Demon Being System

The crowd at the barrier swelled with desperation. Angry shouts and panicked pleas filled the air, growing louder as the beasts closed in from the rear. A young man, trembling with frustration, bent down, picked up a rock, and hurled it toward the soldiers standing arrogantly behind the translucent barrier. 

The rock struck the barrier with a dull "thunk", rebounding harmlessly to the ground. The soldiers behind it laughed, their voices muffled by their helmets but unmistakably mocking. 

The soldier who had earlier delivered the governor's order leaned toward his comrades, whispering something. Their expressions twisted into wide, sadistic grins. As if on cue, heavy artillery guns emerged from the walls of the city, their barrels glinting menacingly under the harsh sunlight. 

Without a shred of remorse, the soldier raised his hand and signaled the others. 

"Fire." 

The sound of the first shot cracked like thunder, silencing the crowd for a heartbeat. Then came the barrage. 

Bullets, glowing faintly from the enchantments etched onto them, passed effortlessly through the barrier. Though nothing could enter through the barrier, everything from the inside could escape freely. The bullets tore through the air, ripping into flesh with sickening ease. Screams erupted, high-pitched and desperate, as chaos swallowed the crowd. 

---

The press of bodies became unbearable. People at the front pushed backward, desperate to escape the unrelenting gunfire. But those at the back, fleeing the horrors of the beasts, surged forward. The result was pure pandemonium—a thrashing sea of limbs and bodies. 

Kaden's heart pounded as he turned his gaze toward the approaching beasts. His grip on Lila tightened. "Hold on," he whispered, shifting her from his back to the front, cradling her against his chest. 

He ducked low, squeezing through gaps in the crowd. This was the first time he was thankful for his small frame as he slipped through narrow spaces, keeping Lila shielded from the bullets with his body. 

The sharp cracks of gunfire blended with the guttural roars of the beasts. People fell in droves, their screams cutting off abruptly as bullets found their marks. Kaden's ears rang from the noise—the sharp metallic "ting" of bullets against the barrier, the wet "thuds" of bodies hitting the ground, and the blood-curdling screeches of dying beasts. 

"Keep moving," he muttered to himself. His legs burned, his lungs screamed, but he pushed forward. 

---

Finally, Kaden broke free from the press of bodies. He stumbled into open space, and for the first time, he saw the carnage clearly. 

Blood soaked the ground, pooling around bodies mangled beyond recognition. The metallic stench hit him like a physical blow, making his stomach churn. He paused, doubling over, but there was nothing in his stomach to vomit. 

A high-pitched screech pulled his attention. He looked up just in time to see a spider-like beast, its serrated legs gleaming like knives, pounce into the crowd. Flesh and bone shredded beneath its weight, its victims' dying screams lost in the chaos. 

Nearby, a hulking gorilla-like beast with molten, fiery eyes plowed through the mass of people. Its massive fists smashed down, turning entire groups into unrecognizable paste. The beast roared, and the sound reverberated through Kaden's chest. 

---

Kaden spotted a break in the chaos—a narrow path leading toward the woods. "Maybe we'll be safe there," he thought desperately. He stroked Lila's hair briefly, whispering, "Hold tight. We're almost there." 

He pushed forward, running with every ounce of strength he had left. 

As he ran, he glanced back. A soldier stood behind the barrier, a sadistic grin plastered on his face. He fired indiscriminately into a huddled group of children, their small bodies collapsing like ragdolls. The sight burned into Kaden's memory, fueling a hatred so intense it felt like fire in his chest. 

Ahead, the forest loomed closer. Kaden's heart leaped with a flicker of hope. His only source of hope was that once a portal opened, it wouldn't last more than thirty minutes before the beasts retreated and the portal will close, he just have to hide till the time passed.

"It hasn't been up to thirty minutes." He thought. 

"It feels like I've been running for days,"he thought, pushing his legs harder. 

---

The forest was within reach when a sharp, searing pain tore through Kaden's leg. He stumbled, his body crumpling to the ground. Lila fell from his grasp, rolling forward and coughing weakly. 

Kaden gasped, clutching his leg. Blood seeped from the wound—a bullet had pierced through. His vision blurred as his already blood deprived body became more blood deprived. 

"No," he growled, dragging himself forward. The adrenaline surging through his veins gave him enough strength to crawl toward Lila. She lay a few feet ahead, her small body trembling. 

Just as he reached out for her, a deafening "thud" shook the ground. Kaden looked up, and his blood ran cold. 

The hulking gorilla beast landed behind Lila, its molten eyes fixed on her small form. 

"No… no, no, no!" Kaden screamed, his voice cracking as he clawed at the dirt, dragging himself faster. 

The beast took a single step forward, its massive foot lifting into the air. Time seemed to slow. 

Kaden's eyes widened in horror as the foot came crashing down. 

---

The world went silent. 

Under the beast's weight, Lila's small body crumpled. The sickening sound of bones shattering echoed in Kaden's ears, drowning out all other noise. Blood splattered, her tiny frame reduced to a smear of red on the dirt. Only a lock of her hair remained visible, coated in gore. 

Kaden's mind went blank. His body froze as he stared, unable to process the sight before him. His chest heaved, but no sound came out. 

"No…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. 

A shadow passed overhead. Kaden glanced up in time to see a massive vulture-like beast descending rapidly. Its beak, sharp as a spear, pierced through his chest, ripping out his heart in one swift motion. 

Kaden collapsed onto the ground, his vision fading. The last emotion he felt was relief. 

"At least… I won't have to live with the guilt, knowing I killed her."

The world went dark. 

Author's Note:

Hey dear readers! 👋

I wanted to share a quick note about this chapter: I wrote it while battling through an injured hand. It wasn't easy, but I pushed through because I didn't want to leave you all hanging.

Your support means the world to me, and if you enjoyed the chapter, a small gift or gesture of encouragement would really lift my spirits as I heal. Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me! ❤️

– thesage196

Answer to the previous riddle: "Short"

Riddle of the Day: "What can run but never walks, has a bed but never sleeps, and has a mouth but never talks?"