Love is Hate!

* COVER ONE
* COVER TWO

### Synopsis

As Erwin finds out that Ezekiel had drafted him, he trained himself to challenge Ezekiel to a battle. Upon Aina's infiltration, her alongside the Sentinels were summoned to gather to receive new orders from the Unterfuhrer, Adolf Hitler. After sudden circumstances, faith within the ranks shatter after a deadly battle.

## Details

### Antagonist(s)

Ezekiel Hollenfeuer, Aina Hanabira, Gomer Rosenberg

### Goal

Commence a blood battle between Ezekiel and Erwin, Capture or kill the Hollenfeuers, Defend against the Confederacy's attack.

### Location

Outer and Inner Heilbronn, Germany

**Love is Hate** is the sixth chapter and second psychological chapter of **Descendants of Calamity** and serves as **Part One's** denouement. As Nikolas is set to return from his training, Erwin had started a training of his own in order to defeat his older brother Ezekiel as vengeance and to silence his agathokakological spirit. The Sentinels gather to address the recent immense loss of Sentinels.

## **Story**

### **Chapter 6:1 - Rage Part 2 - Ill Will**

#### **Chapter 6:1:1 - The Sentinel Gathering**

As Aina recognizes what's happening, the marbled floor she stands on began moving, rumbling as it rises alongside the three pillars on top of it. She then looks to her side and sees another comrade of hers, which appears to be the newly appointed fifth rank sentinel. The golden fog turns to a shade of bright blue, yet it still feels dark to the point the eyes of the sentinels began to look as if they were glowing. The air becomes cold as they stop rising. Before the tallest pillar, there is a platform, in which the UnterFuhrer, Adolf Hitler, stands on. The Sentinels fall into a complete silence to commemorate respect for their senior. The newly appointed fifth rank's expression is unreadable, but it was for sure that he was not happy. After seconds of silence, the UnterFuhrer turns around 90 degrees and began speaking.

**Hitler:** "The Red Sentinels are an elite faction of the most developed and valiant fighters of the Socialist People's Army. They compose of five ranks, one being the highest and five being the highest. Each individual Sentinel are refined to their utmost cores, specializing in their respective fields in warfare. For three years, and let me reiterate, *three years*, the order of the Sentinels remained the same. Rank One, Remendado. Rank Two, Rosenberg. Rank Three, Wassermelone. Rank Four, Troutt. Rank Five, Karpakov. Now, the order had changed. As usual, Rank Four and Five have been changed."

**Hitler:** "The Sentinels were not tampered with for three years... It would have been acceptable if only one was lost. From now on, I want you all to focus on eliminating threats that threaten our order. Nevertheless, I will lessen your focuses on low-profile deployments, you shall mostly face high-value targets from this point onward. Nonetheless, Upper Sentinels, welcome your new comrades."

As Aina looks atop the shortest pillar, the man with the dual-headed flail lowers his weapon, as he stands, his back hunched and his eyes looking ominously. Despite such physical demeanor, he speaks words of encouragement and a short speech about heroism.

**Wassermelone:** "All members of our military that has reached this prestigious rank must be people of utmost heroism, gallantry and honor. I, as one of the members, grant you this form of appreciation. As new Sentinels, we expect you to live righteously no matter the cost, and put your life on the line for the future of our people. You are unlike our previous peers."

As Wassermelone finishes his speech, thicker fog surrounds the area as light from the tallest pillar emits. The Second Rank Sentinel decided to speak up for himself with a hateful and aggressive tone.

**Wassermelone: "**Think critically, Golem. The recent fourth rank used his power to take advantage of the weak, use them for his own gain, whether it be for his own pleasure or to feed his power. That is evil. He exploited the weak and powerless for his own gain with nothing in return."

**Gomer:** "Those losses were unbearable. Ever since Curdle was gone, our attack and intelligence regiments lost efficiency. Our attack and guerilla strategies devolved. Logistics and transportation worsened after the loss of Wasserspulung. Have you no sense of what that would mean? That would mean we would be losing the entire war due to such disadvantages."

**Wassermelone:** "Have you no honor for your status? You only see our soldiers to be used for advantages and care not for their behavior?"

As the two continued to debate, a loud rumble originates from the tallest pillar. The light from the pillar begins reacting angrily, summoning electricity as an electrokinetic energy channels from within. The First Rank, Remendado raises his staff and hits the ground with the butt of the staff, summoning a large strike of lightning, stopping the argument.

**Remendado:** "You are a Sentinel, Gomer... You do not just overlook right and wrong as one of the most talented fighters in our ranks, you must consider it... If you really have an issue with the command and how things run in a large military, you should volunteer as main command...

Remendado completely lectured and emasculated his junior, Gomer. After a brief pause, he continued.

**Remendado:** "Gomer, do you understand what it is that I wanted to convey?"

**Gomer:** "I did."

Gomer replied in a cold tone before Hitler began to speak once again.

**Hitler:** "Before your dismissals, do you have any inquiries?"

**Aina:** "UnterFuhrer. am I permitted to deploy at least a battalion? in my attack?"

**Hitler:** "I will permit you to lead a regiment, and they shall be referred to as the Ivy Forces. I am giving you a month of preparation to train and refine these soldiers, is that understood?"

Aina nods as the fog surrounds the UnterFuhrer, his glowing eyes blend in with the bright blue fog as now the glow fades. Hitler vanishes completely as the Sentinels are now signaled to leave. The First Rank simply stands atop his pillar, waiting for the departure of the rest. Aina leaves first as she sinks into her pot to teleport to a different pot spawned elsewhere. Remendado looks toward Gomer as he dismisses his senior.

**Remendado:** "You shouldn't repeat that type of degeneracy ever again, Gomer."

Gomer does not listen as his pillar descends into the darkness followed by rumbling. Wassermelone chuckles, mocking Gomer. Remendado is unsatisfied with the relationships between the Sentinels. The remaining three Sentinels observe silence, before the Fifth Rank, Hermann speaks up as his glare is reminiscent to that of spite.

**Hermann:** "Where the hell am I?"

Hermann asks in a raspy tone, with a spark of animosity.

**Remendado:** "You are in the Erronzein Fortress, more specifically, you are in the Doomspire subsection of this castle. The Doomspire is a mysteriously tall spire that reaches high above the clouds. This Fortress has different sections and us Sentinels are assigned to treat this place as our home and headquarters. Nevertheless, this is where our Fuhrers, Unter and Ober, reside in. I shall leave this place now.

Remendado's pillar rumbles as it rises into the sky. Now only the Fifth and Third rank are left in the premises as the light dims, with the light source, having have been gone as it had already risen. Wassermelone turns his attention to Hermann, returning his glare of animosity.

**Wassermelone:** "So you're a Sentinel now, huh?"

**Hermann:** "..."

**Wassermelone:** "Whether you like it or not, this is your life now. I am surprised you even managed to be a Sentinel. That would mean you have killed a lot of people you claimed to have been your allies. I'll allow that, perhaps your heroic instinct had taken over? I respect that if so. Maybe you were trying to prevent your comrades from dying."

**Hermann:** "I do not save others through the use of lethality, Melone."

**Wassermelone:** "Do not play with yourself. You're a hero. You have to kill to save."

Hermann glares as his eyes widen in anger, long before he blends in with the misty environment and disappears. Wassermelone scoffs as he leaps off of his pillar. The Sentinel Gathering has ended. Aina is now presumably recruiting and beginning to train her forces for an upcoming attack on the Descendants of Calamity.

#### **Chapter 6:1:2 - Romantic Envy**

Erwin recalls a recent memory of his. While having his usual lunches out with Frieda, she usually talks about other boys. Due to his resentful nature, Erwin, who was at this time optimistic about his love for Frieda, suddenly changed. He was jealous of how passionate Frieda was when she talked about her other male friends with Erwin. But because Erwin cares about her, he chose to listen. Yet, the more he listened, the more his heart ached in envy and agony. He always thought to himself that he was not good enough for her, that he was nothing but a piece of dirt he was always seen as even as a child. Nonetheless, he dismisses the feelings and was motivated to get stronger in order to surpass and finally dethrone Ezekiel. But at the same time, this feeling of envy and sadness is slowly breaking him, his box of negative feelings were surely filling up but he chose to keep it to himself in order to prevent an embarrassing emotional breakdown in front of Frieda.

#### **Chapter 6:1:3 - My strength from my heart**

Upon a month of finding out the truth about his draft to the military, Erwin had come up with the brutal idea to challenge his brother to a battle for replacement. In which, he believes he is the person that Ezekiel can never fight face to face because of his empathy. With all of Erwin's pent up rage, resentment, grudges, anger and complete dislike for his state of constant inferiority toward Ezekiel, he had worked himself to death in order to be stronger, faster and nicer than Ezekiel.

Erwin, who was once a patient of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder had overcome his condition, but in a morally ambiguous way. Because of his rage and resentment, his motivation to grow and strengthen immensely motivated him. Erwin's drive to immensely surpass Ezekiel was at its point. Because of Erwin's rage, his Kinetic Art grew stronger and stronger and stronger in a swift manner. Lieutenant Germany, an Oberoffizier had also been training and supervising him to help him strengthen, not knowing about his ill will. Erwin inquired Lieutenant Germany about his sudden rise in power, to which Lieutenant Germany briefly explained.

**LTG:** "Erwin, I admire your curiosity and will to learn about your newfound power. I am proud that you are willing to use your powers for the benefit of others. You are clearly just like your brother."

Erwin was also dissatisfied as he is then again compared to his older brother, Ezekiel.

**LTG:** "Kinetic Arts don't always just come from nature and its elements. Since they are sourced from your heart, the center of your feelings and are channeled into your blood vessels, they of course feed on your strongest emotion. That strongest emotion or will, whether it be happiness, sorrow, rage, pleasure or anything else will be allocated to the power and severity of your kinetic art. It appears that your strongest emotion, which is probably pleasure from protecting others, is at its peak. I am proud of you. Keep moving. One day you will be like your brother."

Then again, Erwin appreciated the response but is dissatisfied with the constant comparison. Due to his idealistic nature, he decided to keep bottling up his rage toward Ezekiel, finding obscure ways to stir up his anger. One day during his training, he had stumbled upon an oddly shaped rock. It reminded him of Ezekiel. Enraged, he destroyed that rock and it turns out to be one of Ezekiel's victims' burial sites.

As he recalled to himself the recent events that motivated him to strengthen himself, he was broken inside. The damage he suffered was incredibly heartbreaking, but he never wanted others to see him as weak, especially Frieda. He recalled his lethal battles with Johan Konig and Novak Betelguese, he felt incredibly guilty for being responsible of taking their lives. But now, he is no longer a soft and scared man motivated for a moral cause, he is a morally compromised resentful man motivated by his grudges and strength. In recent missions, he projected his rage and showed his wrath to four anonymous opponents. Some witnesses suggest that he still felt empathy and understood his victims, cradling them if they requested or killing them in a quick manner to prevent anymore pain.

#### **Chapter 6:1:4 - Who were the Hollenfeuers? (Erwin's perspective)**

Erwin then recalls his origins growing up with his brother. Although, it is only his perspective. The political family of Hollenfeuers dated back during the age of Prussia. Their family began with one man, Kalamitat Hollenfeuer, who was a polymath. He served as a scientist and a researcher responsible for the creation of mustard gas, alongside Frederick Guthrie, Oswald Fisch and a man named Omphious Erronzein.

During their research, a sudden mishap occurred and mustard gas was all over the place. All four scientists caught the mustard gas and were the first sources of Kinetic Arts, yet they never manifested it yet. Omphious and Frederick were zombified yet peacefully however Frederick died in the incident. Kalamitat, with the trauma, decided to change fields and entered Environmental Research and rose to fame for his green projects and medical researches involving mustard gas. Kalamitat ended up becoming one of Otto von Bismarck's scientific researchers.

From what Erwin recalls, Omphious felt discredited for his participation in the synthesis of the chemicals he once invented and made it his goal to be recognized ever since. Omphious lived for more than a century and continues to attack the Hollenfeuers to this day.

During Otto Hollenfeuer's presidency, who was Erwin and Ezekiel's father, Omphious at the time was a direct political rival. Omphious hated the ideologies of the Hollenfeuers and had worked himself to rival the bloodline through the use of different identities to pretend as successors of Omphious, having different names per era. Otto Hollenfeuer declared the entire country of Germany into a state of Martial Law as Omphious began rebellions, to which the public was not aware of, and the rebellions began threatening the Hollenfeuer family, which led to the imminent downfall of the regime. Due to the constant stress faced by their mother, she began projecting her anger and rage onto her children due to her lack of control. One specific night, Otto and his wife, which was the mother of Ezekiel and Erwin had gotten into their 56th argument within three months, when the young Erwin decided to listen.

Ever since that night, he never saw Ezekiel the same. Through the constant comparisons, the constant envy and the constant resentment, he began hating Ezekiel. He wanted to be better so that his mother can recognize him for who he is. As a result, he began pursuing art, which at the time, Ezekiel was incredible at but he never managed to surpass him. He copied Ezekiel multiple times in secret, but never prevailed. Years before the declaration of Martial Law, Erwin had started a band upon being forced to learn guitar and singing by his mother.

Their band named the Hietlenfords composed and wrote songs that highlighted political and domestic issues, but was later shut down before it gained too much popularity because of Martial Law. This was where Erwin's anger issues manifested. Because of the failure of his band, Erwin never reached enough success and was funded by political fund and that was where his financial gains were. By the fall of their political regime, his family had retreated to Luxembourg after their government was usurped by the Erronzeins and civilians.

Erwin and Ezekiel had began training in Luxembourg to hone their Kinetic Arts to perfection. Their grandfather, Kristoff Hollenfeuer had taught them basic hand-to-hand martial arts and left them to cultivate their own techniques. Once again, Ezekiel was continuously praised and quickly reached his peak before Erwin did which made him more resentful. During this time period however, was when Ezekiel's romantic journey was at its boiling point as he recalled how depressing Ezekiel's life was.

Erwin was fully conscious of Ezekiel's pain, and he understood where he came from. But he drew the line upon finding out about his killing habits and drew to the conclusion that he kills because he hates seeing happiness he never received. Despite his hate and resentment for him, he truly saw him as a brother and only a thing to surpass, but his rage was too strong for him to understand that.

### **Chapter 6:2 - Hatred - Confrontation**

#### **Chapter 6:2:1 - Erwin vs Ezekiel**

After recollecting his thoughts, Erwin was filing documents to submit to Ezekiel. He looks at the date and time, being May 10th, 1942. After the ink dries on his paper, he stands up and walks outside of his office. In the hallways, he continues to walk with a blank expression. He encounters Frieda but he is not that enthusiastic as he usually is. Frieda hands him a letter from Nikolas as she began walking with him. It is currently 6:10 in the morning.

**Frieda:** "Hey, your cousin wrote you another letter. He said he's going home this month."

**Erwin:** "Oh, thanks, I'll read later."

**Frieda:** "You've been so cold lately, what's up?" She asked in a slouched manner.

**Erwin:** "I have a mountain of documents to do, y'know." He responds in a stoic manner.

**Frieda:** "I see, might I help?"

**Erwin:** "Nah, these are light."

Frieda continued to walk alongside him which mildly annoyed Erwin which was unusual. He then stayed silent for 25 seconds before speaking up.

**Erwin:** "I think the guy you were talking about... Corporal Harvey I think? Requests your assistance, I ran into him earlier. You should check that out."

**Frieda:** "Oh! Okay! I'll see you soon!"

Frieda ran off as she sounded critically enthusiastic, which made Erwin jealous and resentful, but he passed it off as he made it to the door of Ezekiel's office and knocks. As he enters the office, Ezekiel was doing nothing and eating pesto pasta by himself and he seemed pretty energetic. Erwin in contrast was gloomy and had a serious tone.

**Ezekiel:** "Oh hey, what's up? Have you eaten yet? Why so early?"

**Erwin:** "I wanted to give you documents."

**Ezekiel:** "Documents? Have you been doing paperwork all morning? I'll grab you some spicy wings if you want some?"

**Erwin:** "That is a very unhealthy breakfast. But, here."

Erwin hands Ezekiel the documents as he inspects them. The more he read, he further realized that what the document was. In an unusual manner, an Oberoffizier was challenged to a battle for replacement, Ezekiel was in disbelief. However he continued to read as the document sounded insane to him.

**Ezekiel:** "You've got to be kidding me... A battle for replacement, Erwin...?!"

**Erwin:** "I have enough balls to do that, do you?"

**Ezekiel:** "Look, you require the rank of Major to even do this, you're one rank behind, Erwin. Do you know what you're getting yourself into?"

**Ezekiel:** "Don't be stupid Erwin. Be open-minded. You've no idea how hard I've worked to be able to supervise your ass in the war! I fiddled with sorcery to keep you safe! I played games against fate!"

**Erwin:** "Don't give me that bullshit, Ezekiel! I would have been safer back home! I would be a better man if I was still at home!"

**Ezekiel:** "You think for all of my life, I was stable? You think the happiness I experienced lasted longer than a day? You think I saw myself as an equal to others? NO! In this retarded world, your beauty, height, cock size and whatever the fuck else thing you can't control DEFINE YOU! We all fail to see the goodness in people! We all fail to see who people really are behind their masks of hideousness or beauty! WE ARE BLINDED! BECAUSE ALL WE CARE ABOUT ARE BEAUTY! IT IS PURELY A PRIVILEGE!"

Ezekiel continues his statement as his kinetic marks manifest into their peak versions as claws of rock appear in-between his fingers.

**Ezekiel:** "Erwin, we're supposed to be brothers and to look out for each other, not enemies. Tell me, Erwin. Were you broken because of yourself, are you to blame? Or was it because of the people around you, like me, our mom and whoever else?

**Erwin:** "You've done enough damage, what more could you do? The pain you've caused toward me broke my heart, my mind and shattered who *Erwin Hollenfeuer* once was."

**Ezekiel:** "Erwin, pain to me is necessary. It pleases my spirit and heals my broken heart. The only thing I felt for the past 26 years are pain, abuse and mistreatment. I learn to appreciate what I am given and strengthen myself further, as any man should. Are you a man, Erwin?"

**Erwin:** "What the hell happened to you?"

**Ezekiel:** "Wrong time to find out that I have cancer, Erwin."

Erwin had no reaction, thinking it was another one of Ezekiel's manipulation.

**Erwin:** "Don't lie to me."

**Ezekiel:** "I never lied to you, brother."

**Erwin:** "You're a degenerate piece of filth, Ezekiel."

Erwin calmly exits the room as Ezekiel sits back on his chair, kicking back and relaxing before realizing what he said was incorrect and manipulative. He began kicking his chair and throwing things all over his office, exclaiming profanities and showing regret. He shortly began sobbing silently as he scratched his neck with his sharp rocky nails. He sat down in silence as he attempted to suppress his sadness.

#### **Chapter 6:2:2 - The Ivy Forces**

In 7 in the morning, the calm serene morning breeze surrounds the eerily empty outer Heilbronn. Outside of the city the Descendants of Calamity are stationed in, the city is surrounded by small mountains and complete nature like forests and foliage. This area is significantly dangerous, as some mercenaries from the confederacy sometimes patrol the area. In addition to the scary silence then sudden distant gunfire, this place is known as a no man's land during this time. However, daredevils of both the Descendants of Calamity and Prussian Spear Battalion patrol and camp the area to keep watch of any possible attack.

Within the foliage, a marksman alongside his spotter comrade explores and patrols the forests of outer Heilbronn. They stop by a hedgerow in order to catch their breath, as the marksman sits down while the spotter lays down. The marksman is known as Sivart Nachtnel. He is one of the loyal servicemen among the Descendants of Calamity having had been a companion of Ezekiel and Zacharias during the early ages of the war and even before that. The spotter is actually Corporal Harvey, one of Frieda's closest friends. As they relax, they start talking minimally.

**Harvey:** "It's been our sixth day out, Sarge. How far had we explored our designated outskirts?"

**Sivart:** "We have only patrolled about 37% of the region. It's safe to say we'll need another week to fully secure the are before the rotation."

**Harvey:** "Sarge, how are we so sure that the outskirts aren't fully safe? We can't be sure if it's even threatened."

**Sivart:** "You got to have faith, Corporal. That's what you need in a time like this. A time of uncertainty. A time of doubt, especially during a war. We might be uncertain of what we're doing, but if instinct tells us to go, we need to go. Why? Because we are faithful people."

Harvey chuckles it off as he nods while Sivart drank from his canteen. Upon 5 minutes of resting, a distant rumbling sound was heard as Sivart was alerted and he firmly gripped his Kar98k, preparing to provide over watch. As the duo concealed themselves in the foliage, the rumbling turned into marching. Both were completely silent as anxiety covered their bodies. Sivart looks through his sniper scope as the marching was now several feet away from them.

**Sivart:** "You've got to be kidding me..."

**Sivart:** "They look somewhat similar to our soldiers, but their uniforms are in much darker hue and their web belts are different. Get your radio out and contact defense teams, no-"

Before Sivart could finish his sentence, a roar of gunfire suddenly appeared from nowhere as explosions and bullets massacred the Company led by Aina Hanabira. Sivart simply ducked down as the Harvey panicked, before Sivart suddenly started shooting and assisting in the ambush. The loud cries of the dying men, the panic and clamoring shakes the soundscapes, turning what was once a peaceful forest into hell. Aina ducks and could not find the source of the ambush as smoke sourced from grenades cover the entire area. Lieutenant Germany appears behind Harvey and Sivart, making an epic entrance.

**LTG:** "We have been here the entire time. Sivart, warn the Servants of Caduceus and the Apricots of Humanity about medical assistance. Get *Panzer* in this area now, go."

Sivart nods as he grabs Harvey and retreats backward to Inner Heilbronn. Lieutenant Germany leaps out of the foliage and blasts himself to the air, unleashing a shovel and heading toward Aina's general direction.

#### **Chapter 6:2:3 - The Fragokinetic All-Star, Lieutenant Germany**

Amidst the chaos, the soldiers exchange fire as Aina is too stressed to comprehend what happens, in the background, the Fragokinetic All-Star leaps into action.

Lieutenant Germany lands beside Aina, attempting to smack her face but misses as he avoids Aina's strike of wooden fists. Aina is surprised and switches to another pot she spawned somewhere elsewhere which LTG quickly detects. However enemies began threatening him and shooting toward his direction, however he concealed himself in smoke bombs he quickly dropped. He avoided hurting the bystander soldiers due to his empathy and unwillingness to hurt the innocent soldiers forced to fight. He leapt toward the air with another blast jump, now using his rocket launcher, aiming toward Aina and shooting a rocket.

The Ivy Forces repositioned themselves to retreat and flank their opening as the Descendants of Calamity's attack column begin a counterattack. Within the smoke, barely lit by daylight, Lieutenant Germany and Aina Hanabira face off. Aina Hanabira digs her hands into the ground as several spikes of wood summon under her control, LTG quickly acts by avoiding the wooden spikes coming from the ground. He began launching himself in the air to avoid the attacks whilst hastily blowing up upcoming spikes. However, his launcher began to jam as he is smacked away by a bark of wood. He lands on the ground and loses his footing as Aina runs out of stamina and halts the wooden spikes. She is disgruntled due to her failure to finish him off right away but she repositions herself and chases after LTG. But when she arrives, he is already gone.

LTG aims a worn out pistol he found from the ground as he clings onto a tree branch, coughing from exhaustion and shoots Aina. However Aina was quick enough to duck and spawn another pot elsewhere nearby as she switches over to that one. LTG repositions as he breathes heavily, looking at Aina as the pistol broke and he grabbed a hold of his rocket launcher. Aina grinned and began to talk to LTG.

**Aina:** "So your ability is to utilize explosions to fight? You don't have kinetic arts but your body is sturdy enough to withstand explosions? Fun."

**LTG:** "I prefer honing my talent than resulting to cheap tricks and running away from danger."

**Aina:** "You have a foul mouth, old man. How could you have lived that long with a mouth like that?"

**LTG:** "You're still young and you already talk like that to your seniors as you torment the lives of the innocent. How could YOU have lived this long with a mind like that?"

Aina is understandably stressed by this statement as she dug her arms into the ground again and pushed Lieutenant Germany away from the tree, sending him flying in the air, hitting different branches as he lands on his feet, having had recovered his stamina. Aina's wooden spike turns into a small wooden fist and punches LTG in the face as he leapt away from it, attempting to flank Aina as he slowly attacked her sides. Aina followed with two more jabs to his side as he gagged from the pain but chose to resist, his breaths were more heavy now. Aina finds him and launches a Kinetic Art technique.

As Lieutenant Germany slides on the ground from the force of the explosion, he is followed by smaller, medium-sized wooden fists. He aims his rocket launcher forwards once more and unleashes a barrage of rockets, announcing **False Fragokinesis: Reaper's Seekers** as they collectively destroy the wooden fists but a smaller one follows up and jabs Lieutenant Germany in the center. He then breathes in, blast jumping repeatedly again as he unsheathes his shovel once more and attempts to slice the neck of Aina, before she ducks again and Lieutenant Germany lands in a flashy manner.

**LTG:** "It's unethical for a fighter to rage at their opponent. Do you have a sense of honor? You keep transforming to escape a fight."

Aina begins to transform herself, as her leafy hair shortens, looking more tidy. Her leaf eye-mask dissolves as Lieutenant Germany observes. He speculates that she is beginning to look more human, strategizing further into her power. He theorizes that the more stress she is put in, her emotion strengthens. Yet, somehow she can still be able to take attacks like nothing. He started to connect it with Sentinel Biokinesis but he is shortly interrupted with Aina's vine attacks that sourced from her back. She declares: **Botanikinesis: Ikari no Tsuru** as large vines of poison begin surrounding LTG.

LTG quickly evaded the vines as he started cutting some off, but he was too slow to cut the rest off as he began to throw grenades at Aina which caught her surprise as she backed away from a live grenade. Nevertheless, LTG cut 2 more vines but there are 2 more vines that chase him. He began to think. He then thought about his comrade, Felix Heisenberg who was able to use a quick smoke bomb to conceal himself and figured that he might be able to recreate that technique. LTG coughs quickly as he throws a smoke grenade, encompassing the entire compass in thick smog once again, before concealing his movements and attempting to slash Aina's neck once again. This time, he succeeds by using the element of surprise and lands the edge of his shovel on her neck as he began to force it inside. However, Aina had pollen on her body, which LTG unfortunately inhaled, and was slowly starting to get incapacitated which prevented the slash. Vines wrap around LTG and he is thrown away.

As the smoke clears, Lieutenant Germany notices that Aina no longer stems from a pot, but rather standing on her feet and on a weird formation of wood. He grabs his rocket launcher, reloading it little by little as he looks to his side and sees a gigantic Venus fly trap-like creation before him as he quickly blast jumps away from it. He attempts to shoot Aina with rockets but her animus stare catches him off-guard as the fly trap tanks the explosions as LTG continuously fought the beast. Treading through the smoke and evading the fly trap that chases him. He inhales more of the pollen as he coughs, but manages to retain his speed. As he furiously fights the beast, he launches himself onto the air again, this time breaking his legs while he is airborne. He theorizes that Aina keeps transforming to strengthen her attacks at the cost of her defense.

As LTG falls to his doom, he opens his mouth to yell toward Aina before he inevitably faces a severe fall.

**LTG:** "You're not getting away! A coward like you does not deserve the feeling of victory! You are nothing but a person who fears to take pain head on! You run away from predicaments!"

Aina looks into LTG's eyes, as his speech reminds him of Ezekiel:

**Ezekiel through flashback:** "For all of my life, I have faced the wrath of the world and how much it can drain me! I found joy in being able to be positive and persist through the pain, unlike you! I don't run away from my responsibilities and cry it off! I don't ignore advice and pass myself off as weak and impotent! I grow unlike you! A mere artifact frozen in time!"

**Aina:** "You... motherfucker..."

**LTG:** "I will win! I am strong! I will not submit even if I have to lay down powerless!"

**Aina:** "JUST SHUT UP AND DIE ALREADY!"

Aina's fly trap beast roars and attempts to eat LTG but suddenly, it explodes. The explosion starting from its head reaching all the way to its stem was so powerful that the shockwave affected Aina and had taken her by full surprise. Aina's Kinboshi no Ikari completely dies as she figures that LTG had somehow planted explosive satchel charges in her beast. LTG however falls onto the ground unconscious as Aina attempts to recover.

#### **Chapter 6:2:4 - What hides behind a monster**

Back in Heilbronn castle, Ezekiel and Serene are talking again in the usual secluded lounge. Serene is not in her sorceress form, and this time she has normal eyes and face. Ezekiel has just finished sobbing as Serene accompanies him and it seemed that he listened to his problems. He reflected on what he did to Erwin and was saddened that he hurt Erwin in a way that he shouldn't have in the first place. Serene pats Ezekiel's back in an attempt to comfort him, as Ezekiel began to speak in a calmer manner.

**Ezekiel:** "I didn't want to hurt him."

**Serene:** "You did everything you could so that you can safely watch over him."

**Ezekiel:** "Now that I think of it... I have taken so many lives already. I am a monster. I- I don't know what to say. I used to be a good person. I want to apologize to my victims, but all of them are dead."

Serene wipes his tears and caressed his hair.

**Serene:** "Panzer, the world needs to apologize to you. It wasn't your fault you turned out this way. You might be a monster, but you haven't come close to what I even had done to others."

Ezekiel looks at Serene as his eyes start to light up.

**Serene:** "Behind every monster is just a scared and hurt child, Pan."

Ezekiel's eyes light up but he is still saddened as to what he has become and began regretting everything. However he submitted to the comfort of Serene and began to smile.

However, Sivart barges into the room, panting and clearly distressed and messy. He then began speaking to Ezekiel. Ezekiel promptly stoodd form.

**Sivart:** "We are... We are under attack...!!! It's a former peer of yours...!!! Plant-based Kinetic Fighter!"

Ezekiel's eyes turn into rage, as he smiles in confidence. Serene acknowledges this and began panicking for Ezekiel's safety, as she knows Ezekiel is beginning to enter his Panzer persona of pleasure and hate.

**Ezekiel:** "That must be Aina, Hah! Finally! I have been waiting for this moment!"

### **Chapter 6:3 - Resentment - Overpowering Temptation**

#### **Chapter 6:3:1 - Erwin Hollenfeuer vs Sentinel Rank 2, Gomer Rosenberg**

In the attack column of the Descendants of Calamity, Erwin was assigned to lead the column overall, but he mainly focused on the main attack squadron. It turns out that Erwin had managed to come face to face with the Sentinel Rank 2, Gomer Rosenberg and managed to kill off the squadron Gomer led. However, Gomer overwhelmed Erwin's squadron as Erwin paved a way for them to escape. As the battlefield was now completely empty and only Gomer and Erwin remained, Gomer saw the strength of Erwin as he enlarges his right arm into a rocky behemoth of a fist. Erwin stands defiantly to challenge him to a battle.

**Gomer:** "Younger Hollenfeuer, huh? You hair is identical to your brother's."

**Erwin:** "I am sick of being compared to him, I hate it. I am not him."

**Gomer:** "You seem unappreciative of my compliment, I meant that you are an image of your brother, a formidable man."

**Erwin:** "I am a better *man* than he is."

Erwin completely goes out of his way to flank Gomer's left as he is taken by surprise. Erwin announces: **Pyrokinesis: Crossfire Volley** as multiple fireballs hit Gomer as Gomer blocks the rest. Erwin proceeded to attempt and kick Gomer's face but he is flung away by Gomer's enormous arm. Erwin does not back down as he kicks the ground to blast himself toward Gomer and attempts to land a powerful blow, however Gomer punches his upcoming fist and nullifies the damage through absorption. The shockwave returns to Erwin as he leapt back upward as his arm started to bleed, his sleeve torn apart from the flames. All Erwin feels is rage from what happened earlier and that he is then again compared to Ezekiel. Gomer is surprised by Erwin's caliber as he refused to deal a killing blow. He thinks to himself that Erwin can potentially be a powerful fighter and that he has to earn his trust and recruit him into the Confederacy as a weapon against Ezekiel.

**Gomer:** "Erwin, I am not your enemy."

**Erwin:** "Those who torment the weak, those who attempt to use them to fight others, they are my enemies. Those who degrade me by comparing me to who I am not, they are my enemies."

Gomer is surprised by Erwin's power spike and rage. Erwin then rushes forward again, as he sets himself ablaze, heading straight toward Gomer. Gomer is completely taken aback as he panicked for a short moment before he realized that what Erwin did was an illusion. He looks to his side, Erwin about to kick Gomer's abdomen and he is too slow to react. He is astonished by Erwin's strength as he allowed to be kicked in the gut, which immobilized him for a brief moment. Erwin followed up with a lethal blow to the abdomen of Gomer as Gomer leapt away upon receiving a fiery shockwave, he seems to be breathing heavily in fear. Erwin stands before him, standing in pure actual rage.

**Erwin:** "You unsympathetic bastard!"

Erwin continued clashing with Gomer as Gomer stood his ground and manages to land a few hits on Erwin, which he ignores.

**Gomer:** "Elaborate your statement, Hollenfeuer."

Gomer continuously stands his ground as he parries Erwin's attempts to hit him, deflecting every fireball thrown at him and rejecting any punch heading his way.

**Erwin:** "You had no care in the world once your men died!"

Erwin rushes forward as Gomer quickly reacts and punches Erwin's face then flinging him away with his gigantic arm. Erwin quickly regains his footing as he launches another **Crossfire Volley** but this time Gomer deflects it and Erwin is hit by his own attack. Gomer then charges up a powerful attack, gathering enough strength, announcing: **Geokinesis: Seismic Shock** as a massive burst of force and shockwave hits Erwin, blowing him away and shattering some of his bones and rupturing some blood vessels, but he chooses to resist. Gomer rushes toward Erwin and attempts to crush his head with a large attack. Erwin, despite being critically damaged, launched a fatal blow that resisted the crushing force of Gomer.

**Gomer:** "Hollenfeuer! You need to listen! I am not your enemy, this fight is unnecessary! Quickly stop before you get crushed!"

**Erwin:** "MY FIRES OF CONFIDENCE WILL NOT BE EXTINGUISHED!"

Gomer is understandably shocked at Erwin's power as his crushing blow is fired away with a fiery explosion that launched Gomer back and Erwin disappeared into the flames. Erwin and Gomer clashed as Erwin exchanged and parried blows with Gomer, intensifying the fight as fires of rage surround them while Erwin screams his lungs out. Gomer then overpowers one of Erwin's blows as Erwin retreats back into the flames. Gomer then asks Erwin a sincere question.

**Gomer:** "You are well aware that I am an impossible opponent, I survive every hit that you throw. Why are you fighting me?"

**Erwin:** "I promised that I won't let anyone innocent burn in the flames of war. That is what I failed to do."

**Gomer:** "But you saved your fireteam, right? Isn't that enough?"

**Erwin:** "My enemy or not, they are still valuable lives."

**Gomer:** "And what gratitude did they give you, Hollenfeuer? They just ran away didn't they?"

Erwin was ticked off by that statement but understood what Gomer was trying to say. Erwin launches himself toward Gomer to land another killing blow.

Nevertheless, Gomer was able to detect him attacking head on as he attempts to block his punch with his own. However, Erwin used his punch as bait and transferred all of his power to his left fist and manages to land a left hook on Gomer's right cheek, which damages his cheekbones and jaw.

Gomer is caught completely by surprised as he smacks Erwin's head, which concusses Erwin but he chooses to fight back once more. Gomer is panicking on how he is able to be almost bested by a fighter he underestimated. However he was still confident, as Erwin is now purely motivated by rage and confidence. Erwin grits his teeth as Gomer has now left another opening for Erwin to take. Erwin charges up a special ability and he screams out of rage, Announcing: **PYROKINESIS: CROSSFIRE INFERNO!!!** Before unleashing a deadly fiery blast of fire toward Gomer, to which Gomer quickly blocks.

Gomer ferociously punched Erwin in the face and successfully dealt a concussing critical blow as Erwin was flung into a tree, clinging to his consciousness as he hesitantly stood up. He then set his fists on weak embers that immediately evolved into roaring flames. Surprisingly, he set himself on fire and everything around him in an inferno. He quickly dashed forward, at a speed that surprised Gomer, who was at this point worn out and wasn't able to block the devastating blow and had no choice to take it and allocate all his energy into defense. Erwin then summoned two gigantic fiery fists that follow him on the trajectory to hit Gomer.

As Gomer is hit in the face, he still manages to muster up enough confidence to smirk, before a large fiery and rocky explosion covers and hides the result of the intense battle.

#### **Chapter 6:3:2 - Bitterness among shattered hearts**

As Aina recovers from the blast, LTG is completely knocked out as Aina finally decides what she'll do. The explosion from Erwin's ultimate attack was heard in the distance.

**Ezekiel:** "How's your day? Eaten yet?" Ezekiel passed off as harmless.

**Aina:** "Don't talk to me so casually." Aina responded with hostility.

**Ezekiel**: "So you chose to pick on someone outside of your league? I'm surprised you're not a crybaby anymore." Ezekiel laughed it off.

**Aina:** "Fuck you, Ezekiel. You suck ass."

**Ezekiel:** "And you suck dick, you'd make more bank that way."

**Aina:** "You have no idea how strong I have gotten."

**Ezekiel:** "You should use your botanic powers to make sandwiches and to mow lawns."

**Aina:** "Fuck you, sexist cunt."

**Ezekiel:** "Trust me, you've fucked me enough times already."

Aina grits her teeth as she launches multiple wooden fists and spikes toward Ezekiel as he absorbs the punches like nothing and claws the spikes individually. More wooden punches comes his way as he laughs off and accepts the blows, which confuses Aina. However, she continuously launched more wooden fists as Ezekiel continued to accept the attacks without much effort of blocking them. By this point, his face is bloody and he looked very worn out, but he still ignites positive energy and confidence. Ezekiel then screamed at the top of his lungs and launched himself into the air, as Aina attempted to throw more wooden punches toward him but Ezekiel bypassed them as he leapt down to Aina, attempting to claw her but she leapt backward and manifested another emotion form.

Aina declares to herself, **Botanikinesis Manifestation: Hatred** as he now enters a her full human form as she hides herself from Ezekiel. Shortly after, Aina releases a powerful attack, creating a large wooden dragon as it heads toward Ezekiel.

Ezekiel tricked the wooden dragon as he evades most of it and claws it's way downward, significantly damaging the dragon. He leaps from the neck of the dragon and jumps toward Aina, attempting to claw her again but Aina avoids him again. Ezekiel then attempted to chase Aina in a pursuit but Aina kept avoiding and throwing Mokuzai no Zohakuten toward Ezekiel, which he continues to harass and absorb the damage of. Nevertheless, Aina doesn't know what to do other than continuously flee. However, she doesn't step down so easily as she summons another Mokuzai no Zohakuten from her right arm.

Ezekiel then creates a rocky fist, similar to Gomer's but relatively smaller and with spiky knuckles. He then punches the non-arm Mokuzai no Zohakuten and incapacitates the dragon. Nevertheless, his attacks had become more powerful which Aina takes notice of. However, Aina performs a technique where she channels her inner hate into a loud roar of Mokuzai no Zohakuten, which ruptures Ezekiel's ears, too painful for him to absorb. Ezekiel then loses focus as he began to feel the psychological pressure of sound, but loses the ability to hear momentarily. Combined with his new black eye, he isn't fully able to fight. The second Mokuzai no Zohakuten pursued Ezekiel as Ezekiel mustered enough power to launch **Geokinesis: Tectonic Shockwave** which destroys the dragon through the use of a powerful shockwave. Ezekiel catches his breath as Aina talks to her again.

**Aina:** "What's wrong?"

**Ezekiel:** "What?! Can't hear you!"

**Aina:** "I SAID: WHAT'S WRONG?!"

**Ezekiel:** "WHAT?! YOU BROKE MY EARDRUMS! COME CLOSER!"

**Aina:** "I'm not falling for that."

**Ezekiel:** "Damn it, I thought I was smart."

**Aina:** "You're unhinged, Ezekiel."

**Ezekiel:** "Think again!"

Aina scoffs at Ezekiel's "bluffs" as LTG suddenly launches himself in the sky with a face of determination, shooting 2 rockets toward Aina before falling down again. Aina dashes backwards, nearby Ezekiel, closing the gap between the two as Ezekiel gains the upper hand. Aina ran out of enough stamina to make an escape, so she mustered up enough courage to fight Ezekiel face-to-face, as she regenerates another Mokuzai no Zohakuten from her left arm in a slow pace. Ezekiel closes the distance to unleash his claws on her to deal significant damage. LTG supervises the fight from a vantage point as the Mokuzai no Zohakuten takes its form, attempting to to bite Ezekiel off of Aina. However, Lieutenant Germany shoots rockets toward the dragon which prevents further movement as Aina attempts to deflect Ezekiel using her own version of Ezekiel's claws.

Aina is slowly capitulating to Ezekiel's sheer power, losing so much blood from arterial bleeding. However she musters up enough final power, dealing deadly uppercut to Lieutenant Germany's jaw, which makes him incapacitate. Aina figures that hurting Ezekiel is no use, as he'll see it as nothing, but Ezekiel will be more affected if she hurts someone else.

**Ezekiel:** *"DO YOU KNOW HOW INSANE I WENT BECAUSE I LOVED YOU?! I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GLUE US TOGETHER!"*

Aina does not reply as Ezekiel extracts his claws from her neck, snapping the claws in half before kicking Aina's chest and abdomen to create a gap between them for an ultimate art. Aina however ignores it and decides to make a last ditch effort, impaling Ezekiel's hip, but it again does nothing. Ezekiel then lunges his right spiky knuckles toward Aina's face, preparing a devastating attack.

**Ezekiel: *"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"***

All Aina could hear was Ezekiel's devastating, ear-rupturing screams as her life began to flash before her eyes.

#### **Chapter 6:3:3 - The roots of the Hanabira and how the petals bloomed**

**Aina's father:** "Aina, please go take care of your brother while I am gone. Please do his homework for him and all of his school projects. I'll be back after a month, I need to attend a business meeting."

**Younger Aina:** "Isn't that too much, father?"

**Aina's father:** "Nothing is too much for older siblings, Aina."

During her upbringing, Aina was always expected to care for her younger brother. Her mental and emotional burnouts were unrecognized by her father. She was only seen as someone who should be like a typical domestic mother, a hardworking housewife who's task is to only care for the men of the house. But her and her older cousin, Isaac was against that idea. Due to the constant chores she was given to "train" her inner housewife spirit, she began to break and became a very emotional person, easily crying because of the pressure she was always given. Isaac was very empathetic of her and often stuck to her side even when it meant the worst. He always argued for her when her family wronged her and always had her back.

**Young Isaac:** "Aina, no matter what the world has to throw at you. I am always there to catch that. I promise I won't let anything hurt you."

**Young Aina:** "Do you promise?"

As a result, Aina held Isaac dearly to her heart and easily clung to him whenever she needed anything. After renouncing her association with the Hanabira family, she kept the name but left the clan in order to start a new meaning for the Hanabira name. She had a passion for gardening, plants and botany. As such, she worked her way up in education and graduated to qualify for an environmental scientist job in the field of botany. By the 1930's, she had a work trip to Luxembourg, conveniently also during the time where Ezekiel and his family were in the country. The two of them met one night and fell in love with each other and started a relationship. Due to Ezekiel's overwhelming kindhearted aura at the time, she fell in love way harder, and as a result was so scared of losing him to the point she was overly possessive. During this time, Isaac also pursued his own career which limited his contact with Aina. As a result, she clung to Ezekiel instead.

She began manipulating him and distancing him away from other girls and increasing their intimacy through manipulation. Ezekiel was hurt, however did not want to capitulate because of his love for Aina. Nevertheless, Aina began envying Ezekiel's close friend, Serene Ziegler and things got worse from there. At the time, she was friends with Serene's nemeses and was advised to leave Ezekiel, because Serene's nemeses, *The Vengeful Caster* knew that the way to hurt her was to hurt the ones close to her, one of them being Ezekiel. Due to Aina receiving special treatment from the Vengeful Caster, she followed through with the plan and left Ezekiel mercilessly. She then followed the footsteps of the Vengeful Caster in the SPA alongside with her other friends in order to satiate their hatred for Serene, giving us the Aina that we have now.

But then she then replaced the blame onto Ezekiel, blaming him for talking to other girls, for talking to others other than her, which dissatisfied the Vengeful Caster and she was booted from her clique. From then, she started her own campaign to orchestrate Ezekiel's downfall. Nevertheless, she never hated him. She only said she hated him so that she can counter his love for him that was still alive, but Ezekiel lost that feeling because he never knew what Aina went through. Aina remembers a specific event with Ezekiel. It was a sunny afternoon, and they were viewing a large lake from a mountain hike, her and Ezekiel were holding hands as Aina wanted Ezekiel's reassurance.

**Younger Aina:** "Zeke, am I the only girl you'll fight a war for?"

**Younger Zeke:** "Yes, Aina. You were the one to understand what I felt, and were willing to return that love to me. You are the one person that waits for me everytime."

**Younger Aina:** "Zeke, how am I certain you'll uphold your fidelity toward me?"

**Younger Zeke:** "Aina, if you were a treasure, I'd venture for you. If you were a landmark, I'd travel for you. If you were a dream, I'd rather sleep forever so I am always with you."

Aina was touched by Ezekiel's poetic words.

**Younger Zeke:** "I promise. I will marry you. If you continue being a good person, we'll hold hands forever, and as angels in the afterlife, we'll be reincarnated as this again. Just as long as you control your bad self, okay? Please keep being positive. I promise the light is upon us. I truly love you."

That was the last positive interaction between the two. The events that follow were the break up, the start of the war then the death of her cousin, Isaac which Ezekiel was responsible of. Ezekiel's perspective was that he was manipulated because of Aina's ignorance, however he lacked enough open-mindedness which resulted in continuous bitterness.

#### **Chapter 6:3:4 - The petal decays**

Aina snaps herself back into reality, realizing that her death is imminent, she refused to fight back because the one to kill her is her one and only lover in life. Ezekiel continued to exclaim and scream in rage and pleasure from his upcoming victory. But then, he remembers LTG's statement to him, before he slammed Aina onto the ground.

As Ezekiel slams Aina onto the ground, the ground rumbles and quakes as the result of Ezekiel's ultimate power, showcasing the true power of the 3rd strongest Oberoffizier. Earthly dust and rock are sent flying everywhere as the extreme explosion from the sheer impact was heard all around Heilbronn. A seismic shockwave caused a small tectonic reformation due to the sheer raw strength of Ezekiel Hollenfeuer.

As Aina lays almost lifelessly on the ground, Ezekiel kneels before her, cradling her body, attempting to talk to her. Ezekiel still has empathy for her.

**Ezekiel:** "Aina...?"

Aina looks at him with faint, pale eyes as Ezekiel can't feel anything other than guilt, ignoring the pleasure he is currently feeling from the bodily pain.

**Ezekiel:** "I'm sorry..."

Ezekiel apologizes to Aina, recognizing who she once was to his life. He began emitting a look of sadness, concern and utmost agony. Aina's look of hatred turns into a look of sympathy.

**Aina:** "...Stop... Apologizing... It... was... me..."

Aina talked in a faint manner as her breaths were heavy yet faint, her face not as beautiful as it was earlier.

**Ezekiel:** "We had a good thing... I'm sorry..."

**Aina:** "I... Already... said... stop..."

Aina continued to talk.

**Aina:** "I'm... sorry... I... I didn't.... I didn't give you the freedom... I... was... toxic... now... you hated... me..."

**Ezekiel:** "No, no... I didn't hate you, I never hated you..."

**Aina:** "Don't... lie to... yourself... We both... know... That you had... pent-up hate..."

**Ezekiel:** "We were young at the time... I promise I didn't hate you..."

**Aina:** "Just... stop... already..."

**Ezekiel:** "Aina, you know I loved you. You were everything." Ezekiel stammers out of nervousness as he began developing a small amount of tears.

**Aina:** "I... did... as well..."

Aina's eyes become lifeless as her soul leaves her body, dying in Ezekiel's arms. Her heart stops beating as Ezekiel cradled the corpse of Aina Hanabira within his arms. He began softly and mildly sobbing knowing that he is responsible for the death of a woman she once loved. But he knows that it was her fate, given the destiny she chose. She then thinks to himself about his cancer, and how undeservingly fortunate he is to live this long.

In the afterlife, Aina had returned to her pretty and beautiful state. Before her is a long, dark pathway. On that same pathway is the soul of Isaac waiting for Aina. Aina runs toward him as she began sobbing while Isaac had open arms. Both met each other again with a warm hug.

**Aina:** "Isaac... I'm sorry... I wasn't ever there for you..."

**Isaac:** "It's okay. The people had wronged us enough. At least in the end, we have each other."

**Aina:** "My brother... is he okay?"

**Isaac:** "He is currently caring for your father, whom is ill. I made sure Ezekiel won't lay a finger on our family ever again."

**Aina:** "But... I did so many wrong things... I can't go to heaven with you..."

**Isaac:** "What you did does not matter to me, what you are is all that is. You will always be my cousin. Even if it means I have to go to hell, I am coming with you."

Aina smiles at Isaac as Isaac crouches down as he caressed her hair.

**Isaac:** "Let's go, hop on my back."

Aina mounts Isaac's shoulders as he holds her as they go into the flames of hell.

Back to reality, an electric power-up noise was heard in the distance as Ezekiel quickly maneuvers himself away from Aina, keeping his tears away. Dellion Howitzer had his electric gauntlet charged up, ready to fight but turned it off once Ezekiel was in front of him. Dellion scoffed at Ezekiel's state.

**Dellion:** "Wow, look at you. Got into a real fight this time?"

**Ezekiel:** "Get MEDEVAC right now, LTG is unconscious and in sever hemorrhage."

**Dellion:** "It's on its way. What happened here?"

**Ezekiel:** "What do you think happened? Shit happened."

**Dellion:** "Mhm, classic Panzer. You have a lot of nerve on you. Don't pass it off as a big fight."

**Ezekiel:** "Why don't you ever want to settle our differences?"

**Dellion:** "Because I dislike your habits of killing others, Ezekiel. You are just like your dad. Nothing but a cold blooded killer."

Dellion softly shoves Ezekiel as he explores the battlefield encompassed in smoke as Ezekiel runs to check up on LTG. However, Ezekiel trips and falls unconscious from the pollen as Dellion quickly panics to check on him.

#### **Chapter 6:3:5 - Handshake of death**

Back to the fight with Gomer, the hell Erwin created devolves into a small inferno wasteland. Their battlefield is completely burnt to ashes as the light shines from above. Erwin has no more stamina to fight but Gomer refuses to kill him. Erwin prepares another ultimate art but Gomer raises his palm at him, ordering him to stop, as from exhaustion, he decided to listen. Erwin coughed repeatedly before Gomer spoke. The eerie noise of deafening silence covered the environment.

**Gomer:** "Erwin, stop. You are running out of electrolytes. You are dehydrated. Drink water from your canteen."

Erwin does as ordered as he grabbed his canteen, unscrewing the cap and drinking it, chugging every single milliliter of water stored in the canteen before he threw it on the ground."

**Gomer:** "Breathe, inhale, exhale. Deeply."

Erwin does so as he begins controlling his breath again, finally feeling a sense of ease as he submits to the gentle voice of Gomer.

**Erwin:** "Why is it that you spare me...?"

**Gomer:** "Because you are unlike others. Unlike your brother."

**Erwin:** "You know him...?"

**Gomer:** "Yes, I am aware of the atrocities and heinous actions he condones."

Erwin pauses for a moment, finally seeing someone with the same vision as him. Someone who knows some sort of ugly truth.

**Gomer:** "I have worked with him once, what he did was unimaginable. Both of us know what atrocities he commits. Unlike you, you are special. Moral. Good."

### **Chapter 7:0 - Preview**

Nikolas and Zacharias surprisingly arrive back in Heilbronn. Nikolas has a new outfit, composing of a khaki overcoat and a black sweater under the coat. Nikolas also wears a new bandolier to encase his chemicals in. Zacharias now wears an eyepatch for his left eye and wears a new dark green trench coat. They stand by the entrance to the city as they were unloaded by a transport truck.

**Zacharias:** "Hyo! We're back! We may not be all-stars but we learned a lot!"

**Nikolas:** "It's cold."

**Sivart:** "It has been a while, welcome back to Heilbronn. A battle had just commenced, but we had contained the threat and prevented it from entering inner Heilbronn."

**Zacharias:** "Outside of my supervision? What? No. Let me assess this situation."

**Sivart:** "Wassersaule, you have been absent for months and did not bother to contact us."

**Zacharias:** "What? Nikolas, did you not send the letters I wrote?!"

**Nikolas:** "I forgot."

**Zacharias:** "Bitch."

**Sivart:** "Alright, enough horseplay, Ezekiel has information. He wishes to send you out on a small deployment, Nikolas."

The rest are to be discussed.