Slash!
Slash!
The cacophony of slicing and dicing echoed through the battlefield. Rich, alongside the remaining exorcists, battled fiercely against the horde of possessed.
While Rich charged into the throng, skillfully slicing and dodging, his comrades fought valiantly but were gradually overwhelmed.
Despite their determined resistance, the numbers of the possessed increased exponentially, with more and more of the monstrous beings converging upon them.
As the ranks of the possessed swelled, the resolve of the exorcists began to falter. The exorcists, outnumbered and outmatched, were gradually overpowered.
The number of exorcists dwindled as the fiends tore through their ranks with brutal efficiency. Some exorcists, desperate to escape, were caught and shredded to pieces within minutes. Others, trapped in various corners, suffered the same grim fate.
The once chaotic but hopeful skirmish quickly devolved into a one-sided massacre.
Rich, beheading a possessed with grim determination, surveyed the battlefield. His comrades were being torn apart, whether they fought or attempted to flee. His vision began to blur with a mix of fear and rage.
"Fifty... no, seventy possessed. Our numbers are dwindling compared to theirs. I... I made a grave mistake. I overestimated these young recruits' ability to handle a possessed alone, and now... they're all falling."
Lowering his gaze, Rich sheathed his katana, freeing his hands.
"This, all of this, is my fault. I led these young souls to a meaningless death. I... I am responsible."
"But it's too late for regrets. To honor their sacrifice, I must end this now!"
Rich resolved, narrowing his eyes with a fierce, boiling hatred. Joining his hands as though in prayer, he took a deep breath and began chanting softly.
"Technique activation:..."
"...a spe-"
His incantation was abruptly interrupted by a familiar, ominous hum. A blinding beam of light, equivalent to the previous one, erupted from the top of a distant building, striking both the buildings on the horizon and the streets where the battle raged.
BOOM!!!
Realizing the impending disaster, Rich turned and sprinted away from the collapsing buildings and the shower of debris.
"Everyone! Take cover!!!"
The buildings crumbled, sending rubble and debris flying with a violent gust. The destruction of one building crashing into another exacerbated the chaos, increasing the carnage and death toll.
Moments later, the entire area lay in ruins, reduced to a desolate wasteland. The landscape bore no sign of life—neither possessed, humans, nor exorcists. In a single cataclysmic blast, all participants in the battle had been obliterated.
Amidst the wreckage, a faint flicker of movement caught attention.
The debris shifted, revealing the remnants of the exorcists. Rich, along with three others—two young men and a girl—emerged from the wreckage. Enclosed within a protective barrier of swirling wind, the exorcist controlling the wind released his technique, collapsing onto one knee. The other two exorcists rushed to his aid, supporting him to prevent further collapse. Rich remained still, scanning the flattened landscape with grim resolve.
"Are you okay?" the female exorcist asked compassionately.
"Yeah, I'm fine." the wind-wielding exorcist replied, his voice weak but relieved.
"You actually saved us!" the other exorcist exclaimed, filled with gratitude.
"I thought we were done for." he added.
As they exchanged thanks, Rich continued his somber inspection of the devastated landscape. Noting the absence of any life, he finally turned to the young exorcist who had sacrificed so much.
"You performed admirably. Though it pains me to admit, we would all have perished had you not risked everything. For that, I am truly grateful."
The young exorcist, taken aback by the praise from a senior, rose to his feet.
"There's no need for thanks. I feel inadequate. I could only save a fraction of our numbers. It's disgraceful, not praiseworthy."
"Perhaps, but you demonstrated the capacity to save lives, and you did so at great personal cost. For that, I am deeply appreciative. Thank you." Rich responded, lowering his head in genuine gratitude.
The young exorcist, visibly moved, stepped back, waving his hands in modesty.
"There's no need for such formality. You're my superior."
"Regardless, I owe you my thanks."
Hesitating for a moment, the exorcist nodded in acceptance. The other exorcists, still in shock, remained silent as the gravity of their situation settled in.
"...Alright. You're welcome." the young exorcist replied quietly.
Raising his head, Rich surveyed the trio of exorcists, scrutinizing each face before finally directing his gaze at Son, the young man who had saved them.
"If I may inquire, what are your names?" Rich asked.
After a brief pause, they introduced themselves.
"I'm Nina... Nina Hart," the young female exorcist said, her charming smile revealing her youthful beauty.
At seventeen, she possessed well-defined muscles and a nunchuck strapped to her belt, emphasizing her formidable presence.
"I'm Ferdinand Bright, a student-level exorcist." the second boy replied. His modest attire did little to diminish his handsomeness, accentuated by his brunette hair.
A short, broad sheathed dagger hung from his belt, hinting at his skill with close combat.
"I'm Don—just Don, but you can call me Donny." the third boy added. With his muscular build, dull blonde hair, and a well-honed double-pointed pickaxe, Don exuded a rugged charm.
"I'm Son... Son Kangleon." the young exorcist who had just saved them murmured. A short Korean with an air of both kindness and ruthlessness, Son's appearance and demeanor suggested he was a prodigious talent.
His sheathed katana, ever-ready, completed his formidable profile.
Drawing a soft smile, Rich adjusted his jacket while continuing to appraise the young exorcists.
"Pleased to meet you all. I sincerely hope we can become better acquainted after this."
"But I must ask—can you all still fight?" Rich inquired.
Confusion etched on their faces, Nina mustered the courage to respond.
"Fight? Everything's dead. There's nothing left to battle; the fight is over."
"Not yet. There's still one more enemy left. Whatever caused that blast is still alive. As long as it lives, we cannot afford to rest." Rich stated firmly.
"That's... that's insane. You're asking us to face something that obliterated an entire neighborhood in under a minute." Ferdinand exclaimed.
"I'm not asking. I'm suggesting. You're free to decline and seek medical attention, but I cannot rest until every threat has been neutralized." Rich asserted.
Son stepped forward with a determined grin.
"I'll fight with you."
"Son!" Don protested.
"You're exhausted. You've just used your technique and are drained."
"That may be true, but how can we call ourselves exorcists if we abandon our duties at the first sign of danger?" Son retorted.
The other three exorcists stood in stunned silence, their fear evident as they averted their eyes. Rich, observing their apprehension, turned away.
"You can go. I'll handle this—"
"Wait... I'm coming too." Nina interjected.
"We've survived this carnage. We can face whatever comes next." she added with determination.
Gathering his resolve, Don stepped forward as well.
"I'm in too. I won't let you all take the hero's spotlight without me."
Grinding his teeth in frustration, Ferdinand sighed and also moved forward.
"You're all so..."
"Are you sure? I don't mind going solo." Rich questioned.
"We've made up our minds. If you're going to fight, then we'll fight alongside you." Son declared.
"I have a question, though. How do we locate the source of the blast?" Nina asked, scratching her head.
"That won't be a problem. The blast originated from that direction" Rich said, pointing to the pinnacle of a building some meters away.
"That's where we need to head first."