Chapter 220: The Demon Lord is going to get Pissed
Chapter 220: The Demon Lord is going to get Pissed
The Blackhawk helicopter descended rapidly, its rotors kicking up a whirlwind of sand and dust as it touched down on the rocky terrain of the Broken Cliffs. Vincent was the first to leap out, his boots crunching against the rough ground. The air was thick with the scent of salt and decay, a testament to the dark magic that tainted the cliffs.
"Perimeter secure!" Marcus's voice crackled over the comms as his team spread out, rifles at the ready, scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. The cliffs were shrouded in an unnatural fog, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.
Vincent's grip tightened around his rifle as he led the team forward. The broken landscape was treacherous, littered with jagged rocks and patches of scorched earth. They moved in a tight formation, their footsteps muffled by the swirling mist.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Commander, we're picking up some movement ahead," reported one of the soldiers
monitoring the drone feed. "Heat signatures. Could be demons."
"Stay sharp," Vincent responded, his voice low but commanding. "We don't know what we're walking into."
As they advanced, the eerie silence was broken only by the distant crash of waves against the cliffs below. The oppressive atmosphere pressed in on them, the darkness seeming to pulse with malevolent energy. Every shadow felt like a pair of eyes watching, waiting.
The team crested a ridge, and there, in the clearing below, Vincent saw it: the Demon Lord himself. A towering figure clad in dark armor, his crimson eyes glowing like twin embers in the darkness. The air around him seemed to crackle with dark energy, distorting the space like a heatwave.
Behind the Demon Lord, bound to a twisted, obsidian cross, was Duchess Elinalese Claes. Her once regal attire was torn and bloodied, her wrists and ankles chained to the dark structure. She hung limply, her head bowed, but as Vincent and his team approached, she lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with both hope and fear.
"Commander..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Vincent's jaw clenched at the sight. He turned to Marcus and signaled for the team to spread out, forming a defensive line. "Eyes on the Demon Lord. Do not engage unless I give the order," Vincent instructed.
The Demon Lord's lips curled into a cruel smile as he watched Vincent approach. "So, the human commander finally arrives," he sneered, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the ground. "I had hoped you wouldn't disappoint me, Vincent Stryder."
Vincent took a step forward, keeping his rifle trained on the demon. "Release the Duchess," he demanded, his voice cold and unyielding. "This is between you and me."
The Demon Lord let out a deep, mocking laugh that echoed across the cliffs. "Oh, but it's so much more than that," he replied, spreading his arms wide as if welcoming an old friend. "You humans think you can challenge me, meddle in my affairs, and now you expect mercy?"
Vincent's eyes narrowed. He could see the faint glow of runes pulsing along the chains that bound Elinalese to the cross. The dark magic radiating from them was strong, a clear sign that the Demon Lord was using her as more than just bait.
"I won't ask again," Vincent growled. "Release her, or we'll take her by force."
Hearing that, the demon lord couldn't help but laugh.
"Are you threatening me...human?!"
The Demon Lord's laughter boomed through the fog-laden air, a deep, rumbling sound that sent chills down the spines of Vincent's men. The ground beneath them trembled slightly, as if the earth itself was recoiling in fear. The towering demon's eyes gleamed with amusement as he took a menacing step forward, his obsidian armor reflecting the pale moonlight. "Threatening you?" Vincent replied, his voice cold and steady. He took a step forward, his rifle still trained on the Demon Lord's heart. "No, I'm making a promise. Release her, or I'll put you down."
The Demon Lord's grin widened, revealing rows of jagged, gleaming teeth. "You humans are always so confident, so arrogant. You think you can do the same to me like what you did to my generals? You are mistaken, you are gravely mistaken!"
Without breaking eye contact, Vincent reached up to his headset and spoke into the mic.
"Reaper-1, this is Commander Stryder. Target acquired. Lock coordinates on my signal and prepare for a Hellfire strike."
The response came almost instantly, a crackle over the comms. "Copy that, Commander. Reaper-1 has the target locked. Awaiting your go-ahead."
The MQ-9 Reaper drone was circling high above, invisible to the naked eye, its infrared sensors tracking the massive heat signature of the Demon Lord below. Armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, it was ready to deliver a precise strike. Vincent knew he had one shot to catch the demon off guard.
"Marcus," Vincent said, keeping his eyes on the Demon Lord, "pull your team back behind cover. This is going to get messy."
Marcus didn't hesitate. He signaled his men to fall back, taking positions behind the jagged rocks that littered the area. The soldiers moved quickly but silently, their training evident in their swift, coordinated retreat.
The Demon Lord watched with an amused expression, unaware of what was about to unfold. "Running already, Commander? I expected more of a fight from you," he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain.
But Vincent simply smirked, not giving anything away. His fingers tightened on his rifle as he subtly glanced toward the bound figure of Duchess Elinalese. The runes on her chains were still pulsing, but Vincent hoped the Hellfire's explosive power would at least disrupt the magical energy surrounding her.
"Reaper-1, fire missile," Vincent ordered, his voice calm and steady.
"Roger that, Commander. Hellfire away."
High above, the Reaper drone released its payload. The AGM-114 Hellfire missile, a precision- guided weapon known for its bunker-busting capabilities, sliced through the sky with a high- pitched whine. As it descended, the missile's guidance system locked onto the Demon Lord's towering figure, its infrared seeker ensuring pinpoint accuracy even through the thick mist. Vincent's eyes remained locked on the target as the missile closed in. He counted the seconds in his mind. Five... four... three...
The Demon Lord's smile faltered, his instincts finally picking up on the danger. His crimson eyes flicked upward just as the missile broke through the clouds, its warhead glowing with the promise of destruction.
"Two... one... Impact!" Vincent shouted, diving behind a rock for cover.
The Hellfire missile slammed into the ground directly in front of the Demon Lord with a deafening explosion. A brilliant flash of light illuminated the fog, followed by a shockwave that sent rocks and debris flying in all directions. The ground beneath Vincent shook violently, and for a moment, it felt like the entire cliffside would collapse into the ocean below.
Marcus and his team huddled behind their cover as the blast wave washed over them. "Okay he is definitely going to get pissed now," Marcus commented.