"Jamal should have returned by now." Alice checked the watch she had on hand, "Let's hope that he's alive."
"I don't doubt that." Hops was stretching, finally glad to be out of the car.
"Only you would say that, out of all people." Sera huffed through, inspecting her blade.
The group had only exited the vehicles about ten minutes ago, as the sight of the city was upon them. While much of their forces were cooped up in the sections of forests, the fields ahead were exposed with tree stumps to force the attacker to be easily seen. In their positions, the Port-O-Bea army could see the extensive trench networks already created, with a few of Youden's Reserve Guard peeking out with binoculars or other ways for zoomed-in vision. Behind those lines was the highway that would have to be crossed, and over the concrete could see the tops of some of the city's buildings several miles away.
"Regardless, we got to fight with all our strength whether he is with us or not." Heskins clicked his rifle's magazine in, already fully loaded.
"I believe in us!" Fonda raised her hands, with Brat nodding eagerly, "We'll show 'em!"
"My main concern is our manpower. We're lacking heavily in that, and our powers may not still add up completely. Hoping that if the enemy is to spread out enough for us to have an equal advantage is quite the ask, but it's possible." Leon checked his arm, which he started to notice was naturally darkening from the strain of his power, "We'll be good if that's the case."
"Say, why don't you ever get some type of brace or gauntlet to alleviate that?" Heskins watched him with some interest, "I would think that eventually, your body won't be able to handle it."
"Looks fine to me." Sera looked at them one last time, before turning around and moving away from them, "I'm gonna scout around and see for some openings, I'll return."
"Heskins, it's all good. Nothing to worry about, at least yet."
"Don't say I didn't warn you, Leon."
After that, the group got silent minding their own business. There was little more to add to the dying conversation, and the sounds of their own soldiers or the equipment from their enemies were the only thing going on. The news of Jamal's current whereabouts and conditions were still unknown to them and the thoughts plagued their minds. Without him, the fight to even get to Youden would be much harder, as he held a lot of power that few of them had. The closest one in strength was Leon, as although his power was at, if not higher at times, Jamal's level, could it not be sustained compared to him. The rest had their own strengths but were limited in their own factors. They were like pieces to a puzzle, needing the other to complement and complete the rest.
"This is so boring!" Brat yawned out, as he looked towards the groups of other soldiers milling around, "You guys know when we're actually fighting?"
"Uh, I don't really know. Maybe a few more hours?" one of them shrugged their shoulders.
What a waste of time, Heskins couldn't help but chuckle. It felt like hours, but only a few minutes had actually gone by. There had to be something else to do, as a quick look from the man showed most of them already gone. Hops and Alice were nowhere to be found and who knew what that really meant, Sera hadn't returned from her scouting, Fonda was pacing around and away from those remaining, and left Leon, him, and Brat from their starting positions. Screw it, he had to use his energy to stay awake.
"Leon, can we spar for a bit? Nothing's happening yet, and everyone's doing their own thing. Those here left are just idling by and I mean we could really be doin-." Heskins started to go off.
"Aight, you can calm down now. We can do a round." Leon pushed off the tree he was bracing against until cheers broke the quiet space.
"What's that?" Brat turned to the soldiers, as a carr had pulled up and was surrounded by men.
"It must be who I think it is." Leon shot a hearty grin, "Let's go!"
"Finally." Heskins followed suit, right behind them.
They did not have to go far, as the carr door opened, and several people got out of the vehicle to clear a path. Watching with extreme interest, the soldiers had to back up, as Jamal Wrint finally exited the carr with loud cheers hyping everyone up. A quick look showed that the man's clothes had been shredded from shrapnel and other objects as dried blood covered parts of his outfit, including half of his face. He went through literal hell, and yet the man managed to go about it as if nothing happened with a smile on his face.
"Damn, he good?" Heskins was a bit surprised by the appearance before Jamal noticed the incoming trio. "You alright man?"
"Yeah, it was a bit worse than I thought it would be, but it's mostly taken care of. Don't expect to hear some news from them for some time." Jamal held his hand to dab them up, even as scratched and crusted in blood was it.
"I'll take that as a good sign." Leon was grateful for, "You can still fight?"
"I would think so." Jamal let his arm ignite, although it took about two seconds for that to happen, "Just until the main push begins, should I be ready."
"I hope so, the others were waiting for you to come back eventually." Brat turned around, seeing Fonda and Sera begin to come towards the commotion. "We're really going to do this."
"I know we're going to win this battle. No matter the costs and sacrifice, that city will be ours!" Jamal's words resonated with the soldiers nearby, causing more cheering to erupt.
Those words had to give them some type of hope, as the reality would be quick to settle in. Either they would come out victorious in this campaign or everything they've lost and sacrificed was to be wasted. No one under any circumstance could let that happen, as the Viligantes of Power wouldn't. Not even Hops and Alice, who were yet to be found, would let Youden win. This is for freedom, and freedom for all.