The black raven-shaped energy surged toward me, faster than anything I'd faced before. I dove to the side, but even as I hit the ground, talons carved through the air inches from my back.
I rolled, firing the [Las Pistol], crimson beams slicing through the dark, crackling feathers. They shattered into smoky wisps but reformed almost instantly. The raven loomed again, talons outstretched, its glowing red eyes locked on me.
I raised the [Tau Rail Rifle], pulling the trigger. The shot ripped through its chest, sending shockwaves through the air. For a moment, it faltered, its body splitting apart in a flash of energy. But Helena stepped through the smoke, her arms outstretched, weaving the raven back together with tendrils of black magic. It screeched, even larger now, wings blotting out the faint light of the warehouse flames.
Helena grinned, her lips curling upward, eyes blazing like molten rubies.
"You don't get it, do you?" Her voice was calm, almost mocking. "You can't win."
I fired again, the beam punching straight through her shoulder. She staggered but didn't fall. Her expression darkened, her hands glowing with sickly green light. She slammed them together, and a ring of crimson fire erupted around me, cutting off my escape.
The heat was suffocating. I stumbled back, coughing as the air grew thick with ash. The raven dove again, faster this time. I ducked, swinging the [Tau Rail Rifle] like a club, smashing it across the raven's shadowy head. It dissolved into black smoke, scattering into Helena's outstretched hand. She clenched her fist, and the smoke coiled back into the air, forming dozens of smaller, screeching crows.
They came at me in a swarm, tearing at my arms, my face. I shielded my eyes with one hand, firing wildly with the [Las Pistol] in the other. My shots clipped some, scattering them into nothingness, but the rest clawed at my jacket, slicing through fabric and leaving shallow cuts along my skin.
I stumbled out of the flames, gasping, blood trickling from fresh wounds. Helena stepped forward, the ground cracking beneath her feet as her magic surged. She raised a hand, and the air around me twisted and warped. A jagged spear of shadow formed in her grasp, glowing with an eerie purple light.
She hurled it.
I barely managed to dodge, the spear crashing into the ground behind me, erupting in a blast that sent shards of stone flying. The force knocked me forward, and I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me. Dust filled my lungs as I scrambled to my feet, clutching my side.
I wanted to summon every single unit I had and drop it on top of her head, but I held myself back. Firstly, she'd one-tap them all with her bullshit magic. And, secondly, I didn't need them just yet. I could survive this. Crentist was coming back. All I needed to do was to wait.
Helena was relentless. Another spear formed in her hand, her grin widening as she hurled it again. This time, I wasn't fast enough. It clipped my shoulder, sending a searing pain through my arm. I cried out, stumbling back, the [Tau Rail Rifle] slipping from my grip and skittering across the ground.
I pressed a hand to the wound, my vision blurring. She laughed, her voice cold and sharp. "You've put up a fight, I'll give you that. But this ends now."
She raised both hands, magic pooling around her in a swirling vortex of dark energy. The ground beneath her feet cracked and buckled as the air grew heavy, oppressive. A massive orb of shadow formed above her, pulsing with raw power.
I reached for the [Tau Rail Rifle], fingers brushing against its edge. The orb began to descend, slow but inevitable, its energy crackling as it burned through the air. My legs refused to move. My body felt leaden, every muscle screaming for rest. Fuck it, I'm dropping all of them-
Then, the air shifted.
The oppressive magic dimmed, like a candle snuffed out by a gust of wind. Helena's grin faltered, her head snapping toward the shadows beyond the ruined warehouse. Crentist stepped into view, his presence washing over the battlefield like an icy tide.
Helena hissed, taking a step back. "Him again."
Crentist said nothing. He never did. He moved like a shadow, his aura of nullification spreading outward, erasing the lingering magic from the air. The fiery ring around me sputtered out. The crows vanished. Even the massive orb of shadow above Helena began to flicker, its edges crumbling under the weight of his presence.
I forced myself to stand, gripping the [Tau Rail Rifle] with shaky hands. Helena's gaze darted between Crentist and me, her expression tight.
"You think this changes anything?" she snarled, her voice losing its earlier confidence. She raised her hands, summoning another wave of dark magic, but it faltered the moment it formed, dissipating like smoke caught in the wind.
I fired. The shot clipped her leg, and she stumbled, a curse escaping her lips. Crentist advanced, silent and implacable. Helena's eyes narrowed, her fingers twitching as she tried to summon her power, but it fizzled out every time, snuffed out by Crentist's aura.
She took another step back, her breathing uneven.
"This isn't over," she spat, her voice shaking with fury. Her body shimmered, dark energy coiling around her like a cocoon.
Before I could fire again, she vanished, the air snapping back into place where she had stood.
Silence fell. The warehouse was in ruins, the ground scorched and cracked, but the fight was over. Crentist turned to me, his empty gaze lingering for a moment before he inclined his head slightly, a silent acknowledgment.
I sank to my knees, the adrenaline finally leaving my body, replaced by exhaustion. My wounds throbbed, and my chest heaved with each breath.
"She'll be back," I muttered, my voice hoarse. Crentist said nothing, his presence steady, unmoving.
For now, we had won. But I knew this was just the beginning.
Hidden Quest Complete: Devil in the Details, Part 2
Objective: Survive Against Helena Stolas
Reward: 5000 War Points
Bonus Objective: Injure Helena to the Point of Fleeing
Bonus Reward: 3000 War Points
Huh, that was nice.
I turned to the Culexus. "Let's go get my mom."
Crentist led the way, moving through the shadows like a specter. The air around him felt cold, heavy, like stepping into a room where something vital had been drained away. I followed, gripping the [Tau Rail Rifle] tightly. My legs trembled with exhaustion, but I forced myself to keep moving.
We left the ruined warehouse behind, its smoldering remains casting faint orange glows against the darkened woods. My breaths came in shallow gasps, each step jarring the cuts and bruises that covered my body. Crentist never glanced back, his silent, unwavering stride a stark contrast to my labored pace. I was pretty sure an otherwise average human would've already died if our places had been switched. My durability, after all, was far from normal. I was pretty sure that, by now, I could survive a small bullet.
The trail we took was winding, the woods dense and oppressive. Twigs snapped underfoot, and the occasional hoot of an owl broke the silence. After a few minutes, Crentist stopped. He turned, tilting his skull-faced helmet toward a cluster of trees. I stepped closer, squinting through the dim light. Hidden beneath the canopy was a small, abandoned hunting cabin, its windows boarded up, the door slightly ajar.
Crentist stepped inside first, his aura of nullification brushing past me like a cold breeze. I hesitated at the doorway, my grip on the rifle tightening. Inside, the cabin was bare and dusty, save for a simple cot in the corner. My mother lay there, her chest rising and falling in steady, shallow breaths. She was unharmed.
Relief hit me like a wave, and I slumped against the doorway, the weight of the past hour crashing down.
"Thanks," I muttered, barely audible.
Crentist stood by the cot, his posture as rigid as ever. He said nothing, as always, but there was something in his stillness – a silent acknowledgment of the task completed. I crossed the room, brushing dust off my mother's arm as I checked her pulse. Steady. I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
"We need to get her home," I said, my voice firmer now. Crentist's helmet tilted slightly, a silent agreement.
The walk back to my family home was quiet. Crentist carried my mother effortlessly, her weight seemingly insignificant to him. I led the way, scanning the woods for any sign of danger. Helena might have retreated, but I couldn't trust she'd stay away for long.
The house came into view, its windows glowing faintly with warm light. My father's car was parked in the driveway. Everything looked normal – peaceful, even. It felt out of place after the chaos I'd just endured.
We entered through the back door. The house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Crentist set my mother gently on the living room couch, arranging a blanket over her. I crouched beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered briefly, but she didn't wake.
My father's voice called from upstairs. "Honey? Is that you?"
I froze, exchanging a glance with Crentist.
"It's me, Dad!" I shouted back, trying to keep my voice steady. "Mom's asleep. She's fine. Don't worry."
There was a pause.
"Alright," he called back, his tone unconcerned. He didn't know. Good.
I straightened, looking down at my mother.
"I can't stay," I whispered, more to myself than to Crentist.
Crentist shifted slightly, his helmet turning toward me. I met his gaze – or at least, where his gaze would be if he had eyes.
"You'll stay here," I said firmly. "Protect them. Both of them. From anything. You understand? But keep yourself hidden."
He nodded once, a small, deliberate motion. That was enough for me. Crentist certainly was powerful enough to deal with most supernatural threats by himself. And I was pretty sure my units needed no food or sustenance.
I stood, every muscle in my body protesting. My mother stirred, her hand twitching under the blanket. I hesitated, my chest tightening, but I forced myself to step back. I couldn't risk staying, not with Helena still out there. Everything was escalating. That situation with Helena was just a taste of what was coming. I had friends too and staying here would mean they might get dragged into this mess as well. I couldn't allow that. Helena wanted me. Fine. I was going to find her and kill her.
After that, I'd have to walk away. Far away. I had a promise to protect the world from the Supernatural and I planned on keeping that. But I also had to make sure the people I cared about wouldn't be caught in the crossfire.
"I'll be back," I said quietly, unsure if it was a promise I could keep. Crentist's silent presence followed me as I moved toward the door. I glanced back one last time. My mother lay undisturbed, her breathing even. Crentist stood like a sentinel, his aura filling the room with its oppressive, protective weight. "I'll be back. I'll make sure to visit the first chance I get. I promise."
I went back to my room, gathered my belongings, shoved them into my [Inventory], took a long and warm bath and got myself clean, and wrote a quick letter to my parents, telling them not to worry about me, that I'd be safe. I was pretty sure they'd worry anyway and mom would probably get the police to look for my sorry ass, but they'd give up eventually, since I wasn't exactly a minor and I did write a letter, declaring my intent. My parents would be heartbroken, but that was better than dead.
Then I stepped into the night, the door clicking shut behind me.
AN: Chapter 27 is out on (Pat)reon!
