Chapter 65: Demon Invasion - Part 1

Chapter 65: Demon Invasion - Part 1

The night air was thick with tension as Colonel Mendoza checked his watch, 23:55. He raised his radio to his mouth, signaling to all nearby units. His voice was sharp, commanding, and echoed with the weight of the situation.

"All units, this is O-7-1. Five minutes to midnight. Check in."

One by one, confirmations buzzed in from various task forces. Mendoza nodded in approval, lowering the radio before making his way toward a nearby captain of the Order of Light's forces. The armored figure stood nearby, overseeing the knightly squads stationed throughout the grounds.

"We're counting on your support tonight. Make sure your men are ready," Mendoza said.

The captain gave a solemn nod. Mendoza then turned toward the Caracal helicopter on the courtyard, its engines whirring in idle readiness. He ordered the pilots and the recon team inside to be on standby, their mission crucial in the moments ahead.

Mendoza glanced upwards. Perched like silent sentinels on the roof of the house were the operators of Resh-1, weapons trained on the sky, scanning for any sign of movement. Everything was quiet, too quiet. But the Colonel knew that silence was fleeting.

Then, it happened.

The sky turned a deep, unnatural red as the clouds spiraled into a vortex of malevolent energy. An ominous hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. Lightning crackled within the vortex, hundreds of red bolts splitting the sky in jagged flashes of fury. At the heart of the storm, a massive portal tore open. From its center, a column of crimson light descended to the earth below, setting the landscape ablaze. The lush terrain beneath it withered instantly, turning into a charred wasteland. The ground shook, as if recoiling from the evil being unleashed.

Mendoza's pulse quickened. "Recon team, you're clear! Get moving, now!" he barked into the radio.

The Caracal's rotors spun into full speed, lifting the helicopter into the air and toward the desolate area beneath the portal. From Mendoza's vantage point, the team maneuvered expertly, weaving through the crimson beams as they assessed the emerging threat. And then, the creatures came.

Horrors from the depths of the portal, a horde of nightmarish demons, spilled forth from the column of light. Their wings tore through the sky as they ascended into the air, their grotesque forms silhouetted against the crimson storm. Mendoza's heart stopped for a moment as he saw the winged monstrosities heading straight for the recon team.

A voice broke through the chaos, Black Eagle. His thunderous roar cut through the radio, barking orders with an urgency that sent chills down every spine.

"The sky isn't clear! Aerial units, disengage immediately!"

Mendoza fumbled with his radio, his voice trembling with panic. "Kovacs! Get your team out of there! NOW!"

He could see the recon helicopter swerving, narrowly dodging the first wave of airborne demons. Gunfire erupted from the chopper, the sound of bullets ripping through the night. But it was no use. One of the demons slammed into the tail of the helicopter, and Mendoza watched in horror as the aircraft spun out of control.

"Mayday! Mayday!" the pilot's voice crackled over the radio. "We're going down!"

The helicopter plummeted toward the earth, spiraling as it did. Mendoza's heart raced. The chopper crashed in a fiery explosion, the flames licking the night sky. For a moment, Mendoza could hear nothing but the roar of the fire. 

Then, a faint voice came through the static, Kovacs. "O-7-6 to O-7-1... we're hit. The pilots are gone. Three of us are hurt. SCP-105... she's in bad shape."

Mendoza's fists clenched as he struggled to keep his composure. Before he could respond, Black Eagle's voice cut in. "All units, cover the crash survivors. Resh-1 is moving in." 

Mendoza snapped into action. "Cain, SCP-8888, get to the crash site!"

On the roof, Resh-1 moved with terrifying precision. The elite operators leaped from their perches, landing near the captain of the Order of Light. A quick exchange of words, and the knights in heavy armor emerged from the shadows, ready to move. Black Eagle led the charge, his movements fluid and calculated. They tore across the field, heading for the site of the crash, their mission clear.

In the meantime, Cain and Lina emerged from the house, weapons ready. Without a word, they sprinted toward the chaos, the weight of the coming battle hanging heavy over their heads.

---

Lina's breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted alongside Cain, her muscles burning with the effort of keeping up with the relentless pace. The ground beneath them trembled with the impact of the demons landing behind them, but there was no time to look back. Her focus was on the fiery wreckage ahead, the glowing remnants of the downed helicopter a beacon in the night.

The eerie red glow from the vortex above bathed everything in an unsettling light, casting long, twisted shadows across the desolate landscape. The screeches of the flying demons above them mixed with the heavy pounding of boots on scorched earth as Lina and the rest of the task force raced toward the crash site.

"Eyes up!" Mendoza's voice crackled through her earpiece, rough and urgent. "We've got flyers inbound—take them down!"

Lina's grip tightened around her rifle as she glanced at the sky. The demons were closing in, their grotesque forms slicing through the night like living shadows. She could feel the raw, primal fear gnawing at the edges of her mind, but she forced it down, focusing on the task at hand.

Cain was the first to fire. His weapon barked in rapid succession, the muzzle flash briefly illuminating his grim expression. Lina followed suit, raising her rifle and squeezing the trigger. The recoil jolted through her shoulder as she aimed for the nearest demon. Her shots rang out in quick, precise bursts, each one cutting through the cacophony of battle.

One of the demons let out a shriek as it spiraled downward, its wings torn to shreds by the hail of bullets. It crashed into the ground just a few meters ahead, kicking up a cloud of dust and ash as it writhed in its death throes. Another beast swooped low, its claws outstretched and ready to tear through anything in its path. Lina fired again, her pulse quickening as she watched the creature's body jolt mid-air before crumpling to the earth.

"Keep moving!" Mendoza's voice cut through the din. "We need to reach the survivors!"

Lina and Cain pushed forward, their boots pounding the ground as more demons descended. The night was alive with gunfire now—sharp, staccato bursts of light that danced against the backdrop of the burning wreckage. Black Eagle's voice barked orders across the comms, coordinating the defensive fire with ruthless efficiency.

As they neared the crash site, Lina could see the silhouettes of the survivors huddled near the wreckage, their forms barely visible through the thick smoke and flames. The sound of automatic gunfire echoed from their position as they held off the incoming wave of demons, but it was clear they were outnumbered.

Another demon dived toward them from above, its massive wings blotting out the crimson sky. Lina dropped to one knee, bracing her rifle against her shoulder as she fired a controlled burst at the creature. Her shots struck true, tearing through the demon's chest and sending it spiraling to the ground with a sickening crunch.

"They're almost here!" Kovacs' voice, strained and breathless, came through the comms.

Lina's heart pounded in her chest as she pushed forward, her mind racing. They were so close. Just a few more meters.

Cain fired another volley into the sky, taking down two more demons as they swooped low. Lina could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her, the desperate need to reach the crash site, to pull the survivors from the wreckage before it was too late.

Ahead, she saw the glint of metal and the flicker of movement—Kovacs, barely visible through the smoke, waving them forward.

As Lina and Cain finally reached the wreckage, the survivors moved to meet them. Kovacs waved them over, her arm bloodied, but her grip on her rifle steady. The few remaining operatives formed a loose perimeter around the downed helicopter, their weapons trained outward as the horde of demons closed in. Smoke billowed from the wreckage, mixing with the acrid scent of scorched earth, and the eerie glow from the vortex overhead bathed everything in a blood-red hue.

"Hold your positions!" Mendoza's voice crackled in Lina's ear, but before anyone could react, a monstrous roar ripped through the air. The ground shook beneath their feet as a massive horde of demons surged from the burning desert. 

Lina barely had time to register the blur of movement at the edge of her vision before a hulking demon swooped down toward her. Its gnarled claws reached for her head, its maw wide with a screeching howl. She froze, instinctively raising her arms, but just as the creature's claws came within inches of her, a figure appeared from nowhere.

A Resh-1 operator—armored, imposing, and fast—delivered a brutal vertical kick to the demon's head. The force of the blow sent the creature careening backward, its skull crunching as it hit the ground with a sickening thud. Without missing a beat, the operator stepped forward, raised his weapon, and fired a short burst into the demon's chest, finishing it off in a cloud of black mist.

"Stay close!" the operator barked at Lina, his voice distorted by his helmet's communicator. Before she could respond, more figures materialized around her. Black Eagle and the rest of Resh-1 stormed onto the battlefield, their movements impossibly precise, their presence overwhelming. Within moments, they formed a tight perimeter around the crash site, weapons raised and eyes scanning the skies for the next threat.

The demons, undeterred, charged in waves. The air filled with the sounds of gunfire and the unearthly screeches of the creatures as Resh-1 unleashed their full arsenal. Lina watched in awe as Black Eagle, at the center of the formation, cut through the demonic horde with brutal efficiency. His blade flashed in the crimson light, cleaving through demonic flesh like it was nothing.

On the ground, the armored knights of the Order of Light roared their battle cries and charged forward, their heavy weapons gleaming. They met the demonic wave head-on, smashing through the ranks of the beasts with their shields and swords. The clash of steel against claw echoed across the battlefield as knights and demons engaged in a brutal melee, the two forces colliding in a maelstrom of violence.

Cain darted past Lina, joining the fray without hesitation. His fists crackled with power as he smashed through the torso of a demon that lunged for him. Lina, her breath ragged, steeled herself and took a step forward. She could feel the familiar surge of power bubbling up from within her, and before she knew it, the tentacles emerged from her back—six of them, writhing and pulsing with energy.

With a fierce cry, Lina leaped into the melee. Her tentacles lashed out, each one coiling around the limbs of the nearest demons. She yanked them forward, slamming the creatures into the ground with a bone-crushing force. One of the beasts, massive and serpentine, lunged toward her with its fanged maw wide open, but Lina twisted her body, sending two of her tentacles crashing into its side. The demon screeched in pain as it crumpled to the ground, its wings twitching in its final moments.

All around her, the battle raged on. The knights fought valiantly, their heavy armor offering some protection from the demons' claws, but even they began to show signs of wear as the relentless assault continued. The Resh-1 operators moved like shadows through the chaos, their movements swift and deadly. Every shot, every strike, was calculated, each one bringing down a demon with lethal precision.

Lina's tentacles lashed out again, striking another demon from the sky just as it attempted to dive-bomb one of the knights. She spun around, her rifle coming up to fire a burst of rounds into another demon's skull, but they just kept coming.

A second wave of the horde appeared on the horizon, more demons than she could count. Their grotesque forms silhouetted against the red glow of the vortex, and Lina's heart sank. It was as if the very air had become alive with the sound of their screeching and the rhythmic pounding of their monstrous feet.

"More incoming!" Black Eagle's voice rang out over the comms, and the task force braced themselves.

Another demon, larger than the others, barreled toward Lina. Its grotesque mouth split open in a howl of rage, and its muscular arms swung a massive blade that looked to be made of pure fire. Lina reacted on instinct, sending two tentacles surging toward the creature's legs, wrapping around them and yanking it off balance. Cain was at her side in an instant, delivering a crushing blow to the demon's chest that sent it tumbling backward into the dirt.

But even as they fought off the immediate threats, the sky grew darker with the shapes of more demons descending from the vortex above.

As the battlefield descended into chaos, a second horde of demons surged from the vortex, swarming toward the crash site. The air crackled with gunfire and the guttural howls of the demons as the defensive line struggled to hold. Lina's tentacles lashed out, pulling a demon from the sky, while Cain's fists crackled with energy as he smashed through the creatures in his path. 

But the horde was unrelenting. Lina could feel her muscles straining as she swung her tentacles, sending another demon crashing to the ground, only for two more to take its place. All around her, the knights of the Order of Light battled fiercely, their heavy armor gleaming in the hellish glow of the vortex, but even they were being pushed back. 

Suddenly, from the midst of the melee, a voice from Resh-1 pierced the chaos.

"Artillery! Everyone take cover!"

Lina's heart skipped a beat. She barely had time to dive to the side when an enormous block of earth came crashing down, obliterating several knights who hadn't moved fast enough. Dust and debris exploded into the air, blinding her for a moment. She coughed, struggling to regain her bearings, and looked up just in time to see the source of the attack.

Her blood ran cold.

Towering above the battlefield, a massive red giant, standing on goat-like legs, loomed over them. Its eyes burned with malevolent fire as it dug its clawed hands into the earth, ripping out another massive chunk of soil. It lifted the block high above its head, muscles bulging, before hurling it toward the group.

Two Resh-1 operators dove out of the way just in time, barely escaping the deadly projectile as it slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Lina's ears rang, and her body ached from the impact, but she forced herself to focus. 

"Take it down!" Black Eagle's voice boomed through her earpiece. 

Lina turned, scanning the battlefield, but what she saw made her heart sink even further. More giants, just like the first, had appeared across the field. Their massive forms lumbered through the chaos, ripping up chunks of earth and hurling them at the defensive positions. The once-organized line was now in disarray, with demons swarming the gaps created by the giants' devastating attacks.

Through the dust and smoke, Lina could see the knights and soldiers scrambling for cover, their shields raised in a desperate attempt to protect themselves from the raining boulders. But it wasn't enough. Over the radio, panic erupted.

"This is Overwatch! The fleet is under attack—we've lost artillery support! I repeat, no artillery support!"

Lina's grip on her rifle tightened as the grim reality of their situation settled in. The support they had been relying on was gone. The giants' relentless bombardment was tearing their defenses apart, and now, without artillery, they were on their own.

"This is the artillery command at Huisne!" a frantic voice crackled through the comms. "We're under enemy fire! We need reinforcements, now!"

Lina looked up just in time to see another massive boulder crash into the defensive line. Screams filled the air as more soldiers were crushed beneath the earth. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the acrid stench of blood and sulfur filled her lungs.

Suddenly, a new order came through the radio.

"All units, fall back! Abandon the D275 line and regroup at the secondary defensive line. I repeat, fall back immediately!"

The order sent a shockwave through the ranks. Lina saw the surviving knights and soldiers begin to pull back, their movements frantic as the demons pressed their advantage. She turned to Cain, who nodded grimly. There was no other choice. They had to retreat.

Cain, Lina, and the remaining members of Resh-1 hoisted the survivors to their feet, urging them forward as the thunderous footsteps of the giants grew louder. Each step from the monstrous creatures sent tremors rippling through the ground, their hands hurling boulders of earth toward the retreating soldiers. Lina's heart raced as she glanced over her shoulder, seeing the grotesque forms of the giants advancing, their eyes filled with malice.

"Go! Now!" Cain shouted, his voice a harsh bark over the sounds of destruction.

The group pushed forward, but the retreat was cut short as the remaining Resh-1 operatives raised their arms, signaling everyone to halt. 

"Get behind us!" Black Eagle commanded, his voice cold and resolute. "We'll buy you time!"

Lina's chest tightened at the words, but there was no time for argument. She and Cain helped move the wounded, urgency fueling their every step, but her heart sank knowing that those brave operatives were preparing to hold off the giants at their own peril.

Just then, Black Eagle felt a strong hand on his shoulder. He spun, his sharp eyes locking onto the captain of the Order of Light. The captain stood tall, his expression steady, but there was a fierce determination in his eyes.

"This is our fight," the captain said, his voice low but laced with conviction. "We will not allow those who came to aid us to die in our stead."

Black Eagle stared for a moment, processing the weight of the captain's words. The air around them was thick with tension, but the captain pressed on.

"Let us bear the burden of this sacrifice. It is the price of honor."

Black Eagle remained silent, but the two men understood one another. The captain turned toward his knights, standing proud despite the chaos surrounding them, and raised his voice to rally them for the final push.

"Brothers! Will we flee like cowards, with our tails between our legs?"

"NO, SIR!" the knights bellowed in unison, their voices shaking the air.

"Will we fight until the end, even against these monstrosities?"

"YES, SIR!" they roared, their hands gripping their weapons tighter.

"Then charge! For the light, for honor—CHARGE!"

With that cry, the knights surged forward, their gleaming armor catching the hellish light of the battlefield as they launched themselves at the demons and giants alike. The ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet, and the demonic horde turned its attention to them, their growls mingling with the battle cries of the knights.

Before joining the charge, the captain turned back to Black Eagle. He spoke quietly but with unwavering resolve: "There is an old Chinese saying: 'When drinking water, remember the source.' Honor those who have come before, and remember those who fall here today."

Black Eagle nodded, understanding the weight of the proverb. As the captain turned and sprinted to join his knights, Black Eagle knew this would be their final act of valor.

Lina watched with wide eyes as the knights charged into the fray, their courage shining even in the face of certain death. Her heart ached, knowing they were giving their lives so that she and the others could escape. Tears welled up, and for a moment, she felt the world slow as the knights clashed with the giants, their bodies falling one by one.

As she ran, she couldn't help but glance back, her chest tightening as the knights were overwhelmed, their bravery unmatched but their numbers too few. Her vision blurred as tears streamed down her cheeks, and for the first time in a long while, she let the grief and weight of the moment overtake her.

"Move!" Cain urged, grabbing her arm and pulling her onward.

The group finally reached the house, where military vehicles were waiting with engines roaring, ready to whisk them away. Mendoza rushed out from the entrance, his face taut with worry as he helped load the injured into the waiting trucks.

"Get them in! Hurry!" he shouted, his voice sharp with urgency.

As the trucks sped off into the night, leaving the hellish battlefield behind, Lina collapsed into her seat, her body wracked with exhaustion and her heart heavy with sorrow. Though they had escaped, the memory of the knights' sacrifice lingered, a painful reminder of the cost of their survival.

With every bump in the road, she clutched her weapon tightly, vowing never to forget the bravery of the Order of Light and the tribute they paid in blood to protect them.

---

In the vehicle, the air was thick with tension, the sound of the engine droning on in the background. Black Eagle, his face set in grim determination, reached for his radio. 

"Status on the knight group?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

There was a pause, and then a voice crackled through the radio. "They've been killed in action."

Black Eagle exhaled deeply, the weight of the words settling over the group like a heavy shroud. Without a word, he looked around the vehicle. "Does anyone have a piece of paper?"

One of the operatives handed him a crumpled sheet. Black Eagle reached into his pocket, pulling out a lighter. He ignited the corner of the paper and held it up, watching as the flames began to consume it. His voice was solemn, filled with a deep respect. "I pay tribute to the dead."

One by one, the others in the vehicle joined him, their voices low but unified. "I pay tribute to the dead."

The flames flickered and danced, casting eerie shadows in the confined space of the vehicle as the paper turned to ash, leaving nothing but the memory of those who had sacrificed everything.