(3RD POV)

Senji drummed his fingers on the rim of the vehicle window as he scowled at nothing but the passing landscape, he's currently riding a jeep towards one of his most hated nation in the entire world of Terra; Ursus Empire.

One might question if he loathed the Ursus Empire so much, why is he going there in the first place? The answer is simply because he had to retrieve something that was taken from him, more specifically, the aforementioned materials needed for his forge.

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(Flashback - Few hours ago)

"Run that by me again?" Senji stated on the phone.

"I said it, your shipments was compromised by the Ursus Empire. You'll have to go there yourself to get it back." Emperor replied on the other end.

"What about your little rag tag group of girl scouts? Why can't they do it when I'm the one paying for you lot?" Senji demanded.

"Croissant is taken to look after some kid called Sora, Texas 'n' Exusiai were hired by a pharmaceutical company called... Rhodes Island to extract a VIP from Chernobog."

"So now you have no other Operators to do the dirty work? Even when two of yours are at the said place where my shipments are?" Senji questioned.

"Look, man. I know I owe a shitload of favors but hey, I'm also dealing with my own headaches but why don't you go with Texas and Exusiai to Chernobog yourself?" Emperor suggested, making Senji grumbled.

"If that's the only solution then I suppose I will, where are they?" The blacksmith asked.

"Getting ready just as we speak, you get here fast enough, you might be able to hitch a ride!" Emperor stated.

"...I hate you." Senji stated before hanging up the phone.

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(Back to the present)

"Goddamn flightless bird..." Senji muttered under his breath.

"Hey, I know you don't like the boss or us for losing your weapons but look on the bright side! We're almost reached our destination!" Exusiai said, patting Senji's back.

"Goddamn discriminating egotistical empire..." Senji cursed under his breath again.

"Exusiai, drop it. He isn't happy about both." Texas bluntly remarked.

"Eeeh..." The Sankta backed off from the statement.

"Seriously though, how the hell did you lose a cargo of weapons when it was secured to the vehicle back then?" Senji questioned.

"Bombs, lunatics, wild gangs and mobsters. Take a guess." Texas answered.

"...Make sense... not." Senji grumbled.

"Alright! We're here!" Exusiai stated as the jeep stopped.

"Ursus Empire, the nation filled with pricks and more brats." Senji commented, stepping out of the vehicle, looking at the cityscape.

However, the trio can clearly see some bodies lying on the ground along with the distant sounds of explosions and screams from within the nation, among the many corpses on the ground, there were also ones that was masked and donned in white uniforms. Each and every one of the white-dressed bodies had the same markings on their bodies.

"...Reunion." Senji stated as Texas nodded.

"Looks like they're making Chernobog their personal playground for now." The Lupo commented.

"Isn't that suicidal? I know Reunion is a force to be reckoned with but the Ursus Empire has a bigger firepower and manpower than them." Exusiai added.

"Looking at the numbers of bodies from the empire, it seems like Reunion managed to catch them off guard." Senji remarked before walking off.

"Hold on, where are you going?" Texas questioned.

"To find my shipments." The blacksmith replied.

"Hey! With all the chaos in there, you won't survive!" Exusiai called out but Senji turned around.

"Girl, I fought all those mobs when you're just eating an apple pie." He reminded as the Sankta blushed in embarrassment and Texas only sighed.

"Suit yourself, just be careful." She said.

"Don't worry too much, some group of rag tag Infected extremists won't hurt me, they're a hundred years too early anyway." Senji stated, disappearing around a corner.

"Is he really gonna be fine?" Exusiai asked.

"That's up to him, we should go now. Rhodes Island is probably already extracting the VIP." Texas answered, arming herself.

"Got it!" The Sankta said, picking up her gun.

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Senji walked through the desolate streets of Chernobog where innumerous corpses and ruins laid bare on the ground, the buildings were crumbling and falling apart while there were some stragglers and survivors calling out for help. Senji paused at that, walking amongst the dying and wounded as the person to live, that felt familiar for some reason.

Thus that didn't deter him from bending down and bringing out all the survivors even though they looked down on the Infected which in turn, brought their demise. Either they truly detest the Infected or they were misguided by the authorities who painted the Infected as monsters.

Still, despite all the negative aspects of the citizens of the Ursus Empire, some still had children, some were perhaps even unaware of the existence of Infected, they still had rooms to change themselves in, start over. Hence Senji wasted his entire time bringing out all the survivors while making sure they live, however, what happens to them next will not be his responsibility.

That is who he is, that is his nature of a ███████ ████████, a being who cleans up the mess of what others have created and his fateful existence known as █████ ██████.

"Now, if I'm correct, my shipments should be held in a warehouse somewhere..." Senji muttered before glancing at a fallen board map.

"Emperor said that the warehouse they're stored in is quite well-known throughout Chernobog, it should be the biggest one out of all in this city." The blacksmith thought to himself.

"...This one..." Senji murmured, looking directly at the biggest one out of all before turning to the right direction.

Out of nowhere, neon green lines resembling circuits surrounded Senji's legs before he crouched slightly, feet also slightly digging into the earth, then he charged forward. The air was violently pushed aside as the blacksmith sprinted through the streets to where his precious materials were being held, he saw some stragglers from both Reunion and the Ursus Empire forces walking around before ignoring them and continued running.

Now that he thinks about, the time he spent bringing people out from the ruins of the city and streets to the time he looked around for the signs of his materials, he most likely wasted more than half an hour or more. Unfortunately, meaning he had the first-hand experience in witnessing a Catastrophe form above him and Chernobog.

"...I need to hurry but the thought of getting back my materials now seem trivial compared to this..." Senji muttered as the chaos above him continued growing before he decided.

"...Tch, change of plans, I can always pester Emperor for another favor and shipments..." The blacksmith muttered before stopping near a corner as he heard voices beyond.

"...rally up the rest... we kill the traitors today..." Was all Senji heard.

"Rhodes Island... damned traitors..." As another joined in.

"Rhodes Island... that's who hired the Lupo and Sankta... I suppose following those lot would lead me to them..." Senji thought before leaping onto the building.

He overlooked the group of Reunion grunts who bickered for some few more minutes before they took off in one direction, Senji immediately followed after them, caring to not make as much ruckus as possible. However, the roar of the flames and the continuous distant screams did manage to muffle his footsteps thus he was able to easily follow the group.

As Senji continued following the group, the sight of more corpses and ruins came into view and the city of Chernobog became more and more desolated and devastated. Fire burnt everywhere and even the stone walls were no exception, the flames licked every surface it can, leaving behind a black mark that only indicates its temperature.

More potent and higher than any natural fire known thus it was not a flame generated by nature but a flame generated by someone or something and it wasn't long before the buildings were completely covered in utter darkness from the thick clouds of the growing Catastrophe and ashes and soot in the air. The only source of light left is what created the darkness in the first place, fires continued to grow in size, forcing Senji to map his route carefully now.

Senji soon decided to break off from the pursuit, choosing to make his own way through the destroyed city in search of Rhodes Island and the Penguin Logistics. Sure, he and Emperor weren't the best of all best friends but they're still... friends in some weird way so if either Texas or Exusiai died then that's on him.

Using his haori as a makeshift mask for the ashes and heatwaves in the air, Senji moved through the air with ease while making sure nothing gets in his eyes since it would become irritating. His efforts would soon be rewarded as he caught sight of more than one Reunion grunt followed by another and another.

It wasn't before long until he saw the entirety of Reunion converging together and surrounding a group smaller than them by many times, it didn't take a genius to know who they are and why Reunion had targeted them with a force such as themselves.

Rhodes Island.

Looks like Reunion has them completely outnumbered and surrounded, judging by the looks of it, the masked figure is the VIP since most of their numbers are guarding them. Strangely, Senji can't find either Texas or Exusiai anywhere in the crowd, either they retreated early or they're... no, he can't get to conclusions too quickly.

Shaking away the plaguing thoughts, the blacksmith crouched down and tried to listen in on the panicked conversations down there, mostly from Rhodes Island. Some Reunion grunts were snickering menacingly while they eager waited to begin their massacre on the "traitors".

Most of the members from Rhodes Island began having a small argument whether they will leave the Kuranta knight girl to hold back the entirety of Reunion while they escaped, this obviously didn't sit well for the rest since the young rabbit girl began arguing heatedly. While the knight's courage is commendable, it's a foolish belief that one can take on an army.

Well, maybe the girl can't but what about Senji? He's already gone

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