Chapter 14

"FUCK THESE ASSHOLES!"

I roared as I slammed the newspaper against the desk. The desk shook, and a dent appeared beneath my fist. The others present winced in fear.

"All boys, to arms, and assemble at the airport terminal!" I growled, "These idiots MUST be taught a lesson!"

When we were riding back to the assembly grounds from the match field…

"Dude." John tapped me on the shoulder. "What do you think will happen soon?"

"I can't be sure, really." I sighed, nervous, "The original anime didn't say, so I can only guess. I think there will be some resistance with boys in tankery, so be prepared."

Then my phone rang again. It was God.

"Hello?"

"There's something I forgot to tell you." God's voice came, "it's got to do with the audience's reaction towards you all. There will be a great deal of negativity towards you. I can give you a bit of reassurance though, that the original rules only say that girls are preferred. It didn't really rule out boys. Also, since there's no telling what these mobs will be up to, I give you this."

Suddenly, an iron wristband appeared on my left hand. It was wrung of simple, polished grey steel, with an iron plate set into it bearing the words:

Oberkommando Sicherheitstruppen

1st Wolfsgeist Gepanzerte-Infanterie Korps

Oberkapitäne Alberich Muller

(High Command Security Troops

1st Wolf Spirit Armored Infantry Troops

High Captain Alberich Muller)

"Remember, from now on, your German name will be Alberich Muller."

"What is this troop?"

"The High Command Security Troops is a troop I decided to create to defend you and other future high-ranking officers of the Verteidigungstruppen des Akademieschiffs, or the Academy Ship Defensive Troops. The 1st Army is the first, as well as the best, of them all, known for brutality, mercilessness and absolute cold-blood to enemies, shockingly high combat skills, forever unfazed loyalty, Einstein-level intelligence, chivalrousness and a sharp sense for right and wrong. They might really devour their enemies when necessary or wanting to, just to mind you. All in all, with this troop, you literally have nothing to be afraid of."

"And I'm their High Captain?" I said, with a mixture of amazement, delight and slight fear. I mean, if they can really eat human flesh….that's a downright deadly troop.

"Yes. Oh, and they pocess some German tanks, including Panzer III, Panzer IV, Tiger I, Elefant, Nashorn, Tiger II, Panther G and Sturer Emil tanks, self-propelled artillery like the Brummbar, Sturmtiger, Hummel and Wespe, and heavy artillery like the leFH 18, SFH-18, 17-inch Kanone, Nebelwerfer 42 and Gebirshaubitze 40 heavy cannons. Their infantry gear includes Stg.44 assault rifles, Stg.45 Granatewerfer grenade launchers, M30 Luftwaffe shotguns, and Kar 98k and Gew 98 rifles. They wear a kind of experimental body armor, capable of shaking off even ordinary grenade explosions. But do not worry, for all of these guns have undergone major upgrades to the point that they only have similar names and appearances to their WWII originals. And considering that you are also a major Countryhuman fan, there will be 1 of each nation from WWI to the modern age in service. But you'll have to buy them, since I gave them abilities even better than ordinary Wolfsgeist soldiers."

"Last of all, I foresee a lot of controversy and possibly nasty comments coming your way, so I gave you a little biological upgrade. It is known as the Nacht-Herumtreiber, or the Teufels-Söldner Serum. Upon activation, you will be literally unstoppable, feeling no pain, immune to fear and tiredness, and able to be in both a rage and mental stillness at once. Your appearance will grow a bit nasty, though."

"Like what?" I asked.

"Based on what the last subject to process this weapon experienced, if you go into combat with this serum, your skin will become pale as death, your pulse and heartbeat will fade, your limbs will be stretched to a monsterous level and you will grow a dull grey armor of bone all over your torso, arms and legs. Your teeth will become like a shark's teeth, sharp and jagged, and your eyes dim but filled with bloodlust. All in all, you will literally be a monster. Also, the one downside of this serum is that activating it will make you vulnerable to bright light, with long-time exposures causing discomfort, seizure and even burns. However, if you only use it to enhance your brain, none of the above will happen. A little reminder is that all of the Wolfsgeist will be injected with this too."

Oh, cool. Now I'm a bio-weapon who commands a troop of bio-weapons. This is getting like Resident Evil.

"And to enhance the serum's capabilities, I give you and your friends magic."

Oh, my, god.

"Wh-what type of magic?" I asked, stunned, excited and curious, as I turned up the volume for all my friends to hear.

"Each of you have a separate set of magic 'tech-trees' that you can develop. Your primary skill is 'Necromancer I', which summons 5 spirits of former SS Oberschutze, armed with MP40 submachines, to defend you for 5 minutes. John's skill is 'Armor Blast', which causes a shockwave and a carpet of explosions within a 5-meter radius. Lucas's skill is 'Grenadier I', enabling him to throw spheres of energy that packs equivalent power to an HE shell fired by a Tiger I for 5 minutes. Gabriel's skill is 'Survivalist I', granting a boost in strength, speed, agility, reflex and body stats, as well as slowing down the flow of time by 10% for 5 minutes. Hank's skill is 'Impervious', raising a 10-meter radius dome which cannot be penetrated for 5 minutes. You all have the second skill of 'Healing I', which restores 50% of health. I'll open up the visual for you all."

And all of a sudden, colored bars appeared over the heads of everyone in sight, even over the original characters. There was a red bar for blood, a grey bar for armor and a golden bar for 'spiritual power'.

"The spiritual power is basically the foundations of what you mortals call telekenesis and control of the elements. The higher the bar, the more force you can exert. All the magical skills can be upgraded. I gave you all big gifts, so don't let me down."

"Jawohl, kommandant!" I said, saluting to the sky.

"Good."

And the call ended. The same moment, I felt a strange sensation on my right hand. Looking at it, I saw a new design etched into my palm. It was some kind of magical array, with a circle of runes in the background, a spiky circle within and a Nazi swastika pressed over it. Sharp protusions like sword blades radiated off the circles. The emblem was a shade of dark red.

I grinned as I looked at the others, who were displaying a wide variety of emotions.

"I feel like I'm invulnerable."

Unfortunately, God was a little bit too correct over what we'd meet.

As soon as we showed up at the grandstand, the reaction was so intense I almost jumped.

The crowd burst into yells of many emotions. Countless hands pointed at us, what intentions they carry I cannot yet tell. Looking down, I saw group of reporters coming toward us, followed by a seriously excited swarm of people.

"Are we welcome?" Andrew asked, confused and nervous, "or are they angered?" Evidently, the Bluhtnebel-pocessed Alisa had gave him serious PTSD.

"Who the heck knows. Just be alert." I said. My hand was resting on my Luger pistol already.

The foremost reporter, carrying a microphone, came up to us. Unwilling to have my face recognized, I pulled out my gas mask and wore it over my face. My crew followed suit.

"And here are the boys who pilot the Lowe, apparently also leader of all the other boys." The man turned toward me. "Would you care to introduce yourselves?"

I wanted to reject, but I figured I have to establish an image, or at least a profile. If I don't get myself remembered, I won't have the rights to speak over anything about us boys later, and that I will NOT let happen.

"My name is Louis, German name Alberich Muller. Current commander of the Panzer VII Lowe."

"Can you talk about how and why you picked up tankery?"

"I was an orphan." I said, loud and clear, "I never knew who my parents were. I was a street wanderer for many years. I loved reading nonetheless, and there was a big library whose owner was kind. He would let me in and read his books, even though I will never bring him any profit; in fact, he gave me my German name, since he was a German. I loved books about the World Wars and admired the famous generals, especially the Germans." A ripple went through the crowd at that. "And when I knew about tankery, and the fact that boys aren't really banned from the game, I knew that my future is there."

"Care to explain why the fact that most tankery participants are girls didn't stop you from joining?"

Before I could answer, though, something sailed through the air towards me. I ducked aside and the object splattered against the dirt. A tomato.

"Leave tankery!"

I turned to see where that came from. It was a fat middle-aged man, with thick lips and a faceful of hair. He waved something else – this time a rotten egg – in his hand.

"Boys don't belong in tankery! Your existance is a damned stain on the sport! Curse you and your team of juvenile delinquents! Get away, and don't ever let me see your filthy faces again!" He roared.

I think he might've expected me to shout back, but I didn't. I merely stared at him. The reporters stepped back. I knew why: even I can sense the aura around me changing. My stare turned into a glare.

As everyone watched, I extended my right hand. The new emblem on my palm started to glow a bloody red, instantly attracting the cameras and the eyes of the audience.

"You will pay for that." Was all I said.

A dark sphere of energy formed around my hand. And at my feet, a magnified version of the magical array formed, spiralling and humming. The air smelled of decay and blood.

And I closed my fist. At the same time, the man gripped his neck in terror. My grip contracted, and he screamed in pain. Red burns and blotches began to appear on the skin over his neck.

I lifted my hand, and the person was lifted 2 feet into the air. I stamped my foot, and the Earth groaned. A bony hand erupted from the dirt and rock, growing bloodied, decaying tissue as the zombie clawed its way out of the land. 3 more followed. They stood and glowered at the audience with their bloody faces and white eyes, and the onlookers drew back in fear. Then their gaze shifted to the man in the air.

"Isen un gerauken." (He looks tasty). One of them hissed.

"Nass. Ger vun ond heise inte buntek." (No, we will not kill civilians) I hissed back. I don't know when I learned that tongue.

"Agh, gack." (Ah, damn.) It groaned.

"So," I said, speaking English once more, "care to say what you said again, mister?"

"Sir," a young man carrying the camera said, "maybe you should just apologize and-"

"NEVER!" The man gargled, "never will-"

Crack.

A clear sound came, and I twisted the man's arm to an impossible angle as easy as snapping a toothpick. He howled in agony.

"What a piece of garbage." I chided, "I'll take you out."

And I slammed him on the ground. With an 'eurgh!', the man fainted.

"Lowlife." I snarled, "He deserved clan execution. Speaking like that to a soldier … bah! No respect for authority."

I turned towards the reporters. "Everyone who is watching." I said, "if you want to just properly talk about whether boys in tankery are allowed, and if the rules are against us – which they aren't – I've no objections. But if anyone else tries to persecute us, or do any harm to me and my teammates," I pointed to the man, "this is but a start. I didn't kill him this time. I probably won't be so merciful to the next idiot. Mark my words, whoever assaults us, we will pay back tenfold. As for how, you saw it."

And I strode off with my zombie guards, the rest of the boys and the exceptionally dumbfounded girls, leaving the crowd gawking in my wake.

Later…

We were swarmed by questions as soon as we got on the limo bus carrying us back.

"OH MY GOD!" Yukari shouted, rushing up to me, "was that REALLY MAGIC you performed?!"

"Yes." I said, nonchalantly.

"Is this some kind of Nazi Wunderwaffe you came in procession of? Because it has the swastika, you know." Erwin questioned, examining the emblem on my palm.

"No. I learned it from a book about black arts and demonology. Apparently, Hitler became a devil himself after his death."

"Can you teach us how to do this?" Yukari asked.

"Not yet, at least." I spoke.

"Who were those undead you brought up?" Erwin asked.

"Former Schutzstaffel riflemen."

Before anyone could ask anything else, though, my phone vibrated.

"Sorry, stomach ache. Got to be off for a while."