The Rogues Of: No Man's Land

The sound of clashing metal and the hum of magic filled the air as Tao crouched behind a crumbling wall, eyes locked on the Demon King's soldiers carrying out their covert operation.

His heart pounded in his chest as he silently watched the chaos unfold in front of him. It was clear that these soldiers weren't just any mercenaries, hey were part of something far bigger. Tao's thoughts raced as he formulated a plan, but before he could act, Rex's voice came from behind him.

"You're really gonna do this, huh?" Rex asked, shaking his head with an amused grin. "Going up against the Demon King's soldiers like it's a walk in the park?"

Tao shot him a side glance, his lips curling into a smirk. "Someone's gotta stop them."

Rex seemed to grow more serious, rolling his shoulders and cracking his knuckles. "Well, if you're gonna do it, I'm in. I didn't come this far to watch you get yourself killed alone."

Tao nodded in appreciation, but his mind stayed sharp, focusing on the soldiers as they moved further into the operation area.

Suddenly, the Captain of the Demon King's soldiers, a towering beast of a demon with jet-black armor, looked up.

His crimson eyes narrowed as he noticed the two figures watching from the shadows. His lip curled into a snarl, and without a word, he raised his hand, signaling the attack.

"Two Intruder's! Attack!" the captain roared.

The soldiers scattered, launching themselves at Rex and Tao with incredible speed. The air around them crackled with raw red energy as the demons fired energy blasts, hurling weapons constructed from their own demon magic. Rex grinned, cracking his neck as his muscles tensed.

"Time to dance, buddy."

With that, Rex dashed into the fray, his primal energy flaring up as his fists collided with the demons' forms, sending them flying.

Tao, more calculated, moved swiftly, ducking and dodging as he used his agility to slip past the demons, his mind sharp with the plan in place. But amidst the chaos, something caught his eye. A figure, barely visible in the shadows, moving with ghostly precision.

Before he could focus more, a burst of light flashed by him, and one of the demons dropped to the ground with a silent thud. Rex, too, had noticed the mysterious figure.

"Who's that?" he asked, taking a breath as he pummeled another soldier.

Tao narrowed his eyes. The figure wasn't just fast, it was as if they weren't even there, blending perfectly with the shadows. Whoever they were, they weren't with the soldiers.

The figure moved closer, and Tao realized the person was moving to strike with divine precision, her movements graceful but deadly. It was clear now that this was no ordinary assassin, but someone with a purpose.

The veil lifted briefly, and before anyone could react, the figure stepped into the light, revealing herself to be a woman clad in black and gold, with piercing blue eyes that shone like cold fire.

Her appearance was serene, almost otherworldly, as she pulled back the veil from her head, revealing her identity.

"I am Sister Seraphina," she spoke, her voice calm and composed, as if the violence around her was nothing more than a passing breeze. "And I suggest you don't engage with them any longer."

Rex stopped mid-punch, glancing at Tao before letting out a low whistle. "Another crazy one, huh?"

Sister Seraphina's eyes narrowed in concentration as she surveyed the battlefield, her presence still a quiet storm among the chaos. "I was here to foil this operation first.'' she added, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Rex, confused but unwilling to let this pass without a fight, growled. "And how exactly do you plan to stop these demons?" He launched his fist, knocking another soldier back, before turning his attention back to the nun. "You're gonna need more than a pretty face to stop them."

Sister Seraphina didn't flinch. Instead, she held up her hand, and the air around her shimmered. She vanished into thin air, becoming nothing more than a whisper in the shadows.

"What the-" Rex blinked in surprise.

A moment later, a flash of holy light erupted, and one of the demons fell to the ground, clutching its chest.

Sister Seraphina had reappeared in front of him, her body moving with an elegance that belied her deadly force. In an instant, she disappeared again, reappearing next to Rex and delivering a quick, decisive strike. The demon soldier crumbled to the ground.

Tao, realizing the situation was under control, turned his focus back to the operation. As he snuck through the shadows, he began to get a better sense of what they were doing, stealing important artifacts, energy sources, and resources.

Items that could shift the balance of power in No-Man's Land. Tao's heart sank as he pieced the puzzle together. This wasn't just an operation; it was a strategy for the Demon King to consolidate power, maybe even take over the Vault of Eternity itself.

Rex and Sister Seraphina continued to dispatch demons with ruthless efficiency, their teamwork growing more synchronized with each passing moment. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the last of the demons fell. 

Seraphina stepped forward, wiping the blood from her blade, her face stoic as always. "It's over for now," she said, her gaze flicking over to Tao who walked up. "But what you've seen... it's only a fragment of a much larger game. This operation is only a small piece of the Demon King's plans."

Tao nodded gravely. "I noticed. And I have a feeling it's only the beginning."

"Listen," he began, his voice quieter now. "I've got a plan. I'm heading for the Vault of Eternity. If we steal the key and three million gold, we can escape No-Man's Land, it's the only way out."

Sister Seraphina tilted her head slightly, her piercing eyes studying him. "You plan on stealing from the God's?"

Tao nodded firmly. "Yeah. And I'll need help."

Rex, rubbing his temples, groaned. "And I thought I was crazy for sticking around.''

Sister Seraphina, silent for a moment, then spoke. "You may be right. But there is something in your madness that I cannot ignore. I, too, seek an end to this chaos."

Tao raised an eyebrow. "You're in?"

Seraphina replied calmly. "if this mission can bring some semblance of justice to No-Man's Land, then so be it."

Rex scowled. "I want my cut of that three million, or I'm out."

Tao bit back a sigh. "You'll have to keep up."

With that, they all shook hands, sealing their pact. The path to the Vault of Eternity was treacherous, but now, they had allies, whether they liked it or not.