The Malleus Demonika's Story

Groups of Xeraph Knights were being cut down left and right by the strange enemy, and above the Griffin fighter craft were broght down by the enemy's even stranger weaponry. At the backs of their minds, there was an unpleasant tickle, a pestering buzz that made it difficult to concentrate on attacking. Blood painted the ground around them, their brothers dying off. Xeraph Knights didn't die easily, but they did die; these mysterious crystalline beings was making certain of that. They were at an impasse, helplessly watching as the invaders carried off groups of citizens all the while laying down fire and not seeming to make any dents in the enemy ranks.

Just then, the cavalry came through.

The Malleus Demonika, the Union's own slayers of Manasphere demons, were sent in to investigate the attack, and to destroy any and all attackers that threatened the security of Rorian Grand and the rest of the Union's territories. Better-trained than the Knights, they burst onto the scene, armed with the very same pulse weaponry, as well as their highly deadly mana lances; large pole-arm weapons powered with magick energies to produce a high-intensity blade capable of slicing and piercing through the hardest of hides and materials.

Charging onto the scene, making their way into the thick of conflict, they met the invaders head on, unloading out of their own Stallions and rushing the mysterious creatures. They weren't like any demons they'd ever seen, but they could die just the same. Moving to cut down or impale the invasion party, as well as obliterate them with ranged weaponry, the hunters pushed hard to beat back the enemy and drive them back to whence they came.

A straight line of hunters charged them, while another group laid down fire from behind them, being careful to aim around their fellows. Utilizing a phalanx, they moved forward, harnessing their shielding systems to protect them as they advanced, their compatriots behind them providing them covering fire to allow them to safely move forward. The hunters moved to impale and slice the crystal beings, seeking to shatter them with their powerful weaponry.

The sudden fearless charge by the new Xeraph forces seemed to catch the invaders off guard. One of the defending detachments was quickly overrun by the incoming Demonika soldiers, four of them been cleaved into bits in the process. The remaining crystalline horrors bunched together near the portal that was still open and laid down an incessant hail of fire, tightening and reforming the line as two more of their dark comrades were blasted to pieces.

The flying fortress overhead also joined in suppressing the incoming Demonika soldiers, as large, thick square columns burst out of its individual faces, attempting to squash five or so Xeraph reinforcements at a time. All at once, the crystal men that had entered to search nearby buildings flew, literally, from the windows, landing in the street in a cloud of dust. Wordlessly, they ducked back through the portal. Once they were through, the battle-prism overhead fragmented back into individual soldiers, who crowded back in through the white vortex along with the remaining linemen. Five more crystal men were obliterated in the retreat, but that was fine. It had been calculated for. Their black, glassy remains slowly evaporated into nothingness as the white portal slowly wound itself shut with a droning howl.

Then, even amidst the groans of the dying and scared, there was peace again. Unfortunately, in the raid, seventy innocent beggars and peasants had been taken, their minds sucked right from their heads by the cruel needles of the invaders.

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In the stark, blank void that surrounded Nucleus, the VARIAtech home world, the away team arrived through a vortex similar to the one with which they had appeared on the Xeraph world. The remaining forces drifted through dreamily, a host of small, individual prisms herded in the middle of their flock. Seventy new minds to be cleansed and indoctrinated in the great, black world that lingered not far off in the distance...

The Xeraph forces were able to push back, obliterating a good number of the enemy. However, they lost some of their own men in the process; a handful of hunters, thirty Knights, and ten Dragoons. The enemy retreated through the vortex from which they had entered, taking with them a decidedly small number of civilians, but took them nonetheless; and that was a loss for them.

However, peace returned to the condemned sector once the dust settled and the enemy evacuated. A hunter finish retrieving his mana-lance from the crystal corpse of his enemy. "Load this one up, and be sure to keep it contained. The Sorcerers would likely want to study it." A group of Knights walked over, picking up the slain crystal figure. It was quite heavy, even given the strength-enhancement properties afforded to them by their mana-powered armor. They loaded the creature into a Stallion, and returned their attention to surveying the area: they had to make sure no one was injured.

Scouring the streets of this ruined sector didn't sit well with Marra. She'd often patrolled the condemned streets of Sepulcher Town; it was her job to investigate reports of a Mansphere demon-worshiping cult, after all. To her back was a group of four cloaked Hunters, each armed with Mana-powered lances. Her eyes scanned the empty buildings beside and above her.

The streets were silent save the slight wind that whipped around her. This place had a reputation for precarious activity, and would deter most people not destitute or foolish enough to find themselves in this particular vicinity. However, Marra was given the task of hunting down those enemies of the Union which are wrought from the Manasphere and their servants.

She threw up her hand, signalling the hunters to halt. A noise resonating in her ear, seemingly beckoning her deeper into the abyss of this godforsaken sector. She eased up, turning to face her men. "Patrols are done. We've found nothing today; It's time to head out." She spoke with finality, and the group of hunters made their way out of this perilous city block.

From the shadows, however, they had been watched...