The city lights illuminated our path as we moved swiftly and stealthily towards the heart of the city. Belinda led the way, her newly acquired youth and power making her faster and more agile. She moved like a shadow, her movements graceful yet purposeful, and I could tell she had never felt so alive.

Damon, Remiel—whom I silently began referring to as Ren in my mind—and the pack followed closely behind. The bond between all of us grew stronger with every step, and a profound sense of unity took over.

As we reached the outskirts of the city center, Belinda paused, pointing to a seemingly regular building with no distinct features. "Beneath this structure lies the facility where they're holding Christi," she whispered.”While I can barely feel the link to her through the block it is enough to find her in there.”

It was a tall and modern skyscraper, much like any other in the city, but something about it felt off. The energy emanating from the building was heavy and suffocating. I knew the energy from my years of dealing with other supernatural entities. There was an old god in there along with a few hundred demons of various strengths.

"We need to find an entrance," Damon mused, scanning the area.

I noticed a sewer grate a few feet away from us. "That might be our way in," I suggested. “I need to warn you guys we are going in against an ancient god and hundreds of demons. I can handle them all by myself but I will not be able to fight them and save Christi at the same time so we need a plan.” Looking around the group I started forming a plan that would either work brilliantly or make Belinda go insane and put everyone but me in mortal danger. “Here is what I suggest…” I explained my slightly insane plan to them and they all agreed it was nuts but had no better options with our limited resources and allies. Again I nodded towards the sewer grate.

Remiel nodded. "The underground pathways often connect to hidden facilities. It's worth a try."

We made our way towards the grate, and with a swift move from one of the pack members, it was lifted, revealing a dark abyss below. We descended one by one into the underbelly of the city, guided only by the faint light emanating from Belinda's hands.

The sewers were cold and damp, but we pushed forward. Every so often, Belinda would pause, concentrating to make sure we were on the right path. After what felt like hours, we reached a large metal door embedded in the wall.

"This is it," Belinda whispered, her eyes filled with determination. "Behind this door is the entrance to the facility."

Damon approached the door, searching for any traps. "Seems clear," he said after a few moments.

I stepped forward, focusing my energy on the door. With a soft push of my hand, the metal creaked and bent, allowing us a way in.

The facility inside was vast and eerily quiet. Corridors stretched in every direction, and the fluorescent lights gave everything an unsettling, cold glow.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"We need to split up," Remiel suggested. "We can cover more ground and find Christi faster."

Before I could reply, a siren blared throughout the facility, and red lights began flashing.

"They know we're here," Damon said, his eyes narrowing.

Belinda looked panicked. "I didn't think they'd detect us this quickly!"

"We need to move, now!" I shouted, seizing Belinda's hand and leading the group down the nearest corridor. I could sense dozens of demons, both incarnate and possessing humans.

As we delved deeper into the facility, the resistance intensified. Guards dressed in black armor, emanating a demonic aura, charged us with weapons drawn. But they were no match for our combined might. With every battle, our resolve strengthened.

Hours seemed to slip away as we hacked our way through the maze-like complex. Whenever we encountered an incarnate demon too formidable for the others, I took the lead. Whether it was with my katanas or my claws, I'd put forth the effort to dismantle the fiend. During one such skirmish, Belinda and I found a heavily fortified door. Through a small window, I glimpsed Christi, chained to a table, her face ashen, eyes wide with fear.

"We've found her," I whispered, a wash of relief coming over me. Yet, I sensed something strange from her—a blend of a malevolent aura and divine beauty. Something was amiss.

Just as I reached for the door handle, a massive explosion shook the facility, throwing Belinda and me against the wall, along with our comrades who were finishing off the last of the guards.

A figure emerged from the settling dust, tall and cloaked, face hidden by a mask. I knew instantly that this was the ancient deity orchestrating the chaos.

"So, you've come for the girl," the figure said, their voice thick with malice. "You won't leave here alive."

I rose, eyes aflame with fury. "You have no idea what you're up against." My group was slower to their feet, but our plan was clear. "You know what you need to do," I said, glancing at Belinda. "Hey, boys, you know the plan. I'll handle this guy. Just give me room because it's going to get messy."

Belinda withdrew a vial of my supercharged blood as she moved toward Christi. Ren, Damon, and the rest of the pack reached their feet and sprinted toward us. I positioned myself between the god and my team, alert for any sudden moves.

When Belinda reached the door, the cloaked figure cackled. "You will never get her out of here while she's undergoing transformation. I already began the process of making her the ultimate weapon, and you won't stop it."

Ren reached Belinda and drew a flaming sword, cutting through the door to Christi. But to everyone's shock, except the cloaked being's, they were repelled by an energy field pulsing from Christi's body.

"I told you there's nothing you can do. She's protected from anything touching her," the figure gloated, tossing a piece of rubble at Christi, which disintegrated upon contact. "Anything meaning to harm her will be destroyed."

"So she's completely safe from harm?" I laughed, letting my body morph into my ultimate combat form. Muscles bulging, talons extending, I turned to the group. "New plan. Run! I'll deal with the rest."

Whatever they saw in my face must have convinced them not to argue, and they fled the way we came.

"Now that we're alone and Christi's safe, I think it's time we have some fun," I grinned at the masked figure, who stepped back, trembling.

The final battle for Christi's freedom was about to begin.