The battle has finally arrived at the center of the island. The kingdom's garrison soldiers continue making their last stand there, fighting as hard as they can to repel both the Akadian troopers and the village warriors. Trooper 309 and the medics remained in the back line to tend to the wounded. Meanwhile, Trooper 117 continues leading them from the front, ensuring they keep gaining ground and pushing through.
Standing behind the frontlines, he could feel that victory was drawing closer, yet he didn't dare to underestimate the enemy, even if it was the smallest detail. His intuition was proven correct when suddenly the wall was destroyed from the other side. A giant golem-like creature emerged from the other side, attacking the warriors and the kingdom soldiers fighting on the frontline.
The troopers behind them were surprised at the sudden appearance of the golem. However, 117 quickly rallied them to fight against the golem. Despite the intense firepower that their weapons unleashed on the golem, be it rifles or explosives, it did not affect it. The golem instead becomes more agitated and charges towards the troopers. Crushing or shoving them aside as if they were little children's toys.
It eventually reaches 117 and tries to grab him with its gigantic hand. Luckily, 117 was quick enough to roll out of the way, making his way behind the golem to avoid its gaze. That luck soon ran out when the golem suddenly made a full turn while sweeping the ground with its massive hands, throwing 117 through the ruined wall.
As he landed on the other side, his helmet was thrown away from his head, revealing his face. He then tries to get up, fighting the pain of the fall that he just endured. He could see a giant ball-like object, floating not too far from him. It has intense energy surrounding it that even someone like him could see.
Next to the object, the familiar mysterious young girl appeared again, walking from behind it. The girl then pointed at the object. That was when he knew that this object that he was looking at was the source of the barrier, or rather the barrier itself. Right before he could say anything, his communicator started ringing.
Trooper 309 urgently started speaking from the other side "117, that giant thing is tearing through our men, and we got a lot of wounded here!"
117 clicks his tongue, reminded of the dire situation they were facing at the moment. Then, he replied "309, fall back to the portal and get out of here. Find Yami too while you're at it"
"What about you?"
"I'm at the barrier. I'll deal with it and make my way back to you. Just get out of here"
"Alright. See you on the other side, 117"
The call ended. The mysterious girl had disappeared, and 117 was now left alone to destroy the barrier. The question that weighs his mind now is how to destroy it. He had no other explosives aside from his grenades, and there's no doubt that small explosions would destroy it.
"Akadian scum!"
A sword slashes towards 117 from behind him. Thankfully he quickly dodges it, causing the attack to only scratch his face. It was the captain of the kingdom's soldiers garrisoned here, wielding his katana sword. Even though he was wounded thanks to the golem-like creature, he seems to be able to fight perfectly.
"I won't let you destroy this barrier and the hopes of our world"
The captain continues his attack furiously towards 117. Despite his best effort, 117 couldn't dodge all of his attacks and found himself on the ground once again, but at the captain's mercy. His rifle was also tossed away during the fighting. The captain then steps on 117's chest, declaring his victory.
"For my people. For the King!"
Without hesitation, he stabs the sword to 117's chest. 117 could feel his life slipping away as the stab also went through his heart. "It can't end like this. Not when I...Haven't achieved my dream...Kept my promise" Those were the thoughts that went through his mind as his life was slipping away. Just as his eyes were about to close, his vision became blurry. It seems this is the end of the road for him.
***
117 opens his eyes once again. This time, he wasn't in the ruined area again and instead is in a more metallic place. The one who steps on him is also not the captain who stabbed him, but rather an armored black soldier who wears the same Akadian armor as he does, yet he wears a different one. Signifying that he is ranked way above 117. He also wears a gas mask and red eyes goggles, however, his presence is terrifying, even though he was used to the design of the Akadian armor that he himself was wearing.
"So, you're the one who came up with this little charade, Trooper 117?" The man spoke with a robotic voice filter "I'm surprised a lowlife trooper like you had the balls to organize such a stunt"
117 turns his head to the side. His eyes widened, as he saw the corpses of his fellow troopers around him. All of them are people that he knew and people that he didn't know. And then it hit him. He remembered all that had happened here, and who the terrifying man that stood before him now.
This was the time when 117 organized a rebellion during his training days.
The terrifying armoured man then grabbed 117 by the neck, choking him yet not too hard "Why?"
117 clenches his hands, not trying to escape, but to endure the pain. He looks into the man's glowing visor "I want… more"
The man looks back at 117 as he can also feel the resolve that 117 had.
Trooper 117 continued "More than just a trooper. More than a disposable pawn or a test dummy. More than a defect" 117 grabs the man's arm "I want to be free!"
"Is that so?"
The black armoured man chuckles mockingly before punching 117 in the face, sending him flying away. 117 crashed into the metal wall, leaving a dent during his impact. Every bone seemed to be broken inside him, but he still struggled to stand back up again. The man then walked towards 117 slowly, taking his time in beating 117.
"Do you know who I am?"
After 117 got up, he wiped the blood off his mouth "Hirodinus...Konrad..."
The man who stood in front of him was no mere high-ranking general. He is not only the strongest soldier in Akadia but is also cunning and ruthless with his tactics and strategies.
"And you wish to be free with a half-assed effort like this? All you did was help me dispose of the defects under your command" He said while stepping on one of the dead troopers on the ground, crushing the head completely like a balloon. Lacking in care for the dead, whether they're allies or enemies.
As he drew closer, 117 quickly tried to think of a way out of this, yet both his body and mind were in shambles as he seemed to have no way out of this. He then runs out of time as the man, Hirodinus, grabs 117 by the shoulder. Squeezing it with his immense strength, cracking bones within 117's shoulder.
"You can't escape war, 117. No matter how hard you run, it will always find its way back to you"
Hirodinus prepares his fist to give 117 one more punch, a punch that would certainly kill him. Suddenly, a familiar voice calls him out from behind him right when his fist is in front of 117's face.
"Hiro, wait!"
He held his fist right in place, then turned towards the one calling him. Mia Narukami and two veteran troopers who were accompanying her stood behind him. She doesn't seem afraid of him and is instead more laid back with him, despite his menacing appearance.
"Not this one"
Hirodinus immediately let 117 go, dropping him to the ground "May I ask why we should spare this defect?"
"This defect just led a rebellion and killed a good number of troopers. Do you think his majesty would waste such potential?"
Hirodinus scoffed "He is still defective. He believes in the nonsense of freedom and wishes to spread it to the other troopers"
"Then take him under your command. Either discipline him or use him until he's dead. Whatever you want, am I right?" Mia suggested nonchalantly.
The two of them speak as if the lives of the troopers that died were nothing to them. Even the two troopers accompanying Mia, despite being the same origin as 117 and the others, didn't seem to mind the tone of the conversation, and they just stood there, continuing to listen and performing their guard duties.
Hirodinus paused for a moment, giving what Mia suggested some thought. After some time, he nodded "I suppose with time, he can serve as a more useful cannon fodder"
Just as he said that some of the troopers that joined 117's rebellion started to stand up, yet all of them were as wounded as he was.
"What about the others?"
Mia looks at the awakened troopers. Then, she pointed at one of them who stood the farthest from them "Just that one. He's got potential, at least. The rest, I couldn't care less"
Hirodinus took out his pistol and executed all of the troopers. All except one that Mia pointed out. That trooper was Trooper 553. The dying troopers didn't even try to fight back and instead, accepted their fate.
As 117 watched how his fellow troopers were executed, he felt a sense of anger and vengeance, yet he was unable to do anything at the moment, except stay silent and accept the mercy that was given to him.
Once the troopers are executed, Hirodinus leaves the room as if all of this meant nothing to him. Trooper 553 stood there, shocked and dumbfounded as to why he was also spared. He then turned to look at 117 with his eyes wide open.
Their eyes would meet, but were then blocked by Mia who walked up to 117.
"The things Faith made me do" Mia muttered to herself before speaking to 117 "Anyway, if you want to live, I suggest you forget about this whole idea of freedom and focus on your duties" Mia said with a threatening tone. She then turns to 553 "That goes for you too, 553. Unlike him, your skills are the only thing keeping you alive"
"Y...Yes...Professor Narukami" 553 answered, still shocked by what happened.
Mia then leaves the room, walking away while waving her prosthetic right arm "You two, bring them to medical. Oh, and bring in the clean-up crew in here as well before the corpses stink this place" She said in an ignoring tone.
"Yes sir!" The two answered.
The trooper bodyguards then each walk up to both 117 and 553. Cuffing their hands behind them and bringing them out of the messy room. 117 took one last look at the slaughtered troopers. It was then that he was completely reminded of what they are.
117 and the Akadian troopers are all clones. Biologically engineered soldiers, created to fight for the Akadian empire. They are meant to be disposable frontline soldiers. However, thanks to his fateful encounter with Faith in the library, he no longer thinks like that anymore. He rejects this way of life and thinking. And so, the dream ends and he awakens.
***
The garrison captain stood near the ruined wall, looking at his dead comrades who were both killed by the Akadians and the golem monster. He sighed, as he started mourning them.
"Damnit. Those Akadian bastards caused quite a lot of damage." He muttered to himself while sighing "At least the barrier is safe. I just hope Kenji can take care of the others"
At the same time, Trooper 117 opens his eyes, slowly getting on his feet while looking at his own body. There was a small hole in the chest piece of his armour, thanks to the captain's katana sword. However, there were no wounds, and the blood poured out of his body were already dried up.
He then noticed that the garrison captain doesn't seem to notice him yet, as the captain seems to be mourning the loss of his comrades. This is an opportunity that 117 couldn't afford to waste.
Trooper 117 grabbed a knife that was attached to his chest, then rushes towards the captain to attack him.
The garrison captain notices this just in the nick of time. When 117 throws his knife towards the captain, he blocks it with his katana sword.
However, 117 was already near the captain, jumping towards him while grabbing both of his arm, causing the captain to drop the katana sword as they fall.
"Damnit… How did you…"
Not giving any chance, 117 sat on top of the garrison captain, and punch his face repeatedly.
Punch after punch, he was reminded of the dream he just had. When Hirodinus Konrad told him of how he can't escape from a life of war. Trooper 117 continues punching the captain unconscious of the rage that had engulfed him. Not to mention that the weight of the glove 117 is wearing, is heavy, causing his punch to break even more than the nose of the captain.
Each punch was delivered repeatedly and with hate, causing the already crippled captain to spurt out blood from his face. Eventually, the captain was too weak to withstand those punches and was already dead while 117 continues his assault.
It would take a couple of minutes before 117 stopped and got a good look at the result of his intense rage. The captain's face was no longer recognizable and is only the deformed remains of 117's brutal punches. Yet, 117 showed no signs of worry or traumatized of what he's done. More that he had found something that he was once forced to forfeit.
The desire to become more than a soldier.
"Watch me, General Konrad" Trooper 117 stands up, clenching his fists as he murmurs his declaration "I'll make my dream a reality. I'll leave this life of war, along with the other troopers. You'll see"
That vow, despite not being heard by anyone, was made not just for Hirodinus himself, but also for Faith. The vengeful girl who is currently out there, wanting him dead, was still dear to him because of what she had given to him. Now his desire to protect her was no longer just a mysterious order from inside his head, but rather his own dream and free will.
That day, Trooper 117 had finally returned to his previous self, and was once again Priad, the Akadian trooper who had impossible dreams to achieve, and greater challenges for him to tackle, from within and without.