Chapter 5: The Day

After three grueling days of training for all of the resistance fighters, the fated has come and we're ready. Those realistic simulations, even though we used those magical devices every training that we do, managed to instill us a sense of dread and urgency we've never encountered before. They really managed to pull off to make us in a state of being near-trigger happy. The mission to end all wars: hoping this one wouldn't be just a wishful thinking just like before.

Taki, Goda-san, me and everyone along with the Magistoid Defendatus, are now armed to the teeth as we marched out of the main cave system and into the front cavern where one of our secret exits lies, hoping victory would be finally in our grasp. The Defendatus lined up, each of them lined up between each squad for the protection of the rear, to which Ardugo and the commander hauled up front and gave a silent command for silence.

"This is now the day that we've been waiting and preparing for. This is what have you called "the lion's den." And that is how high the stakes are." Ardugo, as gave the first word, spoke with an unwavering dedication in his tone being apparent even under the thick wall of stoicism that was being matched by my father, impressive feat I say. "But even though we have an immovable storm, I've seen everyone of you marching forward with your chins up with such bravery and will us Magistoids can't help but to admire." 'You... really though of that' I thought. Of course you are... Thank you, I guess. I can't really describe the feeling that I'm having right now

"A reason why you deserved to live! The Rex Regulus don't understand understand these trits, even to other Magistoids. Their cruelty knows no bounds." He then paused for a split second and his head turned slightly before continuing to speak. "I know that the help that the Defendatus give to you all is not compensation enough to all the atrocities the our kind has inflicted to you all, but I do hope that these will be enough to help you on your victory. We wanted you all to survive, a sentiment shared by all of the Defendatus and I do expect that we can fight together as one." His speech rang through us all, especially to me after which, the commander then gave his speech to us. "This is our final stand, for our survival, for our future. Everyone..." He paused for a second with a little gasp in his mouth. " From this morning and the other days before this and even everyday since the war started, I always been praying intensely to our Lord God and Savior." 'Of course. He managed to keep it up' I thought as heartache creep up inside me. "I know most of you are not totally into this, but I prayed that we, our children and all of humanity have a future beyond this war. I hope that we could acquire a future that we can be at least gain happiness again." He stood up, taking his breath up and said these words loudly. "So have faith that we will succeed and as long as you do, in yourself and most important, to God Almighty, I'm positive that victory will be ours!!" Ardugo then stepped up giving his battle cry that will be engraved to everyone's hearts and minds. "Resistance!! Magistoid Defendatus!! Rise up! Rise up to victory!!!" Everyone shouted their battle cries, echoing throughout the caves, holding our weapons high as we marched to the exit, filled with righteous vigor.

When we arrived at the the exit, Ardugo took his wand under his chest plate and waved it around, causing the rock and soil be sifted away, gradually revealing the exit, enabling us to venture to our world, now changed beyond recognition. The spot where exited was in a middle of a forest, but this isn't just any forest here on Earth. The trees here came from Regulus, the Magistoid's home planet and they are massive in size and monstrous looking compared to any trees found on Earth. The trunks, branches and its roots are bloated to a degree that it looks like it has gone into some kind of mutation, while lines of light from magic flow down through them. Above them within its leaves, there were fruits hanging on the branches. From what I've heard, this is the Pakero fruit, one of the main food source of the Magistoids. They eat too, quite a shocker I know. It wasn't just for food though; its byproducts and parts of the trees themselves are used to create many materials that was used in many aspects of the Magistoid productions such as materials for buildings, furnitures, machinery and glassworks. This trees aren't the only type that was used for productions of materials but it is still a magnificent feat not gonna lie.

We've walked through the forest quietly with the Magistoids, all of the casting a dour glare when they see the trees. Yeah. This monstrosities are planted here to feed their genocidal empire on my planet no less, anger would not begin to cover it. As we continued on our march, some reconnaissance scouts went ahead of us to ensure no enemies lie on the path that we use. One of the scouts returned, no enemies ahead. Its a bit of a relief. We trudged through with no hitch until we've reached boundary where the forest ends and near where once the city of Tokyo is. We're in the front platoon so I've seen what lies ahead first. Even though I've seen it multiple times, it can't be denied that it was a sight to behold.

There displayed tall spires that almost reaches the heavens above, magnificent buildings, like the trees, are unlike anything before on Earth. These spires have a variety of shapes and sizes: some are a bit conical, there are with odd geometric features, and there's a several thin towers bundled together in one place, constituting a whole building. It would be an odd scenery if it weren't for the materials used in their construction that has magical properties in them that makes them looked ethereal. But there's is one odd thing that wasn't part of the infrastructure's design that caught my attention: it was is that even though several years have passed, they all looked incomplete. Like the top is still being on the process of construction. Why? Are these buildings really that hard to build? Or maybe the complete product is much more grander than what I'm seeing right now. Those are the questions in my mind I have right now. But there's still the undeniable fact to all of this: they've destroyed Tokyo and raized it to the ground, only for them to build their city on top of it like nothing existed beforehand. I just wanna cry now.

"Jeez, really a beautiful scene. Though even its diabolical. Don't you think, Daichi?" A whisper came to my ear that shatter the tense mood I had by a little. It came from Taki, looking as if he was concerned. He tried to put a brave face with a smirk, but I know him from all the years we've been through that he has inner sadness inside him. He totally saw mine from his remark earlier. "I hope this doesn't upset you even more, well because-"

"No, its not!" I bit my lip there after accidentally raising my voice a little there. I can't lose it. Never. "It can. But.. we're on a mission now. I just hope it doesn't end like it was intended to. Promise me." Taki then nodded, his tender smile still on place as he said "Yeah. Don't worry. Everything would totally be fine. Now, let's give them literal hell." I know what he's doing, how I could not. He's optimistic for me, also hoping the mission will go down not on its intended path, for my own sake and I thanked him internally as we unloaded our equipments. One of the Magistoids took out a pair of cubes from his mechanical compartmental pocket and throws them in the air as they started to emit a glow and it spews a stream of energy that flows like liquid, but it seemed solid as it started to form shapes of different sizes. The energy then dissipates revealing the armored vehicles we are using for the assault of the base that houses a general-class ship in its air dock, located 15 miles from where we are.

The commander then stepped forward as he issued his command to the troops, "Let's pick it up, soldiers! We don't have much time to spare." We then picked up the pace and mounted the vehicles, starting their engines and begins the hustle to the base. Everyone has gone ahead of us, in the rear of the platoon, with our equipment we need for our mission ready. As we drive back in the rear, I looked at the cavalry: I can't see my dad ahead. Of course I can't, I'm far away from him. Even though I've steeled my will for this, there's a creeping feeling inside of me as I looked forward. I've closed my eyes, hoping and pleading, that it would be a victory for us. To grant us a decisive victory for us. No sacrifices needed. Just.... Please.