Midnight Hunt

BGM

Four days later, a guard came running in late at night. "We've received reports that the Lutia District is under attack. "

"How many orcs?"

The guard hesitated for a moment, breathless. "No orcs. Human cultists that also worship the Demon Queen. At least fifty, maybe more."

I slammed my fist on the table. "Damn it. I should have known they'd try something like this."

Argentia was split into multiple districts. Most of my time had been spend either in the capital or the stronghold set up outside. I had been watching out for orcs and other obviously evil races, I overlooked the possibly Reala might have human worshippers that would better blend in. The cultists had chosen their target well—Lutia was a poor district with minimal defenses. The guard captain had only twenty men under his command, and they were mostly farmers with spears and pitchforks. If the cultists were attacking, they wouldn't stand a chance. I came to the Lutia District pretty late tonight, just in time to see Sora and a group of villagers, surrounded by robed and cloaked figures. A few bodies lay scattered on the ground, their blood darkening the dirt. The cultists were armed with crude weapons—sickles, scythes, rusted swords. Sora stood with her sword, using it to ward off attackers from multiple directions. The cultists were pressing in, overwhelming her with numbers. A man with a sickle lunged at her side, and she just managed to parry the blow. Another came from behind, swinging a rusted sword. She ducked, but the blade still grazed her shoulder, tearing fabric and drawing blood. A villager beside her took a dagger to the stomach and crumpled, blood pooling beneath him.

Armed with my shotgun, and fuming hot fury.

Sora's eyes widened, "Scourge?"

A cultist pointed angrily at me, "HERETIC!"

BOOM!

Everyone was taken by surprise when I shot off the cultist's head, reloading and rushing forward with vengeance.

The cultist retaliated with sword and shield in the hopes of overwhelming me.

I rolled my eyes, opting to simply kill the whole group in one fell swoop.

My blade completely bisected the group cutting clean through their shields, light armor, flesh, and bone.

Sora, the villagers, and the cultists told slack-jawed, trying to comprehend what just happened. Blood pooled at my feet, thick and viscous. The stench of bowels filled the air.

"That was... efficient," Sora said, voice tight with tension. The cultists came out of their shocked stupor first, adapting to this horrific development quickly.

Ready for round two?