– Morning - 1 Day before the reinstatement of Lucian Councilor status —
In the deepest chamber of the sewage system lay a vast hall, constructed with large sandstone and adorned with murals and architectural designs reminiscent of the Qin or Ming dynasty.
The faded murals seemed to narrate a tale from a long-forgotten era, a time of great war between beings of immense power, abominations, and supernatural entities. The conflict resulted in a mutual annihilation of the three forces, leaving behind a desolate landscape forever scarred by the cataclysmic explosion that marked the war's end.
Within this chamber stood two figures beside a large demonic magic circle, crudely drawn with human blood. In one corner, a small hill of lifeless human corpses lay heaped, their blood drained and used like expendable materials in some dark factory.
Among them stood Lucian Blackscar, the once-elderly man who had regained his youth through the use of forbidden demonic magic, attained at the cost of countless sacrificed souls. Now, with his nefarious plan approaching its final stages.
"Magitek forces are approaching us fast. They've received help from the Vatican Paladin... as expected, he has a tight connection with the Vatican!" The figure in black suits, adorned with ragged white robes resembling bandages, spoke with anger and frustration, perturbed by their current situation.
The one he addressed as Lord Alchemont, dressed in a black luxurious suit covered with a tattered robe, was none other than Magnus Alchemont, the Patriarch of the Alchemont Clan.
"According to our plan, Lord Alchemont, you need to delay them until I finish the summoning ritual," Lucian said as he continued to draw the demonic circle using the blood of his victims, contained in a skull bowl in his hand.
"How long do you need?" inquired Magnus, his eyes fixed on the orb in his hand displaying the ongoing frontline battle, where Daniel's forces relentlessly clashed with their demonic counterparts.
"I need at least 6 hours. From my calculation, they'll require 5 hours to destroy all of the demonic forces and close the hell gate. Only then will they be unable to perceive our existence. So, Lord Alchemont, you need to hold them down for 1 hour," replied Lucian.
"That's easy, I can manage that," Magnus said confidently. With the power of a Grand Magician and aces up his sleeve, he was certain he could overpower the paladins and even Magitek himself without a doubt.
—
At the frontline, the purging continued with unwavering intensity as the demonic creatures assaulting the team began to transform from the mutated lifeforms corrupted by demonic essence into fully-fledged infernal entities that seemed to emerge straight from the depths of hell.
"Do you see that humanoid demon that looks like half pig, half cow? That's the lowest demon in hell under the dominion of Satan. This smells fishy to high heaven," one of the paladins who had joined Daniel on the frontline remarked to his comrades, all while the Atlantean Vanguard unleashed their hail of bullets towards the demonic horde with the precision of a well-oiled machine.
Daniel, possessing the knowledge of a Grand Hunter, had limited information about the implications of the situation. His expertise focused on effectively exterminating abominations and monsters, not on understanding the political connections or power structures among them.
However, from overhearing the conversation between the paladins, he deduced that this unfolding event was not a normal occurrence. It seemed improbable without some form of direction or, at the very least, a minimal level of cooperation from Satan himself. This realization made him uneasy, considering the unpredictable challenges that might lie ahead.
Daniel's forces march forth toward the deepest depth of the sewage system, purging and cleansing the demonic corruption in the process. The paladins and priests begin the sanctification ritual to prevent any demonic incursion to erupt in these grounds in the future.
As the forces marched through the depths, Daniel noticed a foreboding red glow emanating from the darkest part of the demonic-corrupted sewer system. The demonic horde seemed to pour endlessly through that gaping hole, showing no signs of stopping. At present, none of the demonic beings they were massacring were the living beings mutated from the demonic corruption. Instead, they were confronting 100% demonic beings from hell.
"That's it! The Hell's Gate! Who the hell opened that damn gate!! This is too much!" One of the Paladins swore in anger.
As the group moved forward, they resisted the relentless assault from the demonic beings pouring out of the portal-like gate, supported by two bone pillars constructed with various human bones and skulls.
Despite their attempts to advance, they found themselves in an area where the concentration of demonic beings was at its highest. Deeper inside the sewer system lay a large area where the group couldn't take advantage of a choke point to eliminate the demons. Moving any further would only expose them to overwhelming numbers and unlimited reinforcements pouring out from the hell gate.
The group couldn't help but take a stand and build a fortified position to resist the demonic tides pouring out from the hell gate.
"Captain! Can you destroy that gate pillar from here?" one of the Paladins asked the captain of the Atlantean Vanguard in his Hulking power armor.
"We'll try, sir!" The captain turned to one of his subordinates.
"Prepare an explosive warhead and fire it at the pillar!" the captain ordered.
"Yes, sir!" An Atlantean Vanguard from the nearby back row brought out a box from the supply pack, revealing a large rocket launcher and four rockets.
The Atlantean Vanguard brought the rocket launcher to the frontline and immediately fired at the pillar. The rocket shot straight toward the target, but in the middle of its flight, one of the demons jumped up, using its body as a shield to protect the pillar.
Boom!
The rocket exploded, killing all the demons around, but its limited cleansing ability, being not made of holy material, resulted in limited effect against the stronger demons. Although some weak lesser demons like imps died, the more powerful ones survived the blast.
Undeterred, the Atlantean Vanguard didn't give up, firing three more rockets, but the demon horde intercepted them before they could hit the pillar.
"Negative, sir! I don't think it is possible at this range!" the Atlantean Vanguard reported to his superior.
"It's okay, soldier. Return to your station," the captain said to his subordinate before he moved back to the back row, preparing himself to take the place of a front row firing squad member when one of them tired.
Observing the situation, Daniel focused his mind, sinking into his mindscape and searching for a card that could potentially fix this dire situation.
Card: God's Wrath
Picture: The artwork showcases a white explosion blooming on the far horizon, obliterating all life and civilization that comes into contact with the radiant light.
Rarity: Epic Rare
Type: Spell
Mana Cost: 3 Light, 2 Non-Element
Description: If enemy creatures have indestructible, negate that ability until the end of the turn. Destroy all Non-Location Permanents.
Flavor text: The Wrath of God descends, erasing all life and civilization that dares to defy His heavenly decree.
"Protect me and give me a minute to concentrate," Daniel ordered his Atlantean Vanguard, then retreated to the back row and sank his mind into the mindscape, activating the card in front of him.
Suddenly, the atmosphere around the defensive position changed. The air began to move towards the gate of hell, and the holy elements in the air condensed further and further until they were visible to the naked eye. Countless light particles streamed towards the hellgate, entering its dark depths.
The concentration of holy elements was beyond belief; the paladins were startled and panicked at first. However, when they saw that Daniel had closed his eyes and a tremendous amount of holy energy, known as 'faith-power' by the standards of the Vatican, was radiating from him, they couldn't help but offer a short prayer to Daniel before refocusing their attention on the front line.
Even Matthew, a Sacred Smith, couldn't help but stare in awe. "Is this... a second coming of Jesus Christ?" he uttered in disbelief, and silently prayed to God.
The massive concentration of holy energy agitated all the demonic beings, intensifying their ferocity as they tried to attack Daniel to prevent the impending doom they sensed in the air. Their beastly instincts urged them to kill the man concentrating on the spell before it was too late.
Roooooooooaaaarr!
A monstrous creature emerged from the hell gate, its large fiery hooves crushing some lesser demons in its path. It fixed its fiery, dreadful gaze on Daniel, seething with wrath and hatred. Its massive, four-meter body was about to charge forward when, at that moment, it became the target of rocket launchers.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Four consecutive loud bangs reverberated within the large hall as the fiend's body was blasted to smithereens by the power of four rockets. Each one was enough to tear through the armor of a battleship with ease. Only the lower part of its hulking form remained, as its torso had turned into minced meat by the barrage.
However, in a horrifying display, its blood and flesh began to gather and reform, using its unholy and grotesque dark power to rebuild its body.
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