The Second Ly-ANS War?

  “What?” - “I-… Is this serious?” - “No. It can't be, right?” - “Is this real?” - “What the…” - “The Radical Wars are already too much… quién putas(the fuck) ANS thinks they are?” - “Motherfucker…” - “My heavens… my heavens! What now?”

  Lymoca was stunned. Their skin felt crawling for some moments. They looked above their heads and suddenly felt like there was something far different in the nothingness anyone could see than just a few seconds ago, but it was undeniable.

  Before they could all get to panic and become more confused, including the very President, let alone the rest of Lymoca as a whole, sirens sounded from Lydpert, Jaewim, and Coalely, to Proteros.

  The alerts took the Lys by surprise, soon followed by the realization and awe from Lydpert to Proteros as the capital suddenly sounded loud and menacing. In his office, President Luis Heartez slowly lowered the cellphone on his hand to the desk from his left ear.

  His eyes were widened as he looked at the northern sky. At once, Luis watched as numerous flying objects hurried from the distance, all heading towards the presidential precinct…

  WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNPP- WAAAAAANNPP! The sirens became louder, and just as the people looked at the sky, pointing their fingers and cringing down with fear written all over their fearful bodies, sounds were emitted from everywhere.

  Tfu, tfu, tfu, tfu, tfu… tfuh! The civilians who were close felt their ears almost become deaf, but those just a few meters away were only scared by the sudden noise. Before their eyes could react, even cameras, anti-missile missiles shot into the sky from the capital city of Proteros.

  They were shot from practically everywhere. Some from tall buildings whose last few floors seemed too unnecessary, and which weren’t used, even for restaurants. Others came from the middle of 1-story buildings, breaking the fake rooftop to soar.

  There were even some other tall, thick buildings which directly shot them laterally, arching into the sky to meet with the incoming bombarding missiles. Luis watched as hundreds of anti-missile projectiles rushed to the slower enemy missiles.

  The anti-missile missiles, of Lymocan pure technology, were quite smaller, consisting of less length but a slightly thicker structure. They were a lot faster than the incoming missiles, but the civilians couldn’t perceive that. Only the shocked special agents watched as Proteros City defended itself, never to be let vulnerable like before.

  Pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum, pum…!

  The enemy missiles exploded, forced to detonate in the air as their sound echoed through the distance. Those weren’t only targeted at military objectives, but across the northern and central regions of the enormous city. But now, they decorated the space above the buildings with countless expansive waves of fire and some electricity snakes flashing about.

  The people ever near those explosions, more than a hundred meters above the ground level, tumbled or fell to a crouching position, scared as debris flew over to the rooftops… and streets.

  An impenetrable invisible line defined the missiles’ detonation in the air, but some enemy missiles still made it through, albeit deviated. The second batch of anti-missile projectiles went after them, avoiding the horror of the city being bombarded everywhere.

  Those missiles were definitely not for small but lethal targets, too long and with a contrail that exposed otherwise. With those deviated missiles exploding near and even beside some rooftops, chunks of buildings, glass, and metal shards flew about.

  “AAAAAH!” - “Come here, don’t be afraid…” - “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!” - “Is it over? My heavens… Is it over!?” - “They attacked us?” - “… They attacked us! What the hell…”

  Luis watched how the northern side of the city was slightly filled with smoke flying about everywhere. It dissipated quickly, but there were more than a dozen tall buildings which were now incomplete, clearly reached by the destruction of war; of one starting.

  “Fucking… fuck…” Luis muttered. His brain reminded him of Fox’s words, but they did little now. He lifted his left hand again and breathed hard in and out before asking General Plomo, “What happened to the… gulp, military bases?”

  “They… it was rough, President. But… they are mostly intact. ANS should have believed us to have some defenses, but not missiles. They just sent them straight to us. At least they are neither Zyckevele nor KAA… Or else… We weren’t prepared yet, President.”

  “How long until then?” President Luis Heartez’s eyes sharpened again, gradually. His breathing evened, and his chest only felt one thing that could finally be shown: rage.

  “1 or 2 years, President… Had we not started moving them, I fear there was nothing that would’ve prepared us. The revisions, the counting-” General Edgar Plomo answered before carrying on, but Luis interrupted him, “That’s good. Now… now you know what to do, General. We don’t have much time, so prepare the army… I’ll check with the Admiral Secretary now.”

  “Yes, President,” the General’s voice was shaky. It made Luis think his General would soon step down, but he put that aside and dialed the Secretary Admiral. Just then, as per procedures, and to answer to all the people’s doubts and fear, the entire Proteros City and any other in Lymoca echoed with the same sounds.

  “Our blood, our blood, our blood, our blood, Lye…!” — “We crash, into the waves! With half of hearts, left in our breasts!” — “With pain, our land is left, to those whose hands will care!”

  Lymoca’s national hymn sounded in every part of Lymoca. Still being too soon into the integration, the regions in the south sounded theirs. But doing so for this situation was only in Lymoca’s constitution, bringing forth a possibility that was feared and expected for centuries.

  Lymoca was at war. Once again, they were declared war on… This time, it wasn’t a southern country, and it wasn’t through mobilizations of forces, but direct missiles from a major power like ANS. It had started… and it came at the worst time ever possible.

  Even then, contrary to the thought of it all, the missiles Lymoca used weren’t the same their naval and air forces used, such as combatant, but… more like those any major power has.

  Not even 2 minutes later, the entirety of the world knew about this. Shock spread throughout. Even the anti-Zyck and anti-Ziaca coalitions were taken aback, baffled and unaware. They could only continue battling, alone, without extra supplies anymore, wondering if ANS… was sane.

  The President didn’t present himself to the public, unlike before. However, he did show himself coming out of the presidential precinct. Instead of rushing somewhere to hole himself, he headed directly to the military base in Proteros. Some motorcyclists followed him, all shouting and cheering on, until he entered the military base.

  It was just night, so the people could barely sleep. More than half of Lymoca were up and fearing for their future, unprepared and unresponsive, but only for the civilians’ part.

  While Lymoca wasn’t ready, prepared, were scared, and feared the might of ANS despite what was known. The military, the government, and Piya Sanctum District were more than prepared. To fight a war? Always. To fight ANS? That… they were always thoughtful… now, they prepared!

  The EPA Commonwealth became the only passive region in all of the world beside northern Dawn, but only the commonwealth weren’t banned of any routes. Yet, as soon as the devastation in Proteros City’s northern regions were exposed, they cut off relations with ANS and banned any aviation and shipment.

  Now, and only now, the world was getting fed with the worst. Moreover, there seemed to be newly popping issues of organized crime around the commonwealth, even as they focused on sending supplies to Zyckevele.

  Not only because of Zyckevele’s waters turning into pirates’ paradise every few days, with news blocked by the Zyck government. The EPA Commonwealth’s shores were also… ‘infested’.

  At last, 3 hours after ANS’s bombardment, Lymoca moved. The army began preparations and started evacuating people in the northern states bordering ANS to the center and south. Meanwhile, multiple announcements were made in regard to formally entering into a state of war. Lymoca wasn’t backing down, further alarming every region in the south.

  … In his healthroom, Fox walked on a treadmill. It wasn’t a ‘human treadmill’ however. There were some stickers with thin cables glued to the rear sides of his head, and his shoulders, waist, and front and back from his sternum were pulled by weights.

  The weights were bell-shaped pieces of mantled raw Mintip, heavier than refined Mintip, and even a bit more than one cycle of Mintip processing. The actual harder characteristic to move these, is that they seem to be glued to the ground via visible energy, always pulling in angling directions even if the world were to stand still for seconds.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Fox had just begun his training, but he was sweating a bit. Not from the weight, but from leveling his body’s balance with the accumulated weight and the movement of the treadmill. It was heavy. A step on it was similar to feeling one’s foot lose its agility. All of this further complicated the exercises. It also brought him pain, which was still not enough to harm him from recovering.

  At the side was a doctor, whom Fox didn’t ask for, but it couldn’t be helped. He took notes and nodded each time he looked at the screen. Fox didn’t need a device to understand his body was adapting to the hustle of his muscles and bones, like a brand-new device turned on for the first time. They ‘screeched’ and rearranged, toughening up in the process.

  It was comical as any thought at first, but only Fox and his health team knew that his body was the literal example of what Mintip was already capable of when in combination of Courusel materials. His body was adapting to the changes, this evolution.

  What happened to his infrastructure, as such, is completely inhumane, yet an evolution. What was now happening was the same as Mintip being processed, only in Fox’s body. There was no ‘more strength, more power’, but he was enhancing a more durable ‘defense’ of his skin without losing what made it skin.

  The limitations were obvious, not indestructible, but the major characteristic wasn’t how much firepower Fox could endure before his body began hurting, potentially too much. It came from the way Fox’s body before could handle electricity to quite some high degrees, but now… fire, poison, and even medicine, which was no longer ‘an allergy’, were like air.

  One of the tests Fox wanted to go through was of his body resisting nuclear power, but that could only unfold after he recuperated.

  Fox looked up, taking a drink from the side before shaking his head. Those sounds were too obvious to him. His ears could even deduct where the missiles exploded with about 90% accuracy, which he hasn’t started to train yet.

  The more time he took to engage with the training to his new senses after the evolution, the more Fox wanted to pressure his body so it could heal. His non-internal healing properties were pretty much enviable by any other regenerative small animal.

  His internal healing was something different, only working when it was truly in need, but giving focus to improve. Thus, Fox’s internal body was damaged still, and very pained, but his recuperation would bring unlimited energy to work, work, and do as he wanted.

  The things done to him, regardless of how flourishing they are now, were nothing Fox ever allowed. He was experimented on, and they even tried to use his seed. Only Fox could deal with the things he wanted to give them back, to all of ANS, starting by their hoogs.

  Step, step. About 20 minutes later, the door to his healthroom opened and in went a young special agent. She bowed to Raging Blood and gave him a paperclip with dozens of papers. Fox looked at it after nodding at the fangirl before she left, reading through the things.

  Nala and Esmeralda took care of his business while he was gone. Not only that, even Snowfall Enterprise’s business to Lymoca’s new movies with Selena were successful enough to get word and fame going on.

  Moreover, the farms at Terka were working just as fine, with the wars doing nothing to the production throughout all these years, then and now. His bank account kept gaining money since last year’s 3rd month, adding 273,340,096 credits, and now had 711,718,320 credits.

  The Snowfall Enterprise’s reserves increased to 141,435,933 credits. It was enough to begin another chain the size of Lymoca for large restaurants in Terka. Later on, as more money came in, just the chain of a region or Lymoca would gain enough to fill the rest of the region in the following 4 to 6 years.

  The enterprise could focus on preparing even more nation-wide chains in the rest of the south, even talking with Cors to spread outside Lymoca if the conditions are right. For now, the enterprise in Terka was only amidst planning the establishment of the large restaurants. Of course, all of it slowed down the moment ANS declared war on Lymoca a few hours ago.

  Fox took his WID out while telling the doctor at the side, “Bring me back my book.”

  It was time to resume his reading. There was a lot to explore, and the more he read, the more he felt the pull of those records.

  When the doctor returned, Fox already sent messages to Nala and Esme. If they wanted to gain more money during this war, which would put all of the world to a complete lockdown of sorts, and bring forth more of everything to where there wasn’t yet conflict, they needed sponsors.

  Victor Ruva was one option, which Fox didn’t want to pressure, especially since his earnings have decreased since the eastern Radical Wars commenced. Neoph Forzt was another, who should be more willing to aid Fox, and more so Lymoca indirectly like this.

  As for bettering the image of Snowfall Enterprise, Vanessa and Selena were good choices. Fox had to work something with that. As he continued walking the treadmill, his body starting to trot a little, he looked ahead and thought of Vanessa’s words.

  He turned to the doctor and pointed at the thin tubes stuck to his head, “How long until these can be extended into bions?”

  “With the war going,” the doctor shook his head, “Maybe 20 days. It’s a catastrophe.”

  Fox hung his head, disgusted by the demand of resources pulled elsewhere. This war was something, its date, too, simply atrocious. Just as Fox pushed his body to run for a few minutes, Nala came in with a calm but heavy demeanor.

  “Hey,” she walked in and took the doctor’s position, the latter bowed and left them alone. Nala then looked up at Fox as he continued running. She leaned her head on a sidebar and her forearms and softly spoke, “It’s only a few days before your birthday. How do you feel?”

  “…” Fox’s gaze unfocused. He finished his drink before looking down at her, “I was feeling comical and filled with sarcasm, but now… I think they just did the right thing for me. Now, Luis should be busy moving everywhere… Can you prepare the kids?”

  “You know they are more willing than anyone. Should the populace know why you disappeared, they would, too.” Nala blinked her eyes, smiling thinly at him. Fox shook his head with a grin, “You have been corrupted by Esme.”

  “But I won’t see my history becoming the pull of the people. Eh, just not that story. I don’t want that.” Fox stated. Nala softly shrugged, “I know you. I understand.”

  “Mn, you maintained Snowfall while I was gone. Thank you, Nala.” Fox slowed down, feeling his thighs and knees pulsating painfully. Nala looked up at him, her eyes melting, “Never to fail you. That’s how you also are never to fail us. Get back to the open air, Lymoca needs you more now.”

  “So I will be used as a hero to point at in the end?” Fox rolled his eyes. Nala expressionlessly articulated, “Now that we’re against the ‘one and only’, yes. But it’ll be some time. Not even ANS sent their army immediately to the south. Our north is prepared as much as their south.”

  “The sea?” Fox narrowed his eyes. Nala nodded, “Lian has figured some things. We are preparing to respond, but they are already on the move. Our naval vessels aren’t as lengthy as theirs… but we are many. Each of us have all of our hearts— special agent, soldier, or not.”

  “Heard,” Fox stared into her gray, light blue eyes for a while before nodding. Nala also nodded, satisfied. She walked to the exit, but instead of leaving, she locked it and threw herself on his bed. Fox lifted an eyebrow, feeling his legs move faster on their own.

  “Run for 15 minutes this time, and I’ll mount you until your next little session with your nurses.” Nala blinked and slowly took her pants off, only those. Her legs folded and her knee raised into the air. She blinked again and bit her lip.

  Tompf tompf tompf tompf… Fox began running, not caring about warming his body in preparation after having just stopped running. Nala smiled, seeing her man work so hard to get healed, definitely nothing more.

  . . .

  A month and 10 days later.

  The situation in Lymoca worsened. Everything, every single route from the north to the south, was banned nowadays. Lymoca sent multiple shipments to the east to exchange some goods. Gupi and Gracia were more helpful since ANS declared war on the Lys, not wanting to see the same that happened with KAA, perhaps.

  On the other hand, Zyckevele and KAA declared war on ANS out of symbolism. They weren’t going to participate, but rather than showing up in another social media account to the rest of the internet, a declaration of war explained their stance better.

  Truth be told, the world was tired. The Radical Wars in the east were far too much, many times more severe in consequences than those in the west. However, the western Radical Wars resuming after everything that was happening in the east… Resilient felt like drowning.

  Only northern Dawn wasn’t in conflict as of yet, with Zyckevele’s Radical Wars being the safest from the entire world, on par with ANS and Lymoca’s second conflict since the Great Haul period. Although, who knows how long would that last?

  While all of this happened, Fox had finally come out as soon as he received tools to be analyzed as he trained in public. Miros was busy, but with Colmillo, they worked as much as they could to help Raging Blood recuperate to shorten the 20 days to 15.

  Then, Fox appeared in public after several months. The people went from knowing he took a break to seeing him run laps for a whole morning-to-afternoon cycle every day. The fear and angst the Lys had, be it in Lymoca’s national or regional borders, was dwindled with each passing day of Fox going for runs.

  Furthermore, that was only the beginning of every day as soon as light descended. Whenever he wasn’t running laps and being analyzed all over the city, Fox went through similar training that Emer tortured him with. Only, with Nala’s help in a high NUA, and instruments installed in a room that moved many times faster than a handgun’s bullet but not as much as a large pistol.

  Basically, it was an ‘evolved’ version of the training for Emer’s secret art, which worked for Fox’s newly evolved body only. It was too brutal and inhumane, both in morals and capabilities. Even then, the training’s difficulty had to gradually increase as Fox continued to get more used to his body and learned new forms of combat faster.

  Today, year 1,029, 2nd month, 3rd week, and 2nd day. Just a day before a whole month went by after his birthday, which was celebrated with his immediate close people, including Teon, Vanessa, Mena, Morena, Nala, her team, Esmeralda, and even Egoaiz Prein.

  Fox had gone through not only training, but ample customization to his body. Similar to before, with his left arm, Fox had more than raw power. Everything became simpler once his entire body consisted of ‘natural ultra Mintip’, as it was recognized by his health team.

  ANS could only be credited, besides their ignorance of their misunderstood failures. They managed to improve even the characteristics of his left arm before being kidnapped. Of course, as Fox was studied, Lymoca managed to engineer through and realized more of what ANS’s technological-natural concepts were.

  Naturally, they were improved, no longer a brazen ‘I think it works’ modus operandi, but a viable route to aid the now intricate mix between body and ultra Mintip. However, it wasn’t for cloning. If Lymoca had a view that came along their warmth known throughout the world, it was the distaste for forced, unnatural means.

  It was just that more technology, which Lymoca had no advancements or any ideas towards to, was akin to a massive body of water while passing through a planet-wide desert barefoot.

  …