Chapter 44: Calvary
No POV:
"Better?"
Hayley asked as she watched Axel put on the new pair of shoes she had brought.
"Barely..." He replied, tying the lace and tapping the floor with his feet.
Although it was slightly uncomfortable—due to the burns on his legs— it was better than running around barefoot.
’It’ll heal.’
He looked around. He could hear Jax’s gunshots and he could see Vax slicing and running all over the place.
Then, he glanced at the system.
[Casualties Avoided: 7/ 8]
He had managed to find one more person before Hayley arrived but his concern was fixed on the last two dots.
If he didn’t find that last civilian soon... he didn’t want to think of the things that could happen.
As for the other dot...
"Hayley. I don’t know why, but I feel like I know the cause."
Hayley looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "What do you know?"
"Well, I don’t exactly know anything but..." he glanced at the map again, then pointed in the direction where he saw the big red dot. "There’s something over there."
Hayely raised an eyebrow. "But there’s a cemetery over there. How—?"
"Oh wow... my devils really did a number on this place."
They both turned to the direction of the voice..
Then, they saw him...
Perched on top of a rooftop was Yuri. Smiling as he watched the carnage below.
He chuckled, his tendrils swaying in the moonlight casting moving shadows below.
Hayley gritted her teeth. "You again."
Seeing Hayley, Yuri’s grin widened.
"Last time I didn’t get to have a taste. This time, it’ll be different."
’Shit, shit, shit.’ Axel cursed. He glanced at the map again and then at Yuri.
One civilian, one devil.
If he killed Yuri, he could stop the deaths of thousands.
So was going off to save just one civilian really worth it?
No.
If the system prioritized the civilians, then it had to be important.
There wasn’t even a new objective yet so it clearly meant that the civilians were top priority.
"I’ll be right back. You can handle it, right?"
Hayley smirked. "Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m the fucking captain."
Saying that, she dashed towards Yuri.
Axel ran towards where Jax and Vax stood.
"Hey, man what the hell happened? There are devils everywhere." Jax spoke, shooting a devil that lounged at him.
"Shit, man. I’d tell you if I knew. C’mon, I need your help." Axel spoke, his voice laced with urgency...
"Alright." Jax replied as he began running forward.
Axel stood there surprised. Then, he looked at Vax.
"Uhmmm is he gonna be okay?"
Jax chuckled. "He’ll be fine. Nothing to worry about. Let’s go."
Glancing back at Vax, Axel saw that he seemed to be doing fine.
With a nod, he followed Jax and ran towards the direction of the red dot.
.
.
.
.
.
"So, what exactly do you need help with?" After running for about a few minutes, Jax asked.
"There’s someone here. They’re in deep trouble and we’ve got to hurry."
Axel glanced at the map again. They were within the vicinity of the last dot but he couldn’t see anything.
[Warning!]
[Civilian death imminent.]
[Time remaining: 00:05:59]
"Shit!" His eyes widened. He has five minutes to find this person or they’d die.
"Quick! They’re gonna die soon!"
Sensing the urgency, Jax grew confused.
Why was he freaking out like this?
~~~~~
"Shit shit shit"
He glanced at the timer.
[Time remaining: 00:02:12]
’Fuck!’ By now, his panic grew.
If this person died, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.
He searched frantically, busting through walls and doors.
Still, he found nothing...
’Where are you?! Make a sound. Anything would do.’
[Time remaining: 00:00:19]
’No!’
**BANG**
*BOOM*
The collapsed wall in front of him, blew up. When the dust cleared, he saw it... a hand. Peeking through the rubble.
[Time remaining 00:00:10]
Without wasting a second, Axel dashed towards the person. Upon reaching, he managed to push part of the rubble and pull the civilian out.
The young man laid there unconscious.
Checking for a pulse, he was relieved to find that he was still alive.
’He must have passed out due to lack of oxygen.’
"You found him..." Jax spoke walking forward.
Looking up, Axel noticed the reticle on his eyes...
"This is who you wanted to save, right?"
It became clear that Jax had activated that skill to help him search.
"Yeah, thanks a lot..."
**BOOM**
The explosion rocked the street.
The system bloomed in his sight...
[Ding!]
[New Objective. Defeat the devil]
"Shit, I gotta go help Hayley. Jax there’s an alley over there. Take him, he should be safe there for now," Axel spoke, handing Jax the civilian.
"Sure, leave it to me. She needs help."
"Thanks." With a nod, Axel blitzed forward.
~~~~~
Yuri busted the wall he had been slammed in. The excitement plastered on his face.
"It’s undeniable. I’ve come to enjoy fighting you," he grinned, causing Hayley to shudder.
"Sick bastard."
**BIFF**
Hayley and Yuri clashed. The force sending shockwaves through the air.
They started trading blows. Yuri whipped his tendrils in the air, aiming to catch Hayley off guard.
**BIFF**
An uppercut. Straight to his jaw.
"Keep those disgusting tentacles away from me."
With a low chuckle, Yuri dashed forward.
He threw a punch towards her side aiming to break her ribs.
Hayley put up her forearm to block but then, two of Yuri’s tendrils merged and flew forward, aiming to strike her other side.
’Shit—’
**CHING**
**BAM!!**
Before the tendrils could hit, Axel appeared, blocking it with his blades and following up with a kick to the back of his head.
[You have activated phase two of Scarion.]
Yuri’s head slammed into the ground. Denting the pavement.
"You alright?" Axel turned to Hayley and asked.
"Tch..." Without providing an answer, she wiped the sweat off her chin.
[Casualties Avoided: 8/ 8]
[Objective Status: Complete.]
[You have gained 500 Exp]
[You have gained 500 points.]
He smiled. Jax had managed to bring the man to the safe zone.
Then his mind wandered to Milley.
Right on queue, the system appeared again.
[Neuro Link: Active]
[Linked Targets: 1/ 3]
[Generating Target Info...]
[Name: Milley]
[Age: 6]
[Status: Stable.]
He smiled, softer this time...
She was safe...
Hayley then spoke, her voice rigid and serious...
"Alright then, let’s get this over with. Try not to hold me back."
"Heh.. took you long enough."
Saying that, they both rushed towards the devil...
~~~~~
"Okay, you should be safe here."
"Mister. Mister" Then came running footsteps.
Turning his head Jax saw who was calling.
"Oh. Milley. You’re here too..."
She nodded. "Big brother... is he okay?"
"Oh Axel? Yeah, he’s fine. He brought me here."
She pressed her lips together. "He said I’ll be safe here. Please help big brother..."
Jax patted her head. "Don’t worry, he’ll be fine."
"Excuse me..."
They both turned their heads. Within the alley, a woman stepped forward.
Dressed in a formal outfit, one could tell she was a working woman.
"Did she just say that her brother is still out there?"
"Ohh uh yeah. There’s been a devil attack. We’re prioritizing the safety of the civilians at the moment," he replied, sounding as professional as he could.
Then, the woman came closer to the entrance. "Where is he? If that’s the case, shouldn’t you focus on bringing him here to his sister?"
Jax blinked. "Yeah, about that... he’s part of the fight."
"Ohh so he’s a hunter."
Then the woman looked outside. She could see a hunter slicing a devil apart on one side—someone she recognized.
On the other side, she saw a female hunter and two devils.
Confused, she asked: "All I can see is the swordsman, your captain, and two devils."
Swallowing hard, she asked: "Which one is he?"
Jax pointed. "The red one."
The woman’s eyes widened. "Sir, you can’t tell me that’s the ’hunter’ that is supposed to assist you? Because to my knowledge, the King of Hunters has been away for a while, correct?"
Jax scratched his head. Of course... As far as anyone knew, only one hunter in the entirety of the Agency could transform into a devil. And that was their ’King’ as everyone called him.
"I mean, there’s nothing wrong is there?"
"That’s no hunter. That’s a devil!"
Then, she turned to Milley...
"There’s no need to worry. I’ll take you in. That devil must have found you somewhere and brainwashed you."
"But that’s my big—"
"Child, you are not supposed to mingle with devils! I mean, just look at that! Does that look human to you?!"
Milley stepped back, shaking.
Then the woman, realizing what she did, lowered her voice. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you."
Then she lowered herself to her level. "Come on, child. Come stay with me. I’ll give you everything you want. It’ll be safer than being with that... that thing."
Jax glanced outside. He couldn’t really blame her. To them it just seemed like two devils were giving each other a beat down.
If only they knew that it was that same "thing" that had saved their lives...
**BOOM**
"Fuck. Milley I have to go. They need me." Patting her head one more time, he ran towards the scene.
Milley turned towards the woman again as she spoke...
"Will you come home with me?"
.
.
.
.
.
Yuri snickered, snapping his arm back into place.
Axel paused, staring at the map.
They had been fighting for quite some time but the red dot he had been seeing hadn’t moved.
Studying the map, his eyes widened as raw realization set in.
"Ahh fuck."
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