On the Battlefield:
"YEAHHHHH!" Everyone cheered, their battle cries filling the air.
"Everyone, listen to me," the unit leader commanded, his voice cutting through the noise. "Here's the plan. I will fight that woman over there; she is Anata Shikawa. Our chief said that Shikawa is the real deal. Group A captain, Naoroji, will fight the guy who's leading them to us. Group A will engage with the rest of the six enemy warriors."
"YES SIR!!" Everyone bowed down, their respect for the unit leader evident.
"Next, Rifle Unit Group A will assist in all the one-on-one combat. Rifle Unit Group B will target the enemy cavalry. The tanks will engage with the enemy tanks, and once you've defeated them, help the others. Remember, this is not a fair match or some competition. Do whatever you can to win. THIS IS A WAR," the unit leader emphasized, his voice firm.
"As you say," everyone bowed in agreement.
"Now, Rifle Unit C, start shooting, and foot soldiers, engage with the cavalry. CHARGE WITH EVERYTHING," he ordered.
"Charge with everything, soldiers," Mazhiro echoed.
As per the plan, Squad B surged forward. Sainen and Sukheer led a group of soldiers towards the rifle unit.
Sainen & Sukheer vs The Rifle Unit of Muvah:
"Sukheer, you have to run fast to dodge the bullets. As soon as you do, run towards them head-on and then kaboom. Take their rifles and knock them out. It's not necessary to kill them, but make sure they cannot fight again," Sainen instructed, his eyes focused.
Sainen dashed forward, dodging bullets with agility. He reached behind a shooter, slammed his head into the ground, and seized his rifle. Without hesitation, he began firing at the enemy soldiers, abandoning his usually kind demeanor. He was relentless, taking down anyone in his path.
Meanwhile, Sukheer followed suit, knocking down everyone he encountered. He was a whirlwind of destruction, treating the rifle units as mere pests. He then activated his special technique.
"Combat Technique: Battle Monkey!"
Combat techniques are specialized fighting methods. They usually involve enhanced martial arts, but some, like Sukheer's Battle Monkey, are unique combat tactics. Commandant Fist's Angry Fist is an enhanced combat technique, while Sukheer's Battle Monkey is a special combat technique. Such techniques are often hereditary, passed down through generations. Special techniques were first created in the Britannian Empire of the 12th century.
"I never actually used this technique passed down to me. It feels so light; I can jump around, and it's like I have an invisible tail," Sukheer marveled.
Sukheer moved like a monkey, dodging bullets and knocking down opponents with stones. "It feels so good, fighting. I want to fight more," he thought, exhilarated.
"I WANT TO FIGHT," Sukheer cried out, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
He threw stones with incredible speed, surpassing that of the bullets. Sukheer and Sainen were a deadly duo. Within 21 minutes, they had killed 42 enemy soldiers, injured more than 30, and knocked out 12. Only 46 remained, with 16 able to stand and fight, while the other 30 cried for mercy.
"THIS CANNOT HAPPEN. Contact the captain," the rifle unit's captain ordered, his voice filled with desperation.
"Yes, sir," one of the soldiers replied, hiding in the bush and calling the unit leader.
"Sir, here's the communicator," he said, handing it over.
"Sir!!" the captain greeted the leader on the communicator.
"What's the situation there? Why aren't you shooting towards the cavalry? Luckily, here two of the seven are missing," the leader questioned.
"Sir! The missing two are here," the captain reported.
"WHAT?" the leader was shocked.
"One of them is Sainen, and the other is Sukheer. More than 50% of our soldiers are killed and knocked out. We cannot do anything without the batt—" the captain was interrupted.
"Don't you remember? I said do as you want. Use the battle formation ZET HUSY now," the leader ordered.
"Yes, sir," the captain replied.
"And one more thing: Sainen is also a monster, according to the chief. Out," the leader ended the call.
"Crap. Everyone, retreat now," the captain commanded.
"As you say, sir," everyone followed the command.
"We will now use the Zet Husky Battle Formation. Get to your positions," the captain ordered.
Everyone in the rifle unit moved into the positions arranged by the captain, their determination unwavering.
The tension was palpable as the soldiers took their places. The rifle unit's formation was designed to maximize their firepower and defensive capabilities. Sainen and Sukheer knew they were facing a formidable challenge, but their resolve was unshaken.
On the Battlefield:
"ZET HUSKY: RIFLE DRAGON!" Everyone cried in unison, their voices echoing across the battlefield.
"What is this?" Sukheer was mesmerized by the mightiness of Zet Husky.
"I, the 20th captain of the MUVAH RIFLE UNIT, Saar Hussein, ask the God of War hidden in the mist of bloody warfare, Zepa, to enlighten me and revive our hidden powers. To the lord hidden in the mist of hatred, The Spirit of Hatred, please lend me your powers. Let me use your power so I can offer you the blood of one of the mightiest soldiers I have ever fought, SAINEN. Oh Lord, revive this dragon made from the hatred within our hearts—the hate for the person who killed them, the hate for the person who dragged us here. I willingly sacrifice myself to the hands of the Spirit of Hatred and the God of Wars, Zepa. Lend me your strength; lend me your strength; lend me your strength. I offer my body to the spirit. I, SAAR HUSSEIN, WILL SACRIFICE ALL MY COMPANIONS, DEAD OR ALIVE, TO YOU. If not for this, then I will sacrifice this whole country," Captain Saar Hussein intoned, his voice filled with fervor.
"What are you saying? I don't want to die now. And if I have to, then I will, but not my family, my nation. What are you saying, captain?" The soldiers cried out, their voices filled with fear and desperation, but the captain seemed deaf to their pleas.
"If you're not satisfied with one country, then I will offer you the three gems of our world: Malwai, Muvah, and Dravida. I WILL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TO. I will fight the gods, devils, and demons for you. I will do anything; I will help you succeed. LEND ME YOUR POWERS. OH, the God residing in the Blood Castle of Lunawer. I bow down to you," Captain Saar Hussein declared, bowing down in supplication.
"What the hell is he doing? Gods, giving him powers. War with the gods—is there even a spirit of hatred in the first place? I thought this was some final move, but it is just begging for power in a new style. Huh," Sainen muttered, his voice tinged with both anger and fear.
"Sainen, as per my knowledge, Zet Husky is the ultimate formation for the rifle unit and was just used once in the battle of Quetta. It is powerful—so much so, but I don't recall anything written about asking Gods to lend their power. This is different; this is just like the first time blades and swords with powers came to be known. Just like how special combat techniques were created. This is different. This is the birth of a new era. I never believed that there are GODS GIVING US POWERS. Scientists in Louernia confirmed that the insane strength comes from a mineral. But if there is something else to it, then we are doomed. Gods and spirits, if something like this exists to give insane powers to humans for destruction, then I won't believe in Gods. This will harm the peace and harmony of this world," Sukheer said, his voice trembling with realization.
"I don't know, man. I will just shoot him down," Sainen said, his resolve firm.
"No way, this is too risky," Sukheer stopped Sainen.
"The risk now is letting him get to the gods," Sainen argued.
"But fine, shoot him now," Sukheer conceded.
"Okay, I will," Sainen said, raising his rifle.
"Shailya!? You here, what happened to your fight?" Sukheer asked as Shailya rushed towards the battleground of the rifle unit.
"Fight! My fight. Are you crazy? At this point, no one can fight—not us, not Muvah, none of us. The sky is turning black. What happened here? Why is that rifle guy shouting?" Shailya asked, his voice filled with urgency.
Sukheer quickly explained everything that had happened up until now.
"WHAT!!!!" Shailya was shocked.
"Nothing will happen. Sainen will shoot him down," Sukheer reassured.
"Uhm, wait, I'm coming in two minutes," Shailya said, running towards the corner.
Soul Core: Open
Shailya ran towards Vahalla, his heart pounding in his chest.
"What happened, Shailya? Why are you sweating?" Vahalla asked, concern etched on his face.
"Vahalla, tell me one thing: are there gods and spirits of war and hatred?" Shailya asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes! But years ago, the spirit of hatred was expelled from the Geisterrat of the spirits. Since then, he has been wandering around the universe. The God of War is still in the Heavenly Realm with the other gods and deities. What's going on?" Vahalla replied.
"Can God and Spirit lend their strength?" Shailya pressed.
"Yes, but only if the one willing to take it sacrifices something that will create trust between that person and the spirits or God," Vahalla explained.
"So I want to inform you that someone on Prithvi is offering the whole country, if not the whole world, to the God of War and the Spirit of Hatred for powers," Shailya said, fear evident in his eyes.
"WHAT?" Vahalla was shocked. "Someone on Prithvi knows about these ancient stories?"
"And about powers. Remember when we met earlier you were talking about the powers we get from God?" Shailya continued.
"Yes. But there is a seal that limits the power given to a human—the five great trees. Remember the tree where we met? It is the oldest of the five, and it holds all the powers that this planet and its people once possessed. Only if that tree is destroyed along with the others will this planet regain its powers," Vahalla said.
"Does this mean that the Saptavansh are the guardians of these trees? But there are only five trees and seven clans," Shailya asked.
"The Saptavansh were created only five centuries ago; later, two clans were formed from the original five. There are still two young trees to be guarded. Thus, the members of Saptavansh are given special powers," Vahalla explained.
"For instance, the Mahoraga clan has the power of destruction. The Akatsumi clan has the power of flames. The Adamus clan has the power of light. The Sifon clan has the power of creation. The Azhura clan has the power of darkness. The Nostrus clan has the power of foresight and vision, and finally, the Mitsuba clan has the power of water," Vahalla elaborated.
"So I too have powers. But this isn't the point; what should we do now that that guy is calling to God for powers?" Shailya asked, worry in his voice.
"We cannot stop that. Even if we tried to kill him or stop him, if God decided to give him powers, then even the great trees would fall. We must protect the great trees, especially the one in Diwankula," Vahalla suggested.
"Fine then. Let's do it," Shailya agreed, determination shining in his eyes.
"One more thing: if the trees fall, it is possible that the Rulers could easily intrude on this planet," Vahalla warned.
"It will never happen," Shailya vowed.
Soul Core: Close
Shailya's eyes snapped open as he returned to the surface. "What the hell!!!!!" he exclaimed, shocked by the chaos unfolding before him.
The sky had darkened, and the air crackled with an ominous energy. Captain Saar Hussein's incantations echoed across the battlefield, summoning a force beyond comprehension. The ground trembled, and a deafening roar filled the air as a colossal dragon formed from the hatred and despair of the soldiers emerged from the mist.
"Sainen, we need to act now!" Shailya shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Sainen, his rifle aimed at the captain, nodded. "Let's do this," he said, his voice steady.
The three warriors—Shailya, Sainen, and Sukheer—stood together, their combined strength a beacon of hope against the overwhelming darkness. They knew that the battle ahead would be their greatest challenge yet, but they were ready to face it head-on.
The saga of Squad B had reached a critical juncture, and their courage and determination had been put to the ultimate test. The victory was theirs, but the war was far from over. The heroes of Malwai knew that greater challenges awaited them, but they were ready to face whatever lay ahead.
With the future of Marinabad and the world hanging in the balance, the indomitable spirit of Squad B would continue to shine as a beacon of hope and courage.
The epic confrontation between Squad B and the forces of darkness would be remembered for generations, a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for peace and justice.
[To be continued in Chapter 18]