The JLTV pulled into the main base, a sprawling network of activity. Yet, there was no greeting, no stir of concern or curiosity as they arrived – a bizarre indifference given Bell's unexplained fifteen-day absence. Amelia maneuvered the vehicle to a stop in front of the command tent.
Still encased in his bomb suit, Bell swung out of the JLTV, his movements stiff but purposeful. He made his way to the command tent, where Lukas lounged, engrossed in a rectangular device on his hand, his legs casually thrown over the table's edge. Noticing Bell, he lifted his head, a mix of surprise and amusement playing on his features.
"Bell, sir, back already? And why the bomb suit?" Lukas asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Bell waved away the question, his brow furrowing. "Forget the suit. What do you mean 'already'? We were trapped on the other side of that portal for fifteen days."
Lukas's expression shifted to one of disbelief. "Really? You've been gone just over three hours here."
"Check your calendar, we've been there for fifteen days."
"It's only been three hours, Bell." Lukas showed the clock on the rectangular device that he held.
"Are you sure? Because it sure as hell felt like fifteen days for me, not to mention Harris and Amelia."
"Wait, does this mean...? Bell, you've hit a jackpot!"
Bell scratched his head, his face a canvas of confusion and wonder. "So, time flows differently there?" He was familiar with the basics of dimensional inventory magic, but this was a whole different scale – an enigmatic deviation in time and space perception. The implication dawned on Bell, his eyes lighting up with realization. Time had accelerated beyond the portal – a promising advantage for their often sluggish R&D efforts. With this anomaly, they could potentially fast-track their research significantly.
Lukas's eyes were wide, his voice tinged with awe. "I'm speechless, Bell. As if we hadn't already been graced with enough miracles in the form of your system, and now, we got a fucking lab in another dimension?"
Bell's gaze hardened, a new resolve etching his features. "We need to secure that place, Lukas. It's a goldmine, and I'll be damned if the Southern Coalition gets there first!"
"Hard agree sir, we must defend the place by any means necessary," Lukas added. "Do you need me to coordinate the Air Assault team to go to that place as soon as possible?"
"Yes, do it. Send six men from the AAs, we can use the six remaining AAs to provide security to this base. That portal must be our prime priority," Bell commanded.
"Aye, sir. I'll coordinate it with Sergeant Moore."
"Thank you, Lukas."
"My pleasure, sir."
Lukas, in an instant, walked towards the radio and called Sergeant Moore to report to the command tent immediately. In an instant, he arrived at the command tent, accompanied by five other people from his team. Their speed was nothing short of a proof of their training, and justification for their expensive training time.
"Reporting for duty, sir!" Moore saluted.
"At ease. Your order is to secure the portal at NE-138980. You will be temporarily stationed at the position until we find a replacement for you, is that clear?" Lukas ordered.
"Loud and clear, sir. We'll grab the provisions from the cafeteria, and leave immediately. However, may I borrow the JLTV, sir?"
"Permission granted, sergeant, use it as you see fit. However, you must unload our luggage from that car first," Bell nodded.
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"Affirmative, sir."
"Dismissed," Lukas said.
Sergeant Moore and his team moved with practiced efficiency, swiftly unloading Bell's gear from the JLTV. Bell, still in his cumbersome bomb suit, watched from a short distance, his gaze following the team's every move. There was a certain admiration in his eyes, a recognition of their professionalism and dedication. They unloaded his luggage alongside the prototype railgun carefully.
The soldiers loaded their provisions and equipment into the JLTV with precision, the vehicle's frame groaning slightly under the weight. As they worked, Bell's mind raced with the possibilities of what could happen if they secured the portal. It was more limitless even compared to the system itself.
As the team finished loading the JLTV, Moore approached Bell and Lukas. He stood at attention, his expression serious. "Sir, we're ready to move out. We'll secure the portal and establish a perimeter. Any specific orders?"
"No specific order, sergeant, just shoot on sight on any hostile force."
"Affirmative."
Moore nodded sharply. "Understood, sir. We'll be vigilant."
With a final salute, Moore turned and climbed into the driver's seat of the JLTV. The engine roared to life, and the vehicle began to move, dust kicking up from its tires as it headed toward the unknown. Bell watched the JLTV disappear into the distance, leaving a dust of snow behind them. As Lukas walked back to his command tent, the base continued its usual rhythm around Bell, seemingly unaware of his discovery.
Bell walked to the barrack tent and headed for his cot bed. Lisa was still sleeping right on his cot bed. Bell, being the gentleman that he was, quietly took off his bomb suit without alerting Lisa. He then put the bomb suit next to his cot and left the sleeping beauty alone. With his stomach rumbling, Bell walked out of the tent, and into the cafeteria. What could he say? Life was finally turning for the better.
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Perched atop a hill, within a solitary tent in the no man's land, an 18-year-old woman stood surveying the battlefield. Below her, the land was swarming with husks, summoned by the Southern Coalition's summoner team. A sense of pride swelled within her as she watched the husks overrun the demon's defenses some years ago, aiding the humans in reclaiming their northern territories from demonic clutches. Her satisfaction deepened, thinking of the cursed disease that Akira had crafted, weakening and even outright slaying the demons.
The war had raged for four years, and it had been three since she found herself in this world. Her journey had been tumultuous, marked by rigorous training with the finest necromancers. Her innate talent for summoning the dead across vast distances and commanding a personalized undead army was unparalleled. Yet, she was acutely aware that this monumental rise in power came at a steep price—the sacrifices of her fellow humans, in both life and time, in their relentless battle against the demonic threat.
For centuries, humanity had endured enslavement and torture, regarded as nothing more than animals by their demonic oppressors. But today marked a turning point. Fueled by a newfound resilience, humans were no longer content to live in the shadows of demonic tyranny. This was their stand for a future where they could live freely, with the respect and dignity they deserved.
"Aya, I have a report," announced a fellow mage, approaching with a blend of urgency and reverence. Aya, a necromancer clad in a holy-white uniform, traditionally worn by priestesses skilled in magic, stood as a stark contrast to her dark arts. In her hands, the garb was repurposed for necromancy, a silent rebellion against the norms. In these times of war against the demons, no one questioned her; everything was permissible in holy white for the cause.
"Please, share it," Aya responded with a polite, yet firm tone, her eyes never leaving the distant horizon.
"The number of husks in the Frostwood Taiga is diminishing more rapidly than anticipated," the mage reported, his voice tinged with concern.
Aya's brow furrowed in thought. "Is the harsh cold claiming them sooner than we expected?" she probed, her mind racing through strategies.
"I'm afraid not, Miss Hoshino. Reports indicate that the demons have erected a substantial encampment in the taiga."
A heavy sigh escaped Aya's lips, her fists clenching slightly at her sides. "Those demons..." she murmured, more to herself than to her companion. "Do you think we're prepared for another strengthening ritual? If they adapt and fortify their position, it could spell future troubles. What are your thoughts, Sir Gavil?"
Sir Gavil nodded solemnly, sharing in her resolve. "I concur, Miss Hoshino. Perhaps it's time we consider stirring conflict between the snow elves and the demons in that forest. I can deploy some of the coalition's finest to ensure it."
A spark of strategic acumen flared in Aya's eyes. "Divide and conquer – an excellent strategy. I endorse your plan, Sir Gavil. Proceed with it at once."
"Understood, Miss Hoshino. I'll initiate the plans immediately." With a nod of respect, Gavil departed from the hilltop, leaving Aya alone with her thoughts.
As she gazed out over the landscape, a mix of hope and determination settled in her heart. She wondered, with a warrior's longing, about a future where demons no longer threatened the human race—a future where her people could thrive in peace and freedom.