Judgment

Chapter 2 - Delmont Mission

A/N: Thank you SO much Sisi and Dee! You two make this story awesome. XD

Glimpse Ahead:

An invasion into a neighboring city…an intimidating foe…

--------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------After returning to their dorm to change into their uniforms, Kevin and Yuki walked into the briefing room of Besalt Academy. Yuki smoothed out her short, thigh-length skirt, and tugged at the large yellow bow keeping her flowing red hair in a ponytail before sitting down at the large table where First Class Cadets sat during a briefing. Kevin stood behind her waiting in anticipation for what the Instructors would say.

"Everyone, today is a real mission. Some of you may very well die today. The city of Delmont is under attack by the nation of Eldrich, and have requested that we give them back up while they drive the invaders out," Instructor Cream said, taking out a clipboard and reading some things in it silently. He ran one hand down his pale blonde ponytail draped over his shoulder before looking back up at the First Class Students.

"We're sending each of you with a Sword-wielder, a Gunner, a Caster and a Supporter. When you hear your name, go stand in one of the corners of the room. Vanquez…Aroway…Neede…"

Kevin tuned out, knowing who he'd be paired with. "Device…Utuda…" Just as he thought. He and Yuki were together. Good… Now who would be the Gunner and Supporter? "Jenkins…Ether…" That answered that. Colt Jenkins was one of the best marksmen in Besalt, and Esmeralda Ether was just as socially withdrawn as Kevin, but, like Yuki, was known for her magical prowess. Obviously, Instructor Cream wanted their group to get the job done.

As a Sword-Wielder, Kevin would be the brute force of the group. It was he that would be doing most of the gruesome close up fighting. Yuki was next, she was the main magic caster, she was going to not only be covering him, but the entire group along with providing healing for the injured. Colt would be doing what he did best: shooting things, and Esmeralda would be providing magical resources for Yuki along with giving the biggest and strongest shields possible.

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Kevin stepped out onto the helipad of Besalt Academy, and into the strangely shaped helicopter. It was a new type: no landing gear, jet boosters at the bottom and a single propeller. It wasn't made to be safe; it was made to be fast. The tail of the vehicle went up, and then extended backwards. It was mounted with two machine guns and a missile launcher. It was also made to impose as intimidating, and with its glossy black finish and highly visible guns. It was.

Yuki stepped in next, aided by Colt. She shrieked and slapped the tanned gunman on the shoulder as she felt a hand squeeze her skirt-clad rear. "Colt, I will burn you to a CRISP if you do that again!!" the petite girl warned. Colt only snickered in reply as he stepped up and into their chariot for battle. Esmeralda was next, and like Kevin, she made no attempt to be talkative or entertaining as she sat down and began staring out the window.

Instructor Cream entered next, taking a seat opposite of Kevin. Lariat Cream was one of Besalt's finest students, soldiers, and instructors. At the age of 15, he became a soldier of the Besalt army. Then, reaching the tender age of 22, he retired and took the role as Head-Instructor of Besalt Academy. He adjusted his black-framed glasses, moving one hand to a tendril of hair that had slipped over his ear and tucked it back behind it. He smiled pleasantly at the stoic Kevin, crossing his legs as he awaited takeoff. Though Kevin didn't look like it, he *did* look up to the older man for achieving all he had while only being 4 years older than him.

"Everyone, buckle up. It could be a bumpy ride," the pilot said over the intercom. Kevin secured his buckle, and made sure that Yuki did the same before returning his gaze to the window. Slowly, the propeller began to move. It gained speed, and soon levitated off the ground. Kevin admired how tiny everything was becoming as they floated off, until the jet-boosters kicked in. Everything became a blur as they blasted off, zooming through the sky at God only knows how many miles an hour.

"WOO-HOO!!" Yuki squealed, tapping her feet happily on the floorboard of the helicopter/jet hybrid.

"Listen up, everyone. We're going to reach Delmont soon. We're more than likely to be shot at once we reach 15-mile zone outside the city, so Esmeralda, I want you to create the biggest shield you can. After that, the four of you will enter the city and take out as many Eldrichians as possible," Instructor Cream said, standing up and pointing to a digital map of Delmont. The grid-covered hologram floated midair as he pointed to the heart of the city.

"This is where the general of the Eldrich is. Take him, out and they should flee."

The four cadets nodded, and Lariat returned to his seat, crossing his legs and returning to admiring Kevin. "We'll arrive shortly, so be ready…" Instructor Cream said softly.

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It was late afternoon when they reached the large city of Delmont. The pilot alerted them that they were 20 miles outside of the city. Esmeralda stood, and began to prepare her spell. Kevin watched her work. She was completely silent as she mouthed various incantations and charms.

Sure enough, a wall of gunfire erupted from the city's walls just after she finished, heading for the small fleet of helicopters. Esmeralda closed her eyes, concentrating. A swirling aura of blue magic encircled her, floating upward and disappearing into the roof of the flying vehicle like heat waves. She clasped her hands together, and opened her eyes (which were glowing white).

The first bullet zipped by the propeller. The second one didn't make it that far.

It struck the multicolor imaginary shield Esmeralda had deployed. With ever second that passed, the color code changed. It extended to shield the other helicopters, bouncing all bullets off like a child's toy darts.

"Woooow!" Colt said, looking out the window.

Esmeralda looked at the instructor, her eyes still shining a brilliant white. "Shall I?" Instructor Cream nodded, smiling at the mage.

The bubble of magic continued to expand, and separated, forming square-shaped formations of magical energy. The magic shapes formed four chains around the group of helicopters, moving around them quickly, blurring, before stopping instantly. Four chains of light encircled the fleet, and flew at the city walls. They tore apart the barricades, sending any snipers flying as they rampaged through the first few miles of the city. After dealing a satisfactory amount of damage, they swung back up towards the helicopters, leaving a trail of sparkling light as the moved through the sky. The rejoined, and slowly returned to its bubble shape surrounding the helicopters. The shield then faded, leaving a shower of twinkling light in its wake.

"That. Was. Fucking. Cool." Colt said, grinning as Esmeralda sat back down.

"Watch your language, young man," Lariat scolded, unbuckling his seatbelt as the helicopter landed on a pile of rubble. The tail of the transportation lifted up, as the missile launcher's sides opened up. Eight small rockets blasted forth from the launcher, soaring through the city and finding their mark in one of the street districts, causing a small plume of fire to extend towards the sky.

Kevin, Yuki, Esmeralda and Colt ran out of the exit the tail's absence had provided, and charged towards the city, a small army of First Class Cadets of the Besalt Academy behind them.

"There! There!" a voice yelled somewhere in the distance, before another barrage of bullets flew at the group. A wall of magical symbols formed around the quartet, blocking the bullets as they advanced into the city. Yuki waved her hand, an aura of magic surrounding her. The sky above the gunfire's source darkened, as five strands of lightning connected with each other. Pained howls tore through the air as the gunmen were electrocuted. Esmeralda ran one hand through her long, untamed blue dyed hair before making the cylinder-shaped barrier disappear.

Four soldiers jumped off a ledge somewhere above, attempting to tackle the teens. Yuki ducked, as did Esmeralda, but Colt wouldn't have any of it. He aimed his rifle at one of the men and fired, grinning as the bullet tore through his chest. Kevin took this as his cue to do some damages himself, and impaled one of the soldiers on his blade. He ignored the warm red blood that seeped out of the man's body and onto his hands.

"Great DIVIDE!" Kevin bellowed, bringing the blade upward, slicing the man in half. Yuki averted her gaze, trying not to look at the maimed body lying lifeless in the road as she summed an ice spell. A frost-filled wind encircled one of the soldiers, freezing him in place, caging him in a sheen of ice. Esmeralda looked at the last soldier, winking. He took one look at the girl before turning and running as fast as his legs would carry him.

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"Sir, they're getting closer…" one of the blue-uniform clad soldiers said, saluting the general.

"Let them."

"B-but, sir! Wha-angh!!" the soldier fell to the floor in a lifeless heap; a small bullet hole decorating the chest of his full-body suit.

"No one questions my decisions," the general said quietly, sitting down on a desk in the high-rise office he and his small squad of soldiers had taken over. He hung his head low, his golden bangs veiling his face as he began chuckling manically.

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"Great Divide!!" Kevin yelled, bringing his sword upwards again, cleaving another soldier in half. Their group was right outside of the building the general was supposed to be occupying. Kevin was about to open the double doors leading into the towering building, when Esmeralda suddenly began talking.

"Doesn't it strike you odd…" she said faintly, her eyes closed. "Doesn't it strike you odd that Eldrich just invades Delmont for no reason?"

"W-well…I'm sure there's more to it than that…" Yuki broke in, "Instructor Cream will probably tell us once we finish the mission…"

"We'll see…" Esmeralda said, putting one pale hand on her leather-skirt clad hip. "I just think it's odd that Eldrich would take over the building that houses their own Weapon's Research Facility…" the blue-haired girl said quietly, walking past Kevin and opening the doors. The other cadets soon followed, the realization that this was the Eldrich Weapons Research Facility dawning on them and drawing them into silence.

'Why would Eldrich invade and attack the city that makes their weapons…' Kevin asked himself, walking into an elevator with the other cadets. He pressed one of the buttons, and the elevator began to go into motion. Slowly they began their ascension to the top of the building.

"I hear the general's scary…" Yuki said, shuffling her feet, as they got closer to the top floor.

"We're about to see for ourselves…" Kevin said flatly, tapping his blade on his shoulder.

A 'ding' sound heralded their arrival at the top floor. Colt and Kevin stepped out first, spotting the room the general was supposed to be in. They both got on either side of the door leading into the room, and motioned for the two girls to hide behind them. Once the two magic users were securely hidden, they kicked in the door.

"General Janis!" Kevin and Colt yelled, busting into the spacious office. The golden haired man didn't budge from his place on the desk, instead, his soldiers ran towards the two boys.

"I don't think so!" Colt yelled, charging one of the soldiers and sticking one of his handguns into the nook between chin and neck, firing.

"Blow em' away!" Yuki squeaked, while summoning a small green whirlwind to blow the soldiers back to the other side of the room, knocking them unconscious. The general still didn't get off the desk, but he did raise his head to look at the group of attackers.

"Why did you attack Delmont? Why did you attack the very lifeblood of your army?" Kevin demanded, pointing his sword at the stoic man.

"Hehehe…you wouldn't understand the genius of it all…" the general said, raising one black gloved hand above his head as he stood up.

"Shock and Awe!"

A wave of energy knocked the four cadets back, sending Esmeralda and Colt rocketing to the two corners of the room, and Kevin and Yuki into the middle.

"A fool who lives in blissful ignorance cannot understand the superb genius of judgment," the general said distantly, placing his hands on his hips as Kevin stood up again. Yuki staggered to her feet next, concentrating.

"Burn up!" Yuki cried, sending a burst of flame at the man. He narrowed his eyes angrily, and the gust of fire stopped and dispersed.

"Damn it, that hurt…!" Colt yelled angrily, pulling his rifle from behind his back and pointing it at the general, firing. The bullet hit an invisible barrier, ricocheting off of it and hitting a picture on one of the walls.

"I grow tired of this game…" the general said, pointing a hand at Esmeralda, who was just now regaining her ability to stand without falling down. Electricity crackled in his hand, and he hurled the ball of lightning at the girl. She saw it just in time and deployed another cylinder barrier of symbols.

But the barrier cracked.

The sphere of magic struck the girl, imprisoning her in a pillar of lightning. She screamed at the top of her lungs, before the tower of magic faded away and she fell to the floor, unmoving. Colt looked at the motionless body of Esmeralda, before pointing his gun at the general once again.

"You…fucking…son of a bitch!" he screamed, shooting multiple times at the man. The bullets stopped midair, and flew back towards the gunman. They pierced him multiple times, zipping through the air like insects as they tore through his skin. Colt, too, fell to the ground in a lifeless heap.

"And then there were two…Hehehe…" the general taunted, holding his hands out at Yuki and Kevin. Kevin held out his arm in front of the redhead, ready to take any attack for his friend. Electricity crackled all over the older man's body, and he prepared to strike the duo down.

But the electric death never came.

The glass wall behind the man shattered, breaking apart in a blast of gunfire. Kevin thought he was dreaming when he saw the helicopter floating outside the office, the machine gun mounted on the tail shutting off as the door into the cockpit opened and Instructor Cream glared at the general. He pointed his hands at the man, globes of light appearing his palms. They shot off pinpoints of light, preparing to kill the general, but, like everything else, the attack was stopped by his barrier.

"Good show! But…I must bid you farewell, I have what I came for and have a very important date to attend!" the general taunted, pointing his hand at the wall behind Yuki and Kevin as he sent a shockwave at it. The two teens jumped out of the way, hanging close to the wall as the back wall, and the unmoving bodies of Colt and Esmeralda were blasted away. The golden haired man ran out of the in-shambles office, summoning a brilliant flash of light to cover his escape.

Kevin looked up at Instructor Cream, who was smiling reassuringly at the younger boy, and had the energy to think one thing before he collapsed in pure exhaustion…

'I've failed again…'