The time had finally come, preparation had been finished, and The Great War of this world had officially started. What had originally only been intended as a War for Independence had escalated into a conflict unlike any this world had seen. The Monster Mashers had reference though, having been Reborn into this world. That previous experience as well as the knowledge from that past life would hopefully give the Allied Nations an edge in this war, since The Empire wasn't just one nation but multiple nations each with their own militaries and leaders all working in unison.

  However, as far as technological and magical advancement, all the nations were relatively even. This gave Bramble and its allies multiple advantages thanks to advances made with the help of knowledge from another world being given to DaVinci. With the help of allies they were able to mass produce multiple advanced technologies and magic artifacts that would give the Alliance the advantage in firepower if not in numbers. As long as they didn't get overwhelmed and surrounded, it seemed The Allied Nations were the clear winners in most battles. It would all come down to strategic planning and movement.

  Racknar seemed to have that covered too. The plan seemed fairly simple, they would gather most of the ally forces in Bramble before heading out to Gallia by going south east, then they would move through Gallia in a set path to get to Ran. Meanwhile, a second army would come in from the east and south of Ran from Midtiranus and the Beast Kingdoms creating a pincer. Granted, once The Empire realized they were going straight for the capital and the high church where the Pope normally sat, the armies from outside kingdoms would either mobilize to try and surround them or go after the less defended Bramble.

  Racknar made sure naval defenses and plenty of ships both sea and air would be left for defense just in case. Moving through Gallia had its issues, as second to the advances made thanks to Racknar and DaVinci, Gallia had the most advanced guns and rifleman. This meant that there would be some resistance that could come closer to what Bramble had for infantry. Unfortunately for the Empire, Bramble had a lot more than horses and carriages for cavalry and a lot more than simple slings and artillery. It would be a battle of almost modern tech plus magic versus pre-industrial revolution tech plus magic.

  Technology wise, the Empire didn't seem to stand much of a chance. The first battle started at the coast of Gallia, as naval combat started. It was clear Bramble was going to win early on as its navy was already the best in the Empire before the improvements and now with an Air Force far beyond Pegasus and Hippogriff knights that included dragon riders from Skald as well as airships and planes. Even though some of the flying cavalry did have guns, those were no match to the jack cannons and Gatling guns being used by Bramble.

  The funny thing was, the guns were hardly used, as sleep or paralysis magic was heavily depended upon, using spells or potions, combined with feather fall to make sure the target lived. Bramble was taking prisoners whenever possible and killing only when absolutely necessary. That was a rule held only for people though, any magic beast or device was free game to break or kill. Racknar had no issues with the idea of killing horses. Once the battle of the sea was one the boats docked and the ground forces made their exit.

  Infantry supported by tanks on the ground and planes or airships in the sky. Sleep glass and paralysis powder was sent across the battlefield as the allies wore gasmasks or used magical protection. Although the potions didn't work on everyone, neither did the spells, it cut down the numbers enough to reduce the advantage to a more manageable level. As the two armies clashed, the allies went for non-lethal attacks whenever possible. Thanks to a meta-magic ability that could make any magic non-lethal, this made mages highly valuable. All forces that were knocked out were either captured or contained. Bound up with their equipment taken.

  The Monster Mashers took point as they gathered ground and moved through Gallia. Two weeks into the war and the army had already marched several miles and gone through several villages, towns, and cities. By alternating teams, they were able to keep moving, even at night with troops sleeping in mobile armored troop transports. The site was something else as nearly modern technology moved through the medieval streets and progressed with extreme speed relative to anything expected. After just a month, the Mashers were marching on the capital of Gallia, Parisii.

  Racknar chuckled as they moved through the streets. “Would you look at that, they even lined the streets with trees for us. I may not be German, but I do love to march in the shade.” Davy shook his head. “The worst part about that joke is Marionette died before the joke you're referencing even existed so not all of us get the reference. So after Gallia surrenders, it's smooth sailing to Ran right? I highly doubt the king of Gallia is going to want to fight when we have his capital. The Empire will lose its largest piece of military technology since the rifles used by Gallia aren't anywhere else.”

  Racknar shook his head. “That was true when we were here before, but we can't assume the Holy Pope Emperor didn't force them to share that advancement. We can expect to see rifled barrels in guns in every hand they could put them in. Of course those guns are primitive compared to ours. Basically comparing flintlocks to modern assault rifles. Since the level of magic is the same, our lack of high end mages is covered by tech. However, expect higher resistance in Ran. They likely have the bulk of the Imperial and Holy armies in Ran.”

  Davy lets out a sigh. “I understand why she can't be with us, but I wish Elizabeth was here. You sure get moody without your girlfriend. With summer reaching an end, soon it'll be fall and-” Racknar cuts Davy off. “And I'll deal with it as always. Besides, I don't want my first time with her to be because of a heat cycle.” Krys'tal hummed and nodded. “Racknar is actually being quite responsible and reasonable as always.” Ariagoria shook her head. “Shoulda popped that cherry before the war. Now you might die a virgin a second time.”

  Racknar chuckled. “I have no intention of kicking the bucket. Now let's take the capitol so we can rest for the first time in a month.” Davy checks his status quickly before they start the fight. “I think I'm almost level twenty five now. Strange that I gain experience even if we don't kill the enemy. Then again the implications of a kill only experience system would be horrible.” Racknar offered a simple nod, then the battle for Parisii started in ernest. The two armies clash burning parts of the city with magic and technology with the Allies clearly having the advantage in tactics and firepower.

  There were minimal losses for the allies, and after several hours the city of Parisii was taken, forcing Gallia to surrender and accept Bramble as an independent nation. The king used the public communication network to announce his surrender, broadcasting it throughout the Empire. “Good people of Gallia, and of the wider Ran Empire. Parisii Palace has fallen to Bramble and its allies. I have no choice but to surrender unconditionally, and recognize the independence of Bramble. However, this is not a dark day, for Bramble has gone out of its way to reduce Gallian casualties as much as possible, taking prisoners or simply containing troops rather than killing them.”

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  After a pause, Luis the Third, the king of Gallia, continued. “I have seen the mercy of the allied army behind Bramble with my own eyes, and I can personally testify that the vilification of the nation and its leaders to be nothing more than propaganda. They have proven, with actions, true integrity and honor.” Then, suddenly, the broadcast cut to static. The king looked at his personal mages who shrugged and shook their heads in confusion as they tried to figure out what was wrong with the communication orb.

  Then, a new broadcast started. This one, operated by the self appointed Holy Pope Emperor Frederick. “People of the Empire of Ran, do not let the words of a cowardly king held at metaphorical gunpoint deceive you, for I, the anointed one, chosen by God, knows the truth. That the leaders of this situation called Alliance fighting for quote unquote independence is nothing more than a bunch of soulless and godless terrorists who seek nothing less than to destroy everything you hold dear. After all, you can't trust anything coming from an army led by an inhuman monster that killed the older summoned hero just three days before the war started.”

  Frederick continued. “Yes, Racknar, the high general and lead strategist of the Bramble Alliance assassinated the older summoned hero in cold blood, just as he did the old Pope and the old Emperor. This heretic will use any underhanded tactics he can think of to undermine our unity and get us to stray from the one true path. This includes using technologies and magics straight from the nine hells and going scorched earth on Gallia. Don't believe my words however, I have used magic artifacts to record the actual battle so you can see it with your own eyes.”

  The image cuts to recordings of battles in Gallia, but to anyone who had actually been there it was clearly doctored and altered with illusions. The gas and power that was meant to incapacitate via paralysis and sleep positions and magic being dropped from the sky like a carpet bomb replaced by explosive orange blasts. The image then cuts to streets on fire, the small fires made mostly by Gallian mages enhanced to make the area look lifeless and decimated.

  Racknar clenched his fists so hard his knuckle would turn white if he was human. He let out a growl of anger and frustration that was more pronounced than any before. “I am sick and fucking tired of the constant slander and defamation. We can't even say anything back because he's already branded us as villains and liars putting instant doubt on any rebuttal we place with him being able to claim any real undoctored recordings as illusions and fakes when that's what he's doing. I just want to fucken strangle him so badly. Even if we win, there'll be a percentage of the population that's convinced we're the bad guys.”

  Ariagoria sighed. “Racknar is right. There'll always be holdouts, fragments of the church convinced we are demons of some sort. Even if we kill Frederick it'll just make him a martyr to those that truly believe his words. He's made it so there'll be people convinced we are villains and tyrants regardless of any words, actions, or historical accounts for generations. The fight will never truly be over. Then again racism and bias will always exist in some form.” Krys'tal hummed. “Unfortunately, that's just the reality of things.”

  Racknar grumbled to himself for a bit when suddenly a dark elf warrior came up to him. “Sir, I know we're in the midst of a war and all, but apparently someone who happened to be in Bramble when the war started has been demanding to see you for months. Normally they would be told off, but the young lad was persistent and insisted that if I told you his name you'd agree to see him.” Racknar would raise an eyebrow if he had one, instead he lets out a curious hum. He gestured to the area around them. “I guess I've got time.”

  The elf bowed. “Right, this person says he's a reborn named Nickola. The little boy also rambled about a few things I didn't understand.” Racknar tilted his head. “Nikola? Okay, I'll meet the young lad. Bring him to me. I have a feeling we'll have an interesting conversation.” After a while a young boy who looked to be in his trans wearing a suit was brought forward. The boy recoiled slightly at the sight of Racknar but then cleared his throat and composed himself. “Hello there, you must be Racknar. Nice to finally meet you.”

  Racknar crossed his many arms as he looked down at the small yet dapper figure in front of him. The boy had black hair and brown eyes, was Caucasian, and didn't seem to have any outstanding features outside his suit. “So Nikola, why were you so persistent?” Nikola cleared his throat again. “Right, yes. Well I'm a Reborn and in my last life I was something of an inventor. I couldn't help but notice several things that seemed inspired by my work in my previous life existing in Bramble despite not having prior knowledge. I can to the conclusion a Reborn from my world who knew my work was responsible.”

  Racknar hummed. “Ah, you must be Nikola Tesla then. Yes, I did recreate a number of things you helped bring to light. If you want to help us, I'd prefer you team up with Lisa DaVinci with her creations. She's the reincarnation of Leonardo. I actually taught her about electricity in order to get her to recreate your inventions.” Nikola nodded. “I see. Well I'll happily go and aid her in invention. However… I don't exactly like the idea of my weapons being used for war and death.” Racknar gave a simple nod. “We avoid killing when possible.”

  Nikola tilted his head. “How exactly do you achieve that?” Racknar gestured to the area with minimal damage. “Sleep gas, paralysis powder, magic set to not kill. I've taken multiple steps to avoid killing even if the enemy is set to kill me on sight.” Nikola nodded. “Commendable. Potentially foolish, but commendable.” Racknar hummed. “I'm not the monster they think I am, and although I know nothing I do can prove that to some people now, I'm not going to stop being who I am. How history remembers is not something I'm concerned with.”

  Nikola tilted his head again. “So what are you concerned with?” Racknar responded quickly. “Doing my best to make the world a better place, even if no one else sees it that way.” Nikola nodded. “I'm satisfied. Consider me an ally. I'll take my leave to join the research and development team.” With a final bow the young Nikola leaves. The elf looks at Racknar. “Sir, we did have a second person asking to see you before you continue to push the front line.” Racknar let out a groaning sigh. “Yeah, sure, why not. We've already settled in for the night.” There was a slight measure of sarcasm in his voice.

  The elf bowed before bringing forward a new person. Elizabeth. Racknar’s eyes widened in shock. “Elizabeth!? You shouldn't be on the front.” Elizabeth fidgeted. “I couldn't take it anymore, not being next to you for so long was killing me. We just settled into this only for you to be dragged off. I'm not going to fight on the front, but I am going to be closer to you. Then whenever we take breaks I can be there. With you. My boyfriend.” Racknar let out a soft humming sound.

  Ariagoria clapped her hands together. “Well ain't that sweet. Well I suppose having more healers in the backline never hurt. Well we'll be off soon to the border. I have a feeling that despite the fact the king has surrendered on behalf of Gallia, we'll still have to fight our way to the border as individual troops will refuse to surrender. Especially now that they see us as inhuman monsters who openly commit what we would know to be war crimes.” Racknar does a so-so gesture. “I mean you could count the sleep and paralysis opener as chemical warfare.”

  Davy chuckled. “You are not helping our case my brother. Could you just once not be brutally honest and forward?” Racknar shook his head before gently grabbing Elizabeth’s hand. “Welcome to the front, Princess. … Sorry, old habit. Your majesty.” Elizabeth let out a giggle. “It's not a traditional date, but I'll take what I can in this crazy world. Now let's go ruin the day of some racist bigots.” With a nod, Racknar ordered the troops to start pushing the line. Airships, dragons, planes, and improved DaVinci screws as helicopters flew forward as the ground troops of tanks and artillery continued.

  Ariagoria was right, the entire trip to the border of Ran was a fight. The troops were less organized and more desperate, using artifacts and spell scrolls with reckless abandon. Although there were injuries and losses for the allies, they were still minimal and mostly recoverable. They made their way through the resistance being offered up, getting thicker and more organized the closer the front got to the border. It was almost time to start the pincer, and force Ran to fight a war on two fronts, surrounded by enemies similar to how Germany started losing badly in world war two after it antagonized the Russians who were originally their ally.

  The border fight became a brutal slog, as word of the sleep and paralysis tactics got to the Empire troops. They didn't seem to question the fact this partly contradicted what they were told, as they likely assumed it was a new tactic. Regardless, they put in extra defenses against it meaning the allies would have to find a new way to incapacitate the enemy since they had to rely more heavily on the careful casting and non-lethal casting meta-magics. Because mages could only activate so many at a time, this meant sacrificing damage output to ensure that death was avoided whenever possible.