Dusk Til Dawn

Gashoch walked across the field, armblade extended to full view with the reflection of the moonlight bouncing off it. It approached a Human in a dark coat, clutching his bloodied chest. Messy dark brown hair, bleeding nose and bloodied mouth, the Human stared at the Demon, wide-eyed. His hazelnut eyes were filled with fear and agony. For his last attempt of survival, he tried reach for the Alaskan Bushmaster Shotgun lying beside him but the Demon had kicked it away. It knew that the bullets loaded in the shotgun were sanctified; blessed to kill Demons like itself.
	"Filthy Humans." It hissed. "How dare you expel us from our rightful inheritance!"
	"You have no inheritance here!" Said the Human. "You have no right to be here!"
	"Silence, Exorcist!" It yelled as it drilled its armblade deep his chest. He let out a blood curdling scream before dying a painful death.
	The Demon sucked in a deep breath as it glanced at its surroundings. He could see numerous Humans dead and a handful of Demons lifeless on the ground. Each one were a perfect copy of the other, including itself. Long unkempt hair covering its five glowing eyes, red mouth tinted in Human blood displays a set of sharp fanged teeth. Its armor was fitted securely on its chest; it was bronze in color. The chestplate was a face of a Demon with its mouth open agape. Hollowed eyes displays nothing but blackness, causing madness to anyone who dares to look at it long enough. The "mouth" of the armor shows sharp teeth as well that roared occassionally, causing mental instability to any foes they faced. Bronze bracers were fitted to its forearms that can be used as a weapon in many ways. Its thigh were also covered, down to the armor's greaves where spikes protrudes from the knee cap. Its feet were covered by taloned metal boots.
	"Long live the Grim Eaters Legion." It muttered as four more of its brethren appeared from behind, their appeareance a mirror of their own comrade. They let out a quiet growl as they moved across the battlefield.
	The area was a sea of verdant grass with occassional apple trees sprouting in the middle of nowhere. The wind howled gently, forcing the grass to bow, and the trees to rustle against the wind. In every corner of their eyes, they could see brightly lit flames, consuming either the bodies of their dead comrades or their enemies. The smoke billowing from it were slightly carried off by the wind with its omnipotent presence.
	"Cousins," A voice called from their left.
Turning, the Demon Gashoch of the Grim Eaters Legion was met by the sight of five Hell Guard Demon Legionnaires. They were mechanized Demons, head covered in cyclopean faceplate with its eyes, reversed red triangle in the middle of a circular frame, glowed incessantly. The upper part of its faceplate was conic; the lower part was mediocre in design, with a communication device attached to it. A chord can be seen, connecting the comm device and the back of the Demon's metal head. Its neck was a long metal, screwed to the body. Its limbs were bolted tightly to the long oblong-shaped body, joints, shoulders and other body parts were simply welded together. They were all connected by gears and protected with blackened metal plates. Underneath the plates were cables and circuitries enmeshed together. A loin cloth can be seen hanging on its waist, covering the groin part. In its hands, a long black pole can be seen, sparking in electricity, ready to fry any targets.
	"Cousins," Gashoch acknowledged with an inclined head. "How can we be of assistance?"
	"The enemy has expected us." The Hell Guard Demon Legionnaire replied, its voice was oddly digitalized. "They mounted a formidable defense that took half of my Strike Force."
	"I agree, Cousin." Gashoch replied. "They almost had us."
	"Nonetheless, we have succeeded, haven't we?" A voice interrupted ahead.
A quartet of fearsome looking Demon Legionnaires appeared from the shadows. Its dark blue eyes reminds Gashoch of those pathetic insects the Humans called 'fly'. Its mouth was beaked, giving its avian features. Its eyes were surrounded by a protective exoskeleton as well as the area surrounding the beak. Its forehead was exposed, revealing its green wrinkled skin. Its body was also covered in bleached white exoskeleton with some gaps on random spots revealing its tender wrinkled skin. Its biceps were exposed, but were protected with sharpened exoskeleton which were pointing upwards. It covers the forearms too but leaving its wrinkled hand exposed. Its thigh, knees and legs were covered by the same exoskeleton connected to its torso but some spots had huge gaps that exposed its green skin. Its feet were hooved, collecting mud from the wet ground they were stepping on. "Forgive me, I am Tisok of the Dark Stalker Legion."
	"Welcome, Cousin, and yes, we have succeeded." Gashoch replied. "We were still thinking about launching another attack at a Human settlement we have detected nearby." He added emotionlessly.
	"Who are the occupants of the camp you are talking about?" The Hell Guard asked.
	"Exorcists. They served the Order of Saint Barbara."
	"Death to Heaven and its Hosts. When do we strike?" Tisok asked, its voice were strangely loud. How does it speak despite of its beaked mouth, no one knows. "My brothers thirsts for blood."
	"We can strike now." Gashoch replied. "If only we do not waste more time discussing worthless shit, we would have the element of surprise. Surely, someone will contact these fuckers and when nobody replies, shit hits the fan."
	"What are your plans, Cousin?" The Hell Guard asked. "Enlighten us."
	"We attack...now."

-----

"Protectorate Nitrate, Protectorate Goldlight, can you copy, over?" A voice called over the radio in low sound muffled by the confines of the Protectorate's helmet.
	"Protectorate Nitrate, reporting in." The yellow armor-clad Protectorate replied as he pressed a button on the left side of his helmet. "I copy you loud and clear." Just as usual, voice were disguised in a low rumble.
	"Protectorate Goldlight, reporting in." A Protectorate in green armor stood beside Nitrate as he replied at the speaker.
	"Alright, brothers." The voice says to catch the attention of the couple. "Our enemies are advancing from north. There are three Legions closing in to your positions. Your mission is simple, intercept the enemies to buy the Exorcists more time to evacuate. Understood?"
	"Yes brother!" They both answered in unison.
	"Who is like God?" The voice asked.
	"Who is like God." They replied.
They were standing beside an apple tree, concealed by its shade and obscured further by the darkness of the night. The wind gently blew; Nitrate was annoyed a little that he doesn't get to feel the cooling breeze because of his armored body. He missed the feeling and the sensation of it. Most of the time, they were always sent to battle and the intense wind blowing harshly at him whenever he was inserted through freefalls were the closest thing he could ever have to experience the breeze of the wind.
	Goldlight knelt a knee on the ground as he slowly grabbed his black curved axe from his back. He saw Nitrate doing the same as he drew out a long double edged sword in red paint. Its black hilt looked good with the painted blade. The sharp edges were painted in silver, sharp enough to kill a Human with a single slash. In the corner of Goldlight's mind, fear and anxiety was a common thought that slowly crawls within before every fights. His heavy breathing was an evident to it, yet, he manages not to show it as he stayed still, motionless. He shifted uncomfortably; the stiffness of his armor getting tighter every second. He could feel his heart pounding but he slowed it with a thought to which it complied. He glanced sideways, spotting his comrade in a fighting stance. He could hear the low sound of marching from the distance accompanied by inhuman growls and chants. Even their footfalls were different too; metals over metals colliding from another joined the cacophony of noise. Goldlight, having fought in hundreds of battles before, knew the distinctive sound of armies bearing arms.
	"You're ready for this?" Goldlight asked Nitrate as they hear a thousand foot marching closer and closer.
	"Sure, we're trained for this, brother. Why not?" Nitrate replied.
	"Well, for our Lord Jesus, let's crush them."
	"Aren't we not going to?" Nitrate asked him but expected no reply as he gripped his weapon tightly.
After a few seconds, the head of the first Demon came to view; a Hell Guard Demon. It was soon followed by three more of its kind, then a Grim Eaters Legionnaire, then a Dark Stalker until they all appeared as a large intact fighting force that looks to be unstoppable. They were fearsome from the distance and each had bloodstained weapons at hand.
	"I assume that Tango Alpha Charlie 342 has been obliterated." Nitrate says, referring to the Camp that the Demons had previously attacked.
	"Outpost Johnford? Yeah." Goldlight replied as he readied himself. Anticipation raced in his mind; adrenaline flowed in his veins. Without a word, Nitrate kicked off the ground, disappearing faster than the speed of light.
	Just as his name suggests, Nitrate was fast. Being the fifth Protectorate to be the most quickest in the Legion, he could outrun even the Speed Demons from Hell and dodge the most fastest rocket that the Humans had ever made. He reached the enemy formation quickly with Goldlight struggling to keep pace with him, but he managed to keep up within seconds notice with the aid of his superhuman speed. The two engaged their first enemies with the strike of their sword. Goldlight swings his axe at a Dark Stalker, who parried his attack with a sword. Goldlight gripped the armed hand of the Demon with his left free hand and moved it out of the way as he raised his axe and strikes at its exposed wrinkled neck. Blood sputtered as it sprayed in the air. He raised his axe once more and swings in a chopping motion, successfully decapitating his enemy. To his right, a Hell Guard sped towards him, staff crackling in a threatening manner. It swung, almost hitting Goldlight had he not ducked low enough to avoid it. The Demon cocks back as it prepared for another swing; Goldlight parried the blow that came to his left then to his right. Goldlight moved an inch backward as he gained momentum to thrust the upper end of his axe at its chestplate, sending it a few steps backwards. He moved once more, closer to the stunned Demon, and launched his left hand clenched to a fist at its faceplate, denting it beyond recognition. Sparks and smoke flies in the air as the Mechanized Demon let out a series of frantical beeps. He raised his axe and splits its head off, destroying it completely. He sent one final regard: a right pushing kick to the chest. To his left, another Dark Stalker charged him with a quick motion. Goldlight sent a 45 degree kick aimed at its head but the Demon was just too fast that he missed. He ended up spinning counter-clockwise, but he did not gave the enemy an initiative to retaliate back at him as he made a swinging motion when he faced him again; pelvis cracking in response as the lower and upper body separates in a scene of wet gore. He turned a little bit further to the right and spotted a Grim Eaters Legionnaire; its armor growled at him as the Demon charged. Goldlight ignored it as he launched a ray of bright light at its head, blasting it into nothningness. It fell to its knees, dead. Far ahead, a trio of Dark Stalkers were now on to him; sharp bones can be seen protruding out of their forearms, a part of the exoskeleton that protects it. The first one slammed into Goldlight, sending him to the ground while at the same time, knocking the wind out of him. He rolled backwards to gain his footing. He cocks back, left hand glowing in bright holy light and with a pushing motion, he disintegrated the chest of the Demon. He watched it hit the ground, distubing scream escaping from its voicebox. He swung in a clockwise motion to the right as he swung his axe, decapitating another Dark Stalker Demon but at the expense of having his chestplate slashed in a diagonal motion. The last one from the group swung its left bladed left hand at him which he cut off with the swing of his weapon. It swung its other hand but was amputated too. Standing limbless, the Dark Stalker waited for Goldlight's final punishment. The Protectorate sent a flying spinning kick at its neck, taking it down. He raised his axe two handedly and then chopped its head off. Far ahead, he detected five Grim Eaters Legionnaire. He hefted his axe and charged once more.
	Nitrate tackled a Hell Guard down to the ground. He raised his left fist and crushed its face; oil and fluids sprayed in his faceplate, accompanied by sparks and smokes that flew in the nightly air. He grabbed an exposed part from the Hell Guard's ribcage and pried it from its housing. He cocks back and threw it at the face of a Grim Eaters Legionnaire, impaling its head with the cylindrical part. Nitrate sensed movement behind him. He rolled to his left and faced backwards as he saw a Dark Stalker impaling the empty space where he once had previously been. The corpse of the Hell Guard suffered from the attack instead. With a poke to its neck, Nitrate's blade had dug deeper to the flesh than expected, causing blood to spray to his faceplate. He raised his left hand and blasted the Hell Guard with a mixture of water and air, pressurised elements that destroys the exoskeleton of the Demon. Standing up, he was the one who begin the charge against three Hell Guards Legionnaire. Sending a flying kick at the one in the center, he effectively put it out of motion but he knows that the Demon wasn't knocked out from the game and expected it to retaliate again. For now, he focused on the remaining two Hell Guards that had started to take swings at him. Dodging and evading, Nitrate was a show of light and air as the Demons tried to hit him but ended up missing. A strike was about to hit him in a poking motion but his reactions were far too quicker as he rolled backwards. Like the other common tactics of Protectorate Legionnaires, rolling backwards and sending an Arcane blast at the enemy was the most used move. However, Nitrate didn't do this. He instead re-launched himself at the enemy, striking at it but as expected, the Demon parries it. Nitrate knew this which is why, he sent his right knee crushing the lower part of the Demon's faceplate instead. It fell down to the ground but his back was facing the other enemy, making him vulnerable. Nitrate also expected this. His swung his blade, turning his body in a counter-clockwise motion, hitting a gear or two in the left elbow of the Demon, then swings his blade as he pivoted his body clockwise, severing cables and wires at the neck of the Demon. He felt the Demon below him squirm. Nitrate twirled his blade in a downward motion as he impaled the chest of the Hell Guard, causing it to let out a series of beeps. He sensed another motion; the Hell Guard he had kicked earlier. It charged at him with an incredible speed. Nitrate reacted quickly as he kicked the staff of the dead Hell Guard below him towards the oncoming one. Both ends were still crackling with electricity. The Hell Guard was distracted momentarily as it raised its own staff in defense but it was for a supposedly emotionless Mechanized Demon, it was surprised as Nitrate threw a fireball at it. Electricity and flames collided as one, causing the Hell Guard to explode in fiery bright flames. Charging further ahead the battlefield, he encountered three more Grim Eaters Legionnaire, swinging their bladed arms and swords. He rushed across the combat zone, ready to intercept them. He made a leap, tackling one of them to the ground. Nitrate sensed a blade swinging to his right. With a step backward, he avoided the tip of the weapon by inches. He swing his fist forward in retaliation, knuckles making contact with the face of the Demon. He could hear a solid crack that snapped inside its face. The Demon's head swings backwards; soon it was thrown to the ground, creating a crater around it. The last one advanced, Nitrate spins in a clockwise motion as he landed a kick at its chest. Just like its brethren, it fell to the ground as well. He hacked its head off from its neck. To his right, he could see Goldlight waging a violent fight against his enemies. He admired the skill and savagery of his brother as he dodged each attacks and retaliates back with his own style of attacks. He watched as Goldlight executed his last enemy by leaping in the air and chopping his enemy's head off. The Protectorate paused to rest. He was catching his breath; Nitrate could even hear his air deprived lungs in the radio. He was about to tear his gaze away from him when he spotted a Dark Stalker sneaking from behind.
	"Brother, DUCK!" Nitrate yelled as his left hand glowed brightly with flames burning in his palm.
Goldlight turned to see his comrade. When he heard the instruction, he immediately complied by ducking. There, he saw the menacing figure of the Dark Stalker Demon, aiming its bladed bone to his chest but before it could carry out its attack, a blast had found its way to the Demon's chest, sending it sprawling to the ground.
	"I owe you one, brother." Goldlight says.
	"Don't mention it." Nitrate replied as he stood beside his brother.
Around them, numerous Demon bodies littered the ground. Dark crimson blood stained the grass and the smell of death lingers in the air. Exchanging glances to one another, the Protectorates charged at the congregating Demons, ready to finish what they have started. They intended to erase the Joint Strike Forces from the map of the Earth and from the PR Roster of Hell. Nitrate jumped as he charged his hands with freezing wind and blasted the nearest Demons with it. Dark Stalkers, Hell Guards and Grim Eaters alike fell with frozen body parts. The previous space they were standing on were covered in four meters wide worth of snow. He landed and rolled forward, spotting a trio of Dark Stalkers heading towards him. He cocks back and launched a stream of fire, hosing them down with heavenly flames. Their blood curdling scream echoed in the air. He raised his blade and made a chopping motion as he strikes at a Grim Eater. Its head was split in half. He whirled behind him as he shoved a Hell Guard telepathically, throwing it backwards and hitting a nearby boulder that causes it to explode. He stomped on the ground, the spot where a quartet of Hell Guards were standing on had opened up to swallow them. The hollowed ground sealed itself shut soon after.
	Goldlight detected a duo of Hell Guards heading towards Nitrate. He wanted to return the favor to him in advance so he launched a streak of lightning at one of the Mechanized Demons. The electricity shocked the Demon then found its way to the other one, shocking them both. They were fried for full four seconds before exploding in oil and fluids. Nitrate staggered as the explosions shook him. He turned at the direction of Goldlight and launched a glob of water at the Grim Eater behind him. Goldlight leaned to his left. His eyes were red in rage as he sent his elbow launching behind him, slamming it at the face of the Demon. He felt the familiar connection between him and Nitrate as they fought their enemies. Their thoughts were now locked as they fight as one. Goldlight snapped, invoking flames in his hand. He threw a ball of fire at a nearby Dark Stalker before jumping to another target. He peppered a group of Grim Eaters Legionnaires with lights, destroying and perforating them in the process. Nitrate slid backwards as he avoided a staff from a Hell Guard Legionnaire. He sent a fist at its faceplate then another punch at the chest of the enemy. He leaned backwards and sprang in an uppercut before slamming its whole face with his left knee. He whirled behind him with both palms facing at the general direction of the approaching enemies. He counted, there were five of them; all comprises of Hell Guard Demons. He wasted no time as he blasted them with orbs of dark shadow, engulfing and vaporizing them. He aimed at the other group that comprises of Dark Stalkers, killing them too. He turned at towards the remaing Demon Legionnaires and charged, Goldlight followed behind him.
	In the distance, dawn is approaching. The sun isn't visible yet but its rays slowly filled the color of the sky, illuminating it in purple. The light of the moon was slowly overwhelmed by the sun's light, but it still continues to be a witness to the gory battle below.
	Nitrate pounded a Dark Stalker with his fist, followed by an uppercut that sent it flying backwards. He sent a 45 degree kick at the face of a Hell Guard before blasting it with fire. His fist found its way to the jaw of a Grim Eaters Legionnaire, fracturing it in half. Goldlight blasted a Hell Guard's face into smithereens with liquid light. He punched a Dark Stalker in the face twice before launching a knee strike at its face. He sent a powerful kick at the face of a Grim Eaters Legionnaire, sending it down to the ground. Both Protectorates started to take a step backwards, exhausted and tired. The Self-Medicae device of their armors continually pumps more chemicals to their bodies to keep them fighting, yet the exhaustion still consumed them like a steady fire.
	"Brother, we need to kick them REALLY bad." Goldlight muttered, not considering choosing the right words anymore.
	"Your suggestion?"
	"Angelic Form."
	Both Protectorates exchanged glanced before nodding to one another. They stared at the advancing enemies. Their numbers had lessened greatly than before. Their own kin littered the battlefield, yet, their numbers are still enough to overwhelm the two had they not thought of a better plan to cut their numbers greatly. Goldlight saw that his brother's chestplate had been nicked with slashes. His own left shoulder had been pierced by a sharp bone but he didn't noticed it at first, only when his eyes had caught sight of it. He left it there, enjoying every bit of pain that had converted into an itch, an irritation that slowly weakened his muscle, at the same time, strengthened it as the Self-Medicae and healing fluids of his armor slowly regenerates every tissues lost. It knits the torn muscles and numbing every severed nerve endings.
	After a few seconds, Goldlight finally pulled the bone from his shoulder free, blood flowed freely from his wound and the irritation becomes so great that he fought the urge to scratch the itch with his own axe. The skin and flesh slowly resealed itself up, followed by his armor repairing itself. Nitrate glowed brightly; his figure enlarging and his back expanding as wings covered in sharp metallic feathers appeared from it. When the glow disappeared, he was greeted by a fully armored Angel, eight feet tall and covered in layers after layers of sanctified metal plates. His white armor was trimmed in gold and rivetings. The vertical eye slit glowed in blue, the part where his nose and mouth should have been was covered by an angular faceplate. Goldlight knew that within those armor was an empty hollowed space that houses nothing but a smoke; Nitrate's soul. He glanced at the enemies in front of them and began glowing as well. The strange feeling of transition between Human Form and Angelic Form hit him. It was warm while at the same time it was cold. His vision was engulfed in a blinding light that emanates from his body. His form slowly transform, height increasing the same as his brother. He could feel the itching sensation in his back as wings spreads from it. As the light dissipated, he was now an armored Angel too.
	Wide blue visor stared at the Demon Legionnaires. His hands were encased in a Empyrean steel; knuckles reinforced with a gold bar, a wrecking ball in their own right. He could see Enochian inscriptions in it. His chestplate was as strong as a prison wall and his legs were stronger than tree trunks. He marched forward, joints echoing as plates upon plates collided, announcing their presence.
	"Brother," he asked; his voice was echoing throughout the battlezone. It was echoing, mixed with the roar of a Lion. "Are you ready?"
	"Let's rip them apart!" Nitrate replied in the same voice.
	"For the El-Shaddai!" They yelled as they charged.
The first attack had obliterated three Demons in a single punch. They were thrown elsewhere, hitting the ground with wet cracks. Goldlight twisted his body, pivoting it 90 degrees to the right as he blasted a large group of Demons with light. Nitrate did the same as he fired three blasts, disintegrating large numbers of Demons at once. He grabbed one by the neck; a Grim Eaters Demon, and crushed its windpipe with his hand. All its five eyes bulged out of its socket and blood made its way out of its already red mouth. He threw the Demon's corpse at a Hell Guard, both stumbled on the ground. He fired light after light like a tank blasting shells against an enemy artillery. Demon bodies flew in the air like ragdolls only to fall down as mangled corpses of twisted bodies. He sent a 45 degree kick at a Dark Stalker Legion that had gotten too close; head flying off elsewhere. Nitrate had somewhat felt satisfaction and enjoyment of what he was doing. Goldlight grabbed a skull of a Grim Eaters and crushed it in his hand. He turned to his right and blasted a group of advancing Hell Guards and from behind, he tackled a Dark Stalker, crushing it in the process. Their pristine armors were now covered in dark crimson blood. They continued firing, punching, ripping and kicking their way though enemy ranks, shredding their numbers quicker.
	The battle continues for another five minutes before the last Demon has been slain with Goldlight twisting the Grim Eater's head 360 degrees from the Demon's neck. The Demon saw blinding flashes as his visions went dark and it also heard loud snaps in its ears as the robotic Angel completed the full twist to its head. It couldn't scream, it couldn't move. All it could do was stay still. It could not feel its body. Strange enough, it felt cold hot flashes on the top of its head as life slowly bleeds away from it.
	"Protectorate Nitrate, reporting in." Nitrate called over the earpiece, he was in his Human Form. Goldlight was standing beside him, Human Form also. "We have intercepted the enemy Legions."
	"Good," the voice replied. "The Order of Saint Barbara has already withdrawn back to the safe havens of the Cathedral of Saint Michael. Report back to the base."
	"Affirmative."

==END==