Apocalypsis

AN: (Hope you enjoy. I was bored af lately...)

Ch1: Don't Play With Fireworks... and Fire People

"Griffin squad, are you at the designated area yet?" A rough voice called out through the comms, breaking the almost eternal silence.

"Yes sir." I said with bated breath. Today, I, Mason Alabaster, and my fire team would start our first operation as technomancers. Eighteen was the youngest age one could be in the Evernight Mercenaries. Although the only reason I got in was because my father was well known in the magical community.

Our op was situated in Boston, an urban environment. Which seemed like it would be hard to pull off, but the veil mixed with some magic did some weird things to mortals heads. The lack of human life within the first mile of our op was proof enough. It was three o' clock, with nothing but the stars and moon to light our path. I couldn't help but revel in excitement as my heart nearly beat out of my chest. It had always been my dream to be a magician like my father, but a Technomancer was the next best thing. I mean, at least we could use technology without it blowing up in our faces.

Old magicians and wizards had a hard time coping with modern day society. Back in the olden days magic gave off an aura that had odd side effects on them and those around them. Back then, it was moles and hallucinations. Now, in the era of technology, mages and all the human magical folk couldn't be within ten feet of a tech device without it exploding into sparks and fried wires.

Of course, Technomancers were the new breed. Using a fusion of modern day technology, and time testet magic. Their scoffed at by the uptight people of the more, traditional societies, but you can't fight the ever constant change. You can't change the direction of the wind (well technically you can with magic but shut up), but you can adjust the sails.

The comms were silent for a few seconds before the commander responded. "Hostiles comprise of redcaps and ogres. Caution is advised."

Redcaps huh. Murderous little bastards could put up a real fight if they caught you by surprise. Thats why the standard tactic was to surprise them first. But ogres on the other hand... ogres were gonna be a problem. Imagine the hulk mixed with the terminator, with extreme blood thirst and palate for human meat while also being impervious to quick chant magic. Fire magic of the upper tier should do the trick just fine.

Hopefully.

I look back to my squad mates, Cassandra and Ford. "Flash magic first, then use fire magic to burn them out."

"Yes sir!" The shouted in unison.

The building in front of us had over one hundred floors. Hostiles seemed to only inhabit the first three. I say seemed because there was always an unaccounted factor.

Humans.

Monsters always had a thing for humans, and not in a good way. Whether it was for food or mana furnaces, monsters always targeted humans. It was never even fair. The veil made it impossible for normal everyday people to see monsters for what they really were. Even worse when it came to shape shifters and the fae.

As we approaches the building, staves in hand, we heard a loud commotion from inside. Screams resounded through the dark parking lot, making it a lot more eerie than it already was.

"Fuck, go go go!" I yelled. Preparing my staff and chanting a short flash spell. "Mico stella!"

As the incantation left my lips, my silver staff seemed to glow with blue symbols. A blinding bright light flew off inside the building, no doubt surprising them. No need for a bunch of mini terminators armed with firearms to come rush out and leave me looking like a piece of Swiss cheese.

"Ford!"

"I got it! Excandescunt Rapidus!" He shouted as a numerous bright flames materialized around him. The fire spell he chanted was an upper tier magic that took a while to charge to full power. "Get all friendlies and I'll wipe them out!"

Without confirmation, I rushed in to find a brutally beaten young woman running towards me crying. "Please help me..." she sobbed. Blood oozed out from her numerous wounds, fanning my anger even more. But I put a lid on my fury, as mortals always came first.

"Don't worry." I said, as I tried to calm her and myself down. "Is there anybody else inside?"

She shakily shook her head promptly before fainting. This operation was starting to get out of hand. I picked her up and rushed back outside. Angry growls sounded out from behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, the redcaps, which looked no different from humans other than the signature red cap, trailed behind me. Fun fact, the reason they are called red caps is because they loves to dye their caps red with the blood of their enemies. I without a doubt did not want my blood added to the growing list.

"Ford, you have permission to fire!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Nine balls of condensed energy flew past me in an arc, barely missing me while singing my hair and scaring the hell out of me. "Watch your aim dumbass!" I yelled furiously.

In which he responded with his signature smug smirk "But did you die though Captain?"

Screw this sly bastard! He clearly could have made the arc a little wider. The damn punk was probably trying to show off to his teammate.

Behind me, the entrance to the building and the first six or seven floors were hit by a bombardment of fire magic. It reminded me of new years fireworks, but more beautiful and even more so, deadly. The fire spread quickly, silhouettes could be seen running out of the building screaming as the flames ate at their very being. I felt no remorse for the monster inside, judging by the woman's critical condition, she probably tried to resist being raped.

Which also reminded me that she needed immediate first aid.

I turned to Cassandra. "Cass, I need some immediate first aid on the woman." I check her pulse, which seemed normal but I was no doctor. "Also make sure she stays asleep. We don't need her to go to mortal authorities and fan the situation even more."

"Yes Captain." She said with a serious expression, red hair fell over her closing eyes as she concentrated her cycle of mana.

As I turned to Ford, I noticed that he had an odd expression on his face. His face paled as he stared at the burning skyscraper. His gaze was locked onto the burning building behind us, which was burning faster than a cigarette on dry leaves. Could I had made a mistake and accidentally made the call to fire upon mortals? Or maybe there was some other type of monster that we didn't know about?

With a grim expression I ask Ford, "Whats wrong?" My grip unconsciously tightened against my retracted staff.

Instead of answering, he pointed towards the entrance of the building.

When I turned to look, my expression froze over. Inside the flames I could barely make out a large silhouette. Hells bells maybe it was an ogre. I grabbed my retracted staff and extended it, calling out for Ford to protect Cass and the mortal woman.

Cautiously, I approached the flaming building, which was in no way a smart idea other than a brave one. There was a thin line between stupidity and bravery. The figure inside was over twenty feet tall, standing motionless as the flames engulfed him. No, scratch that, he, was engulfing the flames. The closer I got, the easier it became to see the mans features. An obsidian crown sat upon his head, blending in almost effortlessly with his pitch black skin. He wore a flame red business suit and seemed to be rather enjoying the sensation of the flames. My presence did not go unnoticed, as he opened his eyes when I approached closer.

His eyes seemed to be the incarnation of flames itself, ever raging on with the desire to destroy. The flame giant proceeded to shrink down to somewhat normal size, although he was still tall and terrifying.

He looked at me with a thoughtful expression. "Did you summon me here mortal?" His voice betrayed his appearance, sounding more like nails on a chalkboard. "You'll be a glorious first meal before I find Magnus Chase and rip his throat out."

Beads of sweat rolled down my neck, probably from the heat of the flames. Or maybe it was the resolute aura of power this man exerted. Option one makes me look more brave so let's go with that one. I looked back one final time to my squad mates.

"RUN!"