Demon

The alarms echoed through the citadel, signalling that something hit the slums hard.

Callum searched for the sensation, flashbacks of the nightmare that plagued his home citadel just three years prior flooded into his mind.

Quinn grabbed Callum by the shoulder "Leave this one to the heavy hitters, you're to fresh still to be thrown at something like this."

Despite the ear piercing alarms and panic storming through the halls Quinn had his usual calm and composed nature to him. Callum gave him a silent nod and then followed him.

Quinn led the three new bloods to the town center. A massive crowd formed of nobles with the personal body guards and the gate keepers with less combat oriented abilities. Despite being the inner line of defense Callum noticed many of the gate keepers had a powerful aura to them.

Callum focused his attention inward, feeling the surge of sensations cross his body as hectic movement broke out. He could sense the small army of gate keepers flooding to the crumbling ruins of the slums.

No matter how hard Callum searched, he couldn't locate the nightmare creature that was the source of the chaos. Instead finding a wave of destruction.

Quinn gave the three instructions to stay put before rushing off towards the battle himself. A strange look of excitement and bloodlust cast upon his ruggedly handsome face.

A visible worry and panic settled on Maria's face, she cowered and huddled against a wall trying to make herself appear scarce. Callum remembered their interaction at the colorless cafeteria and confirmed his suspicion about her being from the slums.

Meanwhile Bart had an entirely different reaction. One of a noble kid who has never seen real danger or had a need for self preserverance. He cast a devious smile towards Callum.

"I've seen your ability to fly, let's go watch this carnage." The stout man's excitement and overall lack of empathy for the lives lost in the battle became apparent.

Despite hating the enthusiasm this conflict sparked within Bart. Callum was harboring the exact same desire to watch.

"Alright, let's go." The two young awoken raced off together towards the gate. Stepping through the small man door beside the massive symbolic steel gates of the citadel.

The real gates were barred and stayed shut at all times. The original creators of the citadels made them as a symbol, half towards the Gate keepers and half a symbol of peace. Looking forward to the day that the giant steel contraptions could finally open.

However today couldn't be further from that ideal. Once outside the man door Callum soared into the air, finding a perch to rest on just high enough to witness what was happening.

"Hey, pull me up there you numbskull." Bart stared angrily, the stout man looking even more tiny from the vantage point. Hesitantly Callum focused.

Finding Bart's sensation and attracting it to him. The stout young man flailed while air born. Clearly not accustomed to his feet being off the ground but he reached the perch nonetheless.

Now able to bare witness to the massacre, a stark reality hit both young soldiers. Laid out across the dilapidated homes of the slums was an absolute massacre.

The ramshackle homes made for an unsightly picture as is but carnage amplified the picture.

Blood and viscera lined the streets with many homes being completely decimated. The people of the slums scattered like bugs under a rock.

Finding stragglers speckled here and there with no where else to go. Down the main walkway towards the gate stood a being that Callum recognized.

The long with frame of steel muscles rolling under gray skin. It's face blank and void of any features. Two pauldron like protrusions sticking out sideways from its shoulders like spikes. It walked on towards the citadel seemingly unfazed by the gate keepers.

Bodies of blue and gold armor littered the streets behind the abomination. Halting it's progress minimally if at all. A familiar soldier came face to face with the monstrosity.

Dallas stood head on against the beast, his hand on the hilt of his longsword. Beside him stood two other soldiers neither of the young men recognized.

The young black haired man on the right got into a low stance, his shadow seemed to tremble but before he made his move the lady on the left took the spotlight. Her silver hair tightly braided at the back jumped as she darted forward. Multiple swords streaked through the air, each one as graceful as her movements.

Seemingly spawning from nowhere before darting directly at the faceless beast. The beast made no effort to avoid or defend against the flashing steel. Taking each blade head on and walking through unscathed.

The blades sliced around the beast and spun back, settling behind the unperturbed beast.

At the same time a barely noticeable dagger sliced against the Achilles of the beast, protruding from its shadow.

Finally Dallas made his move, instantaneously he appeared behind the beast, seemingly summoned by one of the girls swords. The silver longsword drew a streak of light through the sky before coming down on the back shoulder of the monster.

A moment after the blade crashed down the beast turned throwing it's arm back in an arc towards Dallas's head. Dallas weaved back just in time, the arm slicing through the air inches from his face.

As the beast opened its stance the blades settled in the air behind it came to life. Attempting to pierce the beast from all angles but once again the bounce off its dark grey skin.

A half second later the being in the shadows formed and pushed his dagger directly into the beasts lower abdomen. The steel shrouded in a dark shadowy aura, leaving it's fist mark on the beast. All three soldiers backed off simultaneously, giving space between them and the monster.

The three continued to circle the faceless abomination, despite the pinpoint precision of their teamwork and the whirlwind of steel clashing against it's skin. The beast seemed unfazed.

The small scratch left by the shadow coated dagger, burned itself back to regular. Releasing steam as the wound closed itself. With that the beast shook it's head, seemingly disappointed.

The reaction stunned the three attackers, putting their defenses higher as they got ready to launch the next attack. Their teamwork was well practiced, executing multilayered attacks with surgical precision without a word between them.

Yet it all meant nothing when they could hardly even scratch the beast. The next wave started.

The shadow moved first, half his body rose from the dark circle and outstretched a hand to the side before disappearing back into the pool of darkness. Spawning from the arm of the shadow, Dallas took a low stance, readying his blade.

He wasn't quick enough, the hand of the beast crashed into the ground. It's force directed at the moving shadow. The black haired man barely made it away in time but the force of the beasts hand was immense.

Putting a small crater beneath its teeth and creating a shockwave with the impact. That shockwave was enough to put Dallas off his balance. His recovery time was impressive but the speed of the beast was immaculate.

It's hand pierced the smoke, grabbing Dallas by the wrist. Dallas forced his leg into the outer knee of the beast, pushing off with all his might. His body went rolling backwards through the smoke.

But the beasts hand was not empty. Faster than anyone could see, the beast had severed Dallas's arm at the shoulder. Crimson blood poured from his open wound as he kneeled in front of the beast. His face paled but the soldier was still just as fierce. Intense hatred fueled eyes burned towards the beast.

With it's usual indifference, it turned. The moving shadow just finished reemerging from the pool of darkness and the same moment he solidified a flash of gray soared by him.

A shower of crimson filled the sky as his body hit the ground with a hard thud. His head rolling away from the mass of flesh. The silver haired girl froze, fear overtaking her nerves.

However moments later she composed herself but even that wasn't fast enough. Her blades still in the air circling a now empty spot. They began to turn towards the beast but it was to late. The place they pointed themselves at now sat empty as well.

She only caught a glimpse as the beasts hand raised above her, crashing down through the air with a sense of impending doom.

Despite the seemingly unstoppable nature of the beast, the hand stopped an inch from her skull. The force from the stopped blow sent a wave of dust scattering around the girls feet.

Her eyes finally catching up to the beast. Noticed a goddess standing between her and certain death.