The Raid War

### Outcome

The Izuzunians successfully repelled the Doom Brigade from their homeland by invoking the memory of Lord Piller's daughter and reminding him of her. They also faced the threat of Nugget's oshir by killing it.

## Debut

### Chapter finished

Chapter 18: Sorrow and the TNTs

**The Raid War** was an unprecedented conflict that arose on September 14, 2033, when the Doom Brigade launched an invasion with the intent of looting the entire country of Izuzunu and taking control over its prized Diamond Valley.

## Prelude

The Doom Brigade was really struggling to find the Diamond Valley, along with the rest of the nations around Kepkury. The Diamond Valley was a valley in which under it lay plenty of rich diamond minerals, and the Doomgaders would do anything in their power to find it first. One day, out of nowhere, on July 26, 2033, a new nation called Izuzunu discovered the Diamond Valley, and the Doom Brigade would do anything in their power to take over the Diamond Valley. So the Doomgaders came up with the plan to force the Izuzunians to hand them all the diamonds.

## The War

Kyle finds himself in Chinatown amidst a group of people, but his calm is shattered when he discovers a string connected to explosive devices, which detonates and destroys the nearby houses. As he struggles to recuperate from the blast, he spots the Doomgaders, including the Kalrhinos, Kalruts, Axers, Archers, and Mindmasters. Kyle realizes they have returned with nefarious intentions and is consumed with fear.

Amidst the chaos in Izuzunu, Kyle battles against Keneth and the Doom Brigade, driven by their goal to reduce the town to ashes. Dodging Keneth's knife attacks, Kyle seeks help from Jun and their allies. The Druzel fighters suffer casualties at Keneth's hands. Eungi's parents spot Lord Piller and his destructive actions in the distance, prompting Eungi to rush out and protect the town. The Doom Brigade breaches Izuzunu's borders, setting fire to homes and creating widespread devastation. Fear grips Chinatown as residents flee for safety. In grief, Jun reads Summer's gravestone, burdened by a sense of responsibility for the tragedy. Lord Piller confronts Jun, summoning kalruts to kill him. A fierce clash ensues, but Piller warns Jun of Keneth's plan to destroy Chinatown. Jun races towards the smoke-filled sky, donning his armor for the upcoming battle.

Coen races through the forest, determined to save Izuzunu from the Doom Brigade. Skillfully dispatching a kalkrut, more foes appear but meet their demise as Coen slashes through them effortlessly. Unfazed, Coen continues on his mission.

In the midst of the chaotic battle in Chinatown, Jun, Tidus, and their comrades fight valiantly against the Doomgaders. Keneth ruthlessly kills a Druzel, then charges at Jun. Collin sacrifices himself to save Jun from Piller's arrow. Consumed by grief and rage, Tidus vows to avenge Collin's death. Jun rushes to Melanie's burning house. Eungi rallies everyone to keep fighting. More Mindmasters join the fray, surrounding the fighters with their kalruts and kalrhinos.

Melanie becomes trapped in her blazing home. Jun arrives, guiding her to safety as the house crumbles. Piller captures Melanie, positioning his blade dangerously close to her neck. Jun assures her, striking a pact with Piller to spare lives. Jun relinquishes his weapon, and Piller begins the countdown.

Following the countdown, the group disperses to fight the kalkruts. Tidus throws a knife at Piller, but misses, causing Piller to stumble. Tidus, overwhelmed with anger, slaps Jun, blaming him for sacrificing his life and rendering Collin's sacrifice meaningless. Jun doubts his own strength and questions why others care for him. In a devastating turn, Keneth stabs Melanie, causing her to bleed profusely. In her final moments, Melanie imparts words of strength and encouragement to Jun, revealing her upcoming birthday. Despite their grief, the remaining fighters press on, knowing that giving up means death. Jun screams in anguish as Melanie breathes her last breath in his arms.

Coen encounters a girl named Roselyn while making his way through the trees. Informed that the war has already begun in Izuzunu, they navigate through the treetops together. Coen, a skilled ninja, finds himself entangled in a battle with Piller, who shares his anguish over his deceased daughter. Piller reveals his hatred towards humans, blaming them for his descent into evil. Piller commands his kalrhino to devour Jun, and he retreats back to the battlefield, leaving everyone wondering about Jun's fate. Piller then injures Tidus by launching shards at his legs. George questions Piller's motivations for the war, to which Piller demands the diamonds from the Diamond Valley.

Mikey falls to the ground, injured, as George rushes to his side. The kalkruts taunt and assault them, causing further pain. However, Mikey begins to hear his father's voice, urging him to protect George. Awakened by his memories, Mikey rises and defends his brother, defeating the kalkruts. Overwhelmed with emotions, Mikey reveals the truth about their relationship, leaving George stunned. As chaos unfolds, Kayla takes up the task of leading the Druzels out of Izuzunu for safety. Engaging in combat, she confronts an axer and manages to defeat him.

Meanwhile, in Chinatown, Tidus, now legless, expresses his readiness to kill Keneth. Despite his physical state, Tidus surprises Keneth, stabbing him in the heart. Weakened by blood loss, Tidus acknowledges that his own demise is imminent but finds solace in avenging Melanie's death. Grateful for the time spent in Izuzunu, Tidus thanks his comrades before passing away.

The group regroups at Tidus's side, witnessing his victory over Keneth. Tidus's final act brings closure and a sense of justice for Melanie's loss. Though saddened by the loss of their friends, they find the strength to carry on.

The team stands on the battlefield, feeling dejected and hopeless. Lord Piller taunts them, calling Tidus and Keneth weak, causing Kayla's faith to waver. Eungi gazes up at the sky and proclaims that Izuzunu is doomed.

Coen and Roselyn arrive, joining the fray against the Kalkruts. They learn of Jun's fate, having been consumed by the kalrhino, and Nugget's treachery. Nugget claims to be the new president, but the group doubts his intentions and rejects him. With a final battle approaching, they remain steadfast in their resolve to end the war.

The fighters charge into battle, unleashing their fury upon their enemies. Coen seeks revenge while Roselyn and Kayla work together to vanquish their foes. The Izuzunians seem to have the upper hand until Lord Piller disrupts their progress by raining down sharp shards, injuring Kyle and others. Despite the danger, the fighters band together, forming a circle to protect one another.

Jun struggles to free himself from the stomach of the kalrhino, attempting to avoid being burned by the stomach acid. Inside, he speaks with a deceased body but eventually realizes that he needs to escape. Meanwhile, the kalrhino wreaks havoc on the town, destroying buildings in its path.

Piller belittles Jun, calling him a weak child who can never become an Emperor. Jun, within the kalrhino's stomach, becomes despondent until he remembers Melanie's words of encouragement. Melanie impels him to be brave and stop shedding tears. When Kyle and Coen face imminent death, Jun suddenly emerges from the sky, having destroyed Jason, Piller's kalrhino. He confronts Piller, defeating his men, but tragedy strikes as Nugget unexpectedly murders Coen, leaving Roselyn and others in shock. The sight of his fallen comrades, including Tidus, leaves Jun devastated. The sun sets as Jun sits defeated and vulnerable on the ground, listening to Piller's smug words of discouragement.

Nugget kills Jun's friend, Coen, prompting Jun and the group to engage in a fight with the Doomgaders. Jun and Nugget duel, with Nugget gaining the upper hand and injuring Jun. Nugget taunts Jun and belittles him, eventually overpowering him and holding him down with his sword. In the aftermath, the Izuzunu flags and structures are destroyed, and Lord Piller decapitates Roselyn and Kayla. Jun collapses on the ground but vows to avenge his fallen comrades.

As the battle comes to an end, Lord Piller taunts Eungi, calling him a monster and the Empire weak. Nugget reveals his intentions to destroy the nation within two months, having abandoned his presidential aspirations. Kyle checks on Eungi's condition, while Jun and Nugget engage in a final, intense showdown. Nugget is ultimately defeated and falls to the ground, his plan of destruction blocked by Jun's bravery.

When Jun tries to rise up, Nugget beats him because he says he's weak and advises him to take it easy. He falls, and Melanie, his sister, shows up on the ground next to him. Jun sobs and claims he will pass away next to her. Relieved, Eungi and Kyle choose to resume fighting, but pick Jun up and rush to Eungi's home, Eungi and Kyle hide Jun and the other Doomgaders there. The rest of the Izuzunians hid inside the house. Lord Piller urges that they should loot Izuzunu all night, despite Nugget's suggestion that they rest for the night. They intend to rob Izuzunu and flee.

### Night Rest

They take turns maintaining watch for roughly an hour at night after Eungi begs Kyle to assist with making bandages for Jun and the others. When they talk about how Edison went out with his lover, Chloe realizes that he is in heaven while they are in hell. Kyle claims that because things are so bad in Izuzunu, it is possibly the worst day ever.

### Next Day

Jun is startled awake by a strange voice, promising him that everything will be fine on a short mission. The entire group, including Jun, wakes up in a frenzy. Mikey tries to investigate, but Jun quickly dismisses it as just a nightmare, exhaling heavily to calm himself. Meanwhile, in Modern City, Lord Piller is awakened by an archerer who delivers the news that the downfall of the Izuzunu Empire is imminent. Piller, filled with excitement, eagerly agrees that Izuzunu's demise is about to strike. Nugget shows Piller the black sand and fire-starting rock, the ingredients for summoning the powerful oshir, further fueling Piller's determination to crush the Izuzunu Empire. Nugget gleefully assures that the empire will be demolished.

At Feiburg, King Almanfro expresses his deep concern for the survival of his niece. At the Doom Brigade Prime Base, two archerers discuss the progress of the war with a gleam of satisfaction, believing that everything is going according to plan. Back at Eungi's house, Jun shares the details of his nightmares with the group. In these dreams, he hears a comforting male and female voice assuring him that everything will be okay and that he will remember everything. He also describes feeling intoxicated and unwell, a possible connection to Melanie's revelations about her own history. While Chloe stealthily explores outside, she discovers a golden Revival Stick and offers it to Jun. Eungi advises Jun to keep it in his pocket for safekeeping.

Despite his lingering wounds, Jun musters the strength to rise from bed. Eungi suggests he stay put, but Jun insists that he can still fight. Determined, Jun grabs his sword and declares an end to the conflict. Kyle expresses doubt about the swift return of the real president, Edison. Outside, Lord Piller and his army await Jun and the rest of the Izuzunians. Jun takes a moment to express gratitude to those who supported him during challenging times, honoring the memory of Melanie, Tidus, Collin, Roselyn, Coen, and Kayla.

As the battle nears, Jun and the other Izuzunians steel themselves for the decisive moment that will determine the fate of their nations. Shouting with all their might, they confront Lord Piller. However, Piller strikes Jun by kicking him in his stomach wound while summoning kalruts and launching shards to defeat him. Jun changes the course of the battle by running through a wall and slamming Piller's face against it, sending him crashing outside. Jun swiftly dispatches the kalruts and engages in a fierce attack against Piller. Despite Piller's use of shards to slash at Jun's arms, the rest of the group intervenes, halting the fight to focus their attention on Jun, who is enduring Piller's onslaught. Just as Piller prepares to deliver a fatal blow, Jun evokes thoughts of his deceased daughter within him. Jun reminds Piller that if his daughter were alive, she would not approve of his actions. Gazing at Melanie's lifeless body, Piller is overcome with emotion, realizing that he has the potential to be a loving father and that his daughter would want him to be better. Piller sobs and collapses to the ground, sparing his life along with everyone else's. Piller commands the Doom Brigade to retreat, declaring that this is only the beginning of the war.

Now, only Nugget remains as the Izuzunians gather in a circle around him, prompted by Eungi's command. They skillfully dodge the vicious blue beam of light emitted from Nugget's sword, known as Azure Plasma, when he yells, "Slashing Azure!" However, Nugget suddenly disappears, leaving the group searching fruitlessly for him. But their efforts are in vain. Nugget silently reappears behind Jun, slicing off his head in a gruesome and shocking moment. Horror fills the eyes of everyone present as Jun's head falls to the ground, blood flowing from his neck and head as his lifeless body collapses. Kyle's scream of anguish fills the air, refusing to submit to Nugget's command to kneel before him.

Overwhelmed with grief, Chloe and Eungi rush to Jun's side, tears streaming down their faces. The remaining Izuzunians join in the fight against Nugget, their swords clashing against his. Despite Nugget's efforts to block every attack, Kyle manages to slash him in the stomach. However, Nugget retaliates by propelling Kyle through the air with a powerful kick. The battle reaches a critical point as the fate of the Izuzunu Empire hangs in the balance.

Jun's nightmare jolts him awake, while Lord Piller and Nugget plot to summon a destructive oshir to destroy the Izuzunu Empire. King Almanfro is worried about his niece's safety in Feiburg. Meanwhile, Chloe finds a golden Revival Stick while Jun shares his nightmares with the group.

Despite his injuries, Jun joins the battle against Lord Piller. Piller injures Jun with shards, but Jun evokes thoughts of his deceased daughter within him, causing Piller to spare their lives and retreat with the Doom Brigade. The group is left to face Nugget, who attacks them mercilessly.

However, Jun miraculously revived and injured Nugget, who summoned the deadly dragon oshir to fight them. Nugget and the oshir chase them through the destroyed town, while the group tries to ward them off. Eventually, they manage to enter a village, but Kyle's recklessness puts the villagers in danger.

As they loot for new armor and weapons, they find an Izuzunu flag and other belongings, which reminds them of home. Despite the challenges, the group remains determined to make it back to Izuzunu.

The group of Izuzunians finds refuge in a dimly lit village house, feeling down and reflecting on how to evade death in future battles. They miss their loved ones and long to be home. They acknowledge their sadness and agree to kill the oshir before it causes any more destruction.

They come up with a plan to shoot the oshir and take cover in the house when it targets someone. They repeat this process until the oshir is defeated. Kyle aims and shoots, and everyone joins in by shooting arrows at the oshir. The oshir screams and tries to attack them, but they manage to weaken it until it finally dies.

Exhausted and emotional, the group is ready to go home, disregarding the villagers who perished during the battle. They mourn their losses but take pride in their strength to overcome the odds. Back in Izuzunu, they are met with the devastation and destruction that the war has caused. They feel overwhelmed and break down in tears, including Jun, who looks out at the new world from his balcony.

As the night falls, they find solace in the fact that they've lived for another day, but the pain of their losses is palpable.

## Aftermath

The group rested and later went to the cemetery to mourn the loss of the citizens of Izuzunu.

## Participants

### Izuzunians

* Chloe Minh
* George Khang
* Mikey Khang
* Jun
* Kyle Khao
* Kayla Thao
* Eungi Saubaudiak
* Melanie Suzuki
* Collin Cruz
* Tidus Acarca

### Feiburgians

* Coen Kim
* Roselyn Emauli

### Doomgaders

* Nisse Heinrich (Nugget)
* Piller Kradnoom
* Keneth Kradnoom

## Deaths

### Izuzunians

* Kayla Thao
* Melanie Suzuki
* Tidus Acarca
* Collin Cruz

### Feiburgians

* Coen Kim
* Roselyn Emauli