The convoy moved quickly through the city streets, a sense of urgency in how they moved. Erik was lost in his own thoughts as he led the convoy, laser focused on the monumental task ahead of them. He knew that this wasn''t going to be easy. The cult was expecting them to come storming in, guns blazing to rescue their friends, and he was happy to oblige them. Sort of. He smiled that savage smile to himself again, knowing damn well that they weren’t prepared for his type of surprise he was planning. The convoy slowed as they got closer to the cult''s territory, and Erik stepped off his bike, signalling to everyone to dismount for a moment. “They are going to be expecting us to ride in the front door, guns blazing. So that’s exactly what we are going to do.” He smiled, and everyone around could tell her had a trick up his sleeve. “Well, sort of anyway. Sassy and I will ride my bike straight to the entrance. We are going to be a distraction. Some of you are climbers. You will climb to the higher points and take out anyone who is providing overwatch. The rest of you will wait for the signal and come storming in from the sides. We already know that the north side of the compound is guarded by the sea. So, we are going to push them straight into it. No one gets away from us.” He looked at every single creature around him, enforcing his point. When no one voiced any objections, he moved toward his bike. “You all know what to do. Let’s go save our friends.” He hopped back on the bike, and turned toward the entrance of the compound, Sassy gripping tight on to his waist.


    They pulled up to the front entrance of the compound, stopping and parking the bike, stepping off of it. They casually strolled up to it, acting like they were meant to be there. A harsh voice called to them as they walked closer. “Ah, Mr. Ulfvaldr, it seems like you have come wholly unprepared. You honestly think you and this creature are enough to save those who you have been protecting?” The unknown voice taunted. Erik’s eyes flashed red and dangerous as he spoke. “Oh, I think that I am more than enough to handle the likes of you and these disgusting subhumans here. Remember, you were wiped out before, it would not be hard for me to do it again.” Erik kept the eyes of the cultist on him, but he could see that his people were very swift in dealing with those who were keeping eyes on him from the rooftops. He smirked, knowing that the cultists'' time was coming to a close. “You wouldn’t dare attack by yourself. We have hostages and will kill them all if you even attempt to harm any of us. You are alone and outnumbered. Surrender to us and we may spare them.” Erik’s laugh started low, before rolling into a mighty sound, bouncing around the entrance of the compound. “See, you all have made an error, one that will cost you all your lives. You assumed I had come alone to face you, but I am not, and you all will pay for what you have done to me, my people, and all of the creatures of this city, and for all the other numerous crimes you have committed. I will not be accepting surrender from you. I will wipe you all out this time.” Erik suddenly dashed toward the gate of the compound, unleashing a mighty roar, fangs bared and claws at the ready. He had already instructed Sassy to duck behind the closest cover, protecting herself until he gave all clear. At the moment Erik roared his anger and hate, the rest of the attackers began pouring in from two sides, creating mass confusion and panic among the cult members. “NO! HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ALONE!” Erik heard someone shout as he launched himself upward, climbing the gate to confront those who were his enemies. Several explosions occurred beyond the gate, and Erik noticed that those on the rooftops had taken it upon themselves to start raining explosives down on the scrambling cultists. He smirked at the fact that they took the initiative and continued toward his target. He reached the gate controls and found several cultists there. He dealt with them in a swift and final matter, then opened the gate slightly, allowing Sassy to make her way through, reuniting the pair. He smiled at her, then signaled for her to follow him. She stuck close to him, wide eyes darting everywhere, watching for potential enemies lurking in the shadows. “Don’t worry dear. We’ve got them on the run, it’s very nearly over. We took them by such surprise that they had no time to mount a defense before getting creamed. Most of them seemed to have gathered in one building, trying to save themselves. It’s time to finish this.” He moved swiftly toward the building the remaining cultist had taken refuge in, the rest of the creatures gathered outside of the doors. “They must be holding everyone in this building. They might be using them as shields to save themselves. If that is the case, then I want everyone else to stand down. I will handle it without any of our people getting hurt, I promise you all that.” Erik said, eyeing everyone around him. They all nodded in understanding. Erik pushed the doors open, stepping inside.


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    The cultists had gathered the prisoners they had taken, and they were shielding themselves with them. Erik looked over his friends, who had been beaten severely, but stood proud before him. Erik’s eyes burned red, his anger boiling over. He spoke loud enough to be heard around the entire room. “Listen right now! I will tell you this now, you are all going to die. Whether you die quickly, a merciful killing, or slowly at my hands, entirely depends on what you do next. If you let them go, I will grant you a quick death. If you harm them though, I will make your death slowly and painful.” He let the threat hang in the air, eyes shining like two bright rubies. The cultists didn’t yield though, and Erik grimaced. “Alright, we do this the hard way then.” He rolled up his sleeves, and stood silently, waiting. He whispered to Sassy, only loud enough for her to hear. “What are the chances that you can shield everyone but me and the cultists?” He asked her quietly. “I don’t know, I haven’t cast a spell that size before. It is possible, but I can’t guarantee that everyone will be safe.” She whispered back. Erik thought carefully before responding. “I don’t want to take any chances.” He looked back at the cultists. ‘Looks like we are going to have to do this quickly. You think we can pull it off?’ Erik asked Alastair. “I have every belief in our ability to pull this off.’ Alastair replied, as if offended that Erik would question their ability together. ‘Alright, let’s do this. Speed blitz all of them. There aren’t many left. We can make this quick’ Erik readied himself, eyes picking out his targets. He suddenly rushed forward, quicker than the eye could track. He ripped through all of the remaining cultists, shredding them to pieces in the blink of an eye. As he stood there, blood dripping from his claw fingers, he looked around at the group of prisoners they had saved and smiled slightly. They had been beaten, some of them tortured, but their spirits hadn’t been broken. Some of the less injured held up the more severely injured, supporting them as they walked toward the exit of the compound. Sassy strolled over to Erik, eyes on the survivors. “I’m not one that is prone to violence, but those who did this to our friends……” She trailed off, anger burning hot in her eyes. “I’m glad we dealt with them. You were right. This cult was a sickness that needed to be ended.” Erik took his hand in hers, following the group out the door. The split second before they exited the building, Erik heard the slide of a round being chambered into a weapon. He spun and covered Sassy as a shot rang out from the darkness, the bullet striking him in the shoulder, spinning him around and dropping him to one knee. Sassy shouted to everyone else to get down, her magic swirling around her as she casted a spell to decimate the area around the shooter, burying him in a pile of rubble from the collapsing roof. She ran to Erik’s side, kneeling beside him. Blood poured from the open wound on his shoulder, his eyes wide in shock. “Erik, you’re bleeding badly. I need to wrap the wound, and we need to get you back.” She gasped out in worry. Erik turned his eyes toward her, shock and pain spreading through his body. “Sa-sassy. This is no normal bullet.” He gasped out, his eyes fluttering as he fought to keep from passing out. “Silver, d-dipped in something damaging to demons. I-I feel…..” He trailed off as he collapsed forward, the floor rushing up to meet him as everything went black.