AN: No Kallen vs Suzaku just yet. That'll happen next chapter.
Samurai Seven: Killing Lelouch certainly won't solve anything. Suzaku's trying to kill Lelouch to prevent what could happen. After all, in his future, Lelouch went insane, and began killing everyone. He's trying to prevent such a situation from happening, by killing the source. Of course, he doesn't know what Charles and V.V's plans are, as he most likely killed the former before he could explain. While the latter was missing.
Chapter 69: Converging Powers
Two Apaches flew overhead as the remaining Black Knight semi truck barreled down the highway, "Can't this thing move any faster!?" Ohgi shouted as Tamaki turned the steering wheel to take a turn.
"Hey! I'm throttled out over here! If you wanna get rid of those flies overhead, then I suggest you get in the back, and start shooting!" Tamaki retorted as a bead of sweat dripped down is brow, "It looks like we're at the northern side of Nikko, and shit looks like a hell-hole!" he observed as several areas, once thriving with trees, were desecrated of their naturally beauty by artillery fire.
The JLF was dug in deep, with large trenches built to support Knightmares and soldiers alike. However, the Britannian's were just as relentless with their assault, as waves upon waves of tanks, Knightmares, and helicopters assaulted the position.
"How the hell are we supposed to get in there?" Ohgi questioned as he opened the door to the semi, and made his way to the side of the trailer, where he knocked on a side door they installed earlier for humans to enter. After a second, it opened, and he entered. "Sugiyama!"
"Yeah?"
"Prepare to tear open the ceiling with your Burai."
This made the remaining Black Knights panick, "Wait… what's going on?"
"We've got some helicopters harping us out there. If we want to stand even a slight chance of making it to the JLF, we'll have to destroy them first." Ohgi explained while entering his Burai, "Get ready."
The Apaches made another pass before finally getting the trailer in their sight. However, before they could open fire, three Black Knight Burai's burst from the roof, each carrying a rifle with them. "Eat this!" Sugiyama shouted while opening fire on the helicopters, forcing them to take evasive manuvers.
Even so, one was shot down, sent crashing into the mountain. "Good shit!" Tamaki cheered without looking at the road. This was a big mistake, though, as he was rapidly approaching a sharp curve. "Oh shit… hang on!" he violently turned his wheel, desperately trying to make it in time.
The trailer began to tip over, forcing Ohgi to hop out, and keep it upright, "Watch what you're doing!" he shouted while guiding the trailer through the turn.
"Go fuck yourself!" the driver shouted while taking his eyes off the road.
"Watch out!" Sugiyama shouted as they approached another curve. This time, if they missed it, they would go flying off the cliff.
"Uh oh." Tamaki turned the wheel once more, trying to make the turn while keeping his speed, this caused the trailer to have one wheel hanging off the cliff as they pushed through.
Ohgi was forced to stay there, and try to get the trailer back on track. But that was when the second Apache came in for a strafing run, intending to take full advantage of his vulnerable situation, "I'm screwed!"
The Japanese man closed his eyes as he assumed the end was near, but that's when the helicopter was shot down by Sugiyama, saving his life. "Hell yeah! Count another one for Kento!" Naomi slapped the side of the man's Burai with joy at their victory.
Ohgi let out a sigh of relief as the trailer was put back on the road, allowing them to continue their drive. But their problems weren't over yet. Not even close. "Oh crap…" Tamaki watched as a Gloucester jumped in their path, intending to put their journey to a stop right there.
"Chaos mine!" Naomi shouted as she saw the Gloucester grab a strange device from it's leg, "We'll be torn to shreds!"
"Ohgi!" Sugiyama shouted while handing the man a claw-like gauntlet, "You're the only one who can do this!"
"Right." the black-haired man instantly put the gauntlet on, and charged forth just as the grenade was thrown into the air. Once the shrapnel began to violently fly toward the semi, Ohgi activated the Gauntlets built-in Blaze Luminous system, courtesy of Rakshata. With it, he successfully blocked most of the shrapnel, but not all. A few pieces struck the right side of the truck, popping its tire, causing it to crash through the barriers, and hang off the side. "Tamaki!"
Sugiyama and Naomi got out of the trailer while another Black Knight took the last Burai, "Everyone out! Go! Go! Go!"
The truck fought desperately to stay on, but ended up only getting dragged further off the edge as Tamaki began to visibly sweat, "No way… am I seriously going to die here?" he went to open the door, only to find himself suspended over a dense forest, immediately throwing away any option for escape. "Shit… I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die!"
Meanwhile, Ohgi was engaged in intense close-combat with the Gloucester as it easily outmaneuvered his claw gauntlet. "Stand still!" the black-haired man shouted while lunging toward his opponent. However, that's when his right arm was torn off with a KMF Lance, causing him to be thrown off to the side.
"Help him!" Naomi shouted while firing at the Gloucester. Though, the pilot wasn't dumb, and grabbed Ohgi's rifle, using it to fire back at the Black Knight's, destroying the woman's Burai in a matter of seconds.
Sugiyama dragged Naomi's Burai behind the trailer and muttered, "We can't help Tamaki like this… damn it…"
The Gloucester ran out of ammo, and turned to Ohgi's Burai, where he saw a magazine magnetically attached to his waist. Once the Black Knights realized what was going on, they jumped out and fired their rifles at the Britannian. However, they were fools to think that would be it, as the Gloucester fired both of its slash harkens, disarming the Burais of their rifles in a matter of seconds. "W-we're finished!" Tamaki shouted as the truck's connection to the trailer faltered, threatening to drop him into the depths.
Sugiyama shakily tried to aim his harkens at the Gloucester as it successfully loaded its magazine into the rifle, giving it the last piece of victory to win this battle. Taking out the last intact Black Knight trailer for good. Suddenly, a shadow eclipsed the purple Knightmare as it aimed at the helpless soldiers without mercy, but that would come to be its undoing, as Mario's Sougetsu cut him in half using his Naginata, killing the pilot brutally.
"O-oh shit!" Tamaki felt the connection to the trailer, causing his descent. Luckily, he was caught in the knick of time by Naoto, who was piloting the Zero Kagero.
"It's okay, buddy! I've got you!" he shouted reassuringly, "Maya, Mario, help me out here!"
The Disel twins did as ordered, and pulled Naoto back, subsequently saving Tamaki, who jumped out of the truck with tears in his eyes, "Naoto! I knew you'd save me!" he wiped the tears in his eyes, "I know it's not super manly… but thank you so much!"
Ohgi climbed out of his Burai clenching his side, "What are you guys doing here? I thought you were with Zero?"
"Wait, you don't know where Zero is?" Naoto asked as a set of helicopters flew overhead. Evidently with orders to aid the front lines, "I thought this trailer was Zero's trailer." he looked at the remaining Black Knights as they desperately looked toward him for support, "It looks like… we've been separated. Take whatever you can from the truck, especially the VARIS. We're gonna rappel into the forest below, and make our way toward the JLF front. If my suspicions are correct, then Zero should've already made contact with them. What's the status on your equipment?"
"We've lost half of our Knightmares, but the rest should be good to carry the remaining supplies." Naomi explained as Tamaki and Sugiyama prepared their rope to rappel down.
Naoto nodded while putting the VARIS on his lower back, next to his anti-Blaze Luminous rifle, "Then let's get moving! Make sure you take anything important. I'll be burning the trailer once we set off.
Burning the trailer!? What for? I busted my ass to get that through the canyon, and now you're gonna destroy it!?" Tamaki exclaimed.
"This is so Britannia can't take anything from us. Destroying the trailers ensures we keep our technology safe." the Kozuki aimed his arm-mounted grenade launcher, and fired at his target. Seconds later, the trailer erupted into a spire of flame as he, Mario, Maya, Sugiyama, and the final Black Knight leapt into the depths below. Their descent was short, as they landed before Tamaki's semi truck, which had its front end caved in.
Meanwhile, the man in question carefully rappelled down the side of the canyon, and muttered, "That could've been me…"
"Let's just be glad it wasn't." Ohgi said as they reached the bottom, unhooking their harness before bringing forth a rifle, "Which way we going?"
Naoto turned toward another explosion that erupted in the distance, answering his friend's question instantly. "There."
A bead of sweat dripped down the brows of the Black Knight team as they slowly made their way through the dense forest, "Why is it so hot in here? Isn't it still winter?"
"That heats from the battle." Naomi answered while putting one leg over a fallen log, "We have to be careful. If Britannia spots us now, we're finished."
"Don't worry. We've got Naoto on our side. There's no way we'll get caught." Sugiyama reassured the group, much to the Kozuki's stress.
"They're counting on me to get them out of this alive. I can't let them down. I'll prove that I'm not some failure that can't be counted on."
"Shh. Get down." Maya ordered while putting her Sougetsu on one knee. Her camera zoomed in on a small Britannian communications camp, which had set up shop in the forest. They used the surrounding foliage to perfectly conceal their base, while also hiding from the horrors of war. However, they made the mistake of not watching their back, and Maya was going to take full advantage of this. She hopped out of her Sougetsu, and snuck up on the camp, much to Tamaki's frustration, "The heck are you doing?" he whispered, "Let's just grease 'em!"
"Not yet." Naoto pulled out his anti-Blaze Luminous rifle from the back of his pack, "Let her do her thing."
Maya leapt over another fallen log, before crouching behind a tent, which was situated next to their antenna, "What? That can't be right! Why would Dasko be on his way here?" one soldier questioned.
"Didn't you hear the explosions? The Black Knights are here, and apparently he wants to finish them himself."
"Well, you also heard the explosion up top, right? There's no way they're still alive."
"Oh yeah? Did you also see our birds get shot out of the air too? Listen, we also have reports of Zero being over here…"
"The Black Knightmare? The same one at-"
"Yeah."
"But… I thought command confirmed that Zero was on the western front?"
"Apparently there's two."
"Lelouch is on the west? Did we seriously pass right by each other? How'd that happen?" Maya carefully snuck back to her Knightmare, clearly forgetting about the first half of that statement. Dakso would show up at any second. And while he might not have seemed like much, his presence here would be a game changer.
But it was too late.
"Let's grease 'em!" Tamaki shouted while raising his rifle. Regrettably, Naoto did the same, and in a matter of seconds, then entire camp was wiped out. Their gunfire echoed throughout the canyon, drawing the attention of a different beast to their position.
"AHGAH!" Everyone turned around to see the source of the shouting, only to witness their ally getting crushed like a tin can by a large Knightmare.
"There goes one of our Burai's…" Sugiyama muttered while stumbling back in fear. The demonic Knightmare tossed the Black Knight Burai to the side, before taking a step forward, causing the very ground to shake.
Meanwhile, Dalque cackled maniacally from within her Knightmare, "I've missed this so much! It's way better than being in that correctional facility!" using her massive hand, she swept up numerous Black Knights, crushing them in her palm.
Tamaki tripped upon witnessing such a sight. Paralyzed with fear as he watched his former comrade's blood drip from the closed fist of their new enemy. They've seen her get defeated before. This was the same Knightmare Kallen defeated in Narita. Yet… she made it look so easy. Now… now that they were forced to face off against it alone… they finally realized the terror this machine's presence on the battlefield could bring.
Ohgi snapped out of his trance, and grabbed Tamaki by the shoulder, "Run! Everyone run!" he ordered while dropping his rifle, causing the Black Knights to scatter out of terror.
Sugiyama didn't even try to fight back. He instantly turned his Burai around, and sped off toward the northern front, hoping to get to safety. That's when a new Knightmare appeared in front of him. It was another one that Kallen defeated.
"Sugiyama! Watch out!" Naoto shouted as his friend sent a punch toward the new threat. However, he was swiftly defeated in a matter of seconds, when the opposing Knightmare, piloted by Alice, activated a knife built into its wrist. She used this blade to pierce through the Japanese man's cockpit. Ending his life swiftly.
With no time to mourn his friend's death, Natoto was forced to instinctively block a strike aimed for his side. Dalque put 50% into that strike, as she was tasked with the objective of capturing Zero. So, while this punch didn't permanently take the Kozuki out of the battle, his entire right arm was obliterated, and his body was flung into the chaotic battlefield.
"Naoto!" Mario shouted as he angrily charged Dalque, only to be intercepted by Alice, who recognized that both he and Maya could easily take on the hulking Knightmare if given the chance. So, she was tasked with the objective of taking them both out personally. "Gotta be carefully of that purple one." the dark-skinned girl commented while pointing at Maya's Sougetsu with purple highlights, "That's the one that got me before, huh?"
"Yeah. Just leave them to me. You take care of Zero."
Mario kept his eyes trained on Alice as her Knightmare disappeared once again. It took everything in him to keep track of her movements, but eventually, he managed to predict where she was going to strike, by extending his Naginata in front of Maya, cutting off Alice as she reappeared, "How the hell!? Did he seriously predict my movements!?"
Maya quickly followed up, by thrusting her Naginata forward, chipping Alice's shoulder, but not doing any severe damage, "I get it! Mario knew she was going to target me because I was the obvious threat to the big one! Wow. It looks like all that training is beginning to pay off."
Mario confidently lunged forward, trying to grab his opponent's arm, only for her to disappear once again. In response, he swung his Naginata in a full 360, intending to hit the woman no matter where she went. This turned out to be successful in driving her back, as she narrowly dodged the attack. However, that's not where it ended, as while Alice had her feet off the ground, Maya hit her with a slash across the chest, delivering a shallow cut.
The blonde hit the ground, and kicked the black-haired girl into a tree, before rushing toward Mario, grabbing his Naginata just as he was about to swing it, and sending her arm mounted knife through his cockpit horizontally. Luckily for the boy, since his cockpit was positioned at an odd angle, the blade was only a foot off from his head, allowing him to retreat safely, taking off a piece of his hatch with it. Even so, Alice wasn't letting up, as she disappeared once more, and tried to strike him from behind. That's when Maya appeared out of nowhere, and kicked her into the chaotic battlefield. "Did she predict my movements too!?" the blonde recovered from the strike as Naoto casually delivered a combo to Dalque, pushing her back.
"This isn't as easy as I thought it would be." she muttered as her opponent ran around her, "He's nimble, I'll give him that." the dark-skinned woman raised her foot high into the air, before slamming it down, breaking up the ground, causing everyone to get lifted, including Alice.
As Naoto floated helplessly in the air, he used his left arm to reach into his back, and pulled out the VARIS, aiming it at Dalque with a confident smile, "Bang."
Unfortunately, the only thing that went bang, was his left arm being severed by a bullet, which came in at the knick of time. Or so it would seem… "Sancia!" Dalque shouted with joy as she saw her commander set up across the battlefield with Lucretia as her spotter.
"Sancia. It appears the JLF is gaining some momentum. If we don't hurry and move, they'll reach our position in 3 minutes." the spotter reported as she saw the combination of Nagisa, Urabe, and Senba crashing through the Eastern and Northern fronts in their new Knightmare's.
"No. We'll stay here." the black-haired woman ordered as she fired another shot at Naoto, clipping his shoulder as he abruptly fell, "If I take the time to set up once again, then Dalque and Alice might not make it out of that fight."
"You… don't believe in their abilities?"
"That's not it." Sancia fired a shot at Mario, who, much like Kallen, blocked the shot with his weapon, "I'm just being cautious. I don't want to lose any of you."
Meanwhile, Naoto expertly dodged Dalque's big arms as she lunged at him, "I can't fight back like this…" he thought while moving behind a tree. His VARIS was destroyed with a single stomp from the monstrous Knightmare's foot. "There goes that plan…" his eyes wandered to Mario and Maya, who, with incredible synchronicity, expertly fought Alice with the upmost effectiveness. They truly looked like a sibling duo fighting
And Dalque noticed, "Hey! You good, Alice?" she asked as the blonde was hit with a combined kick from the Disel siblings, "It looks like you're in a blender back there!"
Alice crashed into a trench, where the upper half of her body got stuck briefly, "I'm fine! Just a little banged up!"
In this time, Mario noticed Sancia fire a bullet at him, so he raised his shield to block it. Surprisingly, instead of stopping the bullet, it ricocheted into Dalque's leg, putting her on one knee, "Fuck! What the hell was that!?"
The Disel siblings looked at each other, before rushing forth, and leaping high into the air, using the sun to blind Dalque as they brought down their Naginata's. Upon seeing this, Naoto ran out and tried to capitalize on this opening. However, the dark-skinned woman clenched her teeth and turned his fist to 100% of her power, intending on obliterating the Disels with one strike. Both of her fists launched upward, colliding with the Naginatas, sending sparks flying as a power struggle began. Though, it didn't last long, as the weapons shattered, with the remaining air pressure sending the Sougetsus flying off into the distance.
"Mario! Maya!" Naoto shouted as he kicked Dalque in the back of the head, "I have to chase them!"
As he sped after the Knightmares, Sancia locked onto his leg, and tried to pull the trigger, only for Lucretia to shout, "Watch out!" the woman got between the commander, Senba, and Urabe by blocking the incoming revolving blades with her bare-hands. "We have to go!"
"Tch." Sancia stood up, but was instantly forced to block, as Nagisa appeared out of nowhere, and slashed her sniper rifle, "They got here too fast!"
"You're the bastard who's been picking off our troops, aren't you!?" Nagisa proclaimed, "Well, you're gonna get what's coming!" in the next second, her blade cut through the rifle. Shocking the GX pilots as they forcefully retreated.
Tohdoh watched the map as the JLF quickly regained control over the battlefield, "Finally. It looks like we're finally getting a break. Britannia is running out of Knightmare's, a casualty of such a sudden operation. They weren't able to prepare."
"Tohdoh!" the voice of Asahina cut through his joy, "The Southern front is being overwhelmed! The Knights of the round… they're too strong!"
"It's alright. We're abandoning the southern front completely. Retreat back into the base, and make sure the blast door is sealed." the miracle worker informed as he stood up, "We'll be retreating. The damage has already been done to Britannia. As far as I'm concerned, we achieved a major victory today."
"What about Zero?" Asahina questioned as the doors closed behind him, and he headed toward the hangers, "Is he aware of this plan?"
"Yes. This time, we'll be escaping together through the western front. I'm having Nagisa, Urabe, and Senba extend their fronts to make Britannia think we're committing to a counter-attack. I'm no fool, even if we have whittled down their numbers substantially, I know they have more than enough Knightmares to commit to a solid defense. We'll get crushed if we go all out right now." Tohdoh grabbed his Katana, and made his way to the hanger, where his Burai was waiting.
Asahina opened his hatch to face the miracle worker, "So what now? This was the last major base the JLF had. Where will we be hunkering down now?"
Todhoh jumped into his Burai, and started it up, "That's the thing. From here on out, the JLF, much like the Blood of the Samurai and other resistance groups, will be absorbed into the Black Knights."
"Wh-what!? There's no way Katase is okay with this!"
Tohdoh let out a deep sigh at the mention of the former JLF leader, "General Katase… General Katase has given up on us." he said with a heavy heart, shocking the entire base.
"W-wait… what? General Katase's given up?" a soldier murmured.
"But… I thought he was the last hope of Japan?"
"Yeah. He was supposed to lead us to victory, what are we going to do now?"
"Silence!" Asahina commanded, forcing the entire room to come to a halt as the base rumbled from an explosion outside, "Tohdoh. Please explain. What do you mean General Katase has given up?"
"I mean, he's given up on Japan." everyone gasped, "He believes that Britannia has gotten too powerful, and the only way we can beat them, is if we team up with the Chinese Federation."
A few days ago, when General Katase was leaving for China.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me, Tohdoh?" the General asked as the cargo ship awaited him.
"I'm certain, Katase." the miracle worker responded with a bow, "In your absence, the JLF will continue to thrive under my leadership. I swear."
Katase sighed and looked toward the moon, which was only filled halfway, "Tohdoh… do you truly believe the JLF can bring Japan back to its former glory?"
"With my whole heart, sir."
"Then… you are blind to the facts."
Tohdoh's eyes widened upon hearing those words, "What do you mean?"
"Look at the Black Knights. We've gladly accepted their help, and Zero's not even Japanese." his eyes narrowed at his subordinate, "And you won't tell me his identity, no matter how hard I pry." he looked at the ship, and continued, "If we do succeed in liberating Japan, it'll never return to how things were. After all, Zero will reveal is identity back then, and if it turns out he is Britannia, it'll be a scar that'll never heal on the Japanese people for decades. But, if he's some kind of other foreigner, then there will still be a scar, just not as deep. The point is, upon Zero revealing his identity, the Old Japan, the Japan we're fighting for, will die. Do you understand what I mean?"
Tohdoh looked down with melancholic eyes, "Katase… please… don't tell me…"
"Yes. I'm going to work with the Chinese Federation to take back Japan, and return it to its former glory." the General boarded the ship without hesitation, "What about you? Will you join me?"
The miracle worker looked at his leader, "Why? If you work with the Chinese Federation, the same scar will appear on Japan. Won't you be ashamed of seeking outside help?"
"On the contrary, this plan has been brewing for years." Katase smiled, "Atsushi Sawazaki, and other members of the Japanese Government, have been working with the Chinese Federation to muster the forces necessary to commit to a large-scale attack."
"Do you really think they can compete with Britannia in an all-out war?" Tohdoh asked with disbelief, "Even the EU is incapable of that. What makes Sawazaki think he can-"
"Are you having doubts? Has your judgment truly been so clouded, that you believe the only way we can win is through working with Zero?" Katase asked with a hint of hostility.
"That's not what I said. I'm just saying, it's foolish to rely on the Chinese Federation, who cannot promise victory, whereas Zero has many victories against Britannia to support the idea that he can win."
"Victories? Don't make me laugh. All he has ever done is run away from every battle he's ever been in. The man's the very definition of Coward. He destroys a few Sutherlands and Gloucesters, and then is paraded as a hero. Is that who you think can defeat Britannia?"
Tohdoh clenched his fist, "Every battle Zero has been a part of, he's destroyed a substantial part of Britannia's military. The only reason it doesn't seem like a lot, is because Britannia has the capacity to replace those destroyed Sutherlands hours after. We don't have the same production line, but with India's backing, we'll be able to-"
Katase abruptly boarded the ship without hearing Tohdoh out any further, "Then you've made your choice." he proclaimed, "From here on out, the JLF is dead. I, as General Katase, have given up on their foolishness, and will take my rightful position alongside Atsushi Sawazaki, and his cabinet." the ship began to move, which gave the men one last moment, "When I come across you again on the battlefield, Tohdoh. Out of respect, as my best friend, I'll give you a chance to join me once again. However, if you decline, then I'll gun you down all the same."
"So you're choosing to actively go against Taizo Kirihara's words?" Tohdoh asked while walking along the dock, "Even after all he's done for you?"
Taizo was a useful ally alongside the Kyoto Group. As such, they'll be treated with the utmost respect once we retake Japan. They'll be restored to their former glories as manufacturers. But…" Katase's smile widened, "This time, they'll be focusing on military productions, so that we'll be able to fight back against Britannia once they invade again."
At the end of the dock, Tohdoh stopped walking, "You can't be serious. This is too ambitious, even for you."
The General laughed, "Is that so? Then that just means your ambitions are shallow." he waved at his friend while setting off for the Chinese Federation, "I'll be seeing you, Kyoshiro Tohdoh, the Miracle Worker."
Tohdoh breathed out while closing the cockpit of his Burai, "That's why… we have to fight! Fight for the dream General Katase gave up on! We'll work with Zero to the fullest, as he's the last hope we have of getting a free Japan!"
The soldiers in the hanger loaded into multiple large trucks, before heading out the western entrance. That's when a large explosion echoed throughout the base, originating from the southern gate. "Sh-shit! The Knights of the Round broke through the blast door!"
"What? How?" Asahina faced the tunnel to the south, "That door is supposed to be able to sustain any attack. What did they use?"
"It's the strange weapon on that new Knightmare, sir! Apparently, it made the metal bubble before exploding! Wait… what was that- AHGH!"
Tohdoh clenched his controls, "The southern entrance has been breached! Everyone, evacuate! We're going to destroy everything we have!" he reopened the Burai cockpit, and ran toward the control room.
Meanwhile, Asahina made sure the hanger blast door was closed shut, "Unless they have a death wish, they won't use that weapon again."
"Anya! Hold your fire, you little psychopath!" Luciano, ironically, shouted as he exited his Gloucester, "If you blast that door, this entire tunnel could collapse! We'll have to take things on foot from here." he and a team of Britannian soldiers made their way through the tight service tunnels of the JLF substation that controlled the southern blast doors.
"What do you want me to do, Bradley?" Gino asked while standing guard in his Gloucester.
"Go fuck yourself."
"Hey!"
"If you really want to help, then just keep the JLF from hitting us with a pincer maneuver." Luciano answered seriously before taking out a dagger, "I'll make sure we get that intel."
Gino nodded and tapped Anya on the shoulder, "Let's go. Our movements only being limited in here."
The pink-haired girl nodded before following the blond outside, where the remaining Glinda Knights stood watch. Luciano ran down the halls, supported by a squad of Britannians. That's when they finally got their first contact, three JLF soldiers holding the hallway with one belt-fed machine gun, and one rifle. "Oh my. How interesting." Luciano taunted while hiding behind a corner as the machine gun went full-blast. "Though… keep firing like that, and you'll run out of ammo."
Like clockwork, the machine gun ran out of bullets after a minute of firing, that's when the Knight of Ten rounded the corner, and threw his first dagger at the JLF soldier with a rifle. Piercing his head, killing him instantly. Then he blitzed the remaining soldiers, using his daggers to slice their throats open. "Who's next!?" he cried with joy as he ran down the hallway at full speed, dodging incoming bullets effortlessly while slashing away at helpless JLF soldiers. It isn't until he came across the command room that he finally stopped, "Well, if it isn't Tohdoh the miracle worker." he raised his knife, "Good to see you." The Japanese man planted a bomb on the main monitor and ran out the room. However, Luciano was hot on his tail, and jumped out into the hanger just as the bomb went off, killing the Britannian soldiers he was with. Tohdoh tried to board his Burai, only to be stopped by a dagger which landed inches from his feet, "Good reflexes!" the vampire complimented the miracle worker while landing before him.
Tohdoh drew his blade and clashed with the Knight, "Why are you here?" he used his foot to kick the Britannian away, "If you don't leave now-"
"I'll die? How ironic to hear that from someone who's already dead!" he charged forth, only to get side-stepped and slashed in the back. "Y'know, for an old fuck, you've got moves!"
"I'm only 37." Tohdoh replied while getting into his Burai, and driving off.
Luciano spat blood on the ground in disdain, before walking toward the control panel for the blast doors. Within a matter of seconds, he opened the door and hoped down, boarding his Gloucester which was parked nearby, "Anya. Gino. Bad news, the information's been destroyed. We could probably get a team to try and do some kind of recovery." he felt the blood trail down his back uncomfortably, "But, Tohdoh's escaped toward the West. I'm moving to intercept."
"Wait! What happened?" Gino questioned as he reentered the tunnel.
"They got away, the fuck you think happened?" Luciano moved through the west tunnel as his fellow Knights followed him, "Why the hell are you following me?"
"We're your allies, idiot." Gino answered, "We have to support each other."
Behind them, the Glinda Knights appeared, following fearlessly into battle. "We're here to support you, the best we can." Sokkia reassured them.
"Oldrin told me to try and keep up, and that's exactly what I'll do." Toto added.
Luciano rolled his eyes and said, "Oh great. Wanna have a group hug too? Just stay out of my way, and you won't get hurt. Remember that."
However, little did the group know what kind of hell they were about to descend upon. The western front had collected all key players into one spot, where an intense clash was about to begin.
Dalque ran after Naoto's Knightmare as his landspinners led him further and further away. "God damn it! I wish I had those wheels!" she shouted with frustration as Alice joined her.
"What'll we do? Sancia and Lucretia are being held off by the four holy swords. We won't have support going into this." the blonde explained as she dodged numerous bullets.
Dalque shouted while increasing the power in her foot to send a tremor toward the group of JLF soldiers shooting at them, demolishing their footing, causing them to be incapacitated. "If only I could do that to that bastard!" she shouted while pointing at the Kagero, "Too bad the chances of killing him are too high."
Alice nodded as she saw a red Guren with Sutherland arms fighting a Gloucester in the distance, "Looks like Dasko's already there." she muttered.
"Oh great." Dalque rolled her eyes, "Just another guy to have a dick measuring contest with."
"Don't be rude."
"It's the truth! That guy's way too obsessed with Zero for his own good! I mean… did you see how fast he ran after Carine gave him the orders to capture Zero on the western front? He completely ignored us, compromising the eastern and northern front!"
"As if you care." Alice rolled her eyes, "Admit it, you just want to have a rematch with the Guren pilot."
Dalque puffed out her cheeks and replied, "Maybe…"
The blonde giggled, "Well, let's just hope that you can satiate that bloodlust of yours. Otherwise, we'll be off to the correctional facility again."
"As if you're gonna be threatened by that! You still got to go to Ashford in that time!"
"It's not my fault that my mission reigns supreme."
"Shut up!"
While the two Irregulars were all laughs now, no one could've predicted the intense clash of forces that about to begin. Who would come out on top? Who would suffer the most losses? But most importantly, who would win? All of this would be decided with all the action converging on the western front.
AN: Next chapter will be a three-way battle with the Glinda Knights, Britannia, and the Black Knights on the western front. This may go on for two chapters, or might end the next chapter. It'll depend on the pacing, but considering how many heavy hitters are going to be here, I'm probably going to go with the former. Maybe even three chapters, who knows.
And yes, some interesting develops may occur with Dasko, who knows?