The war, half the world is lost to the forces of hell. The last few nations still resisting join in one final attempt to stop their conquest. We have found the ARK and with it our last hope we could finally start pushing them back with this Power. So many of my friends, and fellow Bellatores (plural of Bellator) have died in this conflict, and in our final push we have one last chance, in what used to be people's homes, in places that used to be so full of life. All I see now is the corpses of the dead, and I envy them. For nothing is worse than being taken alive by the forces of Hell.
I began to look around the destroyed city. death and destruction in every direction. A group of regular soldiers from the military trying taking cover in what used to be a convenience store. A pack of hell hounds were advancing on their position. The Soldiers began firing their weapons on the hell hounds, but the bullets melted from the heat emitting from the pack. Within seconds the hell hounds were on top of them.
"Stay back!" A voice yelled.
I turned my attention from the carnage happening in the store to see a lone soldier.
he was cornered by one of Abaddon's monstrous Locusts, The creature glided towards him, its chitinous exoskeleton glistening in the dim light from the burning buildings surrounding the area, it raised its deadly stinger preparing for the kill.
The soldier's bullets bounced harmlessly off the beast's armor. In a final act of defiance, he raised his weapon to his own temple.
BANG.
The soldier collapsed, a stark reminder of the grim reality. A swift, self-inflicted death was preferable to the agonizing demise at the hands of the Locust. It was a grim truth I'd come to accept, a necessary evil to prevent the enemy from savoring their suffering.
I readied myself to go on the offensive and attack the locust, but it flew away searching for another victim.
"Lance, we need to move!" Elizabeth's voice cut through the chaos. I turned to see her standing in a shattered doorway, her fiery red hair a stark contrast to the ruined cityscape. Her hand gripped a spear, its pyrite tip glinting in the dim light of the doorway.
I raced towards her, ignoring the cries of help coming from every direction and entered the shattered building. Inside, we found the rest of our squad, huddled together in a ruined apartment.
Elizabeth moved into what used to be a dining room, she pulled a map from a small satchel she kept at her side and placed it on the table. We all gathered around the table to see our location, and to plan.
Elizabeth's voice was strained as she traced a finger across the map. "The military's holding the line, but they won't last much longer. The ARK should be ready in forty-five minutes, if everything goes according to plan. We need to get there and provide support."
"Can six of us really hold off that army?" muttered the Bellator, rubbing his forehead, his gaze fixed on the massive garnet-tipped Warhammer in his hands.
"It's a suicide mission," the dagger-wielding Bellator muttered, slumping to the floor in defeat.
I didn't want to agree but, we won't make it out of this, and a wave of despair washed over me. The odds were stacked against us.
"Come on, you two," the bow wielding Bellator chuckled, his tone surprisingly upbeat. "We've faced worse. As long as we stick together, we'll send those demons back to hell where they belong."
"He's right," Elizabeth said, a determined smile spreading across her face. "And we won't be alone. They are ordering every available Bellator to help repel the assault."
"And besides," I added, "we're dead if we don't stop them. Might as well go down swinging."
Everyone began nodding in agreement.
"Alright, everyone take a breather," Elizabeth ordered. "We'll move out in five minutes."
We moved swiftly through the ruined apartment complex, our footsteps echoing in the silent corridors. Every shadow held the potential for danger, so we moved with stealth and purpose, avoiding unnecessary confrontations. Our destination: City Hall, two miles away, where the ARK was being activated.
We reached the exit, and one of the Bellatores raised a hand. "I'll scout ahead," he said, his Warhammer glinting in the dim light as he passed through the destroyed doorway.
Tension crackled in the air as we waited, each passing second an eternity. My grip tightened on my sword, my heart pounding in my chest. A dark silhouette emerged from the shadows, and a chill ran down my spine.
"All clear," the Bellator announced, stepping into the doorway.
Relief washed over me as I loosened my grip on the sword. We filed out of the building and into the desolate streets.
"Took you long enough, man," the bow wielding Bellator joked, a grin spreading across his face.
"Sorry, just had to take in the sights," he said with a sheepish grin.
"Quiet down, you two," Elizabeth scolded. "The enemy could be anywhere."
"Sorry about that, Cap," the Warhammer-wielding Bellator began, but his apology was cut short.
Elizabeth, with a swift movement, shoved him aside and deflected a deadly strike from a cloaked figure wielding a blood-red rapier.
"What the hell!' yelled the Warhammer Bellator, as he struggled to his feet.
"As quick as ever, Elizabeth," the figure purred, his figure hovering ominously twenty feet away.
"I told you, you should've let me have the first strike," another cloaked figure chimed in, their dragon-headed spear glinting ominously.
The bowman unleashed a flurry of arrows, but the spear-wielding figure effortlessly batted them aside like pesky insects.
"Come now, you know you're no match for me," she chuckled, and then pointed at Elizabeth "How about a little duel? Let's see who wields theirs better" She smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. Elizabeth's eyes flashed with anger, a sight I'd never seen before. She raised her spear, ready to strike. But before she could make a move, the bowman interjected.
"Shut the hell up you traitor!" He yelled "Cap you all need to get moving we will deal with these two assholes." he said motioning to the Bellator with the Warhammer. "Right," the Warhammer-wielding Bellator grunted, his grip tightening on his weapon.
The spear-wielding figure laughed, "What do you two think you can do?" she scoffed. But her laughter was cut short as an arrow pierced her shoulder. "You bastard!" she screamed, a twisted grin spreading across her face. "I was going to make this quick, but now..." She trailed off, her voice filled with a sinister promise. She lunged forward, a blur of motion, but the bowman was too quick. He danced back, avoiding her strikes, and fired arrow after arrow with deadly precision.
"Don't play with your food," the other figure warned, a blood-red orb forming in his hand. But before he could unleash it, a powerful blow from the Warhammer wielding Bellator sent him crashing into a nearby building.
"Don't forget about me, asshole!" he shouted triumphantly.
"Let's move" Elizabeth shouted. We followed Elizabeth's lead, darting through alleys and ruined buildings. until we reached a church overlooking City Hall where the remaining forces were in a desperate fight trying to hold off the enemy forces. I stood with Elizabeth and peered out from the church window, a cold dread settling in my gut. The battlefield was a chaotic inferno, a maelstrom of fire and shadow. Demonic creatures, twisted and grotesque, swarmed the city, their crimson eyes glinting with malice. Our comrades, the valiant Bellatores, fought with desperate courage trying to rally and assist the military, but they were overwhelmed and began to fall one by one. Each fallen warrior was a chilling reminder of our own mortality. I glanced at my companions, their faces etched with fear and uncertainty. Their eyes, once filled with hope, now mirrored the despair that consumed me. The weight of the world seemed to rest on our shoulders, a heavy burden we were ill-equipped to bear.
Elizabeth turned to address what was left of the squad, but before she could speak, a cataclysmic explosion ripped through the church. A massive fireball, tore through the roof, engulfing us in a fiery inferno. I was hurled through the shattered window, my body crashing into the chaotic battlefield. Elizabeth, battered and bruised, landed beside me, her eyes wide with shock and defiance.
"Get up, Lance!" She shouted over the sound of battle. "We have to fight!"
My head throbbed, a fog obscuring my vision. The acrid stench of burning flesh and corrupted blood filled my nostrils, a sickening reminder of the horrors unfolding around us. Elizabeth, a whirlwind of deadly grace, moved with a ferocity. Her spear, a blur of lethal strikes, pierced through demonic flesh, leaving a trail of carnage all around us.
"Lance, please!" Elizabeth pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "I can't do this alone!" I nodded weakly, my body heavy and unresponsive. I couldn't even lift my sword.
"Don't worry i got you." Called a new voice a few feet away. I turned to see a Bellator, a woman with a staff etched with ancient runes, channeling a verdant energy towards me. The life-giving energy coursed through my veins, revitalizing my weary body. Strength returned to my limbs, and the fog in my mind began to clear.
"Thank you!" I shouted.
"No problem just buy me..." The woman's sentence was abruptly cut short as a massive mace descended upon her. Her body was crushed into red paste.
We will never make it out of this I thought, but I couldn't just roll over and die. With a roar, I charged into the demons, sword raised high. Each swing was a desperate gamble, a desperate bid for survival. My blade sang as it cleaved through demonic flesh. I danced with death, my movements were fluid and precise, parrying blows and delivering counterattacks with deadly efficiency. The heat of battle surged through me, adrenaline fueling my every move. The stench of burning flesh and sulfur filled the air, a constant reminder of the horrors that surrounded me. With each fallen demon, a surge of grim satisfaction coursed through me, a fleeting victory in a hopeless fight. Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, the demonic tide began to retreat. A surge of hope ignited within us.
"Push forward!" roared a Bellator clad in angelic armor, their voice echoing across the battlefield. Our forces, emboldened by this unexpected turn of events, surged forward. But before I could join the charge, Elizabeth grabbed my arm.
"Wait, something's wrong," Elizabeth said, her voice filled with uncertainty.
"What do you mean we're pushing them back" I argued as i tried to pull my arm away from her grip. A low, guttural rumble echoed through the battlefield, a sound that sent chills down our spines. It was the sound of something massive, something terrifying, something moving this way. A chilling voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Oh, you're in trouble now." I turned to see one of the hooded figures from before, perched atop City Hall, a macabre scene unfolding before my eyes. The once vibrant bowman was now a limp, lifeless husk, his blood dripping down her chin. A grotesque smile spread across her face as she savored the taste of her victim.
"You bastard!" Elizabeth roared, her eyes flashing with fury. She raised her hand, and a fiery orb of energy formed, hurtling towards the hooded figure.
The hooded figure effortlessly dodged the fiery projectile. "Still too slow, Elizabeth," she taunted, vanishing into the sky.
"Damn it" Elizabeth cursed as she threw her spear to the ground in frustration. A deafening rumble echoed through the city as the steps got closer, From the smoke-shrouded skyline, a pair of colossal, ruby-red eyes emerged, piercing through the haze. A chill wind swept across the battlefield, carrying with it the scent of sulfur and despair. The eyes, vast and menacing, descended upon the city, casting long, ominous shadows. A sense of dread washed over us, a premonition of the horrors to come. Before we could react, the very ground beneath our feet began to tremble. Cracks snaked across the battlefield, spewing forth molten lava. Screams and the hiss of searing heat filled the air. During this chaos, Elizabeth and I stood alone, the only two to survive the lava. "Well looks like it's up to us." Elizabeth said in desperation. She readied herself to charge, but before she could move, a colossal wave of force swept across the battlefield. The air itself seemed to solidify, pushing against us with immense power. Surprisingly, I emerged unscathed, my stance unwavering. I raised my sword.
"Ready when you are," I said, my voice echoing in the silent chaos. But Elizabeth didn't respond. A cold dread washed over me as I turned to see her, her lifeless body sprawled on the ground, her head severed from her torso. That last attack was powerful it just wasn't aimed at me.
"Damn it!" I yelled as I charged forward. Demonic laughter echoed through the air, shaking the very foundations of the city. A wave of energy the same as before hit me and darkness washed over me, and the world faded to black. My body plummeted through an endless void, the sensation both terrifying and strangely peaceful. This must be what death feels like, I thought, a surreal journey into the unknown. Then, with a jarring jolt, I was brought back to reality. The familiar scent of bacon filled my nostrils, and a soft thud echoed in my ears. I blinked, disoriented, as I lay sprawled on my bedroom floor. A wave of relief washed over me as I realized it was just a dream, a vivid and terrifying nightmare.