"H-Hell…"
The word lingered in the air, as though even speaking it out loud might solidify the nightmare before them.
The once vibrant town lay in ruins, consumed by unimaginable carnage.
Blood flowed in thick rivulets through the cobblestone streets, pooling around shattered carts and broken buildings.
Bodies of men, women, and children lay sprawled across the ground, their lifeless forms twisted in unnatural positions.
Some had been charred beyond recognition, their remains smoldering in the eerie stillness.
Others bore deep, jagged wounds, as though something savage had torn through them with abandon. The scent of iron and burning flesh hung heavy in the air, choking the group as they stood frozen on the cliff above.
"Blergh!"
Rika collapsed to her knees, dry heaving as her body convulsed. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she clutched her stomach, unable to tear her eyes from the devastation.
Meiko stumbled backward, her hand covering her mouth. "This… This isn't real. This can't be real," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Seichii instinctively pulled Zanu closer to him, shielding her small face from the horrifying sight. His hand trembled as he held her close.
"P-Papa, what's wrong?" Zanu's small voice cracked as she tugged at his shirt. "Why are you scared? Why does it smell so bad?"
"Don't look, Zanu," Seichii murmured, his voice tight. He tried to steady himself, but his chest heaved with labored breaths. (How… How did this happen? The town's protection array should have stopped anything like this. This shouldn't be possible!)
Shigeru's normally composed expression was gone, replaced with a grimace of disbelief and horror. His sharp mind raced, grasping for answers.
(Protection arrays of this level are designed to withstand even high-tier attacks. For the barrier to fail… this must've been something far beyond ordinary demons. But what could have caused this?)
The oppressive silence was broken by a piercing scream.
"HELP!"
The group's heads snapped toward the voice. A lone woman staggered into view, her torn clothes drenched in blood. She clutched her side, where a deep, jagged wound oozed crimson. Her wide eyes darted frantically, tears streaming down her face as she stumbled toward them.
"P-Please!" she cried, her voice cracking. "Help me… please…" Her legs gave out beneath her, and she fell to her knees, reaching out toward them with trembling hands.
Ryuu's heart clenched. He didn't think—he just moved.
"Ryuu, stop!" Ryoko's voice rang out, sharp with urgency.
But it was too late. Ryuu leapt from the cliff, his instincts screaming at him to save her.
"RYUU-KUN!" Ryoko's hand shot out, gripping his wrist and yanking him back. Her strength startled him, and he turned to her, his tear-streaked face filled with desperation.
"Let me go, Ryoko-san! That woman needs us!" His voice cracked, raw with anguish. "She's looking at us with hope! If we don't save her now, she'll—"
SPLATTER!
Ryuu's words were cut short by a sickening sound.
The woman's body exploded in a spray of blood and gore as a black ray of energy pierced her chest. Chunks of flesh and bone rained down onto the ground, leaving only a dark smear where she had knelt moments before.
"No…" Ryuu's voice was barely a whisper. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. His trembling hands clawed at the dirt as his mind reeled.
Zanu whimpered, clutching Seichii's leg with all her strength. "P-Papa… W-What happened to the lady? Why did she…" Her tiny voice cracked as tears spilled down her face.
Seichii knelt down, pulling her into his arms. "Don't look, Zanu. It's okay. I'll protect you," he said softly, though his voice was unsteady. He glanced at Masumi, desperation flashing in his eyes.
"Let me take her," Masumi said, stepping forward with a calm but firm demeanor.
Seichii hesitated, then carefully handed Zanu over. Masumi cradled the child close, her gentle voice soothing. "There, there, Za-chan. Everything's going to be okay. You're safe now."
A faint green glow emanated from Masumi's hands as she stroked Zanu's hair. The child's trembling subsided, her sobs growing softer until she drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Seichii stared in shock. "How did you…?"
"It's just a calming spell," Masumi replied, her tone even. "She needed rest. But that's not the real issue here—"
Fshhhh…
The air grew heavier, charged with a dark energy that made their skin crawl. The group tensed as the oppressive power washed over them, stealing the air from their lungs.
"What… What is that?" Meiko stammered, clutching at her staff.
The sky above them darkened, as though a shadow had swallowed the sun. A shrill screech pierced the air, followed by another, and another. Thousands of bat-like demons emerged from the darkness, their crimson eyes glowing like embers. Their wings beat furiously, filling the air with a deafening roar as they descended.
"There are so many of them," Akiko whispered, her voice trembling. "But how are they here? The barrier should've kept them out!"
"And they're not ordinary demons," Shigeru added, his brow furrowed. "Their auras are… powerful. Too powerful for us to handle right now."
"LOOK OUT!" Meiko screamed as the swarm surged toward them.
The group braced for impact, but the demons didn't attack. Instead, they landed in a semicircle around them, their sharp claws digging into the earth. Their crimson eyes bore into the group, unblinking and cold.
A tall figure stepped forward, his wings larger and more menacing than the others. His chiseled features were striking, but his glowing eyes and sharp fangs left no doubt that he was a demon of high rank.
"You can lower your weapons," the demon said, his voice deep and smooth. "We're not here to harm you… yet."
Ryuu glared at him, his fists clenching as fire flickered around his hands. "And why should we trust you?!"
"Ryuu, stop," Ryoko said firmly. Her gaze was calm, but her tone carried a warning.
"Are you serious, Ryoko-san?!" Ryuu snapped, turning to her. "We can't just stand here and—"
"We don't have a choice," Ryoko interrupted. "Look at them. These demons are rank A or higher. If we fight now, we'll die."
Her words sent a chill through the group.
"R-Rank A?" Seichii stammered, his voice shaking.
Shigeru frowned, his sharp eyes narrowing. (How does she know their ranks? Even I can't discern their power levels, and I've studied demonology for decades.)
The lead demon smirked, as though amused by their fear. "Smart girl," he said. "Come with us. Someone wants to meet you."
"Who?" Ryoko asked, her voice steady.
"You'll see soon enough," the demon replied. "Climb onto our backs. We'll take you to him."
One by one, the group hesitated but obeyed, climbing onto the demons' backs. The creatures flapped their massive wings, lifting off into the darkened sky.
The wind howled around them as they soared higher and higher. Below, the ruined town became a distant blotch on the landscape.
The flight was long, the air growing colder as they approached the towering peak of Mont Blanc. Clouds swirled around the summit, veiling it in a thick, gray mist.
When they landed, the group dismounted cautiously. The ground was cold and unyielding beneath their feet, and an eerie silence hung in the air.
In the center of the clearing stood a grand throne, carved from black stone. Sitting upon it was a figure cloaked in feathers, his body radiating a dark, oppressive aura. His wide-brimmed hat cast a shadow over his face, but the devious smile curling his lips was visible.
The demons knelt before him, their heads bowed low. "My lord, we have brought them as you requested."
The figure tilted his head, his glowing eyes locking onto the group. His smile widened, revealing sharp, predatory teeth.
"Welcome," he said, his voice smooth and cold. "I've been waiting for you."
The group felt the weight of his presence bearing down on them. Their knees threatened to buckle under the pressure, their breaths shallow.
Ryoko, however, stood firm. Her gaze was steady, her expression unreadable. But inside, her emotions churned violently.
(Why are you here… Keron?)....