In a blink of an eye, everyone stands in conplete shock; mostly, at the sight of Kato stands in the center with a calm smile.
They'd all stare at Kato in silence before Lillian causes an ignition of black flames coating her left hand that she throws forward into a gust of black flames towards Kato who stands unfazed by the flames what so ever. Lillian's eyes widen in surprise before ceasing her flames. Kato raises and snaps his left fingers; unleashing a wave of energy that knocks everyone around him away.
Lillian to Kiyoshi: Kiyoshi, get out of here.
Kiyoshi nods and gets up to rush towards the staircase but gets blocked by a red demon with a Mesomorph body build and red tentacles attached to its body.
Kiyoshi: Tch?! [He attempted to pull his gun out but gets grabbed by the demon's tentacles wrapping around his body into the air with a tight squeeze.]
The firefighter taps the left side of his upper thigh; activating the nano-tech located under his pants that tear out the tapped pant section and wrap onto his entire arm, forming a black silvery gauntlet that constructs a Missile he fires successfully at Kato who absorbs the kinetic and thermal energies released from the Missile into his body.
Kato: [He looks at the firefighter.] You not supposed to be here.
Firefighter: Oh, trust me— [He takes the gauntlet off and tosses aside to take out his arm gadgets that form into his pistols that he aims at Kato.] I know... [He starts firing rapid shots at Kato along with Lillian launching a barrage of her own black flames towards Kato, keeping him occupied and giving Vera the opportunity to make her own move.]
Kato stands completely still with his left palm open; absorbing the black flames with his body absorbing the kinetic energy from the impact of the firefighter's bullets.
Vera: [Seeing as Kato has his sights at the firfighter with a smirk, Vera takes the opportunity to take a deep breath befote gripping her knife tightly and running towards Kato, getting in close range; thanks to the others attacks being distractions for her.
Red-demon: [He smiles sadistically at the sight of Kiyoshi being crushed slowly in his hold before looking aside at Vera with her gaze fixed on Kato. He smirks before sending out a sharp tentacle that pierces her right side abdomen]
Vera's eyes widen in surprise as the tentacle pierces her side and a sharp cry slips out from her. The sharp cry catches Lillian's attention, turning her attention to the red demon and the red tentacle piercing Vera's side.
Lillian: Vera!! [Without hesitation, Lillian rushes towards the red demon, ready to save her ally and defeat this foe but is then intercepted by Kato firing a black wave of concussive force that knocks her to the ground.]
Firefighter: Tch! [He stops firing and slams both his pistols onto one another forming into a pistol grip, then afterwards he detaches a nano gadget on his right upper arm and places it onto the grip forming into a rectangular barrel with an integrated Reflex Sight with a custom cyan Distance Triangle reticle.] Time to crack on...
The firefighter spins the gun around his index finger by the trigger guard before holding and aiming directly at the tentacle piercing Vera's side and fires a bullet like energy projectile at the center of the long the tentacle; instantly dividing the tentacle and turning the end piercing Vera's side into a dark red mist. Vera gasps with pain from the agony of the tentacle being severed and removed from her body. She takes in sharp breaths with her eyes watering in pain as she wraps a hand around her wound, applying pressure to it. The red demon looks at his severed tentacle in confusion on why he felt no pain after having his tentacle blasted in half before seeing the firefighter warping in a blue glow to him; having the gun's barrel pushed under his jaw. In less than a second, the demon leans back before the firefighter pulls the trigger firing another projectile that hits the ceiling causes it to start decomposing at a slow rate. A second after the trigger was pulled, the demon kicks the firefighter in the chest sending the man 10 meters back.
Kato [thoughts]: [He stands and watches the red-dempn and the firefighter; with his sight mostly fixated on the firefighter's gun.] That fighter's weapon... it's like the sword of executioners. How fascinating...
Lillian: [She rushes over to Vera's side with a concerned expression on her face.] Are you okay?
Vera: [She winces as she applies pressure, her teeth clenched tightly.] Y-yea... But it hurts like hell.
Lillian: [She nods with a pained expression from the sight of the wound.] I know, stay with me, alright? I'll heal you as best as I can. [She holds Vera's wound with one hand and uses her other hand to use her powers to start healing the wound.
The firefighter warps to the demon's behind and fires two shots; one to the demon's back and the other to the tentacle holding the unconscious Kiyoshi. The demon manages to evade the shot despite its close proximity with a ducking side step to his left but the tentacle holding Kiyoshi gets severed and turned to mist; dropping the man to the ground unconscious. The red-demon turns around; clockwise, with his left fist grown large and thrusted to hit the firefighter who warps to Kiyoshi's side with his palm on his chest, The demon shouts out "STAY STILL!" before sending out a tentacle to pierce the firefighter but fails as he warps 16 meters behind the red demon, evading the tentacle before firing rapid shots that the demon quickly dodges with his reflexes, irritating the firefighter into stopping his fire.
Red-demon: [He grunts with a smirk on his face as he stands tall before seeing that Kiyoshi has disappeared from his side and sees that he's right where Lillian and Vera are. He then looks at the firefighter.] Good work, teleporting him out of my sight. I would have used his body as extensions of my own.
Firefighter: [He spins his gun once again.] Blargh... You demons are so weird...
Kato: ... Paimon, Bring me the gun once you done. [He turns and walks pass Paimon towards the staircase.]
Red-demon: And where are you going?
Kato: To retrieve the key...
Lillian turns her attention from Vera to Kato, her expression being one of anger and worry.
Lillian: He can't get away with the artefact! We have to stop him...
Firefighter: Then get off your bloody ars and go stop him! [He fires 5 shots at the demon that evades while running up to him and shoulder bashing him onto a wall.]
Lillian: [Lillian stands up, determined to stop Kato from getting the key, but also concerned about the firefighter and Vera. She looks at Vera and speaks] You'll be alright, I'll be back as soon as I can.
Vera: Tch, Where you going?
Lillian [while running towards the staircase]: Going after Logan!
Vera*Himeno nods, though a bit reluctantly. Her face showing a mixture of pain and concern. She watches as Lillian runs after Kato, the determination in her eyes clear. Himeno tries to take her mind off the immediate situation as she turns her attention to the unconscious Kiyoshi, who lay on the floor. She moves closer, trying to assess his condition.*
*Himeno crouches down next to Kiyoshi, checking to see if he's breathing and if there's any visible signs of injury or bleeding. She gently taps his cheek, trying to wake him up.*
"Hey, can you hear me? Wake up."
Lillian rushes up the stairs as fast as she can towards Kato with determination etched on her face. She sees him just nearly about to step through the double doors of the fifth floor and yells out his name "Logaaann!!"
Kato: [He sighs before around to see her running up to him.] ...
Lillian: YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!! [Coating her left arm in black flames; incinerating the sleeves of her suit, She makes a big leap in attempt on attacking Kato but gets caught in a pink aura that keeps her still in the air.] HUH?! W-what the hell is this?! Let me go!!
Kato: It's not me.... [Steps are heard coming down from the stairs that lead to the sixth floor and up, a female human with light brown hair, pink eyes appears; wearing a dark blue shirt that reveals how lean she is with a dark red tie and black pants, she has her hand held up in a pink energy glow as she looks at Lillian with a smirk.]
Lillian: [She looks at the woman with a mix of surprise and wariness.] Who... the hell is this?
Kato: This is scarlet Maven. My second in command.
Lillian: "Scarlet Maven..." [She looks at Scarlet Maven with distrust, still struggling against the pink aura that holds her in place.] WHY are you helping this man?
Scarlet: ...That's none of your business.
Lillian: Tch...
Kato: [chuckles] Lillian... The vessel of chaos... I'm STOKED that we meeting again. This time without your... Superior.
Lillian: Partners now...
Kato: Oh, Really? That's good.
Lillian: Why are you holding me? What do you want?
Kato: The demon you have, locked away deep down in that black void you call a soul... that's what I want, to help reveal where the artefact is.
Lillian: Tch..
[2nd floor]
The firefighter gets tossed across the area, landing on his front side harshly with a purple bruise beneath his left eye. He coughs out blood as he slowly gets up from the ground and looks to his left side; seeing Vera crouching down next to kiyoshi and trying yo wake him up either palm tappings to the cheek.
Firefighter: Tch... C'mon Barry... You've gone through worse best downs than this... [He looks at the red demon that Chuckles with tentacles extended out from his back as he stares back at the firefighter.]
Barry [thought analysis]: Large, fast, and strong... this demon's a problem... [Looks at Vera and the unconscious Kiyoshi before looking at the demon with a smirk.] Risky... Very risky... but just might work if I don't fuck up.
Barry: [He spins his gun 3 times] Urgh, who am i kidding. I'm so screwed...