[The Heart of the Devil's Grave.]
"Take it slow, guys. We must have this weapon," Jessica ordered, her voice low and focused as she and her ten remaining soldiers carefully entered the massive, jagged maw of the ruin—the entrance to the Devil's Grave.
The entrance opened into a vast, silent chamber. Three hundred meters away, a magnificent, ancient longsword was plunged deep into the cracked earth, the prize of the mission.
Standing before the sword was an imposing eight-foot-tall figure: a Blood-Red Armored Knight. Its massive broadsword was held point-down, supporting its lifeless, silent form. The soldiers glanced nervously around the chamber, noting the rows of ancient skeletons hanging suspended on the stone walls, each holding a flickering torch that cast strange shadows.
"This feels strange," one soldier muttered, unnerved by the motionless Knight.
"Let's go," Jessica commanded, crossing a visible, subtle red line drawn across the threshold. The ten soldiers followed, stepping into the chamber.
CRACK!
The sound was sharp and sudden. They froze, watching in horror as the Knight's blood-red armor began to shift. Limbs slowly moved, its neck craned, and then, two malevolent, glowing red eyes ignited beneath its dark helm, locking onto the human prey.
"....?!"
"A... A monster!" a soldier screamed.
WHOOSH!!!
Before Jessica could fully register the Knight's movement, a red blur tore across the space. Blood instantly splashed behind her. She looked over her shoulder, seeing the lower half of one of her soldiers still standing, trembling, while the upper half was thrown to the wall. The speed of the attack was impossible.
"...?!"
WHOOSH!!
Jessica snapped her head toward the hanging skeletons. Their jawbones began clicking open one by one, revealing dark, pulsing voids.
"Shit!! Retreat!!" she roared, but the warning was too late. Circular, tiny projectiles—fast, dark motes of solidified energy—shot out from the skeletons' mouths toward them. Simultaneously, the Knight moved again, closing the distance in a terrifying, silent glide.
Jessica turned in horror, seeing the Knight's broadsword swinging directly at her head. But just before impact, a man—a loyal sergeant—shoved her aside, sacrificing himself.
WHOOSH!!
The sergeant was cut in half, his sacrifice buying her half a second.
BAM!!!
BAM!
She stood frozen, the tiny objects smashing into her remaining soldiers, the force sending them flying, shattering bone and armor. She watched, paralyzed, as her unit dropped one by one.
____
(Flashback)
[On Earth. Military camp!]
"AT EASE, SOLDIERS!!!" Jessica's voice was sharp, cutting across the parade ground where ten thousand men and women stood at attention.
"Good morning, you tenacious lot! Today, you all officially join the 101st Airborne Division! I will ensure that the majority of you survive this war!" She fixed her gaze on them, every soldier meeting her unwavering stare.
"I won't promise every one of you will make it back! But I promise, I will never leave you to die alone! If that happens, I will make sure I die with you all!" She slammed her fist against her chest.
"That is a promise!"
"We will never run from a battle! We will never betray the General! We are the 101st Airborne Division!"
"HOOAH!"
The soldiers roared, their voices shaking the ground, their loyalty absolute.
_____
(Present)
'In that war, we lost more than half our forces! But I stood my ground, I never backed down! I wasn't scared!' Jessica thought, staring at her blood-soaked hands. 'But now... why? Why am I so stuck, why can't I even move?!'
"General!!!"
A soldier's final scream jolted her. She looked up and saw another deadly arc of the Knight's sword, taking another life.
"You bastard!!!"
Jessica screamed, the paralysis dissolving into pure, unadulterated rage. Her body was splashed with her soldiers' blood, her eyes filled with killing intent.
"I will kill you!" she shrieked, lunging toward the Knight.
The Knight, without preamble, turned and delivered a powerful, contemptuous kick.
"This?!"
Jessica barely raised her sword to defend, as the Knight's kick smashed into her blade, instantly shattering the medium class weapon. The sheer force launched her across the cavern, slamming her into the ground. She vomited a mouthful of blood from the collision.
"General!!" A terrified female soldier yelled, watching as Jessica shakily rose from the ground, holding the shattered handle of her sword.
"I made a promise," Jessica muttered, staring at the female soldier. "I will die with all of you."
BAM!!!
".....??"
Jessica froze. The Knight's broadsword burst through the female soldier's throat from behind. With one smooth, sickening pull, the head separated from the neck.
WHOOSH!!!
".....?!"
She turned just in time to see one of the small, circular projectiles hurtling toward her with intense speed. She instinctively raised the jagged hilt of her broken sword.
BAM!!!
The object pulverized the last piece of the sword handle, and a sharp piece of shrapnel flew from the impact, embedding itself deeply in her right eye.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Jessica screamed, dropping to her knees, clutching her face as blood streamed between her fingers.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
She heard the heavy, deliberate footsteps of the Knight approaching. She stumbled backward in abject terror, dragging herself across the stone floor, frantically, unknowingly crossing the boundary line she had crossed moments before.
"General!!! Help!!"
"General!!!!" The final, gurgling cries of her remaining men faded into silence.
____
[Present, Galaxy City Hospital.]
"AHH!"
Jessica gasped, her eye snapping open, her left eye filled with primal terror.
"Hey. Hey. It's alright. You're safe," Mirabella's calm voice cut through the panic.
Jessica moved her gaze, her left eye scanning the clean, sterile hospital room. She slowly raised her hand, touching the thick bandage wrapped around her right eye and head.
"How... How did I get here?" she whispered, turning to Mirabella.
"The mission," Mirabella explained, her voice steady and low. "You were gravely injured. Carl and I found you almost dead on the entrance of the skull in Devil grave. We rushed you to the hospital here in Galaxy City."
Jessica's voice was a brittle whisper. "What... What about the others? My soldiers?"
"No one else made it, General," Mirabella said, her expression grave.
"All ten of your soldiers are dead."