The Hall of the Damned

The streets were completely silent and barren. There were a number of white star hunters from the devastators along with machinery and equipment used to mine and extract the resources inside the gates.

The combat hunters of the Devastators waiting to march towards the S class gate of Anomaly were waiting silently. Led by Isabella Beaumont, the hunters felt a sense of security and confidence.

Isabella Beaumont, she was a young woman in her mid 20's. She has short black hair that reaches down to her neck and bangs just slightly above her eyebrows. She has a long vertical scar on her left eye but wasn't blind. She has a small mole under her right eye. She always wears black clothing that complements her white complexion.

Like other Black Star Hunters, she's a symbol of Hope in the field, but she was extraordinary even among them. Despite her ice-cold demeanor, her heart is warm and gentle like a normal summer day. Her scar on her eye embodies her selflessness and bravery and for that she was given the title of "The Dauntless" by her fellow hunters.

As all the hunters were prepared, she slowly walked towards the gate. As she fully unsheathes her silver rapier, all the other hunters began to follow her. She didn't need to utter a word or command for others to follow her, for the path she walks, they will follow. If she walks to her death, then death they shall embrace.

It took them a few minutes for the whole force of the Devastators to enter the gate. Inside the gate was a ruined Greek building. It was slightly dark and only the faint lights of light green illuminated the area.

Everyone was surprised since this is the first gate that they have entered that led to an interior of a building. Usually, the gates would lead to outside.

Isabella stopped walking and took her time to observe the surroundings. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw a number of large, ruined stone columns and a worn-down path leading to a huge wooden double doors at the end.

Victoria issued the order to change their formations into a scout formation to gather information of the area before engaging in battle. They were ten groups with nine members each while Isabella leads the 11th group with the five remaining yellow stars.

As soon as they were in formation, Isabella slowly walks towards the double door at the end. All of them were wary of an ambush and was prepared to intercept them at any time. Slowly they walked, checking each column for an enemy but there was none.

They finally reached the double door at the end without encountering any enemies. Everybody was tense and on guard since the gate that they entered defied the knowledge that they know of.

In front of close proximity, Isabella observed if there were any irregularities in the double door but there was none. It was just a simple wooden double door without any traps or magic enchanting it. Two of the yellow star hunters opened the door and along with it every hunter prepared themselves for a fight.

As soon as the door opens, it was darkness and complete silence that met them. As soon as Isabella sets her foot inside, the lanterns attached to the walls lit up with a green light in succession ending with the massive black chandelier in the center of the room.

As soon as the whole room lit up, everyone had their eyes wide open. They couldn't believe the sight that they were seeing. In the center of the room was an army of 40 well-armed corrupted level Damned. Each of them was wearing light armor, a helmet and is equipped with a spear and shield. On their waists was a short sword called the Xiphos.

Behind them standing on each side of the ruined throne was two heavily armed Malevolent level Damned. They had the same equipment but wore heavy armor and was bigger in size.

What bothered the hunters other than their equipment was their green skin contrary to the usual dark colored Damned.

In comparison, the corrupted are on par or stronger than Red Star Hunters and the Malevolent are on par or stronger than the Yellow Stars.

Despite the overwhelming force of the Damned, Isabella just casually walks towards army of the damned and simply stands a few steps away from them. She pierced her rapier on the ground vertically and held the handle with two hands like a valiant knight.

This reignited the fire in the hearts of the hunters and found their courage to fight their adversary.

None of the Damned weren't moving an inch as they only maintained their tightly knit formation.

As soon as every hunter was in the room and in formation, one of the Malevolents spoke something in an unfamiliar language. The corrupted moved and swiftly like they were machines and formed an arrowhead formation. Their shields were in front their chests and their spears were pointed were position on the gap between the shields pointing to the hunters.

The Malevolent spoke again and soon the army of the corrupted began to run towards the hunters.

Realizing the danger of this formation, Isabella took out her rapier from the ground causing cracks to form around it. The cracks slowly grew larger and larger until the ground completely breaks disrupting the formation of the Damned.

Isabella raised left hand in the air and a small ball of white energy appeared in her hands. It grew larger and larger until it grew to the size of a basketball. She throws the ball towards the disrupted army. The ball expanded up to her feet as soon as it touched something. It was a devastating move.

The hunters behind her cheered loudly but Isabella maintained her composure. She felt that something was wrong.

As soon as the light dissipates, they all saw that the Malevolent protected the fallen Corrupted from the attack with a barrier.

"You have my praise woman. Tell me what you're called." The Malevolent asked.

"Isabella Beaumont." Isabella said in a serious tone.

"I shall remember your name. I am Dillios, a former general of the Spartan Army."

"I did not ask for your name." Isabella said as she points her rapier towards the Malevolent.

"My soldiers, it seems that we finally have found a worthy opponent after thousands of years."

Hearing those words, the enemy were all cheering loudly. Banging their spear on to their shields. They all shouted a word in unison, death, the death that they have been longing for, to be free from the shackles of life.

As they were shouting, Isabella raised her rapier up in the air, and as soon as he points it forward, the mage hunters fired a barrage of different magical projectile such as wind, fire, rocks, water, wood, and lightning attributes. For extra measures, Isabella used her rapier to create razor sharp slashes of air to cut through anything it touches.

As soon as the dust clears out, every enemy excluding the Malevolents were on the ground, their bodies destroyed. They all cheered loudly for their victory, but something wasn't right. Isabella and Victoria sensed that something was wrong.

Looking up at the ceiling, two massive green balls of fire were formed. It soon launched towards the hunters that were clumped together. Seeing this, Isabella and Victoria acted fast to try and deflect the massive balls of fire. Isabella managed to deflect one, but Victoria was a step too slow. The ball exploded which blew Victoria away and decimates almost half of the Hunters.

To make matters worse, the enemy who they thought were defeated came back standing, slowly regenerating their destroyed body parts.

Seeing this, Victoria and the other hunters were in a state of shock. To lose so many of their comrades in a short span of time. Victoria fell on her knees unable to process the deaths of her subordinates.

Isabella rushes to Victoria and kneels to shrug her shoulders and bring her back to her senses but it wasn't effective.

"Victoria! Victoria! Victoria!" Isabella shouted her name as she slaps her face hard to bring her back.

"Have you come to your senses?"

"Yes, I have. Thank you."

"Listen, you and the other yellow stars, go and help evacuate the wounded outside of the doors and close it. After that, look for something peculiar, like an artifact. Perhaps, that may be the cause of their regeneration."

"But who'll keep the Damned Spartans busy?"

Isabella stood up and faced the Damned Army with a heart filled of anger and rage.

"Leave everything to me. They shall not get past me." Isabella said as her rapier was coated with a radiant white light.

Seeing Isabella's back for the first time, she truly understood as to why she was called "The Dauntless". It was that very back that the other hunters saw in grave danger. The back that carries the hope and promise of victory.

Victoria quickly took command of the remaining hunters and evacuated everyone quickly. As soon as everyone got out, she closes the double doors and quickly set out to find an artifact.

"They'll never find an artifact the doesn't exist."

"I know, that's why I sent them out to look for it." Isabella said in a cold tone with hints of rage in her voice.