The trio scoured the wrecked cabin for Ken, but he was nowhere to be found. Injuries and casualties littered the train, passengers crying out in pain. Code's brow furrowed in worry as he searched every nook and cranny. "What's happening?" he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. Hina emerged from a nearby seat, her eyes scanning the area. "I didn't find him," Code said, his face tense. "He's not here either," Hina replied, her voice laced with concern.
Suddenly, a scream pierced the air: "Demon! Demon!" Code's eyes locked onto Hina's as they sprinted toward the source. Panic erupted among the passengers, fear etched on their faces. "Somebody help!" a woman wailed, clutching her daughter tightly.
As they reached the scene, a legion of demons loomed, their slow, zombie-like steps sending chills down the passengers' spines. Code's eyes widened in recognition – these demons were identical to the ones they'd encountered at the airport. Hina's brow furrowed in concern. "A summoner?" she whispered, but quickly dismissed the idea.
The passengers' panic reached a boiling point until a man stood up, his voice booming: "Everyone, be calm! I'm a certified 4th-grade sorcerer!" He flashed his badge, and the crowd's attention shifted to him. The man's confidence was palpable, but Code noticed a hint of arrogance in his tone.
The man strode confidently toward the demons, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hehe," he chuckled inwardly, "Perfect chance to get popular." Code and Hina exchanged skeptical glances. "He's going to get himself killed," Code whispered to Hina.
As the man approached the demons, his pupils flicked toward them, emanating a dark aura. With a fierce battle cry, he charged, dagger in hand. However, his slashes were clumsy, and he couldn't land a hit. The demons closed in, their jaws snapping wildly.
The man's eyes widened in terror as he realized his mistake. He stumbled backward, but it was too late. An demon struck him with incredible force, ripping his head off his shoulders.
*SFX: sounds of bones being crushed*
His body flew backward, crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. The sound echoed through the forest, a gruesome reminder of the man's folly. His headless body slid down the tree trunk, leaving a trail of blood on the bark.
Code and Hina's eyes widened in shock. "Uh?" Hina whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Wasn't that a 4th-grade?" a passenger whispered, eyes wide with shock. The sudden death left everyone stunned, and then chaos erupted. Demons charged toward the train, their footsteps thundering through the forest. Passengers screamed in terror.
Hina unsheathed her sword, its blade gleaming in the moonlight. "Code, you ready?" she whispered, eyes fixed intently on the demons. Code nodded, his muscles bulging as he prepared for battle.
A massive explosion rocked the area, and Nara burst forth, blasting demons with flames. "Let's get this over with!" he boomed, his body ablaze with fire.
The trio charged forward, their battle cries echoing through the forest. Demons met them head-on, but the trio cut through them like paper. Blood splattered everywhere as heads flew through the air.
"Crimson burst!" Nara shouted, unleashing a torrent of flames that incinerated demons. His movements became a blur as he threw a fireball, causing a massive explosion.
"Death cleaver!" Hina exclaimed, her sword slicing through demons with deadly precision. She leapt into the air, landing a spinning slash that severed multiple heads.
As a demon lunged at her, Hina assumed her kamae stance, emanating a toxic aura. "Sword sorcery... Dark crescent!" she whispered, swinging her sword to create a massive shockwave that ripped the demon apart.
Code took his usual stance, as he stretched his right hand forward. His blood coalesced, as he compressed it into tiny drops.
"Blood Bullet!" Code exclaimed, as he released a massive barrage of blood, that pierced through the demons in a massive impact.
*SFX: sound of machine gun firing*
The battle was intense, with the trio fighting in perfect sync. Demons fell left and right, their bodies shredded by the trio's attacks.
***
Alpha sprinted out of the train, her heart pounding in her chest like a jackhammer. "Ken!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the trees. The distant explosions and her own ragged breathing were the only responses.
As she ran, the rustling of leaves beneath her feet was the only sound, until...
*SFX: _rustle_... _rustle_*
Alpha spun around, her eyes straining into the darkness. "Ken?" she whispered, her voice trembling. But the sound grew louder – multiple footsteps, slow and menacing.
Her eyes widened in terror as demons lunged out, their fangs glinting in the faint moonlight like cold steel. She turned to flee, but her legs struggled to keep up.
*SFX: _Panting_*
The demons closed in, their screeches growing louder, piercing her eardrums.
Alpha's mind racing, she thought, "This can't be happening. Ken has to be here somewhere." But as she tripped over a stone, landing hard on the ground, reality set in. The demons loomed over her, their twisted grins sending shivers down her spine.
For a moment, Alpha froze, paralyzed with fear. Then, in a desperate bid to save herself, she screamed: "Ken!!!!" The sound echoed through the forest, causing the trio to pause in surprise.
Just as a demon lunged for Alpha, its mouth opened wide, it's head was ripped apart, blood splattering everywhere. Alpha's eyes met Ken's, his body glowing with aura.
Alpha's eyes welled up with tears as she threw herself at Ken, her voice cracking with relief. "Ken, where were you?" she wailed, her words muffled against his chest. "I thought I was going to die!"
"Just taking a walk," Ken replied, as he wrapped his arms around her, his gentle touch a stark contrast to the chaos around them. He rubbed her back, his soothing motions calming her ragged nerves. Alpha continued to cry, her body shaking with pent-up fear.
The demons in the distance stood frozen, their mouths agape in shock. They watched as Ken effortlessly dispatched their companion, his movements a blur of deadly precision. One of them looked like it had just sucked on a lemon, its expression screaming "plot twist!"
As Alpha's sobs subsided, Ken's expression turned glacial. He fixed his icy gaze on the demons, who let out a collective "eek!" of terror. They stood frozen, paralyzed with fear.
Ken's dark, ominous aura emanated from his body, like a palpable force. His piercing gaze seemed to bore into the demons' souls, rendering them immobile. The air was heavy with tension as he advanced towards them, his footsteps echoing through the forest.
But just as Ken reached the demons, he walked past them without a second glance, as if they were invisible. The demons turned quickly, their eyes fixed on Ken's retreating figure as he and Alpha disappeared into the darkness, leaving them shaken and bewildered.
***
❤️