Walking into an Inn. A man in a black suit with a Dragon sitting on its shoulder walks into the receptionist. The Elf looks in shock at the Revolver on his belt, sitting next to his sword. Brandishing its wooden stock so brazenly in a room full of Adventurers sitting amongst one another, chatting and talking for their next quest and dungeon run.
The suited man slowly goes to his jacket and pulls out a rolled parchment. Setting it down on the counter, he reveals the image of a player named “LunarSperg '' wanted for Thief, Robbery, and Harassment. The reward being a thousand gold coins, the paper had the stamp of the Shine Guards on it. With a big pointy hat and leather armor with a wizard's robe on top, the man rims the tip of his fedora and settles his finger down on the drawing. Tapping it multiple times.
“I don’t know who that is.”
“The Barber told me… a man with the same type of clothing and facial make up came by here not a few days ago. I paid him good.”
“Oh! My memory just came back.”
Going back to his pocket, he then gives the man on the counter a pouch full of coins.
“Ahahahaha, yes. Don’t go telling anyone though.”
He looks up twice and the suited player looks at the room keys for the guests of the Inn. With a smile and a tip, he takes the parchment of the bounty request and the Black Dragon on its shoulder spreads its wings, flying outside as he goes up the flight of stairs to the second floor.
Walking to the second door, he takes cover behind the wall. Closing his eyes, he gets a flying view from the outside. The eyes of the Dragon clearly showing the outline of people even behind cover. He could even see himself in the hallway. Inside the room, there's two players. One busty female who was in the bed smoking and a male one who was excitedly removing his clothes on the other side, with the door located in the middle.
“Oh man, I got so much money to waste. I might rent for the entire week.”
“Want me to call my sisters here? It would be more fun if everyone could get into the action.”
“I’m rich, but not rich enough to have the entire brothel here.”
In the Dragon's eye, he could see the same pointy wizard hat on the stand near the door, the robe on the sofa and the leather armor on top of the screen for the tub. The magical staff with its sapphire orb glowing clearly as it rests on the bed frame. Opening his eyes, the player takes the bounty paper and slides it under the door. He knocks and quickly returns to cover, unsheathing his dark sword.
“Oh honey, what’s that?”
Extending the sword out to the height of his shoulders, he flips it. The Fuller, fully shown as starry arrows exits out the door and bounces back upon hitting the blade. “Master, he dodged it and is exiting out through the window.” The suited man kicks the door open as he quickly draws his revolver out, shooting the player’s leg as the small Dragon follows him down to the first floor balcony where he gets burnt by it.
“Good work Bahamut. I’ll come collect him down there.”
“Master, I want Steak for dinner!”
“When we cash in, we’ll surely have a bunch of meat to cook.”
“Yay! More meat!”
“Now don’t kill him though. If he respawns, that’s going to be a problem and a half.”
Running up the stairs were hundreds of shoes as the Adventurers on the first floor looked in shock at the player so brazen with the use of firearms. He held his belt up, dusting his shoulder off.
“Now, I know guns aren’t that widely accepted. But do know that it has to be done.”
He slides his hand on his belt, moving his jacket and trench coat to fully show the longsword on his hip.
“You know this sword? I’m sure low levels like you can identify a weapon like this wouldn’t be wielded by some newbie.”
One of the players, a dwarf wearing a more luxurious attire and rounded glasses, peeks from the crowd.
“Oh my! That’s a purple sword with a golden sparkle to its card! My boy! How much for it?”
“Do you have a million gold coins?”
“M-Million?!”
“Read out the player level recommended.”
“TWO HUNDRED?!”
Everyone then looked down on the dwarf, his jaw dropped and his eyes fully widened by the sight. Looking back at the player, they all sheathed their knives, swords, bows, and staffs. Walking back down as if nothing happened.
Exiting the building, the wizard was still alive. Immediately turning around to fire a ball of plasma at him. The powerful explosion awakening him inside a warehouse. Shells were raining as lead accompanied misery from the trails of tracers bouncing off the ground from the windows near the ceiling of the industrial structure he was on. Jackson wipes his face, looking around at the tired players sleeping on their beds that’s placed next to one another. Many of them do not care to clean themselves.
The middle section is littered with tables that have maps and charts. Officers were there alongside Yamaoka, busy on the radio as he walked around, making sure everything was going well on the retreat.
Opposite of it was a larger map marked with towers of Radio Communications while on the corner of the large place used to store general goods now has tents and on the vast empty space in between are beds and temporary cover set up. Turning around to the front of the frame, he sees his revolver belt, both of his black metal Colt Python Revolvers looking worn and old from his incessant use.
With a groan and a grunt, the man took the belt as it almost tipping his Knight helmet over. Taking the two revolvers, he starts to spin the drum. The clicks were still there but he could smell the powder up close. A little quake then shakes the building, stopping everyone. Including the soldiers on their beds, cleaning their rifles and sidearms. He looks around and the shaking then stops.
Sighing, the man opens the cylinder. Dropping all of the bullets and spent casings onto the ground. “Anyone with a bore cleaner?” one of the soldiers near to him lends him one. “And a jag and a brush?” The player then points at an empty bed frame, the wire brush kit for all sizes of gun bores in a neat assortment.
With his revolver, the man starts checking which is the correct one and upon finding the one he needs, he returns to his bed. The soldier who was done with his weapon maintenance stood up and gave him his solvent.
“Sir.”
“Thank you, soldier.”
Just waking up, he goes into busy mode. Cleaning his revolvers neatly as players come and go. Some even exited the showers with a smile and a valiant walk. Others took a quick nap before getting up and preparing to go back into the fray. After a while, with all the carbon gone from his revolvers. The man then proceeds to his M4A1 and M4 Benelli. With the finale being his Glocks. Finishing up with the maintenance, he then checks his Knight armor. The bits and pieces were laying around his bed. Players pass by having to tiptoe around it, making him collect it all and place them into a pile.
It had some tiny scratches, but no dents. With the polish still there, he leaves it be as he goes to his swords. Chevalier De La Nuit wasn’t even in any shape to be repaired, with the strange glass sword not showing even a hint of leftover blood on its blade. Going to his Longsword, it was still in a manageable place, with a bit of stiff blood on it. He went ahead and cleaned it up and returned it to its black scabbard, having the same hue as his Death Knight Set.
Stretching out his arms, General Jackson returns to his post, with Yamaoka who had been awake and active the entire time, busily staring down on a large map as the ceiling shakes and the ground rumbles once again. Placed dead center in the middle of the building, players run left and right of them. Writing new updates on the whiteboard and labeling units that are in need of reinforcements or defense lines that have been weakened.
“Anyone seen Alana?”
“She left an hour ago to the frontlines.”
“Ah… how long was I out?”
“A good twelve or so hours.”
“Oh Lord. What did I miss?”
“Nothing really, they’ve been trying to throw trash at the river but it's only piling up the corpses on it. This has only been the fourth? fifth? day and we’ve lost ninety percent of the city just like that though.”
“What we have to focus on right now is defending the river and all crossings, and preventing any breaches is our top objective. We need to set up Mages who can use deflect. Those Silver Spears will destroy us all.”
“We also have to focus on the Airbase. There’s nothing behind the trench lines we built. High Admiral Footman just told me that they’ll spend their entire stock of Cruise Missiles within the next hour. That will make those Giant Demons let loose on the entire city. What more, the Orcs has started to bring about large deployable wooden bridges to the river. Though we’ve been successful at stopping it, it won’t take long before they’ll be able to go and plant one.”
“Tsk. If only everyone has Godly Magic Immunity like those two Dragons. This has proven to be a problem far bigger than we expected. The moment those Cruise Missiles run out, I hope Bahamut and Mars had thought up a plan.”
“Even Godly Magic Immunity can be nullified you know? Jackson. The Kingdom of Breznick has a piece of the Godhand that can defeat Gods. It is known to be a piece of the weapon the True God used to strike down the Lesser Gods of Tur.”
“As if Breznick will ever piece that thing together. Is it even a rumor that underneath Iron Mountain is the corpse of the Demon God? That’s why there’s so much metal on its soil?”
“Well, right now the best bet we can do is just continue the struggle. We cannot really do anything else. If we flank from outside the city, it will be too far for us to reach with how little men we have that have enough energy for that movement.”
“I know… and the Airbase isn’t in a particularly good spot either. The trenches we built can be flanked now that we left Central.”
A soldier then walks up to them. “Sir! We have reports that the enemy has taken to the Canal and has started using their Giant Knights to push forwards towards the trench lines.”
“What’s the update on the Hyper Demons?”
“They are still struggling to get anywhere as the entire Naval Armada has kept them busy. But the Officers on the frontline right now fear that they might go after the navy ships when they spend there entire munitions on them.”
“Yamaoka, Right now we have to find a way to circumvent their advance to the Airbase. It's five kilometers from the city. But it's not good that they are now making contact with the first trenches. The forward sector has been completely abandoned.”
“S-Sir. We also have news that the Vampires and the Militia that got left behind the city have taken up an entire section to defend the main bridge towards the Airbase. We now have two companies to spare!”
“Well shit! Be sure to give them priority air power! Make sure they defend that place to the last millimeter! No retreat! I want those free companies to move down to Uptown. Since half of it is located on the other side of the river. I need those positions reinforced.”
“Yes sir!”
“Do that will you, Captain. Have it be freed up IFVs and MBTs to go with them to Uptown. I need the infantry to be in the trenches fully.”
“Sir yes sir!”
“And give me an update with the three armies! Where the fuck are they?!”
The ground then rumbles once again, messing up the table and making some maps fall from their place.
“And send someone to check what’s creating those tremors!”
Outside of the train station multiple kilometers from the Airbase. The citizens of Zavalda looked in shock at the sea of armored vehicles taking up a few hectares of land. What was once a plain with small leaves were now covered with what is the largest pooling of vehicles they ever witnessed in their lives.
Deep inside it, surrounded by Main Battle Tanks were the three Generals with their Colonels and Officers, all around a foldable Camp Table. Their faces were full of serious expressions, all of them silent as the long range radio was speaking.
“Currently, there’s three large Demons, as tall as the Bedlam Pharmaceuticals Skyscraper. So far, Admiral Footman has been busy keeping them at bay with his Naval Armada off the coast. But in his latest update, he says he only has an hour or two left on his arsenal.”
“Comrade, is this full spent?”
“Yes sir, General Sevastopol. Its a complete empty of there cruise missile stocks.”
“Ayy blyat.”
With a big burly white beard and a large Warhammer on his back, the man in a fur coat and ushanka continued to comb his moustache.
“What about that cancerous flesh you mentioned earlier, what’s the situation with that?”
“We… Don't know sir. Last we check, it was underground. So far on the areas we abandoned, its mostly just been overtaken by bloody veins erupting from the ground.”
“Alright, but are these veins alive like in the Demon Dungeons in Tur? Can they grab you?”
“No sir. There also weak to fire, we have no recorded situation of them attacking any vehicles.”
“Good good, I am planning a Thunder Run with an Armored Spearhead like Vlad here.”
“Thank you General Wilkins. We might be able to finally rest.”
“Can’t say for sure, but we’ll damn try our best.”
The player with his gold tinted aviators grabs his CVC-H crewman helmet. Locking the strap as he turned around to talk to his officers.
“Wait, wait. This is General Muhammad Aziz Hossam. Can you assure the safety of the entrances? Since most of the city has been abandoned, what assurance do we have that this is safe? Has General Jackson changed his orders?”
“No sir. All orders remained the same. Go through the three main bridges into the city and interject against the Legions. Retake positions and hold it.”
“Inshallah… okay, okay. I talk to my men.”
Back within city limits, Hendrix’s eyes widened at the sight before him. As the Humvee crests over the Hill that could overlook the entire metropolis. The only thing lingering in the main city itself was helicopters and jets that were harassing the Demon Army constantly as shells landed on every intersection and open area. Their Humvee was then almost wrecked by a Challenger 2 that came out of the forest next to them like a bat out of hell. Its skeleton crew all out of their hatches as they approached the main bridge to the city.
What more was the three gigantic Demons, getting constantly harassed by Cruise Missiles and rockets from Naval Fighter Jets. It prevented them from moving around too much, saving much of the city and the blocks from getting completely flattened. But he could see the volume was slowly becoming lesser and lesser.
They then stayed behind the Main Battle Tank as it reached the edge of the road. “Stop here.” The man then hops out and opens the rear passenger doors and then to the trunk where he took two M136 Disposable Launchers. Slinging it to his back as he closes all of the doors of the vehicle. “Thank you for the ride.” The player soldier now left alone rolled down his window and took a peek at the bridge and its mostly a ragtag band of players constantly bringing fire to the other side. Fighting tooth and nail to stop the Orcs and Undead Legions from approaching further. With the Demon Knights sitting neatly in the back, letting their vanguard take the brunt of the attack. He also notices a bunch of Vampire players were also present and they all looked at the Priest approaching them.
“I’m not getting paid enough for this!” He spun the Humvee to the left, going off road as he drove behind the trench lines. Leaving the man to himself.
“And why are you people here?”
“We’re defending our home!”
The female Vampire player in her leather rogue outfit snarls at him afterward. “Are you here to hunt us down?”
“No. I am here to help. I made peace with a God and that God has given me a job to do.”
He then reaches for his holsters and clocks both of his revolvers. “Now, who is in command of this?” The Vampire woman just points at a Militia man in full combat gear. Talking to a Government officer who was resting next to a M2A2 Bradley. Busily chatting on the radio while trying to give some of his attention to the rowdy person. “Haaaah…” the Priest then walks over to them and he grabs the fully kitted soldier by the vest and drags him out of the Officer’s hair. He was then given a quick nod of approval and the NCO returned to talking to the radio as he turned around to face the Militia Leader now on the ground.
The hulking build of the Priest seemed like a shadowy demonic creature, a beast in human clothing and wore a man's face descended upon the void and down to his front. The red atmosphere and color didn’t help to support the look of the Holy man as red lightning hit nearby, illuminating the slings of ammo on his chest and the grenades on his belt. The two long tubes behind him being rocket launchers.
“What’s your plan?”
“I was about to suggest to the First Lieutenant here to concentrate some air force into the Central Bank. But he was being a shitface about doing it.”
He then reaches his hand out and the Militia Leader gladly takes it. Helping him stand up.
“Their Government Forces. Do you really think they’d destroy buildings they built?... Let me rephrase that. Do you really think they’d destroy their own money?”
“Good point.”
Hendrix then looks around. The concrete barriers, sandbags and barbed wires and tank traps on the four lane bridge and the mixture of Militiamen wearing whatever kit they could get their hands on and Vampiric Guerilla members in Medieval and Modern clothing.
“Hm. I like this more.”
“What?”
“I was in the sewers for most of the time. These soldier boys are far too rigid for my taste.”
“You were there? I had some troops down the sewers too. It was absolute hell. Then this Blonde lady came in and told me to go there instead.”
“What she ordered you to do was right. If you were on the other side, you would’ve flattened completely. It's about to get worse from here on out. We need to wait for at least tomorrow, and help might finally come.”
“Don’t worry! My contacts from outside told me the reinforcements will arrive today!”
“Oh no. I mean the real reinforcements.”
“Huh?”
On the other side of the bridge. The Giant Knights divide and a horrifically deformed creature on four legs, with the face of an Earthworm emerges. Its body is chained by the Demon Knights who's trying to control its direction. The Challenger 2 on the bridge immediately opened fire and the creature growled and jumped to dodge the 120mm shell. Underneath the bridge was a sea of dead bodies, all of them being Zombies and piles of Skeletons.
In some places, the piles were so high it made it seem that the Canal had a new form of liquid running through it, a liquid of dead corpses.
“Let’s talk more later. We have a problem.”
The Demon Knights with their swords, then slashed the chains and let the creature go as it ran towards the other side of the bridge. Even though it was the size of a van, the four legged creature was dodging the ATGMs and shells being thrown at it and the players unable to face it head on as the skeletons mindlessly unleashed lead onto it.
Hendrix then sprints like a robot to the bridge. Pushing through the Vampires and the Militia players and to the middle of the deck. The NCO quickly sees this and orders the armor to hold fire. The player then jumps to a sandbag and with his revolvers in hand, fires a volley of shots into it. The deformed creature merely shrugged it off, making the shadowy Priest pull out his grenades. Throwing it at its feet as he ran around it and made it face the other way. “I’ll send you to your God, for free.” The grenades exploded and emerging from the smoke cloud was the creature. Far more angrier than before.
Hendrix then fires another volley of shots at it. With his Mossberg 500 loaded with slugs, he only made it more aroused to fight him. The Demon Knights on the other side then started to use the hilts of their swords to bash their shields. Making it seem an orchestra of war drums was singing to the two’s fight. “The Angel on my shoulder has long stopped talking to me, you know. I keep doing this hoping I can hear her sing her songs of hope once again.” the Beast didn’t respond. Only growling slowly, watching the Priests’ every step. “In the end, there is no singing. Only pain and the sound of my guns.” he then pointed his Single Action Army Revolver at the creature. It then lunged at him.
With a swift dodge, he takes the opportunity to land some shots to its belly. Even at point blank, his bullets didn’t even scratch its rubbery like skin that looks to be of dried flesh, void of a proper cover from the elements. Just as he was about to try another time, a rocket flew into the beast and behind him, the Militia Leader with his RPG-29 smiles and makes a thumbs up and the Vampire players rush from behind the Challenger 2 and to the creature. With back up, the Priest has now leveled the playing field and the constant annoyance of the Militia members with their guns has made it impossible for the deformed abomination to take its attention to him only.
A faint smile appears on his face and the man then reaches for his belt. As if to pull out an invisible sword. A bright light could be seen and the creature turned around to look at it, ignoring the damage it was taking as the Priest before it unleashed before its senses a clear white sword made out of pure porcelain. Its fuller seemingly adorned with the stained glass of a Church window and its hilt, that of a holy cross.
In the Industrial Sector of the city. The bridges that lead to the main city have all been lifted up and the entire river line covered with sandbags and checkpoints. With constant firing occuring on the side of the players. Jackson is walking through the sidewalk, checking the defenses and seeing if everyone was properly supplied and armed. With the skeleton soldiers doing most of the heavy work on the frontlines whilst the players were defending the flanks towards the Airbase. Even with the sheer amount of firepower coming down to Uptown and Central. The Demon Army was careful with their advance. Usually hiding in between and inside the ruins.
Some of the players amongst the squads were crewmen, wearing their tanker gear still. There, he then notices some corpses of the tanks left alone. As Silver Spears cut through the air, hitting more of their defenses. He turns to the otherside of the river and could see Demon Knights hiding behind prepositioned sandbags, with only the tip of their shiny large bows glistening as they fire another barrage of the Spear Bolts. Destroying more of their positions.
The River itself has turned into a grave, with the once blue water now coloured gray and dark red, the two Vampires having to constantly run along the line to keep away zombies that survived the fall into the water and were rising up to the otherside.
General Paul Jackson then heads over to the roof of a five storey building right next to it. There, he looks up to an antenna and down to its base where a Radioman is busy talking on it. As helicopters are directed to where they should strike. The air was starting to get more and more hostile as Demon Priests far in the back harassed any planes that’d try to get too close, filling the roads and even embedding the carcasses of aircrafts onto the sides of buildings.
“Corporal.”
“Sir!”
“What’s the status of our reinforcements?”
“They said they were en route, sir. They're just pooling stuff outside the train station. They should be here at any moment!”
“I heard that forty minutes ago and I haven't seen a hundred tanks rolling over those hills yet.”
“Sorry sir, that’s all I can report.”
“Dang it. And the tremors?”
“Uhhhhh…”
On Uptown, a bunch of players are crowding up on a radio trailer.
“Take this, and this. Alpha and Bravo will be your callsigns while you're in this mission.”
The Officer hands the two squad leaders a pair of demolition blocks.
“Your objective will be to go back into the sewers. Check whatever’s causing the Earthquakes.”
“Eh? But sir, there’s a sea of bodies on the canals.”
“Orders are orders. Just see what you can find, if there’s nothing. Then report back to me.”
Scratching their helmets, the two squad leaders returned to their men. Walking to the main road, the well paved and ironed asphalt of Uptown seemed so nice to one's eyes, even the road markings were still there, properly marking the once lively path.
Reaching the bridge that leads to Central, the place was a mess. With the entire company of armor and infantry fighting vehicles constantly firing with all their weapons. Mortars hiding behind the thick concrete walls of the mansions have fired so much that the soil under them had deepened and hundreds of spent crates piled the sides of the beautiful and luxurious buildings.
“CONTACTS!”
The Alpha Squad Leader hears it and his men turn to face the canal. The concrete of it was painted red with the rotten blood of the zombies as another horde came knocking through the crevices of the buildings. Mortar fire started to rain, cutting down there shielders first as Undead Dragons supported by Tower Gargoyles came in from the main roads, they almost got through but the autocannons of the Infantry Fighting Vehicles stopped them from getting closer, the Dragon having to retreat as its thick bones started to falter.
“This is our chance! Bravo, on me!”
Sixteen soldiers then sank their legs onto the sea of dead bodies. They had to go through literal hills of corpses to reach one of the drainage canals on the other side. Opening their flashlights, Alpha’s Squad Leader held his breath.
“What the fuuuuck?!”
“What is it?”
Alpha 1-3 came in with his SAW and he vomited upon seeing what was inside. Bravo’s squad leader then walked in to look and he had a reaction to it.
“Eugh… do we really have to walk into that?”
“Errrrr… orders are orders.”
“The things we do for orders. Alright! Huddle up!”
The two leaders then made a quick briefing, reminding their men to keep close to one another and to always keep their flashlights turned on.
Walking in, the sound of their combat boots touching concrete immediately disappeared and was replaced by squishes as the whisper of moving flesh surrounded their ears. One of the soldiers way behind the pack started to slow down, his eyes wandering all around. He dropped his M16A4 into the floor and he went on all fours.
“Woah! Woah! Cavanaugh! What’s the problem?!”
“I can hear it… its my mom! My mom is calling for me!”
“What? Can you stop being insane for a second!”
“SHHH!”
The two then look at Alpha’s Squad Leader. The ground started to rumble and one by one, the soldiers started to run out of the pipe and back into the river. Leaving only Alpha’s Squad Leader to witness a tentacle made out of pure gore cutting through the soil. The ground rumbled more and more that it threw him in the ground.
Before long, the two squads returned to their Uptown Headquarters to report their findings.
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Hearing a scream from one of the soldiers, Jackson looked at the other side of the river and saw the Giant Knights had started to appear. They then formed a line formation. Putting their shields up to take the brunt of their weakened firepower. They then started marching forward. The radio operator next to him stands up at the sight. “Huh? It’s high tide. They’ll drown.”
The armored giants then stopped before the water and lifted their shields. Their front plate suffers immense damage from the mixture of calibers being concentrated on them. But this only exposed the new positions of the players, prompting them to receive explosive Spears from the otherside. One by one, the Giant Knights started to fall forwards and the tips of their shields landed on the other side of the river. “Those smart sons of bitches.” The Undead Priests then lifted their hands and staffs and started melting their greaves and shields to the concrete river walls.
“Have the Mages nullify their shields! Bomb, Shell, Fuck all them. Now!” artillery then started landing around the river as the Demon Knight Army pushed through. Some of the 155 and 152mm shells would land on the Giants, destroying their bridge head but another Giant Knight would merely take their place and with Bahamut and Mars both busy, it was left to Elizabeth and Alana to do something about it.
Holding a Blood Rose, Elizabeth rushes forward to the river and with her sword, starts slashing the tips of the shields that have landed on their side. This made the Giant Knight bridgehead fall into the watery depths below and with the cover of the soldiers and heavy guns. She was able to remove four in one quick succession. Alana on the other hand was busy spreading her Roses even more, buffing the friendly users to make their shots land better and their reflexes more sharper and faster.
But the slow march of the Orcs and Undead Legions were now able to reach the otherside without having to drown themselves onto the river.
“Sir!”
“Yeah?”
“We got news. The Quakes are being produced by a giant tentacle under the city!”
“Huh?! Ah fuck, we’ll deal with that later. As long as its underground, we’ll leave it be. For now, I want whatever thing we have left that can shoot anything that goes boom right here, right now! I don’t care if it's on a set of tracks or on a wheelbarrow with a cannon, I need it here!”
“Yes sir!”
General Jackson then runs back down to the streets and hops over to an alleyway after clearing some obstacles made by the players which were some pallets and crates they placed to prevent the Demon Army from accessing the sewers on the other side.
He stopped next to an M1A2 Abrams with its hatches opened and looked at its turret. Its main gun was always focused on the other side of the river, the skeleton crew ignoring the fact that right below in front of them are makeshift bridgeheads. “Skeletons! Can you shoot those Knight bridges?!” The skeleton gunner inside then quickly trains its gun downward but it wasn’t able to depress low enough to hit the corpses of the Giant Knights. It also cannot traverse its turret to the left or right as the alleyway that’s kept it protected limits its view.
Second by second, the Demon Knight Army was getting closer to the staircases that lead to the river itself as the Vanguard force of the Undead and Orc Legion was pushing through to the otherside. Windows from the high rise skyscrapers on the opposite side opened and roped javelins were thrown into the lower roofs of the Industrial Sector. “What?! Fuck no!” Jackson gets to his radio and immediately orders everything to open fire on the buildings.
With hardened concrete and good foundations, the buildings didn’t shatter and some of the windows were too high for the guns down below. Leaving only the skeletons and players with their small arms to point upwards and to shoot at the wires as Winged Demon Knights with gliding membranes then drop from the tallest points near to them while Orcs in Plate Armor started to use the ropes to the other side.
In the skies, Bahamut and Mars are battling thousands of Gargoyles and Troglodytes. All of them unable to pierce their wings as more and more lightning hits their horns. Blood Roses have spread throughout the sector and Elizabeth is busy jumping from one side of the river to another and now, with her bat wings open. She’d fly upwards to cut the wires and intercept the Gliding Knights as they approached the other side of the river.
Jackson with his sword and gun started fighting on the roofs alongside his men. Yamaoka with his holy sword was rolling around the tight alleyways. Slashing and dashing his way through the area there. Making sure none of the Demon Knights could take advantage of their holes in the defenses and even escape into the sewers alongside a bunch of skeleton soldiers.
“...FIRE FOR EFFECT!”
“Copy Shielder. Rounds Away, ETA One Mike. Keep Tight.”
“... AT DIRECT DELTA FOUR!”
“Roger. Three AGMs inbound!”
Blood littered the roofs as General Jackson slashed and shot his way through the landing Demons. The blood of the Underworlders oozes steaming hot as it comes in contact with the cold climate of the current season. Explosions then started coming down on them as gliding Demons from high above them were throwing Javelins tipped with explosives and a Silver Spear with a violet sapphire on its tip caught his eye as it struck the top of an Abrams. It didn’t explode upon contact, but instead, after a few seconds, it went boom. Making its turret hit sky high.
The sound barrier was seemingly broken as each time one would pass high above the players, they’d hear the cracking of the air alongside an ear blistering pwish. The upper armor of their main battle tanks were not able to sustain such damage from the metallic Javelins and would open like tin cans.
Surrounded inside the alleyway as his troops got too busy performing crowd control. Yamaoka opens his palm and generates crystal clear water from his hands and then throws it up above him and he points his Holy Sword's tip at it and shouts “DIVINE BEAM!” a blue laser with a golden outline is emitted from the weapons tip and hits the crystal clear water that’s shaped into an umbrella. The laser is then divided into ten parts and kills the Demons around him.
“Watch out with that magic! Don’t wanna set anything alight!’
“Yea? Jackson, just watch your back! The rooftops aren’t being cleared properly!”
“I’m onto it!”
“Heh, someone’s having fun among the chaos.”
“What can I say? Rooftop fighting is something I’ve never done. Its not like I’m a Ninja or a Ronin! Oops, here they come!”
General Paul then skids into a group of Demon Knights with their shields up. Kicking them down to the alley as he immediately stood up and swiped his Vampiric Rapier at them and then started poking the ones afar with the tip of it. “ABSOLUTION!” His sword then glows a color bronze and each slash he’d make would melt the armor of his enemies before even making contact with it. The small melted slit allowed his sword to cut straight into the flesh, making it easy for Jackson to continue a barrage of swipes and pokes. Being trained by the Vampires, the stabs he’d perform with the Rapier would target the heart. But to his shock, most of the Demon Knights weren’t going down from it. Making him have to stab them with the sword multiple times.
Whenever an enemy would get close, he’d merely pull out his revolver and shoot them. Even though the bullet wasn’t enough to fully disable a Knight. It was good enough to make them get distracted and annoyed. Giving him an opportune moment to strike. Alana then appears from the streets below and immediately starts throwing hands with the Knights. With swift moves, she immediately reaches her Lord and starts using her Longsword against the enemies coming at them. Her silvery weapon shone just as bright as there armor and with back up, General Jackson gets more bolder with his attacks knowing someone is covering for him and they clear two blocks worth of rooftops but the lower leveled players which was the majority were slowly being overwhelmed.
Tipped Lightning Javelins were also still occasionally raining down from above, causing heavy damage to the tanks around. The T-80Us and M1 Abrams all received extreme damage and their skeleton crews were forced to exit out of their tanks and started helping around the place on foot armed with what rifle they’ve been issued. The IFV and APCs on the other hand were being opened like tin cans by the Silver Spears. Only those next to friendly Mages being saved as helicopters and jets are unable to drop their arsenal due to the high frequency of friendlies and anything that’d get close would get shot down like the many burnt out fuselages that now cover the Industrial Sector.
The other side of the river was completely ablaze due to the arrival of the Tomahawk cruise missiles that missed the humongous Demons. As one of them in Central had ripped the top floor of a skyscraper, using it as a shield. Making it able to walk a bit before fighter jets came by and dropped precision guided bombs on its fingers, prompting it to drop the section of the building.
The line was buckling hard from the extreme and violent assault. Like a mad rabid predator attacking again and again on a prey that’s taller and bigger than it. The Government Forces continued their relentless defense, defying everyone’s expectations as slowly. Skeleton Dragons with Gargoyles and Troglodytes with more armored Winged Fingers have started to arrive. Their defenses were now mostly neutered, being a mess of friendly and enemy forces fighting inside the tight alleys and roofs.
On the main bridge that leads to the Commercial District around Central. Elizabeth pants heavily as the river flowed the oozing blood of the Demons. Their shiny and intimidating armor floating on the water like dead fish alongside the thousands of Undead corpses. She looks up and could see more marching towards her as explosions and high caliber bullets tear through the backlines. Looking down on her own arm, her scratches weren’t instantly healing anymore and her Greatsword was tainted fully with blood and steaming hot from the tortuous work it was put through. Closing her eyes, the woman breathes in heavily.
Looking forward once again, the mysterious Demon Knight in Black armor was standing on the other side of the makeshift Giant Knight corpse bridge. Disembarked from its horse that was standing right behind it. Its glowing red eyes staring at her alongside the gaze of its owner. “Hah, so thou finally thought of showing thine’st self upon the Queen. Know thou’st place cretin of Hell.” the Knight’s head then looks up a bit. Its gaze now to someone else. Swiping her long sparkly golden blonde hair as she looked behind her, General Jackson looked down on her from the rooftop of a thrift shop.
“Let’s retreat now Elizabeth. Don’t do it.”
“My Lord…”
“Come. Let us fight another day. Drink as much blood as you can and rest. We lost the river defense.”
She was so busy murdering and genociding everything that she came into contact with that the woman didn’t even realize that the entire line had already retreated and only artillery and aircraft were lingering around the area. Elizabeth looked forward once again and the strange Knight was gone and the Demon Knight Army had stopped moving and was instead recouping their forces. She merely nods, opening her bat wings to fly away.
“Hello? Hello?” The raspy radio call was not being picked up by anyone. As the radio position it was being heard on was long overrun. “This is Lieutenant General Henry Wilkins Callsign Yankee-Four, Commander of the Third Mechanized Corps of the Western Army Grouping. We’re ETA Five Clicks from the main city. We can see the red skies from here. What’s the sitrep down there, over? We have over eighty thousand soldiers with us, ten thousand of those are players. We’re heading in with the two other Armies in three axis of attacks. Can anyone copy? Holy… are those Super Demons unable to touch us?! Our path goes straight into the feet of the one in Central! Does anyone copy?!”
Behind the radio, explosions and gunfire are erupting from all directions as soldiers perform a fighting retreat. Leaving their original positions as ear blistering sounds come from above and like hypersonic rockets. Explosions would come before you’d hear the Javelins and Spears that were being thrown at them. The handheld radio was on the hand of a dead player, impaled by a Silver Spear, his body wasn’t turning into Divine Dust like usual. Instead, his lifeless corpse was left behind on top of some rubble as blood came out from his mouth.
“I repeat, this is Lieutenant General Henry Wilkins Callsign Yankee-Four, Commander of the Third Mechanized Corps of the Western Army Grouping. We’re ETA Five Clicks from the main city. Does anyone still copy us? We need an update on the bridges and are those super tall Demons truly unable to fight back? We are driving as fast as we could and if those bridges are destroyed. We’re gonna have a pile up that’ll put winter California highways to shame!”
Suddenly, someone picks up from the other side.
“This is General Paul Jackson of the Combined Army. It’s a shitshow but from reports ten minutes ago. All bridges are intact. The Demon Knight Army also needs those to ferry their troops to the main continent. The Hyper Demons as we call them are unable to attack, best do your thing now before the Cruise Missiles run out!”
“Good copy, Jackson. Nice to hear your voice. I get it, the situation has deteriorated far below survival levels?”
“You better believe it. We’re currently on the rail line between the main factories and the military ones. We’ve retreated far beyond. The only thing behind us now are the abandoned warehouses.”
“Roger, does this mean ninety-five percent of the city is under enemy control?”
“Confirm. But they’ll probably collapse and have to divide upon the arrival of you guys. They are concentrating their efforts on two things. The Airbase and the Military Factories. We, the Command Staff, are basically the cherry on top of the cake. The Hyper Demons won’t be able to do much as Footman has been keeping them busy with his Cruise Missiles.”
“Copy on all. Sit tight Jackson. The three armies have arrived. We’re on a thunder run to you.”
“Expect heavy losses, make sure your Vanguard is well prepared to meet extremely stiff resistance. Watch out for Silver Spears and Metallic Javelins, those thing can make modern armor look like tin cans!”
“Good copy. Wilkins out.”
Inside a factory. The General smiles as he lifts the visor of his helmet. Revealing his dirty face from all the debris and ash that has hit him so far.
“Good news! They're Five Kilometers away!”
The Colonels alongside the other COs celebrate. Raising their fists with their heads low. Breathing long sighs of relief.
“Yamaoka. What’s the sitrep with Mars?”
“None, but whatever they're doing, they're attracting a large number of the enemies’ air force.”
“Good. Seems that two Dragon Gods can work together. Whatever they're cooking up, it should be fun.”
On the rail line, Engineers are putting C4 explosives on 30000 Gallon tank cars. Hastily wiring them all as tank fire can be heard not ten meters from them. The players kept their heads down as their skeleton goons didn’t flinch even upon the messy and chaotic situation they were in.
Half the Industrial Sector was full of zombies and skeleton grunts and the only thing separating the Government Forces from the ones of Hell was the railway that cuts across the Factories and into the mountains far in the horizon.
Inside the factory, General Jackson teleports his armor away. Back to his Multicam ACUs that've been dirtied all over. He drags his gun to the makeshift barracks inside a warehouse. The man didn’t even care that he was still wearing his vest with knee and arm pads as he plops down into one of the neatly lined and formed sea of deployable beds. He slowly lowered his gun on the floor next to it and started snoring loudly. Soldiers would pass by the tired General. Going to their own beds to take a nap. Appearing from the main door, Elizabeth, who was just freshly cleaned, sees her Lord instantly. Sleeping with his gear on and snoring like a steaming teapot.
Approaching the tired man, the lone Vampire seemed to shine in the dark warehouse there inside of. The soldiers left to bask upon her golden sparkle as they tiredly stood up to return to their post and those about to sleep left with a smile on their face just from her beautiful presence. Their noses overwhelmed with a sweet and spicy scent, removing any hint of the burnt, damped, and ghastly aroma that has spread throughout the city and from the battles they’ve been in.
Without a care, she joins him in the small deployable. Not giving a care to the dirty uniform and boots of the man that’d taint her extravagant purple gown. “Hmmm… is this you Elizabeth?” hearing her Lords voice, the woman smiles.
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Sleepy too?”
“A bit.”
“Hm. Take a rest.”
Outside, Yamaoka is busy on the frontlines. The man inside a barbershop with the rest of the still active Colonels and NCOs. Walking around, the General of the Shine Guards was restless as to the fact that only trash was being thrown at them. One of the soldiers with a radio then stands up. “Sir.” turning around, the man takes it and listens in.
“General Yamaoka, sir. We’re detecting a parade of sorts occurring inside the city. Our Drone is currently flying around Central and we’re seeing the Demon Knight Army is consolidating in Parade formation.”
“Nani? And why fly a drone?!”
Massive red lightning strikes the Central District. There, the mysterious Black Knight bows down before the center checkpoint as one huge red lightning strikes it. Blowing away the sandbags and fortifications. Behind it, the Demon Knight Army in full formation raised their swords to the skies as choppers and jets continually dropped bombs on them just to explode upon contact with the forcefield being emitted from strange small towers with crystal balls. Appearing from the explosion that blew away even the 60 ton tanks abandoned by the Government forces was a lone Knight with a large cape and armored horse.
The Mysterious Knight then rose from his bow and lifted his sword up.
“My Lord. We are pleased to see you in the realm of the mortals.”
A Knight then approaches the shadowy figure still engulfed by smoke. It was given to the corpse of a player. Reaching out its hand, the lifeless body convulses and then it suddenly stopped. It then tugs the reins of its horse. Revealing itself to be a humanoid figure with large horns on its helmet and a demonic wing ornament inside its cape and medals bolted on its chestplate.
“Guns… tanks… jets… bombs… skyscrapers…”
“My Lord. Shall we begin?”
The Lord spoke with a deep monstrous but yet humanly voice. The slits on its ornamental horned helmet seemingly staring down to the Black Knights very core and through it.
“I heard rumors in Pandemonium of a Dragon God that smelled of the dead Cosmic Goddess Mors Letum… I came to see.”
“Yes My Lord. Shall I?”
“Hm. Begin the inspection.”
Their ears then get clouded by the sounds of rotors. Up above then, a large combination of Apaches, Havocs, Blackhawks and Hinds were in formation. The writing of it etched out the word “FUCK YOU” in all bold.
“Humorous… is this the much vaunted army of the Outworlders?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Behind them, more red lightning occurs and the Calvary of Hell appears. Large warhorses with Knights armed with Polearms and Longswords and shields. He looked up and could see the crows circling right above them as shells and bombs had stopped dropping but the attack helicopters were watching kilometers away which he could see clearly as if his eyes could fly right in front of the choppers. “Copy Highlander. We have good visual on them right now. What magic is that? In all my years playing Dark World and seeing the High Levels duke it out in YouTube videos. I’ve never seen such magic in my life.” clearly hearing the words of the pilots, the Demon Knight Lord then points his finger at the choppers.
“I’ve bought a miniscule amount of my forces as a reward. You’ve shown good work so far. I shall meet the Goddess now.”
“Thank you, My Lord. You can find her over the Park. Her and another Dragon God, both floating and covering their bodies with their impregnable wings.”
The ground shakes once again and tentacles the size of buildings rose from intersections inside Central and Downtown. The large bloody arrow tipped tendrils reach onto the portals. It then stops and panics, as if it was being sucked dry to the point the color of its elongated body turns gray, it doesn’t stop as it's visibly a corpse, something kept drinking from it to the point its paper thin. “Achdulga arrives. This is your reward, continue to learn from the Outworlders.”
Massive shaking happens, the Central Portal enlarges and what appears from it. One of rainbowish translucent skin. Its size is the whole of the portal and its length seemingly endless was a worm, a worm that is seemingly empty on the inside, with skin as pearl clear as the cleanest waters one could find.
The three mammoth sized Demons scream and roar in a mighty fashion as they push forwards. Admiral Footman who was inside a Nimitz Supercarrier, thirty nautical miles far from the sights of the city could see from his own magic, that of a Frigatebird that's hovering far above the clouds that the Hyper Demons have gotten a strange sense of power. Their spectral swords started to gleam even more, enough to blind people even far away.
“Admiral sir! Cruise Missiles have run out!”
“Goddamn… it's as if they planned this all along… Jackson… Yamaoka… only God can help you two now.”
Within the next few minutes, the last Cruise Missiles arrive, and the Hyper Demons stretch their arms, now able to walk fully as the Cosmic Worm starts to eat up the bodies on the concrete river. All of the weapons from the players on the trenchline were unable to do anything against such a beast. Not even the culmination explosion of every known shell caliber they had on hand was able to even move in an inch as it sucks up all the bodies.
Mars in her full mountain size form swoops in. The downwash of her gigantic wings is enough to shake entire skyscrapers down to the building's very foundation. The giant red dragon with her armored scales and large forward facing horns on her head violently bit into the cosmic being that has appeared before them. Her massive fangs cause it to bleed a strange oilish liquid that gleams rainbow colors. Landing on the Demon Knights, when one stared into it. It couldn’t take its eyes off its reflection. As if it's reflecting onto it the visions of the vast cosmos.
Massive quakes then follow as the Cosmic Worm eats an entire skyscraper. The Bedlam Pharma logo fell down on the parade below as it swallowed its hole and made its way up its body. Making Mars’ grip on its body loosen as its skin glows brighter than the Sun and thousands of lasers are emitted from its body facing all imaginable directions and cutting through even the soil and concrete roads.
Even the soldiers kilometers away on the trench lines were hit as the laser sliced everything. Quick with her wit, Mars latches her talons into the slippery skin of the Cosmic Worm and wraps her wings around it. The gleaming armor of its skin would then reflect it back onto the Worm. Making it squirm violently and more of its strange blood dripping into the land. Buildings then violently fell and the entire Commercial District’s highrise sector was wiped out with one move. The Hyper Demons then ran towards her, the one closest being the Central Hyper Demon grabbed Mars by the startpoints of her wings.
It then grabs it and pulls away. Making her groan in extreme pain as the Hyper Demon lets go of one wing and grabs its Spectral Sword, continually stabbing the armored spine of Mars nonstop as the other two from Downtown and Uptown bulldoze through everything, leaving a path of nothing but absolute destruction. No one or anything able to stop them.
Smoke then filled the red city, the veins, the corpses, the atmosphere was clouded with the smoke of fallen concrete and debris. It engulfed the entire city as Mars continued her struggle against the Cosmic Worm and a Hyper Demon. Fighting back against it with all its might. The God up against a Being from far beyond.
Looking at it from the hills, Bahamut in her humanoid form was standing on a clear field as the city looked in absolute ruins. The ground continually shook as the Hyper Demon from Downtown and Uptown ran towards the Cosmic Worm, Mars struggling with all her might as her size dwarfed entire sections of the city. A horse could be heard clattering behind her and someone disembarking from it.
“Goddess Bahamut. I am General Olo’leyak of the Underworlds Legion. I’ve come to offer you a billion souls for your side to change to the Gods of the Cosmos.”
“I believe you know I am not of this world, correct?”
Bahamut didn’t even look back to face the Demon General behind her. She only trained her attention at the city that was fully engulfed by violence and chaos. The streets she onced walked on, now untenable, completely ruined and burnt as the giant steps of the Hyper Demons touched all the sectors of the city.
“We know. But we also know that your presence will never leave this plane. A part of you is also a part of this as people here worship you. You have consumed Mors Letum, but that only means you now hold her power and control over the concepts she once ruled over.”
She looked down on herself and inspected her arms and fingers.
“Hm.”
“We need a Dragon God on our side. Augustus refused and Catherine didn’t even bother. The Dragons are the only worthy creatures to spread its populace far and wide in the cosmos. Please, humbly accept our miniscule offerings.”
“Do you…” her head turns to the side for her eyes to peek at the Demon Knight General. Its helmet removed, the person underneath was a strange bald man with jet black skin and glowing red veins on its body with four large horns of a Demon. “Know why I chose the side of the humans?”
“I believe it is due to the propensity of humans to defy the order of nature like the Dragons and the love you developed for one?”
“I believe you are correct. I also believe that nothing is worth exchanging my loyalty to my Master.”
“In my lowly opinion, I say that it's better for your services to be put on greater things than to help the weakest of all the race. The Human God, Mon’krol might be the most benevolent of all the Gods, but that’s also why he is the weakest and most taken advantage off. Whose only advantage is there disadvantage. We, the Po’olyek of the Underworld, don't have any of the weaknesses of Man, Orc, Elf, and Vampire. We’re stronger than all of them and our forces are endless.”
He then reaches for his pouch and shows Bahamut a clear glass ball. Her eyes widened at the sight as she could feel the insane power within it.
“Please Goddess. Join our side, the day of reckoning is upon Threa and soon, our forces shall spread throughout the lands and bring chaos and violence to places where it should be. The selfish Gods that created this world shall know what it means to dislodge the natural order of nature, the balance that inhibits all living and unliving creatures.”
“...”
Bahamut’s eyes then flinched.
“No.”
“May I ask why? Do you truly love the humans so much that you're willing to let go of power that’d take a hundred thousand years for you to attain?”
“I have something that’s worth more than that.”
“Hm? And that is?”
“My Master’s love. It may be stupid, but the Humans have taught me about that thing they call Love. I cannot forsake this beautiful thing, not even for a billion souls.”
“Pfft…” the General chuckled and then laughed. Shrugging his head at the comment. “Ahhhh… the humans are truly a force that needs to be looked more into. To think they would impress you this much with this meager thing they call Love. Goddess, Love is not limited to Humans, even we can feel Love. But our Love is not like Human Love, it's not primitive and wild, it's concrete and full of truth. The Love we have is pure strength, not whatever wild thing the Humans call theirs.”
“Maybe the old me would’ve thought of joining forces with you. Strength after all is what it means to be a Dragon. Violence and chaos is nature to us, what is destroyed can be rebuilt. But the valor and heroism of battle, never.” She then faces the city that’s now burning and destroyed. “But after traveling with a human, seeing the beauty of peace and the warmth of their love. I never saw things the same ever again. When I looked at this city, I did not feel the same when our magnificent flying Isles were brought down by the lizards.”
General Olo’leyak then stood up and walked just near enough to see the face of Bahamut. Her golden eyes were trained on the city. Not blinking nor flinching as a tear dropped from her eye. The moment it hit the soil, Golden flowers instantly grew.
“When… our great Isles was destroyed. All I thought was vengeance for the sake of growing and becoming stronger than ever before. I did not care for its beauty nor the history it held. To us Dragons, such things don’t matter. Be it a Queen size bed or a Cave. We do not care… but… being in the form of a human and enjoying what Master would call the Little Things. I cannot help but shed a tear to the pitiful sight before me.”
A single droplet of tear once again fell from her eye and touched the Golden flower once again, making it bloom into a larger form as a Divine aura was emitted from it.
“He has taught me many things, and I’ve learned so much from him. If willing, I will follow his soul to the depths of the Underworld. Though knowing him, I know he’d prefer if I were to spread my wings far and fly to the skies where I truly belong.” Bahamut then faces the Demon General with a smile underneath her veil. “Thus, I cannot accept your offer. It might be a regretful one, but I cannot exchange the precious memories I’ve made for something like power. Power will never replace the love and warmth I’ve felt. That is something only one person can give to me.”
General Olo then smiled back and shrugged. “Well, that means we’ve been defeated. Massive respect for you, Goddess. You truly are worthy of your power and status. I hope one day, we shall meet again but not within lesser terms.”
“I suppose after this, you’ll be returning to the Underworld and to report to your God?”
“Gods. I shall tell them of the advantage our enemies have.”
“I see… then at least watch the battle that shall unfold. Watch me come in my fullest form and etch it into your memories for your Gods to watch a Dragon of Tur in its glory.”
“You know Goddess, I may sound disrespectful and I humbly apologize. But don’t you think these memories will one day fade and you’ll forget them?”
“I believe in myself more than anyone. More than that blonde bloodsucker. I wouldn’t be as strong as I am now without it. That’s the first step in learning to be a Dragon. To believe in yourself, as if you do. You shall fly true and your fire, as bright as your soul.”
“I guess the Dragon's love for Humans equalizes its strength. I thank you for the time Goddess. I shall watch your battle against my Acquaintance’s forces. Your time has been valuable, I can now tout to my brethrens in the Cosmos about my time with such a Dragon God. I am now… what do the Humans call it? Ah yes, a fan.”
“Master always said that I can only use my power at the same level as my enemies, out of respect and to value how far they’ve come. Now that a Cosmic being has appeared. I finally have the excuse to show my real form.” She then brings out her two Primordial Weapons, Claymore Core and Longsword Darkarth. Performing a slash and carving out an X into the air in front of her, a large gaping portal was opened “Ah, before I go. I’d like to ask.”
“Yes Goddess?”
“Is your Gods still interested in what’s happening here?”
“I believe they won’t be after I tell them your answer.”
“Good. Let them mock me. All I need to do is to close the portals and kill those three.”
“Are you sure Goddess? Those portals are not normal ones.”
“I know, but with the two of us here. We can do it.”
“One piece of advice for I am deeply impressed by your answer and the honor in your soul. If you wish to close the portals in an easier method, I suggest throwing the Power Core that’s located within this city’s depths. Even better if you can… maybe summon someone chosen by the Known Gods and embed both you and their power into the portal. That should close it quickly.”
“Ah, you want me to throw the Mana Core? Into which one?”
“The bottom one, Goddess. After that, wait for the Heroes to arrive. With their help and the weakened state of the Portals, you should be able to close it.”
“Hmph. Carry on then. If what you say is true, be sure to pray to an Altar of me. I shall bless you with a gift of the Dragon God of the Void.”
She then kneels down and picks up the Golden flower that bloomed. Holding it near to her heart, she walks into the X shaped portal she created and just like that, the Demon General is also gone as tanks roll through the open hills.
“H-Holy shit… is that a Dragon God?!”
Lieutenant General Henry Wilkins couldn’t believe his eyes as he lowered his binoculars. Streaks of golden lightning constantly hit as a massive portal, one larger than the original one before it broke off into three smaller ones appears right above the clouds.
“Sir, what is that? Like its wrapping itself into something…”
“I have no idea… some kind of a Giant Ghost Earthworm? But instead look at the skies! Holy shit! I’m getting bumps! This is the same as the Bahamut Siege Boss Events!”
Near the Center Area, a huge burly player that’s the same size as the hatch of the T-80BVM he's riding on stands on top of it the tank. Wearing a black fur robe with an ushanka. He lifts his warhammer and taps the roof of the tank. Prompting it to stop. “Ayyy blyat. I did not expect it to be this bad. Three Chorts and… a Zmei…” The ground continued to rumble as the city was completely surrounded by the three armies. On the Downtown, a player wearing a brown General uniform still in parade clothes exits out a Superhind. With tanned brown skin, he holds his hand up. Stopping a few thousand soldiers from storming the city. “Ibrahim! Call Said and tell him that things are far worse than we were told! Bahamut has arrived!”
“INSHALLAH! MUHAMMAD! UP ABOVE!”
The red clouds that covered the skies were parted and the hundreds of thousands of skeleton soldiers in military gear that just arrived were in shock at the sight before them. Many of the players commanding them frozen in place as their memories replayed an old scene in Threa. The skies were blackened and the rift in space time was opened. Two massive claws then rips it further open to fit its massive body. Appearing from it was Bahamut, in all her glory. Many of the players simply fainted at the sight above them as the gigantic Black Dragon spread its wings out in full, its shadow casting over the entire region.
Like a mountain that has gained wings and armor, Bahamut dived down and quickly landed behind Mars. Using her True Magic, she teleported the Mana Core of the city out from its box and threw it into the Downtown Portal. Causing a massive explosion to occur while the Hyper Demon behind Mars turns around and is in awe of the other giant Dragon before it, its two compatriots try to attack the Black Dragon.
The slash of the two massive Spectral swords were more than enough to decapitate all of the skyscrapers on Central, sending them down as a massive cloud of dust was created. Inside it, Bahamut with their Primordial Sword stabs the Hyper Demon behind Mars, closing her eyes. She was able to see complete white, and a male human wearing gleaming plate armor with talismans attached to the front plate.
“Hm? A Hero?”
“Ah, finally, I am free.”
The man had a scruffy face, visibly tired and malnourished, he grabbed Bahamut’s hands and shook them.
“I’m a Knight for the Kingdom of Meilurious. Serving King Matadore Tannislova. Many call me Sir Caine.”
“Oh, I know of you. History has written many about you, a certain person from a Party has quite admired your skills.”
“Is that so? Ah, I am very happy my skills with the sword has been remembered fondly.”
“Begone now, and rest well.”
“Hm. Thank you Goddess. When I go to Paradise, I shall continue to sing praises of you.”
Removing her sword, the Hyper Demon falls before the concrete river. The players on the trench lines and the arriving armies could see the massive red skinned body fall down into the pile.
“YEAHHH! GO BAHAMUT! I’LL BUY A FIGURE OF YOU WHEN I RETURN TO EARTH!”
“General Wilkins! At our six!”
“Huh?”
Turning around, a gleaming white horse and another in a unicorn wearing golden armor hopped over them as a massive Red Dragon wearing plate armor and a crown headed straight to the city.
“H-HEY! THAT’S ELIZADEATH! SOMEONE CATCH HER!”
The soldier's riding on top of the tank all looked at each other confused as if they didn’t know what to do. The Sword Saint and the Prince of James were together with Dragon King Augustus as they crossed into the main city bridge. Passing Hendrix and the Militia and Vampire players that were tiredly defending the entrance to the city. The Priest could be seen bowing his head to the two as they passed them in full speed, right into the heart of the Demon Army.
“S-sir! What should we do?!”
“Dammit! Ignore them!”
Helicopters then buzzed them, the lead Blackhawk flying the flag of the Guild of Ervtes. Red Teutonic cross and a large rising sun behind it. A door opens, a player shows himself. In a full set of Knight armor with a tabard over it and metallic wings behind him. He unsheathes his sword.
“Mighty Sword of Solomon, Ars Goetia, descend upon this cursed land your power and negate the weapons of Hell!”
A small burst of light then enters the city and a massive explosion was emitted, it didn’t do any damage but a single shell fired now lands even deep within the Demon Knight Army’s lines. With perfect timing, the Sword Saint with the Prince of James flies deep within Central, both of them taking on one Hyper Demon each as Bahamut and Mars concentrate on the Cosmic worm.
They then started to slash onto the back of their heads, the Hyper Demons going wild as King Augustus protected the two Heroes from getting ganged on by the thousands of flying creatures.
Jackson and Yamaoka walk into a metal staircase on the side of a factory, with the smokestacks no longer producing vapor as the sound of the machines were silent. The trains no longer running and the mindless skeletons whose job was to produce weapons even with the Legion at their very doors stopped and like statues. Tired, bruised, and completely spent. They rise through the dusty and dark roads below, with no more lights nor energy being produced into the roof. With a direct sight at Central, they could only gulp at what was happening before them.
At awe on top of a factory, watching as a battle through the heavens was occurring right before them, the two Vampires stood next to their Lord, exchanging the Chalice as they drank blood endlessly. Even far, all of them could visibly see the shining aura of the two Heroes on top of the remaining Hyper Demons, constantly slashing through till they got through their skulls. Digging their Holy swords deep into their brains and with a burst of magic, something explodes right behind the eyes of the mammoth humanoids, making them drop dead.
Yamaoka looks down on his own Holy sword and then up to them.
“Eiyū huh…”
“Yeah… Nothing we can do now. We better just watch and rest, we’ve been fighting for almost an entire week now. We earned to sit back and watch for once.”
“Hm. But even then… just what is our purpose truly? Is High Command even aware of how much power they hold?”
“I’m sure they do. But it's not like they care. Our men, albeit being National Guardsmen, did their job better than General Ripper. They were professional till the end and even with their doubts, performed their tasks and look, we survived.”
“Hah… to think this all started because someone who was trusted with the Mana Nuke Bombers was crazy…”
“Was, crazy? Have you seen the people at the War Room? There’s a literal German Scientist larper who is the head of Weapons Research having a fit with his left hand being stuck in Berlin Nineteen Thirty.”
“Yes, crazy, but not as crazy as Ripper ordering a genocide of sōdaina proportions on a foreign world.”
“Why did the Devs even allow players to have Mana Cores that can be weaponized? Or did they truly not expect us to not weaponize them?”
“Whatever it is Jackson, it's done now. We can only hope that this won’t happen again. I don’t want to fight the Demon Legions for a second time.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure this won’t be the last and the next time we face them, it won’t be for lesser reasons.”
“The Resets huh?”
“Alana, what’s the year again?”
She brings down the Chalice which Elizabeth promptly takes.
“It’s Fourth-R Eleven-Fifty Three, M’Lord.”
“When the Reset comes again, what will be the date?”
“It’d be Fifth-R. Year Zero, M’Lord.”
“I pray it will the last for your planet. No one should go through this absolute Hell.”
“We all do, M’Lord. We all do.”
With the Hyper Demons dead, James and Elizadeath walk towards the two Dragon Gods, Augustus landing on top of the piles of corpses as the three armies pour into the city, though with their biggest and strongest weapons gone, the Demon Knight Army kept there defenses close, now using the weapons of the humans against them, firing rocket launchers and ATGMs at the oncoming army.
“Ah… Mars and Bahamut. I am King Augustus of the Dragons, you two are as beautiful as the-”
“Stop talking! You! Human woman!”
“Yes, Bahamut?”
“You are lucky I am busy with this problem. What I need you to do is go and hop onto my head. James, you go to Mars. We will join our powers together and we will seal the portals.”
“How are you sure this would work?”
“Miss Death, I am not one to question Bahamut.”
“James. I know you love her but if we reach Hell before our moment, we will assuredly die.”
“I am a Dragon Go-”
Before she could continue talking, the Cosmic Worm tried to wiggle its way out, making Bahamut and Mars grip loose as it retracts and once again fires off a massive laser from its mouth. This time aiming straight down, causing an explosion. Large tentacles started to erupt from the huge crater it made and Augustus who was flying around crashes on the concrete river, with his mighty Dragon sword, the immensely large blade swinging fast he stood on his hind legs, swiping the tentacles clean as the giant creature retracts onto the Portal.
Before its body could reach deeper into the Outer World, two divine beams were emitted from the dust cloud, conjoining into a large one, going straight into its mouth. Causing it to convulse violently as Mars and Bahamut spread their wings, revealing themselves. With Elizadeath and Prince James riding the top of their heads. Bahamut goes to the Downtown Portal, heading straight into it as Mars keeps a close formation with her.
Everything that could fly and shoot upwards was coming at them. The two Humans have to put their shields and blades up to defend themselves from all manner of magic, bolts, and arrows trying to hit them. With Elizadeath turning around to see Gargoyles and Flying Swords landing on Bahamut’s spiky back. Prompting her to charge at them, sliding through her neck and down to her spine where she uses the spikes as cover. Taking her time in slowly picking them one by one.
“Bahamut! Can’t you do something about this?”
The Dragon doesn’t reply, only flying closer and closer to the Downtown Portal.
“You're enjoying this aren’t you?”
Reaching the Portal, the Black and Red Dragon both hover as the Cosmic Worm’s skin opens up, gleaming light starts to grow and grow from it.
“Do it now! Before it destroys this city even more!”
“This better work!”
Elizadeath and James point their swords to the Portal, the Mana Core that was thrown into it lighting up deep in the abyss.
“Huh?”
“A Portal works like a tunnel through space. One where you can move faster than anything. This is how we demolish it.”
“Aren't there three portals?!”
“They're all connected into one tunnel. Worry not Human.”
James on the other hand was ready, nodding to Bahamut.
“Be like the blonde one, he’s a good man.”
“What?! I am also blonde, you know!”
“But unlike you, he respects me and Master.”
She then starts to flap her wings, taking off into the Portal.
Upon contact of the two Holy blades on the darkish maw, an explosion occurs. Yellow rings were emitted into the skies, clearing the red tint and the Portals becoming smaller and smaller. Just as the Cosmic Worm fired thousands of lasers facing all directions did its Portal close. Cutting it straight in half, letting its iridescent blood fall into the river. Painting the corpses piled there like they were sunk in cooking oil.
The heavens shook violently, enough to throw off the Pilots brazen enough to still be flying at the current situation, forcing them to turn on autopilot or hover as the blue color returned. Like a familiar embrace returning to them, the players stood in place. Soaking in the bright atmosphere, upon a kiss of the Sun of the foreign world, some would shed a tear while others rejoiced. Jumping in place as some players just stopped moving. Closing their eyes and taking a deep breath. Spreading out their arms and letting it all in.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829944365266763846/1146807633978855444/Blue_Skies.jpg]
General Paul and Thomas both breathed it all in as the air became open and calming as opposed to its former. Mars roars with Bahamut. The two Dragon Gods exchanged in communication as the Portal above the Cosmic Worm closed. Cutting it in half. Before it could dig into the city, Mars bit into its back and forcibly lifted it up.
The two Heroes of Humanity were then joined by King Augustus in his Human form, facing the now cut off Demon Knight Army.
They charged at them but were rudely cut off by the landing of winged Knights.
“Both of you, go to Downtown.”
“Sir Ervtes?!”
“Hey Elizadeath. Nice streams, always a fan. I’m also subbed to you.”
“Uhm… thank you?”
“Nice. Please fuck off to Downtown. Central is my baby, I can’t believe it looks worse than some cities after the Third World War back on Earth. Boys! Let’s avenge our once wonderful metropolis!”
Lifting his sword, the National Guard of Ervtes, hiding behind cover peeps out. Their eyes gleaming with hope and wonder as their Leader arrives. Not caring about the Sword Saint and Grand Prince. Merely marching past them as they stood behind their Guild Leader, in his almighty pose, higher than man, stronger than steel.
“My boys! You did one hell of a job! I’ll be sure to reward everyone who stayed behind to defend our city when we return to Earth! NOW! WITH ME!”
Alongside the other Knights of Ervtes, they charge forward onto the Demon Knight Army who immediately collapse their lines as the screams of thousands of players run towards them. They hid in the alleyways, stabbing themselves with wavy knives. Burning their body and armor completely into ash.
Ontop of the factory, a soldier with a radio pack walks towards Jackson.
“Sir! We have confirmation. Their lines have broken! The Demon Legion has also stopped its advance onto our factory and the Dragons are performing a screening operation to prevent our units from catching up with their retreat!”
Jackson then takes the receiver. “Put it into the General Frequency.” he then clears his throat as he looks onto the clear skies above them and the sight of the white clouds seemingly as soft as cotton and inviting onto them the bright shine of the foreign star.
“This is General Paul, their cut from home. It's time for the Turkey Shoot to begin. Finish this now and we’ll talk clean up.”
With the three armies bulldozing their way into the Demon Lines, losing hundreds of vehicles in the process. They soon managed to retake almost all of the lines and ashes started to fill the air as they got deeper and deeper into their lines. With the Orcs and Undead throwing themselves endlessly into their armored vehicles.
Before they knew it, it was quiet. There were no signs of the Demon Knights nor their Priests. All that remained were the corpses of the bodies they threw onto them so needlessly. Laying on the ground. The players were now left with the city to themselves, a city destroyed and turned nearly all to rubble. Each of the skyscrapers either decapitated or ruined, with shards of glass touching every road and most if not all of Downtown covered in the gray decomposing veins of flesh.
But the players took no moment to stop, after cleaning the bulk of the remnants of their enemy, they went door to door, manhole to manhole, roof to roof. With now an addition of a few hundred thousand skeleton soldiers and the Naval Armada landing Marines onto the city. They didn’t stop checking and going through every nook and cranny of the massive metropolis till Sir Ervtes himself, who took command of the scene called for an All Clear after a day and half long of painstakingly going through every room and house.
Jackson walks around Central, aimlessly strutting inside the shadow of the city, being reminded of how this was lively and full of people. The Chinese restaurant he once went to with his Party now a collapsed building and the Bus stop he took to go to Uptown crushed by threads of a tank while some intersections had large markings from the hulking feet of the Hyper Demons that now lay dead. Their bodies reached beyond the Sector they died on and the Cosmic Worm, decaying constantly as its body got smaller and smaller. The players were done with their job taking as many photos as they could. Posing on the corpses and trophies the Demon Legion left behind.
He stops at a junction. Seeing King Augustus walking around Mars and Bahamut as they both looked unimpressed by him even though his looks was beyond even any Human male could hope to reach and the two Human Heroes looking over the collapsed body of one of the Hyper Demons, touching its thick skin and curiously looking inside it's opened skull while Father Hendrix was calmly smoking a cigar on top of its back, him sitting down and observing the special group of Human and Humanoids chatting about one another.
Jackson looks down to his dirty uniform. His attempt to dust it off only emitted a cloud of dust on him as he tried to at least look presentable to the shiny golden armor of Elizadeath and the high polish Knight set of the Grand Prince of James. In the end, he just sighs and slings his rifle to his back. “Ah fuck it.” Helicopters fly past the man as he crosses the street, into the lighter side where the shadow of the city wasn’t present but instead the bright embrace of Threa’s Sun.