It's been two weeks since this battle had started and things were looking bleak. Our soldiers moral was low and many were wounded but still fighting despite the heavy emotions running through us all. Most of the men still had hope in their eyes, but with each new day and loss, that hope was fading out.
This was becoming a dire situation. If our men lost the will to keep fighting because they lose all hope, we all will be lost and enslaved except for those able to make it to the strongholds.
We needed some action, some form of encouragement to refresh the soldiers spirit.
I directed some men to help hold the line near a section that was losing men fast.
Vartonix and Bavarthos' pets and machines still helped where they were needed. Howls and whirs of gears and metal clanking cut through the cries and shouts of soldiers when ever the gunfire did not drown out everything else around us. Vartonix even with his size and destructive capabilities could not risk getting too close the our front line for fear of accidentally injuring our men.
There was just too many of the Erlking's men. I was hardly taking the time to blink, in between shouting orders to the troops and firing a grenade launcher into the swarming mass of enemy soldiers who sounded like a swarm of angry bees.
Our supplies were still coming in regularly, with plenty of bullets and other light artillery always ready, we didn't mind throwing out the heavier artillery through out the day. The popping of the rifles mixed with the booms of explosives became the background noise we all listened to during the day and even helped us fall asleep at night.
As I directed our men to fight and others informing me of anything, I still kept firing into the mass of enemies, sending explosives to destroy more bodies. More reports were coming in of other areas that were being overwhelmed with air support focusing on those areas. I was so engrossed in the moment though I failed to realize something.
We're not receiving any magical attacks. When was the last magical attack?
The Erlkings MU's (magic users) had pulled back from the front, making my stomach fill with dread. I had not seen a magical attack in a more than a few minutes. Those were small ones too, not the heavy hitters that were coming at us earlier. I had not seen those in well over an hour. Something was not right with that.
I experience a strong gut feeling, that starts to overwhelm me. I have to warn and tell the men to stay vigilant.
"EVERYBODY KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED! ENEMY MU'S ARE MIA!" I shout into our com. I continue firing off the grenade launcher farther into the mass of enemies, signalling to one of the surveillance techs to try and get air support in now. The way we were being attacked, we would be overwhelmed soon and Vartonix and the other pets could only fight for so long too.
Vartonix is jumping around swinging his tail through soldiers sending them screaming, flying though the air before hitting the ground with a thud. Smashing more underneath his huge feet. I knew we needed to start pulling whatever hail Mary we may have out here.
'Where the hell is Mary and B? They had been gone for a week and I have not heard from her except for a quick, 'Love you, working on ending this. Hold on as long as you can.' I scan looking for anything that might tell me she's back but I come up with nothing.
"Lacroix, SIR! The line is breaking two hundred meters west of your location! They need any back up you can send!" One of the officers in the surveillance area informs me through the coms.
"Ten-Four" I pull up some of the soldiers I am going to need to come with me.
Two are wounded, three are dead, one is currently still locked up in B's holding cells. I'm looking at a total of fifteen left to call.
"Guys we're needed at this location." I call and send out the map coordinates. "Everyone with in two miles needs to be here asap. Enemy is weakening the area, skip the rendezvous and start fighting as soon as you are there, that's an order."
The area was a mile away and the roads were destroyed, making it to where we would be stuck heading there on foot. I pack some extra ammunition and make sure my grenades are equipped before I head out.
I get confirmations as I am sprinting to the location seeing the surge of enemy soldiers amassing in this area, and our men trying to hold them off the best they can. I use some of my power to send a grenade back behind the invading mass and pull the pin. The explosion sends a few enemies forward that are easily stabbed or shot. I send a few more grenades in quick succession to make the enemy fall back from there.
Sin comes over the coms and is shouting orders to the men to fall back from the walls, ten yards and find cover. I jump on the machine gun that's just emptied and instruct everyone to go, sending cover fire into the enemy as the men run to safety. I'm mowing down men as best as I can. When our men are mostly out of the way, I jump off the gun and run. I stop when I notice a badly wounded soldier limping his way as fast as he can. I run over to him and put my shoulder under one his arms.
"Don't worry, I got you soldier." As I begin to almost drag him I'm moving so quickly to get us out of ten yard zone and take him with me behind the building near us. I settle him down and look at the enemy starting to make their way towards us, malicious looks of triumph on their faces.
A whooshing of cold, hard wind crosses the battle field. Seconds later blood curdling screams and cries for help from the enemy ring out as we stay behind the building for cover. Blood and gore splatters within our sight of the building, making me and the soldier stare at it in fright and horror.
"I'm going to take a look." I whisper to him which only makes his eyes widen and shake his head in fear. I lower my hand, telling him to calm, I'm just looking nothing else.
I look around the corner and see dark shadows, moving around like smoke creatures tearing apart anything near the wall. They take on the shape of horrifying beasts and creatures straight from hell and your worst nightmare as they attack the enemy. I'm shaking in fear at how they are attacking and destroying the enemy. Leaning back behind the cover of the wall, I'm gagging at the sights still fresh in my memory.
I command the troops to stay back still as the smoke shadows are still ripping through the enemy. Chills running down my spine every time I hear a scream, choked off my blood gurgling sounds. I think I was wrong earlier when I thought I was in hell. The sounds these soldiers make, that's hell. There's no hope for escape and terror fills every sound we hear. The soldier next to me is pale and shaking, covering his ears to drown out the sound of the dying. Even I start to cover my ears to help drown out the sound.
Another wave of wind rushes over us and the smoke creatures disappear. Vartonix is still swinging his tail and bouncing around the battlefield. I hear the screaming of jets as our air support finally arrives, lighting up and setting the enemy on fire. Screams fill the air as napalm sends a wave of heat in our direction along with its knowing smell.
"Everyone is clear to return to perimeter." Sin's voice comes over our coms.
Sending our men back, I hit up the coms, "Sin Whats going on? What was that?"
Suddenly, I find it hard to breath, my diaphragm isn't moving with out a burning, ripping pain.
"LACROIX!" I hear some of my men call out.
"JOHN? What's the matter?" Sin's voice comes over the coms.
I look down and see her sword, sticking out from in between the the protective armor plates in my chest.
"Sin..." I say before seeing her snap before my eyes.
Her eyes become wide when she focuses on me, and that's when I feel the tug. Like I'm hooked like a fish getting pulled and reeled in out of the water. I throw my hand out for Mary to catch it, but she's not fast enough as it slides out of her reach as I hurtle through the air.
I can hear Mary screaming, "JOHN NO!" Before I'm ripped across the sky, right into the heart of our enemies.