Chapter 23: HE SCOURED THE UMBRAL PLAINS…

A few hours after recovering from the battle, the expedition crew numbers were looking 'less than optimal', according to Hayden. Even more worrisome were the two imps that had escaped from their captivity during the chaos of the battle. However, considering the landscape they were on, and how they had no idea where they were, Hayden did not expect them to survive long.

"Since the demons were so kind as to already have built an outpost here, we should use it for recovery for now." He stated.

"I didn't know these fuckin' monsters were capable of building infrastructure…" Husk muttered.

"The place is covered in blood and gore, as well." Seymour said aloud.

"I suggest you utilize your janitorial skills, then." Hayden replied. "Or just ignore it, for now. We don't plan to stay here long."

And so, the expedition set down camp for now. Hayden beckoned Benny, Charlie and her entourage over to his portable abode, along with Annie and Adams, who had been surprisingly well-patched up for their burn wounds, though their mental trauma had not been forgotten.

Once they all entered, everyone began to murmur at the arsenal that seemed to lay before them. There were several armored suits and weaponry set up at the opposite end of the abode. Furthermore, there was a UAC soldier standing next to them, his burly arms crossed in front of him.

"Good to have you all here, once more." Hayden said. "Now, let us make this short."

He waved his bionic arm over to the arsenal.

"I wanted to start first by introducing you particular...individuals-"

Charlie had a feeling he was trying not to say 'demon' or something insulting.

"-To these suits I had prepared before the expedition. They are combat-oriented, and will fit each of you accordingly by adjusting around your frame."

"I noticed you changed your own body up, too, huh?" Niffty pointed out. Charlie's eyes furrowed in confusion, then she realized what Niffty was talking about.

Hayden's bionic body had indeed changed. His joints were no longer exposed, but instead covered by flexible armored plating; The rest of his bionic parts were covered by rigid armored plating of a different kind, and his head had two blue slits instead of one, as well as noticeable armored plating around his neck and head.

"Man, you really went all out with your design, huh?" Angel remarked. Hayden emitted a noise similar to a snicker.

"These advancements are necessary in the oncoming fight against the demonic forces." He replied. "Now, each of these suits and weapons are specialized towards a certain role in combat. The roles that are available are: Two snipers, two machine-gunners, one field medic, one heavy ordnance, and two shock troops."

"Woah, shock troops, that sounds pretty awesome." Angel remarked, his eyes gleaming over the impressive-looking gear that Hayden pointed towards.

"It is not as enjoyable as you may think." Hayden replied. "This role requires you to break through the lines of the enemy in order to destroy their cohesion, then quickly retreat. It is the most dangerous role of all those available to you."

Everyone fell silent at that sentence. Now that their lives were actually on the line once more, no one was willing to step up to the plate for this role.

"Why do we need these suits and weapons?" Vaggie questioned. Charlie was happy to see her speaking again. It had been so long since she spoke aloud. "We're demons. We have powers and abilities to help us in combat."

Hayden's raspy chuckle in response sent chills down Charlie's spine.

"If you think you can go toe to toe with these demonic forces, that you can dodge and weave every single shot they take at you, that you can kill these things without being overrun and torn to shreds by the hordes of lesser demons, then leave this abode and take your chances."

For every response they had, he was equipped with an answer. Charlie surmised that Hayden sounded experienced in this particular answer he gave, which only put her on edge even more.

"I'll take a shock troop suit."

Charlie's eyes widened as she heard Benny's voice pipe up.

"Wha-? No, Benny, what are you doing?!"

Benny looked to her with a grim expression on his face.

"There are eight of us here, and eight suits. This isn't a coincidence. If he designed the shock troop suits, that means they will be needed for what is to come."

Despite Charlie's vocal protests, he walked over to one of the suits and put his hand on it. The suit began to expand, like an Iron-man suit, and formed around his body, eventually reasserting itself back to a rigid state once it finished.

As this happened, Charlie saw Vaggie flash by her towards the other suit.

"Vaggie! Hell no, you can't-!"

Charlie watched helplessly as Vaggie put on the other suit, grabbing the shield and spear that came with it.

"Why…?" Charlie muttered, feeling hopeless once more. Ever since the Doom Slayer had come along, she had watched the life she had set for herself unfold like a tragedy. Her beloved demons, of whom she wanted to repent so they could find a good afterlife in Heaven, were being killed in droves with no way of coming back. Her world was being invaded by an even worse, more dangerous hybrid of demons that wanted nothing but actual torture and suffering for her people.

And now, her two most beloved companions were signing themselves up for a death mission.

Vaggie noticed the gaze of despair and outrage that Charlie was giving her, and ducked her head.

"I...this isn't about trying to die in glory or anything like that, Charlie. I just believe that this combat role is what is suited best towards my abilities."

She looked back up at Charlie, with determination filling her eyes.

"If we can get rid of this threat and finally get you that wish of getting everyone to Heaven, don't you think we have to put our all into this? I am not good with guns, or healing people. I am just good at fighting in melee combat. And I want to do what I can to get rid of these fuckers so we can finally reach that goal."

"Yes." Hayden interjected. "After all, I did not say these roles were suicidal. In fact, they are one of the most safe, if you consider it from another perspective. The shock troops only have to play a role in attacking occasionally and defending, mostly. Which means whenever they are NOT committing to shock and awe, the focus will be on the troops firing at them."

He turned his head as the two blue slits in his head focused on Charlie.

"That being said", He continued. "The shock troops suits I augmented to mirror the versatile nature of the Doom Slayer. The users will be able to sprint, jump and climb much more quickly than their bodies would previously allow. However, every other suit does not impede the abilities of those wearing them, but rather proves to be a protective coating around the body."

He gestured to the remaining suits.

"Now, choose your suits."

After having assigned a number of lower-ranking soldiers to various assignments around the outpost, Seymour walked a bit aways from the encampment and found a little hill in a grassy area. He looked over the horizon, seeing the landscapes meld together in the most bizarre fashions.

This situation seemed unwinnable to Seymour. The attack from earlier almost killed his closest friends, and led to the deaths of many soldiers he knew and cared about. All while Hayden continued driving them forward, towards this portal where all the biggest, baddest demons were.

Seymour couldn't help the flood of questions invading his mind. Why did they have to come along? Why couldn't they just send the Doom Slayer and a few other people?

He laid his rifle next to him as he sat on that hill, pondering a line of questions and coming up with his own answers. He had spent so much time, so many years as a soldier, both on Earth and in Hell. When he had first arrived here, he didn't expect there to be a standing military, a somewhat-organized society.

But along the way, he had made friends like Dusty, like Steadman and Bricks. And he valued them deeply. In this society of degenerates and cutthroats, he savored the friends he had even more than he did on Earth.

"I wish...I just wish I could get them away from all this. I wish I could keep them somewhere safe, until this shit passes."

"You look...troubled."

Seymour whipped his head around to see a short, gray-skinned individual, with the garments of some kind of clergyman for the devil. His sclera was red, and his beady, black eyes focused on Seymour with a sort of hyper-focus.

"Who the fuck are you?" Seymour questioned. He would have moved to pick up his rifle, but it was lying at the feet of the individual that had approached him. The creature looked down at the rifle, then cackled.

"I'm not here to hurt you, Seymour." He hissed. "I have a proposition, in fact."

In one gnarled claw he carried some type of scepter. He used his other to beckon Seymour closer.

"Do not be afraid, Seymour. You can call me 'Crea', and I overheard a problem of yours that you had."

Seymour kept his eyes on Crea cautiously.

"Okay…" He said, waiting for him to continue talking. Crea smiled without revealing his teeth.

"I heard that you wanted to keep someone...safe?"