Chapter 2: Shadowed Encounters

Chapter 2: Shadowed Encounters

Dark, Kora, and Mayfield stood their ground, their gazes locked with the rogue devils that loomed ominously before them in the desolate wastes of the Devillish Saharas. The air crackled with tension, each side assessing the other with a wary gaze.

"May, get behind me!" Kora shouted. The serious and fierce Mayfield didn't hear Kora and slid on the perilous sands while holding a rear gun. She shot a few bullets at the Rogue Devil, but no normal pistol could penetrate the immense strength of the Rogue Devils.

The rogue devils, their forms twisted and menacing, seemed to emanate an aura of malice that permeated the surrounding air. Their jagged horns glinted under the stark sunlight, their eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.

"What the hell!?" Mayfield screamed. Mayfield started to get her feet up and stares at the devils in pure dissatisfaction.

"Prepare yourselves," Kora's voice resonated with steely resolve, his grip tightening around his weapon. 

Dark's mind raced, analyzing the situation. Engaging in combat without understanding their adversaries' true capabilities could prove fatal. His instincts warned him against underestimating these creatures born of the wastelands.

"Wait," Dark commanded, his voice firm. "Let's see what they intend."

The tense standoff persisted as neither side made a move. Suddenly, one of the rogue devils emitted a guttural growl, a primitive and chilling sound that reverberated through the desolate expanse. It took a cautious step forward, its gaze fixed upon the trio.

As if responding to a silent command, the second rogue devil let out a low hiss, its posture remaining hostile yet hesitant.

The unexpected behavior puzzled Dark. These creatures were known for their aggressive tendencies, yet their hesitation signaled something unfamiliar—a hint of intelligence or perhaps a hidden motive.

"We don't have to fight unless provoked," Mayfield suggested, calm but ready for action.

Dark nodded in agreement, unwilling to initiate conflict unnecessarily. The trio maintained a defensive stance, prepared for any sudden aggression from the rogue devils.

Meanwhile, back within the confines of space, the siege upon the Citadel by the monstrous barrier of creatures had escalated. Master Wrion's brow furrowed as he analyzed the feed streaming in from the Citadel's communication channels. The situation was dire; the relentless assault showed no sign of abating.

"We can't hold out much longer," one of the officers reported grimly.

"Everyone! Do what Master Wrion says! Come to the center!" another officer screamed at the others.

Wrion's jaw clenched in determination. "We need a plan. Any weaknesses in that barrier must be identified." 

"Maybe... No... We need to find the source of that barrier, or we'll never get to Nidalk." Wrion pressured.

"Yes sir, we will find the source, but it'll take a few years, and probably 20 more to destroy the barrier!" an officer said to Wrion.

"Hey, you! Call Frenyx for me. She's on the Brink of Death ship, right?" Wrion asked.

"Yes, sir, Mistress Frenyx is on the spaceship Brink of Death, around 800 kilometers from us. I will contact her immediately," one of Wrion's assistants pursued.

A few minutes later, he came back with a phone on Frenyx's call. The assistant gave the phone to Wrion. He then put the phone on his ear.

"Wrion? Ya there?" Frenyx asked.

"Yes, Frenyx, I am here."

"Well, whatcha need, bro?" she asked in a casual way.

"First, don't call me bro, and second, there is a barrier preventing the Citadel from entering Nidalk's atmosphere. As of now, the cause is unknown, and further research is awaiting. What's your take, Frenyx?" Wrion confirmed.

"Well, we can see you just a bit from here, but all we can do is get more soldiers to help you guys. Maybe for now, we'll suspend the research on Arias and my team will head there. Now you, um... Try going south. The magnetic field is the lowest there."

"Thank you, Frenyx. I bid farewell."

Wrion put the call on hold and placed the phone on his table. 

"I report, to all passengers of the Citadel, for now, find the weak point of the barrier. We will be heading south, captain Ymir."

"Yes! We will be saved by Master Wrion. He deserves applause!" one of his assistants shouted.

The passengers clapped to Wrion's assistance, while he makes his way back to his room.

Teams of engineers and strategists scrambled to assess the barrier's composition and its vulnerabilities, hoping to find a chink in its seemingly impenetrable armor.

Back in the Devillish Saharas, a tentative truce of sorts seemed to form between the trio and the rogue devils. The creatures, though still wary, appeared to ease their hostile demeanor slightly, observing the trio with a curious yet cautious air.

The rogue devils slowly but surely had their distance from the trio and moved back. It seemed like they were not bothered and escaped the fight.

"Finally. They escaped." Mayfield uttered.

"Nevertheless, this is a dangerous area," Dark stated.

"I'll stay behind with May. Dark, you're on the front." Kora replied.

"Sure... But we need to find rifles first. For now, stay behind me until we reach a treasure chest." Dark requested.

Many more rogue devils were looking at them ferociously from the corners of the caves. But, none attacked because of their Devil Hunter sigil.

"We need to find our bearings," Dark stated, breaking the tense silence. "We can't stay exposed like this. Let's move cautiously and keep an eye out for any signs of civilization or allies."

"Oh, I know a Guild Center nearby. I think it's... The Kalonza guild! We can head there. Wait... Let me open my map."

Kora pressed a button on his wristband and an old map of Arias appeared slowly, revealing their location in the outskirts of Kalonza Colony.

"Look. We're just at the edges of Kalonza. Maybe we can quickly find the guild center and join the guild. But

The trio cautiously began their trek across the barren landscape, each step deliberate and measured. The Devilish Saharas were unforgiving; the heat and desolation tested their endurance as they pressed onward.

"Ugh. I'm so tired, Dark. Can we rest?" Mayfield asked.

"No, dumbass. You wanna die? Get inside those caves and sleep as you want." Dark replied.

"Shit you, Dark!" Mayfield shouted.

"Guys, shut up! There are still enemies lurking. We need to cautiously proceed, and if you squabble all the time, we will die!" Kora stopped the argument.

"I know that, Kora! We don't know how the ragged Astronautical Caravan brought us here. Were we scammed by the captain? Well now is a time of stress! So anybody shut u-"

A wild devil kicked Dark's face. Blood spluttered from his mouth as Dark faced flat on the ground. 

"What the hell?!" Dark shouted.

Kora grabbed his rifle from his pocket and shot the devil. Bullets were flying around as more devils packed up.

"Shit! We're trapped!" Mayfield uttered.

The devil grabbed Dark's throat and threw him acres away, resulting in Dark's safety. The devil moved to the side of Kora and whispered in his ear.

"Remember kid, I'm here to help you."

Before Kora could respond with his surprised eyes, the devil unleashed an attack, killing the other devils quickly and ending up covered in blood on the other side. 

Turns out, the devils all this time have been rallying more devils to kill them, so the kindhearted demon Gangai saved them from the devil's attacks.

"I'm Gangai. You must be... Kora, right?"

Kora's eyes shivered in drought and took a step back.

"D-d-de-devils-c-can s-s-spe-speak?" Kora asked.

"Don't you know? What a jackass. Anyway, I'll be on my way."

"Wait!" Mayfield shouted.

"Please come with us. Help us in this journey."

"Devil Hunter with a devil? Oh no no-"

Mayfield crouched and moved her way to Gangai. With a possessive and cute smile on her face, with a pair of affectionate eyes, Gangai sighed and accepted.

"Fine. I thought it was just weird. So, I don't have anything to do... Tell me your story."

Mayfield and Kora detailed their plot to invade Ristan El Epimethe oil rig and join the Magicraid Bandit House as an independent devil hunter guild. 

After hearing the story, Gangai smiled and accepted the offer of taking them to REE in Xinrell Cosmopolis, located on the other side of the Arias map. The rest of the Astronautical Caravan had arrived at the REE.

Gangai woke Dark up and carried him, not explaining anything and just walking further into the scarce heat of the desert.

As they navigated the arid terrain, they noticed peculiar markings etched into the rocky outcrops—a foreign language but hinting at history and culture indigenous to this forsaken land.

"Tala-no-glia?" Kora murmured.

"Thalalanogolalial. It's from an ancient language. You can read Arian, right?" Gangai asked.

"No."

"STUPID! All Arians use Arian, not English, so have fun trying to talk with them."

"Can you speak Arian, Gangai?" Mayfield asked.

"No."

"STUPID!" they answered.

Hours passed, and the landscape remained unyielding, offering no respite. However, as the trio pressed on, a distant silhouette emerged on the horizon—a structure rising from the sands like a beacon of hope amidst the desolation.

"Could that be a settlement?" Mayfield's voice carried a note of optimism.

"Shizazaloogolsdonadarts Zabdfikar. It means... The Great Town of Zavdicar." Gangai replied.

He put Dark down from his arm and looked at him in demise.

"Who are you?"

"Gangai. I'm a devil."

The speechless Dark stayed in place while his jaw was wide open.

The structure, though distant, held the promise of answers, shelter, and possibly allies in this unfamiliar realm.

Yet, the air was fraught with uncertainty, for the Devilish Saharas held untold dangers, and the rogue devils shadowing the trio's every move remained an enigma, their intentions shrouded in mystery.

The fate of the Citadel and the trio's precarious venture through the Devillish Saharas danced on the edge of uncertainty, their destinies intertwined by the unfurling chaos in both the depths of space and the uncharted expanse of Arias' wastelands.