The Mark of Gladness (Part 1)
Argh, these goddamn delays…
Oh, hey guys! I hope you did well back in the la-
Wait a second… What in the name of-
Okay, okay, hold up! Don't tell me that two transmissions came up back there! Hmph, fine. Nothing I can do about it. And yes, the 4th wasn't really filled to the brim with action.
I mean, c'mon, I may be writing long chapters, but I'm not the best for shedding light in these stories…
Anyway, I hope that I'll make things up with this chapter. After all, it's the 5th day now.
Things… are about to get… um, nasty. Really nasty.
(And no, not that kind of perverted nasty that you're thinking about. When I say nasty, it's really bad… But only one death will be written here. You should be delighted.)
Now, are you ready, dear reader?
Wait a minute! Hold up just a minute!
Have you experienced this moment when your imagination goes hyperactive and you just imagine whatever stuff is in your vision?
For me, it's different. I ALWAYS ZONE OUT.
It happens when I recall something worth or listen to an appropriate song. And suddenly, I lock in place and I imagine some really awesome and deep things.
For example, I am standing on the glass panels of an airport, awaiting departure, when suddenly, I began to think of an epic fight scene that includes our renowned heroes and villains, crashing through the planes and vehicles, massive explosions, the whole kazoo!
Or when I overthink in bed, I see a couple consoling each other as they try and mend their feelings for each other. (Which I hope doesn't end up into one unexpected Rated M intercourse scene that I will have to omit whenever I write… *cough*)
It's basically how I think up of scenes in my story. That wholesome Hayagura scene? It took me days to perfectly cook it up as I lay on my bed. Alucard's awakening of his powers? I had to listen to a rock song, look out the window of a moving car and close my eyes just to fully visualize it.
It's just nuts, though. I often end up losing focus or attention, which often leads to bad stuff. Don't try it at home unless you're alone or you have nothing to do. But I recommend you try. It's a unique brainstorming method.
Anyway…
"Lolita, take a break."
Chou switch positions with Lolita, who has been spending a few hours at night fending off some stray demons. The outpour of demons at night have increased, which led the army to worry and grow tired. Estes has clocked routinely check-ups of their second tier of defenses, because he knew that all five of the Dark Lord's henchmen would come out anytime on the 5th day.
"You sure you got this, Chou?"
"Hey, you're the one who needs sleep. Seems like that hammer of yours is growing a wee bit too heavy. We'll call the others for replacements. C'mon, you've been here for a long while."
Lolita nods with a sigh, and retreats back into the town. She eyes a few of the residents growing weary due to worrying, the sound of ballistics filling the dark atmosphere. A prominent, but calm wind swayed her hair to one side as she went inside her designated residential home.
She knocked on the door (but with barely any effort). "Hey, anyone there?"
The door opened and she was greeted by Bruno's cheeky grin. "Yo, who- Oh, hey sis! Damn, you look sleepy." He reached for Lolita's hammer and let it rest on the frame of the door, escorting the elf inside. Lolita sees Layla rest on one couch, a thin blanket wrapping her.
"Oh, if you're wondering, Layla is knocked out cold. Don't bother waking her up."
"I just can't get myself to sleep, Bruno… My mind is egging me on."
"Yo, if it's about what's gonna happen in the next couple of hours, then don't mind. All of us are pressured. We just need to hope for the best and prepare for the worst."
"Why aren't you out? Shouldn't be-"
"I had to keep watch over Layla. Alucard is with Ruby who took the routine with Roger until midnight. Same goes with Hayabusa to Zhao and Akai. Yi and his buddies are on the walls right now, replacing Clint's men."
A siren's noise suddenly grew as a fire truck raced into the streets.
"A fire?" Lolita asks.
"Yeah, unfortunately. A few demons are now sneaking in, but they won't be able to get close enough to hurt us a lot. Yet, the Land of Dawn is breathing through a straw from all this."
The door suddenly bursts open as Alucard and Clint poured in.
"Guys?" Clint began. "Estes needs us in an hour. Something big is cooking up!"
"Leviathan?" Lolita asks.
"Nah, we fight that thing tomorrow, remember? It's just that the good old fu- I mean… five are going to go tackle us head on. Best we try and push them off when they do."
"Good gracious, you don't know how good their synergy is," Bruno grumbles. "Anyone can charge in and will still be left without a scratch. There are only a few weapons that can make them hurt!"
"Actually, Estes has put up some runes on some of our weapons. It may not do much, but it will slow down their regeneration," Alucard assures.
Bruno eyes out the growth on Alucard's arm, which has now grown to reach the base of his neck.
"Alucard, did you use your powers again?"
"I couldn't help it. A few hundred troops were pinned by enhanced Wretches. Argus and Estes couldn't intervene at that time..."
"Ugh, we're really going to use ourselves as freaking human shields to just keep you alive, huh?" the gunslinger joked. "Anyway, where's Layla?"
Bruno pointed to the couch Layla was sleeping on. "She's out cold. Don't wake her up."
"Sure thing, just had to make sure. I'll be going now while Alucard stays here. Adios!" In a rush, Clint closed the door behind him, but didn't slam it, fortunately. Alucard leaned on the wall.
"How's the others holding up?" Lolita asked. "No injuries?"
"Zhao's wounds were healed in a jiffy. Usually, the wounds would last. Moskov was acting back there," the Demon Hunter replied. "Still, we really can't trust Moskov. The others are taking a break. As I've heard, Rafaela will now be with the Gem when we clash. Argus and I will be on hold. Everyone else joins the fray."
"Moskov was the one that betrayed his clan, right?" Bruno asked him. "Or am I wrong?"
"Well, the others wouldn't say he betrayed them. As I can recall, he was forced. He had to save his own life. He wanted revenge, but I know he is sane enough to consider avoid going with the Abyss..."
Bruno nodded, but was in doubt. "There are still more we can ask help from, right? Other than Lunox, Uranus and Kaja?"
"They're either non-existent or dead, Bruno," Alucard answers. "You still know about the legend of Pharsa, right?"
"Oh, you mean that woman who failed to kill Alice by her lonesome? The one that got blinded and has a bird for eyes?"
"But she was close to killing Alice, right?" Lolita adds. "I mean, it was just bad luck that Alice got ahold of Verri during the fight… That's kinda awful. Pharsa would be a really good ally to have right now. Hayabusa and Kagura's clans are gone, too. They were two of the first to be targeted. Gord's apprentice, Valir, died because he sacrificed himself to protect Gord… Claude, Clint's cousin, is also dead after an encounter with Helcurt… But without his journals, we wouldn't find the Twilight Orb. And Harith, he's missing in action. Most likely dead, an end of a one-man marathon. Too late picking them up from the off-worlds… Just us and them."
"A lot of wasted potential right there," Alucard sighs. "I still can't consider Lunox as an ally, and she's been egging me on ever since we knew about her. She keeps appearing in my peripheral vision, often distracting me."
"She wouldn't do that," Bruno said. "I mean, sure, she'll walk around like a ghost, but she doesn't really intend on driving you nuts, Alu. She might be trying to tell you something."
"I wish-"
The door burst open.
"Alucard!"
"Yinsen!" Alucard says, surprised. "Something wrong?"
"Ruby… s-she's having another episode."
"Crap." Alucard immediately stands up. "Bruno, don't follow me. Stay and watch over Layla and Lolita. This will take a while."
"Alright, be careful! And please, don't kill her!"
Alucard closes the door forcefully and races with his friend, scoffing. "Where is she?"
"She's in one of the storage depots. I can't remember which one. All I know is that Cyclops and Natalia have already responded. She was struggling to maintain her composure, but she just can't hold it in that long. I don't know how bad it is right now."
Alucard spots Johnson driving through the street, escorting one of Franco's men, whose leg was torn clean off the knee joint. (Don't worry, it's healed. Just imagine if it wasn't and it was spewing a lot of- Oh wait, sorry. Let's go back to the subject. XD)
"Hey, need a ride? I'mma have to drop off this dude on my back to the med bays!" the cyborg greets.
"Storage depots, Johnson. Ruby's gone insane again," Yinsen replies. "Fastest route?"
"Oh, lucky you, I was about to go there too! Hop in."
Alucard took the shotgun seat while Yinsen took the back with the wounded soldier, who was growing sleepy.
"How urgent do you need to go there, Alucard?" Johnson asks. "The wounded can last here long enough for-"
"No, let him go first. Just try and be careful along the way."
Johnson slowly accelerated, hoping to optimize his travel. Alucard and Yinsen eyes the Land of Dawn, a bleak sunrise beginning on the corrupted peaks around them. Yet, its glare didn't approach, though there was barely any cover.
"The sun is in full view now, even though it's just sunrise," Alucard pointed out. "However-"
"There's no sunlight striking us," Yinsen continued. "Yeah, the others noticed it too. This is a rare occurrence. We can blame the corruption for it, but if it points out anything, something bad is going to happen today. A bad premonition. I don't assume it's concerning Ruby, though. You're gonna bring her back, I assure you."
"Yeah… I hope."
"Hey, have confidence. You don't want Victor chasing you pants-less to yell at you to man up."
The Demon Hunter smirked. "Good one…"
Johnson arrived in the med bays. Luckily, it was only half full, a few wounded going in and out of the place. Yinsen sees a truck go past them, letting off a horrid stench.
"It goes to bury the dead, Yinsen. That's the 58th departure for four straight days, and that's not counting the deceased on the walls of the Land of Dawn. Approximately 89% of the army is still intact, but Saber doubts that even 1% would make it through the 6th."
Suddenly, a shadow appears beside the car door, and Hayabusa emerged from it. He was no longer wearing his traditional uniform. He wore a mechanical suit, with dark orange highlights. Denim-colored padded fabric wrapped around his body, and a pouch of kunai rested on the side of his right leg. The only thing that hasn't changed is his katana, however, the scabbard was to match the outfit. His spiky, swept blond hair didn't move with the wind. In a flash, he opened the car door, teleported to make the wounded soldier sit on the wheelchair, and got back to Johnson, sitting next to Yinsen.
"How's the suit, Haya? Saber thought you'd need a bit of an upgrade," Johnson began as he drove again.
"Even Kagura approves," Hayabusa replies. "Oh, hi guys. I heard that Ruby is going mental again. I'll go. I'm done helping in the med bays anyway."
"Saber made you a new suit?" Alucard asked. "That's actually sick, dude."
"Yeah, well, we thought of giving it to everybody whom we can provide, so yeah," the cyborg says.
Hayabusa added, "Not only that, there's also something strange happening. As the 7th day closes in, we're changing in multiple aspects. My new suit is an exception, sure, but some of us have different looks and all. Zhao, Freya and Miya are also feeling it too, a slow, yet prominent flow of energy growing around us."
"I've been feeling funny, too," Alucard admits. "What could've caused this?"
"Estes speculates that Lunox has something to do with this," Yinsen answers. "Rafaela and Argus feels it too, most especially Argus. The Blade of Despair is reacting differently. Usually, when it senses power, it leeches it, but now, it's responding as if it wants to change."
"Argus' sword was neutral, right?" Hayabusa asked. "So, if there is a dark side, then there should be a light side, too! But that's kind of overthinking… Anyway, Johnson, are we close?"
"Almost- LOOK OUT!"
Johnson frantically veers to the side and screeches to a halt, nearly crashing to a nearby dumpster. Alucard, Yinsen and Hayabusa walk out as Johnson transforms back to his normal form. Johnson looks for the lobbed object, which was a metal crate filled with fruits. It survived the fall with only a large dent on the edge.
"That came from Storage 11," he speculates. "Wait, did you hear that?"
Hayabusa's eyebrows scrunched, but that was before he heard a bloodcurdling cry.
"That's her." Hayabusa dashes with his shadows, leaving Alucard and Yinsen to run. The two Demon Hunters ran behind Johnson, who was already raising his shield.
"Ruby… What's happening to you? I didn't think you'd be like this…"
As they came next to the open garage door (which is massive, I tell you), Hayabusa held up his arm, stopping them.
"Haya, why are you stopping?!" Yinsen complains, growing agitated. "We need to-"
Hayabusa hugs the wall with his back as a barrel from inside the depot breaks into splinters, nearly cutting the ninja like cheese.
"Oh… Kay. Things are going awful," Alucard whispered.
They began to hear voices from inside.
"Nat, we need to think of something!"
"Keep firing at her, Cyclops!"
"I can't keep up! Cyclops is tired! She's gonna catch us any second!"
Alucard couldn't wait anymore. "Alright, that does it!" The others nodded as they revealed themselves. They saw Natalia and Cyclops running to them through the dim space, the assassin's arm bleeding.
"Johnson, get Natalia! I'll get Cyclops!" Yinsen orders. The cyborg follows suit and sprints to shield Natalia. In the nick of time, he saves her from a flying crate that splits into numerous splinters. Johnson could feel the force transferred to him, nearly making him lose balance.
"She's strong," he said. "Natalia, how bad is your wound?"
"I can last, but Cyclops expended himself too much. Attend to him first!"
Yinsen picks up the mage and lets him rest to the wall outside. Cyclops' eye wasn't focusing well, and he was terribly exhausted. The hourglass behind him was still intact, fortunately.
"Cyclops, what's happening there?" Hayabusa asked. "Why did she-"
"I don't know! Cyclops doesn't know! All I know is that I came around the corner and she was looking at me with red eyes! I swear!" Cyclops squeaked, hyperventilating. "I had no choice but to attack her because she was charging to me like a demon! Please, trust me!"
"Calm down, Cyclops," Alucard comforts. "Where are your friends?"
"Resting… I need to snooze… but she's coming for us!"
Yinsen attends to Cyclops as Alucard, Johnson and Hayabusa stared at the dark area in front of them. A couple of crates and barrels lined and stacked on the walls and shelves, leaving a wide corridor for trucks and forklifts, which were parked for the time being.
"Ruby?!" Alucard called out. "Ruby? Are you there?"
There was no response.
"Alucard?" Hayabusa asked, worried. "I don't think-"
"This is the only way, Haya. We don't know-"
"Alucard?"
The group jumped as they heard the echo. Cyclops was already shivering in fright.
"No, no, no, no, no, don't go there, don't go there!"
"Ruby?" Alucard asked. "Please, come out."
Yinsen screeched (literally), "ALUCARD WHAT IN THE-"
"Yinsen, you know that we have to do this!"
"N-no…," the echo replied. "I… d-don't wanna…"
"Alu, we can't just lure her out of there," Johnson warns. "Who knows what she's undergoing right now!"
Alucard took note of what the cyborg said. "Sigh… Ruby, please, listen to me. It's alright."
"N-no… I… I don't want to… hurt you again, Alucard…"
"Don't say that. I know you're still good inside, Ruby. Don't drown on your own pain."
Alucard could see Ruby's silhouette emerging from the dark. However, something was definitely odd. Ruby looked like she was slowly limping, and she was dragging the scythe with her right hand, the edge carving the concrete floor.
"Ruby…"
"I'm s-sorry… Ha-ha… hahah…"
"Ruby?"
"She's not here… she's not here… heheh… She won't be…"
Alucard brandished his greatsword, and the others behind him followed suit. "What have you done to her?"
Ruby began to cackle in a devilish manner. "Why do you care for someone as putrid… as corrupt as her? You are deformed, but your soul… too pure for someone like her… a foul, miserable wretch!"
Alucard's eyes flared. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?!"
She smiled at them as she beckoned them to get closer to her with her index finger. "Why don't you come here and find out, my darling?"
The Demon Hunter's sword ignited and threw it at Ruby. Her figure suddenly dissipated into shade, and she was gone. Alucard notices the corridor growing darker towards them. The greatsword returns to his hand.
"Johnson, we're gonna need some light!"
"Overriding light systems in 3… 2… 1!"
The place whirred as the lights began to turn on one by one, starting from the other end of the depot. Natalia watched in terror as she feels the presence growing stronger.
Alucard walked forward.
"Alucard?" Hayabusa asked. "Dude!"
"Who are you, and what have you done to Ruby?" Alucard interrogates, but there was no reply. "Fine then."
The lamps were nearing them…
Alucard pointed his greatsword to the ground and yelled, "STEP INTO THE LIGHT!" He struck the ground, unleashing a blinding wave of light. What he and the others saw astounded him.
Ruby was standing right in front of him, her eyes completely black. A dark aura enveloped her and was beginning to develop around Alucard. Behind her was a malevolent spirit baring its teeth.
"What are you waiting for? KILL," it commanded as it disappeared. Ruby abruptly pounces at Alucard and begins to claw at him. Alucard blocked her assault with his arms and grabbed her by the neck. He slammed her down to the ground. Hayabusa teleports next to him and clamps Ruby's arm. Another shadow aids Hayabusa in restraining the girl.
Alucard channels his greatsword back to him. He points it to Ruby, whose feral face didn't change. "I didn't come here to play with you. Where is Ruby, and what have you done to her?!"
Ruby laughed, but it wasn't her voice. It sounded as if it was distorted, as if the speaker was wheezing. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH… relax, kiddo… she i-is… with me, and w-we're gonna have so much fun together! Isn't that right, my lovely?"
Suddenly, Ruby's eyes reverted back to normal, and she stopped struggling. Tears flowed. "Alucard! P-Please, h-help me, h-he-"
She was immediately replaced with the evil spirit again. "Tsk tsk tsk… A party crasher!"
Ruby let out a wave of dark energy around her, throwing off Hayabusa and Alucard. Johnson had to shield himself as he clamped his feet to the ground. After the blast, he charged towards Ruby, who already stood upright. She willed the scythe back to her and swung, hitting Johnson's shield.
But instead of deflecting the attack, the scythe carved on it, leaving a nasty mark. Johnson charged again and made contact with Ruby, and he stopped in his tracks, his feet skidding on the floor.
And remember, folks. Johnson is pretty bulky, and no one just stops him instantly. Ruby was basically pushing him off normally, and he was STRUGGLING.
"Argh, need some help!" Johnson said under his breath as Ruby was gaining the upper hand. Hayabusa appeared behind her and slammed the butt of his sword to her temple, but she took the force and didn't even flinch. The ninja was astounded, long enough for a counter-attack. The dark spirit went out of Ruby and began to charge at him, and Hayabusa had no choice but to teleport at random locations within the depot.
"Haya, escape! It seeks you!" Johnson warns.
"You may have killed your nemeses, the traitor, but the demon lingers, Shadow," the spirit taunts. "You think you know the real power of darkness and use it for good… then you know not what you possess!"
As Hayabusa blinked back to Johnson, the spirit caught up with him and forced him to a wall. His face hit the wall first, causing a mild concussion. The spirit backed up to slam him again, but Hayabusa teleports just in time, confusing the spirit. As it looked behind him, he was met with Alucard, his clothes and weapon morphed, as his aura bursts into flames. The spirit veers to try and dodge it, but the aura was too strong. In a desperate attempt to throw the Hunter off…
Johnson was surprised to see Ruby vanish within plain sight, and sees her in front of Alucard, backed into the wall.
"Let her go! I won't ask you twice!" Alucard demanded, raising his blade. "Who are you?!"
"We were once the legion that commanded legions… Now, only two of us remain… the seventy have perished…," the voice narrated. "We are everywhere, yet inconceivable by your feeble, fickle minds, you incompetent children!"
"That's not enough. Who are you? Why did you choose to possess her?!"
"D-d-d-don't you see, Alucard? Hehehehe… I've been with her all along, ever since that fateful night… Oh, I've loved to see her go rampant once again, but you! You hinder my progress. You would even choose to hurt her to put her out of her misery!"
"I'm not talking to Ruby. If you are in control, then you are the one feeling pain, not her. I guess the joke's on you." Alucard forcibly stabs Ruby's body, impaling her to the wall.
"ALUCARD WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Hayabusa shouts, not knowing that what he did wasn't even life-threatening to Ruby at all.
"Agh, of course… now I know, spawn of the devil!" the spirit spat, Ruby's grin growing wicked. "The two of you are all the same, tainted in the past, yet you choose to defy fate, thinking you can change the future!"
Ruby suddenly transforms into a beautiful woman with flowing brown hair, sporting black eyes and an innocent smile.
"Alucard… my son, it's me!"
He was dumbfounded. "M-m-mom? I… it's you! I…"
"Why would you hurt me? Why?!"
"Because… t-that isn't you!"
Suddenly, the woman morphed back into Ruby's image. "Hahaha, now I know your weakness… it's your loyalty to these friends and family of yours! You will only bring despair on them as the sun rises on the 7th… the ninja will be left scarred, along with his love, who carries offspring… and you, Alucard, will watch as I take control of this rancid whore and let her-"
Alucard grabbed Ruby by the neck, but he knew what he was doing. The spirit cried out in agony as the flames choked it.
"Listen here. I don't care if you're going to talk like that to me. I know what I'm meant to do. And if you think about laying a hair on my family or on her without my consent, you'll get more than what you deserve to get. And at that point, I'll make sure you're just going to be another batch of fecal matter to be thrown to the creek."
"And what? Torture me, as these demons did to you?"
His eyes burned with seething fury, and Ruby's face contorted into one of fear.
"Don't make me put my tolerance to the test, scumbag."
Alucard let go and pulled out the sword, letting Ruby's body drop. The spirit took long to recuperate, and it did leave her body, its strength waning.
"This is inevitable, Hunter… You know nothing about me and my kin… Mark my words, one day, she herself will let me take over… and nothing will ever be the same to her! The remnants will not go quietly into the night!" And in a flash, the spirit disappeared.
The lights inside the depot flickered for a short moment before returning back to normal. Alucard assumed his normal form and cradled Ruby's body. The wounds he inflicted have dissipated.
"Physically, she will be alright, Alucard," Johnson assures. "Your hunch was right, about the spirit feeling pain. But who was that? It knows you and Ruby. It also said that… it has been with her ever since she has gone insane."
"Alucard… That demon… Does it ring a bell?" Hayabusa asks, panting. "Again, it's all too familiar. A legion that commanded legions?"
"AH! WHO GOES THERE?!"
The three turn around and see Cyclops, awake and hyperventilating. "Oh, um… Hi, is t-the spirit gone?"
"He won't bother us for the meantime," Natalia answers. "We will need to-"
"Alucard," a voice calls out. Estes appears from a conjured makeshift portal. "I heard that Ruby was having another episode. Is she alright?"
"For the meantime," Hayabusa says to the king. "The possession took a toll on her. Estes, do you know something about the 'legion that commanded legions?'" Assuming I got that right…
"What about… No."
Alucard took note. "Estes. What is it?"
"They are forgotten demons with forgotten names of the old age… The most vile and bizarre of them all, rivalling our own enemies… But their power has faded over time. Even my own kind would be troubled in terms of recognizing and or identifying them.
"So, they've been here ever since the Old War and the Creation?" Yinsen asks. "Silence means yes."
Estes sees Ruby gaining consciousness. "Alucard, attend to her. Hayabusa, Johnson, escort Cyclops, Yinsen and Natalia to the med bays. Discreetly discuss to the others about this. I will deal with the rest."
Natalia nods in response. Johnson, without a word, transforms back into a car and lets the others ride. Alucard, still holding Ruby, follows Estes into the makeshift portal, and they get transported to the library inside the citadel.
"I assume that you've caused quite a commotion when the two of you were… 'missing.'"
Alucard blushed hard. Of course, he wouldn't even forget about that event where they got caught by Alpha…
"Anyway, about them, your ancestors have strived hard to keep them in check. It is undoubtedly exasperating to monitor the actions of a few dozen catastrophe-inducing entities. Not all of them, however, can be deemed as evil. Some teach and grant wishes, while others recklessly create havoc throughout the Land of Dawn. It is disheartening that we had to vanquish them in the Old War."
Alucard laid Ruby on the table. Estes summons a pillow and a blanket for Ruby and wrapped it around her. Ruby's eyes fluttered.
"A-Alu…"
"Shh. It's okay, I'm here. You need to rest…"
"Alucard, I… I'm scared… Help m-me…" Hot tears began to stream down her face. "I d-don't want to hurt you…"
"You're not hurting me, I swear, I will find a way to help you, I promise."
Estes slowly applies a drowsiness enchantment on Ruby to help her doze.
"You didn't remove the demon out of her body, Alucard. A remnant of it always lives within her. She's a living manifestation of it. I have a speculation…"
Estes pulls out a book from a shelf. It had a leather strap with a brass button, and the title was engraved on it. Its title was rubbed off the cover. He ran through the pages, searching for a probable result. Alucard was able to catch images of indoctrination, pentagrams and gory sacrifice.
"This is no book for the faint-hearted," Estes says. "Graphic scenes aren't shied away from by this book. Anyways, the spirit you spoke to was not wrong. The demons exist… and they are such in other worlds, but they serve different purposes in the existing timelines. Again, in here, these demons uphold the ways of darkness, but not all of them can be considered purely evil. Such is the Yin and Yang, and the ever-misleading doctrine of balance, purity and taboo. Combine them all, and they will create the manifestation that we now call the 'Dark Lord'. We were able to vanquish their spirits, but it is a shame that they have to be destroyed rather than merely silenced. Some, we had to put within the Dreadmare Chest. We have banished more than half, but I didn't expect that only two will remain, one of them residing within Ruby herself."
"Is there a way to get it out?" Alucard asks.
"No. An individual demon is strong enough to cling to the host until death, but the one inside her is different. It seems to intensify Ruby's homicidal tendencies rather than make her do its bidding… as if it is encouraging her. Only one demon can do that."
Estes flipped through the pages of the book and stopped midway. Alucard eyed the portrait of a maniacally-looking dog with crazed eyes and a pair of wings.
"His name, scratched off the list, but this was one of his interpretations from the off-worlds.
"Makes sense. His profile fits Ruby's behavior whenever she goes in a slaughtering spree… And he controls nearly thirty legions, according to the unnamed book. Strange, they seem too familiar…"
"Don't worry now, Alucard. We killed all of the legions that the demons commanded in the Old War. The ones we are fighting are new, but reckless. This specific also incites affection towards friend and foe, which is confusing, but then again, like I told you, not all of the things these demons do are entirely evil… But the way I see it, you do not love Ruby just because of this demon… The feeling is mutual and pure, just like all the others. If that was the case, then he is weak."
Alucard sighs and nods in agreement. "That's good to hear… But who is the other one? It's the Dark Lord, I assume?"
"True. However, such a demon shouldn't be that powerful enough without external help. This demon must've possessed the qualities of its fallen, which is a bad sign. It will tip the scales of balance. However… who among them would even survive?"
"There's no point scouring for the name," Alucard suggests. "Heck, I don't think I would want to."
"Sounds about right, but if I have time, I will check on the list to find a proper candidate." Estes closes the book and returns it to the shelf. Alucard looks at his left and sees the door, open, with a girl peeking on the frame. As soon as he saw her, the figure turns around.
"Estes?"
"Yes?" Estes turns around and sees the door. "Alucard…"
"Estes, I need to-"
"Wait! I need to see her for myself as well."
The two race for the door and exited the library, looking around frantically. The girl was nowhere in sight.
"Damn, she vanished," Alucard mumbles to himself. As the two go back to the door, Lunox was in view, standing right near the other side of the door.
"GOD- Why do you have to give us a fright every ti-"
Lunox said nothing, but held her index finger to her lips, indicating her need for silence. Estes prepares his runes.
"Lunox? Is it really you?" the king asks. "Try and answer us."
She slowly walked up to Alucard, outstretching her right arm…
"She's slightly shorter than Ruby…"
"Alucard? What are you-"
As her gloved hand touches Alucard's temple, the Demon Hunter gets jarred into a vision.
"W-WAIT!"
He opens his eyes and sees the battlefield in front of him, but there was no one… except for Zhao, who was kneeling down, crying.
"Zhao? What happened?" Alucard moves around and sees his friend cradle a purple body, blood oozing out of its side.
"W-why?! WHY?!"
"Zhao, I'm-"
"H-how could they… How could you?!"
"Zhao, lis-"
Suddenly, his perception warped, and in an instant, Yun was already grabbing Alucard by the neck, possessing a strained face. "I TRUSTED YOU! WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE HIS PLACE?!"
"Zhao, s-stop-"
"WHY WOULD I?! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S LIKE TO LOSE SOMEONE, DO YOU?! OF COURSE YOU DON'T!"
The vision changes, and Alucard was let go. He struggled to breathe as he tries to stand up. When he regains footing, he sees Lancelot and Odette, holding hands… but they seem… changed. They were pure white in Alucard's eyes, and blue lines emphasized their shape…
"My love… I'm sorry… I wasn't-"
"Shhh… at least… we gave them all the time they needed… Bring me along to the stars, okay?" She looks at Alucard. "Hey… make our sacrifice worthwhile."
Lancelot looks at Alucard. "Make it all worthwhile, Alucard."
Alucard gets sent out of the dream, finding himself sitting on the wall of the hallway, Estes helping him up. Lunox was still there, but her left hand was outstretched…
"Alucard! Are you hurt?"
He paid no attention as he stood up quickly, pacing towards Lunox. "WHAT DID YOU SHOW ME?! TELL ME!"
She replied, "Only the inevitable." And just like that, she disappeared, phasing out.
Alucard hyperventilated. In frustration, he punches the wall, making a dent. "Damn it!"
"Alucard-"
"Estes… She… she showed me…"
"What?"
"We have to warn Zhao, now."
"But what about-"
"Take care of her, Estes. If she wakes, bring her to me, stat."
Meanwhile…
"No sign of them?"
"Nope, not at all."
Miya stopped aiming with her bow and sat down next to Karina. "I'm troubled…"
The two of them were sitting down on the traversable top of the main walls, their backs resting on the walls of the ledges. (By the way, it's still a shock to know that even the main wall is top notch in terms of decoration. Seriously, gold linings and accents?!)
Karina looks at the archer. "That's something I wouldn't expect to hear from you. Is there something bothering you?"
"This doesn't seem right… The five of them will be out in the field… Shouldn't Helcurt and Moskov be absent?"
"You mean to say that they could be targeting specific people to lower our momentum?"
"Something along those lines, Karina. They wouldn't be attacking Zhao, they could be-"
"Don't think that, c'mon! If that is what will happen, we are going to have each other's backs. No one gets in the way. If someone will die today, let's just hope they wouldn't die in vain. Makes me worry as well… Hey, where's Zhao?"
"He's taking a break with Haya. We will be going out soon enough, and we are expecting a lot more casualties."
"We're still 13,000,000 strong, right?"
"Correction. 12,000,000 and some spare hundred-thousands," a synthesized voice said. Alpha and Saber was in front of them. "We can last… but the numbers are still increasing from the other side. Estes' information was right… The Reservoir is really the source of all the outpouring demons. Saber has also catalogued new foes with Grock's help."
Saber's antennae slowly whirred. "Enemy Analysis #32, recorded one hour ago. New enemies, namely Shadowbringers, Goblins, Enhanced Ravagers. Numerical Estimation: Amounting to thousands only. Conclusion: Dark Lord's last batch of units, before Leviathan."
"Wait, Shadowbringers?!" Karina exclaimed in shock.
"Shadowbringer Army Analysis: Possesses dampened speed and agility when compared to Helcurt. Stingers do not contain toxin nor tranquilizer. Cannot swallow light. Synthesis: Geneticized. Source: Reservoir."
"These Shadowbringers are basically degenerates from the Reservoir. They won't be much of a hassle," a new voice started.
"Ah, Chou. I thought-"
"Nah, I wasn't planning to take a break. And besides, the battleground is basically soulless right now. The units in the field have also noticed the apparent disintegration of the bodies of the fallen demons… At least we won't have to worry about epidemics and crap. The med bays have a lot to fix right now. By the way, where are the others?"
"Prepping," Miya replies. "Have you seen Zhao, Chou?"
"Nope, but I did see him in the evacuation centers, sending some speedy deliver- Wait, Karina, did you just get a makeover?"
Chou thought he was dreaming, but he wasn't. Karina really did change. Her skin was that of a normal human's, and even her elf ears had armor. Heck, her armor looked futuristic, with black scales and turquoise highlights.
"Sorry, Saber's idea."
Chou looked at Saber. "Dude, elaborate."
Alpha barged. "You see, Saber thought it would be a good idea to give everybody enhancements and such. Also, there's this-"
"I KNOW, BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU THINK ABOUT GIVING ME ONE?!"
Saber tells Chou, "My logistics suggested to not give you one, considering that your power is mostly spiritual and based on your-"
"Argh, fine… But a new suit would look cool, honestly…"
The alarm blares again, and the five stand in attention.
"Here we go." Saber immediately unfurls his mechanical wings and boosts up high in the air, leaving the others in the dust.
"Chou, go get your friends. Karina, get Estes and the others. I'll scout," Miya commands. "Alpha, join the army. Wait for Estes."
"Sure thing."
Miya nocks a light arrow with her bow and zooms in with her enhanced sight. She sees Zhask slowly walk forward in the field with his Kastiyans with their weapons out. Alice and Vexana were hovering, while Moskov and Helcurt were waiting from the back, along with the Dark Lord.
Miya catches the words of the Dark Lord to Moskov.
"You know what should be done. Never be afraid to kill someone you love for the sake of this world. It's what you wanted, right? Peace? Then go forth and do as I command."
Moskov simply grimaces and leaves, walking forward with a dark expression on his face.
The archer thought to herself, "This isn't going to be good."
MeanwHIle..,.,.kopqqmdk
Kjs081nkl1-00emk2lmls,mkslkvm;wa
Ql;dokeipqkemde 9029di2p 10id9idkl cka;okfr[o
W4rn1nG; v1rAl Int0wrusi000n?!
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
[DATA EXPUNGED]
Viral intrusion resolved. Threat eliminated.
Incoming Transmission!
(The following is an audio log taken from an unknown [DATA EXPUNGED] phone model. No record date can be identified.)
"Arc?"
"Y-yeah?"
"I know this is hard for you to take in, but…"
"I know… You don't have to remind me."
"The [DATA REDACTED] is-"
"Yeah… it hurts like a [DATA REDACTED]."
"Hey… it's okay. You can take chemo or surgery, or other forms of treatment. The doctors are letting you choose."
"I'd settle with taking painkillers. Chemo is too risky… I don't think surgery will do the trick as well…"
"Arc… just remember, we're all here for you."
"I know… I just need some time to think, that's all."
END OF TRANSMISSION.
ALERT! INCOMING MESSAGE!
Don't believe too much, alright?
"You ready, bro?"
"Yup. Sure, Haya."
Zhao and Hayabusa were in the fray, awaiting the go signal along with the others. All of the marksman and mages were at the back.
"Where's Kagura?" the spearman asked.
"She is going to come out later. She's also undergoing the… 'change.'"
"It's really weird, seeing ourselves change into something else, it's completely surreal… for me, that is. I also heard Ruby had-"
"Yep," Hayabusa sighed. "Another issue to tackle. Alucard and Estes discussed something about… nevermind."
Zhao asked for assurance. "Let me guess. You found what's giving her the impulse.
"Hmm… back in the Old War, our ancestors had to fight against all of those demons, I assume?"
"And all of them make up the Dark Lord."
"Bingo! I knew it. I can see how the manifestation was able to deceive Vexana and Alice. The edgelord's IQ must be pretty damn high."
"But he's more likely pissed this time around, now that a couple of them are gone. From what I heard, there are like… 5 left?"
"Two," someone corrected. Alucard barged in. "And one of them got ahold of Ruby."
"Two?" Zhao asked. "Oh, damn. So, the other one is the Dark Lord?"
"Yes, who most likely absorbed the power of the other fallen. Sounds like Argus, but it can't be him. Like Estes said, 'forgotten demons with forgotten names.'"
"Which demon, Alucard? If I am correct, they can completely possess a host or something. Ruby is still-"
"I know, but Ruby seems to be the one in charge of the spirit, she must have mishandled it back in the depots when she attacked Cyclops."
"If that's the case, then who's the other one? I know it's the Dark Lord, and that the spirit gains the strength of its fallen brethren, but who could it be?"
"Estes is trying to find out too, but something tells me he already knows the name. Anyway, we should get going. The showdown's about to start."
"Do you see Moskov?" Zhao asked Alucard. "I see him, and he's less enthusiastic now."
"Maybe the Dark Lord gave him a warning. I hope not. Zhao, no matter what the case, if necessary, never hesitate to end him," Hayabusa suggests. "It's the best possible course of action if he doesn't change."
"I won't be there to help you, sadly," Alucard groans. "It's too dangerous for me to get out there. Argus and a few others will keep an eye out for all of you. Rafaela is with the Gem to make some bombardments. Stage Two defenses are up. The terrain is going rough."
"Just make sure the shots land in a place where we aren't," Zhao says. "C'mon, Haya. Time to have another chat with Moskov." Before he could leave, Alucard grabs him by the shoulder.
"Zhao, listen to me… Lunox appeared again."
His eyes widened. "R-Really? Did she say anything?"
"Not much, but… She warned me that Moskov… He…"
Zhao knew what Alucard was trying to say. He did fear the probability of killing Moskov himself, but if that was necessary…
"Hey. I'll live carrying it with me if that happens. But if I do go nuts about it, please give me time."
"You said it yourself," Alucard grimaces. "Don't take back your words. Go and move."
Meanwhile…
"Careful!"
Sun was up front, holding back multiple Morphlings. Clint was behind him, throwing sand grenades and swiftly unloading his revolvers to their bodies. A Spitfire dives toward him, and Sun slams it to the ground with his cudgel before it could hit Clint. The two escape, Sun leaving a group of doppelgangers to confuse the demons.
"Let's halt for a while," Sun orders. "The replacements are coming."
Clint eyes three Wretches as he regains his breath, charging straight towards them. "Sun! We need to go!"
Before they could react properly, Hylos and his fellow centaurs ran towards the beasts along the pathway, driving them back. Hylos slams his staff towards their legs, breaking their bones and crippling them. One of his centaurs stabs through another Wretch's skull, killing it. The other two were pummeled with blunt force trauma.
"Sun, Clint, go back to the wall. You earned your break."
The two nod as they return in a hurry, the army's formation advancing. Alpha flew from behind them. Beta unleashed a storm of bullets towards the Ravagers. Alpha jumped off and aimed his spear at the ground. As he landed, the kinetic force from the spear spread outward on the ground, repelling multiple Morphlings.
"Saber, you reading this?"
"Yes," the fellow cyborg replies. "The waves gradually increase in force. The main five targets are not rushing into the scene. Grock, Fanny and I will keep watch. We'll descend if we need to. This won't be easy."
"Grock says same thing!" the titan bellows, trampling a Wretch and a dozen Shadowbringers with his foot. "Bad animals. Bad!"
A few more heroes poured out of the gates, running to the fray. Miya launches a cable arrow pointing to the ground. As it tethered, she flips and lands on the cable with both feet and slides, aiming and shooting whatever and whenever she can. She charges her bow, forcing her arrows to split and hit more targets, clearing the Ravagers and Morphlings easily. The army cheers as their best archer rallies alongside them. Miya helps a Bastion that was holding down three Stalkers. She jumps on the shield and launches a rain of arrows around her, impaling the demons to the ground. She aims for a Spitfire, but it suddenly turns into a fluffy cat. Said demon was knocked out cold by a familiar boomerang.
"Nana? You sure you're up for this?"
"I've faced worse, Miya. Let's do this!"
"Hey, wait!"
The two see Cyclops and Harley running towards them. "We'll help you out. Anything we need to do?"
"Yeah," Miya answers. "Let's take them out, and watch our backs."
Cyclops summons orbs of cosmic energy floating around him. A Ravager decides to get close to him, but fails as the orbs disintegrate the beast to ash. The mage shoots forth other conjured projectiles, the hourglass in use. Harley teleports with his hat and launches a deck of cards at the Morphlings that followed. Each card floated around like drones seeking their target, the nearest ones protecting Harley from any impending attack. Johnson drove past the four and crashed into a Wretch. As he transformed back to a human, Roger jumps out and turns into a werewolf, clawing and shredding the still conscious demon, ensuring the kill.
"Not enhanced," Roger breathed out. "Johnson, save your artillery for the tougher enemies. The demons aren't enhanced yet. We don't want to waste our resources."
"Agreed. You can clear them out alone, Roger?"
"Yes, but a bit of company will be good, too. Ah, speak of the devil."
Roger eyes Hayabusa, Kagura, Akai and Lesley coming forth.
"You know what to do, Akai," Hayabusa began. "Remember to-"
"Protect Kagura at all costs YES I KNOW THAT, JEEZ!" Akai grumbles, slamming his staff onto a Ravager, breaking its jaw. Lesley shoots the demon's skull.
"Goblins, dead ahead!" the sniper aims and scouts the scene. Sure enough, they had green skin and leather pauldrons (and insanely awful hygiene). They wielded rusty axes and machetes and charged with a faulty formation.
"Guys, get ready!"
Before they could begin their defense, Argus suddenly appears to the scene, hacking them down to bits. A Goblin manages to land a blow to Argus' exposed arm, but the wound that should've amputated the limb healed immediately. Argus looks back at the creature in silence. He grabs its neck and crushes its throat to a pulp before dropping the enemy.
"Pardon. I've had issues with creatures like these," the fallen angel said. "The five of you need to back off for now. If the five go into the fray, I would need to leave. I'll fend off the Goblins for the meantime. Help the others."
"You heard him!" Kagura starts. "C'mon!" The five flee as they see Argus flying further to the dangerous section of the battlefield, engaging by his lonesome.
Roger raises his head and sees the kingdom's built-in defenses activate. He watches as the bombs carpet the field behind them, creating pillars of fire that prevent other demons from getting through.
"We're like, far away from the flames, right?" Akai wonders. "The smoke isn't all bad, but it still stinks." The panda squints and catches something move through the fire. "Lesley?"
The sniper quickly looks through her scope. "It's them. We need to run, now!"
The five turn heads and sprint, Roger already on all fours. Hayabusa carries Kagura and switches places with his shadows, getting to the other side safely. Akai forcibly jumps high in the air as if he was catapulted, reaching the army faster than Roger.
But Lesley was left behind.
"Guys? Argh, this sucks."
"Wait!" Hayabusa began, looking around. "How about Lesley?"
Before he could finish the sentence and let Kagura stand, Gossen launches his dagger on a fleeing Wretch that was moving towards the marksman.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."
Lesley crouches and tries to shoot down the Wretch, but it kept on charging. She eyes Gossen dashing towards them at supersonic speed. As he stops, he turns and the two faces the Wretch.
"Any way out of this one?" Lesley asks, also pointing at the Ravagers converging towards them.
"Easy."
Gossen launches five daggers, pushing the Wretch back, but not fazing it. Frustrated, he launches more and more daggers, sticking to the demon's tough hide.
"Lesley! Brace!" he shouts.
"Brace?"
Without warning, he hooks his arm to Lesley's waist and teleports behind the Wretch. With his free arm, Gossen launches his daggers two by two, slowing the Ravagers already climbing on the Wretch's body just to get the two of them. Gossen rolls, dragging Lesley along who was also shooting at anything that was the enemy. The assassin eyes Saber and throws his dagger to the cyborg in flight.
"You ready?"
"Gossen, w-wait! I don't-"
"Sorry."
Gossen goes into supersonic speed, recalling the 95 daggers that he conjured and threw, slicing through the Wretch and the Ravagers. (Yes, the files said there were 95 daggers. Precisely 95. Not joking.) As they flew high, the Spitfires were now zoning towards them. Lesley reloads her rifle and manages to neutralize three of them before Gossen reaches Saber.
Wait a minute.
Of course, the pair will fall. Saber can't reach them.
"Lesley!" Gossen throws another dagger and zooms to it again, and during the travels, he kept throwing the daggers downward to try and catch up to her. He immediately went to terminal velocity as the Spitfires also swooped down to nick them. As the two fell, Alpha and Beta flew up and sprayed the demons with bullets, and Alpha killed the survivors with his light spear. Gossen catches Lesley, and Grock laid his hand below the two, catching them before disaster.
"Two of you should play safe," Grock mutters, his face worried. "Hard to catch safely for Grock."
"Blame Gossen for it," Lesley heaved out, laughing. "That was fun."
"Yeah, let's not do that again," Gossen grumbles. He turns to Bruno. "Hey, you ready for this?"
"Yep. As always, the big guns stay back. Some are resting, so what's out here would suffice for the meantime." Bruno walks forward and hollers at the others. "HEY! YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO! DON'T THINK ABOUT KILLING THEM BECAUSE YOU CAN'T!"
"Bruno is right," Argus barges in, folding his wings. "If we try killing them, we'll just die tired. We can't cut through our way out of this situation."
"So simply, push them back!" Tigreal adds. "Let's make sure no one dies today!" He pulls out his sword and points at the villains. "For the Light!"
"FOR THE LIGHT!"
It's logical for the tanks to go first, right? It's a common rule in Mobile Legends, everyone knows that.
But I just can't accept the fact that Fanny always goes first. Here's how it went down.
Fanny launched herself through the field with her cables, and she gets propelled towards Zhask. Through instinct, she spins around mid-flight, managing to slice the alien into bits, but the wounds regenerated instantaneously.
"Agh! Flying pest!" Zhask spawns the Dominator, but Fanny was already flying out of the way and into Helcurt. Seeing that the Shadowbringer was in her way, she veered off by launching a cable to Grock's leg, diverting Helcurt's attention. Confused, Helcurt attempts to inject poison on Fanny, but misses, and was met by Hylos' staff. The Shadowbringer flew a few meters back, but regains footing by teleporting to Karrie, who dashed backwards in time for Irithel and Leo to pounce on Helcurt. He swallows the light around him, blinding half the heroes in the vicinity, but decides to retreat.
"Stay back," Alice commands Helcurt. "They grow fearful of you. Let me have my time with them!"
"F-F-Fine! I'll arrive l-l-l-later!"
Estes stays at the back with Rafaela (replaced by Gord, who now stays with the Gem), setting up traps and wards all around the field to lock the five in place. Zhask doesn't move from his position and stays with the Dominator. Yi Sun Shin charges his bow and shoots an arrow that blinds the Dominator (yet again), distorting its aim. He flips just in time as Zhask launches a deadly lightning bolt, making a small but prominent crater on where the general previously stood.
"Alice! Hold them off! I will advance!" the alien calls. "You need to grab their attention! Divide… and conquer."
She didn't say nothing, but she knew what Zhask wanted. Alice launches a blood orb and teleports to Miya, but Akai was blocking her way, so instead of phasing through to the archer, Alice got blown back by Akai's belly.
"Oops, didn't mean to do that!" the panda reacts sarcastically. As Alice tries to shake off her dizziness, Akai whacks her with his bamboo staff. "And also that, that, that, and most especially that! Kagura!"
The mage throws her umbrella, but keeps her distance, shooting pink holographic flowers at Alice. Irritated, she throws her blood orb and tries to snatch Kagura, but she teleports to the umbrella, unharmed. Confused, Alice didn't see Estes' newly conjured portal transport Gord's mystic projectile from the citadel and into her face, knocking her to the ground. Struggling, she flies off before Harley could throw his cards at her.
"That was awesome! We need to keep up the pace!" Harley switches places with his hat, dodging Vexana's ghostly hand. He throws a ring of fire at the necromancer, but Vexana has a shield around her, negating the spell immediately. Occupied, Vexana doesn't notice Freya's shield breaking her ward, sending her skidding on the ground.
"I thought you'd be dead!" Freya groans, banging her sword and shield. "The ocean's pressure should've killed you!"
"Fat chance, Freya." Vexana stretches her hand and makes the area around Freya explode, forcing the Valkyrie to jump off… directly onto the Dominator's beam, which Karina blocked with her blades. As the assassin turned, she slices down Vexana's body, spinning her weapons around.
"That's for my sisters, hag. In fact, you deserve more than that!" Karina stops and rushes Vexana with insane speed. The necromancer casts another ward, but Karina wasn't aiming for her, but for Moskov, who was busy pinning down Minotaur with his dark spears. Moskov dashes away and launches a dark spear, impaling Karina to a nearby rock for a few seconds. The spear dissipates, and Karina doesn't see any wound on her torso.
"Really intriguing, Moskov. You fight us, but you don't actually hurt us…"
Miya appears from her peripheral vision. "Hey! Duck!" Karina follows, and Miya shoots forth her light arrow towards a leaping Shadowbringer, killing it in mid-air. Karina retreats and helps the others in knocking down Moskov. Miya runs around, nocking and shooting her light arrows at Zhask, but the alien was merely annoyed.
"Aha…"
Miya, wary, backs off immediately as Zhask shoots another destructive lightning bolt. She sees Fanny charge towards Zhask again, doing the same tactic she did a while ago, but instead of focusing on another target, she hovers around the Dominator, attempting to throw off their attention. After a few seconds, she zooms and releases her cables, slashing down with her swords, but Zhask blocks it with his staff.
"You belong with the crows!" Zhask angrily says.
"But you belong with the bugs that we always crush." Fanny backflips away, making Saber charge freely and slice off Zhask's legs. The alien yelps in pain as Saber immediately follows it up with another downward slash. Fanny follows suit, and as every second passed, the two make mincemeat out of Zhask, which prevents the Dominator to operate. (This is because it requires Zhask's commands.)
"D-Damn you!" Zhask slams the butt of his staff to the ground, forcing them out. Saber and Fanny land on their feet and retreat as they see the other Kastiyans converging towards them. "Don't let them run!"
The Kastiyans aimed their ranged artillery, but Alpha and Beta flew above them and carpeted them with bombs. Alpha detached from Beta and dived towards the blast zone, discreetly stabbing and striking the remaining aliens.
"Saber, you good?"
"Watch your back. Helcurt is returning."
"Sure thing. Let's just keep ourselves- WOAH!"
Alpha caught the sight of a huge ice boulder dropping in front of him, generating a frozen wasteland three-hundred meters in diameter. The cyborg sees Aurora behind the fray, looking calmly at the scene with the army.
"Saber, you seeing this?"
"Only the big monsters will be able to pass through the ice. Keep calm and keep an eye out for enhanced Wretches. I'm picking up their signatures, but not their exact locations," Saber replies, flying towards Grock and the airborne ships.
Alpha turns tail and runs past the stunned Zhask, slowly but surely recovering from the sudden bombardment, his face suffering third-degree burns. He points his staff in the middle of the fight and spawns an enhanced Dominator.
"Pesky rats… Let my pet teach you some manners!"
"Heads up!" Hayabusa warned. He pushes Nana and Roger out of the Dominator's deadly beam. The spawn focuses on the ninja as he dashes to different places to rescue his friends. As Hayabusa stops, the Dominator immediately launches the laser at him. He luckily deflects it with his blade, but the laser kept intensifying.
"Argh… LITTLE HELP OVER HERE!" Hayabusa called out. Kagura responds by throwing the umbrella as a shield, protecting Hayabusa from the ray of death. The Dominator didn't hold back as it strengthened the laser again, somewhat penetrating Kagura's umbrella.
As it tore through the umbrella, Gatot stepped in front of the ninja and blocked the beam with his gauntlets, charging it with foreign but powerful energy. Hayabusa gets out of the sitch as Gatot laughs.
"You've messed with the wrong warrior." Gatot leaps high in the sky and with one punch, squishes the spawn to smithereens, scattering the chunks in multitudes of directions.
Johnson blocked the bluish blood and guts with his shield, hiding the eyes of Cyclops, Nana and Harley. "Yuck. Disgusting."
"Haya," Akai starts. "Kagura doesn't want to go out for now. She will have to wait for the umbrella to mend itself for a few minutes."
As the last word left his lips, Moskov appears and impales Akai and Chou with one spear, locking them down. Estes reacts by letting up one of his wide stasis wards, but Moskov retreats in haste, Alice replacing him. Before Alice could go into Drinking State, Zhao lunges at her and stabs her multiple times per second.
"No, not today, you-"
Zhao stopped speaking as an enhanced Wretch emerged from the ground below him. Zhao stabs its spine and pushes the spear deeper, and slides down the backbone, exposing the skeleton. The Wretch roars in pain as it was suddenly paralyzed. Hilda and Balmond sliced its legs and slammed their axes to its thick skull, finally killing it.
"Um… that was easy," Natalia mutters, cleaning her claw.
Alice shrieks, sending most of the heroes flying and skidding to the ground. They regain footing as she made a fit. "DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO SPAWN ONE OF THEM?!"