The Chimera towered above the shattered battlefield, a grotesque fusion of dragon, lion, and serpent, its fiery breath scorching the earth. Its massive claws tore through trees and soldiers alike, its roar a deafening symphony of destruction.
Hans felt the weight of every fallen comrade as he gritted his teeth. This was no ordinary enemy — this was a living nightmare spawned from the Gates, empowered by the chaos consuming the world.
As the Chimera advanced, Hans dodged a blazing swipe and rolled behind a fallen log. His eyes caught the glow of the beast's exposed underbelly — a faintly pulsing vein that seemed vulnerable.
"Focus fire on the underbelly! Concentrate your shots!" Hans shouted, raising his Luger high. His men, emboldened by his courage, unleashed a hailstorm of bullets and grenades.
The Chimera bellowed in pain, but it was relentless.
Suddenly, Hans remembered the Officer Panel's "Commanding Presence" ability, now at a higher level after the battle at Carinthia.
"System, activate Commanding Presence – Full Rally!" he called out.
A shimmering aura radiated from Hans, calming his troops and boosting their precision and speed. Bullets struck true, and coordinated fire tore at the Chimera's weak spots.
Seizing the moment, Hans sprinted forward, narrowly avoiding a burst of flame. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a prototype weapon he had acquired during his negotiations in Vienna — a compact grenade launcher modified with a piercing explosive designed specifically for Gate-born creatures.
With steady aim, he fired. The grenade struck the pulsing vein on the Chimera's underbelly, detonating with a brilliant explosion that staggered the beast.
As it faltered, Hans charged with a combat knife in hand, scaling the creature's side with fierce determination. Using his blade, he slit open the vein, releasing a torrent of glowing black ichor. The Chimera shrieked, its strength fading.
With one final bullet, Hans struck the beast's skull, and it collapsed in a heap of smoke and broken scales.
Aftermath and Judgment
The battlefield fell silent except for the crackling fires and distant groans of the wounded. The Coalition mercenaries and local militias who had sided with the faction staggered out of hiding, disarmed and disheartened.
Hans moved through the ranks, his officers flanking him. The leaders of the faction, wounded but alive, were brought before him.
"Your rebellion ends here," Hans said, his voice steady but cold. "Lay down your arms, and you will be spared. Resist, and you will be crushed."
Several leaders, recognizing the tide, knelt and surrendered.
Hans ordered the captured faction leaders to be held securely but treated with dignity, signaling a message: strength tempered with justice.
He then issued an order for rebuilding efforts to begin immediately — hospitals, food distribution, and fortifications. He knew that true power was not only won on the battlefield but maintained through the people's trust.
The Coalition Reacts
Far from the war-torn mountains of Carinthia, the International Guilds Coalition convened an emergency meeting. The representatives from Britain, Japan, Germany, the USA, Sweden, and the Netherlands gathered around a massive oval table in a high-tech, heavily guarded chamber.
The room buzzed with tension.
"The defeat of the faction in Carinthia is a serious blow," the German delegate stated. "Hans's growing power cannot be ignored. His independent moves undermine Coalition authority."
The British representative added, "He's become a symbol of resistance against us. If we don't act swiftly, he could inspire uprisings across Europe."
The American envoy leaned forward, fingers steepled. "I propose we sanction his operations, cut off his supply lines, and apply economic pressure."
The Japanese delegate interjected, "And prepare for covert operations to destabilize his command. We can't allow one man to stand against the Coalition's vision for order."
A vote was called, and a unanimous decision formed a multi-pronged strategy to isolate and weaken Hans.
Hans Writes to Mehmed
Back in Oberfeld, Hans sat alone in his quarters, a heavy silence surrounding him. The war had drained much, but he knew the real fight was far from over.
He took up his pen and parchment, crafting a letter to Mehmed:
"Friend,
The fires in Carinthia have been quelled, but the Coalition tightens its grip. They see us as threats to their control — and I fear their next moves will be harsh.
We stand at a crossroads. Alone, we are vulnerable. Together, perhaps we can turn their shadow into dust.
Stay safe, and keep your lions ready.
Hans"
He sealed the letter with the emblem of his command and entrusted it to a trusted courier bound for Türkiye.
Turning the Tables
The Coalition's pressure mounted. Sanctions, blockades, and covert strikes began to bite. But Hans was no longer the isolated officer from Oberfeld.
He had allies in unexpected places — mercenary guilds who valued his leadership, underground networks fed by his officers, and rumors of a growing faction within the Coalition itself that secretly admired his cause.
Using his network, Hans leaked false intelligence suggesting fractures within the Coalition's leadership, igniting distrust and paranoia.
At the same time, he opened clandestine channels with certain Coalition members, offering them alternative alliances and benefits should they defect.
Within weeks, the Coalition found itself divided, distracted by internal suspicion and hesitant to fully commit against Hans.
Hans's bold defiance had not only survived the Coalition's wrath — it had fractured their unity.
And somewhere deep in his quarters, the scar on his cheek throbbed — a painful reminder of the battles yet to come.