It would take 14 hours for the deployed platoons of the special infantry troop to arrive at the designated location. There were exactly four military trucks carrying them to the District of Serendipity, though they got aboard without any seating arrangement so Claire happened to be seated next to her platoon commander, Bernadette Ritter.
"Well well well, look who we have here! And this is going to be a long ride too." She said smirking, Claire is feeling awkward seated next to the person whom she dare challenged and lost to a few times during the past month already.
"...so another battle, huh? Will this be your second deployment to the battlefield?" Bernadette tried initiating a conversation with her, in hopes of tackling Claire's relation with Raphael when she gets the chance.
"Yes, it will be my second time."
"I see..." Although Bernadette seems to want to have a friendly conversation with this woman, she can't help but be wary of Claire.
She's overwhelmed like the others who learned that Claire became a two digit rank so fast when she was just a rookie that just joined not too long ago.
It's no doubt that she'll join the top ranking fighters soon enough, and it's possible that she'll be someone stronger than Raphael, is what Bernadette thought.
"Try not to get yourself killed." Bernadette said, grinning. Despite knowing that Claire can handle herself very well on the battlefield.
"That's something you shouldn't worry about—" Claire had this confident expression on her face. "—I don't die so easily."
This made Bernadette chuckle. "Gosh, you're quite a hilarious one, aren't you?"
"I'm not even joking."
"Right..." it was sort of difficult to lighten up the mood between them as Bernadette can sense the indifference from Claire, she decides not to bother her anymore.
As the journey continued, Bernadette observed Claire from the corner of her eye. She had seen many soldiers, but there was something different about Claire. Her unwavering confidence, her mysterious background and relationship with Raphael, and the way others spoke about her all added to the enigma surrounding her.
'Just who on earth are you?' The thought got her asking that once again in the back of her mind.
Then as they finally entered into the district of Serendipity, all the soldiers can see its citizens evacuating to the nearest district of Ephemeral.
Fear and desperation gripped the hearts of the citizens of this district. Children clinging to their parents, tears streaming down their faces, as they tried to keep up with the hurried pace. Elderly individuals leaned on canes, their weary expressions reflecting the weight of the situation.
Even though the battle has not yet begun, many people that resides here fears to be caught in another wave of chaos and destruction that I.E.A. will bestow upon allied territories of E.D.L.
And from a distance at the shore, the I.E.A. can be seen approaching with three huge naval ships and aircrafts that carry thousands of men aboard that will be dispatched. Officers in command estimates the battle to take place approximately 5 hours from now.
E.D.L. was able to station atleast 7 armored brigade (28k soldiers), 8 regular infantry battalions (6.5k soldiers), 2 special infantry platoons (81 soldiers), and 5 airborne brigade (21k soldiers) which estimates more than 55,000 E.D.L. soldiers.
Although small in numbers, the special infantry troop plays the most crucial role in battle. Being positioned upfront in the defense formation, they are the trump cards in eliminating the enemies and their attacks that aims to penetrate and destroy their formation and tactics.
The two special infantry platoons are assigned to defend each end of the whole defense formation, with Platoon I on the left and Platoon III on the right.
"Everyone!! No matter what, always stand your ground and fight until the very end! We'll make sure to win this round!!" Bernadette said to her platoon, to encourage and raise their fighting spirits on this impending battle upon noticing the soldiers stressed and agitated.
"Shit!! They're coming!... they're coming!!" A fellow platoon member beside Claire panics.
"Calm down, there's no use getting all jittery."
"B-But everytime I'm on the battlefield, I kept losing all my friends... w-what if I'm the next one to die here!?" Claire looked at her pathetically, finding it hard to believe that someone with such weak mentality have survived.
"Then that's just the course of nature taking place, unless you do all that it takes to survive."
"How can I exactly survive from another battle!? Will I really survive if I give it my all!?" There was already a desperate tone on this person's words which annoyed Claire. "Tch, you ask too much questions. How should I know if you're going to survive, that's something you'll know by the end of this battle."
"W-Wait, please—" Claire moves away from that person as she didn't want to comfort anybody at the moment. Her eyes focuses on one direction, seeing how the enemy is closely approaching, Claire can't contain her excitement. This was an opportunity for her to further improve her strength and get her rank rapidly promoted.
And at another perspective, seeing the sight of E.D.L. lining up on their shore to defend their territory gives Heinz a thrilling sensation. "Gah!... can't you feel it Reginald!? Can't you feel those piercing glares at us?!" She cackles, standing on the edge of the ship with her arms spreading.
"Quit it Heinz, take this more seriously!" Nagged Reginald, the current strongest fighter of I.E.A. and the rival of Raphael Novick in terms of strength.
"Ahh, will I encounter Bernadette Ritter again? Or perhaps Devian Rivlin?... it would be great if you let me deal with Raphael Novick, Reginald." Heinz haven't even heard what Reginald said.
"If you want your head detached from your body, then be my guest!"
"Fine, you can have him for yourself." Heinz rolls her eyes.
"It's not like you can actually handle someone like that when you haven't even behead Rivlin nor Ritter yet."
"Are you challenging me?" Heinz grinned. "If I behead one of them, you'll have to give me all your desserts for the whole year."
"...fine, but if you don't, then you'll be my dessert for the whole year." Reginald jests, his words got her appalled.
"Hah!! Like hell I'd let that happen!..." Heinz turns her head to the Captain of the naval ship they're on.
Reginald's grin fades as he watches Heinz take command. Despite being the second strongest fighter of I.E.A.'s special infantry troop, she was also known as its current Captain in command.
Heinz then made a gesture on her hand, signaling the other Captain to aim and fire the first cannon. "MAKE THEM SHIT THEIR PANTS!!"
The I.E.A. fires their first attack on E.D.L.