Amidst ruined buildings, cratered roads, and burning vehicles...
The main forces of the U.S. Army were fighting with the AFP, who were defending their base of operations.
Their base was surrounded by walls, some of which had already collapsed or blown to pieces.
RATATATATATATA!
BOOM!
"We're surrounded!"
The soldier barked as he hid behind cover changing his mag.
"Backup won't arrive for another five minutes!"
The soldier across shouted. Bullets zipped past while some struck the wall.
"We'll be DEAD at the Americans' hands in five minutes!"
At the front gate of the base...
RATATATATATATATA!
Soldiers peeked alternately as they fired at the U.S. Army. But in return, some were shot down before they could get back to cover again.
"Fu**!" A soldier cussed as his comrades dropped one by one.
He peeked over his cover, sneaking a glance.
A group of AFP soldiers were stuck behind ruined walls of a destroyed building.
The U.S. army completely overwhelming them. With bunch of soldiers hurled up together, unable to move, their legs shot.
Wounded and bleeding as they were, the soldiers made sure to not let anyone through.
But so did the enemy.
The enemy pressed closer to the pinned group, using ATVs as their cover.
"THE ENEMY'S PUSHING! THEY'RE GOING TO BE OVERRUN!"
A soldier shouted aloud in the radio, with everyone behind the gate witnessing.
"We'll buy time for reinforcements! We won't let them get through until the-!"
"GRENADE!"
BOOM!
Black smoke burst from the squadrons position, leaving the men at the gate in shock.
They froze, paralyzed at the sight of where their teammates had been.
Whoosh...
Air blew away the smoke as it dispersed in the air.
W-what?
As the smoke dispersed, it revealed the squadron unharmed, with Kirami standing in front.
"That hair..." the soldier behind the red haired girl muttered.
"Crimson-red hair... she's miss Kirami!" He muttered in realization.
Kirami turned to her side to glance at them.
"Great job holding out. Reinforcements have arrived."
As she stated, 4 more individuals appeared beside her, Kirashi, Ayro, Itoshi and a white haired male.
"We'll take over from here." Kirashi added.
BANG!
BOOM!
A tank shell was directly fired at them.
?!
The soldiers behind them were shocked, they died immediately just as they had arrived.
However, when the smoke dispersed, they were all unscathed, not a single one flinched.
"Fire at the maji wielders!!" An officer ordered, making every single soldier turn to the group.
RATATATATATATATA!
BANG!
Before the bullets could reach them, it was as if they struck an invisible barrier and bounced off.
BOOM!
Another tank shell directly shot at them but had only exploded on the invisible barrier.
As the smoke provided blind cover. Each of them dashed in several direction.
FLASH!
WHOOSH!
WHOOOSHHH!
The white haired individual, wielded light maji, moved as fast as the speed of light, he crashed straight to the tank, its hull suffering a deep crater.
He then pulled out his fists that was covered in black, dragon-scaled gauntlets.
"Did Keito just pierce through the tank's shield!?!" Itoshi exclaimed as his fire crackled and burned the troops.
AHHHH!
A soldier shrieked in terror as he was burning and running around.
A fiery flame formed around Itoshi's palm as he struck a knightly pose.
"Flame o-!"
Ayro's head emerged from the shadow of a soldier.
"Behind you!" A soldier who spotted Ayro shouted.
The soldier immediately turned around and Ayro went back beneath the shadow.
Whilst the soldier stood still, for the next second, Ayro, who emerged out of his shadow slammed the soldier down to the ground and pierced him with his shadow maji.
RATATATATATATATA!
Before Ayro was hit by bullets, he immediately sank down to his shadow, vanishing.
Whilst Kirashi and Kirami were deep down the enemy line, each of them having katanas identical to one another.
Both were dashing and attacking as a pair, like two partners in a dance, dancing in the battlefield.
Both had been attacking and moving in blinding speed, soldier after soldier.
As bullets flew toward them, each and every single one of it was bounced off.
"Why can't we hit them!?" A soldier shouted in fear.
RATATATATATATA! Click!
"Wha-!?" The soldier looked down to his rifle that ran out of ammo.
He looked up forward, only to be instantly slashed by Kirami who dashed towards in a blink.
BANG!
A tank directly fired upon Kirashi.
In slow motion, Kirashi stepped to the side one time, turning his body just enough for the bullet to pass by him.
BOOM! BOOOOOOM!
The tank completely struck and destroyed one of its own ATVs, taking down the soldiers just behind it.
Kirashi's Katana dissolved into thin air and his knees brought him down to the ground.
Creak.
The tank's turret directly aimed at him as it reloaded.
Kirashi gasped for air as he stared down on the ground.
Keito turned to look at Kirashi who suddenly lost his balance and fell to his knees before the enemy's tank.
"KIRASHI!" He called out making the others look to Kiraghie's whereabouts.
BANG!
The tank shot, with Kirashi still unable to move.
CLANG! BOOM!
Kirami dashed beside Kirashi, with the shell of the tank bouncing off and explode to a ruined building.
"Kirashi, what were you doing?!" Kirami shouted angrily.
"My bad..." Kirashi struggled to reply as he groaned in pain, unable to look forward.
The tank's gun then started to make a sound as it spun around, about to fire.
Kirami's tense composure broke as she gasped in shock.
BRRRRRRRRRTTT!
Kirami managed to protect both her and Kirashi with the barrier.
"Ugh!"
Kirami groaned in effort, her knees pressing down to the ground as she struggle to maintain the barrier.
Cherry blossom petals spread across the ground and rose up.
Once each petal floated in the air, they flew towards the tank. The tank stopped the first barrage with its force field.
Another barrage struck, then another one...
Once the shield broke, the petals that had struck down the shield fell down onto the road.
Kirami then stood up. The petals gathered and flew around her as her hair began to glow and rise.
The petals then formed into a spear-like shape.
She slowly raised her arm, pointed finger at the tank and sent the spear-shaped petals towards it.
CRASH! BOOM!
The petals scattered and disappeared, while Kirami's hair ceased to glow and elevate.
"Everyone retreat! Retreat!!" A U.S. soldier shouted, which made the other remaining forces fall back.
Ayro, Itoshi and Keito immediately halted their attacks. After confirming the enemy's retreat, they ran towards Kirashi and Kirami.
"You two alright?" Keito asked worriedly.
"Hey Kirashi, you alright now?" Itoshi also asked.
Kirashi slowly rose up as Kirami helped him until he can stand on his own.
"Y-yeah I'm fine now." Kirashi answered.
"Miss Kirami!" The AFP soldier who called her earlier caught her attention again.
Kirami turned to look at him, who approached the group.
"Miss Kirami, why are you here? And why are you wearing a mask along with... other teenagers? You're supposed to be in Manila studying!" The soldier asked, puzzled.
"We're here to assist, but don't reveal my identity. It's confidential." Kirami pleaded.
"Understood." The soldier said as he nodded.
Shortly after, an Osprey's engine roared overhead and descended behind them.
The dirt swirled around the Osprey as its ramp opened.
"Your pickup is here, kuya Kirashi," The Osprey pilot's voice crackled through their earpiece.
"Understood." Kirashi replied in a stern voice.
[Operation: Reinforcements Complete]