The Bear and the Eagle

“Surely that isn’t all you got! I can hardly feel a thing!” Yuri taunted. He had taken dozens of hits from Klaus, but each and every one was shrugged off.

While Klaus’s fast speed was enough to take down most, Yuri was a different story. His enhanced strength didn’t just make him hit harder, but also made him more resilient. A full power hit from Klaus felt more like a slap to him.

However, while Yuri could tank every hit, he hadn’t even managed to get close to landing an attack. Klaus was simply too fast. At this point, it was a war of attrition.

But Klaus was already starting to get tired while Yuri was yet to break a sweat. He had to make a big move, something that could wipe out Yuri in a single strike, and there was one place that his Ability couldn’t protect. His Core.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Klaus crouched, preparing to sprint as fast as he possibly could.

“Oh?” Yuri smirked. “Why don’t you show me then?”

The two stared each other down, and in less than a second, Klaus rushed forward, the world blurred around him, but his target was clear as day. He aimed a punch directly at Yuri’s face, but it was a feint, and as Yuri was distracted, he brought his other hand up from below to grab onto Yuri’s Core, but just as Klaus grabbed onto the glowing red Core, he felt his arm get crushed.

Klaus cried out in pain as he felt and heard his bones snap.

“I knew you’d try a cheap trick like that,” Yuri growled. He had managed to grab Klaus’s arm, and with his opponent in his grasp, he curled up his fist and sent it flying, right into Klaus’s skull.

The punch connected with a loud crunch, echoing like a cannon through the air as Klaus went flying, slamming into a building.

“Still, you fought well.” Yuri walked closer.

Klaus wasn’t listening, though. He couldn’t. His skull had been fractured and he’d suffered major brain damage and internal bleeding.

“Sorry about this.” Yuri crouched down, putting his hand around Klaus’s Core. “Maybe in another life things could’ve been different…” In one swift motion, he clenched his hand, crushing Klaus’s Core.

***

The death of the Indigo Knight killed morale among the German army. Combine that with Natalia's Winter becoming fully activated, covering Moscow in a vicious blizzard and the only option Berlin had left was to retreat.

However, this retreat was devastating. They lost many men to just the elements alone, and as they were routed, the Russian army put on the pressure, taking out many more.

This kept going through Istanbul and even Rome, and they were only able to fully regroup once they made it back home to Berlin.

However, because of massive casualties and their destroyed morale, it became increasingly unlikely that they’d even be able to defend their homeland.

“That’s the situation, Ms. Hirth.” Carl von Clausewitz, general of Berlin, laid out everything. “The chances of us being able to defend against the Russians are virtually nonexistent. Not to mention, an invasion by London and New York would be our death sentence.” He paused. “This is difficult to ask, but… I’d recommend surrendering…”

“No!” Hana cried out.

“I understand why you’d be scared, but think about what’s best for the German people, even if that means sacrificing yourself—”

“It’s not about that at all!” Her eyes started getting wet. “Klaus gave his life for this! So we have to keep fighting! We have to protect Berlin! Even if it’s hopeless!” Tears were now streaming down her face. “It’s what Klaus would’ve wanted!”

Clausewitz didn’t like acting in such an irrational way, but understood the feelings of both his lady and late lord. Against his better judgement, he agreed, “Very well. I’ll prepare our defenses. We will protect Berlin to our last breaths.”

Hana bowed her head. “Thank you…”

***

New York’s invasion of Rio was much more successful than expected. After their failed invasion of London, General Ulysses S. Grant refined the tactics and doctrine of the American army, leaving them stronger than ever. Against the inexperienced Brazilians, it wasn’t much of a war. Because of that, however, they were able to free up some troops to send back to London, allowing an invasion into Paris as Moscow decimated the German army.

“Was this all according to your plan?” Jack asked.

“Of course.” Sean fidgeted as he lied.

Jack was a nice guy, but in some ways he was like an animal, and animals could smell weakness. He and Ella decided to ally with London because they appeared to be very powerful, but increasingly their only strength seemed to be Brianne’s Ability, River.

Meanwhile, Moscow had managed to topple two of this game’s biggest players.

He hadn’t thought much of the Russians before, but now, he really started to understand how dangerous they were.

***

Gabrielle and Camilla were in what was left of the Palace of Versailles. He had managed to get a chef to cook them one last meal: spaghetti bolognese.

British and American troops had crossed over into Paris, overrunning what was left of the Italian army. Additionally, Berlin was being besieged by the Russians.

In short, it was over.

But as the artillery thundered, flames grew, people screamed, and the city crumbled, the spaghetti before them now was more delicious than anything they’d ever tasted in their lives.