South Pacific Ocean. Dark clouds hid the bright blue moon as waves crashed along the metallic exterior of an advanced military aircraft carrier.
"Authorities state that an elite squad is on the way to save the unknown politician stuck in the city," the news reporter announced. The television's flickering screen cast a cold, blue glow over the room, its noise filling the otherwise quiet space.
"Victor! The captain called for a meeting, better hurry up," Finn called out from the doorway.
"Coming," Victor replied, tossing his cigar aside and snatching up his high-tech helmet from the floor.
As the sky darkened and the moon disappeared behind heavy clouds, Simon, the team's captain, activated a large TV screen as Victor and Finn arrived.
"Took you two long enough. Take a seat," Simon firmly ordered.
The room dimmed further, and the screen flickered to life, displaying images of an elderly man and a cityscape.
"Gentlemen," Simon began, "this man is Mr. Tāne, the co-owner of a secret company specializing in our explosive and chemical technology. He went off the grid recently when the demons started approaching New Zealand. He's been hiding in a bunker beneath a company building in the heart of Brooklyn."
Alongside Victor and Finn, two other figures were present in the meeting room, firmly seated.
"New Zealand, is it? Might bloody well make it our permanent holiday spot, have a pint or two!" Connor chuckled as he nudged his squadmate.
"Of course you are, beers are the only thing that's fueling you," Reed continued the joke.
Simon cleared his throat, bringing their focus back to him.
"Enough of that, gentlemen," Simon continued, his tone firm. "Our job is to check if he's still alive and rescue him as fast as possible."
"Extraction is right outside the city," he explained. "We'll be moving in quietly and swiftly, avoiding combat and keeping our noise to a minimum."
He pointed to a map on the screen. "We'll be dropping from the sky into a clear field just outside the city, then making our way to the company building from there. Any questions?"
Finn raised his hand. "Any air support?"
"Yes, close air support will be provided, but only in an emergency," Simon replied.
"And remember," Simon continued, "we are not any ordinary soldiers. We are the Apex Operatives—the best of the best, predators of demons. Now, gear up and meet me at the deck. Meeting dismissed."
"Hoo-rah!" The men raised their fists and quickly left the room.
After gearing up, Finn and Connor made their way to the deck, where a large, sleek aircraft was prepped and ready for takeoff. The aircraft's interior was lined with high-tech equipment and tactical gear, a showcase of the advanced capabilities of the Apex Operatives. The two men quickly found their seats and rechecked their gear.
As the engines roared to life, Finn glanced over at Connor, who wore a wide, confident grin.
"Never nervous, are ya?" Finn asked, smiling.
"Nothin' to worry about. Just your average Tuesday. Plus, we've got the apex predator himself on our side, haven't we?" Connor laughed, lighting up his cigar.
"Victor? What are you, his fanboy?" Finn laughed.
"Man's saved my life twice. Least I could do is spread the good word for him," Connor chuckled, inhaling his smoke.
Finn nervously smiled, then stared blankly out the plane's window before turning to Connor and asking, "You ever think there'll be a day we don't come back from a mission?" His tone was serious.
"I think about that on every mission we've ever gone on," Connor replied, lowering his tone. "But," he continued, "we don't got a choice, do we?" He laughed, the smell of his cigar filling the interior of the aircraft.
A few minutes later, Victor and the others began to show themselves, chatting as heavy rain poured down on the large Pacific Ocean, thunder and lightning filling up the dark atmosphere.
"Plane looks new!" Victor raised his voice over the sound of the heavy rain and the plane's engines.
"Nightshade V-3!" Simon replied. "Best technology out there."
Victor gave a nod of approval as he and the remaining team climbed aboard the aircraft. The interior was dry and brightly lit.
"Ready, ladies?" Simon teased, trying to lighten the mood as the plane roared into the sky.
As the aircraft neared the drop point, the clock had already ticked past midnight. Connor, eyeing Victor's heavy gear, couldn't help but chuckle.
"What?" Victor asked, his eyes locking onto Connor.
"Are ye not tired? Serving for what, twenty years?" Connor asked.
"Bit late to ask that now, isn't it?" Victor replied.
Connor laughed, shaking his head.
"Victor," Finn interrupted. "Are you not nervous?"
"Why would he be?" Reed answered. "He's a predator of the battlefield."
"Ain't that the truth," Connor agreed, smiling.
"What about the rest of us?" Finn asked again.
The squad chuckled, except for Victor, who turned his head toward Finn. "You should be asking yourself that. What are you?" he said firmly.
The squad fell silent, the sounds of thunder and rain filling the air once more. Finn chuckled as he looked down, pondering Victor's words.
Victor's heavy suit, resembling a bomb disposal suit but with enhanced armor and high-tech features, provided both protection and functionality. His light machine gun was slung across his back. The suit's advanced technology enabled Victor to endure even the fall of a large building, extreme arctic cold, blazing hot lava, and even a sharp sword or a high-caliber bullet.
As the moment to deploy arrived, the squad strapped on their parachutes and prepared for the descent. One by one, they leaped from the aircraft, their silhouettes briefly illuminated by the lightning flashes in the stormy sky.
Despite the fierce wind and driving rain, they navigated their descent with precision. The squad touched down on the open field below without incident, regrouping quickly and efficiently as they readied themselves for the next phase of their mission.
"Get into formation and begin to take the planned route," Simon commanded.
Swiftly and with precision, the squad formed an arrowhead formation. Simon led at the front. Victor followed behind Simon on his right. Similarly, Connor followed behind Simon on his left, and Finn behind Connor. Reed, being the heavy sniper, wore his high-tech adaptive camouflage suit and followed the leading team from the cover of the dark, abandoned buildings.
Quickly and quietly, the squad moved through the city, clearing every building that appeared in their way and making every careful move. But unlike the information provided, it was eerily silent, with no sounds except for the roaring thunder and crackling lightning masking the team's footsteps.
As they got closer to their objective, the voice of Apex Operatives' command came through the radio, laced with urgency.
"Reaper-01, there seems to be a large horde of demons gathered just ahead of you. Prepare for combat, over," the female voice informed.
"Copy that, HQ. Over and out," Simon quickly replied.
Filled with a sense of uncertainty and apprehension, they advanced steadily toward their objective. Their unease became reality as they found the compound surrounded by blood-soaked, loud-breathing demons.
A grotesque mockery of life, with twisted limbs and the stench of rot and decay clinging to them. Their mouths, filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth, produced guttural growls, and hellish screams reverberated from deep within their throats. And yet, the noises they made were not far from human.
While most would be paralyzed by the disturbing and uncanny horror before them, for Victor and his team, it was just another day—like clearing out a den full of tigers and lions.
The team, watching from behind the cover of the compound walls, discussed their course of action.
"Well, what are the odds that the lad's still kickin' about?" Connor whispered.
"Mission's not over until a body is recovered," Simon stated, opening his radio. "HQ, this is Reaper-01. We've arrived at the building compound, surrounded by demons, over."
"Copy that, Reaper-01. Proceed to make your way inside the building. Feel free to engage the enemy, over," a lady's voice from HQ replied.
"Roger that, HQ, over and out," Simon replied. He turned to his squadmates with a smirk. "Weapons free, boys."
The squad began picking off demons with precision, their silenced weapons barely more than a whisper in the dark. It wasn't long, though, before the demons caught on and began charging in a frenzy. Yet, the team stood their ground, unwavering, their resolve as solid as the bullets they fired.
A demon, by miracle or chance, managed to close the distance. However, its arrival was short-lived as Victor shattered its skull with a swift and powerful punch. Without a second thought, he tossed the lifeless body aside as he finished his reload and continued the massacre.
After a few minutes, the battlefield lay silent—no living demon remained in sight, only heaps of their fallen bodies.
"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" Simon commanded.
The team rushed inside the building, swiftly checking their gear as they began their methodical sweep of the towering 12-story structure, clearing each floor with precision.
Every room lay deserted until they reached a concealed bunker beneath the building's garage.
"Connor, get this door open," Simon commanded.
Connor pulled out a laser cutter and started working on the bunker's door, the tool's beam slicing through the metal with efficient precision.
Meanwhile, Simon spoke into his radio. "HQ, this is Reaper-01. We've located the bunker."
"Copy that, Reaper-01. Proceed with recovering Mr. Tāne and any remaining personnel," HQ responded.
"Roger that, HQ. Over and out," Simon ended.
The squad charged inside as the bunker's heavy door slammed to the ground. Yet, they were greeted by a room filled with dead bodies, including Mr. Tāne's lifeless form on the blood-stained floor. A large hole could be seen in the center of the room.
"For Christ's sake," Connor barked.
"Victor, pack up the bodies. The rest of you, get out and cover us," Simon commanded.
Victor set to work, carefully placing the corpses into body bags. Meanwhile, Simon relayed the situation back to HQ.
"HQ, this is Reaper-01. We've found no survivors and are preparing to return with the bodies."
"Copy that, Reaper-01. Standby for confirmation, over."
A few seconds of silence, then,
"Reaper-01, you are cleared to retreat. Proceed to the extraction zone, over."
"Affirmative, HQ. Over and out."
Victor, finished with his work, began carrying the body bag and nodded at Simon.
The two exited the bunker, and Simon addressed the squad. "Everyone, check your gear. We're heading home."
Then suddenly, HQ's voice crackled over the radio. "Reaper-01, we are detecting a significant increase in demonic activity. Proceed to the extraction point as quickly as possible."
"Roger that, HQ. Over and out," Simon ended the radio. "Well, let us hurry, boys. We overstayed our welcome."
The squad agreed and began their urgent trek to the extraction point. The air was filled with the distant, chilling screams and maniacal laughter of demons as the squad made their way back.
The rain muffled their footsteps as they ran back toward the city. Amidst the sound of the downpour and the demons' eerie choir, the distant thwop of a helicopter signaled their escape.
But before they could reach the extraction point, a massive horde of demons surged towards the squad from both the front and back.
The squad immediately took position and opened fire, their weapons barely managing to contain the overwhelming horde of demons.
"We're not going to make it in time—there's too many!" Finn yelled.
"Not with that mindset," Victor replied, charging toward the demons at the front.
Determined to get his team to safety, Victor drew his dual automatic pistols and plunged into the oncoming demons. With his swift and powerful movements, not a single demon stood a chance as he cut through them with ruthless efficiency. In mere moments, Victor carved a temporary path through the demonic tide.
"No time to stop and smell the flowers, boys! Move it!" Victor roared, his fists and feet hammering away at the demons, while his pistols fired with relentless precision.
The squad pressed forward as the helicopter came into view, just ahead.
"HQ, this is Reaper-01. We need air support now!" Simon requested.
"Copy that, Reaper-01. Close air support is en route, ETA five minutes," HQ responded.
With Victor holding the line, the rest of the squad covered his retreat as the helicopter slowly began its descent.
From afar, a tall humanoid figure dressed in red armor began walking toward the group.
Amidst the hordes, a massive demon with three legs and a single outstretched hand charged toward Victor, stepping over smaller demons, its mouth watering with bloodlust.
Finn's eyes widened in alarm.
"VICTOR, WATCH OUT! IT'S A BRUTE!" Finn yelled in desperation.
But Victor, without a hint of hesitation or change in expression, charged head-on toward the colossal beast. Focusing on the incoming charge, he braced himself to confront the towering demon head-on.
The squad was filled with confidence as they saw a man effortlessly clashing against a towering demon.
Victor pushed back the demon with sheer force, scaled its towering body, and relentlessly smashed into its exposed skull, tearing through whatever he could grasp within the demon's head.
The colossal brute let out a deep, hellish roar before taking its final fall.
The squad rushed inside the helicopter, their weapons blazing as they continued to fend off the unending horde.
"Fall back, Victor! Air support is on the way!" Simon shouted.
Victor swiftly retreated from the dense horde of demons as a barrage of bullets rained down from the covered sky. A silent aircraft dove down, unleashing a torrent of bullets and missiles before retreating to the shelter of the dark, rainy clouds.
A brief moment of silence followed, only to be interrupted by the sound of metal dragging on the ground.
From the smoke emerged a tall humanoid figure, clad in red knight armor and wielding an axe engulfed in flames.
The squad quickly took notice and opened fire, their bullets merely ricocheting off the figure's armor.
The helicopter began to ascend higher as the squad continued their assault, leaving Victor on the ground alone with the figure.
"What are you doing? Our teammate is still down there!" Connor yelled to the pilot, frustration evident in his voice.
"That's a level five demon—a general. If we stay down there, we die!" the pilot replied urgently.
"Don't worry about me!" Victor shouted from the ground, his voice barely reaching the elevated helicopter. "Retreat while you can!" he continued.
The towering figure raised its flaming axe with a chilling laugh. "How unamusing," it taunted. "Humans. Always sacrificing for one another. Unfortunately, none have escaped alive."
With a sweeping motion, it brought the axe down, unleashing a massive flaming slash that whistled past Victor. The infernal arc sliced through the air with deadly precision, cleaving the helicopter in two and catching Finn in its fiery path. The aircraft spiraled into chaos, crashing and exploding in a flaming inferno.
Without a second thought, Victor charged straight towards the figure, dodging the same attacks that had brought down their escape, swiftly closing the distance to just a few meters.
The figure swung its axe at Victor, but he nimbly dodged it and delivered a powerful strike to the figure's helmet, forming a noticeable dent in the red armor.
Unfazed and wasting no time, the figure landed a crushing blow that momentarily staggered Victor. Before he could recover, a powerful kick followed, hurling Victor through the air and crashing him into a nearby building.
The figure walked towards the building where Victor had crashed, its burning axe in hand.
"Interesting. This human is different from the others," it thought.
Suddenly, an energized bullet pierced through the air, ricocheting off the figure's armor and finally grabbing its attention. Reed pulled back the bolt of his sniper rifle and fired another shot, drawing the figure away from Victor.
Despite bullets ricocheting harmlessly off the figure's armor, it suddenly stopped in its tracks, sensing another presence. "Hmm..." it murmured.
Out of the dark buildings, a barrage of smoke bombs was hurled, flooding the area with thick, dark clouds. The figure stood its ground, scanning the smoke-filled battlefield as more energized bullets zipped through the fog, again ricocheting harmlessly off its glowing armor.
"Old armor you've got there," Connor's voice taunted from within the smoke.
The figure turned its head, only to come face to face with six cylindrical explosive rounds flying straight toward its face. It caught the figure by surprise as the explosions followed.
But the figure remained unharmed and unfazed. It swung its bright, flaming axe, clearing the smoke towards Connor's location. "Come and face me, human!" the figure growled.
More smoke bombs were tossed, thick clouds swallowing the area once again. The figure scanned its surroundings as the echo of rapid footsteps circled around it.
With another fiery swing, the figure dispersed the smoke, but the space in front of it remained empty.
"Oi, behind ya!" Connor's voice emerged from behind.
The figure quickly turned around, just in time to meet the crushing force of a sledgehammer smashing into its helmet. The metallic clang echoed as a larger dent formed in its faceplate, Connor grinning lightly.
Yet, the powerful strike barely fazed the figure. It swiftly grabbed Connor by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Its head tilted towards Connor in an eerie silence.
Connor gasped for air as he stared into the hollow void of the figure's faceplate. Reed fired shot after shot, each bullet failing to penetrate the figure's crimson armor.
"Come on!" Reed cursed, filled with frustration as he reloaded another round and fired again, while Simon collapsed behind him, carrying a first aid kit, his body covered in blood and heavily injured.
Far away, cloaked by shadows and the storm, stood a tall, dark figure, its eyes fixed on the chaotic battlefield. Gripping two short scythes, the figure quickly vanished within a flash of lightning.
"Reaper-01, you are ordered to abandon the battlefield and escape from the demon with your remaining teammates. Carpet bombing has been approved by the commander, ETA thirty minutes." The lady's voice came through Simon's radio.
"Copy that, HQ." Simon shut off the radio. Tired and unable to stand, he took out his pistol and opened the first aid kit.
"I thought you died for a second there," Reed chuckled, not taking his focus off the figure as he continued to fire. Simon let out a painful moan as he tended to his injuries.
Meanwhile, the figure's grip around Connor's throat tightened. His vision began to blur, and he forced out a ragged shout, barely a breath, "VICTOR!"
Victor emerged from the smoke, eyes filled with anger and determination. Clenching his fist, he delivered a punch that struck the figure square in the faceplate. The figure nearly fell sideways from the force, releasing Connor.
Not giving it a chance to recover, Victor continued to deliver a barrage of brutal strikes. Each punch grew deadlier, the once immovable foe unable to withstand the relentless assault.
Before the figure could counterattack, Victor swiftly grabbed its heavy crimson axe and delivered a crushing strike, beheading the creature in one brutal blow. The demon collapsed to the ground, its once intimidating armor now hollow, with dark smoke and flickering flames spilling from within.
Connor and Victor took a brief moment to catch their breath, gazing at the lifeless armor lying on the floor before them.
"Guess we found your match," Connor smiled.
"You should fall back and regroup with the rest of the team," Victor instructed, not taking his eyes off the demon.
"What about you?" Connor asked, concern etched on his face.
"I have a feeling the job's not finished," Victor said, his gaze fixed on the smoke and flames. "It'll catch up to us quickly unless there's at least one person to keep it busy."
"We can't just leave you here. What will the squad think?" Connor argued.
"It doesn't matter what the squad thinks. I'll be fine," Victor replied firmly. "Get moving, Connor!"
"Fine! You better bring home a pint!" Connor hesitated, glancing back at Victor with a mix of worry and confusion.
The fallen demon began to stir, its armor reassembling itself. Flames erupted from the cracks, and the demon came to life once again. This time, its armor was covered in bright red flames, and it wielded two menacing axes.
Victor removed his heavily damaged helmet, revealing a suit filled with scratches but still intact. As he focused on the advancing demon, excitement surged within him.
Connor reached the rest of his teammates, exhausted. He muttered, "Victor's fighting that damn thing alone and told me to get out with the rest of the squad."
"He's right; that's a threat level five demon. Best we can do is let him handle it," Reed sighed.
"We can't just leave him to his bloody death!" Connor insisted.
"What are we supposed to do? Bullets don't work, and we're barely strong enough to make a dent in that thing," Reed replied.
"We leave," Simon declared, coughing. "The bombers are on their way, but even that might not stop the demon. Otherwise, it will come after us no matter what."
"And leave Victor to his death?!" Connor protested again, his voice filled with concern and anger.
"If he's chosen to face it head-on, then that's his call," Simon replied, his eyes reflecting defeat. "We have to make it out while we still can."
"Isn't our mission to recover a bloody politician? What happened to that?" Connor shouted, frustration boiling over.
"Listen!" Reed grabbed Connor's shoulder, shaking him. "It'll do more harm to leave that demon alive than to try to kill it."
The team fell silent, filled with defeat, when the radio crackled once more.
"Reaper-01, remove yourselves from the danger zone immediately. Bombers incoming, ETA ten minutes," the lady's voice warned.
"We retreat. There's no point arguing if it's Victor's choice to stay back. That's an order," Simon muttered.
Reed lifted Simon into his arms, and the team began to retreat from the battlefield. Connor cast a final glance back at the chaos, the roar of approaching aircraft growing louder against the stormy sky.
Meanwhile, Victor and the demon clashed once more, the battlefield becoming a blur of glowing red flames and the sound of metal striking metal. Victor struggled to land a hit; the demon, now faster and stronger than before, moved with unnatural speed. Yet, Victor barely managed to keep pace.
The two super soldiers fought fiercely, shifting from building to building in a battle of endurance, strength, and determination. As the fight raged on, the demon's power surged dramatically. The flames on its axe burned brighter, casting an intense red glow over the surroundings, and its movements became blindingly fast.
Before Victor could react, the demon charged at him with supersonic speed, leaving a trail of searing orange flames in its wake. Realizing he was outmatched, Victor made a split-second decision to escape, slipping into the shadows of the nearby ruins as his mind raced for options. Overhead, the sound of approaching aircraft grew louder, almost drowning out the storm.
"Found you!" a grim voice emerged behind Victor.
In a blur, the demon streaked past him, trailing flames. Victor narrowly dodged but felt a sharp, searing pain as the demon cleaved off his right arm. Stumbling, he crashed to the ground, clutching his injury, his face twisted in silent agony as blood gushed from the wound.
"You are a formidable enemy," the demon growled, dragging its flaming axe across the ground, the sound of metal scraping against pavement echoing in the air. "But unfortunately, you are still just a human."
Determined to fight until his last breath, Victor forced himself to stand his ground, his body trembling from blood loss. With his remaining arm, he drew his pistol and fired at the advancing demon, each shot more desperate than the last.
His vision blurred as strength began to fade, blood pooling beneath him. He could no longer lift his arm, and finally, Victor collapsed, unconscious, as the world around him faded to black.
The demon, unharmed by the bullets, raised its axe. But before it could swing, a shadowy figure blitzed across the battlefield. In a split second, the blade of a scythe pierced through the demon's chest with brutal precision.
The demon gasped in shock, its voice a mix of pain and rage. "Minos!" it blurted angrily before the figure—Minos—yanked his scythe free and plunged his hand into the demon's chest. His fingers wrapped around a glowing red core, and without hesitation, he crushed it in his grip.
The demon's body went limp, lifeless, as Minos tossed it aside. He turned his gaze to Victor, lying unconscious on the ground, barely breathing.
A woman's voice echoed in Minos's head. "Minos, if the job is done, get out of there now. Bombers are en route. That place is about to be leveled."
"This soldier," Minos replied calmly, "he's unlike any human I've encountered before. He will be of use to us."
"If you believe so," the voice sighed. "But be urgent; the area is about to be bombed, and you are not to be detected by Celestia or any other souls."
Minos sheathed his scythes and lifted Victor's limp body, retrieving his severed arm as well. The storm above rumbled ominously as the deafening roar of aircraft engines filled the darkened sky. He looked up to see a squadron of advanced bombers covering the horizon. The ominous whistling of descending bombs pierced the air as Minos quickly disappeared in a flash of lightning.
Explosions erupted, engulfing the city of Brooklyn in chaos and destruction, leaving nothing but ruins and the dead bodies of demons in their wake.
Meanwhile, the remaining members of Reaper-01 stood silently, watching as the city was reduced to rubble beneath the deafening roar of explosions. They lowered their heads in solemn respect, honoring the heroic sacrifice of Victor Williams.
Chapter 1 ---END---
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