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DESOROCK HIGHLAND - COMMAND TENT
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( JEFF'S POV )
Jeff stood just outside the command tent, arms folded across his chest, watching the camp.
A few steps away, a Midnight Ranger with a fresh bandage wrapped around his bicep flexed his arm experimentally. The white cloth contrasted sharply against his dark uniform, still slightly stained with blood beneath the edges.
Another Ranger—older, broader—stood in front of him, brows furrowed.
"How's your injury?" the older one asked, voice laced with concern.
The younger Ranger forced a grin. "Fully healed," he said quickly, rolling his shoulder once more. "I'm ready to go."
Jeff noticed the slight hitch in his movement. The almost imperceptible wince.
The older Ranger noticed too.
"Don't push yourself," he said firmly, placing a heavy hand on the younger man's good shoulder. His grip tightened for just a second. "We need you alive more than we need you brave."
The younger Ranger's grin softened into something more honest.
"…Yeah. I'll stay safe."
They bumped fists quickly, and separated.
Near the weapon racks, another group huddled around a portable resonance scanner. Its screen shot up with unstable readings, blue light reflecting against their tense faces.
A Ranger with sharp features and rain-plastered hair ran a frustrated hand through it.
"Something's wrong," he muttered. "This TD Outbreak isn't like the previous ones." He gestured toward the scanner. "Retroact Rain outbreaks always show converging energy trails. The Academy drilled that into us."
Another Ranger leaned closer, squinting at the empty grid.
"But there's nothing," the first continued, agitation creeping into his voice. "The Tacet Discords are just appearing out of thin air." His fingers curled against the device's edge.
"As if they're being summoned."
The Ranger beside him went still.
"You mean…" his voice dropped. "…this is the Threnodian's doing?"
Silence fell between them.
"Likely," the frustrated Ranger said at last, swallowing. His frustration shifted into grim resolve. "And if that's true, we can't just contain the outbreaks. We have to stop it at the source."
Must be the Fractsidus handiwork, It got the Conductor's handiwork written all over that shit. I thought
He looked toward the distant waters, where the silhouette of Ovathrax loomed like a jagged scar against the horizon. "Before it's too late."
A horn sounded.
The scattered conversations ground to a halt. At the center of the camp, a senior soldier stepped onto a raised supply crate. Rain dripped from the brim of his cap, tracing lines down his stern face. His voice cut cleanly through the crowd.
"The battle is upon us!"
Rangers straightened instinctively.
Jeff felt it too that familiar collective changed in posture. Spines aligning straight instinctively. "Are you ready?" the soldier demanded.
A murmur rolled through the crowd.
The soldier's gaze hardened. "We defend Jinzhou," he continued, voice rising, "and everything we hold dear. Our families. Our comrades. Our home." His fist slammed lightly against his chest plate.
"Victory will be ours!"
This time the response came louder.
"Victory will be ours!"
Dozens of voices. Determined and riled up. Rain be damned. The soldier raised his voice one last time, eyes burning with conviction. " We will prevail the lasting night!" The Rangers echoed it back, the words vibrating through the camp like a promise.
"We will prevail the lasting night!"
Jeff glanced sideways. Rover stood beside him, soaked hair clinging to her cheeks, golden eyes blazing with excitement and defiance. There was mud on her boots and rain dripping from her lashes but she was smiling nonetheless.
He felt his lips twitch upward despite the weight in his chest. Behind them, the command tent flap opened—and Jiyan stepped out into the rain. He surveyed his soldiers, and though he didn't raise his voice yet, his presence alone quieted the lingering murmurs.
Jeff adjusted the strap of his pistol in his hip, eyes narrowing as he scanned the group. His gaze kept flicking to Jiyan, who stood in the center of the command tent, a topographic map spread before him.
"I have split all combat units into three factions," Jiyan said, tracing his finger along the valleys and cliffs marked on the map. "The ranged team will provide fire support from afar while the infantry team engages in close combat. Lastly, we have the special task force: Jeff, Rover, Yangyang, Jianxin, and myself."
Rover's eyebrows lifted. She glanced at Jeff, a small smirk at her lips, Jeff met her gaze with a raised brow, shrugging almost imperceptibly. Jiyan gestured toward two figures standing at attention. "This is Konglin, leader of the ranged units. And Yuehui, he's in charge of the infantry team. Study their positions carefully."
Jeff leaned over the map, his eyes scanning the narrow passes of the Norfall Barrens. "Our main battlefield will be at the valley's bottom," fingers tapping along the map. "Space is limited. Vision is also limited. That's a choke point we can't ignore."
Rover folded her arms. "Placing ranged units behind infantry will slow their aim," she said. "Might be counterproductive. Better to put them high above the cliffs where they can cover the valley."
Jiyan nodded at both of them, lips pressing into a thin line. "Exactly. Deploying our ranged units above the valley maximizes their range and keeps them safe. Every strike counts, especially with the Tacet Discords spawning out of nowhere."
Jeff tilted his head, studying the cliffs on the map. "Then the infantry should charge head-on, break the enemy line, and let the special task force strike while they're vulnerable and we book it to our objective . It's straightforward, but effective."
Rover's suggested. "We could flank, try a rear attack… but the terrain is narrow. Our options are limited. One wrong move, and the main front collapses." She shook her head slowly, "It's a risk either way."
"Then we stick to my plan," Jeff said quietly, eyes narrowing. "Head-on engagement. It'll be fast and coordinated. We concentrate our biggest hitter Us on a single point and move forward punching a hole in their defenses. On our homeland we called it Blitzkrieg and I can attest to it's effectiveness."
Jiyan finally looked at the special task force. His gaze lingered on each of them—Yangyang's calm composure, Rover's restless energy, Jianxin's almost serene stance, and Jeff's surprisingly tactical acumen. "This team," he said, "will target the Ovathrax itself. Strike at its weak points, avoid unnecessary confrontation, and ensure the Disruptor survives. Success here means breaking the Groundwave Barrier and giving our forces a chance to reclaim the battlefield."
Rover's fingers flexed into fists. "Disruptor? Groundwave Barrier?" She exchanged a glance with Jeff, whose expression was already unreadable behind his furrowed brows.
Jiyan pointed to the distant horizon, where the iridescent shimmer of the barrier cut across the valley like a ghostly veil. "Ovathrax set this up to absorb weapon frequencies. We cannot let it remain intact. Protect the Disruptor at all costs. It's the only way to pierce the enemy's defenses."
Jeff's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Sounds like the super cannon in the game," he muttered under his breath, scanning the map again.
Yangyang stepped closer to the table. "So, our path is clear: ranged units take the cliffs, infantry drives through the valley, special task force strikes Ovathrax, and the Disruptor must survive at all cost."
Jiyan nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Each team uses their strengths. Timing, positioning, and coordination are everything. Hesitation here means failure."
Rover's hands clenched at her sides, eyes burning with determination. "We'll make it count."
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DESOROCK HIGHLAND - COMMAND TENT [ Few Moments Later]
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( JEFF'S POV )
The rain intensified again, slapping against the Ranger's helmets and cloaks outside the tent. Somewhere in the distance, the statue of Ovathrax loomed.
A holographic projection flickered to life, cutting through the dim interior. The voice of Mortefi, resonated through the speakers.
"Greetings, General Jiyan, Rover,"
Mortefi said. Jiyan's eyes narrowed slightly, gaze flicking between the projection and the map. "How's the preparation going on your side?" he asked, Mortefi's tone shifted, a mix of optimism and hesitation. "We've got good news and bad news. Good news is… we've established connection to the Disruptor. It's ready to go."
Jeff leaned forward, hands gripping the edge of the table. Rover raised a brow, frowning. "And the bad news?" Jiyan prompted.
"The Disruptor's electric capacitor is damaged," Mortefi replied, the hologram flickering with the intensity of the rain outside. "Simply put… it's out of power. There should be a backup power outlet, but to use it, we'll have to repair that first and wait for a full charge."
Jeff's voice cut to the chase. "Can we blow up the Threnodian with this?"
Mortefi's hologram hesitated. "In theory, yes. In practice… not really. Even a perfect hit may only gravely injure it. Threnodians are far stronger than anticipated. The Disruptor can't outright kill the Ovathrax, but it can pierce that Groundwave Barrier."
Rover crossed her arms, lips pressed in a thin line, eyes narrowing. "Why is it still powered by pre-Lament energy?"
Mortefi's tone carried a trace of admiration. "This Disruptor dates back to the founding of Jinzhou. Creating such a weapon with the technology back then… whoever did it was a genius. Unleashing its full power on Jinzhou itself? We might lift the entire city off the ground."
Yangyang's lips twitched in a faint smirk, eyebrows rising at the absurdity. Jeff let out a dry laugh, shaking his head.
"Can you make more Disruptors?" Rover asked with urgency. Mortefi hesitated, "I could, but it takes time. And no matter how fast, Jinzhou won't hold out long enough."
Jeff clenched his fists, jaw tightening. "Understood."
Mortefi's voice softened slightly, though still tinged with caution. "This is a weapon of mass destruction. The Capital will want strict oversight. Will they even approve your use?"
Jiyan's lips curved into a confident half-smile. "The Magistrate and I have it covered. Trust me."
The hologram flickered, Mortefi nodding. "Alright… we'll be waiting for the green light. Lastly, more bad news. Baizhi, please fill them in."
Baizhi's voice came through tinged with urgency. "Rover, Jeff I'm monitoring Tacet Discord attacks from the Academy to chart a safer route for you. Our soldiers report the Disruptor is surrounded by a massive wave of Tacet Discords, and they're doing everything they can to hold them off."
Rover's eyes narrowed, Jeff's expression remained impassive, but the tension in his shoulders spoke volumes.
"It'll take time to recapture the nearby emplacement," Baizhi continued. "Then the Disruptor can recharge. I'll send coordinates of the device and the backup energy port. Good luck."
Jiyan's eyes scanned the faces around him. "I trust everyone understands the situation. Rover, Jeff, Yangyang, you will secure the Disruptor and repair the backup power outlet. Jianxin, stay here and guard the base. I will draw the Tacet Discords away."
Rover's lips quirked into a smile, a spark of determination in her eyes. "Understood."
Jeff adjusted his weapons, ready to get this over with. "Let's move."
Another battlefield to fight in. Different planet but still the same shit all over again. Fucking great. I thought bitterly
They all nodded, Outside, the rain showed no signs of stopping. Lanterns swayed as they stepped into the storm, And somewhere in the Norfall Barrens, the Disruptor awaited waiting to be unleashed.
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Author's note:
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Hello everyone, feel free to leave your collections, powers, reviews, and comments as you see fit. I'm back tbh idk even why, I'm not gonna go blow by blow of how turbulent my life have become this past 3 months but I finally had the motivation to keep writing again. I even plan to write a new fanfic a resident evil one but don't know where to start. It all started when I got the new RE9 game it's fucking peak gaming. One of the perks of being adult is being able to buy the games you want but not have enough time to play. I'm suprised some people still keep tabs on this story (Love You Guys). That's why I'm gonna keep going with this till the end, I owe it to Aemeath. That's all; thank you for reading this fanfic, and I hope you have a good day.