No Romance, Only War (MobuSeka SI Chapter 2)
Three Years Later
Howard Fia Victorious was a field commander to the Holfort Kingdom's army.
And he absolutely hated it.
The unbearable heat. The subpar food. The waiting. The standing in the dirt and mud. The smell.
He hated everything about being on the front.
So what that he wasted some portion (over half) of his family's wealth? Or slept with some Earl's daughter but decided not to marry her? Why does that mean he should be in this filthy hell, having to deal with these lower nobles and commoners?
Of course being a True Noble, one from a bloodline that stretches all the way to the adventuring founders of Holfort Kingdom, he was given a rank and position of relative safety. This allowed him to just orders the soldiers how he pleases, and effectively gain glory from their victories, or avoid losses from their failures.
He also had a profitable arrangement with an organization of women back home, that gave him more than enough money to enjoy his life-style even in the drudgery atmosphere of war, and even build a good nest egg for when he finally leaves this god-forbidden place.
At least until now.
The sound of an ear shattering boom ruptured whatever peace Howard was feeling, and his personal affections fell around from the airship's shaking.
He gritted his teeth and ran out of his room, rushing to the one person he blamed for his current situation.
"Commander, where are you going in this storm?" Asked his trusty aid Lieutenant Carl, when he left his room. Howard ignored him for not, as he headed to the foe that enraged him.
He came out to the ship's deck to see him...holding training drills of all things! During a storm and spell bombardments!
"Again! Repeat the magic circle sequence once more. This is an excellent opportunity for you all, so do not lose your focus. Learn to keep going even under death!" Said Captain Nathan Fou Lamanton.
"CAPTAIN! THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!?" Howard shouted, stunning the already scared, relatively fresh, soldiers training.
"Magic drills, Commander. Keep going!" Nathan said, before turning and went to stand in front of Howard, looking at him with that annoying casual smile.
"What the fuck do you mean 'training', you insane low-born moron! We're being attacked!" Shouted Howard.
Just as he said that, another magic sphere slammed against the ship's shields and exploded with a bright light and violent shake. The fiery explosion lit up the night sky and showed the other ships traveling with them. One airship, five ships away, was on fire and slowly falling to the earth.
"The shields are holding." Nathan said nonchalantly. "Both full defense shields and invisibility cover are standing. We should be at our destination in four hours as scheduled."
Howard just stood jaw slacked at the indifference of the boy before him. He looked away after a moment, unable to keep contact with those intense rage filled eyes. Eyes that seemed to glow crimson whenever a fire beam shot past the ship upward to the sky.
He remembered how this all began. When his life stopped being so comfortable.
Howard remembered the animalistic roar, the red aura, the fast moving burning figure that broke down a fortress wall with a punch, and massacred the enemy Selikans limb from limb with his bare hands.
The day the monster before him, pretending to be a man, was created.
"If you don't get us out of here, I'll tell General Johnathan about this needless danger you're putting us and my men in!" Howard shouted, trying not to flinch as another explosion impacted the shields.
"I am simply following the orders we are given, even taking the optimal route suggested by the Holfort Generals, not even those of Repard, so we may get to the captured base faster, for the operations going forward." Nathan said with that sardonic smile, that Howard knew meant he was being mocked.
Three years ago when Howard took credit for capturing that impossible fortress, Nathan agreed with his story to the Holfort General overlooking them, and even had others singing his praises. He thought the lower nobles were finally learning their place, or maybe being smart enough to realize he hold their lives in his hands.
He didn't understand that such praise of his ability meant he would be sent deeper and deeper into Selika territory, capturing fortified locations, one after the other.
He was fine with that, before seeing how much danger things started to entail. He tried to ask a lighter command position in the rear guard but was refused. He thought he could still have the soldiers keep him safe, but...
"As if I would listen to anything you say, trash commander."
"What did you say to me, you filth! I'll have you executed. NO, I'll have you sent to fight with nothing but sticks!"
"No, you won't."
That was the day he saw Nathan defy him.
No. The day he realized he had no control over his men, Nathan did. He just made it appear like Howard was the one gaining victory after victory. All the praise and rewards felt bitter in Howard's mouth after that.
Worse, he understood that Nathan was using him push the war forward. To fight and kill more Selikans. Howard supposed it was better that Nathan was focusing his rage on the enemy, rather than on him. If he knew that Howard was trying to get him, and the other younger soldiers killed, he didn't know what he'll do.
Nathan had blatantly killed his last lieutenant, when the man tried to discipline him. He then threatened Howard, that he would do the same to him, if he gets in his way to destroying Selika. Him!
That type of insubordination needed to be punished! Howard couldn't outright do it himself. No soldier listened to him after that. Those on his side mysteriously died from battle after battle. He sent a letter to the Minister of Defense, but all the reply he got back was some well deserved praise, and to just keep running with Nathan and his troops, and keep bringing them wins, while working for Repard.
Howard was glad his efforts were being recognized, but being around that barbarian Nathan was madness.
It took a long time and correspondence, but he managed to secure two things that would get everything for him right on track. The first was another battalion led by the son of a Lower Viscount Philip Fia Hex, whom he was in good friendship with, along with an airship of their own. One that's top of the line, and better than all the pathetic ones Nathan built around him.
The second was the order he was able to get, for Nathan to act as a distraction in the upcoming battle using a knight armor. He was able to get an old out of commission one, that's barely functioning.
Not only would he get Nathanel Fou Lamanton killed against impossible odds, but he would have all his traitorous soldiers killed as well for going along with Nathan and defying him.
"We'll see about your attitude once we arrive!"
BOOM!
Another explosion rocked the ship, this one too close, above the men talking directly, only stopped by the visible magic shield.
"AAAAH!" Howard screamed as he ran back inside.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE LOST THE 'GRAND CRYSTAL'!?" Howard shouted at the infuriatingly calm Nathan.
"It seems like their shields didn't hold up to the Selika anti-air defenses, and crashed and burned on the way here." Nathan said with a mock sad look. "Thankfully that was our only loss. The rest of our forces is ready to carry out our task, and open a path to the main army from our position."
Howard grit his teeth, at losing his friend's Philip's ship and troops, before smiling as his other trump card was still viable.
"Not so fast, Captain." Howard smirked, as he took pleasure in bring out the signed order from General Jonathan, and other Generals from Repard that are actually their direct bosses. "There was an order for someone to act as decoy and destroy the Selika armies communication centers, for this plan to work. Naturally, I volunteered you for such an honor."
"Huh, cool. I always wanted my own knight armor."
Howard felt a vein in his head twitch in anger at Nathan's uncaring reaction, as he took the order and read it.
Howard held his tongue for now. Soon he would get rid of this worthless lower noble, and then start to make things turn his way once more.
Away in the Knight Armor's Hanger
"Hey, are you sure about this? The guys and I did our best to fix this thing, but it's old Nathan. Really old. I think I saw the bastard get a hold of a communicator even. He's gonna send a message Selika communication towers warning them of your attack, you know?" Said Carl, who rose up the ranks in these past three years, all up to lieutenant, to replace the aid Nathan killed.
"Is it functional?" Asked Nathan only looking at the giant robot. His gaze cold and focused, now that he doesn't have to force himself to act cheerful to piss Howard off.
"I mean, yes, but-"
"Have you found anymore letters when you searched his room on the airship? Any new names?" Nathan turned to look at Carl.
Carl sighed, as he thought back to the boy he knew during their squad days, to the man before him. Nathan really shot up from the scrawny boy he used to look as. He used to be like him and the rest of the kids turned soldiers; someone quietly pushing down his jittery and nervousness, hoping with enough luck and determination, they might survive another day.
After the battle at Booker Fortress, Nathan wasn't just some soldier or warrior, but someone with a power all of his own. The men followed him as he protected them, ensured they lived till they occupied enemy castles. And while they waited for the commander to receive the news, he trained them.
Broke and rebuild them till they were a force of nature when moving as one. That was the first step. To make them all powerful on their own. So that as many of them, the thrown away, forcibly conscripted kids would be monsters that could fight and survive on their own.
After that he organized them to slowly take away Howard's power. First the men working under him, then his communications, all without that prideful idiot's notice. From there Nathan revealed the Forest of Ladies organization. The ones responsible for the youngest of them being used and thrown into this hell, all so they can make money off their deaths.
It was easy to believe that. They already felt like something like that must be happening, with so many having similar experiences.
Now Carl worked to intercept Howard's letters. Finding out who was part of the Forest of Ladies, and which other commanders were working for them. During the missions where their platoon had to be the forward attacking group, and during that time after quickly finishing the mission, Nathan would sneak out and assassinate other field commanders, working for the Forest of Ladies, with his magic empowered sniper rifle.
It was something all of Nathan's men knew and kept quiet about. How Nathan's magic seemed to change the weapons he used, the longer he used them. Becoming more robust, more advanced, with greater firing power, even if the shape didn't change. His gun never ran out of bullets.
However he changed them constantly, or gave them away. The one time he used one for too long...it almost like it became a Lost Item.
Anyways, after that, the Forest of Ladies would communicate with Howard more, revealing more of their members, and more commanders working for them.
"Two new hags. Most of the others are ones we know. I think we might have more than half of their organization now." Carl replied. "I think we have enough evidence, that if we presented it to the king, he would-"
"Carl," Nathan spoke up. "I'm not gathering evidence to have the king punish them." He said, making Carl blink in surprise. "I'm gathering evidence, to know all their names."
Carl understood then, and savagely grinned nodding in agreement.
"Alright, fair enough. But how are you gonna stay alive to get our revenge?" Carl meant all of the soldiers who died from those vultures.
Nathan turned to look at the old grey knight armor and smirked.
"Howard finally snapped and gave me the last piece I need." Nathan raised a hand, then it was engulfed in a red fire-like aura. "Now...it's time to make some fireworks."
Two Years Later
Chief Commander Howard stood atop his vessel, holding onto the royal promotion to Lower Rank 4 as Earl, and did everything he could to keep from weeping.
Not from joy, but from frustration.
Yes, in the past two years, Nathan and his cavalry that grew into a battalion, along with that insane red knight armor of his, had gain impossible victory after impossible victory, gaining more and more territory for the United Kingdom. His achievements grew so much that they couldn't be ignored, and had to be acknowledged by the royal court.
So not only did Nathan grow in noble rank, but it also meant Howard was assigned deeper and deeper locations within the enemy territory, so far away from home.
He didn't want this. The rewards and promotion felt like ash in his mouth, as he couldn't even enjoy them back in the kingdom's capital.
But now as he stared at the capital of Selika from a bird's eye view, able to see the giant multi-utility magic barrier, he couldn't help but feel some satisfaction from what's about to unfold.
Selika could never be defeated because their giant magic rituals, were complex enough to allow for massive amounts of magic effects on a wide scale. The infamous Selika Sanctuary Shell not only instantly healed any Selikan near or inside it, but gave them massive physical strengthening, a boost to their magic abilities, but also applied barriers on every citizen, and most of all!
The Selika Sanctuary Shell was able to launch hundreds of thousands of spells on the fly, instantly changing spells as needed, and even adapt to hostile forces. Some speculated it might even be sentient in it's own way, even though it's just a spell.
Having pushed back the Selikan army all the way to their core island, the Repard army now faced their most difficult siege battle yet.
And of course the first forces would suffer the most casualties, as the Repard army tried to dig a hold into the Selika barrier. The first forces, which of course, Howard included Nathan, their infamous Crimson Knight. Although the Selikans and others around have come to give him another name.
Howard watched in delight as he saw Nathan fly around trying to hit the barrier from multiple angles. He tried not to think of that knight armor's speed to be able to go around an island sized barrier that fast. He smiled in delight, as he watched Nathan's men beginning to die in masses from the Selika Sanctuary Shell's counterattack.
Yes. From his airship's position in the rear guard, he can comfortably enjoy watching Nathan fail and die as he's suppose to, and Howard can finally cash in on all his hard work-
The battle stilled. The roar echoed, with its sound waves shaking the very air itself.
Howard, and he was sure everyone else, allies and enemies alike, stared at the infamous red knight armor open it's cockpit's mouth, almost like a real monster to scream at the world.
A red violent aura exploded from the devil-like knight armor. The energy's brightness colored the sky and seemingly the world in red, as the mecha flew up higher and higher into the sky.
It almost seemed like it was leaving with the world regaining it's normal color.
Howard wanted to cheer at Nathan's seeming desertion due to sheer frustration, but something in his gut told him not to celebrate yet.
"BURNING DRILL-
And he was right.
Ignis returned, and good god Howard wished he wasn't right.
"BREAKER!"
The knight armor slamming into the Selika barrier with a massive drill that seemed to be made of magma from how dark red the metal was and fire spewing from sharp slots indented in the drill.
Ignis ripped through the barrier, earning a cheer from the Repard and Holfort soliders.
It was what happened next that sent horror and shock through everyone.
Ignis flew straight down into the Selika island. From how far he was, Howard estimated he was heading to the king's castle itself.
Then the impact happened, and the giant explosion was heard and seen by all.
Followed by massive cracks forming in the floating island along with quakes, as Ignis pierce all the way through the island itself.
The soldiers of Repard, Holfort and the people of Selika that day saw as a country literally split and break in two.
Howard fell on his rear, watching the knight armor rise from the destruction of the separated landmass, many parts of it breaking and falling into the depth below.
He saw the roar of the monster, the Red Beast, and could swear when it stopped it was looking at him.
The monster was looking at him.
Nathan was looking at him.
All the hatred that he know the teenager held for him was still there. Still burning.
And Howard knew nothing could spare him. No one could protect him. His mind tried to conjure up something anything to protect himself.
Then his communicator came alive, static ringing as a message from Nathan came through.
"Forest of Ladies."
He knew! He knew!
Chief Commander Howard didn't even feel the gun or the threat from his Lieutenant Carl standing behind him.
His heart had stopped.