Chapter 17 Year One Finale - The Hero We Need
I can still remember the screams of the living as the bombs fell from the sky. The heat of the explosion was intense, incinerating everything in its path. I remember the smell of burning flesh, the sound of shattering bones. The ground shook as the bombs exploded, throwing me into the air. I landed with a thud, my body broken and bleeding. I could hear the screams of the living, the moans of the undead. I could smell the stench of death.
And then it was silent.
The bombs had destroyed the undead horde, but the living were heavily wounded and were left to mourn their losses. I could see the devastation that had our saviours been wrought: the shattered bodies, the smoldering ruins, the pools of blood. It was a sight that would stay with me for the rest of my days.
And then I saw him.
Lt. General Youji Itami, the man who had ordered the bombs to be dropped. He was walking through the carnage, his face a mask of cold indifference. He didn't seem to care about the unintentional deaths and destruction that his destructive rescue had caused.
I wanted to kill him.
I wanted to rip him limb from limb, to make him pay for the discriminate pain and destruction that he had caused. But I couldn't. I was too injured, too broken. I could only lie there and watch as he walked toward me, offering me a reserved smile.
Sage Lelei La Lalena, Viscountess of Rurudo
General's Living Section, JSDF Main Camp, Alnus Bridgehead
As Tuka Luna Marceau walked through the hallways of the JSDF main camp wearing nothing but her nightgown, she felt the eyes of the male soldiers on her. She smiled softly, her gaze drifting around the hallways and she felt a thrill of excitement run through her. Tuka was a beautiful sight to behold, the thin nightgown she wore clung to her curves. Her long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her legs were long and shapely. Her breasts were voluptuous and ripe, and her skin was soft and smooth.
She could feel their eyes on her ass, Tuka was not shy, however, and continued walking towards the chamber of Lt. General Youji Itami.
Tuka could feel their desire, and she loved it. She loved the way they looked at her curves, her breasts, and her ass. She loved the way they wanted her, and she knew that she could have any of them she wanted. But she had her sights set on Lt. General Itami room.
Tuka reminisced.
Itami leaned in closer to her and conspiratorially said, "I need you to be my 'secret' lover." Itami emphasized the word 'secret'.
Tuka's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?"
"It's just a precaution. If anyone suspects that we're doing something shady, they might report us to the Bureau. I can't have that. But if you're my lover, they'll think this is just some weird otaku's fetish."
"I see," she said. "But how do we fo that."
Itami chuckled softly. "Don't worry. I have a plan. Can you do it?"
Tuka hesitated for a moment, but then she nodded. "I can do that, sir."
That man was as devious as a noble, Tuka thought.
The best way to hide a secret is to hide it in plain sight. If people noticed he was using resources to cover her tracks, they would just think he was covering up an affair and not something treacherous. A sex scandal is much better than an accusation of treason.
Lt. General Youji Itami had just returned to his room after a long day of meetings and briefings. He was exhausted, but he knew he had to make time for his number one spy, Tuka Luna Marceau. Rory Mercury was a very high-ranking enemy priestess, and Itami needed her help. Tuka had been able to contact her and establish a line of communication.
Tonight, Tuka came to his room in order to report to him about Rory's response to his request.
She arrived at his room, and she knocked on the door. When Itami answered, she bowed low and said, "My lord, I have come as you requested." she said with a smile, her blue eyes sparkling.
Itami nodded, his eyes scanning her body appreciatively, he could see some shame in her eyes.
"Good job, Tuka!"
She blushed. "Thanks, sir."
He beckoned her inside, and Tuka entered the room.
As she entered, Tuka couldn't help but stare in awe at the opulence before her. The room was decorated with rich fabrics and luxurious furniture. The floor is covered in a soft carpet, and several exquisite paintings hang on the walls. The girl could smell the scent of incense in the air, and she could hear the faint sound of music coming from somewhere in the distance.
The general himself is sitting on a large, comfortable-looking chair. He looks up at the elven girl, and his eyes seem to gleam with appreciation. He couldn't help but note the way her curves tantalizingly filled out of her sheer nightgown.
Tuka face flushed red.
The blonde elf could feel the anxiety welling up in her.
"Good work, Tuka." Itami congratulated her for remembering his order well. His voice low and smooth.
"Thank you sir." She replied, bowing gracefully.
"Tuka," Itami said. "I trust you have good news for me?"
"Yes, General," Tuka said. "I have been able to contact Her Holiness Rory Mercury. We can do it now."
"Excellent," Itami said. "Thank you for your help, Tuka. You are a good spy."
Tuka smiled and bowed her head.
"I am only doing my duty, General," she said.
Then she walked over to the middle of the room and began to cut her palm with a knife, drawing a complex magic circle on the floor with her blood.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm using my blood to create a magic circle that will allow you to speak with Rory directly. She will enter my body and speak with you through my magic."
Itami was impressed. Tuka was obviously a very skilled mage. Itami leaned back in his chair to watch, intrigued. He watched as she finished drawing the magic circle and then stepped inside it.
Tuka closed her eyes and began to chant. "Rory Mercury, I summon you!" she called out.
A mystical light began to emanate from her body, and Itami could see a faint image of Rory Mercury appearing within the circle. Tuka's voice grew stronger as she continued to chant, and the image of Rory became more solid. She was a beautiful young girl with long black hair and red eyes. She was wearing a black dress and had a halberd in her hand.
Itami's eyes widened in surprise as the small figure before him. He had been expecting someone much larger, given the reputation of the Apostle of War. But this woman - no, girl - couldn't have been more than five feet tall.
However.
Itami could feel the weight of the woman's gaze on him. Despite her small stature, there was an air of power and authority about her that was undeniable. He could see the surprise in her eyes as she took in his appearance and she smirked inwardly. He may not have been what she was expecting but he was definitely not someone to be taken lightly. Finally, the words came out of her mouth in a seductive whisper.
"Emissary of the Heaven, we finally met," she said in a low tone that still managed to echo through the room.
"Please, just call me Itami," He couldn't help himself. "Your Holiness, you look...smaller than I thought."
His words took her by surprise. No one had ever dared to speak to Rory like that. But there was something in his voice that made her pause. A sense of familiarity and warmth that she couldn't quite place.
"How rude, Itami-san. To talk to a lady like that." Her voice dripping with cold politeness.
Shit! I just fucked up interplanetary diplomacy.
Quickly regaining his composure, he said. "My apologies, Your Holiness, I didn't mean to be rude. I just did not expect the Apostle of the War God to be so... petite."
She smiled. "It's alright. I'm used to it."
Clapping her hands together, Rory continued.
"Let's not waste anymore time and...get to the point. This war is having unfortunate consequences that neither of us wants. We might not be able to stop the war, but I believe we can mitigate the undead threat." Said Rory.
Itami frowned.
"Convincing the Global Security Council for a temporary truce with the Holy Empire will be difficult without concrete evidence of the Necromancy King." Replied Lt. General Itami.
"I know," Rory said. "But I believe if you can show the Council that the Necromancy King is a real threat, they might be more willing to accept a truce."
The General thought for a moment. Itami knew it wouldn't be easy to get the Council to agree to a truce, especially without any proof that the Necromancy King existed. But he was determined to do whatever he could to survice this war.
"All right," he said. "I'll see what I can do. But you need to find me some concrete evidence to back up my claims. Maybe, you can find me some undead samples."
"That would be easy enough," Rory replied, forming a plan in her mind. "I can find you a few thousand skeleton warriors, several dozens of Death Knights and undead monsters, and maybe a few Soul Eaters to the horde as well."
"Can you make these skeleton radioactive too ?"
"What!?"
Her Holiness Rory was surprised by Itami's suggestion. "Why would you want to do that?" Rory looked at Itami dubiously.
"To show the Global Security Council that these monster are born inside a nuclear crater." Itami shrugged. "If we can prove that there are some correlation between the undead and the nuclear explosion, they may be more inclined to take action."
"I see. It's a clever idea," the Apostle said slowly. Rory was still unsure, but she could see the logic in Itami's devilish plan.
"One more thing, my men is going on an important reconnaissance mission tomorrow," Itami show Rory a 3-D map of the region. "We need a safe route, can you make sure the Imperial Army won't be in our way ?" Itami requested.
Rory nodded her head in understanding. "It would be no problem," she replied. "I'll make sure the army stays out of your way."
Itami breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that the upcoming Imperial attack would interfere with his primary mission.
"What should I do with the undead, General?" Rory Mercury asked, her voice betraying her interest in the answer.
"I need to convince them that the undead threat is real so I think it would be best if you could create a scene that looks like the undead are randomly attacking civilians without any warning. I want to capture the most authentic scene on camera and report back to the brass.
Rory Mercury stared skeptically at Itami. "And how do you want me to do this?" she asked.
Itami considered the question for a moment. "Let them attack the a small civilian population center," he finally said. "That way, I can capture the truest reactions of the civilians on film. My men will then rescuce them, a classic PR story."
Rory Mercury frowned. "I don't know, this seems a bit unethical," she said.
"I know it is, but it's the best way to generate sympathy for the people of Falmart in the public eye," Itami said.
Rory Mercury considered Lt. General Youji Itami's request. She could let the undead loose on the civilian population and watch them feed on the innocent souls, but that didn't sit right with her. She was an Apostle of War, not a monster.
Itami could see the conflict in her eyes and he stepped forward, placing a hand on her incorporeal shoulder. "I understand how you feel, Your Holiness," he said. "But this is too important. We need to convince the brass that the undead are a real threat, while generating sympathy for your people, and we need to do it now, before it's too late."
Rory met his gaze and then she nodded. "All right," she said. "I'll do it."
Third Japanese Special Task Force
"The sky is so clear, as expected of a different world."
Lt. General Youji Itami muttered to himself. Huge lumps of clouds floated in the sky, with no utility and telephone poles obscuring the view. The sky was clear no matter where he looked. The scenery outside was breathtaking, the rolling hills and verdant forests a sight to behold. The beautiful vistas were a welcome respite from the stresses of his job.
"You can see the same scenery in my village in Koan too."
Tuka Luna Marceau replied from her seat. She served him coffee and then massaged his shoulders. She was so gentle and skilled with her hands. She made him feel so relaxed and content. Her hands felt amazing on his skin.
With the blue sky as the background, a green coloured military convoy drove through the plains in single file.
Leading the way was the 1st and 2nd Combat Unit, with the 5th Combat Unit behind it, the 3rd Combat Unit at the very back and 4th Combat Unit above, acting as their eyes.
In simple words, the two in front and the one behind were an heavy mechanized mixed corps the one in the middle was an air defense unit.
Itami was seated in his G-1 Base, in the middle of the 5th Combat Unit. Behind him were the crew of the G-1 Base Platoon, under his command. One Lieutenant General and twelve crew members, that was the full strength of this platoon.
Lt. General Itami and his army cautiously made their way through the vast and eerily quiet grassland. The sun was high in the sky, but it did nothing to dispel the unnatural chill that seemed to hang in the air. The grass was so tall it reached up to their waists, and the magical flowers emitted a soft light that created an otherworldly atmosphere.
This grasslands were alive with sound and movement. Strange creatures frolicked and played in the meadows. Some of them were similar to animals that they had seen before, but others were completely new and bizarre.
There were giant flowers that were as big as houses, and trees that had glowing leaves that emitted a soft light. There were also strange, multi-legged creatures that scurried about on the ground, and birds that had feathers that shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow.
The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers, and the ground was soft and spongy. It was a sweet, intoxicating aroma that made Itami feel lightheaded. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the peacefulness of this place wash over him.
The grassland was oddly beautiful, but it was also home to all sorts of strange and dangerous creatures. The soldiers had been briefed on the dangers they might face, but nothing could truly prepare them for the bizarre and otherworldly beings they encountered.
There were massive, lumbering beasts with skin that looked like polished copper, and there were sleek, predatory creatures that seemed to glide through the air on wings of midnight black. There were insects that were as large as dogs, and plants that could kill with a single touch. There were bizarre, dragon-like creatures with shimmering scales, and impossibly large spiders with eyes that glowed red. There were creatures with long, snaky tails and fur that shone like silver in the moonlight.
The creatures of this grassland were fascinating, and the troops were constantly on the lookout for new and exciting species. They saw strange, deer-like creatures with antlers that sparkled in the moonlight, and a pack of sleek, black wolves that watched them warily. They saw a herd of unicorns, their manes flowing in the wind, and a group of sprites that danced and laughed in the trees. It was a magical place, and the troops were constantly in awe of the beauty and strangeness of it all.
Sergeant Major Funai Tsuneari who was in the back seat with his map laid out leaned his face towards the driver seat.
"Hey Takashi, you should be able to see a small stream soon. Turn right and go along it, and we will hit a forest soon. That would be the forest Tuka mentioned."
Orientating himself by using a compass and a map made via aerial photography, Sergeant Major Tsuneari who was giving directions worked all the way up through the rank from private, and was fifty years old. He had vast experience as a trainer in the training department, and was respected and feared by recruits who addressed him as 'Oyatsu-san'. Shimamoto Takashi completed his basic military training as a recruit in Sobuyama under the tutelage of Sergeant Major Funai Tsuneari.
There were no satellites left after the recent attack, so GPS could not be used. Hence, they could only rely on maps and compasses. Only those who were experienced could handle this task, so Itami pushed the operation of the G-1 Base onto Tsuneari.
"Lieutenant General Itami, I have a suggestion. Let's stop before the forest and set up camp there."
Itami looked behind him to express his agreement when he heard what Tsuneari said. Tsuneari nodded in reply and picked up the handset of the radio.
Takashi checked their distance from the 3rd Combat Unit behind them through the main touch screen.
"Hmm, Lieutenant General Itami, we are not going to drive all the way there in one shot?"
"If we go into the forest now, we will need to spend the night there right? Spending a night in a forest with who knows what creatures in it? I'll pass on that." Itami said.
Itami was about to order his men to set up camp for the night when he heard a loud scream on the radio. It was coming from one of the soldiers in the back of the convoy.
He quickly ran over to see what was wrong. The soldier was pointing at a large, furry creature that was standing in the middle of the road. The creature was unlike anything Itami had ever seen before. It had a large, muscular body, and it was covered in thick fur. It had a long, snarling face, and razor-sharp teeth. His breath brought death itself.
Itami was about to order his troops to open fire, when the creature suddenly ran away.
The soldier was shaking and crying with fear. But Itami was just glad that they hadn't been attacked. He knew that they would have to be careful from now on. This place was definitely not what it seemed.
Dammit, Rory! he cursed silently.
Suddenly, they heard a strange noise in the distance. It sounded like a mix of animals and machinery, and it was getting louder and louder.
They turned to see a herd of strange creatures barreling towards them. The creatures were a mix of rotting flesh and bones, and they were galloping towards the army at full speed.
"What the fuck are those!?"
"Undead beasts," yelled Tuka. "Do not look directly at them, they have Despair Aura." Anyone afflicted by that Aura will want to flee the ability user at all costs ― in other words, they will be unable to take any combat-related actions against these beings.
Many of the soldiers were terrified, and they didn't know what to do. They had never seen anything like this before, and they didn't know how to deal with these undead creatures.
Just then, Lt. General Youji Itami jumped onto a tank and yelled out a battle cry onto his radio. "What the fuck are you all doing! Stop staring at them, use your damn camera systems and shoot those bastards to hell."
The soldiers were inspired by his bravery, and they all rallied to his side. They opened fire on the unholy creatures, and the battle was on.
The tanks and helicopters caused massive damage to the undead creatures with their heavy ordnance. The undead were shredded by the fearsome 152mm HEAP shells or Hellfire misssiles and then blasted apart by indiret 180mm artillery fires.
The undead creatures soon fell to the ground in defeat. The smell of death and decay filled the air as the undead were mercilessly slaughtered. The ground was stained with their blood, and their bodies were mutilated beyond recognition. The battle was a massacre, and the undead had no chance against the superior firepower of the humans.
The soldiers were relieved and they breathed a sigh of relief. They had never been in a battle like this before, but they had emerged victorious.
"Let's find another campsite." Itami said.
And so, they traveled on, journeying further and further into the magical grassland and soon came to a large, shimmering lake. The water was so clear that they could see the bottom, and they could see the many fish that swam in its depths. The troops were fascinated by the sight of the fish, and they were excited by the prospect of catching some of these fish for dinner.
They set up camp by the edge of the lake, and they prepared to catch some fish for dinner. They used nets and hooks, and they soon had a large number of fish. They cooked the fish over a fire, and they enjoyed a delicious fish dinner.
Inside the G-1 Base mobile command center.
The soft light of the moon illuminated the figure as she walked up the cold, hard stair. Her body was sleek and graceful, her movements sinuous and serpentine. Her skin was alabaster white, her hair a golden halo around her exquisite face. She was like a creature from a dream, a fairy-tale come to life.
She reached the door of the general's room and paused, her heart beating fast. She could feel the excitement coursing through her veins, and she trembled with anticipation. She was about to do something daring, something sacrilegious.
But she didn't care.
She wanted this, she wanted him.
This is her opportunity to mark her name into legend.
In 10,000 years the bones will turn to ash but her name, Tuka Luna Marceau will live on in the folk songs. And so, with a bold, brazen flourish, she turned the handle and entered the room.
The room is dark, and she can barely see.
But she can feel his presence, and it sends a shiver down her spine.
"Eh—"
Itami chuckled softly.
Itami was sitting on the edge of his plush leather seat, and he looked up at the beautiful elven girl as she entered the room. Tuka walked toward him, her hips swaying, her breasts bouncing.
She can smell his cologne, and it is intoxicating. She can feel her body starting to respond, her pussy getting wet. She walks toward him, her hips swaying hypnotically. She can feel his eyes on her, and it makes her feel alive.
He leaned back and watched her as she moved about, her body moving in graceful arcs. Tuka was a thing of beauty, and he couldn't help but stare at her. Itami could not help but be impressed by the beauty of the elves, their lithe, graceful bodies a stark contrast to the bulky humans.
Tuka was no exception, her skin smooth and unblemished, her hair a wild mass of spun gold. In the dark, her eyes seem to glow with a light of their own. Itami could not help but feel drawn to her, her exotic beauty a temptation he found hard to resist.
Tuka greeted him with a warm smile and a gentle kiss. She then turn around to massage his tired muscles. He lay back and relaxes as she works her magic, her gentle touch soothing and relaxing him. She was a welcome distraction from the usual mundane world.
"You done well, Tuka."
"Your acting today is superb too, M'lord." She smiled up at him, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
She offered him red wine with her delicate hands, her mysterious blue eyes meeting his with a look of pure erotic lust. He drank the wine from her hand, savoring the wine as it flowed smoothly down his throat. His eyes never leaving her enchanting gaze. She leaned in close, her naked body pressing against him, and he could feel her heat and her desire.
She was quiet and demure, and she seemed to be completely devoted to serving Itami. She never said a word, but her presence was intoxicating. It was impossible to look away from her, and Itami found himself staring at her constantly.
He reached out to touch her, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of her neck. She shivered under his touch, her eyes bright with desire. She leaned closer, her lips seeking his. Itami kissed her passionately, his hand moving down to cup her breast. She moaned softly as he stroked her, the desire between them growing hotter by the second.
Tuka tore herself away from him, standing up and offering her hand. Itami took it, letting her help him to his feet. She led him to the back of the vehicle, pushing him down onto the soft bed.
A smile crosses her face, and she leans forward to kiss him. It is a gentle, passionate kiss, one that seems to touch his soul. When she pulls away, she looks into his eyes. "It would be my honor to serve you, my lord."
She leaned down, her lips seeking his again. Itami kissed her hungrily, his hands moving down her body to touch her intimately. She gasped as his fingers brushed over her, the desire between them becoming almost unbearable.
She came over to him and knelt down, her mouth seeking out his cock. She shivered as she felt his cock pressing against her lips, eagerly opening her mouth and sucking him in. She sucked him deeply, her tongue swirling around his shaft as she took him deeper into her throat. She could feel him getting harder in her mouth, and she moaned in pleasure as she realized she was going to get what she wanted. He moaned as she sucked him, her tongue swirling around him. He grabbed her hair and pushed himself deeper into her mouth. She took him in, her throat opening up to take him in. He felt himself on the brink of orgasm, and he pushed her away.
Not yet.
Tuka trembles as he leans down and kisses her, his lips seeking hers out. She responds eagerly, parting her lips and letting his tongue inside. She can taste him, and it is delicious.
He breaks the kiss and moves down, kissing her neck and licking her nipples. She moans as he sucks them into his mouth, teasing them with his tongue. He moves down further, kissing and licking her stomach and her inner thighs. She quivers in anticipation, wanting him to touch her, to taste her.
But he teases her, prolonging her pleasure. He kisses and licks her pussy, but doesn't touch her clit. She whines in frustration, but he just laughs softly and continues to tease her. Finally, she can't take it anymore.
"Please," she begs. "Please touch me, taste me. I need it."
He responded by licking her clit and sucking it into his mouth. She moaned loudly, the pleasure intense. He fingered her, adding to the sensations coursing through her body. She can feel herself getting close, and she screams his name as she comes.
He moves up her body and kisses her, letting her taste her own juices. She kisses him back eagerly, her body still trembling with pleasure. She can't wait to have him inside her, to feel him moving inside her.
She stands up and gracefully walks over to him. He can't help but stare at her perfect body as she moves. She takes his hand and leads him to the bed. She gently lays him down before straddling shifted, moving on top of him so that she could feel him pressed against her. Itami obliged, thrusting up into her. She cried out, the sensations overwhelming her.
He pounded into her, his cock filling her over and over. She cried out in pleasure, her body shaking with desire. He felt his own orgasm grow nearer and nearer, and he pushed himself even deeper into her. He continued to thrust into her, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization. The intensity of the moment was too much for either of them to resist, and they both came together, their bodies wracked with pleasure. She cried out as she came, her body convulsing around him. He let himself go, his cock firing his cum deep inside her. She moaned in pleasure as she felt him inside her, her body still trembling with the aftereffects of her orgasm. She wraps her arms around him and holds him close, feeling satisfied and content.
Afterwards, they lay there, gasping for breath.
Tuka was the perfect sexual partner and Itami was pleased that he had met her.
Outskirts of Coda Village
There was a small patch of trees located some distance from Coda village, and within those trees was a stone house located behind a large thick wall due to the dangerous magic used by the master mages. The wall was made of sunstone bricks laid on top of each other, and was covered in ivy vines.
The house was constructed primarily of white stone, with dome-shaped roof painted bright blue. There were two small windows in its walls which were designed to allow the maximum amount of light and wind into the house. The light that filtered through the arching canopy above them warmed the surrounding air causing the house to have an elegant feel to it.
Someone had parked a wagon in front of the house. The bed was buckling under the weight of a small mountain of crates, sacks, and books tied together with twine.
After looking at the amount of luggage on the wagon and the Groath (a goat-like creature with flat, bony plate-like horns) grazing beside the road, one might ask if this was too much for one poor beast to draw.
In front of this heap stood an obviously troubled person, clutching a bundle of books.
She was a girl with blue hair, and looked to be around 14 or 15 years of age in human term. She was wearing a kantoi. The girl was Lelei La Lalena, Viscountess of Rurudo. Lelei and her sister Arpeggio were originally members of the Rurudo's noble family. After Arpeggio's father had died, her mother remarried, resulting in Lelei's birth.
It started around 70 years ago, when their new father saw their vast magic potential, he asked Lelei and Arpeggio, who were Student Mages, if they wished to continue to advance their status as magic practitioners and become Mages. If they wished to do so, he will help fund their education and training until they become full-fledged Mages. Their answer was obvious. No children in the Holy Empire who did not dream of becoming a Mage.
So the two sisters they were sent to magic school and ended up as sorcery students in Rondel, where their innate magical talents were recognized by Grand Mage Mimoza La Mer, who took the two girls under her wing. But while Arpeggio elected to remain with her teacher, Lelei opted to study under Grand Mage Kato El Altestan, and moved in with him to the outskirts of Coda village when she was nearly 100 years old.
But why would Kato bother to personally train Lelei?
That is because of the ranking system for the mages in the Holy Empire. Unlike its vassal states that ranked their magical practitioners according to the amount of mana or the rank of magic they could use, the Holy Empire only classified the 'mages,' which in the Empire referred to as 'bearer of mana and practitioner of magical arts,' into seven ranks: Student Mage, Apprentice Mage, Mage, Advanced Mage, Grand Mage, Advanced Grand Mage and Legendary Mage.
This classification is less about their ability to use magic, but rather closely tied to their level of education and achievements. This rather strange system which is only used in the Holy Empire is referred to as the 'Imperial Model' by the other countries' mage communities.
The lowest rank, Student Mage, is automatically given to any citizens of the Holy Empire upon enrolling in the elementary school which already teaches magology, or the study of magic, in their curriculum. They only get to actually cast magic spells during the practical exam at the end of elementary school. Because education in the Holy Empire is compulsory at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, all imperial citizens possess this rank at the minimum. However, the fact that it is equivalent to the lowest rank of the other countries' own hierarchies caused any self-respecting imperial citizen to pursue higher education to advance to the next rank, the Apprentice Mage.
Now, the reason why Kato El Altestan offered supervising and training of Lelei as his apprentice is because of the requirement in rising in rank from Grand Mage to an Advanced Grand Mage. Unlike the previous ranks, the difficulty level to become an Advanced Grand Mage jumped considerably.
Not only a Grand Mage is required to display very high proficiency in performing magical arts, which requires rigorous training, they are also required to contribute to the Holy Empire's development in magical technology by creating at least one breakthrough invention and to take at least a Apprentice Mage and do everything in their power to supervise them until they become full-fledged Advanced Mage. Only then a Grand Mage will be granted the rank of Advanced Grand Mage.
However, the responsibility of this rank is high, as an Advanced Grand Mage's status is tied to the behavior of the mage they mentored.
If a mage they once mentored is involved in a crime utilizing the magic they've learned, their mentor Advanced Grand Mage will be subjected to a thorough investigation by the Imperial Board of Magical Arts Supervision and, with enough evidence, they can be held accountable for negligence in supervising them and punished by revocation of the Advanced Grand Mage's rank. Even worse, if a crime is done during the apprenticeship period, the supervising Grand Mage's rank will be immediately revoked and they will be forever blacklisted from re-entering the exam.
"What do you want to do with that?" Kato El Altestan asked, looking at the smartphone in his young apprentice's hand with a mix of curiosity and concern.
About two week ago, Lelei found a smartphone in a duffle bag she had scavenged from the battlefield. It was a forbidden item in this world, where all advanced technology had been outlawed tens of centuries ago. She had never seen anything like it before - it was so different from the simple charms and talismans she was used to. Lelei knew she should destroy the item, but she couldn't help but be curious about it. She had never seen anything like it before. The phone was sleek and shiny, and it had a bright, colorful screen.
"I don't know, Master," Lelei said. "It's just... so tempting. I can't help but think of all the things I could do with it."
"You're right, it is tempting," The snowy-bearded old man said. "But you have to remember that it's forbidden for a reason. If we get caught with it, we'll be in a lot of trouble."
"I know, I know," Lelei conceded. "But still, it's hard to resist. I could use it to learn more magic, or to find out more about otherworld outside our borders."
"There are ways to learn magic and to find out about the world without breaking the law," Kato said. "And there are risks involved with using a forbidden items. What if it has enemy's tracking spell or if we gets discovered ? The last thing we need is to get caught with it."
Lelei thought about her teacher's words. She knew he was right, but she couldn't help but feel drawn to the smartphone. She could feel the power of the device thrumming through her fingers, and she was curious about its secrets. But she was also scared of getting in trouble.
"I don't know what to do, Master," she said. "It's so hard to resist it."
Kato sighed and shook his head with a "I'm too old for this" expression on his wrinkled face. He knew he wasn't going to be able to talk some sense into Lelei. She was just too curious for her own good.
"It's up to you, Lelei," he said again. "But be careful, this thing might be more trouble than it's worth. And remember, you can't let anyone see you using that phone. Do you understand?""
Lelei nodded. She knew she had to be careful. She didn't want to get into trouble. But she still couldn't help but be curious about what her phone could do.
"Now, help your Master put this on the wagon."
"Master, we can't keep piling things onto the wagon."
No matter what they did, they simply could not cram anything else onto the wagon. The girl calmly related this fact to her master.
"Lelei! Can't you think of something?"
"It would make more sense to leave the Coam fruits and the Lochte pears behind."
The girl called Lelei removed the sacks full of ripe fruits from the wagon one after the other. She placed the book bundle she was holding into the space that was freed up.
Coam fruits and Lochte Pears were herbal medicines that were very effective against high fevers for cattle. However, these fevers were rare, and so they were not particularly necessary in the short term. And while they were rare, they were not unobtainable by any stretch, so the precious books she had just loaded up took priority over them.
The white-haired old man sagged his shoulders.
"We must hurry to the SH-1907 bunker complex. Humans will soon retaliate with nuclear weapons."
The news of the succefull imperial attack on a human bases aross the peninsula had spread like wildfire. This was undoutablely a good news, excellent even, however, this also means that retaliatory attacks are not far away.
Normally, they would have dropped everything and fled, but since they had warning in advance, there was still some time to pack. As a result, the city was filled with activity as everyone made their preparations to escape.
The old man grumbled and carried the sacks which Lelei had taken off the wagon back into the small house. There was a secret door under the bed where he planned to hiding them .
In the meantime, Lelei guided the groath over and hitched it to the wagon.
"Master, you'd best mount up quickly."
"Ah? What are you saying? I'm not interested in mounting a little girl like you. Your big sister would be much better… Oh yes, your big and bouncy sister…"
"..."
Lelei glared at the old man with the coldest look she could muster. Then she proceeded to solidify the air into a lump and launched it at him. The solidified air was still only about as hard as a rubber ball, but it still hurt when it hit someone.
"Hey! Stop it! Magic is not a toy! Magic is not to be used for personal gain or enjoyment… Hey!"
"Although there's still some time, we can't play around like this. Let's move out soon."
"I got it, I got it, no need to rush… you really can't take a joke, can you?"
The old man gripped his staff in one hand and settled into the seat next to Lelei. Lelei, on the other hand, glared at the old man and spoke.
"Jokes are meant for entertainment between friends, parents, lovers and other closely related people. However, once they start taking on a sexual nature, one must start taking the other party into consideration as well. For instance, it would be completely unacceptable to start making lewd jokes around a young girl. This might well irreparably damage the relationship with them. I believe this should be common knowledge for mature individuals, no?"
The old man sighed deeply as his disciple lectured him.
"Huu… I'm so tired. I wish I didn't have to get old."
"Objectively speaking, that is incorrect. I feel that Master is as hardy as a cockroach."
"Now that's what I call rude. Is that how a disciple should be speaking?"
"This is how I was raised from childhood, and I was raised by my Master."
After her unreserved words, Lelei lightly struck the groath with her riding crop.
The groath obediently tried to move forward, but it could not, because the wagon's bed was overloaded.
"..."
"...Like I said, we're carrying too much."
"That was expected. Also, you were the one who said we could keep piling things on, Master."
"..."
Lelei quietly jumped off the wagon.
She felt that it would be better to keep walking than sit still on an immobilized vehicle.
"Oi, oi! Lelei, you need to be more patient! If you're like that, nobody will want to marry you, and that would be a shame!"
As the old man said that, he took up the goad and struck the groath. The groath tried its best, but as expected, the wagon refused to budge.
Lelei noticed that one of the wheels was embedded into the ground, about a third of the way in. If it was stuck like that, it was only natural that the wagon could not move.
"Master, I think you need to get off the wagon."
"Don't, don't worry. After all, don't we have this?"
The old man raised his staff, and Lelei sighed. Mimicking the tone of her master, she replied:
"Magic is not a toy. Magic is not to be used for personal gain or enjoyment…"
Sweat poured like a waterfall from the old man's forehead, and he rushed to answer her.
"We are magicians, we do not walk like the animals."
However, he could not defy Lelei's glare, which was utterly devoid of warmth or compassion.
The old man's mouth opened up as if he were going "ah~", and he began chanting the words he had not spoken for a long time.
"..."
His solemnity as an educator clashed with the other feelings in his heart. It would seem the old man's next move would take some time. After a while, he looked at Lelei with an uncomfortable expression on his face.
"I… I'm sorry."
"That's fine. After all, I know that's how Master is."
Lelei was a child who did not sugarcoat her words.
After using magic to lighten the weight of the luggage, the Groath could easily pull the wagon and its mountain of cargo. And so, Lelei and her Master sat on the wagon and left the home they had occupied for many years.
As they drove the wagon to the center of the city, Lelei noticed many families with wagons full of things, much like herself and her Master. It wasn't just wagons they used, but haywains and plow harnesses, and some people had even loaded up their horses with saddlebags.
Lelei looked closely at the other people, as if she were studying them.
Her Master spoke.
"You're an intelligent child. Everyone else must look foolish to your eyes."
"It's only natural that people would flee with everything they could carry once they heard of the imminent enemy attack."
"You said it was natural for all people … does that mean they're foolish, then?"
"..."
Lelei could not deny her Master's words.
If they really valued their own lives, they would immediately drop everything and run as far as they could. Stopping to take on and secure luggage would only waste time that could be spent on fleeing, and the luggage itself would slow them down. It would be too late to abandon it when the enemy attack.
To begin with, why did people even struggle so hard to survive? Death was inevitable — it would happen sooner or later. What was the point in slightly prolonging one's life?
Lelei logically dissected the topic as she considered it, and the old man was agonizing over how to speak with her.
When they reached the center of the village, the way forward was blocked by a line of wagons.
"What's happening up ahead?"
The column of wagons did not move, but Lelei's Master received a reply from someone in front.
"Ah, it's Grand Mage Kato. And Lady Lelei too. Ah, we're in trouble now. The portcullis is broken we can't open it."
The portcullis is a large, metal grate that hangs in the opening of the castle main gate. It is used to block entry into the castle, and can be raised and lowered to allow people and traffic to enter and exit.
"How does that happen?" Kato asked.
"This morning, when the guards were performing their usual duty of raising and lowering the portcullis, they heard a loud noise coming from the gate. They went to investigate, and found that the portcullis was broken. The metal grate was hanging at a crooked angle, and the chain was hanging loosely from the pulley. The guards examined the gate and found that the portcullis had been damaged by a large rock someone had thrown at it. We're all pitching in, but it'll be a while."
They would be bogged down by the wagons behind them even if they wanted to turn around and take another route. This was what some might call a Catch-22.
"Truly the gods have cursed us this day."
The elder mage reached for his pipe and took a few puffs. He watched the smoke rings drift upwards with no small degree of satisfaction as he took in the sights in the plains beyond.
Including the massive winged creature flying over the horizon.
Kato coughed violently and rubbed his eyes. Surely he had just been seeing things? Imperial Wyvern riders had been a common sight up until a week ago. No, it wasn't a hallucination, but the elder wished it was all the same.
This creature was larger and Kato had seen it enough times in the ancient books and heard it many times more in old wive's tales.
The creature composed of countless titan bones with an overall height up to 30 meters tall. Formed from bones with a rib cage devoid of organs nor flesh, it appears light despite its large frame. Its head contains four hollow eye sockets, each with a crimson glow. The jaw of the skull is lined with sharp teeth along with a pair of bat-like wings attached to its shoulders and four limbs.
A Skeletal Dragon, and it was coming towards Coda. Worse yet, Kato wasn't the only one who had seen it. The terrified town watchman's cries confirmed this.
"U-UNDEAD DRAGON! UNDEAD DRAGON!"
Then, all hell broke loose.
The undead forces were attacking Coda village.
Third Japanese Special Task Force, North of Coda Village
Lt. General Youji Itami and his men were driving through a thick forest, the men were awestruck by the beauty of the forest. The air was alive with magic. It was as if the very essence of the forest was permeated with enchantment. The men felt as if they had stepped into a fairy tale world. Itami could hear the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. He could also hear the sound of running water, and he assumes that there must be a river or stream nearby.
The shadows are alive with movement, and Itami can see all sorts of strange creatures lurking in the darkness. There are furry creatures with long tails, and there are creatures that look like giant insects. There are also creatures that he can't even begin to describe, and he can only assume that they are from another world.
There were deer with long, graceful antlers, and rabbits with soft, fluffy fur. There were birds with brightly coloured feathers, and fish with scales that glittered in the had seen strange, feathered creatures with beaks as long as a man's arm. They had seen deer with antlers as big as dinner plates. There were giant spiders, with eyes that glowed a sickening green. There were unicorns, with horns that sparkled in the light. There were dragons, their scales shimmering in the sun.
The men were in awe of this strange and magical place. They had never seen anything like it before. The trees were so tall, the creatures so strange. It was like a different world, one that they had never imagined existed.
They drove further and further into the forest, the trees getting taller and taller. The men were starting to feel as if they were in a different world, one that was beyond their understanding.
The forest was full of sound. The trees whispered in the wind, the leaves rustling in the breeze. The creatures of the forest were making all sorts of strange noises. The unicorns were neighing, the spiders were clicking, the dragons were roaring. The air was thick with magic, and the trees were so old they seemed to be alive. They saw was a small fairy flitting through the trees. She was so delicate and pretty, they couldn't help but stare. As they watched, she disappeared into a patch of wildflowers. Next, they saw a group of unicorns grazing in a clearing. They were the most beautiful creatures they had ever seen, with shimmering manes and hooves that seemed to sparkle. They couldn't help but feel drawn to them, and they couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to ride on their backs.
Suddenly, they heard a loud roar. They turned and saw a giant, furry creature standing in the middle of the road, barring their way. The creature was taller than 30 meters, and it had a long, bushy tail. Its body was covered in thick, green fur, and it had a long, serpentine neck. It was growling angrily at them, baring its sharp teeth. The creature was eating a large tree, and it was so big that its body was blocking out the sun.
The men were terrified. They didn't know what to do. Then, Lt. General Youji Itami had an idea. He called out to the creature in a commanding voice with a loudspeaker.
"Hey! Get out of the way!"
The creature hesitated for a moment, then it stepped aside. The men drove past it and continued on their way.
They stopped to drink from the stream, and then they sat down on the banks to rest. The light of the setting sun was casting a warm glow over the landscape, and it was a beautiful sight. They sat there for a while, just taking in the beauty of this strange new place, and then they stood up and continued on their way. But they knew that there were more creatures out there, waiting to attack. They had to be careful, and they had to stay vigilant, because the next creature they encounter might be the one that kills them.
And so, the The Third Japanese Special Task Force reached the plain before the forest. The first thing that caught their eyes were raising columns of black smoke.
The skies to the west were aflame.
The ominous vermillion glow was unmistakably reflected from some humongous inferno. Itami focused his eye and spotted numerous trails of black smoke across the starry sky.
—A bushfire!?
Itami retracted that thought an instant after it came to him. Aboard the burnt, pungent wind faintly reaching him was the noise of metallic clangs—and a clamor of screams.
The undead assault!
It's time to perform a masterful act.
Openning a channel to Colonel Shino Kuribayashi, commander of the 4th Combat Unit, Lt. General Yōji Itami ordered. "Kuribayashi, get me video image on that fire now."
"Yes, Sir."
And with that, a dozen of Dragon Eye reconnaissance miniature UAVs were lauched from the Mitsubishi highly-mobile truck-mounted swarm launcher heading toward the carnage.
・・・
The villagers, numbering an overwhelming three hundred, huddled in a circle might have been prepared to put up a fight as there were men positioned on the edge carrying farm implements such as spades and scythes.
At the center, Grand Mage Kato El Altestan was holding a mithril staff, the common weapon of the mage. And he was taking out the valuable mana elixirs from the bag, ones with unicron horn and dragon blood.
Harrowing screams filled the air.
Is master going to fight?
Lelei reached for her trusted staff on reflex.
"Please don't."
However, her teacher stopped her verbally.
"Why?"
"You need to escape."
"I want to fight too."
"No, if anything happens to you, your mother will tell me off."
Her master will only mention her departed mother when he absolutely needed her to listen. But the young apprentice who was already matured mentally rejected him with a smile.
"If the opponent are undead monsters, it doesn't matter where I run to. And it is better to have one more mage right?" The light of determination filled her blue eyes.
Kato shakes his head, Lelei was a stubborn kid. This reminded him of his younger sister.
"Then let's fight!" Kato shouted.
Kato kicked the ground, soaring into the sky. The ground crumbled beneath him, leaving a crater behind.
He flew higher and higher, until he was above the skeleton dragon.
The old mage looked upon the Skeleton Dragon with disgust. The undead beast was a mockery of life, and Kato was determined to put an end to its reign of terror. Turnning into a Titan, he flew down, landing a powerful kick right in the Dragon's back.
The undead dragon was sent flying, crashing into the ground with a loud thud. Turning his eyes toward his attacker, the undead dragon unleashed a powerful wall of black fire incinerating everything on its path.
Kato turned his eyes toward the dragon, watching the dark flames approach. He knew he had to do something to stop the flames, or else it would incinerate him. Kato concentrated and summoned a powerful magic shield.
"Aegis of Zufmuut."
The two oposited spells collided in midair, creating a spectacular display of light and heat. The two spells fought against each other, each trying to overpower the other. The clash of magic was deafening, and it was impossible to see anything else.
At the same time, the battle on the ground was raging fiercely, as hundred of titan villagers were smashing the skeleton warrior army with enormous spades and scythes created using Titan power. The villagers fought with utter determination and otherworldly strength, their colossal weapons cleaving through thousand of skeleton warriors like scythes reaping through the grass. The ground was shaking with the force of literal bombs, as a mountain worth of mass was thrashing the earth violently.
This is not surprising since Homo Titanien is one of the most powerful natural species in the universe. On closer inspection, every aspect of their physiology reveals their alien nature. They has a unique type of extra-dimensional energy bonded to their entire physiological structure. This energy is called 'Path' and because of its extra-dimensional nature, possess abilities that defy conventional physical laws.
However, the problem was that their enemies were also defy conventional physical laws as they were powered by extra-dimensional forces beyond comprehension.
On the shoulder of an armored Titan, Lelei strained her eyes, trying to spot real threats amid the chaos. Because while the skeleton warriors were easy to destroy with enough brute force, they were also easy to resurrect by their master, the Death Knights. And soon enough, she spotted one at 7 o'clock.
The Death Knight stood at a height of three meters with a crooked body. It was equipped with a rippled sword and a giant shield. Its armor was made of black metal with red blood engraved on it. Furthermore, the armor had spikes everywhere and looked like an embodiment of violence. Two demonic horns protrude from the helmet, with the face visible below. It had a disgusting rotting face with empty eye sockets filled with hatred and murderous intent, emitting a flashing red light.
"It matches perfectly the description in the scriptures of the local monastery." Lelei thought.
Biting her lip, Lelei cursed her luck as she realized this meant big trouble because the Death Knight had two very important special skills. The first is the ability to attract the hatred/aggression of those disturbed by the appearance of the Death Knight to attack it. The latter can only be used once when hit, but it allows the Death Knight to always survive a deadly attack as long as one of its three cores is intact. In other words, a Death Knight can survive anything that is fatal with 1 core remaining regardless of the type of attack thrown at it no more than once. Not to mention, when Death Knight manages to kill its intended target, that dead body will later end up turning into an undead.
Lelei didn't have time to think about it. She had to act fast as watched as one of the Death Knight raised its arm, summoning a horde of skeleton warriors.
"Uncle, attack that black thing over there." Lelei gestured the Titan.
At the same time she lifted her staff and began to chant a spell.
"Sagitta Magica 20 Lightning Arrows."
While it is one of the most basic offensive spells, like all magic its power is dependant on the mage; a powerful mage will be able to summon and fire more arrows at once, and the power of each individual arrow can also be increased. In addition, due to the open arrangement of the spell incantation, the spell can be conveniently modified to work in a way most effective against the target. As a result, Sagitta Magica is the only offensive spell taught at all magic schools.
The fact that Lelei could summon more than 10 arrows at once meant she already at Advanced Mage level.
The Titan threw giant blocks of titan crystal at the Death Knight at 200 m/s, forcing him to dodge. Death Knights, even though they have massive bodies, are extremely fast. It easily dodged the first and second crytal block, however, high-level magic arrows from Lelei were a completely different story as they travel at twice the speed of sound.
Woosh.
Woosh - Woosh.
The first magic arrow came flying in and the Death Knight barely block it with his shield. Four other magic arrows came just as quickly, but this time the Death Knight was not so lucky.
KABOOM!
The magic arrows hit it in the chest, blasting it backwards.
The Death Knight hit the ground hard, and was momentarily dazed.
The Titan took this opportunity to throw another block of titan crystal at the Death Knight.
This time, the Death Knight was not able to dodge, and the one-ton block hit him right in the chest with the force of the Tsar cannon. Breaking his armor, just in time for Lelei to deliver the finishing blow as the remaining 15 magic arrows hit the Death Knight body and destroyed all of his 3 cores in a big explosion.
Watching the Death Knight's charred body slumped to the ground, Lelei took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She could feel the blood thirst in the air, the excitement of the fight.
One Death Knight down but dozens more were waiting for her with their blades drawn and ready. Lelei felt the fear, the terror of knowing that she was going to die. But she also felt the exhilaration of victory, the sense of accomplishment that came with defeating her opponent.
Lelei took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She couldn't let the fear take control. She had to focus on her training, on the techniques that her master had taught her. She had to focus on her own strength and mission.
Suddenly, Lelei felt something jump on her from behind. Lelei turned to see a massive undead beast looming over her, its claws outstretched, ready to tear her apart.
She was momentarily frozen in terror, but then she summoned all her courage and power, and with a flick of her wrist.
"Sagitta Magica, 3 Fire Arrows."
Lelei sent 3 arrows of fire at the undead beast, incinerating the unholy creature.
The magical flames engulfed the beast, causing it to howl in pain and rage, but Lelei was not done yet.
"Sagitta Magica, 8 Fire Arrows."
Lelei unleashed another arrows of fire, and then another, until the undead beast was nothing but ashes. The beast animating spirit was immediately sucked up into the sky, heading for the great beyond.
She could feel the heat of the flames burning away the cold of the undead's touch. She relished in the feeling of power coursing through her veins, and the satisfaction of destroying her enemies. Lelei let out a triumphant shout, and then she felt the exhilaration of the fight flowing through her.
・・・
"Lieutenant-general Itami! Permission to come on board?"
Itami shook his head and leaned over the right side of the GCCV G-1 Base towards the source of the noise. Standing at the base of the land-cruiser was Colonel Akira Tomita and Colonel Daisuke Tozu.
"Yeah, you're good come on up!"
As the two went to the command bridge, they saw Itami waved his right hand to greet them while Tuka Luna Marceau, the General's personal assistant, lit a cigarette in his left hand.
Beside them were Brigadier General Takeo Kurata, Colonel Shino Kuribayashi, Colonel Hayato Sasagawa. They could see that their commander also invite Professor Youmei, Professor Georgi Plekhanov, Professor Geneviève Berger, Dr Hange Zoë and even Kuribayashi Nanami from the press team.
Basically everyone of any importance was here.
What was happening? Colonel Tomita wondered. His question was answered immediately as he saw what happend on the main screen.
"Shit! is that a dragon make of skeleton ?"
Itami kept his eyes on the battle in the main screen and replied to Kurata "Yup, it's an undead dragon."
On the ground, the undead horde advanced relentlessly, their mindless bloodlust driving them ever forward. The Titans stand before them, massive and unmovable, their eyes glaring down at the undead creatures with contempt. The undead swarm forward, their blades and claws hacking and tearing at the harden flesh of the Titans. The Titan villagers retaliate with powerful swings of their massive warhammer, crushing and tearing the undead apart. The battlefield was a scene of carnage, with limbs and bodies strewn about in all directions. The ground is slick with blood, and the air is thick with the stench of death.
"What kind of horror movie is this?"
"You mean what kind of dark magic is this?"
Over two dozen skeleton mages wearing tattered robes and holding a staff began the ritual by linking their hands and chanting in unison. A glowing orb of magic appeared above their heads, growing in size until it was as large as Kato himself. The orb pulsed with energy, and the skeletons began to step back, giving it room. Finally, when the orb was at its peak, the skeletons released it.
Grand Mage Kato was ready. He had seen this spell before, and knew how to counter it. He raised his hands and a shield of blue energy formed around him. The spell hit the shield and was instantly absorbed. The energy exploded against him, but he held strong. The orb dissipated, and Kato looked around at the skeletons. They were all still standing, their magic spent.
Grand mage Kato El Altestan began to chant a mighty counter spell. The eerie blue light that surrounded him grew brighter and brighter, and the undead creatures began to recoil in terror as a powerful magic circle appearing in the sky above.
"What the f-!"
Kato's spell was a truly amazing sight to behold.
The spell was complex, its workings a mystery to all but the most learned of magic. It required great focus and concentration, as well as a deep understanding of the principles of magic. Kato had spent many years mastering the art of spellcasting, and he put all of his knowledge into this one spell.
"Light in heaven: Extinction Hymn!"
The results were devastating.
The spell cut through the ranks of the undead like a scythe through wheat. The creatures were annihilated in a single stroke, their existence reduced to nothing more than a charred corpses and piles of ashes scattered in the wind. The spell leaving nothing in its wake. It was a masterpiece, and it had brought Kato great fame and acclaim. He was hailed as a hero, and his name was spoken with reverence by all who knew of him.
"That's fucking hardcore!" Colonel Shino Kuribayashi awed.
"An Advanced Grand Mage!?" Tuka mumbled.
This development was unexpected, I didn't think there would be anyone this powerful in the village. Was this Rory's idea? Itami wondered.
"What the hell is that?" Kuribayashi Nanami from the press team exclaimed, staring in disbelief at the horde of undead on the screen. Beside her, the eccentric scientist, Professor Youmei, simply smiled in a satisfied manner.
Itami's eyes glowed with a light that only magicians could perceive.
Recognizing her master's signal, Tuka Luna Marceau replied. "What you are seeing is an undead horde. Undead are creatures created by binding the corrupted soul of a living creature to a corpse. They are mindless beings that exist only to slaughter any living thing they come across. I have never seen anything like this before, but I can only assume that someone has used dark magics to create them. It is a vile and disgusting art, but quite powerful.
"What I don't understand is the number." Tuka pretended to be curious.
"What's the problem!?" Colonel Tomita asked, his voice betraying his fear.
"There are too many of them," Tuka replied. "To prevent the dead from becoming undead, the people of Falmart have taken to making proper burials for the dead as soon as possible when death occurs. Thus native Undead in this world are transcendentally rare, high level ones like the Death Knights only naturally-spawn every 100 years or so."
"I belive I know the reason," Professor Geneviève Berger interjected. "Yesterday I took samples of the Undead animals we killed for analysis and found that there were high level of short-lived isotopes such as iodine-131 and barium-140 but it has almost no caesium-134. This means they were first killed in a nuclear blast."
"That makes sense," Tuka placed her fingers on her chin. "Those who died a violent death and the dead who were not properly revered have the highest chance of becoming undead."
The younger Kuribayashi frowned. This was not what she had wanted to hear. Nanami had been hoping that Tuka might be able to offer some insight into how to stop the horde, but it seemed that was not going to be the case.
"Wait," Takeo Kurata snapped. "You're telling me that they're radioactive zombie!"
"We're living in a campy horror movie, I told you!" Colonel Daisuke Tozu lamented.
"Are you sure the zombies were caused by our nuclear weapons, Professor Berger?" Itami asked, trying to get the Frenchman to tell him what he wanted.
"It's the most likely hypothesis," Berger said,"But I need a larger sample pool to confirm it."
Perfect!
With his most solemn face, Itami suggested. "If that is the case then it would be prudent for us to capture some specimens for study."
"What!"
"You want us to bring those black magic shits back to Earth!" Colonel Hayato Sasagawa exclaimed.
"Yes, consider this for a moment. If what Professor Berger said is true, then the undead horde before us might not be the only one. And if so, they will be a threat to all living things thus must be destroyed. If we can catch some of these creatures to study, it could help us understand what's going on and how to stop it. Do you agree, Professor Youmei?" Itami looked to Youmei, brow furrowed in question.
He chose Youmei because he knew Youmei was the most curious one.
The scientist hesitated, his fingers drumming against the staff he carried. "I'm not sure," Youmei admitted. "These enchanted creatures are spawned by dark magic, and as such can be very dangerous, not to mention we don't have proper containment facilities here. On the other hand, if we can bring back a few specimens to study, that could help us understand and defeat these creatures. I think it's worth the risk."
Well said Professor. Now it was my turn.
"Tuka, can you capture and keep the undead secure?"
"I could try, but high-level Undead is not my specialty," Tuka replied, her voice tremulous. "You should ask the mage down there for help; he's an advanced grand mage."
Itami frowned.
It was a valid suggestion, and one that had been rattling around in the general's head as well.
He didn't trust the Imperials, but he could see the logic in Tuka's suggestion. The Mage down there was a powerful one, and if anyone could help them capture a high-level undead, it was him.
"But what if he refuses? Or worse, what if he turns on us?"
"I don't think he would do either of those things, General," Tuka said confidently. "The mages of the Holy Empire may hate the Earth, but they absolutely loathe the forces of darkness. The mere thought of unintentionally or, god forbid, intentionally benefiting the undead will cause them to have a convulsion. Plus, I didn't think he would be able to resist the chance to take down such a powerful force of darkness."
Itami considered this for a moment.
The undead were a threat to all living things and the people of the Empire were absolute fanatics. Capturing specimens would be invaluable for understanding and defeating this new threat. Until the undead were destroyed, those religious fanatics would not betray us.
"Very well, I hope you're right." he said. "Colonel Kuribayashi, start blasting these things back to hell. Brigadier Kurata form up a squad and have them rescue the mage. Let see if we can get to that mage before the undead."
"Please, reconsider this, Sir!" Realizing the absurdity of the situation, Colonel Tomita was forced to intervene. "What do we even do with that mage afterwards?"
"We'll bring him back to Earth," Itami replied decisively. "He seems to be good at killing undead and from what Tuka said; this old man is an advanced grand mage, we could use his help. He can be a valuable asset."
With the help of the old mage, perhaps I would be able to make a convincing case for a temporary ceasefire with the Empire before the Security Council. Itami thought.
Tomita rolled his eyes, his bullshit's instincts telling him that Itami was wrong. "Sir. Lieutenant General, with all due respect, but we're already operating outside of our capacity. We are just a regular combined armed task force, not a supernatural investigation unit. Now mind you, I'm not against helping the locals, but facts are facts. We cannot afford to be distracted from our main mission because of some sidequest. The Empire poses a far greater threat than the undead, and no matter how skilled the mage may be against the undead, it isn't worth the risk."
Itami met the colonel's gaze evenly, his own sense of duty and responsibility clashing with his friend's concerns. "Tomita, we can't just leave them here to die. That isn't who we are, protecting civillians is in our core value. Besides, if we can capture him, we may be able to learn more about the Empire's magic and how to defeat it."
"Sir. We're here to take down the Empire, not to play hero!" Tomita wouldn't relent that easy.
"Or maybe playing the hero is exactly what we need," Itami shot back. "You are a good soldier, Akira. But a terrible strategist. Do you see how brave those villagers are? Fear alone will never be able to conquer the Empire, we must learn how to earn their respect. Not to mention, what we're seeing may be just the tip of an iceberg. If Professor Berger's hypothesis is proven correct, then everything here could be the beginning of an undead apocalypse. A radioactive black magic zombie apocalypse, mind you."
Itami's words sent chills down everyone's spine.
Dr Hange Zoë finally spoke up. "I think the General is right, if this a potential threat, then it is our duty to investigate it."
Colonel Hayato added. "Agreed, the General is right. This may be risky but with Kuribayashi 4th Airborne Combat Unit and my 5th Air Defense Combat Unit on our side? I doubt those undead will last long."
As Kuribayashi and Hayato fist bumped, Tomita shook his head.
These guys are too optimistic.
・・・
"You're kidding me right?" said Lt. Colonel Hitoshi Furuta.
"That's a negative. Sir the mission's changed, looks like we're going to rescue these people out of here. Colonel Kuribayashi has ordered us to bomb to undead horde down there back to hell." the Major Ishida replied.
"Jesus Christ. Do we even have enough fuel?"
"So far...yeah, Sir. We haven't had to transfer yet thank god."
"Jesus...alright, alright. I'll let Itami know, but so god help us if we break down out there."
"We won't."
"You better not...Oh and Ishida."
"Yeah?"
"Stay safe, good hunting, bring our boys and the birds back in one piece. Furuta, out."
"Solid, Ishida out."
Furuta sighed as he took his comm helmet off setting it down next to his desk. As he removed his balaclava he ran a hand across his curry hair. He had just come dangerously close to getting his men ass into a hornet, operating this long without logistics was just asking for trouble.
Furuta pondered on all this for a few moments, what sort of reaction would this campaign bring? What would the rest of the world think?
What would people back home think? Would they be looked as pioneers of the modern world bringing peace and order to a new world Or soft-hearted amateurs who had wasted resources for the enemy's civilian that didn't deserve them?
What would his wife and baby girl think? Would his wife even stick through this?
Fuck, I just work here.
J-86 air superiority fighter over the Coda airspace
The sound of J-86 multirole combat aircrafts in the 126th squadron could be heard for miles as they streaked across the sky. Leading them was Lieutenant Tomoki Toeda. He had been ordered by General Itami to kill the undead dragon, and he was determined to succeed.
Tomoki had never fought an undead dragon before, but he was confident that he could take it down. He had the best aircraft and the best training, and he was ready to face the dragon head-on. The advanced anti-dragon missiles they were carrying were designed to take out large targets like this.
Tomoki looked around at the other J-86s making up his squadron. He then carefully scanned the radar, looking for any sign of the undead montrosity.
"Commander, airborne threat detected."
"We have locked on the dragon, Sir."
Very good.
"Fire at will." He ordered.
The two Mitsubishi AAM-6 missiles soared through the sky, leaving a trail of white smoke in its wake. The AAM-6 was sleek and deadly, its sharp edges glinting in the light.
Climbing to altitude of 10,000 meter to achieve the best probability of target identification and penetration. During the bunt, the nose cone is jettisoned to allow a high resolution thermographic camera (Infrared homing) to observe the target area. The missile then tries to locate its target based upon its targeting information (DSMAC).
The AAM-6 was specifically designed to kill big dragons. Each carried more than 400 kg of BROACH multi-stage warhead. The two stage warhead is made up from an initial shaped charge, which cuts a passage through armour, allowing a larger following warhead to penetrate inside the target. The weapon is designed to allow a missile to achieve the degree of hard-target penetration formerly only possible by the use of laser-guided gravity bombs.
In total, the ten planes in the 126th squadron fired a total of 20 AAM-6 missiles. They sliced through the air with a quiet whoosh, heading straight for the giant skeleton dragonand there was no way to stop them. The missiles streaked through the sky, creating silver blurs against the dark horizon.
The skeleton dragon was engaged in a brutal battle with Grand Mage Kato, and it was clear that the dragon was winning. Kato was exhausted and battered, and the dragon was ready to deliver the killing blow.
The giant skeleton dragon had its sights set on Kato. It lumbered toward him, flames spewing from its mouth.
As the dragon bore down on him, Kato knew he was doomed. There was no way he could survive such a powerful attack.
Kato tried to cast a spell, but it was too late.
The dragon was upon him.
"I'm sorry, Lelei."
Suddently, something appeared from the corner of his eye.
"What-the!?'
The dragon was too busy attacking Kato to see the missiles coming, and before it knew what was happening, the AAM-6s had slammed into its body.
Kato was saved.
The force of the blinding explosion was enormous, and the dragon burst into flames. It staggered backwards, howling in pain, and then collapsed to the ground with a thud, the earth trembled from the force of the impact. Smoke and flames poured from its body, and it lay there, twitching and moaning, until finally it was engulfed in a ball of fire and burned to ashes.
Kato was thrown backwards, landing several dozens yards away, his body battered and bruised. The mage had been badly burned by the explosion, and his robes were torn and tattered. He lay there, gasping for breath, as the dragon's skeleton crashed down around him.
Ouch!
Kato lay there for a moment, dazed and disoriented, before slowly getting to his feet. The dragon's remains were scattered all around him, the ground charred and smoking. The air was thick with the smell of death and destruction. The force of the impact shattered its bones, and the dragon's spirit was released from its undead form. The mage Kato watched in amazement as the spirit rose up into the sky and dissipated into the ether.
The destructive force of the salvo of missiles was a sight to behold, and it was clear that the dragon had no chance of surviving. Kato was lucky to be alive, maybe the gods hadn't abandoned them after all.
The missile had saved him from certain death, and he was grateful to its wielder. He could only imagine the power and devastation that the missile had wrought upon the dragon. It was so powerful, and yet so simple. It was just a piece of metal, but it could destroy an entire dragon. The skeleton dragon had been a formidable foe, but it was no match for the might of the Earth military. He was safe for now, but he knew that there would be other undead coming for him soon. He had to find a way to stop them before they destroyed the villagers.
But he was worried for nothing.
Just then, 75 more J-86s screamed through the air, the sound of their engines a thunderous roar that shook the ground. The AGM-154D glide bombs they carried were among the most advanced and deadly that the Japanese military had to offer, and they were about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting enemy.
Kato watched as hundreds of 450-kilogram precision guided bombs fell from the fighters. Before launch the AGM-154D wings are folded to reduce size. But upon launch the wings deployed automatically.
To ensure survivability to and effectiveness against a target, the AGM-154D is equipped with a BAE Systems-designed seeker and guidance system, integrating jam-resistant GPS/INS, an imaging infrared (IIR infrared homing) seeker with automatic scene/target matching recognition, a data-link, and passive Electronic Support Measure (ESM) and radar warning receiver sensors.
The warhead for the AGM-154B is the CBU-97 consists of an SUU-66/B tactical munition dispenser that contains 10 BLU-108 submunitions.
As the CBU-97 approached its designated aim-point, the dispenser skin was severed into three panels by an explosive cutting charge. The slipstream peeled away these panels, exposing the 10 BLU-108 submunitions. An airbag ejected the forward five submunitions, then five in the aft bay.
Following a preset timeline, the submunitions deploy parachutes so that they are spaced about 100 feet (30 m) apart. Then each submunition releases its chute, fires a rocket motor that stops its descent and spins it on its longitudinal axis, and releases Skeets 90 degrees apart, in pairs. Each spinning Skeet makes a coning motion that allows it to scan a circular area on the ground.
The laser sensor detected changes in apparent terrain height such as the contour of a Titan. At the same time, infrared sensors detected heat signatures. When the combination of height contours and heat signatures indicative of a target are detected, the Skeet detonates, firing an explosively-formed penetrator (EFP) down into the target at high speed, sufficient to penetrate armor plating and destroy what is protected by it.
Kato saw submunitions whistled through the air, their sleek silver silhouettes disappearing behind the undead horde, striking the skeleton enemies with a resounding thud. He knew the bombs would do great damage, but he also wondered if they would be enough to stop the undead horde.
His question was answered immediately, as the bombs exploded with a thunderous roar, the force of the blast hurling undead bodies through the air. The bombs detonated in the middle of the undead, tearing them apart with their powerful explosions. The ground itself shook, and the air was filled with the smell of death and destruction. The bombers then circled back around and unleashed a second volley of bombs, this time hitting the undead from the flank. This caused even more destruction, and the undead were quickly routed.
Kato watched as the undead horde was decimated, the submunition bombs tearing through them like a scythe through wheat. He realized that this was only a small taste of the destruction that the human military could unleash, and he also knew that the Empire was in trouble.
The J-86s flew over the battlefield, surveying the carnage they had wrought. The ground was littered with the bodies of the undead, and the air was thick with the smell of death. It was a glorious sight, and Colonel Kuribayashi could not help but feel proud of her men.