Ch 35: Determination

The battlefield outside the evacuation center was a scene of absolute carnage. Smoke rose in thick plumes, blotting out the sun, while the ground was slick with the blood of hundreds of slain demons.

Brianna stood at the center of it all, a lone figure surrounded by countless corpses. Her armor was battered, her cloak shredded, but her dark aura flared defiantly around her, pulsing with raw, destructive energy. She wiped sweat from her brow with a trembling hand, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

But the demons kept coming.

"Fine," she muttered under her breath, a wry smile tugging at her lips despite the ache in her body. "You want more? Then come and get it."

She raised her hand, her fingers curling as she summoned the last reserves of her mana. Shadows coalesced around her, forming jagged tendrils that writhed like living creatures. "Shadow Requiem!" she shouted, her voice ringing across the battlefield.

A massive wave of dark energy erupted from her, the tendrils lashing out in every direction. They skewered demons with ruthless precision, draining their vitality and reducing them to ash. The air crackled with the aftermath of the spell, and for a brief moment, the tide seemed to turn.

But Brianna's legs buckled beneath her, and she dropped to one knee, her vision swimming. She was exhausted, her mana reserves nearly depleted, and the strain of casting such a powerful spell was beginning to take its toll. Yet even as her body screamed for rest, she forced herself to stand.

That's when she saw it—a massive swarm of demons breaking off from the fight and heading straight for the entrance of the evacuation center. Her blood ran cold.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. Then louder, with all the force she could muster "No! Not on my watch!"

She launched herself into a sprint, her boots pounding against the blood-soaked ground as she chased after the demons. Her heart raced as she fired off another dark spell, the tendrils of energy whipping out to strike down a handful of demons. But there were too many, and she was too far behind. One by one, they slipped through the center's gates.

"Damn it!" she cursed, her panic rising. Her legs burned, her lungs felt like they were on fire, but she pushed herself harder, running faster than she ever thought possible. She couldn't let the civilians down. She couldn't let herself fail.

By the time she reached the gates, the sight that greeted her nearly broke her. Injured civilians lay scattered across the courtyard, their groans of pain filling the air. Blood stained the cobblestones, and the swarm of demons had already breached the interior.

But they were alive. And as long as they were alive, there was still hope.

Brianna raised her hand, summoning what little magic she had left to cast Shadow Sanctuary, encasing the injured civilians in a protective dome of shimmering dark energy. "Stay safe," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the chaos. Then she turned and bolted inside the center.

The scene inside was even worse. Civilians huddled in the corners, their faces pale with fear as injured hunters stood between them and the oncoming demons. The hunters were doing their best to hold the line, but it was clear they were outmatched. Brianna's heart clenched at the sight.

"No more," she said, her voice low but resolute.

Her bloody eyes blazed with determination as she raised her hands, dark energy swirling around her once more. She unleashed a torrent of spells—Shadow Surge, Void Barrage, Eclipse Strike—each one more devastating than the last. Demons fell in droves, their bodies disintegrating under the onslaught. She moved like a force of nature, her exhaustion forgotten as she poured everything she had into protecting the innocent.

"I will not let anyone die!" she roared, her voice echoing through the center. "And I'll make you monsters pay tenfold for every drop of blood you've spilled!"

Her fury was a palpable thing, and the remaining demons began to falter, their movements hesitant as they realized they were no match for her wrath. Some turned to flee, but Brianna wasn't about to let them escape. She raised her hand one final time, casting a massive spell that engulfed the retreating demons in a storm of shadows.

When the dust settled, the center was eerily silent. Brianna stood amidst the carnage, her body trembling with exhaustion. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand, her vision blurring.

"Are... are you alright?" one of the hunters asked, rushing to her side.

Brianna forced a smile, her voice faint. "They're safe, right? That's what matters."

She sank to the floor, her strength finally giving out. She was about to close her eyes when a commotion caught her attention. A woman clutching a baby broke away from the group and ran toward the exit.

"Wait!" Brianna called, struggling to her feet. Her legs felt like lead, but she forced herself to follow.

By the time she reached the gates, it was too late. She saw the woman's lifeless body lying in a pool of blood, the baby wailing beside her. A massive demon loomed over them, its glowing red eyes fixed on the child.

"No," Brianna whispered, panic rising in her chest. She tried to summon her magic, but her mana was completely drained. She had nothing left.

The demon lunged for the baby, and Brianna's body moved on instinct. She threw herself forward, grabbing the child and shielding it with her body as the demon's claws raked across her back. Pain exploded through her, but she didn't let go.

Her mind raced for a solution, but every plan she came up with was impossible. She was out of mana, out of strength, and out of time.

Tears filled her eyes as she hugged the baby tightly. "You'll live," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'll make sure of it."

The demon loomed over her, its claws raised for the final blow. Brianna closed her eyes, her thoughts turning to her son, the children her friends—Serena, Valerie, Cecilia.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Goodbye."

And yet, even as she accepted her fate, her resolve never wavered. She would protect the innocent. No matter the cost.