79 Gate

So, there are hidden ones. Those will be a problem if we can't locate them using the satellites. Let's then make that our next stop. We can get a science team too come down and analyze the hiding formation, if we can detect it, the destruction of the gates from the orbit won't be a problem.

If they want to destroy all the gates, they will first have to find them. The ones that they can track down with satellite are not the problem, but his guess was right, and when he checked the location of the gate that was concealed using the hiding formation, all they could see was grass.

Right now, Marcus was hiding in the crown of a tree, looking at the patch of grass the size of a small village. There was a gate there. There are also enemies. The fight itself won't be a problem, but he can't damage the hiding formation in the process. This means that his options are limited.

The hiding formation has no defensive capability's so all attacks will pass through it. But energy-based attacks will damage the formation. His best option is to enter the formation and kill everyone that is around the gate with his hands.

With Jörmungandr in hand, Marcus put one of his legs on the tree's trunk. With a small push, he destroyed the tree and shoot himself towards the hiding formation. When he passed through it, he saw a camp full of demons, busily moving around. As he was about to land, he moved his dagger and spilt a demon close to his landing site into two.

A massacre began. Marcus chopped and slashed, stabbed and punched. His every move will kill one or more demons. Corpses littered the ground, heads rolled on the ground, bumping into limbs of dead demons. The blood created rivers that, and the thick smell of the death scared of the fiercest spiritual beasts.

With a press on his new phone, he contacted Mei.

When the since the team arrived, Marcus was moving the bodies of demons onto a pile. One person fainted, and one vomited. They weren't soldiers, but scientists. Sights like this they only experienced while watching movies, and they weren't enough to prepare them for the real thing.

Mei looked at him with angry eyes. "You could've put them a bit further away." She said. Extending her hand flame shoot out, lighting up the pile of bodies. And in matters of seconds, there was only ash left.

A temporary base was built beside the gate, and the science team got to work. They started to measure the radiation and analyze the formations effects.

A week later, they finally got some results. They found that the formation creates a specific radiation signature that they can track, and all they will have to do is to calibrate few satiates to detect that. Their goal was met, but not without difficulty, the gate was constantly open, and demons continued to go through it. They wanted to take the camp back, no matter the price, but with Marcus and Mei there, they stood no chance.

When all their luggage was packed, and the science team evacuated. Marcus destroyed the formation and sent a signal to Ares.

Soon after that, he was watching from a kilometer away, they didn't use the orbital railgun, but smaller energy beam cannons. And as the beam reached the gate, a huge explosion happened. The initial blast expanded for tens of meters, and then it all was sucked back, and a space vortex showed itself.

After it disappeared, space was left trembling. Seeing this now, Marcus realized how lucky he and Mei were. This vortex could've thrown them anywhere. Close to a star, or in empty space. Underwater or in a volcano. He survived only thanks to sheer luck.

When the news of a gate being destroyed came back to the capital city, everyone celebrated. This was their first victory since the beginning of the invasion. Other than that, they could only resist. Hope came back, and the rumors of a Lightning God and a Fire Goodness started to spread. People finally saw hope, in these dark times.

Looking at the city from above, Marcus was enjoying the view. He was sitting on his sword, and unsung his power to make it fly. Looking down he saw a fire. But not any fire, it was Mei's fire. Her wings propelled her up, and soon she landed beside him.

"How is the calibration going?" she asked immediately.

"They need one more day, we then can start locating and destroying the gate." With his answer, the conversation was cut short, and an awkward atmosphere was created between the two. But Mei saw that something is wrong, she had to ask.

"What are you thinking about? I can see that something is bothering you."

"… it's nothing. Just some random thoughts." Marcus replied with a small delay. Mei knew that he wasn't honest with her. She spent more than enough time with him to know it.

"You can tell me, no matter what it is." She said.

"… I was just wondering. What next. Not after the gates, but after we kill the demon king. If we kill him. Will we stay here? Or go to another world. And when will I have to pay the price."

"You mean the man that gave Es to you? Don't worry, we will figure it out, we have time. And if we have to, we will fight him off. As for what to do after we kill the demon king, I have an idea."