Zero Ground 5

Blackshot and Jeth turned to the direction of the sound to their south. They saw three of their kind advancing to them. They noticed huge bulky weapons magnetically attached to their spine. Blood and ichor had covered them from head to toe. But out of all the three, only Jemwolf looked as if he was submerged in a sea of dark crimson liquid.
   "What happened?" Blackshot asked with a nod.
   "Encountered waves after waves of bad guys." Jemwolf muttered.
    "Too bad, we missed the fun." JP replied as he glanced to his right and saw groups of Protectorates marching straight towards them. "The rookies are here."
   Glancing at that direction, he saw the Strike Teams led by seasoned Protectorates who formerly belonged to their old Strike Teams and Battleforces. Protectorate Vengeance, a Tier-3 Bladebearer who served in the Solomon's Blade Battleforce and fought alongside then on numerous occasion, was there, rallying Strike Team Juliet. Most of them had excited look on their faces but none were covered in blood. Though one of their Blast Rifle's muzzle is smoking which indicates that they have fought in a light skirmish against whatever weak monster there is. Strike November was led by Protectorate Razorblade, a Tier-3 who looked shocked. His Strike Team was covered in gore and one of them is missing. Strike Team Oscar followed next, led by another Bladebearer Tier-3 Protectorate named Stonesharp. He was alert, and so the rest of his Strike Team.
   "Razorblade," Jemwolf called. "Where's Nightbird?"
   Razorblade shook his head. A look of sadness etched in his face. His eyes was lowered, head bowed. "He didn't make it, Confessor. A Hellfire Marine got him."
   Jemwolf muttered a silent curse before clearing his throat. "Sacrifices has to be made. Anyway, we are standing in the RV Point. I will update your objectives in your Tacticomp. We are going to capture a Precinct, hack their CCTVs and find whatever information we can gain from the enemies, before and during this invasion. Then we'll head to the Church."
   "Our Lady of Lourdes?" Jeth asked.
   "Yeah," Jemwolf nods. "Let's move out.
                          #

"What is the battlefield status?" Rajar asked as he walked across the street, his footsteps leave flaming trails that blazed for a minute before disappearing. Three Hellfire Marines walked closely beside him. Left shoulder pauldron was shining gold. The rest were marching behind, three meters away from them.
   "The Defenders so-called Order of Saint Pio has been deployed in the area but our troops has repelled them." A Hellfire to his left reported. The Demon had a grin on his skeletal face. "The cadre was too small to attack us. I think it was nothing but a mere diversion aimed to confuse us but most of them were obliterated on their way back." The Demon added which was true. Echo Actual was the biggest Rescue Squad sent to retrieve survivors but they were killed. "But, we have new visitors."
   Rajar gasped that sounded like a loud bark echoing across a large room. If he ever had a head, he would have glared at the Hellfire Marine Commander. "Who?" He managed.
   "The Protektovares from the Enochian Guards Regiment."
   Rajar laughed briefly before pausing. Then he laughed again but this time it was longer.
   "Heaven must be desperate."
   "I wouldn't underestimate them," Another Hellfire Commander said with politeness in its voice. "They decimated Legions after Legions of Demons. I've seen them take on Hellspawn Swarms with nothing but sticks and candles."
    "And you're afraid of them?" Rajar asked.
    "Sire, they have slain many of your brothers in the battlefield."
     With that, Rajar seems to let out a prideful grunt.
     "Send in the Swarm of the Seventh Sin to stop them. And I need an open transmission to Calaxis and his Legion."
      "Yes."
                          #

Jemwolf and the rest of the Solo Operators marched across the wartorn city, witnessing aftermaths of blood battles between the city's inhabitants and the Demonic invaders. Blackshot admired the resistance the inhabitants showed in the face of their invaders. He had seen a corpse or two of a Demon whose body was lightly damaged; a kill that could have been done by an un-augmented Human. This reminds him of the early Filipinos fighting against their oppressors.
    "Halt, brothers!" Jemwolf yelled with a fist up. The Strike Teams marching behind them stopped as well. "We have company."
    Jeth hefted his Blast Rifle and aimed, ready to fire at anything that doesn't count as a Human being. Even if they were, he would still shoot if the said being wants to kill them. Blackshot whirled behind him, aiming at the left while JJ and JP fixed their aim at the open space in front. The Strike Teams behind them were anxious as well as one of them yelled.
    "3'o Clock!" Followed by short bursts of fire.
     Jeth whirled at the direction of the enemies but he found nothing but charred flesh and bones.
    "Brothers!" Jemwolf called. The Solo Operators turned to him. "We have to fight our way to the Precinct. There's more of them ahead. Let's go!" He yelled as he began charging. His subordinates followed closely behind him. He raised his rifle and sighted a Shadowhelm Demon charging. He fired at its kneecaps, sending a couple of bursts on each. It fell to the ground with a loud clang! Jemwolf put an end to it by firing at its face.
   Whirling to the right, he saw a Black Marionette leaping at him with a knife at hand. Jemwolf jumps back and let his weapon fall to the side. A glowing orange rope suddenly appeared. It was connected to his rifle and to his armor, preventing it from falling. The Protectorate took another step back as the Black Marionette swings; blade almost nick him. He ducked as the Demon swings again. Jemwolf sprang upwards, fist reaching for the chin of the Demon. Then as he executed an uppercut, he grabbed the Demon by its head then smashed its porcelain face against his armored kneecap.
   He fell to the ground and glanced to the left. He saw a trio of Vampires charging straight at them and a duo of Hellfire Marine Demons. He raised the Blast Rifle with his right hand, and the Ragefire with his left. He fired the Blast Rifle at the Vampires as he fixed his aim at the Hellfire Marines with his stolen Rifle. With every shots, his body was rattled but double tap to the chests of his gargantuan enemies had put an end to their lives. The Bloodsuckers also stumbled across the road as their deaths were punctuated by the whine of Jemwolf's Blast Rifle.
   Sliding his Ragefire rifle to his back, he raised his Blast Rifle and began moving but a Shadowhelm sprang from nowhere and advanced to slice his head off. Just in time, Blackshot had his katana drawn and parried the attack from his superior's assailant.
   He launched his forehead against the enemy's metallic helm and for the first time in his life, he saw stars circle around his head and regretted the action. The Demon laughed in mockery as it raised its weapon for another strike. Blackshot aimed for the Demon's left temple, nicking it with his blade. He swung his sword over his head in a clockwise rotation, hitting its right temple. He swung his weapon once more in a counter-clockwise rotation as he spun; his weapon tucking under Blackshot's arm while at the same time, his left elbow launching at the face of the Demon. The Shadowhelm took a step backwards; its helm deformed by the attack. Blackshot launched himself at the enemy; head sandwiched between his kneecap and the hilt of his sword. The Shadowhelm fell to the ground, dead.
   Just in time, a trio of Black Marionettes snuck up behind him. Blackshot sensed their presence and immediately whirled at that direction. His motion was fluid; raising his Blast Rifle while sliding the katana back to its scabbard attached on his back. His left hand gripped the handle tight, right hand gripping the hand rest below the barrel. His index finger squeezed the trigger gently, followed by well placed shots to the chests of his enemies. He charged further and encountered a duo of Ningyo with PVC pipes. He launched a kick at the nearest one then swung clockwise as he smashed the second one's face with the stock of his rifle. The Ningyo took a step backwards, trying to regain composure but as it looked up, it was staring at Blackshot's barrel. He fired four times, roasting its face.
    With the threat in front of him gone, Blackshot glanced to the left and was greeted by a dark alleyway. He heard noises inside which prompts him to take a shot. The plasma ball lit the dark alley for a second then it disappeared when it hit something big, solid, and most of all, red. He fired thrice again and it hit the same target. From there, he saw two red glowing eyes staring back at him.
   "Ah crap!" He yelled as he moved out of the way when the Hellfire Marine fired his weapon. He returned again and charged at the Demon. He lifted his right hand and fired electric bolts after electric bolts at its visored face. Cracks slowly formed. The Marine charged and swung its heavy rifle at him, knocking the wind out of him. His vision flared in red as it displays his lungs perforated by his ribcage. Bones must have splintered from it.
   He rolled backwards and let the juice of his armor do the work. He felt his lungs slowly being inflated into shape and the removal of the bones causes an itchy feeling he couldn't scratch but he ignores it as he blasted a light at the skeleton's visored face. He fired multiple times at the Hellfire Marine, causing it to fall backwards.
   Wrenching the Ragefire Rifle from its dead hands, he hefted the weapon and marched back into formation. There, he saw a trio of Hellfire Marines firing at Jemwolf and the JJ. They were hiding behind a flipped vehicle. Most of them were unaware of Blackshot's presence. The Protectorate opened fire at the nearest one, blasting its face. Another shot to the chest killed it permanently. The second one turned at him and pointed at his direction but Blackshot fired at the Marine's chest rapidly that an unnecessary third shot was made. It hit the already dead Marine, causing more carnage to its corpse. The last one was pinned down as Jemwolf and JJ flanked it at all sides. The trio opened fire, killing the Demon.
    "Jeth!" Blackshot yelled as he tossed the weapon in the air. His fellow Protectorate sprinted and reached for the buttons located on his left chest. The small thrusters located on his back and the back of his leg appeared in a series of cling and clang. He jumped high and the thrusters flared, contributing more altitude as he caught the weapon with his hand. He aimed at a duo of Hellfire Marines below as they charged at his comrades. Jeth opened fire at one of them while midair. Then he switched to the second one and put the Demon down. He touched ground, making dust fly beneath his feet and a crater on his landing spot. He glanced to his left and saw a trio of Insurgents sprinting at him, M4A1 blazing. He took a hit to his chest and shoulder but the bullets didn't hurt him nor it even slowed him down. He raised his Blast Rifle and opened fire at the enemy on the center. Visor shattering in the process and the face of the wearer inside was riddled with bullet holes. His aim jumped at the next one, hitting the enemy in the chest, twice. It halted his advance as blood slightly flowed from his wound. But that didn't killed him. Jeth made it sure it does so he fired at the Insurgent's visor twice, killing him. He rushed at the last one and sent a flying kick at the Insurgent's chest. The attack was so powerful that the chest of the Insurgent was flattened. He didn't get the chance to stand up again and Jeth concluded he's dead.
    An Inugami sent a fist at his face. Jeth takes a step back. He raised his fist and launched a powerful right straight punch at the Yokai's face then a left hook at the left side of its snout. Then launched his right knee at the ribs of the Inugami causing the Yokai to fall backwards. He stomped at its face, crushing it.
   Another one rushed at him; a Bakeneko with its sharp claws ready to tear his flesh apart. He leaned to the right as a claw almost reached his face. He moved to the left as another one almost got him. He launched an elbow upwards, hitting the Yokai in the chin then a powerful left to its throat causes it to take a step back. A choking sound escaped from its throat. Jeth lifted his left foot and launched it at the chest of the Bakeneko, sending it to the ground. Another Bakeneko made its way towards him. Its cat-like face snarled as its swings its sharp claws at him.
    "Long live the Yamamura Clan!" It yelled but Jeth silenced it with a punch to the face. He spun in a clockwise motion as he smashed his elbow against the back of its head. He pulled the Yokai by its hair closer to him and launched an elbow against the enemy's spinal cord. He heard a loud snap as the Bakeneko collapsed in a heap.
   Then in front of him, he saw another Yokai, an Inugami sprinted at him. He thrusts his palm, breaking its ribcage with his flaming hand. He obliterated its head with a forty-five degree kick as the head made a 360 degree turn. Another Yokai made a leap at him. It was unsual for a Ningyo to do that but in Jeth's eyes, they were all the same. He launched a flaming ball at its chest, sending it back where it came from.
   Whirling in a clockwise motion as he faced north, he drew his Blast Rifle and fired squarely at the Vampire's chest. The bloodsucker screeched as it fell backwards. The myth about its weakness being the sunlight was not true, but night makes them stronger and that, he could agree with. He stomped forward as he squeezed his trigger twice, putting a duo of Vampires down with a blast to the face. Then he detached a black cylindircal grenade, twisted it to prime, then threw with all his might. It exploded, sending a mixed group of Insurgents, Yokai and Demons in the air.
    JJ ran past Jeth as he fired his Ragefire Rifle at a Hellfire Marine. It took a step back as it clutched its bleeding chest but another shot killed it. The sound of metal hitting the ground filled his ears. He switched to his Blast Rifle and aimed at an alleyway between two buildings. He sensed something inside, hiding in the shroud of darkness. Presence he feel, so evil and solid that it put both anger and fear in his mind. They were congregated in that area. He raised his weapon and fired; the light of his plasma ammunition gave light to the Vampire's snarling face. It was showing its sharp teeth and was laughing in mockery but the bloodsucker's chest was obliterated into burned flesh. He fired more shots and took down an Inugami, a duo of Bakeneko, two more Vampires and a trio of Ningyo. He let out a yell as he faced north, towards the direction of the Precinct. They were getting near and they are taking the street back with force. He aimed at a duo of Black Marionettes charging at him. He fired without hesitation, burning their chests with streams of plasma ammunition. He jogged again but his confidence betrayed him when a glass to his right shatters and a Vampire suddenly sprang and pinned him to the ground. A duo of Shadowhelm was right behind it. JJ glanced to his right and found a shard of glass lying beside him. He reached for it as the Vampire scratched his face. Blood was sprayed across the pavement. He grabbed the Vampire's neck and stabbed it twice. Blood sprayed freely on his face, armor and the road, mixing with his. He stabbed its left eyeball as well.
   To his left, he detected movement. One of the Shadowhelm has started to move towards him. He used the Vampire as a body shield when the Demon strikes, bisecting the Vampire in half. JJ quickly drew his tulwar hanging on his belt and rolled backwards. He tackled the Demon with his shoulder; his weight causes the Demon to fall. JJ impaled the heart of the Shadowhelm, killing it as black fog seeps out of its armor. He advanced at the last one and strikes. The Demon parried it but JJ retaliated with a knee strike to the chest. The Shadowhelm takes another step backwards. It readied itself for another strike but JJ swept his blade in a wide arc, bisecting the upper body from the lower limb. The legs of the Shadowhelm fell to its knees while the upper half was sent against the wall. Armor bits were scattered all over the street. He continued his sprint alongside Jeth and Jemwolf, who were firing their weapons at the tide of enemies. He raised his rifle and fired at an Insurgent. Burning plasma splashed across his chestplate. Another one splashed against his polarized visor, shattering it and scorching his face. One last shot, it cauterizes his entire face. His aim jumped on the other one, firing at the Human enemy with rapid squeeze of his trigger. The blast has thrown the Insurgent off-balance, killing him.
   A lone Black Marionette Legionnaire sprinted straight at him with pistol drawn. JJ braced for the bullet's impact as it embedded itself in his chestplate. The force caused an excruciating pain in his lungs and this made him spit blood. He fired back endlessly, taking the attack personally. The face of the Demon was scorched, including its chest and shoulder.
   JP raised his Ragefire Rifle and opened fire at a Hellfire Marine. Two shells to its chest has put it to eternal rest. He cocks back and threw a flaming ball at a Vampire with his left hand, setting her face ablaze. He switched to his Blast Rifle and aimed at a trio of charging enemies; a Vampire, a Ningyo and a Bakeneko. He finds them stupid because all they do was to attack them suicidally. He wasn't sure if that was pride in their hearts that they have confidence to attack them head on without a strategy nor weapons to attack them or maybe they were just fools and the absence of leaders contributes more to their dumb move?
   Either way, JP opened fire. He killed the Vampire with three shots to the head, the Ningyo with four shots to the chests and the Bakeneko with a duo of shots to the chest, thrice to the face.
   "JP!" Jemwolf yelled over the comms. It was impossible to hear his voice without the aid of a communication instrument due to the noisy sounds of battle that fills the atmosphere. "Charge ahead and carve a way for Strike Team Juliet!"
   JP glanced behind him and saw the seven-man team firing at the Monsters and Demons appearing from the alleyway. He yelled an affirmative response before nodding at Juliet Team Leader.
    "Follow me!" He yelled as he sprinted ahead of the Solo Operators. Vengeance and her subordinates followed suit.