Book 2, Chapter 111 - A Massacre (1/2)

Chapter 111 - A Massacre

Hell’s Army was an organization with rich experience and a high rate of success in their missions. They blocked the streets of Teal Ridge in short order, followed by the walls and docks. Before long this village of fewer than ten thousand was completely under their control. It was an instantaneous shock to the sleepy village, followed by an explosion from the Church of Divine Brilliance that rattled every building. Fear gripped the hearts of the innocent citizens as they watched grizzled soldiers efficiently invade their home.

Soldiers flooded the streets, spreading out through the allies and shouting in unison.

“Everyone has ten minutes to come out of their homes! Teal Ridge has come under emergency military control!”

The invading force was fewer than a thousand men, but they were hardened warriors who had done this sort of thing many times before. Soon every street was in their control. All the village’s denizens – men, women, the old and young – stumbled out of their homes and were instantly gathered.

Of course, none of them understood what was happening. Faced with the fierce soldiers and the suddenness of it all, they put forth no effort to struggle or disobey their orders. Meekly they were penned together to await their fate.

The ruins of their church smoldered on the horizon.

Cloudhawk shut his eyes and felt a wave of murderous intent wash over him. The premonition only grew. Meanwhile the rest of Tartarus Squad combed through the debris.

“We haven’t found any remains.” Felina picked her way out of the ruins and toward Cloudhawk. She hadn’t picked up on the same thing he had and so was calmly delivering her report. “It looks like the terrorists have escaped, this snake’s nest is empty.”

“Hmph. That was an awfully quick reaction they had. They all got away in a hurry.” Drake’s face was sullen and angry, clearly upset that they failed in their mission. “Boss, we can’t just let them escape.”

Cloudhawk was only half listening. His looked down the myriad of streets and shrugged helplessly. “Do you have any suggestions?”

“You need to ask? Hunt them down and get rid of them!”

The members of Tartarus Squad were all in agreement. Just the opportunity to join this mission was a rare opportunity, and their small troop was rife with talented people eager to show off their skills. More than a few of them had fought for the chance to join Hell’s Valley. Some of the demonhunters were skilled trackers, meaning Tartarus Squad had the tools necessary to find those that had slipped from their grasp.

“Alright, well let’s…“

Cloudhawk went through a list of orders, but before they could be enacted the two assistant instructors sent to watch over them shut him down. “The instructors made their commands clear. Your job is done, from now on you sit back and watch. Anyone who performs outside of these parameters will be dealt with by military tribunal.”

Well, that was that. Only, it certainly seemed like an odd order, didn’t it?

The average member of Tartarus Squad was more worthy in a fight than your typical Hell’s Army soldier. Most were demonhunters, meaning they had access to special abilities normal soldiers did not. Ignoring all of that made little sense from a tactical point of view.

“Do not question your superior officers.” One of the assistants reminded Cloudhawk of the rules in a low and dangerous voice. “For you lot this mission is a field exercise, nothing more. So keep your eyes open and learn what you can, there are some things you can only pick up on the front lines.”

The thirty-some trainees looked at one another speechlessly.

For Cloudhawk’s part, he didn’t have the faintest idea what their officers’ intentions were [1], but he felt that uncomfortable feeling grow. He was still pondering the logic when an enormous, black silhouette lumbered into view in the skies above.

The warship blotted out the sun as it closed in on Teal Ridge. Slowly it descended, while the energy pylons sparked with power. Crackling bolts of energy slithered up the pylons like serpents, ultimately gathering into a blinding ball of light.

Boom-boom-boom-boom! [2]

All the pylons released their payload at once.

The orbs were shot into the air were they erupted into blooms of light. Columns of energy lanced out from them, giant blades of energy that carved brutal swaths through the village below. Spire-shaped homes crumbled into dust, starting from their pointed roofs and falling in on themselves. They were erased in a moment, as though they were made of paper.

And this was just the beginning.

The warship had half a dozen pylons and each attack was as destructive as the last. One after the other these energy weapons obliterated the city, with beams of energy striking the ground with the force of a meteor shower. How could this unassuming hamlet endure an attack like this? Most of the village was obliterated in one volley. Fires burned through every district where moments ago people had been happily going about their day.

Acrid smoke mingled with frightening explosions turns Teal Ridge into a hellscape.

“How were we supposed to evacuate so soon? Using a warship of this village is overkill!” Claudia’s angry eyes snapped toward the closes assistant instructor. “Who knows how many innocent people will be killed. You people are insane!”

“No, this is the signal to show us that the mission is in full swing.” The assistant fixed her with a cold, grim stare. “Now your education really begins.”