"Demon's Bane, Rogues! On me!" Commander 151 stood in front of the request board.

"Two teams. One Demon's Bane and one team of Rogues. Composition will be in Fours. You will be assisting a B ranked team of Venerators. The expected enemies are those of demonic origin. Right up your speciality. During the mission, the Venerators have been informed of how you will operate. Any takers?" The Demon's Bane and Rogues turned to each other, murmuring their thoughts on the mission.

"Viking will take it." A Demon's Bane leader said, standing in front of them.

"So will Victor." A Rogue Squad leader raised his hand.

"Good. See to it that this will be done properly. A helicopter is stationed outside to take you to the location." The Demon's Bane and Rogues grabbed their gear, putting on their helmets and masks. Heading outside to see a Chinook with its hatch opened for them to board. A casual walk to board it, the woman in the suit looked at them.

"These are the dossiers for what we know so far. The Venerators are waiting outside." She spoke with a slight hint of nervousness in her voice. Her voice crackled a bit towards the end of her sentence as she passed the tablets for the two squads to read. They read the dossiers in silence, not even exchanging any words amongst one another. The woman seemed a bit uneasy at the sight of them.

"Jilvameth's cult. Humans that chose salvation from demons." One of them spoke.

"They also have a few of their other demon types. Nothing we've not faced before." A Rogue remarked. When the bird landed, the two squads stepped out where they turned to the B ranked team of Venerators. An all star team of women.

"So you're the backup?" A woman spoke up, her crimson hair was seen. Shouldering her glaive.

"Demon's Bane squad Viking and Rogue Squad Victor. Ready for tasking, Ma'am."

"Ma'am?" Another Venerator questioned as she looked at them.

"Alright, my name is Ciara. I just want my team to come back alive, but we also found out they kidnapped a few children inside here." The crimson haired woman explained, she had a team of 50 Venerators by her side.

"Oh, Inspection Squad Member Loren. Are you joining us?" Ciara checked in with the woman in the suit from earlier.

"Y-Yes. Though I've not been in a B-ranked Spire before. I'm primarily a healer." Loren said as she looked at the Demon's Bane Squad, their helmets reconfigured with the horns of demons.

"We're ready, ma'am."

"Alright, let's go! We got children inside." They stepped through the gate, finding themselves in a ruined city. Clearly there was a great battle in this place. The air of familiarity had made Squad Victor and Viking feel at ease, they knew this place. It was one of the strongholds of Azteris, at least before the Lord of Thorns purified it. Perhaps this was a remnant as a result of the Spire's location itself. There was snow blanketing the area, a few corpses of humans and demons on the ground. Viking's Leader, 13 went to take a look at it. Kneeling as he dug through the snow with his fingers, looking at the rifle that was left behind.

Picking it up as his helmet made the analysis.

"It's based on our world, but the technology is different. A battle rifle of another time. Doesn't have our energy canisters like our equipment." 13 informed his team. Ciara was discussing plans with her team, where Squad Victor's Leader, 91 was present to hear the details.

"Squad Victor, what do you think?"

"It's a fine plan, but demons are known to lay traps and force us to rescue hostages to keep us worn down. We'll take up positions for suppressing fire support."

"What about Viking?" 13 nodded to 91.

"Viking will stay close with your team."

"Thank you." Ciara said as they made their move. Where Demon's Bane took the lead, the four of them spread out but maintained a formation. Rifles at the ready, barrel pointing forward as they continued to scan the areas. Where 13 raised his fist, which caused the team to stop.

"Take care of it." The other three Demon's Bane drew out their machetes as they went ahead first.

"What's going on?"

"Demons have a small species that they use as alarms. That's how they prepare their ambushes. Just let my team take care of it. Best we do this slowly, rushing in will force a horde of demons to come to us. What's the Spire's Objective?"

"Eliminate the demons."

"We'll do that when we locate the children, finding them is your priority, correct?"

"Yes." 13 nodded to Ciara, then he stuck a needle to his neck.

"What's that?"

"My daily dose of supplements and a shot of adrenaline. Keeps the nerves calm."

"Do you get nervous too?" Loren posed the question where 13 nodded.

"I get nervous when children get thrown into the firing line. I train everyday to make sure that if we clear an area, that we do not shoot any civilians or injure anyone. If I fail, a family grieves." 13 answered as his three squad mates returned to their formations, this time readying their rifles again. They continued moving through the ruins with the Demon's Bane team operating as the tip of their operation.

"91 to 13."

"Go for 13."

"Found the kids. 12 of them. One can't move. The demons has one tied to an altar. Rush it?" The group moved into the deeper part of the ruins, where they found themselves at a room that had multiple diverging paths.

"Standby for rescue." 13 turned to Ciara.

"Victor found the kids. One's at the altar, the demons might sacrifice the child. Ciara, what's the plan?"

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"Rescue them first but there's multiple paths. Which do we choose?"

"13 to 91. Did you map the tunnels?"

"Yep. Sending it to you now." 13's visor highlighted the correct path and the traps.

"Viking, ready for heavy engagement. When shooting starts, priority one is getting the children out of here. Weapons free." 13 informed as Demon's Bane Viking swapped their rifle ammunition and barrels. Attaching suppressors to their weapons.

"Lead us there." Ciara said as they began to run through the pathways. Ciara watched how demons that were in hiding were taken out by the Demon's Bane members with quick precision. When a demon hand tried to reach for Loren, a Demon's Bane member would step on it. Firing two shots through the gap. They were on a different level than other Venerators. They were silent with their words but their weapons spoke out their actions. They were called Demon's Bane for a reason, the demons were gasping. Their breathing was uneven, the B ranked Venerators watched how a demon crawled into view.

"Help m-" Then being dragged into the shadows where the sounds of knives cutting through flesh was heard. They moved to see the demons who had been massacred within seconds, their body parts were thrown all over and they seemed to have been turned into the hunted instead.

"We're close to the children." They readied themselves for a position to ambush the demons inside. The Rogues nodded to the hidden Demon's Bane and the Venerators.

"Do it." The Demon's Bane squad threw a few canisters down to where the demons were. They were startled, where it exploded. Strong heavy gas was released.

"Harmless for humans. It'll effect those who are demons. Come on." They stepped down where the Rogues appeared out of the shadows, firing their guns. Tearing through the demon's hide as the Demon's Bane leaped out with their blades. Gutting the demons cleanly with only the gunfire being the only noise they could hear. Ciara and her team were in position and when the smoke subsided, they jumped down to help the children.

A howl was heard from within the ruins, the sound bounced off the walls. It was hard to get a fix on where the creatures were. Demons were coming up from a trap door near the altar. 13 kicked the slab to stop it, it was only a temporary measure.

"Get them out of here, 91, I'm leaving my team in your hands."

"Got it."

"What about you!?" 13 reloaded his rifle, then firing at the hands that were trying to open the trap door. Firing into the gaps he could hear demons screaming from below.

"GO!" 91 took command as he brought them through the buildings. Ciara watched how the Rogues were fighting with their blades while the three members of Demon's Bane provided cover from behind. Ciara and her team joined the fight, swinging her glaive. A demon with a sword pounced on her from behind, she raised a barrier to stop its attack. Watching how a Rogue grabbed the demon's head and smashing it to the barrier, followed by a knife to the throat.

"Raise Barriers!" The barriers were raised to protect the children and Loren who was trying to keep their vitals from dropping, the Demon's Bane stepped out of the barrier, this time they covered the rear.

"91, no supporting fire! We're watching the rear!"

"Copy!" 91 shouted as he slashed through the hordes with his knives, the Rogues went after the joints of the demons. The joints being struck would cause the demons to stagger. Like a pack of wolves playing with their food, they slashed the demon's head. Decapitating them as their armor was stained with blood. They didn't hesitate, nor did they back down. Continuing their onslaught without any signs of fatigue. Following them from behind, their glowing eyes were haunting the demons. Yet, to the humans who were present. They were like a beacon of light, a beacon of hope.

Their footsteps echoed as the glint of their blades were seen. Throwing a canisters of light, which exploded to light up the torches that were leading them to the entrance. They arrived at the entrance, where demons were lying in wait. A demon wielding a sword stood in front of 91. They did not attack them, snickering with glee at the sight of the lambs that were brought to the slaughter.

"You will not escape us. We will destroy you." The demon with the sword spoke, then roaring at 91's face. Only to see 91 glare at the demon back. The Rogues put their rifles aside and drew their pistols. The Demon's Bane team joined them with their rifles. Kneeling before the barriers that Ciara had held. Seeing a few of her team members shake in their boots. Some began to pray for salvation, some praying for hope. Yet when their eyes met with the Demon's Bane members. They felt a calm air reach them. An air of hope, an air of resolve within the eyes of the Demon's Bane and Rogues. It was as if, their eyes were telling them that they will all be okay.

The demon with the sword swung his blade at 91, only to watch 91 stop the blade with his fist. Then putting the knife into the demon's throat via a gap in the armor at the neck. The demon choked as 91 threw the body aside. Glaring at the other demons who were present. The other demons were taking a step back, only to hear a loud roar from behind. The roar changed to a scream, where they watched a large demon's head flew past them. Seeing 13 stepping into the light with his damaged armor. He was bleeding, his helmet was broken. Allowing them to see his white hair, scarred face. In his hand was a machete that was broken. The gaze of a beast far more dangerous than the demon's themselves, some of the demons began to shake in fear.

"Lord Entra's head!?"

"13." 91 threw a knife to 13, who caught it and readied to fight.

"Why? Why are you unaffected by our magic!? How can you stand!?" A demon shouted in disbelief. Meeting its end with a knife lodged to the head then watching how 13 pounced on it, snapping its neck. Pulling the skull and the spine out, using it as a flail to strike the other demons.

"Go!" 91 shouted as he stayed behind with 13 to fight off the demons. Ciara and the others made their way out, the other demons were too focused on 13 and 91. 91 went to slash through their limbs, cutting them off. A demon caught his hand, where he head butted the demon back and ducked as 13 grabbed the demon's head and smashed it to the wall. A demon went after him with saber, swinging the blade downwards. An elbow to the head followed by crushing the sword bearing wrist. 13 smashed the demon to the back of his blade and picked it up. Throwing it to another demon, impaling them to the walls.

Ciara returned with her team, swinging her glaive. Slashing a demon in half. Going at it with full force, she bulldozed through the demonic swarm that was amassing at the entrance. Pushing them all to the wall, then leaping back as another Venerator fired a grenade launcher at them. Blowing them apart, followed up by the Rogues that jumped in for the kill. Killing the demons that had slithers of their health left before they could back up for a fight.

The Demon's Bane members fired their rifles. Suppressing the demons, stopping them from getting close to Ciara and her team of Venerators. Ciara ordered her team to fight without worrying their backs. The Demon's Bane kept on firing, and when their rifles ran dry. They grabbed their pistols, firing away. Slapping on energy canisters as they kept on firing. 91 and 13 were fighting with whatever means necessary. When 91's blades dulled, he ripped off the rib of a dead demon and used it as a makeshift dagger. 13 kept breaking off the limbs of demons as he swung it as a bat. Breaking a demon's head in one swing.

The Demon's Bane's guns ran out of bullets and canisters. Now they went after the battle with their hands. Following 13's lead, they ripped the demons apart until the last demon was left cowering in fear. 13's mask fell off, revealing the corpse like appearance his face was. The demon screamed at the sight, where 13 crushed the last demon underneath his boot. 13 grabbed what was left of his damage mask and put it back on his face.

"The spire's completed." They all left where the Demon's Bane and Rogues looked at the children who reunited with their families. A child held some flowers as she ran towards the Demon's Bane and the Rogues.

"Thank you for saving us mister!" They accepted it, taking the flower as payment. The children ran back to their families, where the Demon's Bane and Rogues followed Loren back into the chinook that brought them here. All of them looked at the flower that was given by the child, now putting it to their chest piece. A memento they would carry to all their fights.

In all of their missions, they would be asked to rescue people. Yet, not one mission they've done had succeeded. They succeeded in destroying the demons that plagued their world, but never once did they succeed in rescuing people. This felt like a blessing in disguise for them, that they could still rescue people despite them failing in the past. Always giving mercy killings, but this time. They chose not to do it.

Refusing to give up, the turmoil that was within was to kill every demon they see. Yet, here they were at ease.