Chapter 4

We drop a few meters away from our designated spots. Both me and Rio slowly move towards the rendezvous point as planned if we ever get separated.

"Fuh... We have been walking for quite a while. Are we getting close?"

"Yes sir. We will arrive right about... Now."

As I push the branches that block my way, I can see Rena and Tori. Looks like they manage to land safely but the others are still nowhere to be seen.

"Tori, Rena. Glad that both of you landed safely."

"Sergeant!"

"Alright, for now we stay here until all of our squad mates arrive. And as we had plans we needed to go to our designated enemies supply route and wreck havoc to draw as much of the garrison away from the outpost as we can."

It took about 10 minutes for everyone to arrive at our gathering point and after checking all of our equipment and supplies we began to move towards the supply lines.

***

"Multiple trucks full with raw resources. Yeah, it's confirmed that the outpost is their hidden factories."

Rio reports as she observes the convoys.

"Two trucks in the front and two trucks at the back filled with soldiers."

"Very well Tori and Rena, focus fire on the first two trucks. Me and Rio will be focusing on two at the back. The rest provide support and shoot any Imperials that come in too close."

"Yes Sir!"

The truck convoy slowly moves as the road is not paved to avoid detection. Tori quickly set up her light machine gun.

—TATATATATA!!!

Hundreds of bullets rain down on the transport. Soldiers quickly jump out of the trucks and return fire.

—TATATATAT!!!

Two soldiers start firing onto Tori's location. But Rena, who is nearby quickly shot both of them giving a chance for Tori to fire non stop.

As for me and Rio, we began to open fire when we saw the soldiers at the back arrive to provide assistance. Multiple of them fall limply to the ground.

"Stop firing! Stop firing!"

The scene of carnage in front of me, leaves me feeling quite unsettle for how calm I am observing it. It has been months since I joined the war and I already feel nothing when I see dead bodies. Is it because of their looks that far from resembling a human or maybe because I already got used to it? I don't know... Well that is not important, I need to focus on the mission and get back home.

"Set up the explosive. Make it loud."

—BOOOOMMM!!!

—BOOOMMM!!!

Multiple explosions can be heard including our. Looks like the other squads managed to finish their objectives too.

"Alright, everyone takes your position. Wait for my signal and we will send those Imperial bastards to the afterlife."

"Sir, Yes Sir!"

***

We hide in multiple bushes. About half an hour later, multiple Imperial soldiers began to swarm our area.

They move slowly and carefully check everything as their eyes can see but they did not check our area thoroughly because we still are not caught.

"Everyone steady your rifles."

I give order through the radio as I wait for the Imperial to walk into the kill zone.

"Wait... Wait.... Now!"

—TATATATA!!!!

The Imperial caught off guard unable to mount a proper counter to our ambush. One by one the Imperial soldiers fall limp to the ground as they are struck down by our bullets.

Some of them were quick to hide behind some rocks and trees as the fire fight began. They tried to shoot back to our positions but my squads are much faster and quickly take them down.

This starts to feel more like a slaughter rather than a war but I don't really care. As long as there are little casualties on our side the better. We shot continuously, non-stop for about five minutes when I finally ordered them to stop. We need to conserve as much ammunition because we don't know how long this mission will last.

"I think that's the last of them."

Rio gets out of the bushes and starts to inspect the area to make sure it is clear. Well we finished the job quite fast, I can still hear faint gunshots from afar. Looks like the others are still not finished. Oh well let's... Suddenly I can feel chills running down my spine.

"RIO!!!"

I ran and quickly pulled her towards me and out of nowhere the area where she stood suddenly exploded.

"Thank you Sarge."

I quickly look around and not far in the shadow I can see some silhouette. I quickly aim my gun.

—TATATATA!!!

—PAKPAKPAK!!!

"Hmmm... I thought I had completely disguised myself."

From the shadow, a human-like silhouette slowly emerges and starts to take shape. I don't know if they are a man or a woman but they wear what seems to be a large red hooded cloak and in their hand is a large metal staff.

"It's a Witch."

A witch. Just like the vampires that we face before, witches are one of the elite forces within the ranks of the Immortal Empire. Unlike the vampires however witches are physically weaker but make up for it with the use of, what in the layman term is magic. I heard the scientist said that it's not magic and started to explain the witch powers using some scientific mumbo jumbo but to many it's magic. I mean how can someone manifest a fireball or shoot a strong water current or create a tornado out of thin air, if not by using magic.

Anyway what I'm trying to say is we are in a pretty deep shit right now.

"When he said that he wanted to set up some fake factories near the frontline to lure in some newbie Valkyries, I thought it was just a waste of time and resources. Who would have thought his plan would work."

I knew the 'factories' mission is too good to be true. I mean what kind of idiot would build an important facility that can be easily targeted near the frontline.

"By now the commander must be in the middle of subduing those Valkyries. I really want to kill them but the commander said to focus on eliminating the pest that accompanies them. Oh well..."

Shit I need to find a way to escape this predicament. Right now, I can only assume she didn't know where the rest of my squad was. This is a gamble but maybe we can use this to our advantage. I subtly gesture to them to continue hiding. For now I'll...

"Hey what are you thinking about there?"

Suddenly I can see something flashing right below me.

"SHIT!!!"

Instinctively I push Rio and quickly dodge it. Multiple sharp spikes emerge from the ground almost turning both me and Rio into skewers. I quickly turn towards them to aim my rifle.

"Ah no you won't."

Something that looks like a magic circle form of their hand, multiple ice spikes then manifest and fly towards me instantly. I quickly roll to avoid being hit by the ice but suddenly a stinging pain can be felt on my shoulder. One of the ices managed to lodge itself deep inside.

"ARGHHH!!!"

I looked back at them and saw their hand with a magic circle pointed at me.

"Got you."

I can't see their faces but I can feel a sinister smile forming on their face.

—TATATATATA!!!

Gunshots rang out and blood can be seen sprayed out of the witch's shoulder. The witch quickly forms something that looks like a bubble that blocks the torrent of bullets.

I can see some muzzle flash from Rena hiding place.

—THUD!

I heard something was thrown in front of the witch.

—BANG!!!

Flashing lights filled my eyes and the loud bang caused a loud rang to my ears, sending me disoriented. Suddenly I can feel someone grab me.

"Excuse me Sir!"

***

After the witch was assaulted by bullets and flash bangs, they realized their prey managed to escape. They quickly cast some kind of spells. A sudden bright light covers their shoulder and the bullets that lodge inside slowly coming out. Another flash then covers their shoulder again and the bleeding wound slowly closing.

The witch looks back at where the soldier was before. For the first time in their service they felt humiliated. For as long as they can remember, the weakling soldiers of the Federation have never hurt them in a fight. They had lowered their guard thinking this was an easy kill and it cost them their pride.

The witch then pulled down their hood revealing beautiful white silver hair. Her cold emotionless face that can be considered beautiful if not for her huge scars running down her face filled with silent rage.

"I'll kill that guy. I'll kill them for humiliating me, disciple of the Witch of Destruction. You can run dead meat but you can't hide."