Chapter 13 | The Struggle

The shop's door busted as Jel, and Hiroshi rushed inside with their weapons in their hands.

"J-JEL!" Steven yelled in the corner of the room surrounded by demons.

"EXTREME CRAB CANNON!" Jel yelled pointing his blade in the direction of the horde of demons. Water launched from the blade like an aqua jet, piercing through the demons instantly.

Steven was amazed and yet confused. He wondered when Jel got ahold of an enchanted sword. But there wasn't any time to sit still and think. He got off the floor and sprinted towards the two.

"I thought I was going to die." Steven laughed with joy.

"I'm glad your safe," Jel said. "But we need to get moving since there's more of them outside."

"Right," Steven said. "But first I need to find someone."

"Exactly who?" Hiroshi said.

"A former employee," Steven said with an angered face. "More like a traitor."

"What did he do?" Jel asked.

"He attacked me and ditched me in this shop with those demons," Steven stated. "The funny part is that the demons didn't attack him."

"So, your suspicious he might be a demon?" Hiroshi said.

"Yes," Steven said. "Some stronger demons can hide their true forms and become human."

"I see," Jel said. "Well let's go after him, he shouldn't be far."

"I think I saw someone heading out the shop going down the street," Hiroshi stated. "Let's go that way."

The trio then rushed out of the shop sprinting down the street, slaying waves of demons on the way. The whole shopping town was now deserted and only filled with demons. Shops were destroyed and piles of rubble were everywhere.

"I see someone running up ahead!" Jel yelled pointing at a figure making a sharp turn on the next street. "That should be him!"

But Hiroshi came to a halt and shifted his sight towards the sky as a figure emerged leaping down towards them with a sword. Hiroshi quickly moved Steven and Jel out of the incoming attack. The figure smashed down to the ground, missing entirely.

"Ugh, shit, I missed." A voice said behind all the dust and smoke.

"Who the hell are you?" Steven said readying up his sword stance. "Come out."

Then, the dust cleared revealing a human. He had white goggles on his head and a blue T-shirt with dark blue tattered Jeans. And straight short brown hair.

"Ah, my name's Bryan!" He smiled. "And I'm the guy who's going to kick your ass."

Hiroshi stepped forward readying up his Axe. "Jel, Steven, go ahead, and after that guy."

"I can handle Bryan."

"Ah, I see," Bryan said. "So, you decided to betray Hacks and join the little rookies hanging on to life?"

"That's so cute." Bryan smiled.

"What?" Jel said. "He's part of hacks?!"

"Yes, He's Bryan, first in command," Hiroshi said. "But after this fight, he'll the first in hell."

Bryan laughed, almost dropping to his knees from laughter. "Haha! I like what Ya did there!"

"First in hell!" Bryan said. "I like that!"

"JEL! STEVEN! GO!" Hiroshi said.

"Right!" Steven said. "Jel, let's go."

The two continued running ahead, leaving Hiroshi behind to fight off Bryan. They continued running through the same path Markus was heading. Finally, after minutes of running, they closed in on Markus at a dead end.

Markus stopped and turned around to face the two, standing meters away from him.

"Why don't you two rats ever just give up?" Markus said with an angered face. "This whole chase is boring me; I'll just kill you both right here."

"Who the hell are you Markus?" Steven asked. "What are you trying to do?"

"Ah, well," Markus said before pausing. "I'm the leader of Hacks!" He exclaimed.

"And I'm also the one who's going to tear your annoying voice inside out!"

Steven gulped clenching his blade harder with anger and fear. Jel stepped back, sweating from his face. His eyes were nervous and wouldn't stay still.

But then Steven made up his mind. He didn't care about dying anymore. He was tired of staying in his brother's shadow ever since his parents died back in the village. If he were to die in this fight, so be it.

"JEL!" Steven yelled. "WE'RE GOING TO KICK THIS MOTHERFUCKERS' ASS AND HEAD BACK HOME!"

Jel made a confused expression but then smiled. "That's right, we will."

"So, you've chosen death?" Markus said. "So be it."