Current Day
Ren didn't like how quiet it was. Devon barely said anything as they walked towards the target location, his face like stone. She was on edge too, gripping the handle of her katana tightly and scanning the area for potential threats. The church was just ahead of them now, across the street. The windows glowed with a warm light, and snow piled up against them. It looked ancient, with old stonework and detailed stained glass windows that caught the light in a beautiful way. It was surrounded by shorter buildings, modern and boring, with flat walls and low roofs. They walked past a large construction site, with orange mesh flapping in the wind. Just what the city needs… Another skyscraper for some rich guy to live at the top of, Ren thought, before turning her attention back to the church. Devon crossed the street, and approached the front doors, gesturing for Ren to follow. They stopped in front of the double doors, and Devon typed something on his phone. "You ready for this, Ren?" She nodded, and drew her sword. "Ready as I'll ever be." She'd been tracking Elias for nearly two weeks now, and was ready to put him down once and for all. "No heroics, Ren. We do this by the book," Devon said, and Ren scoffed. "I know. I'm not Ma-" She cut herself off, looking down. She felt bad for leaving him in the dark about the mission. She knew it was necessary though. If he knew about it, there'd be no stopping him from joining the assault. He'd probably just complicate things, Ren told herself. Then she took a deep breath, and pushed the doors open.
The warm air rushed out in a wave, spilling through the grand church doors. Ren and Devon stepped through the doorway, weapons drawn. The interior of the church felt like it was bigger on the inside, with a long nave. There were candles everywhere, flickering on makeshift stands and in glass jars, their wax dripping to the floor. The air was hot and dry, in sharp contrast to the cold, snow-filled air outside. The doors behind them slammed shut, and Ren's eyes finally fully adjusted to the light. She immediately noticed the sheer amount of people in the room. The pews were packed, with old and young people alike, all sitting attentively. At the front of the church, Elias Vane stood at the pulpit, set on an elevated stage. His palms rested on the old wood, and even from across the room Ren could see a faint glow around his gloved hands. His black hair was slicked back, and he wore an open black trenchcoat. His voice carried clearly across the building, echoing through the room. "And even now, the heretics seek to take me! And for what? Speaking the truth?" A murmur of agreement ran through the pews, and people turned to look at the newcomers, with anger and fear on their faces. Devon cleared his throat, and dark chains began to emerge from the floor around him. "Elias Vane, you are wanted for twenty-eight counts of first-degree murder. Stand down, and come with us. This is your last chance to comply." Audible gasps sounded across the church, and the civilians began to protest. "Leave him alone, demon!" one woman shouted from the front row. Another man turned to face him. "You can't arrest him here!" he said, chin lifted in defiance. Ren rolled her eyes. "We're not police, dumbass." The man's mouth snapped shut. "Is it a crime to purify the souls of the corrupted? The snakes in our garden?" Elias continued, and he slowly removed his gloves. "It's a crime to murder anyone, innocent or not," Devon said, and more chains emerged from the walls, surrounding him. Elias slammed his palms into the floor, and the candles spread across the room began to get brighter.
Devon's chains flew forward, aiming to restrain Elias. They flew through the room, air whistling between the links, before stopping abruptly a few feet in front of Elias. Not because he'd blocked them. Something else had gotten in the way. The candles near the pulpit flickered, then went out. Shadows pooled around Elias, and he raised his arms in triumph. "Behold! The angel that bestowed upon me the flame of purification has come to my aid!" No way that's… Ren thought, and then something pulled itself out of the darkness. Ren felt her stomach drop. A shape unfolded from the shadows, taller than any man. It looked as if it was made of pure muscle, with rough skin that looked more like heavy plates of armor. An unsettling glow seeped from beneath the plates, and as the air steamed around its body, the temperature in the church rose. Its clawed hands hung low at its sides, and it had ugly black horns that scraped the ceiling. This was no angel. It was a nightmare come to life. It was the Demon of Flame. Behind Ren, someone whispered, "What the hell…" And then screaming broke out throughout the room. People rushed out of their seats, trying to escape. Not all of them ran, though. Some true believers of Elias's cause stayed, trying to rationalize what they were seeing. "What have you done?" Devon shouted, and the air rattled around him. Ren's sword lit up, and she stepped forward. For the first time, the preacher's mask cracked. His mouth opened slightly, a mixture of awe and fear flooding through his expression. He took in the monster's appearance, eyes moving over its horns, and claws. The way the heat shimmered off of it in waves. His voice came out thin. "No… You can't- You lied to me!" The demon turned its head to him slowly, and its rough lips pulled back to reveal black teeth in a sickening smile. Elias's eyes went wide, and he took a step back, hands trembling. "It was you!" He shrieked, and fell to his knees.
Ren started towards Elias, before Devon snapped at her. "Ren, demon first! That thing could kill thousands of people if it gets out." The demon stepped forward, and one of the believers dropped to the floor, praying. "Move-" Ren started to yell, but it was too late. The demon slashed at the man with one arm, and his blood splattered on the wall. With every step, it shook the building to its core, and candles began tipping over. Fire spread, trapping everyone inside with the beast. Ren rushed to meet it head on, sword flashing. She cut deep into its forearm, but the demon didn't even flinch. It backhanded her, and she flew sideways. She sank her blade into the floor, runes glowing, and she slid back on one knee. Her shoulder screamed in pain, but she was already up and moving again. Devon's chains snapped around the demon's arm, trying to pin it, and the demon roared. It yanked hard on the chain, and Devon flew forwards. Mid-air, Devon launched another chain past the demon, anchoring into the ground, and used his momentum to slam into the demon's chest with both feet. It stumbled back, and Ren surged forward, slicing at its leg. The sword bit in deeper this time, and a thick black fluid seeped out of its calf, bubbling and hissing where it landed on the ground. The demon finally reacted, and its head snapped to her, eyes glowing like burning coals. It swung at her, and Ren ducked, barely dodging the attack. She felt the heat from its body in the air, and her skin prickled where it almost made contact. She slashed upwards, and the blade caught on its upper arm, cutting deep. Devon looped a chain around its neck, and pulled. "It's feeding off of the crowd! We have to get them out of here!" Ren was confused for a moment, then realised that the wounds she'd inflicted on the demon just seconds ago were already healed. It was feeding off of their fear. As if it understood him, the demon ripped the chain around its neck back, and slammed a fist into Devon's chest as he was yanked forwards. Devon crashed against a wall, cracking the masonry. All of the civilians were terrified now, huddled on the other side of the room. The door was blocked by a flaming support beam that had fallen, leaving them no way out. Ren began to run their way, and the demon tried to attack her again. It was stopped by another chain, wrapped around its torso, and Devon slid under its legs. His fist was wrapped in Flux chains, and he hit the demon's leg with a devastating blow, throwing it off balance. "Go! Now, Ren!"
Ren sprinted to the door, and reinforced herself to the best of her abilities. Fire was tricky to defend against, and she'd probably get burned either way, but if she didn't get the civilians out, the demon would kill everyone, including her, anyways. Ren dashed forward, and kicked the beam with all of her strength, enhancing herself with Flux. It shattered, splinters of charred wood flying everywhere, and the doors flew open. The people spilled out into the cold, running for their lives, and Ren turned back to the demon. The heat from the Flux in her muscles faded, replaced with the searing pain from the fire she'd just voluntarily barbecued herself with. As she returned to the fight, she caught a glimpse of Elias again. He had backed away from the pulpit entirely now, and his face was pale with fear. He turned and tried to scramble for a maintenance door by the stage, and Ren shouted, "Devon, he's getting away!" At the same time, Devon took another point-blank hit from the demon, and was visibly getting weary. "Get him! I'll be fine on my own!" He yelled back, and spit blood on the ground. Ren nodded, starting towards the stage and running through the aisle, but stopped to look back at Devon at the last minute. He was injured, exhausted, and on the verge of death. It was clear that he wouldn't survive another hit from the monster, and Ren made a split-second decision. She swore under her breath. Elias can wait, she thought, and turned her attention back to the fight with the demon. Ren's feet started to move, her sword glowing brighter, and she sighed and ran back to Devon.
A crash rang out, and the massive rose window exploded behind the pulpit. The stained glass shattered inward, sprinkling shards of colorful glass all over the stage. They glittered in the flickering light of the fire spreading around the church, illuminating the walls with a brilliant mosaic of light. A figure landed on the floor just inside the window, scorched wood creaking, and they rolled once, positioned between Elias and the maintenance door. The figure came up to one knee, holding a staff, crackling a dark red. Ren spun around at the sound, and caught a glimpse of the newcomer. Is that… Max?