The city, once a shining beacon of beauty and civilization, now lay in ruins. Flames engulfed the skyline, their orange tongues licking at the shattered remains of skyscrapers. Smoke coiled into the heavens like vengeful spirits, darkening the already bleak sky. The streets, once bustling with life, were now a graveyard of twisted metal, scattered rubble, and the charred remains of dreams. The roars of monstrous invaders echoed through the city, a grim reminder of the devastation that had taken hold.
Kyouka's gaze remained fixed on the monitors in the command center, her posture rigid. The screens displayed a grim tableau of destruction and battle. Every clash between her comrades and the invading demons was a stark reminder of how dire their situation had become.
"Chisaki," Kyouka called, her voice steady despite the tension etched into her features. "Will you be able to neutralize the gate?"
Chisaki's fingers danced over the console, her eyes never leaving the pulsing, ominous light of the Solomon's Gate displayed on the screen. Her expression was a mask of concentration.
"I can," Chisaki replied firmly, though her voice carried an edge of uncertainty. "But… looking at the current situation, it won't be easy. We're stretched too thin."
The monitors flickered, displaying live feeds of the battles raging across the city. Two of the demonic monsters had been successfully subdued, but the colossal demon in the city's center continued its rampage unchecked.
Edelweiss and Loraine were locked in combat with the ferocious Minotaur demon, their elegant movements contrasting with the sheer brutality of the beast they faced. Meanwhile, Gleren and Matthias squared off against the colossal demon, their every attack an uphill battle against the towering monstrosity. Farther away, Krueger's team wrestled with the Cerberus, its three heads snapping and snarling as they kept it pinned to one area, preventing further destruction.
But the gate—the source of it all—continued to pulse ominously, threatening to summon another abomination into the fray.
"If we can destroy the gate, it will tip the scales in our favor," Chisaki said, her voice sharpening. "I can handle the aftermath, but only if that thing is gone."
Kyouka nodded solemnly, her eyes narrowing. "I couldn't agree more. But…" She sighed, her gaze drifting back to the screens. "Gleren and Matthias are already stretched thin. Edelweiss and Loraine are too far to assist. And as commander, I can't—" She shook her head, clearing the thought before it could take root.
Chisaki noticed and straightened her posture, determination flaring in her eyes. "We'll make it work. I'll be ready when the moment comes."
"Prepare yourself, Chisaki," Kyouka replied, her voice carrying the weight of command. "We trust our comrades to do their part. The aftermath is ours to handle."
"Yes, ma'am!" Chisaki said with conviction.
Varvara, standing quietly in the corner of the room, fidgeted with her hands, her anxiety palpable. Her gaze flitted between the monitors and Martha, who sat slumped on the couch. Martha's usually commanding presence was gone, replaced by a haunted, distant look. The weight of her role as a sacrifice had drained her, leaving her vulnerable.
Varvara clenched her fists, struggling against the helplessness that gnawed at her. She wanted to offer words of comfort, to be a source of strength for Martha, but her thoughts tangled, leaving her speechless.
"If only I could say something meaningful…" she thought.
Her musings were interrupted when she noticed Martha rising from the couch. The older woman moved toward the door, her steps measured and deliberate.
"Ah, um…" Varvara's voice wavered as she finally summoned the courage to speak. "Where are you going?"
Martha paused, glancing back with a faint smile. "To the restroom," she said simply.
"Oh! P-please take your time!" Varvara stammered, her cheeks flushing as she realized how awkward her question sounded.
Martha chuckled softly, her smile lingering as she left the room.
But as minutes passed, Varvara's unease grew. Martha hadn't returned.
***
I dashed through the smoldering wreckage of the city, sprinting like my life depended on it—because it did. Behind me, the colossal demon thundered forward, each of its footsteps shaking the ground and sending tremors through my already panicked body. Its guttural growls echoed off the ruined buildings, a constant reminder that it wasn't planning to stop until I was reduced to a stain on the pavement.
"Damn it, why does it always have to be me?!" I yelled, leaping over a toppled lamppost as the creature's massive hand smashed into the spot I'd just vacated. The impact sent rubble flying, a chunk of it narrowly missing my head.
I darted down a debris-filled alley, hoping to lose it for a moment, but its glowing eyes locked onto me like I was the main course at a buffet. "What's your deal?! I didn't even hit you that hard!" I complained, zigzagging to avoid another swing of its arm.
Okay, fine, maybe my earlier stunt was a bit reckless. But how was I supposed to know stabbing it in the knee would just piss it off instead of slowing it down?
Still, this wasn't entirely bad. As much as I hated playing bait, it did open up opportunities for the others.
From somewhere above, Matthias's voice rang out, as calm and commanding as ever: "Holy might! Light of the world, I implore you: manifest your sword! {Sword of Judgement!}"
I skidded to a halt just in time to see golden light pierce through the thick clouds above. Thousands of radiant swords materialized, their shimmering forms illuminating the battlefield like divine stars against the ashen sky. It was the kind of sight that could inspire awe—if it weren't coming from the same guy who skewered me three times the first time we met.
The colossal demon roared as Matthias raised his hand, directing the swords toward the monster. Each blade shifted in unison, their razor-sharp points aligning like an orchestra of death preparing for its crescendo. With a sweeping gesture, Matthias sent the swords raining down.
The golden weapons sliced through the air, their brilliant arcs cutting through the smoky haze as they descended on the demon. The first wave struck its massive frame, piercing through its thick hide and unleashing plumes of black smoke. The creature howled in agony, its screeches shaking the ground as it staggered back.
"Holy crap, it's like watching a celestial blender," I muttered, ducking behind a chunk of rubble for cover.
The swords didn't stop. Matthias kept up the pressure, wave after wave of light cascading down on the colossal demon. Each strike left glowing scars on its body, the divine energy eating away at its flesh like acid.
The demon raised one of its massive arms, trying to shield itself, but the golden blades burned straight through its defenses. The arm began to corrode, chunks of its flesh sloughing off like molten slag.
I couldn't help but shudder. As someone who'd been on the receiving end of those swords before, I could confirm that they hurt. A lot.
"Yeah, I think I'll stay out of his way," I muttered, edging farther behind the rubble.
Despite its pain, the demon wasn't going down without a fight. It reared back, its remaining arm glowing with an eerie white light.
"Wait, what the hell is it doing now?" I squinted as the light grew brighter, energy swirling into its palm.
In an instant, the demon unleashed a massive beam of pure energy, the blinding blast tearing through the battlefield like a wrecking ball of light. Matthias dodged, his movements swift and precise, but the force of the attack shattered the ground beneath him, sending up a storm of debris.
"What?! It can shoot lasers now? What a cheat!" I yelled, shielding my eyes from the glare.
The colossal demon used the distraction to regain its footing, its guttural growl signaling that it wasn't done yet.
"Great. Guess I've got no choice but to jump back in," I grumbled.
I was just about to channel my mana when something in the corner of my vision caught my attention.
"What the…?"
It was Martha.
She was walking—no, marching—toward the Solomon's Gate, her steps purposeful and unwavering despite the chaos around her. Her face was set with a look of steely determination, and my stomach dropped.
"What the hell is she doing?!"
I turned back to Matthias, who was still dodging and countering the demon's relentless attacks.
"Hey, pretty boy!" I shouted, cupping my hands around my mouth.
Matthias's head snapped toward me, his expression caught between mild irritation and deadly focus. The way he reacted instantly to the phrase "pretty boy" really grated on my nerves—like he actually liked the nickname.
"What is it?!" he called back, his voice strained as he narrowly avoided another swipe from the demon.
"Your mistress is heading for the gate!" I yelled. "I'll handle it—just keep Big Ugly busy!"
His eyes widened, and for a moment, his usual composure cracked. But then he gave a sharp nod, his expression hardening.
"Please… protect her," he said, his voice carrying a rare note of vulnerability.
The sincerity in his tone caught me off guard, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.
"Got it. Just don't die before I get back!"
"Who would?!" he retorted, slashing at the demon with one of his glowing swords. The blade bit deep, but the fight was far from over.
Blending into the shadows, I darted after Martha, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Miss Martha, don't do anything stupid," I muttered under my breath. "I've got enough on my plate without having to save you and deal with a demonic apocalypse."
The battlefield blurred past me as I sprinted, the roar of the colossal demon and the clash of divine swords fading into the background. Smoke and fire painted the ruins in shades of red and black, the city a broken canvas of chaos.
And at the center of it all was Martha, walking straight into the heart of the storm.