Adopted Soldier

Of course Carlo was aware that heading to the exit of the school was just asking to be surrounded . So instead he made the enemy soldiers think he and his group were heading towards the front exit . Yet in reality they were actually heading towards the back of the school .

After a few more enemy encounters, Carlo and his group were finally able to leave the school grounds . Now that they escaped the school, the next thing they needed to do was converge with Alex’s group .

It was night time, so it was easier for Carlo and his group to silently move around . Still it was a lot harder than anticipated to move around . The number of Empire soldiers seem to grow as more time passes by .

Even Carlo found it difficult to get passed them . It would have been better if the group was fully equipped but at the moment, Carlo and his group were almost out of ammunition . They couldn’t afford to confront the soldiers in their current situation . Not only did they not have enough ammunition, but once their group gets spotted then the enemy would hound them until they die .

. . .

The group continued to use the empty houses to hide . They spent the majority of the night in different houses while trying to move forward .

’I wonder did Alex and the others make it? . . . What am I thinking, of course they made it . Still who knew that Alex would react like that . The pain in his voice actually shocked me . I never expected to hear Alex speak like that . It was like I was talking to a different person . I see, so this was the drawback in the plan . I never anticipated the Empire to attack while Alex was trying to adjust himself from the influx of emotions . Now that this is happening, will his emotions be what leads him to his downfall? . . . ’

Carlo shook his head as he thought of this .

’No that can’t be, even if in this state Alex will not fall . Even if his emotions at the moment distracts him, it will at some point become his strength . It would make him strive forward even harder than before . Surely once he accepts his emotions, that will be the catalyst for him to surpass his limits . . . Well that’s what I believe . ’

Carlo closed his eyes and sighed, it was at this moment the sound of gunfire could be heard . Carlo was surprised, the enemy soldiers had found them, but how? He then noticed that one of Alex’s subordinates had accidentally turned on one of the lights . Even though the light was turned on, in but a second they were still spotted .

Calro had no time to get angry by such a rookie mistake . They needed to escape, but at this point without much ammunition left, and the enemy aware of their position, made it really difficult to escape .

While Carlo was thinking about what to do, number one spoke to him .

"Sir, I have a request to make . Please escape with the remaining men, I will attract the enemy forces in this position, while you and the others escape in the back . "

"What are you saying?! Are you telling me to leave you behind?!" Carlo didn’t like the idea that he needed to sacrifice one of Alex’s subordinates for this .

"A good merc gives as much as he’s paid, and I have been paid by the commander, enough for my whole lifetime . "

While the two of them were talking the gunfire outside the house had intensified . The Empire Soldiers could see the movements of the people inside through the windows, and they heard some voices as well .

Alex’s subordinates even fired back when they saw a chance . Seeing this the Empire Soldiers using their overwhelming firepower to continue shooting at the house .

Carlo disregarding the sound of the coming enemies, and was now looking eye to eye with number one . What he said was right, a merc must work as much as he is paid . Carlo knew what number one was saying was the only way to get out of here with fewer casualties .

"Everyone give number one, all your ammunition and the three remaining grenades . " The others hearing Carlo’s order, did as they were told . As each one of them handed their ammunition to number one they also gave him a salute . They knew that this was the last time they would be able to see this fierce leader of theirs .

"Number two, you’re in charge now . Take care of the commander for me . "

"Sure . . . Number one, I’ll see you in Valhalla . "

"Yes until we meet again in Valhalla . "

"Everyone move out!" Carlo shouted his orders . as the group were slowly exiting the house, Carlo looked at number one for one last time and gave him a salute as well . In which number one responded by showing a smile .

. . .

As his team was exiting the house, number one started to throw a grenade at the enemy soldiers . After using two grenades in the beginning, number one then switched to the use of his gun . Number one had limited ammo so shooting continuously like this obviously made him lose all of his ammo quickly . As he was shooting, number one also got hit numerous times . Though this was enough to have killed a normal person, number one kept on going, by sheer will alone .

Without any ammo left, number one held onto his last grenade . He could no longer throw it since his body had no more power left . As he heard the enemy forces nearing the house, number one suddenly thought of his commanding officer Alex .

"Commander, have I finally become a true merc?" When number one heard the enemy soldiers nearing the door of house, he smiled as he used all his strength to pull the pin of his hand grenade .

’I will kill as much as I can . ’

The enemy forces seeing number one sitting down smiling at them, they started shooting at him . It was then the grenade in number one’s hand exploded killing the enemies within its range .