Dungeon of Niflheim

"Jessica you addle brained bimbo just look at the damage you've caused!"

While Vash and the alliance members tabulated their unbelievable losses and retreated from the frontlines General Katrina stormed over to where General Jessica was stationed.

Her every step caused the northern wall to tremble and her loud booming voice forced weaker soldiers to cover their ears.

Jessica however was completely unaffected by her colleague's tirade. She gave Katrina some side eye as she loomed over her with her intimidating physique before clenching her jaw and responding in an even more aggressive manner.

"Oh piss off Kat! So what if a few buildings crumbled or the wall got another crack or two. Newsflash you old biddy it's already riddled with them. A minor shake or two isn't enough to bring it down so calm the hell down. You should be praising me for what I did not admonishing…how many enemy soldiers died because of my and my team's magic huh? We even managed to kill a General." The more Jessica spoke the bolder she became and by the end of her loud retort their noses were practically touching, Jessica wasn't cowed in the slightest.

General Jared and General Danielle the newbies among the A-ranks could only shake their heads in disappointment. Under normal conditions both Jessica and Katrina were prim and proper the ideal role models for military excellence and protocols. Only when they were together did things end up like this.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

No matter how old and respected the two woman became the moment they had even the slightest disagreement they'd instantly regress to their youthful years. Even Duke Runak was sometimes unable to stop them from going at it.

Thankfully everyone else had gotten used to such situations so they didn't miss a beat. The officers from the command centre quickly managed the battlefield as per Katrina's orders before she left while those under Jessica saw to their exhausted colleagues and took measure of any damage to the mana amplifiers and connecting runes.

Frost was left alone in a stunned state for a time unknown to him. The power and devastation displayed before him was far removed from anything he'd ever seen before during his time on Nova. Though the display performed by his father and the top ranked guardians was of a much higher level it was way beyond his comprehension; this however was truly enlightening.

The amount of mana, the size of the crest and the details of said crest was momentous but not beyond his scope of understanding. Though he was still quite far from being able to do something of that magnitude himself Frost firmly believed that it was within reach. As long as he steadily improved, grew and tested his limits again and again he'd be able stand equal to Jessica perhaps even higher.

Maya however well that was still up in the air, just because he was born with a blessed body, strong and full of talent it didn't mean his ascension was guaranteed.

A-rank was the generally accepted limit of power for most, S-rank required good genes, dedication and a hell of a lot of luck and even then how far one could travel down the long path of S-rank was also a factor. The strength difference between someone at the beginning and the end was equivalent to the difference between someone at the C-rank and the A-rank, a divide that could not be breached by external factors and unrivalled talent.

Maya and the other guardians were all golden children blessed with the best foundations and environments possible, yet they were still merely in the early stages of S-rank. A striking achievement, one which Frost may very well achieve himself but not without time.

"Sir Frost? Sir Frost?" While Frost was lost in the experience, memorising the feeling and magnitude of Jessica's 6th circle war magic an officer from the command centre tapped his shoulder and called out to him, bringing him out of his dazed state.

"Sorry?" Frost blinked rapidly a few times before gradually coming back to reality.

"It's quite alright Sir Frost your current reaction is to be expected however I need to escort you to the barracks."

"Huh?"

"General Katrina still wishes for you to lend your services to the cavalry corps, and they want you at your best." This officer was ordered to take Frost for a rest before the next sortie. The potions would have certainly solved most of his physical dependencies but not the mental strain.

The officer thus rather aggressively guided Frost away from the battle between Katrina and Jessica.

The two managed to make it halfway down the steps before Jesscia noticed and roared out in protest.

"Ah Kat your bloody moron! He's at his most susceptible right now so why are you sending him off, momma needs to work her magic." With a black eye and scuffed up robes Jesscia screeched in a high pitched voice.

"Shup up Jess! Act your age for once! He's off limits!" Katrina had had enough of her friend's antics. Did she known no shame, trying trick a young prodigy into joining them with such perverted methods.

Again the two old friends viciously fought, cursing and beating one another as per usual.

Frost was thus successfully escorted to the military barracks (one that hadn't been damaged by the massive meteor). It was a good thing as well because once he got a chance to calm down he realised just how vulnerable he truly was. If Jesscia had had an opportunity to wrap herself around him while he was still enthralled by her magic he would have likely agreed to a great many things just to see something like that again.

'Maybe I should introduce her to Void or Chronos.' The two of them were even more fanatical when it came to magic, plus unlike him they portrayed themselves as middle-aged men, an appearance perhaps better suited to someone of Jesscia's age.

He internally laughed at this thought but discarded it a moment later he couldn't do such a thing to his cute younger brothers.

"Sir Frost someone from the cavalry corps will arrive in an hour or so to take you to their base of operations, there you'll be apprised of your mission and will be outfitted with a set of battlements for your personal battle mount." While he was off engaging in the war Kiba was relaxing at the embassy, being treated like monster royalty by the stable staff. Frost had allowed this because he had truly given his all during their mad rush to Icethorne, but everything had its limits. Kiba would be joining him on his last excursion for the War Ursa Battalion.

The officer from the command centre was just about to leave Frost to rest when he asked, "By the way why aren't we attacking immediately?" Though he was quite tired wouldn't now be the best chance to catch the enemy at their weakest point. The meteor disrupted their chain of command, decimated platoons of their soldiers and even destroyed the landscape.

"Attacking immediately after General Jessica's spell would technically be apt but the damage caused to them was too great Sir Frost. If we send our forces in now the enemy Generals may forgo all semblance of war etiquette. Soldier wouldn't fight against soldier, officer against officer, commander against commander and General against General but instead it'd be a complete free for all. Our losses in such a situation would be far too great therefore we'll wait for them to recover a little and cool their jets sort to speak." The officer from the command centre was quite well versed in military strategy and had no problems explaining their plan to their ally.

"I see." Frost immediately understood, if the enemy A-rank Generals started killing everything in sight then hundreds perhaps even thousands of regular soldiers from the War Ursa Battalion would be lost in vain. This war was a marathon not a sprint, every single loss had to be strictly calculated if they were to survive this gruelling siege.

After answering Frost's question the officer placed his arm across his chest in salute and left Frost alone in the officer's barracks. Here he'd have his own room and wouldn't be bothered by the nearby minor noises.

"Yawn" With the tension and excitement finally leaving his body Frost let out a long yawn, his eyelids started to droop, and he searched for the bed, his mind was truly exhausted.

With a light thump he crashed onto the bed and drifted off, his mind conjuring up images of war and magic as he peacefully dreamed with a smile on his face. This trip to Icethorne was so rewarding, he regretted not coming earlier.

Your journey continues with empire

Time slowly passed. The battlefield that showed zero signs of letting up earlier was now practically silent.

"Take care of the wounded, retrieve our fallen brothers and sisters. Dismantling teams take only the most valuable and needed of the enemy, burn and dispose of the rest." General Katrina ordered, her visage appearing renewed after letting out a few grievances upon Jessica.

"Yes General." Multiple officers replied with strong military salutes. Though they had won the battle there were still losses and many injured amongst them. Many soldiers had tears running down their cheeks as they carried their deceased comrades home.

The War Ursa Battalion did not bury their dead, those fallen in battle would be cremated and their deeds recorded in the battalion's charter. Brothers and sisters would be turned to ash alongside one another in giant bonfires, only high ranking officers and Generals would be handled on an individual basis.

The work was dirty and painful, but no one complained, they were honoured to do so. Not a single soldier would be left out in the records while the bodies of the enemy would be put to good use, to ensure the survival of more comrades.