Chapter 58
Four Years Later
The yellow sun hung high in the sky, casting its scorching rays upon a battlefield stretched between two mountains. The land was littered with destruction and corpses, scattered like abandoned dolls. A grim silence loomed over the place, broken only by the whispers of the wind stirring the dust above the lifeless bodies.
Among the corpses, a teenage boy named Ryan, thirteen years old, lay on the ground, clad in a green military uniform. His face was smeared with blood, and his weary eyes gazed at the sky, following a white bird soaring freely over the field of death. Slowly, he lifted his arm, as if an immense weight hindered his movement, and whispered in a broken voice:
"Hey... that's dangerous... get out of here..."
But his gaze was suddenly drawn to something else in the sky. He squinted and saw a barrage of shells cutting through the air, heading straight toward him. His tired eyes widened, and he gave a bitter smile as he muttered to himself:
"Looks like I'll die here... I've always hated wars."
Time seemed to slow around him. He watched the shells descending, while his mind drifted to his last memories:
"At least I said goodbye to my family... and to Mr. Brown... before joining this war..."
He closed his eyes in resignation, but a distant voice suddenly screamed:
"HEY! RYAN!!"
He gasped and immediately opened his eyes to see a girl in a military uniform his age—Amy—rushing toward him with determined eyes. Before he could react, she grabbed his uniform and hurled him backward with all her strength, sprinting at full speed past the corpses and debris as the shells rained down behind them.
A massive explosion erupted, shaking the earth. Flames and smoke surged into the sky, while a violent shockwave swept through the battlefield. Amy leaped powerfully into a trench, crashing inside with Ryan. She hit the stone wall, and her knee scraped against the ground, tearing her military uniform and wounding her leg. Blood seeped slowly from her cracked skin, yet she made no sound of pain.
Ryan panted heavily, leaning against the trench wall, while Amy sat beside him, trying to catch her breath. Before either of them could recover, they heard heavy footsteps approaching.
They both looked up to find a bald man with dark skin standing before them, his expression stern, hands clasped behind his back. It was Marshal Chris—the man who inspired both fear and respect in the soldiers.
Ryan and Amy instantly stood at attention, their heads held high. Marshal Chris looked at Amy and spoke in a calm yet firm tone:
"Well done, Amy."
Amy gave a slight smile and stomped her foot firmly, replying with determination:
"It's my duty, sir!"
Then, Chris shifted his gaze to Ryan and bellowed in a commanding voice:
"SOLDIER RYAN!"
Ryan quickly stomped his foot and replied seriously:
"Yes, Marshal!"
Chris's sharp eyes locked onto him as he asked in a harsh tone:
"What have you done?!"
Cold sweat trickled down Ryan's forehead, but he maintained a steady voice despite his anxiety:
"I apologize, Marshal Chris!"
Chris's expression remained unchanged as he retorted in a strict voice:
"You gave up too easily! If Amy hadn't intervened, you'd be just another corpse on this battlefield!"
Ryan clenched his fist tightly and lifted his head, speaking with confidence despite his pain:
"That won't happen again!"
Chris studied the boy for a moment before simply saying:
"Good."
Amid the thunder of artillery and explosions shaking the earth like an enraged heartbeat, Marshal Chris stood in the trench, wiping the sweat trickling down his furrowed brow. He surveyed his exhausted soldiers—some lay motionless, while others reloaded their ammunition with trembling hands, their eyes filled with fear. He turned to them, his deep voice cutting through the chaos of war:
"SOLDIERS...!"
The soldiers slowly lifted their heads, their breaths ragged from exhaustion. Chris cast a sharp glance at them, his tone like the lash of a whip:
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Silence fell over them, but their eyes betrayed their rising anxiety. Explosions echoed from outside, dust dancing in the air with every violent tremor. Chris continued, his voice low but more menacing than a scream:
"Do you think the great nation of Arcadia will fall?!"
No one answered. Even the ground beneath them seemed to hold its breath, watching in silence. Chris closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them, sharp as a blade:
"Remember this... Arcadia does not need weak soldiers!"
The trench remained heavy with silence until Chris stomped his foot against the ground, his words striking like thunder:
"Endurance is your only choice! If we fight, we win! If we surrender, we are annihilated! This is not just a battle... this is war! We are fighting against Braidus, and we will emerge victorious!"
One soldier, barely able to stand from exhaustion, lifted his head and hesitantly said:
"But, Marshal... our ammunition is running low! At this rate, we won't last much longer!"
The air tensed for a moment before Chris responded with unwavering confidence:
"The captains are on their way... and Arcadia's secret weapon, Onoko Borna, is in Captain Raizo's hands!"
The soldiers jolted at the name. Even Amy and Ryan exchanged stunned looks. Inside Ryan's mind, a thought struck like a flash of lightning:
"Onoko Borna... the unrivaled weapon! Captain Raizo obtained it during his campaign to the cursed land of Kaisima... Though we possess only one, it is unbeatable! We've never lost a battle with it in our ranks!"
The soldiers' faces shifted from despair to enthusiasm. They stood up all at once, as if fresh blood had been pumped into their veins, and began firing at the enemy positions on the left mountain, where the forces of Braidus were stationed. Amid the chaos, two young soldiers ran forward, one of them shouting in a sharp voice:
"Marshal Chris!"
Chris turned to see four young soldiers standing together—Ryan, Amy, Samuel, and Emre. Their eyes burned with intensity, despite the fear lurking in the corners of their gaze. Emre spoke with fervent enthusiasm:
"We want to join the fight! We must attack before the reinforcements arrive!"
Chris furrowed his brows, his tone warning:
"What?! This is madness! You're just kids, waiting for reinforcements is the safe option!"
But before he could finish speaking, Amy stomped her foot on the ground, then lifted her head with eyes blazing with determination:
"Marshal Chris! Forgive my impudence, but I will not stand by while others are dying!"
Her eyes caught the shadows of distant flames dancing, and they reflected in her fiery gaze as she continued in a clear, strong voice:
"I will fight! I will be the next marshal! As long as I breathe, I will defend Arcadia, even if you don't need me! My blood and soul are hers to protect!"
Chris stared at her for a moment before smiling to himself:
"She's just a child... but she has a heart stronger than a thousand soldiers here!"
Samuel then shouted with enthusiasm no less than Amy's:
"I'll fight too, Marshal!"
Emre followed, her voice strong, as though the same fire had been passed on to her. Their eyes burned with determination, yet Ryan stood still, frozen in an internal struggle. He looked at them, stunned, his thoughts screaming:
"What are you saying?! This is real war... one mistake, and it's all over!"
He lowered his head slowly, his nails digging into his palm, thinking:
"Why don't I want to fight?... Is it because I hate war? Or because I... am weak?"
Chris noticed his hesitation but did not comment. Instead, he regained his seriousness and looked at the four with a cold, firm gaze:
"Alright... but what's the plan?"
Amy raised her head with a smile full of excitement, as if she had been waiting for this question her whole life. Her eyes met Marshal Chris's with clear enthusiasm.
—
The information available for disclosure:
"In some crucial parts of the chapters like these, we will provide explanations for certain historical points or concepts that require clarification, offering the reader a glimpse of the information presented in the chapter without delving into details or spoilers. The explanation will be provided in accordance with the chronological progression of the story without affecting its development."
—
After a short period of time,
Amy began to remove her green military uniform, revealing the simple details of her body. The atmosphere was charged with curiosity and astonishment, while the three young men continued to watch her with disapproval. Then Ryan spoke, asking:
"What are you doing, Amy?!"
Amy remained focused on removing her clothes until she was done, then lifted her head to smile at them, wearing only her undergarments. Samuel raised an eyebrow in question and said in a skeptical tone:
"Are you serious about this?!"
Amy smiled again, placed her hands on her hips, and said in a childish yet excited voice:
"Just stay and watch me!"
She then grabbed a set of bombs tied together with a net, each nail attached to a single rope, waiting for someone to pull the rope and cause all the bombs to explode simultaneously.
Amy pushed her brown hair away from her face, letting it fall freely, then climbed over the trench. The scene before her reflected complete disaster: a destroyed battlefield, bodies scattered in every corner, and blood staining the ground as if it were part of the place's black canvas. The heavy scent of ash filled the air, and smoke billowed in every direction.
Amy sighed silently, thinking to herself:
"At this rate, they won't believe that I'm not one of the Arcadia soldiers!"
She looked down for a moment, then bent to pick up a handful of dirt, which began sticking to her hands as she wiped it across her face. Her skin began to pale as she took a deep breath, then clenched her fist tightly. She pressed her fist to her face and started to punch it with force, one punch after another, until blood flowed from her nose and dripped onto the ground. She stopped finally, blood still splattering at the tip of her nose, and took a deep breath, thinking:
"This will definitely make them believe it!"
Amy turned around and started walking through the battlefield, where the ground trembled under the explosions, and bodies flew like rain in a storm. As the storm intensified, Amy continued walking, heading towards the other mountain.
---
On the northern mountain of the battlefield,
The soldiers of Braidus had made the mountain their stronghold, carved into the rocks to form a solid shield. On one of the hills, a soldier was firing rounds from his machine gun at the soldiers of Arcadia, continuing to shoot until the weapon suddenly stopped.
The soldier panicked, shouting:
"DAMNIT!"
He then turned toward his storage, pulled out the last round of ammunition, and shouted:
"Commander!"
At that moment, the commander was observing the battlefield intently, as though his gaze could read the events ahead of time. He raised his eyes to meet the soldier's and said in a calm, firm tone:
"What is it?"
The soldier replied nervously:
"The ammo is running low! Is the backup close?"
The commander looked carefully at the battlefield and said in a low but firm voice:
"The backup has been moving for a while. They could arrive any moment."
The soldier smiled, quickly loading his weapon with ammunition, then fired randomly into the battlefield, trying to hit one of the Arcadia soldiers.
But suddenly, the commander shouted forcefully:
"STOP!"
The soldier panicked, stopped firing, and looked at the commander, asking:
"What is it, Commander?"
The commander spoke with focus:
"Look!"
The soldier raised his eyes to survey the battlefield and was shocked when he saw a girl, dressed only in her undergarments, walking unsteadily. The expressions of misery, exhaustion, and fear were all over her face. It was Amy.
The soldier said in astonishment:
"A girl...?"
The commander continued to stare at the girl with focus, his mind boiling with questions:
"A girl?! How did she get onto the battlefield?! Does Arcadia allow the recruitment of children?!"
Then the soldier spoke, confused:
"Commander! What should I do?"
The commander remained silent as he watched Amy approach them with unsteady steps, her fearful expression clear. Finally, he said firmly:
"Do not shoot her! We need to make sure first before we kill an innocent child. If she came here by mistake, shooting her would be a crime! But don't leave the defenses weak, keep an eye on her!"
The soldier turned his gaze back to the girl, watching her anxiously, her fearful expression never leaving her face.
---
On the battlefield near the mountain,
Amy was walking unsteadily, blood flowing like a river from her nose, and her right arm, holding the bombs, was behind her back. She continued her advance, staring at her enemies, while the thought crossed her mind:
"I've entered their range, but why haven't they shot at me? Did the trick work?!"
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a train coming from her right towards the Braidus base. She was puzzled and said:
"A train?!.."
---
Inside the Mountain Tunnel
The commander and the soldiers heard the sound of the train, and excitement ignited among them. The commander smiled to himself and said:
"This is your end! Arcadia will lose the battle; reinforcements are on the way, and it is impossible for them to have enough ammunition to face us!"
The train approached the base, its tracks passing in front of the mountain, creating a barrier between the Braidus soldiers' base and the girl, Emi. The train was about to completely obscure the view, but suddenly, the panicked voice of a soldier echoed:
"NOOO!"
The commander and the other soldiers were stunned, while the soldier turned to flee, shouting:
"RUN...!"
---
Outside
As the train passed through the area, Emi pulled the string of a set of bombs gathered in a net, then threw them forcefully, shouting firmly:
"GO NOW!"
The bombs flew through the air, passing over the train, striking the mountain first before bouncing and exploding beside the train. A massive explosion rang out, flames shot up, and the fire spread through the mountain's openings, seeping into the base. The soldiers screamed as they burned. The ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck, and the train itself ignited before exploding, sending flames shooting into the sky.
Emi stood, staring at the horrific scene, the firelight reflecting off her face like a glowing ember. She was stunned by what she saw, until debris from the mountain flew in every direction, the stormy winds howling, and the sound of the flames burning was terrifying.
Slowly, the expressions of shock and awe on Emi's face turned into wild joy. She leaped into the air, raising her hand in triumph, and shouted happily:
"Yooo! I did it! Two birds with one stone! Oh my God!"
But suddenly, she stopped laughing when she noticed a red laser dot shining on her chest.
She froze in place, her eyes widening in terror, then slowly raised her gaze toward one of the mountain towers. There was a sniper from the Braidus soldiers, aiming his rifle at her.
But just before he could pull the trigger, a shadow appeared in the blink of an eye from the sky. She lifted her head to look at the sky and froze in astonishment.
A fleet of warplanes was soaring in the sky, flying in an organized formation.
---
In the Southern Arena – Inside the Trench
The boys, Samuel and Emre, were staring at the sky, where the planes appeared. Ryan was no longer beside them.
Marshal Chris approached from behind them, smiling with relief as he and his soldiers gazed at the sky. Then he said confidently:
"The captains have arrived! The reinforcements are finally here!"
Everyone continued to stare at the air fleet with joy and reassurance, as if they had witnessed their victory drawing near.
---
Inside One of the Military Aircraft
The plane's door slowly began to open, revealing a blond man, his hair and thick beard showing signs of graying. He was holding binoculars, surveying the battlefield, accompanied by two others, younger than him. They were the Captains of Arcadia: Raizo, Leo, and Maria.
Captain Raizo lowered the binoculars from his eyes as a soldier moved forward to take them from him. Then Raizo spoke calmly and confidently:
"Are you all ready?"
Maria looked at the battlefield in awe, seeing the rising black smoke, then said:
"Oh my God! Are we late?!"
Between them, the third captain, Leo, spoke in a gloomy voice, slightly arching his back:
"How unfortunate! I wish I could die in one of the battles at least!"
Maria sighed and said:
"You haven't changed the way you speak since Raizo brought you from that cursed place, Kaisima!"
Leo remained silent, his back still arched, before his black hair began to turn white, as if it were a moving liquid. Out of nowhere, a terrifying black mask formed on his face.
In the middle, golden lightning sparks began to dance around Raizo's body, and his eyes turned a glowing golden color. He spoke in a calm yet confident tone:
"Let's begin, guys!"
Suddenly, without warning, all three of them jumped out of the plane, heading directly to the heart of the battle.
End of Chapter.