Chapter 73: Demon Invasion - Part 9

Chapter 73: Demon Invasion - Part 9

All the teams marched in a large, structured formation. The mechs, towering giants of steel and machinery, led the way, accompanied by thaumaturgists manipulating arcane energies. The air around them buzzed with the hum of power as their spells crackled. On the flanks, more thaumaturgists kept vigilant, forming a living wall of protection, while at the rear, Resh-1 and Strike Team 4325 maintained a solid defense, ensuring that no enemy could strike from behind. In the heart of this formation were the five leaders and the anomalies, the most critical members of the force, moving with a calculated calm as they advanced toward the portal.

Lina, positioned in the middle of the formation, scanned her surroundings. She observed the soldiers, their eyes darting, scanning for threats, occasionally engaging in skirmishes with demons that dared approach the group. Each encounter was swift and brutal, ending with the demons being obliterated without a single human casualty. But as she looked toward the leaders of the operation, her gaze fell upon a scene that caused her to nearly choke.

The five leaders sat casually on the mech piloted by the GOC leader, sipping tea and engaging in light conversation. It was as if they were merely on a pleasant outing, completely unfazed by the chaos unfolding around them. Cain, walking beside Lina, sighed at the sight and commented with a touch of humor.

"They can afford to do that because they're powerful. Their confidence isn't misplaced."

The leaders, meanwhile, were deep in conversation.

"Honestly, at this point, most of the organizations in the Hope System are scattered," DC noted between sips of tea. "Either they're hiding, or they haven't reached Level 10 yet for get access to the Global Chat."

"I agree," said Clara, adjusting her cup. "It might be time to sign a cooperation and peace treaty."

Midnight, sitting back, interjected with a serious tone. "That's going to be a huge problem."

The other leaders raised their eyebrows, waiting for her to explain. Midnight leaned forward, setting her cup aside. "The issue is, while most of our organizations are focused on protecting humanity, our ideologies are vastly different. You try putting the FBI Unusual Incidents Unit from the U.S. and GRU-P from Russia in the same room, and guess what happens? A brawl, no doubt. The same goes for putting the United Church of Satan next to the Holy Order of Knights Templar. They'll kill each other on the spot."

DC grinned. "I saw them at the last Council of the 108 assembly. One of them is a Polish Catholic, and the other is a metalhead disgusted by anything religious. Let's just say, during the introductions, they were inches away from drawing their weapons."

DC then turned to TA, the humor leaving his face. "You better hide SCP-343. The moment they find out about him, the religious groups and the Satanists will either try to kidnap him, save him, or outright kill him."

TA sighed, nodding. "True…"

Before any of them could continue, a figure floated toward the group. He bowed slightly before Clara and announced, "We are 500 meters from the portal."

The leaders turned to look ahead, suddenly realizing how quickly time had passed. They promptly jumped down from the mech, their expressions sharpening as they prepared for battle. DC, jumped in the cockpit of his mech, made his way to the front of the group of mechs leading the charge.

"Ladies and gents," he called out to the forces, his voice booming through the speakers of his mech, "allow me to lead the dance."

Without waiting for a response, he charged ahead, plunging into the thick of the battle. Behind him, the entire force surged forward, weapons raised, magic flaring to life. Lina was momentarily blinded by a brilliant red light as the portal came into full view. Shapes moved around her, the outlines of soldiers and thaumaturgists sprinting ahead to engage.

As the light receded, the sight that greeted her was one straight out of the worst depths of Hell. Battles raged across the landscape, a massive river of souls coursing through the infernal terrain. Above, demons clashed in aerial combat, their roars echoing over the battlefield. On the ground, an endless sea of demonic creatures turned their attention toward the approaching human forces.

"Open fire!" came the command from the frontline, and all at once, the air was filled with the deafening roar of gunfire and the dazzling flare of magical projectiles. 

As the battle erupted around them, everyone opened fire, creating a cacophony of gunshots, explosions, and monstrous roars. The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and gunpowder, while the ground beneath their feet trembled from the relentless onslaught. Leonard quickly barked orders to Resh-1, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Set up the nuclear device now. We have ten minutes." Without hesitation, Resh-1 operators moved into position, unpacking and assembling the bomb with precision.

Leonard flipped open his crimson-covered tome, chanting incantations under his breath. A surge of energy rippled around him as he extended his hand, summoning bolts of lightning that crackled through the air, lashing out at the demons. In quick succession, several were struck down, their bodies convulsing before disintegrating into ash. The battlefield was awash with fire and fury, but Leonard remained steadfast, glancing briefly at Resh-1 who gave him a thumbs up. He grabbed his radio, his voice cold and calm. "The bomb is live. Begin phased evacuation. Regular combatants, fall back first."

The retreat began in a controlled manner, but the demonic horde pressed harder, as if sensing the humans' intent. Endless waves of demons crashed against the defenders. Lina, seeing the surge, braced herself. She moved into the thick of the battle, her crimson tentacles unfurling from her back, swirling with dark energy. Each one moved with lethal precision, cutting through demons like a blade through flesh. Their bodies fell apart in grotesque halves, but more took their place.

Suddenly, three larger demons barreled toward her, their hulking forms towering over the others, horns gleaming in the hellish light. Lina felt a surge of adrenaline. With a roar, she threw herself into the fray. One of her tentacles lashed out, wrapping around the neck of the first demon and yanking it down with a bone-crunching snap. As its body hit the ground, her second tentacle impaled another, piercing its skull. She twisted, her third and fourth tentacles slashing outward to fend off the swarm trying to flank her.

The heat of battle was overwhelming. Demon's blood soaked the earth beneath her feet. Lina pivoted, narrowly dodging a massive claw aimed at her chest. She responded by launching herself upward, her tentacles propelling her into the air. From above, she could see the full horror of the battlefield—the sheer number of demons, their grotesque forms locked in battle with the retreating forces.

She landed hard, driving her knee into the third demon's head, stunning it just long enough for her tentacle to coil around its arm, pulling it violently from its socket. The creature howled in agony, but Lina showed no mercy. She drove her fist into its chest, her strength enhanced by the dark power coursing through her. The demon gurgled, its black blood pouring over her as it collapsed.

More demons rushed at her, claws extended, teeth bared. Lina's tentacles moved faster than she could think, grabbing one demon and flinging it into another. She spun, slicing through the air with a tentacle, beheading a nearby creature. Her focus sharpened as the horde closed in around her, and she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Her body moved almost mechanically, reacting to the threats with perfect timing.

Suddenly, a massive demon, larger than the others, loomed before her. Its fiery eyes locked onto Lina, and it charged with a deafening roar. She braced herself, her tentacles coiling defensively. As the creature came within range, she whipped one tentacle forward, but the demon was faster than expected. It grabbed the tentacle, pulling her toward it with brutal force.

Lina gritted her teeth, refusing to be overpowered. With her free tentacles, she struck at the demon's legs, knocking it off balance. As it staggered, she used the momentum to wrench her captured tentacle free, then drove it through the demon's chest with a savage thrust. The beast let out a final, guttural scream before collapsing at her feet.

Breathing heavily, Lina surveyed the battlefield. The chaos was still in full swing, but her section of the line was holding. She wiped the blood from her face, her body aching from the intense fight, but she knew she couldn't stop. There were still too many left. She turned, her tentacles curling in anticipation of the next wave.

The sound of the countdown ticking in her ear reminded her of the ticking clock. The nuclear device was live, and they had minutes to complete their mission.

Leonard stood amidst the thaumaturgists of Alpha-6, his eyes scanning the chaotic battlefield. The air buzzed with tension as waves of demons crashed against the frontline. A Serpent Hand member was about to fall under the claw of a beast, but with a quick gesture, Leonard sent arcs of lightning from his crimson book, SCP-066-DE, obliterating the attacker. He pulled the Serpent Hand member to safety and signaled an Alpha-6 soldier to escort them through the portal.

A massive Goliath demon barreled towards them, shaking the ground beneath its feet. Leonard flicked through the pages of his book, his fingers finding the right incantation. With a surge of power, he sent lightning bolts cracking into the demon's knees, halting its advance. The monster roared, its eyes burning with rage, but Leonard's focus remained unshaken. He summoned rocks from the depths of the earth and, with a swift motion, crushed the demon's head between them, its skull cracking like thunder across the battlefield.

He glanced at the bomb: seven minutes until detonation. "Second wave, fall back!" he shouted. The mechs began to retreat, their heavy feet stomping through the charred ground. All but DC's mech, which remained surrounded by the GOC thaumaturgists. They tightened their formation, ready for the onslaught.

Then Leonard saw it—a demon, draped in a cloak of shadows and crackling with dark lightning, soaring above the battlefield. It radiated malevolence, its black eyes locked onto the human forces. "That abomination is mine," Leonard muttered, his voice low but filled with determination. His body rose off the ground, propelled by his own magical energy, and he shot towards the demon, the pages of SCP-066-DE glowing with an eerie crimson light.

The demon hurled a spear of black lightning, aiming straight for Leonard's heart. With a flick of his wrist, Leonard deflected it, the bolt of energy dissipating into harmless sparks. He countered with a volley of scarlet energy blasts, each one aimed at the demon's core. The demon dodged, weaving through the sky with unnatural agility, but Leonard's precision was unmatched. 

The skies darkened further as the two combatants clashed. The demon unleashed a storm of black lightning bolts, each one crackling with corruptive power. Leonard raised his hand, and a barrier of pure, glowing energy appeared, deflecting the attacks in a brilliant flash. He then opened SCP-066-DE and began chanting in an ancient tongue. Red glyphs spun around him, forming intricate symbols in the air.

The demon screeched and summoned an ethereal black chain, whipping it towards Leonard. But Leonard was faster. He extended his hand, and the chain snapped in midair, falling harmlessly to the ground. The demon, enraged, summoned a vortex of shadow, intending to pull Leonard into its dark maw. But the moment the vortex approached, Leonard slammed his hand onto the book, and a crimson wave of energy exploded outward, shattering the vortex into pieces.

"Enough," Leonard growled, flipping the final page of his book. A massive rune appeared beneath the demon, glowing blood-red. The demon screamed as it was bound in place, unable to move. Leonard summoned two colossal stones from the ground, their surfaces crackling with red lightning, and with a powerful motion of his hands, he slammed them together around the demon.

The impact was deafening. The stones crushed the demon with a final, sickening crunch. As the dust settled, Leonard floated back to the ground, victorious, his eyes still burning with power from SCP-066-DE. He glanced at the bomb again. Five minutes left.

"Third wave, prepare to evacuate!" he commanded, his voice carrying over the battlefield as the remaining forces regrouped.

Black Eagle watched with frustration as the Administrator launched himself into the sky, engaged in a high-altitude duel with a black mage. His instincts screamed to assist, but he knew the fight was beyond his reach, both in height and power. Clenching his teeth in anger, Black Eagle turned his frustration towards the horde of demons advancing on his position. If he couldn't aid the Administrator, he would make sure nothing else got in the way.

With a swift movement, he unshouldered his assault rifle, a customized weapon built for both precision and power. His eyes locked onto the nearest demon, a hulking brute with burning red eyes, and squeezed the trigger. The bullets tore through the demon's leathery hide, each shot perfectly placed to cripple its movements. It roared in pain but kept advancing, fueled by rage. Without hesitation, Black Eagle switched his aim and unloaded the rest of the magazine into its chest, watching as the demon's momentum faltered, then collapsed into a heap.

Before he could reload, another demon—a fast, sinewy creature—lunged at him from the side. Black Eagle barely had time to react. He dropped his rifle, spinning on his heel to evade the creature's claws, and in one fluid motion, drew his sidearm. The demon screeched, closing the distance with terrifying speed. Black Eagle's eyes narrowed, and he fired three rapid shots, each hitting the demon squarely in the head. It stumbled, its body twitching uncontrollably before falling dead at his feet.

But there was no time to rest. More demons swarmed around him, each more vicious than the last. Black Eagle moved with deadly efficiency, holstering his pistol and drawing his combat knife, a blade honed for close-quarters combat. A horned demon rushed at him, its jaws snapping hungrily. With a grunt of effort, he ducked under its bite, plunging his knife deep into its throat. Dark blood spurted from the wound, coating his arm, but Black Eagle paid no mind. He twisted the blade before ripping it free, the demon's body collapsing at his feet.

Another beast—a large, wolf-like creature—leapt at him, its fangs bared. Black Eagle barely managed to sidestep the attack, but the demon's claws grazed his arm, tearing through his tactical gear. Ignoring the pain, he flipped the knife in his hand and slammed it into the creature's side, using his momentum to pin it to the ground. With one swift motion, he drew his pistol again and fired point-blank into its skull, silencing its snarls forever.

Panting, Black Eagle scanned the battlefield. The ground was littered with demon corpses, their twisted forms sprawled across the ground. His combat knife dripped with black blood, his gear torn and battered, but he remained unyielding. More demons were coming, but they hesitated, unsure whether to challenge the human who had cut down their kin so mercilessly.

Just then, his radio crackled to life. "Third wave, prepare to evacuate."

Black Eagle exhaled sharply, wiping the blood from his face. His mission wasn't over, but for now, he had done his part. He sheathed his knife, reloaded his weapons, and prepared for the next phase.

Black Eagle stood amidst the corpses of fallen demons, catching his breath after his brutal skirmish. His body ached from the cuts and bruises, but his resolve remained unbroken. As he prepared for the next wave, he noticed the demons ahead had suddenly stopped in their tracks.

A figure loomed in the distance, taller and more menacing than any of the others. The demon, standing over two meters tall, radiated an aura of authority that was impossible to ignore. The other demons parted, letting this one pass. Black Eagle, recognizing a high-ranking enemy, knew he couldn't let it reach the group of leaders unchallenged.

Gritting his teeth, he charged toward the Archdemon with his assault rifle raised, unleashing a burst of fire. The bullets hit the demon's thick hide but seemed to have no effect. Determined, Black Eagle dropped his rifle and leaped at the demon, brandishing his knife for a close-range attack. In a blur of movement, the demon grabbed him by the throat with one massive clawed hand.

Before he could react, Black Eagle was slammed into a nearby rock with bone-crushing force, the impact shattering the stone into rubble. Pain shot through his body, but he managed to keep his grip on his knife, his vision swimming as he fought to stay conscious.

The Archdemon let out a guttural roar, and all the lesser demons fell silent, their eyes fixed on the towering figure. It strode past Black Eagle without sparing him a second glance, heading straight for the leaders of the five organizations.

Struggling to his feet, Black Eagle saw the leaders assembling, ready to face the new threat. Leonard, one of the leaders, was fixated on a glowing blue screen that appeared next to the Archdemon, visible only to those with access to the Hope System.

The display read:

[ Name: Therian Theleman

  Race: Demon

  Rank: Archdemon, Wrath Class

  Level: 30

  Threat Level: Red ]

As the message lingered in the air, another notification appeared in front of Leonard:

[Ding! The Archdemon Therian Theleman has appeared. Host, please contain or terminate the threat.]