The Final Chapter

Finality

Chapter 13

The taste of the soup really did wonders to her. She had not eaten in days and as an archon Ei did not have to. But hunger is a malicious feeling, especially in battle. The soup also warmed her from inside. The blanket she got was helping too, but couldn't do much against soaked clothing and cold wind outside. Day two had been rough so far. Enemies had regrouped at the Front while Ei defended the city. But now the defence line of the Yashiro Comission was repaired and their troups reformed under the young Miss Kamisato. The Front had been cleared and no enemies remained on land. For the first time in this war, Inazuma had a moment to breathe.
Ei put the bowl on a table and went through the camp to the hospital. The healers and doctors were busy working to treat most of the soldiers before the next waves hit. She walked through the lines of injured soldiers, crying and screaming in pain. It was as horrifying as any other war. But this hit her different. This time this were her people, hers alone. No Makoto on her side. She was fully responsible for them. Before anything could get to her she shook it off. No. She was here to look after someone, not all of them. So she continued her way through the tent as she spotted the two she had been looking for. The young adeptus and her old friend. They both layed next to each other. Xiao having bandages wrapped around his torso and Morax having a healer sitting next to him. The hands of the healer were on his bear chest glowing. "Will he be allright?", she asked. The healer lifted the head in awe of the Shougun. He looked back down then shook his head: "It looks bad for him. I'm doing everythimg I can but..." Ei nodded and sighed deeply. "It's okay, let him go. He has been in this world far too long..." The healer looked up then nodded and took his hands back. He covered the archon to the neck with a black blanket and stood up. He bowed slightly and then took on other work. "Wait", the Shougun said, "And him?" She pointed at the adeptus. The healer turned around and looked at him. "He has a lot of injuries but it does not seem to affect him greatly. After a rest he will be fine" The Shougun nodded again and the healer went back about his work. With nostalgia she looked back at the Geo archon: "Farewell my friend..."

The sun began setting and Ei coughed. The new wave hit a lot harder. How could there be this many strong opponents left in the enemy ranks? She stroke down the machine in front of her. Behind it three ruin graders made their way towards her. This felt like a final straw from the enemy. Did they send their last wave or did they just want to be done with them? She had no choice but to charge at them. She can't let her soldiers deal with them they would die instantly. With all her energy left she rushed towards them. She attacked them with an Electro strike, causing all of their attention to shift towards her. Then she ran away. Away from the battle field. The three graders followed her alongside a horde of hilichurls and smaller machines. The archon ran towards the coast line drawing the enemies back to the coast. There she prepared her 'Mouso no Hitotachi' for a strike. Her attacked charged up fully as she drew her sword and and attacked them. The attack was as powerful as in her prime, splitting a small portion of of Narukami island, isolating her and the enemies. Enemy for enemy died. Strike for strike. Ei fought and fought. It felt like hours to her. It was exhausting. All them of surrounded her, getting small hits at her, nothing serious. They coordinated an attack against her. The graders shot missles at her, wounding her badly. But she continued. Endured it. She had to, for her people.
After some time just her an the last ruin grader were left. Ei was barely standing. The 'Mouso no Hitotachi' drained her strength as did her wounds. The grader charged up again. The archon dodged barely then attacked it again. Hit by hit she destroyed it, trying to dodge every hit but failing. Her opponent weakened her severly but she took it down. The machine fell down. The Shougun breathed. Her look wandered to the sky as the rain started to fall down again. Lightning lighted it briefly and the Shougun fell over. She was so tired. She couldn't take it anymore. This war was like a flash of her old disturbing memories and all she wanted, was for it to end. Ei tried to stand back up, but fell down. She wasn't able to. That was her end. There was nothing she could do against it. Her strength had left her entirely. Her head layed on the ground just listening to the falling rain. The thunderstorm accompanied her, sharing her final moments with her. The archon remembered her friens, her sister, her people. Her people. What would they do without her? Would her death destroy her nation? No. She can't die here. She needed to be there for her nation, her people. For her sister. For Makoto. "Allmighty Shougun!", she heard cries from the distance. Her vision got blurry and her eyelids got heavy. They were too late. No more endurance left. All she saw in the corner of her eyes was a bunch of hilichurls approaching her again.

_________

Four archons down, three to go ;)

Yes, this is not 1000 words long, but it's close!