That salt water smell… it’s all too familiar I let out a deep sigh with feelings of relief and disappointment, I thought this war would make me a hero like my father but when it’s all said and done I’m just another nobody that served. in a rush of a moment the door slams open as a familiar figure pops out, Jacob! Hey man I’ve been looking all over for you, you totally gotta see this news article we’re basically hero’s man! This was my close friend Chavez, we went through hell together, we always had each other’s backs even if we were in the wrong…most of the time, he walked over to me and took a seat next to me putting his hand on my shoulder, listen man I know technically we just escorted the carrier around and did small odds and ins but come on man we get to go home in a few weeks and when we get there it’s blackout specials every night! My friend was a bit of a alcoholic well honestly a big one but he had heart, hey man he said in a concerned tone you ok you’ve been real quiet lately and you know that’s no way to act with our new status. I looked at him with a confused face, status? Well obviously, chicks are gonna love the whole war hero act in fact I might just lead a second baby boom all by myself

He said this in a joking tone laughing, I joined him in in this laugh and smiled in response I was happy to see him in such high spirits I have heard stories of war changing people making them shells of themselves but Chavez carried himself throughout the bloody eight years the war lasted the sight of land on the horizon was so ungraspable it had felt like years only if it was a few months I stood up with excitement looking at Chavez, what’s up dude he responded, you know, maybe a couple drinks isn’t such a bad idea. Chavez looked a little surprised at my response but his smile grew from ear to ear, haha yea that’s the spirit man! A few hours passed after that but we began to pull into port the cheering from the crew roared like a storm, happiness was a drug in that moment and we were all addicts before we were allowed to go and enjoy ourselves the commanding officer broke down the current situation of the war we had agreed to a armistice to work out the long term but the USC and TRI showed zero desire to continue the war and the peace terms were nearing the final stages cheers could be heard from the crew something that was rare in years past, lastly the commanding officer had a big announcement for the first time the HRM was going to be in port alongside its other allies they had usually gone back to their own home ports before or any land they acquired throughout the war to restock so the idea of them doing this was cause for celebration with all that said the duty section was assigned and luckily Chavez and I were free to roam, we got into our civilian attire after a much needed shower and left the ship it was already getting pretty dark as it was past six thirty in the evening Chavez wanted to visit this one bar he liked before we left called Valhalla I agreed and we went on our way the streets were crowded with sailors from other ships lights hung all around from lamppost to lamppost it honestly felt like a festival loud yelling could be heard from street to street old friends meeting up even the locals were seen celebrating, we made our way up the stairs and walked inside with a set goal on drinking the night away. Away from the busy streets a dark black ship sailed closer and closer to the port a woman stood tall on one of the bridge wings looking out at the busy city the glint of the city shined over against the ship, a wide sinister smile could be seen on her face she stood there with her hands behind her back in anticipation and then she spoke in a cold but commanding voice, are the others here yet? A tall reddish man stood at her side, of course ma’am by your order we may begin. reports show that the sister ships around the world have also begun their assault with lady Mina taking the lead with the highest kill count at four hundred and sixty three thousand. The woman scoffed, well then I guess we have some catching up to do than, order all ships to engage on all possible targets land and sea equally, in a swift motion the red man held up a flare gun and shot it into the air the red flare lit up the now night sky revealing the large fleet amassed outside the port, the silent air lit up with the sounds of cannon fire, the comforting smell of salt water now shifted into gunpowder the shells flew through the sky smashing into moored ships and piers alike secondary explosions were common, other shells began to collide with buildings from tall towers to small homes the guns fired without discrimination and the range of carnage seemed to span for miles from the continuous fire. The large shaking of the ground shocked me as I got up from the bar stool and ran over to Chavez who was passed out on a couch, hey! Hey! Chavez get up danmit! I smacked his face which woke him up in an agitated state, what man?! The ground shook again as the situation started to set in, in a moment his look turned to concern, the ship w-we got to get back to it right away! He bolted up as we both ran outside the bar and down the stairs what we saw was something straight out of a twisted movie crumbled buildings, torn bloody bodies ranging from other sailors to civilians and even children littered the streets, fires raged high like a all consuming monster the screams of those begging for help filled the air the pure shock stopped me I was confused and horrified this surpassed any conceivable terror, we gotta run dumbass! He said this as he pulled on my arm I ran by his side we both equally confused but we understood that we needed to get back to the ship, it was not that far of a run but the collapsing buildings made navigation difficult the smell of blood and searing flesh filled the air it was past the point of nauseating when we made it back to the base gate we saw that it was completely collapsed falling on top of others who were running back we climbed over the rubble struggling at best getting Burns and cuts all over. Gunfire could be heard in the distance followed by screams of pain, Chavez pulled me into a bush as a group of tall red men ran past us and any rounds shot at them seemed to bounce off and their guns seemed to leave giant craters in those they shot at, when they seemed to pass and go past the gate we both jumped out of the bush and bolted for the ship running as fast as we could as every fiber in our body told us to be afraid of the red men we made it to the gate of the pier only to find our shipmates on watch in pieces and our once proud ship in flames as it began to sink into the ocean, we grabbed their guns and headed out the pier to see if we could find anyone else when a red man launched out from the fence he was larger and more menacing than the ones we have seen before on instinct we both opened fire on it with our pistols we got from the dead watch standers, it didn’t seem to faze him as he continued to race towards us, it backhanded Chavez sending him crashing than rolling down a cement pier, Chavez! I yelled out in concern taking my eyes for the giant for a moment, its fist connected with my stomach sending me into the gate, I fell from the gate on to my chest it was as if that one hit broke all my ribs, the giant started to make its way in my direction walking slowly in a taunting manner, Chavez yelled and jumped onto the giants back with the handgun in his pocket and his knife in his hand he edged it into the giants back and lunged it into its neck, the giant yelled out in pain and blood shot out of his neck it moved its arms back and forth around his back trying to grab Chavez as much as it hurt I managed to get back to my feet and pulled out my knife as the giant was distracted I lunged myself at the giant cutting the front of its neck leaving a giant gash in its throat, with one last roar the monster let out a deafening cry and fell over to its side dead, I walked over to Chavez helping him back onto his feet, I got you brother I said hoping to comfort him from his bleeding wounds, a loud Burst could be heard in the background a large red light was moving at us at incredible speeds in the blink on a eye there was a woman with large metal wings kicking Chavez in the gut, blood shot out from his mouth as he we sent flying, as he fell to the ground I was unsure if he was even alive still but before I could react the woman spun around the bottom of her fist which felt like cold steel collided with my jaw knocking me out and slamming me into the ground blood spilling out of my mouth onto the floor, the woman stood tall before more red men came to her side, “put them with the others, killing a demon should warrant a reward after all, fucking humans”…

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End of chapter 1