Compared to the first couple months, progress into the White Ash slowed considerably. Despite the northern front being close enough to the capital they could see it far in the distant when the dust settled down, they have yet to make any progress. The White Ash was protecting the capital with everything they had.
Like all five factions, the capital city of the White Ash was a large military installation. It was their main base of operations, which meant that taking the city wasn't just a symbolic way to conquer them, it would cripple any remaining resistance. Once that capital was taken, it was their win.
Instead, the Zari Legion focused on the south. They claimed as much land as possible before circling around and crushing the White Ash from all sides. The progress there was also slowed thanks to the scorched earth tactics Laura herself committed in the south, but it was also easier since they faced less resistance. The only difference was the increase in supply consumption from the southern front which increased the total cost of the war.
With all that in mind another four months past. Nearly half the country was taken over by the joint army already. Laura watched from a makeshift command center in an abandoned farmhouse on the front lines. Today was quiet, neither side were trading blows to the point one could even call it peaceful.
Next to Laura was of course Kathrin, who was as stoic as ever. The rabbit proved herself trustworthy after getting rid of the 'loose ends' during the past few months. Laura of course had her train Zenesha at the same time, proving herself far more useful than most of their subordinates.
'She's so useful that I kind of feel useless.' Laura thought to herself.
"Should I head out there?" Asked a familiar voice entering the room.
A smile spread across the wolf's face as she turned around to be greeted by her lover. Before she could speak however Rachel, who was in the room with them spoke up.
"I don't know if that's a good idea Ma'am."
"Don't worry about it Condor." Zenesha replied. "I have a new weapon I think will be fairly effective.
Rachel frowned at this as her eyes quickly glanced at the sword at her hip, then to Kathrin, who also wore a sword at her hip. She sighed and gave Laura a pleading look. The wolf saw this and while she respected the worry, she tactfully ignored the cat. It'll be pointless if Zenesha couldn't put her training into practice at least a little.
Sending her out on a relatively unimportant battlefield where she was not expected to even be present was about as safe as they could make it. They weren't far from the Black Forest either so attacks from behind was unlikely. They literally just had to focus on what's in front of them. With that in mind Laura didn't see a problem sending the fox out to fight.
Rachel sighed when she noticed the wild looking wolf turn her gaze away from her. "Fine, but you must be by her side the entire time."
"Did you even have to ask?" Laura asked with a tilt of her head. The wolf then turned to Zenesha with a wide smile before saying, "Time to head out Zen! Let's have some fun."
=======
---Zenesha General POV---
"Ahg!"
"Wai- uhg!"
Fox and wolf moved through the enemy forces within their own base of operations like flowing water. Zenesha was thoroughly enjoying herself, the power the sword granted her let the woman move at superhuman speed. The amount of information she was able to process in only a split second was incredible.
She was facing people with guns, yet she was dodging their attacks. Not by avoiding the bullets but by predicting where they would aim before they even got a chance to shoot at her. If she couldn't dodge the attack, she used the incredible durability of the sword and the strength it granted her to block the metal projectiles.
The usually cold and expressionless face she had finally crack as Zenesha let out a delighted laugh and smiled. To the White Ash forces this looked like a sadistic and evil grin as she mowed down their comrades right in front of them. It didn't help that the sword helped her gain even more control over her ice powers and was constantly making constructs to mess with them.
Ice Golems in the form of large foxes formed behind their enemies to stop them from fleeing as she cut down the ones in front of her with ruthless efficiency. Blood would splatter on her face, but that just made her grin wider as she felt the warm red liquid. She would then freeze it and shoot the frozen red projectiles to kill anyone just out of reach.
Looking beside her, she saw Laura use her void abilities to essentially fry anyone with electricity. Every once in a while, she would vanish then reappear near any soldiers trying to ambush her before ripping out their hearts. She would then reappear next to Zenesha soon after.
"I can't remember the last time I was on the front lines like this." Zenesha said eventually as they climbed the command tower of this military base. "Even then I don't think I had this much fun."
"It is fun to just slaughter your way through fodder sometimes." Laura agreed.
"I'm surprised you don't do this more often."
"Well, while it can be fun, I do prefer exploring more than combat."
"Is that why you're using your Void abilities instead of limiting yourself to a mortals standard like when we first met?"
"I can't protect you properly if I hold back."
"You're still holding back, just less so." Zenesha pointed out.
Laura shrugged in response. "I still need to limit myself a little or my location will be found by others."
"True."
The two of them continued to climb the tower until they reached the topmost floor. Cutting down the door with her very much overpowered sword she entered the command d center of the base.
"We surrender!"
The scene they walked into was one of several lower ranked officers holding three high rank officers as captives.
"Look we even have a peace offering. Will you just let the rest of us live?" One of the lower rank officers asked.
Zenesha looked at the situation for a moment before asking Laura to bring the three officers over for questioning. Obeying without hesitation Laura told the other seven officers to back away before grabbing the ones bound in rope. Just as Laura started to drag them over to her-
*Ba-Boom*
Zenesha was thrown out of the room and slammed into the wall just outside the door. Her vison was hazy, and her mind fogged over in pain. She struggled to get air into her lungs after having it all knocked out of her. She sat their slummed against the wall unable to move as her body refused to obey.
"Did we kill that damn wolf?" Someone inside the room asked.
"Maybe? There's no way she could've survived a point-blank explosion."
"Yet she seems unable to be shot." Another said.
"What about the wolf's companion? It wasn't the usual rabbit that's always with her."
"She might've survived, but she's definitely injured."
As Zenesha's mind cleared, she heard the chatter of those inside.
"She... she can't be dead. Laura can't die." She muttered to herself as she tried standing. "She can't... it's impossible."
'But her mortal body can.' Came an unwanted thought.
"La- Laura!" She cried out hoarsely, the sound barely coming out. She coughed up blood from her effort and winced as she realized her arm was broken.
Soon the emergency ventilation system came online in the room. The dust cleared from the room and there, half her body torn to shreds was Laura. Laying down completely still. Anger surged through Zenesha as she grabbed her communicator and spoke into it.
"Attention everyone. Show no mercy and wipe out these pathetic ants. Eliminate with extreme prejudice." After she finished speaking, she finally pushed herself of the wall holding her up and staggered towards Laura.
"Looks like that fox survived." One of the officers said.
Zenesha ignored them and collapsed next to Laura with tears in her eyes. The right half of the wolfs body was a mess of shredded and burnt flesh, and even half of her face was blasted way. Though the skull looked mostly intact. The rest of her body looked better but still obviously broken and bruised. With tears in her eyes, she leaned over Laura's body, brushing away a lock of singed hair from the woman's face.
With eyes full of burning anger Zenesha looked up from her lover and glared at the surviving officers who all had their guns trained on her figure.
"YOU DARE-!" She started before being cut off by the sound of Laura's body reforming beneath her.
Backing away to give her space Zenesha watched with both hope and fascination at the scene playing out before her eyes. It was, in all honesty, a horrific sight to behold for everyone in the room that wasn't named Zenesha. It was extra horrifying for the ones that just tried killing the wolf.
They watched with rapt attention as her fleshed wiggled and squelched as it returned to its previous state. They watched and heard the bones moved and set themselves into their rightful positions, the sound of cracking resounding through the room.
What really made Zenesha looked amazed and the officers tremble in fears was Laura's body somehow standing to its feet without assistance. Without moving its arms, it looked like the body just lifted itself up straight. Almost like a scene straight out of a horror movie.
Once on its feet and standing Laura's head started to heal, slowly revealing an angry expression as it went from looking at an injured Zenesha to the seven pieces of fodder. The first thing Laura did with her dissipating energy was heal Zenesha fully.
"Disgusting pest." Laura muttered turning back to the seven officers before and waving her hand dismissively. In an instant the seven victims were nothing more than a red splatter covering the floors, walls, and even ceiling of the command center.
With even pausing to look at the damage she caused she crouched down next to Zenesha. "Are you okay!?" She cried in panic.
"I'm fine, what about you? Are you okay?"
".... Let's leave this place first." Laura answered as she scooped up Zenesha in her arms before dashing out of the command tower.
As she ran out of the enemy base Laura could hear the cries and shouts of the White Ash soldiers surrendering and being gunned down instead. It was a purge. Of course, the wolf didn't care and ran out of the military installation and back towards the farmhouse.
Zenesha watched her wolf move, seemingly uncaring about using her energy. Soo enough they were back to the farmhouse, and Laura locked them inside one of the rooms for privacy. She set Zenesha down on the bed before collapsing on the bed beside her.
"Laura?" The fox called out timidly.
"..."
"Laura what's wrong?!"
"... Nothing."
"Don't you dare lie to me." Zenesha said with anger. "What's wrong?"
"I'm dying."
"But you're all healed...."
"On the surface yeah, but my body lost to much. It's dying, even if I don't have any external injuries." Laura explained still laying face first on the bed. "I'm also starting to fade back home, but I think my body will die first. Either way I'm probably going to be expelled from the mortal world soon."
"What."
"There isn't much you can do to save me now."
"... Isn't much? So, there is something?"
"... Yes."