Path of Salvation

Chapter 2.5: In pursuit of The Coordinator

Four Dream Catchers, Phoenix, Axis, Rosa, and Blaze were on the hunt for a particular Dream Catcher that had gone rogue. He and his entourage posed a threat to the modern world and the status quo, a thing that is upheld like no other value. Their target was The Coordinator, a person leading Demons from A to B while giving them the strength to wipe out Dream Catchers and villages without anyone ever knowing.
"Are you sure following him like the way we are is a good idea?", asked Axis. Monotone and calculated... She generally doesn't speak up outside of missions.
As the best sniper in Europe, she has struck down targets within neighboring nations through a sixth sense that allows her to trace one's spirit. Never appearing without her military jacket and camouflage cargo pants with lots of pockets for ammunition and belts for even more weapons, she constantly was ready for battle or assassination. Even her steel boots had extra storage with a built-in knife she can drag out with her will alone.
"Who cares?! He's just another rebellious runt who's being unruly. We've killed a lot more people like that, have we not?", yelled Blaze.
A massive loudmouth like Blaze was a simpleton. As the walking tank of the team, he'd simply take most blows without ever struggling. His hair was made of pure fire. He only wore black shorts and a massive greatsword that constantly hovered behind his back. With the ability to harden his skin like steel and the proficiency he had with his flames and forging, Blaze often was a rightfully cocky and resourceful person.
"I'm not so sure about this...", said Rosa.
Sticking to uncertainty and fear, she's often ignored as the rookie that didn't know better. As the youngest of the four, she wore a pink leotard, white tights, and vermillion red ballet shoes. The only weapon at hand was the thick arm and leg braces with weapons hidden within. Her ability to track people down by the use of plant life and animals made her a great asset to the team yet she's treated like a toddler.
"Stop worrying about it, okay? We'll have to get this over with since we've failed in tracking him down before!", exclaimed Phoenix, the leader of the group.
Assertive and duty-driven, she'd never back down from a job. Failing to track him down before, she simply wanted to get this job done with to correct her mistake and collect the reward. Right now she's flying within a forest as a massive bird of flames. Usually, she'd spend her time as an arrogant person bossing people around within that white qipao of hers.
"Stop!", ordered Axis. Phoenix came to a halt wondering what exactly could urge her to bellow orders when she's only supposed to be making suggestions. Looking around, she realized that the area they were in appeared barren and dead. Animals had gone quiet. Trees collapsed as their trunks became gray and weak. All plant life lost its color. Only one person could be responsible for all this.
"Why do you insist on chasing after me? You're unwilling to talk or negotiate in any shape or form," said The Coordinator himself. Tired of people hunting him down, he decided to talk to the four of them directly.
Phoenix ignored his pleas for a civil discussion and ordered, "Axis, spot him right now!"
Hoping to achieve a marvelous victory with zero casualties, Phoenix grinned like a fool expecting that sweet sweet reward for following orders. She wasn't aware of the fact that her life would come to an end today.
The five of them were located within the Bohemian Forest. Axis delivered her first attack with a bullet going for the skies. Somehow, their target had talked to them as he hid behind a cloud. Something allowed him to have his voice heard even if he's kilometers away. It was strange, as it mostly seemed like his voice was coming from every direction.
Blaze jumped in chasing after the corpse with the belief that The Coordinator should be incinerated. Though it would make it a lot harder to identify whether or not he truly was The Coordinator, the people that put out this bounty will recognize that everything would have returned to normal with no more enhanced Demons coming in flocks.
Landing right next to him, he arrogantly spits on what he believed to be a corpse. Before he could touch and set ablaze that target of his, something emerged from beneath his feet. A Demon consisting of only gray arms jumbled together to create one being got a hold of Blaze. Its palms had eyes, ears, or mouths. Swallowing The Coordinator, Blaze would follow right after. His ignition ability wasn't working and his strength wasn't enough to overpower the hand holding onto him. He was swallowed next.
Rosa panicked as Phoenix shoved a picture into her hands. "Run!", she ordered allowing Rosa to escape.
Exploding into a fireball that did no damage to her surrounding or her allies, Phoenix revealed her true form. Rosa was launched back the way they came and ran as fast as she can. A muscular woman in a tank top and shorts who was ready to clobber anything their opponent brings on was about ready to kill her target.
Axis remained calm and rational trying to guess whether or not her devoured ally still is alive. She couldn't sense him and shook her head to show Phoenix that Blaze had passed on. Summoning three more rifles. Her rifles hovered around her spinning around the center of her back, she fired four more shots taking out four out of what seemed to be fifty arms.
"You're so useless when it comes to combat!", claimed Phoenix as she ran in to punch the beast herself. Punching a hole into one of its arms while it remained stationary, she poured her flames into its body and let them violently explode.
For some reason, not even The Coordinator's remains were found within the leftovers of this Demon. It also wouldn't dissipate like every other Demon after it was defeated. Even their ally was nowhere to be seen among the remains. None of it made sense but Phoenix didn't question this.
Axis questioned the legitimacy of this reality as not even a Devil Seed was left behind by this Demon. Within these few seconds of thought, several more Demons emerged from the skies. Dropping in as a 20-meter tall, genderless, muscular, faceless, and humanoid giant, they separated Axis and Phoenix. With no known weak point, all Axis could do was run around as she fired a couple of shots. Out of the thirty Demons dealing with her, only ten were taken down before she was captured.
Phoenix didn't struggle at all with defeating the seventy giants she was facing. However, Axis getting captured distracted her and allowed for a small opening wherein she was vulnerable enough to be held on to. The two of them couldn't use their magic for some unknown reason and had to watch The Coordinator's descent from the heavens.
"I told you that we could have talked this through... Why were you refusing to listen?", he asked as he remained cloaked. His identity wasn't known to the two of them until he took off his hood since this would be their last moment.
"Getting all sentimental now, huh? You think that's enough to take me down! You look like a premature teen throwing a tantrum!", Phoenix barked. No matter how perilous the situation she's in, she always upholds that image of arrogance and strength. Even when facing death, all she can think about is ways to piss off her opponent.
"You really can't get a grip on reality, can you?", yelled Axis. "You're about to die like those fucking traitors! Do you understand that? Why do you not get it?!"
"Oh? Losing your mind over a life or death situation, huh? As expected! I knew that none of you, even Rosa, amount to anything of worth! You may have had a couple of great assassinations but that's all you're good for! What a great Dream Catcher!"
Clearly, the two of them made for a dysfunctional duo. The only reason why this group could stay in the same room without being at each other's throats and hurling insults was Rosa. Now that she's run away under Phoenix's orders, they can't deal with each other.
But they now know who The Coordinator is and that was rewarding enough for Phoenix.
"What do you mean by traitors?", inquired The Coordinator. "The one who talks first gets to survive."
The two of them talked over each other being rather incoherent. He had enough of their behavior and poofed Phoenix. She disappeared after being squeezed by the Demon.
"Now talk."
"We surgically implant Devil Seeds into defectors and fill the traitors with dark magic. The Demon will hatch by violently tearing apart the Dream Catcher through expansion and formation..."
Smiling as she believed that she'll be let go, The Coordinator dropped her.
"Thank you so much! Thank you! Thank-"
She was crushed beneath the feet of the Demon and never spoke again. The Coordinator disappeared with his entourage not to be heard of again for quite a while.