Chapter 3: Chase

"Got any orders from the headquarters?"

A human soldier wearing a thick winter coat and a white mask that covered half of his face asked. Making their captain that was on the vehicles to sigh in response.

"Stay and gather as much information as we can they said"

He said as he lighted a cigarette with a casual expression on his face. They all sat inside of an SUSV while heating up a cup of coffee to warm their body. Since they were stationed at the northern hemisphere, specifically in Greenland. And because of the 5 year war, the constant fighting has overloaded the earth with mana, messing up with its natural systems completely. 

Completely amplifying and messing up the climates around the globe. With Russia, Greenland, and Scandinavia experiencing the extremely cold snowstorm that last throughout most of the year.

"It's so fuckin cold"

A soldier that was previously stationed at Germany said. Holding the hot mug directly to avoid freezing his fingers.

"You'll get used to it newbie. We fight in this environment everyday, so you're body is going to naturally adapt to this environment. Want some?"

He asked as he gave him a can of soup to the soldier.

"Thanks"

He said as he took the can from him before they all started to eat while waiting for any movements from the enemies base.

"Newbie, I'll warn you right now but... don't make too much noise. The Gastreas in this region are extremely sensitive to sound since they can't see because of the snowstorm. If you don't want to die. Stick close and don't wander alone. Many of the soldiers in this place died from being stranded"

He warned while pointing his spoon at the soldier causing him to nod his head in response.

"You're quite unlucky to be sent as reinforcements to us. Only the soldiers from the Forsaken Faction, and a few from the human army could survive in this environment"

He said causing the man to look at him in response.

"Are they that strong? The Forsaken Faction army?"

He asked causing all of the soldiers around them to look at him in surprise.

"What? Are you living under a rock or something? Don't tell me you haven't seen them fight?"

He asked causing the soldier to shake his head to the side.

"No... Europe has mostly been stable except for Scandinavia. You know since the mythological gods of Roman, Greek, and Norse are there to protect us. I haven't seen a single soldier from the Forsaken Faction yet"

He said. The captain who heard him placed his cup down on the seat as he looked at him with a serious expression on his face.

"In terms of strength... They're stupidly strong. A normal soldier in their faction is equivalent to an elite in ours"

He said as the soldier beside him suddenly smacked his back at minimum strength.

"Not only that but most of our weapons are supplied by them. Even though our scientists are working hard trying to develop a new weapon from the technology that they gave us. The way it was constructed is extremely complex, and as of now. We only have small bombs of mana, while they have a hydrogen bomb. That is why most of them are stationed at the most dangerous battlefields. The thermal goggles that were using right now was also developed by them to detect mana in our surroundings. That's why we can engage in battle with the those insects despite the environment... I think you'll get a chance to meet a few of them after we go back to the fort"

He said as the soldier looked at them in both bewilderment and shock.

"Later you'll get a chance to meet, Anastasia and Yoshino. They're the ones in charge of taking control of the winter army from the forsaken faction. Elmenhilde was sent as reinforcements to China, so you won't get a chance to meet her in the near future"

"... What exactly are they're ranks in the forsaken faction?"

He asked out of curiosity, causing the captain to contemplate before he answered his questions.

"Anastasia is part of the Special Class so she won't have a military rank. Yoshino and Elmenhilde are both a major"

He said before all of them suddenly felt someone approaching the camp, causing all of them to place their food slowly on the ground before looking at the direction of the enemy camp.

"Stay in position, and avoid alerting the enemies"

He said before silently activating a magic circle on the ground, causing a small magic circle to float between all of them.

"Shh"

The captain said as he placed his finger on his lips, causing all of them to remain silent.

[Archduke!! We got a message from the headquarters!!]

A voice echoed from the magic circle, relaying to them the conversation from inside the main office of their enemies camp.

"An archduke!? Why is someone as dangerous as that here? Weren't they all at the borders?"

"Shhh!!"

The captain glared at the soldier's direction, causing him to cover his mouth as they begun to intently listen to their conversation.

[Orders from the headquarters? What did they say?]

The voice of a mature woman asked as the captain started to write down notes about their conversation.

[Launch a full scale attack inside the borders! The army at Central America will use this opportunity to hopefully cut off the supply lines of the alliance from Europe. All of the forces will arrive 4 days from n-]

[Wait stop...]

The woman suddenly said causing all of the soldiers outside to frown in response.

[... Someone is listening to us]

She said causing the captain to immediately cut off the magic circle before shouting at the driver of the vehicle in a loud voice.

"DRIVE NOW!!!"

The captain causing the driver to immediately step on the gas as they quickly drove away from the enemy camp.

"SHIT!!! KILL THEM!!"

The woman shouted loudly from inside the base, causing thousands of Gastreas stationed at the camp to immediately chase their tracks.

"Contact the HQ, and ask them to send reinforcements"

He shouted before opening the back door of the SUSV as all of ready their rifles.

"Open the windows, and kill any Gastreas that will jump at the vehicle. Fire at will as soon as you see one!! Don't let them topple the vehicle!"

He shouted, causing all of the soldier of the SUSV, including the ones at the front to open the windows of the vehicle before aiming their rifles outside at all directions.

Suddenly, they heard hundreds of loud shrieks from around them, causing the soldier's hands to tremble in fear as they held their rifles.

"Calm your nerves. We'll get out of here alive"

The captain said as he saw hundreds of Gastreas trailing behind them at incredible speed.

"Fire at will!!"

He ordered, causing the men close to the back door to aim their guns at the Gastreas before firing several bullets into their bodies. Making them trip and roll on the ground dead before they switched targets and fired at another one.

"Don't let them get close! Focus fire on those close to the vehicle!"

The captain shouted as he fired several bullets at the Tier I Gastrea that pounced on the vehicle. Piercing several holes on its body before it fell from the vehicle and down to the horde of Gastreas chasing them.

"Turn on the speaker at max volume!!"

He shouted at the front car. The soldier next to the driver immediately followed his orders as he quickly maxed the volume of radio before turning it on.

"CLOSE THE WINDOWS AND DOORS!! COVER YOUR EARS IMMEDIATELY!!"

The captain shouted as an extremely loud and ear piercing static noise suddenly erupted throughout the desolate tundra biome, causing all of the Gastreas to howl as they quickly covered their own ears in response.

Destroying the eardrums of many Gastreas that were extremely sensitive to sound. All while killing the young and weaker Gastreas as their ears bled from the extremely painful noise.

"Good"

The captain muttered while looking out of the window, noticing that many of them stopped chasing them. But was caught off guard as a spear of mana pierced the speaker that they placed on top of the vehicle. Stopping the deafening noise as hundreds of furious howls echoed from behind them.

"W-What happened!?"

The new soldier shouted as the captain clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Those fucking demons are still as annoying as ever"

He muttered while looking outside of the window. Noticing that many Gastreas were quickly catching up to them.

"Go back to your positions a while ago and open the windows!"

The captain shouted as the soldier immediately fired at will to the Gastreas that were slowly approaching their vehicle. 

"Grenade!!"

One of the soldiers shouted as he threw a grenade out of the window, causing a massive explosion to occur behind them as the snow scattered across the air. Creating a fog while distracting some of the Gastreas who reacted to the noise that it produced.

"There's a few mana potions at the supply chest!! Go ahead and drink and continue fi- DUCK!!"

He shouted as he pushed a nearby soldier's head to the ground as he duck. A spear of mana then pierced their vehicles killing the soldier at his back as a large hole was pierced through his chest.

"SNIPER! GET RID OF THAT DEMON!!"

He shouted causing the soldier at the front car to aim his sniper rifle at the door next to the driver. Finding the demon that was causing them trouble.

"The demon is at 12 o'clock. Shoot as soon as you see him!!"

One of the soldier at the rear car shouted, causing him to raise his sniper rifle before he found a flying figure in the sky.

"..."

The soldier remained silent as he tried to predict the trajectory that his bullet would take since both him and the target are both moving at the same time.

"... This should be enough..."

He muttered as he aimed the muzzle at the short distance in front of the demon before firing it without hesitation. He then turned the scope of his rifle to the demon to see if it hit, and much to his expectations. The demon immediately fell to the ground in an unstable motion.

"Target down!!"

He shouted as the sound of gunshots continued at the rear car, scattering purple blood on the clear white snow on the ground as the soldiers continued fire.

"Captain! Reinforcements are here!"

A soldier said before hearing the sound of engines moving towards their direction at the front. 

"Surround the vehicle and protect them!!"

The voice of another captain echoed in front of them as the sound of heavy gunfire devoured their entire location. As they quickly drove towards the direction of the fort.

"We're safe..."

The captain muttered in a relieved tone as he lowered his rifle, causing the other soldiers to sigh in relief.

"... Let's go back and report to the HQ..."

-with Asia-

"I hope she'll like it~"

Asia muttered while carrying a bag of sweets that she brought back while she was stationed in North America.

"Hanako~ Mommy's home"

She said as she entered Hanako's room, her only daughter with Lucias, with a gentle smile on her face.

"Mama?"

A sweet voice called out as Hanako to immediately open the doors of her room.

"Han-"

She tried to call out but froze when she saw an stunningly beautiful woman inside Hanako's room. She had long curly golden hair and eyes that bare a striking resemblance to a person that she knew.

"Lucias?"

She asked out in surprise. Making the him awkwardly scratch his head.

"Why are you..."

"I'm playing dress up with Papa!"

She said with a sweet smile on her face, causing Asia to giggle as she gave the bag of sweets to Hanako who happily took it off her arms.

"Share it with your siblings, alright?"

Asia said as she gently caressed her beautiful silky blond hair that she inherited from her.

"Mn!"

She happily said before quickly running next door in small steps, leaving Lucias and Asia alone in the room.

"It's nice to see you get along with our daughter, Lucias"

She said before giving him a soft kiss on his lips. Not minding the fact that he was dressed as a girl, and even looked better than some of the girls of his own harem.

"So what brings you here? I heard that you were China a few hours ago"

She asked as Lucias snapped his finger, changing his clothes back to the casual outfit that he always wore when he is at home. Consisting of a simple t-shirt and jeans.

"I'm on a one day break, my men suffered a lot of casualties from the last battle so I'm letting them recover and relax for a day before we set off to our next destination"

He said as he hugged her by her waist and burried his head on her neck. 

"I missed you"

He said causing Asia to gently smile in response before wrapping her arms around his neck. 

"Me too"

She said before getting deeply kissed by Lucias on her lips, causing her to close to the door behind her to avoid any of their children from walking inside the room.

"Nmm"

Asia moaned as Lucias wrapped his tongue around hers, causing Asia's body to slowly heat up in response.

"Lu-"

She called out but was interrupted as both of their earpiece suddenly vibrated. Making Asia pout in dissatisfaction, causing Lucias to chuckle before giving her one last kiss on her cheek.

"Let's continue this at another time"

He said before placing his finger on his earpiece, causing the voice of Sephie to echo from the other side of the call.

"We recieved news from Greenland... We're in a bit of trouble, Lucias"