Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 22, HxH Greed Island

Greed Island: Day 62/90.

Three days after the terrorist act committed by Genthru and the resulting arrival of Team Germany, Team Japan began to move into action. Today was the day that Genthru told us to meet him at Dorias. Today was also the day we also planned to face off against Team Germany. The reason we planned both battles today was because we didn't want anything unexpected to occur and be put on the defensive. The risk that if we focused on Genthru, Team Germany could ambush us during or immediately after the battle, or vice versa would spell the end of Team Japan. Both were real possibilities.

Team Germany apparently had a Psyche Force user according to Hikari. Hikari was sensitive to Psyche Force as a Persona user and so she could tell that someone was broadcasting wide area scans over Greed Island looking for suspicious activity. Jin believes that the only reason that we haven't been found by the enemy is because they can't tell us apart from the players of Greed Island, but if they locked onto us even once we wouldn't be able to get off their radar ever again. As for the other enemey Team Japan needed to deal with, Genthru/Bomber, who killed the mass majority of Greed Island players could have spared the spies he had watching over the island. Like those watching over Soufrabi. It wasn't odd in the least that Genthru would have the remaining cities of the island under his watch in case the remaining player plan to take action against him, or Team Japan would try something to get out of the deal that they made to meet in Dorias to hand over Designated Pocket Cards to him.

The point was that both forces were capable of surveying for threats. That is why we choose to be ones in control of the battles. To be on the offensive dictating how and when these battles proceeded would give us the edge we needed. With that in mind, Team Japan agreed to split up into three groups.

◆ The First Attack Group: The group to face off and distract Team Germany - Shin, Hikari, Connor, Kisara, and Renji.

◆ The Secondary Attack Group: The secondary group to take out as many members of Team Germany as possible - Misaki, Kampa, Shuai, and Jin.

◆ The Third Attack Group: The group to confront Genthru and his group - Aqua.

The first attack group, including myself, Hikari, Connor, Kisara and Renji will directly face off against Team Germany without hiding and draw them out into the open. The purpose is to draw out Team Germany's strongest members while the secondary attack team attacks their rear. If the entire team approaches then we're to prolong the battle and make an opening for the secondary team, and if half the team or fewer arrive then we're to prolong the battle, yet offensively attack to take out their members.

The secondary attack group which includes Misaki, Kampa, Shuai, and Jin will attack Team Germany after the first group commences the attack. The secondary groups priority it to target Team Germany's weak Newbie and support members for the purpose of killing off members of their team to offset the Negative 10,000 point deficit. If Team Germany splits up then the secondary group will target those left behind where ever it is at that they are staying, in other words their base of operations which will certainly include their Newbies. If Team Germany stays together and moves to crush the first group then the secondary group will attack their rear while the enemies are distracted by the first group.

Now, as for the third attack group consisting of only a single member of Team Japan...

Aqua: "Well them I'm off."

Aqua stood by the doorway of our apartment building. As usual she was had in her mouth one of her signature cigarettes to calm her nerves... yet she was anything but calm. On Aqua's face was nothing but seriousness. She knew that a battle awaited her once she left alone and that it would be a battle that would determine the safety of her comrades. Aqua and Aqua alone volunteered to square off against Genthru by herself. Team Japan didn't have the man power to split off into a proper third group, so the strongest and most veteran member of Team Japan, Aqua, would go out to meet and defeat Genthru. It made sense in a way with our low manpower, but...

Shin: "Aqua... you don't have to be the one to go out and meet Genthru. I can take your place and you can lead the others on the attack of Team-"

Aqua: Shin, don't ever say such a thing again. You can't hesitate to do what is necessary because of personal feelings. You're the leader of Team Japan and you have a responsibility. Don't betray the team's interest for my own or yourself. I don't know how today will turn out. I also don't know if all of us can come out of this alive, but I know one thing. If I die you may regret not taking my place, but you won't ever be able to forgive yourself if everyone other than me dies in the event that you take my place. In life when there are only bad options to choose from... always choose the option that will leave you with the least regrets."

Shin: "...Sorry. Please forget what I said."

Aqua: "...Don't worry about it. I... understand your feelings. Anyway don't worry about me. Whether we switch plans or not wouldn't change the fact that I'll be in danger. Also, I told you once before. I'm not cut out to lead others. Within Team Japan you have the most charisma. Even without a strategic mind like Saki or Jin, you alone can lead Team Japan. That's impossible for me."

Shin: "Really, I don't think that I'm that great. Also, you could definitely do a better job than me."

Aqua: "I can only agree with the part that you’re a foolish otaku with delusions of grandeur (I never said that), but you're still better than me. If nothing else just believe in that."

Aqua said those last words to Shin and left. She didn't wait to be seen of by the others and left just like that. Similar to their first meeting in H.O.T.D, the lone wolf Aqua walked off. Shin didn't believe that this would be the last that he would see Aqua again... yet all the same he felt that it was wrong to let her go alone to meet Genthru in Dorias. It wouldn't be wrong to call it a death sentence if something goes wrong, yet Shin could only watch her leave. Shin was angry, but knew deep down that he didn't yet have the power to protect everyone around him from harm this time.

Shin: "Powerlessness... It's the worse. No wonder villains don't hesitate to dive into darkness just for a chance to be rid of this awful feeling. I'll be stronger next time, so Aqua... please don't die."

Shin said so out loud, but Aqua was long gone and on her way to Dorais. Shin stood there for a good few minutes before turning back. Shin wouldn't stop worrying about Aqua, but he had more things to worry about. Hikari, Misaki, Kampa, Shuai, Connor, Jin, Renji, and Kisara. If Shin fails today then all of his comrades, his new home would disappear, so knowing this Shin steeled himself for the upcoming battle.

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Soon after Aqua departed, the rest of Team Japan stirred into action. Everyone, including the badly wounded Kampa has healed from the desperate battle against Razor three days prior and were ready to fight once more. Leaving the three uninvolved, non-trial member Newbies behind, we were ready to depart from our apartment in Aiai and head towards where we learned Team Germany was currently the most active, the Magic City Masadora.

Unbeknownst to them, it turned out Jin had made contacts with the players all across Greed Island. Jin had not told anyone this till after Team Germany arrived. They were aware that Jin had contacts, but not to the extent that he was now telling us. That he had loyal contacts placed all over Greed Island was news to even Shin. He did so in case they were to ever confront Team Germany and couldn't avoid confrontation. From his experience in MMORPG’s, wars were won by those who arrive at the battlefield first and prepare for battle. It wasn't an absolute rule, but it was the one advantage Team Japan had as they were the first to arrive in the mission.

Using his contacts, Jin learned that a group of thirteen arrived in Masadora the day before last in groups of 5-6. He believed this was certainly Team Germany. According to the reports, Team Germany was making the most out of the chaos Genthru brought on to extort Cards, specifically Spell Cards from other players. Moderate Clan, what was left of Savage Clan, and all the decently strong clans were disposed of by Genthru terrorist bombing, so there was no force on Greed Island to openly oppose them.

Jin: "Now, one last time we'll go over the information at hand before we depart to Masadora."

Hikari: "You know Jin, I already said this, but I don't want to believe that you hid this all from us... but because it is you I can. I'm also not mad that you did."

Shin: "I know right. It’s like 'As expected of Jin', and definitely not in a good or bad way."

Jin: "I can't tell if I'm being complimented or not."

Shin: "You're not, so just go on."

Jin: "Hahaha, alright then. Everyone! We can't allow Team Germany to act freely anymore. It's my belief that their mission shouldn't be the same as ours, or they would be more forceful in their card gathering operations. They would also target cities other than Masadora. I don't know the specific of their mission, but for the moment they are just gathering Spell Cards. We can't allow them to gain Spell Cards like 'Accompany' or 'Magnetic Force' which will allow them move around the island as they please anymore."

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Kampa: "And the plan is still the same, right? First attack group will lure out Team Germany after entering Masadora. If the entire Team, or a majority arrives, then the secondary attack group will back them up. If only half the team or less moves to counter Shin's group then we'll make our way to Team Germany's base of operations. After disposing of, or weakening the first group of enemies, Shin's group will try to lure out more of the enemy and we'll strike during that time."

Jin: "Correct. Team Germany isn't staying within any of the cities on Greed Island, so they are certainly camping out somewhere. They stayed in the other starting city for a half a day according to my contacts, but they left and never returned. I've been told that they don't use Spell Cards to arrive to Masadora each day and just walk in through the front gates. This tells us that their base isn't too far from Masadora. They likely chose that location so that it wouldn’t be necessary to use Spell Cards simply for transit. No more than three hours away is my best estimate. If it isn't that far off I'm sure Hikari can locate them."

Shin: "And that'll be the start of the battle. We'll head to Masadora. There Hikari's Persona will locate Team Germany, and their Psyche Force user will most likely locate her back in response. If they find us within their Spell Card hunting grounds they'll certainly come after us... well, all of us who are found in their scan."

Misaki: "What are the chances that this is a trap?"

Jin: "Irrelevant. Team Germany is most certainly the more powerful team selected to appear after us. We can't face them head on, but we have to do so in order to undo our Negative 10,000 point score. I can't say for certain that we all won't die today, that nothing will go wrong, but I'd rather believe Team Germany will look down on us and that the plan we came up with will succeed."

Shin: "Jin's right. We have no choice in the matter. We can only do our best and survive together, or fail pathetically and die together. Our fates our one. Aqua has already head off and now it's our turn! BOOK!"

Having said the key words my Binder appeared in a poof of smoke. Reaching into one of the Free Pockets I took out the Spell Card that'll guide us to the battle in Masadora with our fated foe. Team Germany!

Shin: "Let's move out! Accompany ON! To Masadora!

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Within a dark and dense forest two to three hours away on foot from Magic City Masadora there was an abandoned village. Several people were sitting in a room quietly in one of the abandoned house. It was a worn down building with no electricity, but it functioned for is singular purpose as a temporary base of operations that was close to Masadora, the city where the most Spell Cards could be found.

Erwin, a man who had his eyes closed the whole time and made little interaction with his teammates, suddenly opened his eyes and was the first to notice the abnormality. Then a few moments later three others, Abigail, Adam, and Klaus felt it as well. That someone far off was watching them.

Abigail: "Oh, so Team Japan finally made their move, huh? They also seem to have a Psyche Force user as well. How is it Erwin? Are they closing in on us?"

Erwin: "...No. Team Japan seem to be lying in wait in Masadora. I count five members standing right outside the Spell Card shop. I can tell it's them as they are standing around a girl in her teens who had summoned some type of spiritual familiar that enhances her Psyche Force."

Abigail: "Masadora? Hmm, did they hear of us collecting Spell Cards? A spy amongst the NPC players? They might have someone who's a capable strategist. We're lucky. If the Bomber hadn't killed off most of the players we could have been facing an army of Nen Users. Anyways, I'm curious about this familiar. There are too many enhancements, so I can't recall one that increase Psyche Force."

Klaus: "There are a few as I recall leader, but it might be a Persona. How rare. I've heard from other teams that even those with the potential as Psyche Force user can't always acquire the support type Persona. She might have a higher potential than you Erwin.

Hearing this, the only other female of Team Germany aside from Abigail, began to laugh hysterically. She was a mature woman in her mid 20's and was very attractive as she laid back on a chair with a dress on. Unlike the others she preferred not to wear the Mass Enlightenment Uniform and liked to wear nice clothes from the Entertainment Category of the Exchange System.

Cora: "Hear that Erwin? He's saying you’re weaker than some little girl!"

Erwin: "Nonsense, Cora. Speak only after you become the team's second Psyche Force user after raising you Mental Capacity to 1250."

Cora: "No thanks. I'm fine with just being the team's shield."

Abigail: "Enough you two! Erwin, how strong is their Psyche Force user?"

Erwin: "I can't say anything about her future growth, but at the moment I'm much stronger than her and more skilled. Her Persona is powerful enough to block any detailed scans on the enemy like potential abilities or personalities, but the fact that I can get visual images shows that she is still too green. There's a guy with white hair, a girl with long black hair with a katana, a young teen with a Chinese sword, a boy of Middle Eastern descent, and a teenage girl who I believe to be the Psyche Force enhancer. Even in her presence I'm almost certain that I can brainwash their weaker members as long as I'm close enough. I've also memorized each of them. If they escape with a Spell Card I am confident that I can easily find them again."

Abigail: "Excellent! It was definitely the right choice to use my connections to get someone like you on my team with the talent for Psyche Force. Hahaha, I feel bad for over half the teams out there that lack one. Now then... let's move out!"

Adam: "Wait! Erwin, do you only sense five members? Some could have died in a previous mission, but there could be more hiding out to ambush us."

Erwin: "That's unknown. I only sensed them after they located us. It may very well be a trap to ambush us after we arrive."

Abigail: "I see... then let's test that theory. Adam, Kurt, and Webber. Take an 'Accompany' Spell Card and head to Masadora as an exploratory attack group to test the waters. Make a scene and attack Team Japan. If you do this their possible reinforcements should come running. If they escape, or try to lead you to follow them then the possibility of being lured into a trap is high. If no one comes to their aid... we'll move out to crush Team Japan in one fell swoop!"

Abigail immediately gave the order for them to head out, yet Klaus, one of the few within Team Germany with the right to speak back to Abigail called out to her. Abigail sensed the urgency in his actions and spoke to him away from the others.

Klaus: "Leader, is this arrangement really the best? Adam goes without saying as the third strongest within the team as he's so hard to kill, but Kurt and Webber's enhancements aren't at the level to fight another team without backup. I'll admit that Kurt's magic is impressive and Webber's burst power is second only to myself, but overall they're fools. Also, a confined space like a city doesn't work in their favor. Even after taking the Genetic Constraint Stimulation drug they have yet to unlock their constraints. They also don't have a strong willpower like myself, Adam, or you. Erwin mentioned a white haired man who is most likely the priority target. I doubt they can survive after-"

Abigail: "Klaus. Do you think that I'm retarded? I'm aware they stand no chance against him. Together their powers are damning, but it isn't like I expect them to win. We need to figure out his current fighting power for us real members of Team Germany to take him out."

Klaus: "So you really were abandoning them. Well, not like I care."

Abigail: "That's right. On Team Germany only Adam, Erwin, you, and myself are anything other than disposable pawns. The others took that drug to release their constraint, yet they failed to unlock after 5-10 missions together. They have little value and because of them we couldn't search for that many Hidden Side Quest or Bonus Missions. It better to use them to test Team Japan. Anyway, I did say I would send Adam along with them. They shouldn't die too easily."

Klaus: "I'm still worried."

Abigail: "Well, I'll send Lutz along with them if it'll make you feel better. If those two get injured, Lutz can keep them alive. It shouldn’t be a problem with his expensive healing spells that he's finally acquired... now, let's test Team Japan’s powers! Let's see whether they are prey to be swiftly killed or enemies on equal grounds! Hahaha, Shin of Team Japan, I hope you don't disappoint. When I look back after rising up in the ranks of Mass Enlightenment I don't want to think that my promotion was undeserved!"

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Authors Note:

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Proofread by Hoebagger

In the next chapter a character makes racist remarks. Just check out the authors notes to understand the reasons why.