:: Dear Diary… I walways wanted to become a great hero. It’s been my dream since I was a wee lass, as my mother would call me. I wanted to grow up, tall and beautiful, clad in silver armor and a rainbow dress. I dreamt I would find this legendary sword stuck in a stone and be able to swing around while screaming ‘EX-CALIBUUUUUUUUUR!’ and become the king of a new country! An Elf Knight! Like my father………..like my father…. Funny…to think that I would follow in his footsteps despite the fact he left home without so much as a goodbye or even a word of scorn……..As much as I am conflicted in following his shadow, I think I wouldn’t feel comfortable becoming a world class ballerina like my mother… I hate too-toos. ::
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<< WARNING!!: Nello's passenger capacity has exceeded the maximum weight load. >> << Your Party Member is carrying too much be able to run. Discard unneeded items. >>
“B…Big Sis…N-no more…I-I'm too full...uuugh... I'm going to burst….”
“Just three more children and one disgruntled mother! Have everyone inside cram up as much as they can then we’re good!”
“I…uuuh….m…my tummy huuuuuurts!”
Nello the Russian Tank tried not to groan like a pregnant woman, but it couldn’t be helped.
Even when he was being shot at by countless mercenaris with fast-loading crossbows into his armor, they had zero effect and did little to damage his 42 mm anti-infantry plating.
It was the fact Pastrache crammed in 15 women and children into whatever space was originally meant for four fully grown men in a military organization. If those original crew thought it was cramped, wait until they see this scene where only professional clowns could shimmy their bodies into a small car.
“Okay! Last one! I’ll close the door and—Oooh no you don’t buster!! I don’t care if you got make up and wearing a long wig! You’re a guy! It’s obvious with that pocket in between your legs! Now get away from the door or I’ll slap you!”
“H-huurrry…I-I’m going to…..Uuurk.”
“H-hold on, Nello! Wh-what every you don't... eject them out!”
Pastrache slammed the door, ignoring the squeak from a certain housewife who threw rocks at Nello earlier. As a safety measure, she pushed the gears to locked the side door of the vehicle so no one will burst out like a ripe salmon about to spawn her eggs.
“Okay! Go! Go! We’re right behind you Nello!”
“O-okay B-big Sis…huuurk.”
“J-just hang in there, okay? I love you!”
“B-big Sis!...I-I’ll do my best! Ghhnnnnnnnggg!”
The T-34 tank started up his engines and pushed forward. He didn’t move at maximum speed of 53 kpm, rather at slow walking pace. It was so Pastrache guiding the rest of the contruction men could use Nello’s body as a moving shield, while they try to crawl towards the exit of the Carnegie Hall Passage.
The only reason why the construction workers were vulnerable, was because they were deep in between the Basalt rock formation. Their only safe house was the small buildings they constructed at the base of the mountains, which they uses a their house and living quarters. Having a small village close to work, was more convenience than trekking miles to and from their town of Carnegie Hall every day. Or, that was what they believed.
A decent population of 75 men, women, and children. However, their numbers were slashed down ever since they were attacked by both a barrel rigged with explosive gunpowder and the onslaught of these Mercenaries. They were now 25 strong. 15 were stored inside of Nello’s crew compartment, the rest were crouched and following the tank closely.
If they could reach the exit and escape, they could safely run to the nearest garrison to find protection. That was the plan.
“Gugh!? B-Big Sis! Up ahead! Th-they got a Tank!”
“Wh-what!? Impossible!”
Nello suddenly screeched to a stop and turned his turret head with Pastrache. They peered over, to see something rolling towards them.
It wasn’t a tank, it shouldn’t be possible at this stage of technology in this fantasy world. Rather, it was an armored vehicle built from a covered horse wagon protected with fine iron plates. The metal look like those ripple foils one would normally see on the top of a tool shed in the back yard, hammered and tied to various frames of the wagon.
It was slowly moving towards them, protecting several mercenaryes that used it as a cover while they fired their crossbows. The reason why it moved so slow, was the actual horse that pulled it were clopping in reverse to push the heavy wagons backward. Ingenius.
“BIG SIS! WATCH OUT!”
Before a warning window could pop up in front of Pastrache, she saw Nello’s barrel flip right towards her nose. Instead of hitting her face like he normally would, he ended up catching a small lead bullet that was moving at a velocity of 370 m/s.
It fell from Pastrache’s face, prevented from raping her brains and skull out.
"...Aaah..."
She swallowed her saliva before looking back at the pinpoint of the shot. With her sharp Elven eyes, she could see moving figures hidden behind the iron plates of the armored wagon. Three men, with long traditional muskets stuck them out between the gaps and fired again.
The Half-Elf ducked and pushed the construction workers down, relying on Nello to absorb the shots.
“B-Big Sis! I-I don’t understand! I-I didn’t know they had Mosin-Nagant Rifles too!”
“No, they’re matchlocks! They’re different then the rifle you gave me. They even use ammunition that doesn’t reload itself except stuffing gunpowder down the muzzle.”
“…That sounds annoying.”
“To them it might be, but when you have power in their hands you really don’t care about its fallbacks. Now that I have this advanced weapon you gave me, I do find the whole muzzle loading aspect bothersome.”
Interrupting her thoughts, another volley of musket fire rang out and it struck into Nello’s side.
“Don’t worry, Big Sis. I’ll take out their tank. Reloading High Velocity Inc—“
“NO! NELLO! STOP!”
Whatever sound that was going to click inside Nello didn’t happen. It was soon followed by a series of surprised gasps from voices of cramped woman and children.
“…Ah... I almost forgot.”
“Yes! We’ve stuffed the surviving women and kids inside of you. There is no room for your gears to load your gun! Even if you did had one loaded, there is no way they could survive your loud nose!”
“…So…Can I still use my Machine gun?”
“Do you think it’s sitting right next to a child’s ear?”
“………………………..BIG SIS! WHAT DO I DO!? I RAN OUT OF ALL OF MY OFFENSIVE OPTIONS!”
“Tch. We have no choice but to keep going! The second we clear the pass, we’ll make a run straight for the garrison! The construction workers will show us the way once we leave! Just keep the bandits distracted!”
“How!? I-I can’t shoot back!”
“Be creative!”
“…………………………….”
Nello turned his turret head back at the crowd of Mercenaries. They were all starting to gather and crowd around their armored horse wagon for one final push to eliminate the rest of the construction wrkers.
The tank, unable to use its main gun or its machine gun side arm, had only one option.
“…….GA-GA-GA!...GA-GA-GA-GA!...GA-GA!...GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA!”
It made machine gun noises with its invisible lips.
To add to the realism, he would wiggle the barrle of his anti-infantry machine gun and Pastrache would fire her rifle several times to mimic bullets hitting the ground and kicking up sand. It was enough to make some of the men exposed on the open to take cover behind their wagons’ foldable shields.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“MOVE! MOVE!”
“RO-ROGER!”
The T-34 ignored the vulnerable target and sped forward. Quickly using the psychological tactic, they were able to cover enough distance to attempt reaching the exit. They were only 100 meters away, a dash in a track and field race would be enough to—
“NELLO! STOP!”
“Hmm? UGYAAAAAAAH!”
One mercenary pulled something out from the side of the wagon. It looked like a rock, borne from unrefined ruby. He suddenly smacked it across the wheel, the same way a boy scout would strike two rocks together to create a spark.
It was enough to crack part of that rock and make it glow a hot boiling red. All the mercenary had to do, was hop a little and toss that rock over into the air. It landed right in front of Nellow’s path.
An it instantly splashed as a pool of raging fire. Like a grenade melting into a Molotov Cocktail.
<< WARNING!! Exit Route has been Compromised. Please find alternate route. >> << Nello was dealt -30 Emotional Damage. His status is: Spooked. >>
“Sh-Sh*t! A Crystalized Spell!”
“A-a what!?”
“Magic! I completely forgot to tell you about our magic in this world! Wizards and Mages of high level could store their spells into a crystal which could allow anyone to use the recorded magic! He released a Fire Wall Spell! We'll all get burn damage if we walk through it!”
“So-so what should we do?”
“D*mn! I didn’t think about asking that Dwarf Clerk about Magic Spells! I already used up all my character points to support my rifle skill. F**k!”
Pastrache scowled, but it was cut short when she heard the muskets barked again. She ducked, two bullets bouncing off of Nello’s hind legs.
She realized they were stuck.
Behind them was nothing but open ground, and even if they did escape out the other side they won’t be able to find help for hours. The mercenary could get their war camels once more and chase them down, kill them all if they fled. Now their front, their only chance of escaping was cut off from the Flaming Wall Spell.
The Half-Elf slammed her fist into her thigh in frustration. She was careless about potential magic attacks!
“……….Big Sis, are you okay?”
“D*mn…D*mn it all…What should we do?…And I really want to do something for these @ssholes that kept calling you a monster!...I…I’m sorry Nello…I let you down... I'm usele—“
“...There’s no more land behind the Volga.”
“…H-heh?”
Pastrache stopped in her self-guilt, looking up to the T-34 tank. Another crossbow bolt bounced off his skull when he turned to ‘look over his shoulder’.
“…That’s what I keep hearing from the officers back in Stalingrad…I think…. They were trying to say there is no where left to run behind the Volga River…We… have to stand out ground.. or the German Tanks will take over our home.”
“…No more…behind the Volg?.”
“Nn…So…we only have one road to go to…”
“…………………..I understand now…I truly understand the pain you’ve been through, Nello.”
“…Let’s do this… together, Big Sis.”
“Right…Let’s do it… let’s do everything we can to make this right.”
Pastrache forced herself to smile, bravely. Nello forced himself to believe in himself, boldly. One by one, they started to mutter under their breaths to raise up their spirits to an all new level.
“Gulp…There’s no more land, behind the Volga.”
“There’s no more land behind the Volga. Right, Nello?”
“Nn. There is absolutely no more land behind the Volga!”
“Even when we give up, we can’t stand behind the Volga in safety!”
The construction workers outside, and the women and children inside, all stared at the Half-Elf and Girl as they make this strange chant. They thought they were going to prepare a spell… instead.
“THERE’S NO MORE LAND BEHIND THE VOLGA!”
<< Your Party's Burning Spirits have reached MAXIMUM! >> << Activating Combat Overdrive! You get Advantage over the enemy! Your Fighting Stats are Buffed!! >> << Your Fightign Skills are temporarily Buffed! >>
ATK +10
DEF +10
MAG +10
DEX + 10
WEAPON BONUS - Auto-Pierce Damage
DEFENSE BONUS - Auto-Deduct 8 Points of Damage
Pastrache leapt onto the top of the tank and shoved a new clip of bullets into her bolt action rifle.
“EVERYONE! CLIMB ON AND GRAB TIGHT! WE’RE GOING TO CHARGE!—NOW!”
Not giving the men the chance to think it over, all Pastrache had to do was scowl menacingly and they climbed on top of the tank. Once the last man was dragged on top, the engines revved like a lion ready to fight.
“ALL AHEAD FLANK! BRACE YOURSELF EVERYONE! NUUUWOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”
Nello ripped through the dirt and bedrock at full speed. There was no more need to compromise for anything behind him. Those he had to shield were clinging onto his armor, his turret head, and anything else they could sit or grab onto. Crouched on top of his head, was his friend, the Half-Elf Girl, rifle ready to bear
“Nello! I have a special attack skill but it’s only effective if I’m within 10 meter range! Speed into the enemy and turn to the side at the last minute! I’ll shoot them as fast as I can, to distract them – them make a direct headway to the exit and run South-West to the garrison! I only have one shot as I can use this ability once per day so…I leave it to you!”
“Count on me Big Sis!”
And so, Nello and pastrache began their first real combat quest, together.
Operation – Overlord.
“NUWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”
The T-34 charged ahead, pushing aside the enemy’s constant barrage of crossbow bolts and musket pellets that struck into its armor. The denizens inside of his compartment screamed, even prayed loudly over the roaring of his V12 engines. Despite when they begged him to stop, he only doubled his speed.
Soon, he was going to charge into the armored horse wagon. And it freaked the mercenaries out.
“BIG SIS! NOW!”
“URYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
The tank suddenly swerved. It gave up its game of chicken and quickly spun to one side, forcing its entire weight to reel off one track. With a flick it his barrel, Nello was able ot balance himself back on the ground.
To give Pastrache a clear and open shot at the mercenaries within 10 meters of her position.
She only had once chance, and she gambled it on this one hit special
"[ = CATCH TARGET! = ]"
The first phase of her skill. Activating the command words, she felt a strange sensation wash over her eyes. Particles she usually see when those mystical windows pop up to bug her glazed over her vision. Everything turned into this digital blue and black hue. Next, she saw red lines overlapping each other to suddenly tap across the ‘heads’ of five different mercenary that were running out of the wagon.
They all set their coordinates on their faces. Faces thatstared at her.
“[ == U.C. MARINE SKILL — FIVE-WAY BURST!!! ]"
Pulling the bolt to arm her weapon, she pulled the trigger.
*BTANG! BTANG! BTANG! BTANG! BTANG!*
[https://i.imgur.com/qCXkD8X.gif?noredirect]
Pastrache watched as her rifle automatically unloaded all give of its 7.62 mm rounds, with only one pull of the trigger. She didn’t even have to handle the bolt action to reload in between, they all launched themselves as if they wanted to get in on the action personally.
One by one, those bullets covered in a spark of green flame flew through the air and—
*TOK TOK TOK TOK TOK*
<< You dealt -120 Piercing Damage. Enemy is bleeding. >> << You dealt -135 Piercing Damage. Enemy is prone. >> << You dealt -220 Piercing Damage. CRITICAL HIT!. >> << You dealt -80 Piercing Damage. Enemy is prone. Enemy fell to their death. >> << You dealt -115 Piercing Damage. Enemy is crippled. Unable to fight. >>
Cut through the skulls of five different mercenaries. Two of them dropped their muskets, breaking their offensive line.
The road to their future, was cleared open!
“NELLO!”
“PEDAL TO THE MEDAL! GO! GO!”
Without a proper counterattack, the surviving Mercenaries that fell over into the dirt lacked the manpower to mount their wagon and chase after the fleeing Tank.
In seconds, it breached the exit and it continued forward, barreling through a dense wall of trees and bushes. Nothing could stop the machine as it smashed down lines of timber, large boulders, and even forgotten carriages left from ancient times.
“WH-WHERE AM I GOING, BIG SIS!?”
“KEEP GOING STRAIGHT! STRAGHT! STRAI—“
Pastrache wanted to smile. She felt like she did something good today. Even when her body was super exhausted from using that critical one-hit skill… she felt it was worth the sacrifice.
Until Nello shoved over more trees, drove through a small pond, and was now 1 meter away from hitting the front gates of an important looking military garrison.
“….Ah.”
“………………………….Sh—“
*CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!*
<< Congratulations. You discovered Garrison Fort Sienna 1-1-7. Added to your Map. >> << You CRASHED into Garrison Fort S-117. You dealt -9999 Bludgeoning Damage to front gates. >> << Your relationship with Garrison Captain has is at -1%. Please seek counselling. >>