," Hong Kong said from his spot.
"A lot of them," Taiwan added.
"We set about fifteen or something off at the same time, ana," Thailand said.
"At the same place too, da-ze," Korea grinned, "ahh...what fun."
Japan laughed nervously under the weird looks he received from China and his team. Scratching the back of his head while adverting his eyes, he said, "Let's just...let's just find him, alright?"
Within half an hour, so many things had occurred. The doppelgangers, alarmed by the sudden invasion started to to act individually, taking matters into their own hands. The abrupt change caused them to act like this and, despite what they might have thought beforehand, their own paths turned everything into chaos.
Greece, who was in Dark Mongolia's hands, had been freed by Australia and Hong Kong when Seychelles and Wy distracted him by slamming a chair over him (all thanks to Korea's idea after he remembered an episode of WWE that America showed him).
The moment the last explosive was fixed, China took account for all of his people since he knew them all by name and remembered how many of them there were. They fled the area and Korea, for good measure, wasted all of the left over ammunition on the doppelgangers that attempted to pursue them.
"You know, I used to think the doppelgangers were so badass," Korea admitted, "but now, they seem desperate. You think we might win, da-ze?"
"Of course. We will win. It's our world, after all," Japan said, smiling. He handed the switch to Greece and said, "Why don't you do the last attack? The winning attack on the Kawasaki Hideout should be handed over to you."
"Can I?" Greece asked, surprised. His tone had gone soft again but his eyes still shone with fiery passion.
"Go ahead."
Greece accepted the offer and smiled at the building, standing alone in the rising sun.
He flicked the switch and the Kawasaki Hideout was done.
Three down, four more to go.