Ex-Rank Awakening: My Attacks Make Me Stronger-Chapter 111: EX . CHARGE!!!

The air crackled with anticipation as Vanguard Rebecca Sky, Vanguard Raven Stone, and Supreme Heir Nikko Yakomoto stood before the entire army of soldiers, their towering presence commanding every ounce of attention in the field.

Each of them was an embodiment of power, dressed in the uniform of their ranks, a canvas of medals, badges, and the marks of countless victories and accomplishments. Their attire was a testament to their endless journey through countless trials, a history of blood spilled and battles won.

The crowd of soldiers, from the lowest Trial Cadet to the highest Combatant, gazed in awe at the three figures standing before them. They had heard of their legendary exploits, but seeing them here, in the flesh, was an entirely different experience. These were the individuals who had shaped the fate of the Federation, who had led their people to victory countless times before, and now, they would lead again.

Among them stood Leon and his squad, observing with reverence. The weight of the moment was almost too much to bear, but Leon couldn’t help but whisper to himself with a slight smirk, "They really know how to show off."

His words were quietly shared among his squad, but no one could ignore the palpable energy radiating from the three figures.

Rebecca, her aura spreading like an ethereal tide, stepped forward. It wasn’t just her presence, her aura enveloped the entire field like a heavy fog, giving the soldiers an undeniable sense of her authority. The murmuring stopped instantly as her voice rang out, powerful and unwavering.

"Soldiers of the Federation," she began, her voice calm yet filled with the weight of command, "the time of battle has arrived. But this time, we no longer fight the demons alone... but our own."

A wave of confusion and unease rippled through the ranks. Soldiers exchanged glances, muttering amongst themselves as they tried to make sense of her words. Rebecca’s eyes never left the crowd as she continued.

"We have discovered that the demons have been turning fallen soldiers into demons," she said, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade.

The entire field went silent for a moment, before chaos erupted.

"How could they turn our own into monsters?"

"Those lizards should be exterminated from the face of the world!"

"They couldn’t even let those poor souls rest in peace; instead, they desecrated their bodies...."

"I knew the demons were sick, but this is just diabolical!"

The voices were endless, a chorus of disgust and anger filling the air. But Rebecca did not flinch. She stood tall, her eyes scanning the field of soldiers, all reacting to the gravity of the revelation. She allowed the outrage to wash over them, knowing it was necessary. The demons had crossed a line.

After a long, heavy silence, Rebecca spoke again, her voice firm, yet laden with a hint of sorrow.

"As the commander of this base, I have failed those fallen soldiers," she said, her words heavy with responsibility. The field instantly became eerily quiet. Every soldier could see the anguish in Rebecca’s eyes, the weight of guilt hanging on her every word. It was a rare moment for someone so strong to show vulnerability, but here it was.

The soldiers stood still, waiting for her next move. They could feel it, the rage simmering beneath her surface.

Rebecca clenched her fists, her aura flaring, as she let the fury that had been building inside her spill out. "But the guilt I have for our fallen soldiers doesn’t come close to the rage I feel towards the demon scum!" she shouted, her aura surging outward like a tidal wave, overwhelming every soldier on the field with its intensity.

"I know you all feel the same rage." Some soldiers nodded in agreement as she continued, "Don’t let go of that rage. Hold it, compress it, and when we finally go to war, show the demons they made a huge mistake messing with the human race!"

The roar from the soldiers was deafening, a unified scream of determination and resolve.

Rebecca’s voice rang out over them once more, sharper than ever:

"Some of us may die. Some of us may not return. But with two vanguards and a supreme heir, victory is nothing but guaranteed. So pour all your spirit into this battle!"

The soldiers erupted into a thunderous cheer, their voices shaking the very ground beneath them. "For the Federation!" And then, through the thunderous cheer, Raven Stone, standing at Rebecca’s side, spoke in his deep voice.

"The demons won’t know what hit them."

Behind them, Nikko, stood silently, but the fire in her eyes said it all. She wasn’t just watching. She was ready.

For now, the soldiers were ready. The Federation was ready.

And the demons would come to regret the day they decided to stand against humanity.

The battlefield awaited.

****

The last echo of Rebecca’s voice still lingered in the air, powerful and commanding, when the soldiers finally began to move. One by one, weapons vanished into personal inventories, all swallowed by spatial slots that shimmered briefly with light. Across the upper walls, the Federation’s artillery cannons clanked into place, gears locking as loaders rushed to feed them for rapid fire.

Among the rows of new recruits, tension was thick. Some clenched their fists. Others whispered prayers. But every time their eyes drifted toward Leon’s squad, something shifted.

There he stood, calm and confident, like the chaos couldn’t touch him. His squadmates mirrored it, their presence steady as bedrock. That quiet assurance spread like fire through dry grass. Shoulders straightened and breaths evened. At the sight a spark of competitiveness silently lit in the eyes of the recruits.

They didn’t want to be outdone.

Leon turned to his squad, his voice low but firm. "You guys stick together. No matter what happens, if I’m not there... you’ve got each other’s backs. Don’t forget that."

"Don’t worry, we got this, captain." Eleanor smiled, a quiet fire burning in her eyes.

Leon smiled back, slower this time.

"It’s been an honor... leading you guys."

For a second, Eleanor looked like she might say something more, but she just held the moment. Beside her, Eden stayed silent, head slightly bowed, his fingers flexing at his side.

Adrian let out a short breath and muttered, "Please don’t say stuff like that. I already feel like you jinxed us."

Leon laughed under his breath.

"Don’t be superstitious."

Then,

WEEEOOOHH— WEEEOOOHH—

The base alarm wailed to life.

Leon’s eyes lifted toward the wall.

"Guess it’s starting."

From the other side of the massive steel barricades came the haunting sounds of war, the unmistakable guttural cries of demons surging forward in waves.

TA! TA! TA! TA! TA! TA! TA!

The artillery opened fire. Explosions rocked the earth. Fire lit the horizon in flashes. The entire front shook with each cannon blast, as if the wall itself was roaring back.

Then came the voice across the comms:

"All soldiers, prepare for combat!"

The front wall began to split, the thick steel sliding open just enough to create a jagged pathway toward the battlefield beyond.

And standing atop the wall, hair whipping in the wind, Rebecca Sky raised one fist to the sky and screamed,

"CHARGE!!!"

The gates groaned wider. The soldiers roared.

War had begun.