The notification was terror-inducing, but Lucian knew better than to panic.
The best course of action was to get out of the city as soon as possible and not wait to find out if what the rune said was factual. He watched as the priests gathered around the vehicle, a military-grade armored beast. With something like this, they could hopefully power their way out of the city, even if they encountered light resistance from the border patrol or a demon, or at the least they hoped so.
The scarred priest pulled out the card he had used to access the building and placed it at the vehicle's door. In response, it came to life with a low mechanical hum. Following the engine's start, what had seemed like a wall at the far end of the room slowly began to split open with a hiss.
"I'll do the driving while you handle the weapon," the scarred priest pointed to the larger of the men, who had a significantly more muscular build.
"Eiyad would be better at that," the muscular man objected, referring to the quieter, younger priest with blond hair shaved into a low cut.
As the priests debated while waiting for the wall to split open, Lucian's worry intensified with each flashing message from the rune. He hoped whatever was chasing him couldn't get down here. Demons shouldn't be able to use elevators, and even if they could, it took a special code to access their current location. But deep down, Lucian knew that wasn't enough. If it were, the people in the bunkers below the buildings would all survive, and from the stories, he was certain they wouldn't.
The wall finally split fully open, revealing a road lit by multiple red lights. However, just as their way out was revealed, a loud, consistent clang echoed from above, each impact sounding closer and closer.
"Everyone in the vehicle, now!" the scarred man barked, hitting the side of the door, causing it to slide open.
Lucian was the first to jump into the vehicle, and just as he did, he heard a loud bang from above. A new rune flashed a message before him, different from the previous one.
[A demon imp is present]
Lucian's heart dropped as he glanced at the rune. He then shifted his gaze to the dark roof above them, and with each second they had not moved, fear engulfed his entire being. After all, he was now certain a demon was coming.
As the last priest began to clamber into the vehicle, a deafening crash echoed through the chamber. Lucian looked up, his heart pounding in his chest. The roof above them buckled, then shattered, raining debris and revealing a small, grotesque figure—a demon imp.
The demon's diminutive form barely reached a human knee. Its skin, or at least what looked like it was a sickly shade of green, and its glaring gaze burned with an unnatural crimson light. Its face was twisted into a permanent sneer, and its sharp, pointed teeth gleamed in the dim light. The imp's hands were clawed, and its feet were cloven moving with an unnatural grace, quick and fluid.
It was smaller than they expected, but its presence radiated malice so thick their chest tightened up.
The muscular priest, last to board the vehicle, hesitated for a moment, eyes wide with disbelief and perhaps intrigue—he had seen a demon for the first time. In that split second, the imp lunged, claws flashing.
Blood sprayed as the demon ripped into him, a savage, brutal attack that left no chance for defense; the priest cried in agony as he wrapped his hands around the wrist of the demon.
"Go, Leave now" His exclaims turning to gurgles as the imp's claws ripped into his neck.
The priest's muffled scream was cut short as the door slammed shut, sealing them inside.
"Drive!" Lucian shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engine.
The scarred man needed no further prompting, flooring the accelerator as the vehicle surged forward; when facing such beasts, greif for fallen comrades were made secondary. The imp, finished with its prey, turned its glowing eyes toward them and gave chase.
"Get on the weapon!" the scarred man barked. Eiyad scrambled to the turret control within the safety of the vehicle, his hands shaking but determined. He aimed and fired, the plasma cannons lighting up the tunnel with each shot leaking a strong smell of ozone. The imp dodged and weaved, but a few blasts landed, slowing it down.
This went on continuously for minutes on end, the shots of the cannon finding their mark on the imp every once in a while, slowing down the demon only for it to quickly catch up again.
"We're almost out!" the scarred man yelled, the vehicle rocketing up the incline toward the exit. Lucian glanced back, watching as the imp persisted, its eyes locked on them with a feral intensity.
The vehicle burst out of the underground tunnel into the open air outside the city. For a moment, relief washed over them—until the ground shook with a thunderous impact. Another demon, larger and more terrifying, appeared from the shadows. With one powerful punch, it sent their vehicle tumbling through the air.
Lucian's world spun in a chaotic blur of metal and screams. The vehicle crashed down, rolling several times before coming to a halt. Pain shot through his body, but he forced himself to move, to look at their surroundings. The larger demon approached, and each step held a promise—death, doom…eternal damnation.
"What a joke…" Lucian muttered through a bloodied mouth and gripped tightly to the blade he was given.