As Liam and Jax stepped out of the academy, they were greeted by pure chaos on the streets. Right in front of them, a Hyperion-MK IV tank sped by. Its metallic surface bristled with advanced weapons and sensors pointing in all directions. They could feel the thunderous roar of the engines and the hum of the energy-based weaponry.
"Get back! Move away!" a soldier shouted, ushering the two boys to the side. They jumped aside, startled. A platoon of soldiers, some equipped with exoskeletons, rushed past them.
Liam watched the Hyperion and the soldiers with mixed emotions. Even in this tense situation, he couldn't help but think that he belonged there. These machines, these fighters – that was where he was supposed to be.
But the assignment committee had a different fate in mind for him.
"Liam! Come on!" Jax shook his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. Both of them began to run towards the safety of the bunker.
The MAC-Guns fired continuously, their shots echoing like thunder through the streets. Gunships circled above, while more Hyperions and soldiers hurried towards the breach. Swarms of drones flew overhead, a coordinated ballet of technology and destruction.
Liam glanced in the direction the soldiers were running.
"The wall is only a kilometer away from here – the district spans about ten kilometers along the wall..."
Judging by the route they were taking, Liam deduced that the breach must have occurred somewhere in the middle – right in front of them.
At that moment, the ground shook violently, and Liam struggled to keep his balance. Civilians and soldiers alike turned towards the source of the tremor and went pale.
A Titan Mech, a gigantic humanoid battle robot, was hurled through the air. Its massive steel body flew like a toy... before crashing directly into a skyscraper.
The subsequent explosion was deafening, bringing the entire structure down. Like dominoes, floor after floor collapsed.
The sight was sheer terror.
Screams and panic erupted as people ran in all directions, trying to escape the impending chaos. But through the human clamor came another scream, louder and more sinister – it wasn't human. It was a sound that tore through the air, a roar that filled the hearts of the people with sheer terror.
Liam and Jax froze, their eyes wide with horror.
"What was that?" Jax whispered, his voice trembling.
Liam had no time to answer, for at that moment, a Hyperion shot out from a side street several blocks away and landed upside down on the asphalt.
The massive energy conductors sparked as the tank skidded to a halt. A whole platoon of soldiers in exoskeletons sprang from the alleyway, their weapons discharging in a desperate hail of gunfire at an unseen enemy.
Liam and Jax stared, almost paralyzed with shock and awe, when a strong hand grabbed them from behind. Liam was spun around to face a soldier's piercing gaze.
"Get out of here, kid!" the soldier shouted, shoving Liam towards the bunker. Liam shook off his confusion. Whatever was about to emerge from the alleyway... Liam knew he couldn't possibly defeat it. He grabbed Jax and started running again.
Liam glanced back several times. Only a few soldiers remained, desperately trying to evacuate the civilians. Most of the soldiers were moving further down the street to support their comrades.
Another explosion sounded, followed by a demonic roar that ripped through the air. Liam couldn't help but turn and saw a nightmare made of flesh and metal.
Where the battle raged intensely, a gigantic creature was tearing a Mech to pieces as if it were a ragdoll. The creature stood over fifteen meters tall, its birdlike body covered in black, glossy armor that looked like the hardened night. Muscular tendons, thick as steel cables, pulsed beneath its skin and tensed with every movement.
Two glowing red eyes glared menacingly from a skull that appeared both reptilian and avian. Its maw was filled with razor-sharp teeth that crunched like a chainsaw as it ripped the Mech apart.
Blood and oil sprayed in all directions as its powerful wings, spanning the entire width of the main street, generated a gust of wind that swept away debris and people alike.
The wings were not just for flying – they were equipped with hook-like claws that dug into concrete and metal as the creature advanced. Its screams, a mixture of screeches and roars, pierced through the wailing sirens and the cacophony of weapons fire.
The world seemed darker under the shadow of its wings.
If there had been any doubts before, they were now erased – Tarus was in real danger for the first time in over two decades. The demons had broken through.
Liam tore his gaze away from the horrifying sight and pulled Jax towards the bunker. "Faster!" he yelled, his voice cracking.
They ran, their steps hurried and uncoordinated, while the screams and chaos raged around them. The bunker wasn't far now, but they knew that every second counted.
Behind them, another deafening roar echoed through the streets as the creature grabbed another vehicle and crushed it effortlessly.
Just as Liam and Jax, along with the other fleeing civilians, reached the bunker, the soldier's voice rang out again.
"Down!" he shouted, and Liam instinctively pulled Jax to the ground. The next moment, a shadow flew over them, and he heard someone scream directly behind him, followed by the horrific sound of flesh being torn apart.
Liam rolled to the side, and a hail of bullets struck near the spot where he had been just a second before. He scrambled to his feet and saw another demon – a beast that had just ripped apart an unfortunate civilian behind him.
Liam recognized this creature from the city's collections and databases: a Hellhound. A Class Three demon.
"Fucking bastard," he cursed, and in the next moment, the gunfire resumed. Bullets rained down on the Hellhound, but aside from being pushed back slightly, the weapons had little effect.
The demon turned on its attackers and charged. Liam took the opportunity to find Jax – he couldn't help the soldiers, and after all, they were soldiers; they had to be able to fend for themselves.
He found Jax, who had managed to get back on his feet but was staring wide-eyed at the bunker... or rather, at the now-closed door of the bunker. Next to the door lay two dead soldiers, and a creature was scratching at the door.
Liam's breath caught in his throat. Another Hellhound.
The Hellhound was a terrifying creature. It was the size of a fully-grown bear, but its skin was covered in black fur that looked like hardened lava. Its eyes glowed red like those of all demons, and green saliva dripped from its maw. Sharp, claw-like legs dug into the ground as it scratched at the door, leaving deep gouges.
"Jax, we need to get out of here!" Liam shouted, grabbing his friend's arm and pulling him away. The Hellhound, which had been scratching at the entrance, turned away from the metal door and faced them with a furious growl.
With a terrifying roar, the creature leaped at them. Liam and Jax threw themselves to the side, narrowly escaping its deadly claws. The demon was about to turn around, but at that moment, it was hit by a barrage of fire from a nearby gunship.
Bullets and plasma rounds rained down on the beast, and Liam and Jax seized the opportunity to flee into a building on the side of the street. Panting, they crouched under a shattered glass window and cautiously peered outside. Jax was out of breath and seemed barely able to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
"How can that thing still be alive?" he panted, as they watched the two Hellhounds, which continued to wreak havoc despite the heavy fire.
Liam took a deep breath and explained, "The weapons of regular infantry are only effective up to Class Two demons... The gunship has stronger weapons, but these creatures are fast."
At that moment, a missile hit the first Hellhound, and a massive chunk of flesh exploded from it. The demon's body twitched and fell lifeless to the ground... but not before two more missiles embedded themselves in its flesh and exploded.
The two boys sighed in relief, but to their horror, the remaining Hellhound sought cover behind an overturned vehicle directly in front of them on the street. The beast sniffed the air, its glowing red eyes gleaming dangerously.
Then it turned directly toward them and stared through the broken window.
Liam felt his heart skip a beat.
"We have to stay quiet," he whispered, but his voice was barely audible over the pounding of his own heartbeat.
The Hellhound pulled back its lips and growled deeply. The creature began to move slowly towards the window where they were hiding. The gunship must have momentarily lost track of it.
Every second felt like an eternity as they watched the relentless approach of the monster.
Liam grabbed Jax's arm and squeezed it tightly.
"Ready, when I say go, we run," he whispered, and Jax nodded silently.
The tension was unbearable as the Hellhound came closer. Liam knew their only chance was to time it perfectly. He waited, his heartbeat pounding in his ears, and then...
"Now!" he shouted, leaping to his feet and pulling Jax with him. They ran as the Hellhound's roar echoed behind them, followed by a deafening crash as the demon burst through the wall.