*boom!*

*bang!* *bang!*

“Viper! Do you read??”

“Sir!”

“Good! Then proceed to point A to rescue the survivors! Owl! Follow me until point C then proceed to rescuing the remaining survivor’s there!”

“Roger!”

“Based on the information we got, the remaining survivors aren’t only soldiers but also civilians. They are trapped just right after the enemy began to attack. Make sure every one of them gets out unhurt!”

Altogether they answered in unison as they rushed to their assigned task.

Dan and Frank ran all the way along the street of the destroyed City F where the enemy fire is almost everywhere. The fire that burns everything in its sight is illuminating the whole battlefield as explosions and gunshots reverberate all around the site. It was no time to appreciate the night sky which is as usual flooded with stars with the moon as its main actor.

Even with all the heavy armaments they are bringing, it did not hinder their feet as they run towards the building where the civilians are supposed to have hidden from the invaders.

And this has become a battle of time as the enemy advances with every step they take. No one could ever know if they have already gotten where the civilians are and already massacred all of them.

But for Dan and Frank, it was not the time to doubt over little things. Even with the slightest hope of arriving with the civilians and soldiers still safe, they will continue to run.

Although, the invaders does not have a plan to make it easy for them.

“Darn it! This guys won’t let up!”

“I’ll drink my fair share of beer after this mission!”

“Hey Frank! It’s a race until Point A! The winner will receive free beer from the loser!”

“I’m in! Prepare your wallet, Dan!”

The two dashed while engaging in open fire.

“Eat this you scum bastards!”

“Beer!!”

…

“Commander! Rescue target spotted! Permission to proceed!”

“Granted! Now Owl, go, go, go!”

“Roger!”

Owl, or Pola, William, and Johannes, while engaging with the incoming fire from the enemy, sprinted with all their might towards the screaming survivors hidden inside a crumbling house.

“Tsk. This is worse than it can get.”

The Commander clicks his tongue as a protest to their current dire situation. The night have taken away their sight with only the spreading fire from one house to another their only light. The relentless fire from the invaders like they have unlimited ammunitions is also one of the reason they are having a hard time.

There are still other soldiers that have been here since the crossfire has started but one by one, they are getting tired and a number of them are already killed.

If they do not act faster, this will be the end of everyone in the site.

“Viper, Owl, act using your own judgement after you sent the survivors to a safe place. I’ll take a look inside this hell thoroughly.”

“Roger that!”

“Commander… please be safe…”

Pola whispered under her breath while helping the survivors run towards the gate leading to the exit of the city where a transport lies await.

…

..

.

“*pant* … You really make us do the impossible, Major General. Hup!”

Jumping down the rubles of the collapsed building, Schmidt charged towards the direction of the real objective of their mission which is only sent to him, the ace of their country’s whole military.

Hans Schmidt entered the military when he was just 11 years old. Everyone noticed the innate talent of the youth and was sent to his first battle just a year after. He grew up alongside the smell of gunpowder and blood. Honed by the harsh environment of the war and made him the way he is now.

“They expect too much of me- Here!”

He threw a grenade near the site of where the enemy soldiers are opening fire to the allied soldiers.

*boom!*

Until the time he was known all throughout the war. A young blond soldier reaping the souls of everyone he comes to meet face to face. After his utter defeat from his first battle, he pushed his body harder than any humans can do and later on, every time he is assigned in a battle, that battle is already considered to be a win for their side.

Resulting to that is now man called Hans Schmidt. The commander of the Gold Forger Squad.

“Good.”

A beast in human’s hide.

“Now next…”

[“Annihilate every enemy soldier in the vicinity.”]

“*sigh* Can’t be helped. Let’s do this.”

Schmidt dropped his automatic rifle and changed to his handgun. With the sound of slicking, the handgun is now loaded with ammo and is ready to be fired at any time. With a knife in his left hand, he dropped everything that may weigh him down leaving only his weapons and grenades.

“*inhale* *exhale* Fuuuu…”

The once light blue, droopy eyes of Schmidt, which one would think anyone would forgive him with whatever he do because of them, now becomes sharp like an eagle aiming for its prey. Once again, the atmosphere around him changed from that of a gentle young man to a soldier that is only made to kill.

“Hmph!”

In a blink of an eye, he disappeared from his place and ran towards the next point where the enemy soldiers are stationed.

…

“Go! Go! Kill all of them! Leave no one alive!”

“Diiiieeee!!!”

The enemy soldiers continue firing without rest.

“Excuse me.”

But without noticing, in an instant Schmidt is already behind one of them and…

“What the?!”

*bang*

“Guha-?!”

… Proceeding to the next one like a storm. Like a flash of lightning, leaving only the trails of the light in his eyes, he runs as if he is disappearing from his place.

“Who goes there!?”

*stab*

“Urk-!”

“Kirov! Damn!”

*bang!* *bang!*

“You can’t hit me without aiming properly.”

Schmidt once again swiftly appeared behind another scared soldier. He pointed the blade of the knife on to the soldier’s neck and locked his arms around the soldier’s head.

“Whaaa-!??”

*stab*

“Done here. Next.”

The actions of Schmidt continued until the numbers of the enemy soldier dwindled significantly.

“…”

His wound slowed him a bit but not to the point where it hinders his movements.

Disappearing like a wind and running like an electric current passing through a conductive water killing everyone in its path. Some of the soldiers do not even know what happened to them and was killed off instantly.

“I’ll be passing through.”

“N-No!!!”

*bang*

*rumble* *rumble*

Not far from where he is, an armored truck carrying more soldiers appeared from the opposite side of the city.

“My, my. More corpses to pile up?”

“Gkh-!”

“I-I know him… Th-That’s…”

“What are you on about soldier?!”

“… It’s the Golden Death God… We’re all dead… Every time he appears in a battlefield, n-no one escapes alive…! Run! I don’t want to die!!”

“Thanks for the swift explanation. I guess I’m really popular, huh?

“Tsk! Surround him! Don’t let him get away from here! Aim! Aim!!”

Every single one of the soldiers aimed at Schmidt with the intention of killing him without mercy. They are already fighting against death himself. It is no wonder that they would want to run away from him.

*bang* *bang* *bang*

“Hmph. Where are you aiming?”

Once again, he appeared from their behinds and one by one they fall to the ground.

“D-Damn it… Curse you demon…”

The last soldier who is on the ground gathered all his remaining strength and threw curses at the devil incarnate in front of him.

“Now, now… Weren’t I a death god?”

“D-Damn you….!!”

*bang*

More than half of the soldiers that they fought was killed by him alone within a short period of time. If one end up having to witness him or even just accidentally met him face to face, they would never think that the one in front of them is a human like them, living up to his nickname Golden Death God.

No enemy has yet to live to tell the tale of their encounter with the death god.

“Done. But it’s not mission accomplished until we send all the survivors back home and also us.”

*bzzt*

“Viper, how’s the evacuation?”

*bzzt*

“It’s going well, Commander. Too well, to be honest. Well that’s to be expected of you.”

“Tell me the ET of evacuation.”

“30 minutes and we’re done.”

“Copy. I’ll be on my way there.”

“Roger.”

Schmidt ran towards their rendezvous point and arrived in no time. Almost all of the rescued civilians and injured soldiers are now in the transport and any minute now will be the time for departure.

The smile and relieved faces of the evacuees are clearly expressed. The happy faces of the rescued are one of the rewards of a soldier whenever they have a mission that concerns rescuing.

“Thank you very much…!”

One of the evacuees is a mother holding her daughter in her arms while expressing her gratitude towards the squad of Schmidt. All of the enemy soldiers were subdued by either killing them or tied up to prevent further resistance.

Other soldier have started to put out the flames and others have proceeded to scout the whole area. The only remaining soldiers have only counted from 200 when they started to 23 including the squad of Schmidt.

Considering the amount of their loss, it is hard for them to call it a complete victory even if they defeated all of the invaders.

But that is a different matter. For now, the smiles of the rescued are what is most important and rewarding for them. It meant that the deaths of their comrades were certainly not in vain.

“You’re most welcome, mam.”

“Thank you, Ms. Soldier!”

“We thought that it will be the end of us… Thank goodness you arrived. If not for you…”

“Not at all mam. We were just doing our jobs.”

Pola smiled brightly while humbly denying the praise of the mother.

“I see. You know, nearly ten years ago my husband was also in the military but unfortunately… I was pregnant with this child when he was sent to the frontlines…”

“Oh…”

“But now I know that everything he have done until now wasn’t in vain. Just like how you saved us, I’m sure he had also saved other’s lives.”

“Yes. I’m certain of that.”

They all smiled back and waved as they went their way.

“This is nice, isn’t it Commander?”

“Yeah. I can’t agree enough.”

Pola smiled once again at the response of her Commander.

“This calls for a celebration! Gahahaha!”

“Let’s have beer!”

“I’m starving~~!”

“Hey you guys. The mission’s not yet done until we get home.”

“Roger!”

They all responded in unison.

It was a mission that is almost, no, that is definitely impossible for a single squad. But they went through with it. Working together and defeating the enemy. The skills they got from their harsh training, the bond they have within each other, and the will to be a hope for those who have despaired. Every one of the soldiers in the place right now has become a hero in the hearts of those who are rescued.

And that hope will continue to live in their hearts. As long as they know that they are protected and safe from the enemies, they will hold the light dearly and wait patiently until the time they can go out to the fields and smile without the fear of death coming at them. The life in a peaceful country.

“Phew…”

But life is not that sweet and naïve.

*BOOM!*

“Wha-?!”

“Th-The transport vehicle…”

“It was bombed!!”

“Damn it! Re-enforcements! All men, ready your positions! We have enemy re-enforcements! Proceed with a team and intercept!!”

Schmidt called out a battle cry and boosted the morale of the soldiers.

“Th-The mother… a-a-and the child…”

“Pola?”

“N-No…”

“Pola! Snap out of it!”

The Commander shook Pola’s shoulders to no avail.

“Daaaaamn yoooouu!!!”

Pola rushed by herself and dashed on to the enemy while opening fire. It was too late for the other soldiers to hold her down. Even the commander could not hold her down from her sudden outburst.

“Raaaaaaaaahhhhh!!! Diiiiieeeeee!!!”

“Pola!! Come back here!”

“Recruit!! Tsk, damn it! Follow her!!”

Then near the explosion where the transport is, Pola was met with a devastating scene. The body of the mother together with her daughter lying on the ground unrecognizable. Not just them, but everyone in the transport. Severed arms, limbs, hands, the bodies of the evacuees are scattered everywhere.

“N-No… way…”

The light from her eyes have disappeared and her mind turned blank. Only the face of the mother and her daughter surfaced in her mind.

[“Mom…”]

Was it the moment when ones death is in front of them, where they are shown the memories they had? The moment when one’s life flashes before their eyes?

She remembers her mother and her little sister in her hometown.

Pola was born and grew up in a normal household in the country side together with her mother and father. The town was one of the most protected places from the war as it was the hometown of one of the prominent figures in the military.

[”Pina…”]

When her little sister was just born, her father was sent to the war and never came back ever since. At first she believed that her father was still alive will never break his promise of playing with her little sister after he comes back.

But he did not come back at all.

She accepted the truth like swallowing a bitter pill and focused on taking care of her little sister. Her little sister was sickly and could not get to play much outside like a normal child. But nevertheless she did not give up and did her best for both her mother and little sister.

“Foolish soldier!!”

But slowly, her mother’s health deteriorated and lost the strength to work for two growing children and her little sister was sent to the hospital, to make matter worse. It was the hardest moment of her life.

That is when she decided to join the military and let her mother rest.

*clack*

The sound of the gun brought her back to reality and Pola froze in her place after noticing the incoming troops.

“Avenge!!”

She wanted to move but her shivering hands and trembling feet would not obey her at all.

[“I’m dying here…? Because of my foolishness…?”]

She tried her best to move her body but it was too late. The enemy’s gun was already aimed at her head and all she can do now is wait for her inevitable death.

[“As long as I’m your commander I don’t plan on letting anyone of you die.”]

The commander’s words rang in her head as the soldier’s finger slowly reached for the trigger. The gentle smile of the Commander flashed before her eyes and…

[“Commander Hans!”]

“POLAAAAA!!”

Like a rushing wind, the Commander dashed through and passed by Pola towards the enemy soldiers. Using every kind of experience he had and every techniques he was taught, he fought of the majority of the soldiers that are aiming for Pola all by himself.

“You!”

*bang!*

“Ack-!”

“Won’t!”

*stab*

“Argh-!”

“Lay!”

*stab*

“Urk-!”

“A finger!”

*bang!*

“Gah-!”

“On her!!”

*BANG!*

Some of the soldiers followed and fought the rest of the re-enforcements but the focus was all in the Commander. It seemed they know his identity and planned to remove him from the picture first.

“Commander!!”

“Kuh-!”

But even the Golden Death God can’t handle the number of the re-enforcement all by himself in an open battlefield. Moreover, the wound on his shoulder opened up because of the abrupt movements he had to make to save Pola.

Pola flopped down to the ground after witnessing the scene.

“Gah-!”

Some of the shots went through him and hit him from all directions.

“No…!”

“Urk!”

His legs.

“Ack-!”

His shoulder.

“Kuh!”

His abdomen.

“Gack-!”

His lower back.

The scene was already beyond the human standards. One soldier facing up against a group of solider all by himself. Showered by endless bullets all over his body, but still he continued to fight.

He can dodge most of the bullets because of his unbelievable agility which is above human standards. But it was still too much for the Commander. Everyone who witnessed the scene fell in despair at the same time, hope. Hope that he will push through it all and win just like always.

“You loooooot!! Don’t just stand there!! We’re backing him up!!”

Dan shouted from the top of his lungs and stomped his feet from agitation. Everyone followed through and backed the commander up. Pola stood up from her place and joined the fray.

Only a few minutes have passed but for the soldiers who are fighting, it seemed like an eternity.

…

..

.

They continued to fight as long as they have breath. And in the end…

“Damn it! Finally they’re all gone!”

One of the soldiers shouted as a victory cry. But no one followed back. It was never a victory in the first place. It was their total defeat. That is why no one dared to celebrate in this case.

“Commander!! Please! Pull yourself together!”

Pola cried while carrying the Commander’s upper body and trying to communicate with him.

“*cough!* Ahh…”

“This is…”

From all over his body, the blood is flowing out non-stop. It is not an exaggeration that it is already miracle that he still alive in his state. Only his ragged breathing can be observed from him. He could not move even a bit.

“Sirs! What should we do!? There are a lot of blood!! Can’t we do anything?! The medic!? Where are they?!”

William cried with teary eyes. Gripping his gun is the only thing he can do.

“… Will.”

“Johannes…”

Johannes placed his hand on William’s shoulder as a comfort. Everyone in the place knew that everything is too late for the Commander.

“Damn… Damn it all…”

All the while, Pola, never giving up, shakes the Commander in an attempt to wake him up. Huge amount of tears are flowing relentlessly from her eyes down to her cheeks and eventually falls down to Schmidt’s face.

“Kuh…”

The commander grunts expressing the excruciating pain all over his body.

“Commander!!”

“P-Pola… huh…? *cough*”

Schmidt coughed up another unbelievable amount of blood. No one would ever think that in his state, he will still survive.

“Yes…! It’s me! I’m sorry… Sorry, Commander…! It’s all my fault…!”

“… Urk… Don’t… be stupid… I… *cough* saved you… because… I want… to…”

“Commander…!!”

Pola gripped the Commander’s hand and a huge amount of blood painted hers. But the safety of the Commander is the only thing in Pola’s mind.

“And… I told… you… Urk… That I won’t let you get killed… I will… send you… home… in once… piece… *cough*!”

“Why… Why…! Even ending up like this… No… I don’t want this…! Please… Commander…!”

Pola could not look at Schmidt’s face properly anymore as her tears and now swollen eyes get in the way. The pain in her heart is unbearable it almost made her want to throw up. It is getting harder and harder for her to breathe between her sobs. The fact that one of the most special person is dying in front of her.

It was just too unbearable.

“P-Pola…”

“Commander!”

“I… I leave… the squad to you…”

“No! You won’t! You will make it! You’ll still be our commander!”

Deep inside Pola’s mind, she already knew that the Commander has no more time left. Subconsciously, she knows that it is the end. But one thing betrays her and keeps on telling her that she could not let the Commander die.

She does not want to.

“… Haha… I wanted to… cook more… and read… more…”

A distorted smile formed in Schmidt’s face.

“You can! You will still do!! Please…!”

Pola closed her eyes and prayed. Prayed to the god that have been silent all this time. She prayed and prayed until she could no longer think.

That…

[“Please… Someone… If someone’s there… I don’t care whatever happens… just let the commander live…!”]

“Ahh…”

The once held hand by Pola falls down to the ground lifelessly as if the string that controls him was suddenly cut.

“Commander…?”

“…”

But there was no response…

“Stop joking… You still haven’t made me read the rest of the books you have…”

“…”

“Recruit…”

“… *sniffle* I still want to… *sob* eat you meals…”

Still, there was no response.

“… Hey… Commander… please… *sob* Let me hear your voice… *sniffle* please…”

“Becker…”

“No! Commander! Please wake up! What are you guys doing?! Call for the medic!!”

“…”

But once again, there was no response.

“… No… *sob* Commander… I’m *hic* Sorry… *sob* Waaaaaaaaaahh!!!”

Her emotions burst out and cried her heart out. The Commander is no longer with them.

“Waaaaaaa!! *sob* Wh-Why…!! *hic* Tell *hic* me!! Waaaaahh!! *sob*”

The once lively and carefree Commander who cooked for them, took care of them, who trained them to the bones.

The Commander who supported her dream, who encouraged her, who promised to protect her is now no longer alive.

The body is slowly becoming heavy in Pola’s arms as she cried and cried. But no matter how much she cried…

“Waaaaaaaaahhh!!”

The commander will never come back.

*ting*

Then all of a sudden, the Commander’s body glowed faintly and is slowly fading away.

“Eh…? What is happening…? Commander…?”

“What the heck…?”

Everyone was bewildered of the spectacle. Schmidt’s body has now became so transparent that you can see the ground through it and glows more brightly than before.

“Wh-What…?

Then slowly, the weight in Pola’s arms lighten until she no longer feels anything.

“He’s… Disappearing…?”

Then in a matter of minutes, the body of the once dead commander who fought nonstop for his men…

*flash*

… is nowhere to be found.

…

..

.

“Wah!?”

Hans Schmidt abruptly woke up from the ground. If someone saw him, it would make them think that he just woke up from a nightmare.

“Where…?”

With sweat dripping from his face, he looked around the surroundings. The place was covered in trees reaching around fifteen meters tall covering almost the ground from the passing sunlight. The ground is covered in lush green grass and the cries of the summer cicadas are heard all around.

“Wait! Didn’t I just die?!”

…

And that is how the Second Lieutenant Hans Schmidt was brought to the Other World.

This is the tale of a soldier who travelled across worlds and finds himself faced with the all kinds of extraordinary.

…

..

.

“I just died, right?!”

Chapter 5 End