Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

Chaos In The Order

Prologue

Three weeks had passed since Irys stumbled into the strange world of South Vietnam in 1969. Once again, the Nephilim found herself in the UH-1 Huey transport helicopter named "Stallone" - the same aircraft that brought her to Da Nang Air Base when she first arrived. Just like before, Irys was flown over the jungles of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone.

This was only the second time that Irys had flown on an aircraft, so she wasn't entirely at ease knowing that she was so high up in the air. However, she was brave enough now to look out of the open helicopter doors on her own. Through her two-colored eyes, she saw the thick, green foliage below them under the light of the early morning sun rising in the East.

Irys was no longer merely the wide-eyed tourist who was whisked away to another world. In that sea of green, Irys could roughly tell where the invisible border lines divided the jungle. Those lines told her where the country of South Vietnam ended and where the Demilitarized Zone began. "Stallone" and a handful of other Huey helicopters crossed that borderline and entered hostile territory.

Inside the helicopter cabin, Irys glanced at her companions: Captain Baelz Hakos, First Lieutenant Kronii Ouro and Second Lieutenant Mumei Nanashi. Her three companions were hardened soldiers who were the leaders of their own respective military units. However, in that moment, Irys could tell that whatever combat experience the three ladies had weren't enough to calm their nerves.

After all, the three of them were counting on Irys to help them defeat fearsome creatures through the power of her voice.

Irys understood why they would be afraid. She had a feeling in her gut that even her Calli-senpai would have been hesitant to go into battle with a minstrel in a combat unit.

A minstrel who could crystallize her own body, yes. But a minstrel without a weapon. A Grim Reaper without a sickle or a scythe.

The only person who seemed to have absolute, unshakeable faith in Irys' voice was none other than Major Omega, the mastermind of this operation. While Irys fretted over the upcoming battle, the voice of Major Omega sounded from the speakers in the cabin.

"This is Oak Leaf. The show's about to begin. All unit commanders, report in! Over!"

Kronii seemed to snap out of her nervous daze. Irys watched the Air Force Lieutenant slither through the cabin to pick up the radio handset. She brought it close to her lips, pressed down on a button and dutifully replied, "This is Silver Serpent, temporary commander of the 110th Barn Owl ACB, reporting in."

The radio crackled again while the commanders of the other units reported in as well. An entire litany of commanders declared their presence, presenting themselves to Omega. Irys counted about eleven of them.

Back when Irys was just a junior Grim Reaper, Irys dreamed and begged to be a part of large operations just like her Calli-senpai. She played small roles here and there in the campaign to end the cycle of the Phoenix Kiara Takanashi. She even led a cavalry charge to capture the Priestess-elect Ina'nis Ninomae.

However, this was the first time that Irys was in the spotlight. Those eleven military units were coordinating to operate around her . This was everything that she had always dreamed of as a Grim Reaper.

And yet, it didn't spark joy in her heart that morning.

It only made her nerves get worse.

Lost in her thoughts, Irys heard a muffled noise. Was someone calling out to her?

All of a sudden, she felt Bae's hands grab her shoulders and shake her back to 1969, "Yo, Earth to Irys!"

"H-huh!? Wha?" Irys stammered.