Inside the command center, the group gathered around Commander Brenea, who stood in front of a large tactical map displaying the city's layout and the demon army's positions. The atmosphere was tense, with officers and soldiers rushing about, coordinating defenses and receiving updates from the front lines. The distant roars of demons that sometimes came through the communication tools served as a grim reminder of the ongoing battle.
Commander Brenea's eyes scanned the map, her silver hair gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights of the command center. She spoke with authority, her voice cutting through the tension in the room.
"The battle began abruptly but it caused thousands of casualties. This isn't a simple city defense like before. The demon army is bringing three battle-ships with them. These ships can and will provide air-support whenever necessary. Which mean, we cannot mobilize our army with much freedom."
"What can we do in this situation?" Salamander asked.
"After hundreds of our scouts died, we've identified the leader of this demon onslaught. Azrakar." Brenea declared, her finger pointing at a marked location on the map.
"He's a powerful demon working under Lord Margorth and our scouts report that he wields dark magic that has been bolstering the demon forces. If we can take him down, we may disrupt their coordination, and reduce their strength to turn the tide of this battle."
"Lord Margorth. Isn't that one of the most terrifying demon lord that roam the Celestia Nebula?" Shinari asked. "If we killed his underling, won't he come here for revenge?"
"Are you afraid?" Commander Brenea stared with her sharp eyes. "So what if Lord Margorth come here? Killing his underlings is much more important because we will be helping humanity as a whole by reducing the evil forces. Our continuation as a species is much more important than individuals life."
Salamander nodded, his mechanical features reflecting determination. "All of us know the importance of this battle. We'll do everything in our power to neutralize Azrakar. But we need a plan."
"You know yourself best. Tell me what you have in mind," Commander Brenea said.
Cleome, her fingers crackling with electric energy, chimed in, "Shinari and I will infiltrate their lines, get close to Azrakar, and disrupt his magic. It won't be easy, but we can create chaos among their ranks."
Shinari nodded, her shadowy presence seeming to blend into the dimly lit room. "We'll use our unique abilities to slip through and sow confusion. If we can draw their attention away from the command center, it should buy you time to reinforce our defenses."
Commander Brenea shook her head. "Even if we manage to out-strength the demon army, we cannot send reinforcement to your side. You have to eliminate Azrakar on your own."
The weight of Commander Brenea's words hung heavily in the air as the group absorbed the gravity of their mission. Cleome and Shinari exchanged a determined glance, their resolve unwavering.
"We understand the risks," Cleome said, her voice steady. "We'll do whatever it takes to get to Azrakar."
Shinari added, "Our unique abilities give us an advantage in slipping past their defenses. We'll create the chaos you need."
"It's not chaos that I need. I need absolute elimination of Azrakar. Keep that in mind," Commander Brenea firmly spoke.
"We will kill Azrakar for you. Before that, keep holding on the fort," Salamander said with metallic voice.
"This city depends on you. I know you just fight your way to reach this stronghold, but I need you to leave right this instant as our resources cannot sustain us for long. The guardsmen will support your way out of this area."
Salamander nodded. "Let's go."
They all walked out of the command center immediately.
Aldred was impressed at how quick things were moving. In less than an hour, they had created a plan to solve their problems after considering all the information they had.
That wasn't an easy thing to do, recalling they had tens of thousands of demons barging at their doorstep.
A minute later, the group entered a fortified Humvee.
An officer approached them. "Use this Humvee to escape the area. We will provide cover fire for you guys."
Salamander nodded. "We will be depending on you."
The officer shook his head. "It is us who will be depending on you. There aren't many supers left and we cannot send out more since we need them for emergency situations. Your roles are key if we want to gain victory with minimal casualties." The man looked at Salamander dead in the eye. "Now go. You have no time to waste."
Salamander floored on the gas and the Humvee roared into life, charging towards the gate that opened for them.
Immediately, they were faced with demons that charged towards them. They scratched, punch, slash, and crashed themselves onto the Humvee, but the vehicle was powerful enough to defend against these attacks.
Salamander rolled down the window. "Show them your power."
Immediately after, lightning bolt and shadow arrows came out of the Humvee and cleared out the demons that was charging at them.
Machine guns roared, sending rain of bullets towards the demon, preventing them from reaching the Humvee.
The wheels of the Humvee screeched as it sped through the chaos of battle. Cleome and Shinari unleashed their powers, creating a formidable protective barrier around the vehicle. Lightning crackled and danced, striking down demons that dared approach, while shadowy arrows pierced through the enemy ranks.
Salamander skillfully maneuvered the Humvee, dodging debris and demon attacks with precision. His mechanical reflexes ensured that the vehicle only received minimal damage.
Aldred stayed inside the Humvee. He couldn't do anything because he had no magic. Sometimes, he would punch a demon or two that manage to reach the Humvee but that was all.
'Damn, I feel useless. If I still have my magic, I could create a sea of fire that will burn all these demons to crisps."
As they approached the city's outer defenses, the guardsmen provided cover fire, suppressing the demon horde that pursued the Humvee. Explosions and gunfire echoed through the air as the battle raged on.
Finally, they broke through the demon lines and reached the relative safety of the city's outskirts. Salamander brought the Humvee to a screeching halt, and the group jumped out.
"We need to head south for 30 KM to reach Azrakar."
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed in the sky. They looked up and saw a lot of of planet air-forces were trying to attack the battleships.
The aircrafts moved at super sonic speed while activating their most advanced stealth technology before sending missiles towards the battleships.
However, when these missiles reached the battleships, they couldn't even create a dent on their exterior. Battleships were a completely different class of weapons compared to aircraft. These aircrafts were never meant to fight against a battleship, rather they were used to provide support to the ground troops.
Battleships, on the other hands, were created specifically to fight against everything.
The three battleships created a loud whirling noise in the sky before shooting thousands of small shells in every directions. These shells exploded sending hundreds of steel balls that wrecked the aircrafts.
One explosions after another reverberated in the sky.
Cleome clenched her fist. "We need to move quick. The planet doesn't have enough aircraft to distract those battleships for long."
