CHAPTER 4 -END-

"Alright," Ivan said at last, his voice firm. "I'll defend the south, and you'll support me."And that's what brings Ivan here right now on his tank, setting it up. Ivan checked any system inside the tank, whether the weapon system or communication system. Along the way he is also carefully exploring the tank's commander screen and also the gunnery. He needs to study it because it's the only way he could use it, however, driving is also important.Static hissed from the comms as he attempted to contact HQ, only to slump back in the seat, defeated once more. Ten years—he muttered, the words hanging in the stillness. How had a decade slipped away? Just this morning, he was with his comrades, and now… now he is alone.The memory of Captain Macthur's words echoed in his head.Ivan had asked Macthur about his missing commander, Tiger. "You said it's been ten years since anyone saw him… That last battle, on that island, Tiger ordered everyone to retreat, said the fight was lost. But he stayed behind and left this box for me."Macthur had glanced at the wooden box before speaking. "Tiger told me that someone bearing the name Abrams would come. He said you would 'drive us there.'"That phrase haunted Ivan's thoughts—'drive us there.' What did it mean? His mind reeled with questions, but he'd only mustered one: "Is he still alive?"Macthur had turned his back, his cape swaying slightly as he spoke without facing Ivan. "More than anyone, it's you, Sergeant, who will know whether your captain—our commander—is still alive."His words lingered. "Survive this fight, and tomorrow will reveal everything you need to know."Sitting in the tank, Ivan stared at an old photograph taped to the interior, a picture of his crew—including Tiger, the toughest man Ivan had ever known. "I'll take you there, Tiger. I'll bring you back." He whispered the promise to himself, clenching his fists in determination.But as his resolve strengthened, his stomach betrayed him with a loud grumble. Hungry and weary, he noticed a picnic basket in the loader's station. Armstrong must've left it, he thought, grabbing it and opening the lid. Inside was a neatly wrapped sandwich, thick and packed with layers of roasted meat, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and slices of cheese that practically oozed from between the toasted bread. The sandwich was a masterpiece, practically screaming with Armstrong's famous touch in the kitchen.Ivan took a bite of the sandwich, and the flavors burst on his tongue—the meat was tender and savory, while the fresh vegetables added a crisp, refreshing contrast. Armstrong's cooking skills came rushing back to him. "Damn, Armstrong, you could've made a killing as a chef," he muttered, smiling as he chewed.After finishing the sandwich, he glanced at his watch. To his surprise, the time in this world mirrored Earth's. "Looks like they'll be here any moment."He climbed out of the tank's turret and moved to the driver's hatch. After completing the starting procedure, the engine roared to life. Twisting the throttle, he maneuvered the tank out of the barn and pointed it toward Bataen.Checking his watch again, 3:05 AM. "We've only got a few minutes to get ready." The wind blew across the field, cold and quiet. Yet there was something unsettling in the air.At last, his team arrived. Leonard was the first to speak. "My lord, we're here."For the first time, Jusis laid eyes on the M1 Abrams. "This is incredible... Is this what you used to kill Cerus? The size of this thing makes it look like it's a perfect match for that beast."Leila chimed in, "It's like a fortress that can move."Not wasting any time, Ivan directed them to climb up the tank. "Jusis, right?""Yes.""How are the kids?""They're sleeping, worn out from the day.""Good. Now, get inside carefully. I'll show you where to sit."Jusis gingerly climbed into the tank, following Ivan down through the loader's hatch on the left side. Ivan gestured toward the front. "Take that seat there, make yourself comfortable."Jusis, being of a slim build, fit without much issue. Sitting at the gunner's station, he couldn't help but look around, wide-eyed at the metal walls, complex controls, and the strange glass tubes displaying numbers. "Whoa…"Ivan interrupted his awe. "Did you get a chance to use the pistol I lent you?""Yes, but… it's too powerful for me. I can't believe how much force that small thing packs in just one shot."Jusis handed the pistol back, careful not to point the barrel at Ivan, as he'd been instructed. Ivan checked the chamber, satisfied that everything looked fine, then popped the magazine out to check the rounds. Jusis had fired five shots. Ivan then inserted a fresh, fully-loaded magazine into the pistol."Here." He handed the weapon back."Aren't you taking it back?" Jusis asked, confused."The fight isn't over yet. Keep it on you."Jusis took the pistol and tucked it securely into his belt. "So, what do you need me to do?""Look through that," Ivan pointed to the gunner's sight. "It's a scope."Jusis leaned in. "I can see outside.""Good. Do you see the cross in the middle?""Yes.""When you have the target lined up with those crosshairs, say 'On.'""'On?' That's it?""No, after you say 'On,' wait for me to give the signal—'Fire.' When I give the order, you'll pull the trigger. Here, grab this." Ivan pointed to the gun control, a white handle with a red trigger.Jusis placed both hands on the control. "So, all I need to do is pull this trigger?""Yes, but there are three triggers. Each one controls a different weapon, much more powerful than that pistol you're carrying."The weight of responsibility hit Jusis, the realization that a simple pull of the trigger could unleash destruction like nothing he'd ever known."But remember, always wait for my instructions. I'll tell you which gun and what kind of ammunition to use, and when to fire. Every second matters, so stay sharp."Jusis furrowed his brow, determination settling on his face. "I'll do my best, sir."After teaching Jusis, Ivan climbed back up to the tank and turned to Leonard. "You're Leonard, right?""Yes, my lord," Leonard replied, gripping his massive sword and shield.Ivan glanced at Leonard's weaponry. "Leave your sword and shield outside for now. We can strap them to the side turret." He pointed to the basket on the side where they stored ammo, and Leonard secured his weapons there before following Ivan's instructions to enter through the loader's hatch. Leonard was as big as Armstrong, so Ivan expected him to have some difficulty squeezing into the tight space.Once Leonard was inside, Ivan followed through the captain's hatch. "What you need to do is simple. See this here? It's called the gun breach." Ivan pointed to the large mechanism. "Now, this lever here—slam it down to open the breach."Leonard did as instructed, and the gun breach opened. Ivan continued, "Behind you, there's a button. Press it, and the ammunition rack will open."Leonard pressed the button, and the storage rack opened immediately. "As you can see, these are our rounds. Each one has a letter: 'S' for Sabot rounds, 'H' for HEAT, and 'C' for Canister rounds. Now, grab a HEAT round and load it into the breach."Leonard effortlessly lifted the 25kg shell with one hand and carefully inserted it into the gun breach. Ivan was impressed. "After inserting it, shouts 'Up!'. Now, lift the lever back up to lock the round in. The gun's ready to fire. But once you've loaded the ammo, grab onto something and brace yourself."Ivan pointed to where the recoil of the cannon would hit. "When the cannon fires, stay clear of this area, both you and Jusis. The force could seriously injure you if you're too close.""Understood, my lord," Leonard replied."Got it," Jusis added.With the instructions clear, Ivan turned his attention to the last member of his crew—Leila. He climbed out once more to meet her."How are you? Are you sure you're ready for this?" Ivan asked, remembering how terrified Leila had been earlier.Her stormy gray eyes met his, filled with resolve despite the fear. "I'm scared, yes. But everyone is risking their lives, and I can't leave my brother alone in this. I promised Tiger I'd be strong enough to support his comrades. This is my chance to fulfill that promise. I know you see us as technologically backward, but we won't be a burden to you. You have my word."In the moonlight, Ivan noticed Leila's face, despite the dirt smudged across it, was smooth and pale, her lips a striking red. Her eyes, though shaky with fear, still held a fierce determination, like lightning in the storm."Alright, Leila," Ivan said, nodding. "You said you can detect them, right?""Yes, I can.""And you can cast multiple spells that launch projectiles?""That's correct.""Good. Here's what I need you to do: keep me informed of Cerus' position using clock directions, especially the closest and most urgent targets. You'll also act as my lookout for any signal lights and relay them to me. And, I need you to use your magic to protect the tank from smaller threats. Keep them away."Leila straightened up. "I can handle that, Mister Ivan."Ivan nodded approvingly and stepped aside to let her climb inside. "This will be your station. That was Tiger's seat."Leila's eyes widened as she looked at the seat. "So, this is where Tiger fought..."She lowered herself into the seat carefully and looked around at the strange controls, her eyes settling on the commander's monitor, which displayed the outside of the tank. "Mister, this screen shows the outside… Can I use it to monitor our surroundings?""You could, but not just yet. I'll figure that out later. For now, rely on your mana detection.""Understood." Leila stood up, half of her body emerging from the turret. "So all I really need to do is keep watch and provide cover?""Exactly. But if things get too dangerous, you can close the hatch. Be careful, though—it's heavy. The same goes for you, Leonard."Both Leila and Leonard looked at their respective hatch doors and nodded. "Your magic is limited right" he asked Leila, keeping his tone steady."Yes, but don't worry. I can keep casting simple spells for an hour straight," Leila responded, though her voice hinted at the strain such a task might put on her.Ivan nodded. "Good to know. But if you can't use your magic, you can fall back on this." He knelt beside her, taking her hand and placing it on the handle of the .50-caliber machine gun. He cocked it, the sharp sound breaking through the cold air. "Just use both thumbs to press down on the trigger to fire."Leila's fingers hovered over the gun's trigger, testing its weight. "Like this?" she asked, trying to get a feel for the mechanism as she moved it around. Ivan found himself momentarily struck by how odd it was to see someone like her handling such a powerful weapon.She then turned to Ivan, her brows furrowed. "Mister, you said you'd give us orders and I'd relay the information I pick up... but I'm wondering—can we even hear each other over the noise? I've seen what these weapons can do, and I've heard how deafening they are. How will we communicate in the heat of battle?"Ivan gestured to the side of the tank. "See those? The two round things connected together? Put them over your ears, and bring the small stick-like part close to your mouth." One by one, they all found the intercom headsets and adjusted them into place."What does this do?" Jusis asked, adjusting the headset over his ears.Leonard's eyes widened, glancing at Jusis in shock. "I thought you were right next to me, whispering," Leonard said, surprised at how clearly he could hear Jusis.Jusis blinked in confusion before realizing what had just happened. "Wait, I heard you clearly too, but you're on the other side!"Leila let out a soft chuckle, her usually stoic face breaking into a small smile. "Pardon us for acting like children, but this… this is incredible. Communication won't be an issue anymore."Even Ivan allowed himself a slight grin at the sight of their wonder. It was moments like these that made him realize how foreign this technology must seem to them. To these people, it was as if they were witnessing magic. But the smile didn't last long."Mister Ivan…" Leila's voice cut through the moment softly."I know. Ready yourselves," Ivan ordered, his voice firm again. "Remember everything I taught you and execute it perfectly."On the horizon, a series of glowing red lights flickered into view. They were unmistakable—the enemy was approaching. Ivan descended into his hatch, his heart beating steadily as the air grew colder. He reached for his helmet, fastening it tightly before placing the intercom over his ears.With one final glance outside, Ivan saw more of the ominous red lights in the distance, scattered across multiple locations. His gaze sharpened, filled with steely resolve. This moment would decide everything. If he didn't survive this, he would never know what happened to his comrades. And more than that, he couldn't afford to let the people he'd just come to know die. This was a battle he could not lose.Securing his microphone, he spoke clearly and with determination. "May the victory be with humanity."Leonard, Leila, and Jusis, upon hearing Ivan's declaration, felt the weight of the moment settle upon them. Their expressions hardened with resolve. Just like Ivan, they knew they couldn't afford to fail. Everything—every last hope—was riding on this.The tank's engine roared to life as Ivan moved it forward, facing the unknown enemy head-on.

CHAPTER 4 -END-