The year was 2027. The Third World War had been in full swing for the better part of around 12 months up to this point. As the United States struggled to retain its status as the dominant world power, the Concur Powers, following a critical defeat of the US Navy at Honolulu, found an opportunity from this temporary moment of weakness to launch an invasion of Los Angeles.

"Oho! Josh! Look here!"

"Woah dude, another super rare!"

"And this time it's a devil girl! Awesome!"

At 26 years old, Second Lieutenant Kaelin Hideki's appearance was just as nondescript as his odd personality. He had an ordinary height and a slender figure, with short and disheveled red hair. His eyes lacked any striking color, merely a dull blue hue. At the same time, his uniform consisted of neatly pressed camouflage fatigues, a metal helmet with a green visor, and combat boots that would hang loosely from his body.

At a standard 17:30 hours, both Kaelin and Josh were huddled over a small, glowing screen of a handheld device from their barracks on the 10th floor of the state-of-the-art stronghold, "The Iron Peak."

The Iron Peak, a towering fortress of steel and concrete built out of what was once Mount Lee, overlooked the outer city limits of Los Angeles, standing as the final line of defense between the city and the remainder of the US mainland.

"Man, I can't believe our luck today," Josh grinned, his eyes never leaving the device. "First that rare mech suit, and now this devil girl. Our guild is gonna flip when they see our haul!"

Kaelin nodded enthusiastically, his fingers dancing across the screen as he added the new character to their roster. "Yeah, we might even make it to the top 100 with these new additions!"

His excitement over their virtual conquest was suddenly interrupted by the distant rumble of artillery fire. The sound jolted him back to reality, as it was the first time he had heard that sound in months. He glanced up from the device, his eyes scanning the horizon where the first plumes of smoke were beginning to rise like ominous pillars against the Los Angeles skyline.

Josh noticed the change in his friend's demeanor. "Kae, you good? You got that thousand-yard stare again."

Kaelin blinked, shaking off the memories that threatened to surface. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking that sound can't mean anything good."

Despite his current obsession with Gacha games and his seemingly carefree attitude, Kaelin Hideki was far from an ordinary soldier, as beneath his unassuming exterior laid the heart of a true war hero… or so that was what the army called him anyway.

The Battle of Honolulu had been a disaster from the start. The Concur fleet had caught them off guard, and the US Navy had been outgunned and outmaneuvered. His unit, the 25th Infantry Division, had been caught in the crossfire, pinned down on the beach by a large Concur Frigate with nowhere to go but into the sea. With quick thinking, Kaelin had managed to send a bullet from his sniper rifle into the hull of the ship, landing a one-in-a-million shot into the gas valves of its engine, causing it to go up in flames and allow for Kaelin's division to escape.

The memory of that day still haunted him, the acrid smell of burning fuel and flesh etched into his mind. He had been hailed as a hero, yes, but the weight of those who didn't make it still pressed heavily on his conscience even months afterward.

"Earth to Kaelin," Josh's voice cut through his reverie. "You're doing it again, man. Come on, let's focus on the game. It's better than dwelling on... you know."

Kaelin nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Right, sorry. So, what's our next move? Should we try to level up the devil girl or go for another pull?"

Before Josh could answer, a shrill voice pierced through the intercom, "Attention, all personnel of lieutenant class and above, please assemble in the main conference room immediately. This is not a drill."

The two exchanged a glance, their game forgotten in an instant. As a Second Lieutenant, Kaelin was required to attend, but Josh, a Sergeant, would have to stay behind.

"Dammit, I guess our Gacha session's over," Kaelin sighed, powering down the device. "I'd better get moving. See you in a bit."

Josh nodded, his expression serious for once. "Yeah, see you."

Kaelin made his way through the bustling corridors of The Iron Peak, his mind racing with possibilities. The last time they'd had a higher-ups meeting like this was when the Concur forces had first breached the city limits. He hoped this wasn't a sign that things had gotten worse, despite the fact he was already suspecting that to be the case based on the sounds a few moments ago.

As Kaelin entered the conference room, he was struck by the tense atmosphere. The usual chatter and banter among the officers was absent, replaced by a heavy silence. He took his seat near the back, noting the grim expressions on the faces of everyone in the room.

Lieutenant Colonel Kellum, a stern-faced man with graying hair, stood at the front of the room. His piercing gaze swept across the assembled officers before he began speaking, his voice gruff and urgent.

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"Ladies and gentlemen, I'll cut to the chase. We've received intel that Concur forces have breached the inner-city limits and have forced both the 101st and 171st infantry divisions to retreat from their positions."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. Kaelin felt his heart rate quicken, his palms growing clammy as he processed the information.

"The 101st and 171st are currently requesting support in the form of covering fire from our artillery batteries, and as such, we must be ready to engage enemy forces approaching the stronghold effective immediately."

Kaelin's mind raced as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. The 101st and 171st were some of the best-trained divisions in the U.S. Army. If they were retreating, the situation must be dire indeed.

Lieutenant Colonel Kellum continued, his voice cutting through the tension in the room. "We're initiating Operation Ironclad. All personnel are to report to their designated battle stations immediately. Sirens will begin blaring within the next five minutes.”

The room erupted into a flurry of activity as officers began relaying orders to their respective units. Kaelin sat frozen in his chair, his mind racing. This was it. The day had finally come when he would fire upon Concur forces again.

As Kaelin made his way back to his barracks, the fortress buzzed with frantic activity. Soldiers rushed through the corridors, their faces etched with a mixture of determination and fear. The distant rumble of artillery fire had intensified, punctuated by the occasional explosion of stray fire that shook the nearby area.

Kaelin burst into his room, startling Josh who was attempting to doze off.

"Josh, gear up. We're headed to the shooting platforms," Kaelin said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Josh's eyes widened as he took in Kaelin's grave expression. "Shit, it's that bad?"

Kaelin nodded, already pulling on his combat gear. "Worse. The 101st and 171st have fallen back. We're initiating Operation Ironclad."

Josh's face paled as he scrambled to his feet, dropping the game device onto his bunk. "Operation Ironclad? But isn’t that our last-ditch defense plan!?"

“This feels premature I know!" Kaelin replied grimly, checking his rifle and ammunition. "But we're the last line between the Concur forces and the rest of the mainland. If we fail to hold them off..."

He left the sentence unfinished, but both men understood the implications. The fall of Los Angeles would mean a foothold for the enemy on American soil, a devastating blow to both military strategy and national morale.

As they rushed down the corridors toward their assigned positions, the fortress's sirens began to wail, their piercing cry echoing through the steel hallways. Soldiers poured out of barracks and common areas, a sea of green uniforms flowing towards the upper-floor artillery batteries.

Kaelin and Josh reached the shooting platforms on the eastern face of The Iron Peak, joining a throng of soldiers already in position. The panoramic view of Los Angeles stretched out before them, a cityscape marred by pillars of smoke and the flickering glow of fires. In the distance, the unmistakable silhouettes of enemy tanks and armored vehicles crawled through the streets like metal insects.

"Holy shit," Josh breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the scene.

Kaelin nodded grimly, his hands tightening on his rifle. "Yeah. It's worse than I thought."

The platform quickly filled with other soldiers, each taking up their positions at the batteries or with Kaelin and Josh’s Marksman team. The tension was palpable, a mixture of fear and determination hanging in the air like a fog.

Suddenly, a voice crackled over their comms. "All units, this is Lieutenant Colonel Kellum. We have confirmation of enemy forces approaching from the west and southwest. Artillery batteries, prepare to provide covering fire for our retreating forces. Marksmen, you are cleared to engage any hostile targets within range. May God be with us all."

Kaelin took a deep breath, steadying his nerves as he peered through his rifle scope. The city sprawled before him, a maze of streets and buildings now serving as a battlefield. Through the scope, he could see the distant figures of American soldiers, members of the 101st and 171st, desperately fighting a rear-guard action as they fell back towards The Iron Peak.

"I've got movement, two o'clock," Josh muttered beside him. "Looks like a squad of Concur infantry, about 800 meters out. You ready for this?"

Kaelin nodded, his jaw set. "As ready as I'll ever be."

As he took aim at the advancing Concur forces, a strange phenomenon began to unfold. A faint purple glow, barely noticeable at first, started to emanate from the very walls of The Iron Peak. The eerie light pulsed and flickered, growing more intense with each passing second.

"What the hell?" Josh muttered, lowering his binoculars and glancing around in confusion. "Kae, are you seeing this?"

Kaelin nodded, his eyes wide with disbelief. The purple energy was spreading, slowly beginning to surround the entirety of the fortress.

Panic began to ripple through the ranks as more soldiers noticed the bizarre occurrence. Shouts of confusion and fear echoed across the shooting platforms.

“Sir, what’s going on?”

"Is this some kind of new Concur weapon?"

"What's happening to the fortress?"

The purple energy intensified, its luminescence casting an otherworldly glow across the faces of the bewildered soldiers. Kaelin felt a strange tingling sensation crawl across his skin, like static electricity but more intense. He exchanged a worried glance with Josh, both men at a loss for words as the phenomenon escalated.

Suddenly, Brigadier General Hawthorne's voice boomed over the intercom, cutting through the chaos. "All units, maintain your positions! This is not an enemy attack. I repeat, this is not an enemy attack. Prepare to fire on my command!"

The soldiers exchanged confused glances, but years of training kicked in as they returned to their stations. Kaelin steadied his rifle, trying to ignore the pulsing purple energy that now enveloped the entire fortress.

"Artillery units, target coordinates Alpha-Three-Seven," Hawthorne's voice crackled through the comms. "Fire on my mark!"

"Three…"

The massive artillery guns swiveled into position, their barrels aimed at the advancing Concur forces. The air was thick with tension, the purple glow intensifying with each passing second.

"Two…"

The purple energy pulsed more intensely, now swirling around the fortress like an ethereal whirlpool. The air crackled with an otherworldly static, causing hair to stand on end and skin to tingle uncomfortably.

"One..."

Kaelin's hands tightened on his rifle as he braced, the purple light becoming so bright it was impossible to see.

"FIRE!"

At that moment, the purple energy flashed white, enveloping the entirety of the Iron Peak in a brightly shining coat of mysticism. When the energy began to disappear, it was clear to those on the ground that something was now terribly wrong: Mount Lee, along with its steel and concrete stronghold, had completely disappeared.