Ch 34: Demons

Serena's heart raced as she fumbled with her phone, her hands shaking with urgency. She barely managed to dial Valerie's number, and it rang only once before Valerie's familiar voice echoed in her ear.

"Serena? What's going on?" Valerie's tone was sharp, filled with concern.

"Brianna's in danger. I need you to come pick me up, now." Serena's voice was tight, panic rising in her chest.

"I'm already on my way. Stay put, okay? You need to contact Cecilia too," Valerie replied quickly, her words filled with a sense of purpose.

Serena didn't hesitate. She immediately dialed Cecilia. The moment Cecilia picked up, Serena's voice was desperate. "Cecilia, Brianna's in trouble. You need to head to Limer immediately and support her. I'll be there soon."

"Understood," Cecilia's calm voice responded, filled with unwavering confidence. "I'm on it."

The call ended, and Serena, her mind racing, stood anxiously by the roadside, staring at the distant horizon, praying for Brianna's safety. Minutes stretched endlessly, each second heavier than the last. Her thoughts kept circling around her family, especially the children.

Finally, the sound of a car screeching to a halt broke her from her thoughts. Valerie's sleek, red vehicle pulled up next to her. Serena wasted no time. She opened the door, hopped in, and slammed it shut.

"We need to go. Limer. Now," Serena urged, her voice breathless with urgency.

Valerie didn't waste a second. She pressed the gas pedal to the floor, the car shooting forward as she maneuvered through the streets at breakneck speed. The engine roared like a beast, but Serena couldn't calm her nerves. Every passing second felt like it could be too late.

"I'm praying for Brianna, Cecilia, and us," Serena whispered softly, her hands clasped in a silent prayer. She had already seen what monsters could do, what horrors they could bring. The thought of losing Brianna, Cecilia, or even Valerie was unbearable.

As they neared Limer, the air grew thick with tension. The landscape was eerily quiet, almost too still. Then, as they turned a corner, the chaos hit them. Hideous, malformed monsters—twisted creatures of nightmare—rampaged through the city streets. In the distance, Serena could see the faint silhouettes of other hunters battling fiercely, but the odds were stacked against them.

There, standing with a sense of serene focus amidst the chaos, was Cecilia. Her bow was drawn taut, and her arrows flew with precision, each one piercing the creatures with a deadly force. Her calm, unshakable posture reminded Serena of a warrior of old, an embodiment of strength and grace under pressure.

But as Serena's eyes scanned the area, her heart dropped. A hunter had fallen to the ground, his body bloodied and broken. Without hesitation, Serena threw open the door and rushed towards him, her healer's instincts taking over. She knelt by his side and whispered the incantation for her skill.

"Soul's Embrace…"

The moment the words left her lips, a warm, radiant light surrounded the hunter. His injuries began to heal almost instantly, the blood closing, the bruises fading, and the strength returning to his body. The hunter groaned in surprise, blinking as he sat up, looking at Serena with gratitude in his eyes.

"You're... you're amazing," he said breathlessly. "Thank you."

Serena smiled faintly, though there was little warmth in it. "Get back in the fight. Don't stop."

She stood up and put her hands in a praying position, with a quiet prayer, she activated her next ability. "Sanctuary of the Pure…"

A brilliant circle of light expanded outward from her, enveloping all the hunters around her. The sanctuary, pure and calming, swept over them, healing their wounds and restoring their spirits. Their injuries faded, the exhaustion lifted from their shoulders, and they readied themselves once more for battle.

Meanwhile, Valerie had already joined the fray. With her sword drawn, she moved like a whirlwind, cutting down demons with lethal precision. Her strikes were swift, leaving a trail of fire in her wake. "Inferno Strike!" she shouted, and a wave of flame burst forth from her blade, incinerating everything in its path. Demons howled in agony as they were consumed by the flames, their twisted forms crumbling to ash.

Cecilia, too, was a force to be reckoned with. She stood in perfect harmony with her bow, her arrows never missing their mark. She raised her hand to the sky, her voice firm as she invoked her skill. "Tidal Barrage!"

A barrage of arrows shot into the air, each one imbued with elemental power. They rained down on the monsters with incredible force, striking with unyielding strength. The numbers of demons slowly began to dwindle, but Serena's vigilance never wavered. She knew the fight was far from over.

Then, just as they were starting to make headway, the sky above them began to tremble. A crack appeared in the heavens, a swirling void that tore through the air like a wound in the fabric of the world. From within the rift, a monstrous shape emerged—a beast larger and more grotesque than any of them had seen before. Its eyes gleamed with malice, and its claws stretched out like the talons of death itself.

It charged toward the evacuation center, its movements fast and vicious.

"Valerie, take me to the evacuation center!" Serena's voice rang out with determination, her hands gripping the seat as she stared at the incoming threat. "Now!"

Valerie didn't hesitate. With a snarl, she activated her combat speed, lifting Serena with ease in a princess carry. "Everyone else—focus on the lower demons! We'll handle the big one! Wait for backup!" she shouted to the other hunters, her voice commanding and unwavering.

Without another word, Valerie dashed forward, her footsteps creating tremors as she propelled them both toward the evacuation center. Her fiery trail lit up the street as she sped toward their destination.

Cecilia, meanwhile, had already set her sights on the evacuation center. She was a blur of movement, her wet trail marking her path as she sprinted ahead. "Brianna, hold on! We're coming!" she called, her voice filled with both urgency and hope.

Serena's mind raced, a thousand thoughts and fears crashing through her. Brianna had to be safe. Cecilia would make sure of that. Valerie would protect them. And Serena, no matter what, would fight to ensure her family—and her team—survived.