Beginning after the end(2)

'Fifth' tried to shoot at it with a machine gun, but the minotaur's hide was too thick for bullets. They only make the minotaur more angry. It swung down the ax with great force and cleaved 'Fifth' into two parts. There was something like a smile on its ugly face. But it didn't last for long. When it was busy with 'Fifth' rockets were reloaded, and it was blown to pieces.

The fight didn't last for long after that. The demons without cover from mages and big ones were easy prey. The group of soldiers gathered near 'Fifth', he was cleaved through the waist and was still alive, but there was no hope for him.

"It… hurts… I… can't… see…" he muttered quietly.

'Commander' crouched down near 'Fifth' and helped him take the helm off.

'Fifth' was a man in his forties with a bald head and wrinkled face. His skin was pale from severe blood loss, and his blue eyes were dull already.

"Do you hear me, 'Fifth'?"

But 'Fifth' didn't respond. He had already lost the ability to hear.

"I…see… my daughters… wait…for…me… papa…is…coming…to…you…"

His body lost all strength. Those were his last words.

"He is dead."

No one responded. There was only silence. These soldiers were already accustomed to seeing someone die. They lost many comrades in this war, and they were ready to die themselves. But dying themselves and seeing someone die were different. It was much more difficult to see.

For a short time, the group mourned silently their fallen comrade.

"Check your weapons and move on. We don't have much time."

The group did what was ordered.

"I didn't know 'Fifth' had a family." said 'Cofi'.

"He had a family. But they died at the beginning of the war, and he didn't mention it."

"Then how do you know it, 'Loco'?"

"Not long ago, before this operation began, I saw him. He was holding a worn-out picture and crying. He must have thought that he was alone at that time. I just asked him about this picture. And he showed it to me. It was a photo of 'Fifth' with two girls. It was a photo of a happy family. I didn't even recognize that the man in the photo was 'Fift'. He was much younger and happier. And that's how I found out about his family."

"It looks like we all lost someone precious to us."

"True."

The group proceeded forward in silence.

***

There were more dangerous fights on their way to the 'gate'. But they managed it, and now they stood before a gigantic stone gate. The 'gate' was near. Only one more hall.

But there were only three people. They lost 'Loco' on their way. It was due to an ambush from a 'shadow'. These creatures were incorporeal and lurked in the darkness. Even the scanner can't detect them. And it is useless to shoot at the darkness. They can be dealt with only when they show their true form, and usually it's already too late for their victims. One of such creatures attacked 'Loco', but no one managed to notice it. 'Shadow' ripped 'Loco' apart with its long, sharp nails. Exoskeleton armor was like paper against it. 'Loco' was dead, but 'shadow' too didn't survive for long. It was dealt with shortly.

"There is only one creature behind this door." said 'Commander'.

"Must be one who is very confident about its strength."

"Blow the door up, 'Red'."

"Aye aye, sir."

The door was blown up, and three people went into the hall. And they saw it.

It was a beautiful young man with wavy blonde hair and crimson eyes. He laid back on his throne lazily. He wore black trousers and an unbuttoned white shirt.

He didn't even look at the intruders. All his attention was on the goblet in his hand.

"You finally came. It's rude to keep me waiting for this long. And only three of you managed to survive until this moment. I thought you would manage to provide some entertainment for me. But I didn't expect that you would be so weak."

He said it with a bored voice. But no one responded.

"Are cats got your tongue? Or are you too shocked to hear that I can speak your language? Learning your lesser creature's language wasn't difficult."

But instead of an answer, he received a storm of bullets.

BANG,BANG,BANG,BANG…

But this young man didn't even flinch. He just raised his palm, and a barrier was formed. The bullets didn't manage to go through it.

"Your weapon is useless against me."

But the group didn't stop shooting. And 'Commander' pulled out another weapon. It was a one-shot, large-caliber pistol. He took aim at this creature's heart and pulled the trigger. The bullet was shot, and the barrier didn't manage to stop it. The young man's chest was ripped apart.

"Did we manage it?"

"I don't know."

"I am going to check it."

With these words, 'Cofi' came closer to the throne. He aimed his rifle at this creature's head and shot. The young man's head was blown to pieces.

"It looks like he is dead now."

'Cofi' turned around, but it was a mistake. The young man's body regenerated in a moment. And he pierced 'Cofi's body with his right hand. His hand went in through his back and out of his stomach.

"Are you thinking it's easy to kill a prince from a blood clan?"

His voice was the same as before, bored.

'Commander' and 'Red' tried to save 'Cofi', but the young man just flickered with his left hand, and two of them were blown backward.

"Wait for your turn."

Only these words did he say to them and get his attention back to 'Cofi'.

"What will your last words be, you puny creature?"

"For…humanity…"

With these words, 'Cofi' activated all explosives on himself.

BOOM…

When 'Commander' and 'Red' managed to get back on their feet, there was nothing left except for the blast marks.

"Is he finally dead?"

"I don't know. But we must proceed forward. Let's move on."

The prince's body didn't regenerate. And two people just moved forward silently. There was a final battle ahead before the room with the 'gate'.

***

The enemies weren't numerous or powerful. They were just desperate to protect the 'gate'. Nonetheless, they managed to get 'Red'. It was because 'Red' was out of ammunition.

'Commander' was the only one who was still alive from the group. But it didn't matter. There were no more enemies. He just needs to destroy the 'gate', and the war and his revenge will be over.

When 'Commander' tried to approach the 'gate', there was a sudden noise from the door opening. He thought that it was from enemies and pointed his rifle at the door.

"Heh, 'Commander', do you hate me so much that you want to kill me?"

"You're still alive, 'Brother'."

"Of course, how can I die before my job is done?"

His words were light, contradictory to his appearance. 'Brother's' armor was covered with dried blood, claws, and weapon marks. And his left hand was disjointed and hung limply. These were all signs of a fierce fight.

"Help me with explosives."

With these words, 'Commander' turned his attention again to the 'gate'.

"Sure thing, but before that…"

BANG…

The bullet hit 'Commander's' right hand, and he dropped the weapon.

"What are you doing?"

But instead of an answer, 'Commander' received only a weapon barrel pointed at his chest.

BANG…

'Commander's' body was blown backward. He landed in the middle of the 'gate', and his helmet came off because of the impact. 'Commander' was a man in his late twenties. He had long black hair and gray eyes. His handsome face was pale from blood loss. There weren't any signs of pain on his emotionless face. He only glared silently at 'Brother', who came closer to him.

"Heh… You know, 'Commander', I found an unbelievable truth a month ago. It was so unbelievable that I didn't believe it at first. Who even can? The truth was about the man who saved me and my sister. About you, 'Commander'. So, 'commander', I wanted to ask. Why did you kill my sister!? She loved you. Why did you kill her!?"

But 'Commander' didn't answer. He only silently looked at 'Brother' and lost his consciousness.

"HAHAHA… DAMN IT!"

'Brother' tossed his weapon aside angrily.

"It looks like I should ask this question again in hell."

With these words, 'Brother' took all the explosives from his and 'Commander's' backpacks and planted them on the 'gate'.

"Let's meet in hell, 'Commander'."

With these words, he activated all the explosives. But he didn't manage to see that the 'Commander's' body was sucked inside the 'gate' before the explosion.

BOOM…

***

A man woke up in the strange darkness. There was a white floor made from marble-like material and golden bars of gigantic birdcage, which were carved with countless shining strange symbols. And this man was inside of it.

"Where am I?"