The Manor looked abandoned, no lights on any window and it blended well into it's surroundings, Finn couldn't see anything of importance even with his binoculars.

Finn: Are you sure this is where she lives? This place looks like it's been abandoned for a while.

Vincent: I'm sure, she has been a recluse ever since her family passed away.

Finn: What if she has nothing to do what happened?

Vincent: That's why we came with you, attacks on the government cannot be ignored.

Snow fell at a slow constant rate, sky was dark and the wind was bitter. Both crews changed into their winter uniforms, they left the engines on as they sat next to a fire.

Ga1ahad: Are you ok Luna?

Luna had been staring into the fire while drinking tea, she had been given Marco's winter uniform because she was the only one that didn't have any warm clothing. The uniform was a little big for her but it was good enough, Ga1ahad on the other hand couldn't feel the cold.

Luna: Yeah I'm ok, I just can't exactly put it into words.

Ga1ahad: Is it because of the clothes?

Luna: That's part of it, I'll tell you after this.

She walked away from him as she went to clean her cup, Ga1ahad was a little confused but didn't think much about it.

Vincent: Chelsea is ready, the teleportation spell did take a lot from her, she doesn't often teleport things of this scale but we are ready.

Finn whistled and motioned everyone to pack up, Ga1ahad, Vincent and Chelsea would be on the ground.

-----

Terra was in the kitchen preparing a small meal for herself, she wasn't very picky with her food so even some basic pastry with some fruits would do her.

She grabbed the plate and placed a grape in her mouth and started eating it when there was a knock at the door, she froze in her spot as she looked towards the door. She stayed still for a few seconds to see if someone was actually there, there was a distant sound and moments later the front door was turned into shards of wood and iron as it was impacted by something.

The explosion knocked her off balance as she got back up and ran to the rear of her manor, the sock from the explosion shook the place and made her ears ring. The siblings felt the explosion and immediately ran upstairs grabbing their weapons, Gol3m Remained as he had not received an order.

The sisters found Terra half way down the stairs to the basement.

Terra: Ember, tell Gol3m to get upstairs, after that go to my lab and grab as much of my research as you can.

Ember: Mother what's going on?!?

Terra: Ember just go! we are under attack, Eva and Esther, I need you to hold them off as long as possible. I'll catch up with you at my lab to help you Ember, no go!

------

Vincent: That is a big hole, never saw it in action before.

Chelsea: And too loud.

The trio entered through the former front door, glass and other debris crunching under their boots, the inside of the manor was different from the outside in the way of how clean it was compared to the outside. Vincent went through the middle, Chelsea went through the right and Ga1ahad through the left. They unsheathed their weapons with Ga1ahad and Vincent with swords and Chelsea with a sword breaker and a short sword, they moved in quietly look for Terra.

Chelsea went up the stairs, looking through the rooms, she entered a library. On a table was a book open with fresh ink on it, as she approached the book, she failed to notice the dark figure crawling on top of a book case.

"Surprise" was on the book, Chelsea turned around and saw a pair of claws coming at her.

------

Ga1ahad look through his section, he hadn't found anything noteworthy until he arrived at a door that was locked. He heard sounds coming from the other side, he leaned in closer to try to discern the sound, it was a metallic noise that got closer.

Ga1ahad: Wait a se-

A metal arm punched through the door grabbing Ga1ahad by the head, Ga1ahad tried to break free but his attacker slammed him though the floor. 

Vincent: Ga1ahad!

Vincent looked into the direction of the commotion but senses a presence behind him, he ducked down and rolled to the side. A Katana swung down at where he once stood, the girl with orange hair recovered from her failed ambush.

Esther: Tch, Prince.

Vincent: Did you miss me, Emilia?

Esther: My name is Esther, Hero.

Vincent: Huh, my reputation proceeds me. Ready for round two?

Vincent got into a defensive stance with his sword, Esther got into an offensive stance.

Chelsea kicked her attacker in the abdomen and jumped back, the attacker clutched her abdomen as she was pushed back.

Chelsea: I suggest you to stand down or this will be your last battle.

Eva: I'll gouge your eyes and rip your throat out, I Eva will be your you death.

Eva Pulled out a small pouch and threw it at Chelsea, the pouch exploded into a cloud of smoke. Chelsea was then kicked on her side followed by a kick on her knee, Eve then swung her left claw at her face striking Chelsea's cheek cutting into her.

Chelsea swung her sword to Eva's throat but her blade was slowed down by Eva's shield, she followed with a shoulder charge knocking Eva onto the ground. Chelsea placed her hand on her cheek as her palm started glowing as her wounds disappeared.

Chelsea: Think you're the only one with dirty tricks up your sleeve?

-----

Ga1ahad was thrown across the hallway like a ragdoll, he clutched his sword as he slowly got back up and looked down the hallway at the armored monster walking towards him.

Ga1ahad: How am I gonna deal with you?

The behemoth broke through the doorway leading to the lobby, Ga1ahad jumped down to the first floor, he looked up as it also jumped down.

Ga1ahad: Who are you?

It did not reply but instead took a swing at him, Ga1ahad jumped up to avoid the hit and swung down at its head. His speed left a scratch as it staggered the beast, his sword started glowing as he swung upwards. This attack knocked the beast onto it's back,  it raised it's arm into the air and shot a a wire into the ceiling and pulled itself up then retracted the cable.

Gol3m: I am Gol3m, I was designed to break you, Ga1ahad.

Gol3m head charged at Ga1ahad who tried jumping over him, but Gol3m caught him by the leg and slammed him into the ground hard enough to make him bounce. Gol3m jumped into the air and landed on top of Ga1ahad, he then off him and grabbed him by the leg and launched him of out the manor through a window to the outside. Ga1ahad flew through the air and passed over the tanks that had gotten closer since the assault began, Finn and Molotov looked up in amazement while Luna looked up in horror seeing him fly over them and crash into a nearby tree.

Luna: Ga1ahad!!

Luna jumped off the Jäger and ran over to him, the tree was almost knocked down and he wasn't moving. She tried to shake him to get a response but he didn't respond, upon lifting his head she saw his eyes were closed. Frustrated, she slapped him on the face which finally brought him awake.

Ga1ahad: What the- what happened? how did I get out here?

Luna hugged him hard as years had formed in her eyes.

Luna: Don't scare me like that.

---
Finn turned around to look in the direction of the Manor, the metal beast walked through the entrance into the outside. Molotov racked his DShK and aimed it at the thing.

Molotov: I don't like the look of that.

Finn racked his MG-42, aimed and started firing along with Molotov. The thing was slightly staggered as the 8mm and 12.7mm rounds hit it's armor, making dents and scratches, but it didn't stop it as it started running towards them.

Finn: Wha- shoot it Peter!

Peter aimed with the Tiger's gun along with the Moskva, as they were about to press the triggers, the thing jumped into the air and slammed itself into the front of the Tiger. Molotov started shooting frantically at it while the Moska turned its gun to it, Finn ducked back into the turret as it grabbed Jägers gun and started pushing the gun up. It started tearing the turret of it's ring, Molotov watched as it tore off the turret and tossed it off the side of the mountain. It turned it's attention to the Moskva who's turret was still turning, it began moving to it as was in no danger.

--Meanwhile--

Terra was grabbing every single bit and scarp of paper she possible could, the ceiling shook as the muffled sounds of a struggle continued outside. She had dedicated most of her life into her work so everything was important to her, Ember would grab the cases Terra finished to a part of the room which then she would send off to a different location via their way of teleportation.

Ember was in tears as she felt useless, even though she was the oldest, she was the weakest of them. Even though she had a mask on, Terra knew what she was feeling.

Terra: Ember, I know what you're thinking, and that's ok.

Ember: But they're out there fighting while I'm down here!

Terra: Ember, I didn't make you a fighter on purpose.

Ember: Then what did you make me for! I can't do anything!

Terra: I made you to lead them Ember, it's why you're the oldest, I made them to follow you.

Ember couldn't understand what her mother was saying, before she could respond, the rumbling on top of them stopped.

Terra: We are running out of time, this should be enough. Send the remaining papers and use this to talk to them, tell them we are going to the caverns so they need to retreat now.

Terra tossed Ember a a small rectangular jewel with a faint blue glow and walked to one of the doors in the room with a journal, Ember looked at her bracer and saw a similar shape to the jewel. Upon placing the jewel in the space, it glowed brightly before dimming again.

Ember: Everyone, retreat to the caverns immediately!

---

Esther used her katana as means to help her stand, Vincent looked down at her as he approached her.

Vincent: You know, even though it's only been about a little more than a week since we met, you haven't improved much.

He kneeled down to her level as he looked at her, he reached to her mask in order to remove the mask.

Chelsea: She got away!!

Vincent stopped and looked back as Eva threw smoke bombs at him, Esther took the chance to push him onto the floor and run.

Vincent: They ran?

Vincent left the cloud of smoke back to the lobby, he saw Molotov and Finn running towards him. Both looked angry at him, Finn's uniform was now dirty compared to how white it originally was.

Finn: You better have good news because that thing almost killed us!

Vincent: What happened?

Molotov: This huge guy with armor destroyed one of the tanks and almost killed them too before it stopped and melted into the ground.

Vincent: What??

Chelsea: They're getting away, talk about that later.

Chelsea was at the top of the stairs holding onto the railing as she was exhausted, she pointed downstairs towards the back of the manor.

Chelsea: They're going to the caverns, that bitch mumbled it before she ran.

Vincent: Are you gonna be ok?

Chelsea: I'm fine just go.

Chelsea collapsed onto the ground as the trio ran into the manor, they went down into the basement looking for them. Finn was armed with his MP 40 while Molotov had a Mosin Nagant, they slowly sweeped the basement until they found a door that lead into the caverns. As Finn and Vincent went in, Molotov heard a noise in a room they didn't check.

Molotov: Here kitty kitty.

He slowly walked towards the room, he saw a girl putting things in a satchel. He looked around to make sure it was just her, she still hadn't noticed him.

Molotov: Raise your hands.

No response

Molotov: I said raise your hands!

Ember: Take this!

Ember turned around while throwing a bottle at him, he flinched as he fired but missed. Ember charged and tried to tackle him, but Molotov used the stock of the Mosin and started hitting her back and managed to push her off and cycled another round in. He hit her in the face with the stock and put her in a head lock with rifle and started strangling her with it, she tried to break free but couldn't get loose.

Molotov: Stop moving and die already!

Ember felt her body getting weaker, she reached for a knife in her belt. She drove it into Molotovs thigh and he grunted in pain, Ember started repeatedly stabbing his thigh until she managed to reverse headbutt him in the face. Molotov dropped his rifle and Ember picked it up, and turned around and shot Molotov in the chest.

Molotov: AAHH!

He fell onto the ground as breathing became difficult for him, he started writhing on the floor from paints blood started coming out of his mouth. Ember looked at him and at the rifle that was on her hands, she grabbed the bolt and pulled it back and got spooked by the empty casing popping out.

Ember: This is rather nice.

---
Vincent and Finn had made it to a bridge within the caverns, they couldn't see anyone as they cautiously made their way towards the bridge. Down below was a river that was at the bottom of the mountain, it was a long fall.

Finn: What is this?

Vincent: Something you don't want to fall into, especially not now.

When they got to the bridge, Esther was standing before the bridge looking at them.

Finn: Emilia? it's me Finn!

Esther unsheathed her sword as she got into an offensive stance.

Esther: I don't know Emilia, my name is Esther.

Vincent: That's her right?

Finn: Yeah, the hair and voice match.

Vincent: The plan is gonna be to get the mask off her, it must be what is controlling her.

Vincent pulled out his sword and Finn aimed his MP 40.

papapapapa!

Finn fired his MP at Esther who was caught by surprise as her shield took damage, Vincent took the opportunity to do a flying kick which knocked her back. Vincent kicked her in the head to stun her, he stood her up and held her by the arms from behind.

Vincent: Pull the mask off now Finn!

Finn put the MP 40 over his shoulder as he then grabbed the mask from the edges.

Esther: AHHHH!

Esther started screaming in pain as they tried pulling the mask off, small bits of electricity was coming out of the mask as it was being removed by force. Finn winced as the screams made his hearing impaired, while he was occupied with the mask he failed to notice Vincent look behind him as he was hit with a rifle round. Finn Turned around to see behind him and saw Ember cycling a round into the Mosin.

Finn: Wait that's Molotov's-

He felt something go through his body and then something warm come up, his mouth filled with a metallic taste as blood started coming out of his mouth. He looked back towards Esther and saw her katana going into his body, she moved him over to her right and pulled the sword out of him. Finn reached out to grab her but she pushed him off the ledge and watched him disappear in the distance below.

Vincent: You filth..

Vincent tried to stand up but collapsed onto the ground, Esther and Ember walked passed the writhing man on the floor without looking back at him and left him there.

Hello it's me trooper, I managed to get out a new chapter in record time. Things are still the same here just add work to it, thank you for reading and I will see you next time, and may the force be with you.