-Markos-
The templars staggered their positions in the narrow tunnel. Markos would act as the bait at the tunnel closest to the open cavern while Emilio would cover Markos from the opposite end of the tunnel, closest to where they entered. When the demons appeared, Markos would open fire before falling back. When Markos crossed the threshold with the monsters in tow, Emilio would shoot the sphere to trigger the explosion to collapse the tunnel. It was a good plan, Markos just hoped it'd survive contact with the demons.
A chill ran down Markos's spine as he crouched behind a large flowstone stalagmite. Peering beyond the aura of light, Markos peered at the shapes cast into the deeper shadows over the iron sights of the rifle nestled against his shoulder. The light sphere was just another lure beyond the pulse of Markos's power. Stillness settled so the only audible noise beyond their breathing was the conspicuous drip of water into a still pool. It echoed like the cavern was a slumbering monstrous beast.
It reminded him of the sensation of being watched in Mara's temple all those years ago. If it was Jo or the demons, Markos wasn't sure but all he could do was hold his ground and wait. He never picked up Iliana's trick of passing messages at a distance between them nor did he think Emilio was practiced enough in consciously utilizing his magic to overcome the suppression from maraium armor. The notion to remove the armor came to mind because using magic while wearing the armor was dangerous but so was exposing themselves to the influence of the demons. If they did such a thing, they'd gain more power at the cost of less protection.
If Markos had more time with Emilio, Emilio wouldn't need to remove his armor. He wasn't sure if the Order would let him have that alone time with Emilio to overcome his current limits but this was would have to be enough of a start to spark the concept in him... if they both survived this, perhaps there would be more time. It was bad enough that the Order had placed Jo to watch him but would they throw Emilio into the mix to try to control him too?
His trigger finger itched as he waited, the sensation of insects crawling over his skin became increasingly distracting as the creatures readily approached. He just had to hold for a few moments more with his eyes fixed on the space in front of him, Markos couldn't see how Emilio was doing. He prayed that his old friend would follow their plan and not panic.
Something flitted between formations in front of Markos. He fought against his first instinct to pull the trigger and held his fire. Closer, he needed it to come closer. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he held his breath. He only needed one clear shot. Emilio needed to hold until the moment was right but ready or not, the demons were coming.
Claws clicking, scraping against damp stone drew Markos's attention to the left when he sensed a presence to his right. Markos held his fire. Something advanced on Markos, drawing up to tower over him at a frightening pace. He felt the drip of acidic saliva clank against the metal of his helmet. He had to ignore it and hold. A gust of wind heralded the rapid descent of the monstrous beast as it hurdled down to eat him. Shadows surged forward in a frenzy toward Markos.
Now!
Markos invoked Perkons, the god of storms to grant his movements speed. Residual energy invigorated the templar's muscular and mental reactions as he blurred. His musket thundered in rapid succession as the muzzle explosion illuminated the maw of a malicious serpent, then a dire wolf made of ichor that pounced at the emptiness where Markos once stood. That was two but there were six. Markos searched for the other four without seeing as he flowed backward, faster than the demons could follow.
Behind him he heard the scraping of metal and a squelch of boots in mud, as Emilio must've shifted. "Hold!" Markos barked as he blindly dodged claws reading the flow of the Word in the darkness around him, cracking open the back of his rifle and slamming the next round of maraium shot into place. He fired another volley into the creatures as he retreated backward, the demons pressed forward seeing that the templar was on the run. Markos called forth the residual energy from fragments of heartstone embedded in the mud around him, shining like a beacon as the demons rushed towards him.
There wasn't time to think, Markos had to react. Fire, clear, load, fire, retreat, repeat. Claws glanced across metal as Markos darted backward towards the light sphere. He counted the number of distinct eyes as a humongous thing skittered across the ceiling, it felt and looked wrong. It wasn't a spider but he would've preferred it to the pale misshapen humanoid thing with backwards joints with gnashing teeth coming for him.
Markos's eyes widened as the demons started timing his cycle, and trying to catch him between moments even with his accelerated movements. He inwardly cursed as he fell under the light sphere, his body covered with a cold sweat as he raised his rifle, hands trembling. The creature dropped in front of him and grinned in the shadows of jagged stalactites cast over the scrambling templar. He needed to get away, and Emilio needed to hold — Markos wasn't in position yet.
"Hold!" Markos ordered as he heard the shifting of metal beyond the rasping laughter of the demons. He was surrounded and on the ground with the demons bearing down on him, by all rights, the demons had him pinned. He inched backwards with the demons rapidly closing the gap between them.
With a roar, the misshapen demon leapt at Markos, claws and teeth bared with a promise of an agonizing death. It crashed with a resounding thud against an invisible barrier above the templar.
"Now!" Markos yelled.
BANG.
The light sphere exploded in a blinding shockwave of magical energy, knocking the demons back as the cavern trembled with a loud rumbling. Markos winced, it wasn't enough to bring down the ceiling!
"Go!" He ordered, hearing Emilio bolt towards the entrance. Markos rose to his feet and stared at the glittering red of six sets of demon eyes glaring at him. He promised Emilio that he'd act as bait. He promised Iliana that he'd protect her. The arrowhead at his collar burned hot beneath his armor. He'd protect them all.
-----
Emilio bolted towards the entrance. He didn't look back. Markos had told him not to look back. He had faith that his friend would be following him. A secondary explosion knocked Emilio from his feet at the entrance chamber. Shrieking faded to silence and Emilio found himself suddenly alone.