IsekaiSS part 8

>Kamikaze’s Katana clangs uselessly against Henrik’s tower shield.  Henrik shouts a wordless war cry as he stomps his foot into the ground. from where his boot lands, the ground cracks and erupts like a landmine had gone off. The ensuing dust cloud obscures the rest of the sparring match. Kamikaze is literally thrown clear of the cloud, landing heavily on his face. The dust quickly settles, revealing
“I AM INVINCIBLE” shouts Henrik, raising his weapons in victory.
His new, not to mention expensive, armour is comprised of bulky plates that make him seem like a human tank. Over the past five days you had been experimenting with his magically augmented strength, this is one of a few different equipment sets that Big Gerald had built for you. It turns out his “corner store” is the biggest blacksmith shop in the surrounding area. Hans figured that if Henrik was to be a human tank, he may as well look the part, so the armour was painted Dunkelgelb and Balkenkruezes painted on his chestpiece and shoulder plates. Henrik has been given a large sword that Gerald called a ‘Claymore’ after Hans determined Chad’s hammer to be quote, “a complete piece of shit that’s one swing away from falling apart”. Merlok is currently busy with teaching Hans new spells, and there is even some mention of magically augmenting some equipment. Though you doubt that that anything big will be ready for the battle.
As it turns out Merlok’s knowledge of magic is not simply limited to spells, he also has a good knowledge of class and element exclusive Skills, such as the eruption Henrik performed earlier. You too, have gained some Skills for your fire knight class. Ember, which boosts your speed and resistances and has a small area of effect when you cast it and Magma Lance, which gives your sword extra length made of magically summoned magma. Magma lance can also be used on your shield to give it a coating of the magma so that anything that strikes it is either burnt or warped.
Now while your team’s newfound abilities are good and all, your opponent is bound to be far stronger in this world’s fighting doctrine. So the weapons you brought from your world will be your first line of defence. The main problem is the Tiger, Henrik’s armour is too big for him to fit in the tank, kamikaze considers himself more of a frontline fighter, Hans really shouldn’t be near the fuel if he wants to use his magic and Merlok would be better off using his magic too. that leaves you crewing a tank that needs at least three people to get operational and five to use it properly. The only other person at your disposal is Alice. You are extremely reluctant to trust anyone new with your ace in the hole, but it seems you have no choice.
You decide to give Hans and Merlok a visit first. Over a nearby hill, you have set up a range for both guns and magic. you reach the crest of the hill just in time to see Merlok blow up a dirt mound with a lightning bolt.
“Hey!” you shout “I’m going to Axis, is there anything you two need?”
“A better magic proficiency!” replies Hans in frustration as he summons a small shower of sparks on a second dirt mound.
Merlok floats over to you. ‘floating’ not as a description of his grace in movement, he actually lifts up off the ground!
“could you post these letters for me?” he asks as he draws a bundle of folded papers from his robe sleeves. “they are for some of my close allies, who will certainly come aid us!”
“sure” you take the bundle. You glance over his shoulder at the increasingly angry Hans. “how is he doing?”
“Quite well for a new adventurer. he learns quickly, but alas, he has much trouble outside of his fire affinity”
“well, keep at it, Rome wasn’t built in a day!” you say cheerfully as you start towards the road to Axis.
“What’s Rome?” Merlok asks himself quietly.
Axis seemed much closer when you drove. However, eventually, you do get there and are immediately confronted by a man with a notepad
“hello sir! I’m from the Adventenium Herald, you can call me Levi. are you Anon from the Frontier Reich?” he says
“uh huh, that’s me, what do you want?” you say cautiously.
“I just wanted to hear your thoughts on the upcoming skirmish between you and the other two factions”
“sure, walk with me. I’m just going to the Guild”
You begin walking in the direction of the Guild. He quicken his pace to match your semi-march.
“well, are you confident in your chances of winning?”
“I don’t know” you say, never trust a reporter, but you might as well waste a few minutes of his time.
“do you know what you’re up against?”
“nope”
“uuuh, are you afraid of dying?”
You laugh. “I’ve been there, done that and don’t plan on doing it again”
“w-what?”
You have arrived at the guild. You open up the big wooden door.
“see ya!”
He’s about to protest as the door closes in his face.
You quickly cross the room to Alice’s desk. Ignoring the angry stares of what you suspect are supporters of your enemy. She looks up from her work and smiles.
“hi Anon, what can I do you you?”
“we need four more people at the barn, do you know anyone trustworthy?”
“Of course” she says cheerfully as she turns around “AYA, TAYA, SARA GET DOWN HERE!”
From above you hear a thunderstorm of footsteps, you can clearly follow their path over your head, down the stairs, and all three of them burst through the door behind the counter.
Except they don’t really get through the door. As they try to get through all at the same time they get stuck.
Great, you have acquired the three fucking stooges.
Aya and Taya the twins, they both have thin builds, and matching brown hair and eyes. Sara is big, muscled, really doesn’t looks like she should be working at a desk.
After the three get ready, you all begin the march back to the barn.
“soo what do you need us for” Aya asks.
“we need more people to crew our secret weapon”
That seems to peak the groups curiosity. The three stooges talk amongst themselves for the rest of the journey. When you arrive at the barn, you are greeted by a lightning bolt streaking across the sky, with accompanying angry shouting from over the hill. Ignoring Hans, you pull open the doors to reveal the tiger
“behold, the Panzer VI Tiger and, in a day and a half, we’re going to take this to the battlefield”