Liquidation: From Big Boss to Bloody Demon Sauce Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Rue The Day

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Gunshots rang out in a deafening cadence. Each pull of the trigger released a hailstorm of armor-piercing rounds into the hellish intruders. Their dense, supernatural skin repelled some of the lighter shots, deflecting them like pebbles, but our heavy munitions punched through, tearing through muscle and bone. A small, grim satisfaction bloomed in my chest as, one by one, the vanguard creatures stumbled and fell, their dark blood staining my imported carpets. But for every demon that fell, others rose from the carnage—larger, faster, and armored with hardened, bone-like plating. They shifted and transformed right before our eyes, a stark, gruesome display of real-time evolution. Then, the temperature in the hallway plummeted. From the center of the slaughter emerged a superior asset—the architect of this local invasion. It wore a tantalizing form of darkness that seemed to swallow the dim emergency lights. Large, leathery, bat-like wings fluttered behind her, framing a curved, impossibly slender figure. Unlike the grotesque brutes we had just gunned down, this demon was striking. She possessed smooth, crimson skin marred by stark, swirling white patterns that looked like painted constellations. "So, you are the master of this fortress?" The creature asked. Her voice was a melodic, vibrating hum that seemed to resonate directly inside my skull. As she glided forward, the horde of lesser demons instantly stopped their advance, parting to create a clear path for her. Rather than wasting breath on diplomacy, Hans and I simultaneously raised our weapons and unloaded our remaining magazines. But not a single bullet reached her. A shimmering, violet barrier of raw energy rippled into existence inches from her skin. The kinetic force of our rounds was entirely absorbed, and with a simple, dismissive flick of her wrist, the flattened lead clattered uselessly to the carpeted floor. Before I could reload, a massive weight slammed into my back. "Hans! What the hell are you doing?!" I demanded, the wind knocked from my lungs as I was driven hard into the floor. I twisted my head, expecting to see a demon, but I was staring up into the face of my oldest friend. Yet, the man I knew was gone. Hans's eyes were completely whited out, obscured by a swirling, intoxicating pink and red mist. "The more loyal the subordinate, the easier it is to forcefully acquire their devotion," the demon purred, her voice dripping like honey into my ears. My heart hammered with a sudden, icy rage. Even though a man I had considered my closest ally had just betrayed me, Hans was not the target of my anger. It was a hostile takeover of his mind. My fury locked onto the architect. "A parasite like you would be an expert at stealing other people's assets. I can see that clearly," I spat from my pinned position on the floor. The female only laughed, a rich, melodic sound that sent a confusing shiver down my spine. "You don't like women? ...No, that's not it. You do like them, but you refuse to trust them," she mused, tapping a dark fingernail against her chin. I clamped my jaw shut. I just wished this creature would liquidate me and get it over with. "Kill you? Yes, I am going to do that. But there is no rush," she said, her crimson eyes scanning my body like she was evaluating a prime piece of real estate. "Since I am only allowed to harvest one mortal from this world, I intend to ensure my investment is sound." She looked down at me with a smile that could have melted diamonds. It took every ounce of willpower I had left, drawing on decades of mental discipline, to fight against the overwhelming, suffocating wave of supernatural desire her aura was projecting into the room. "You... want... me?" I asked through gritted teeth, struggling against Hans's crushing grip. "Yes, my pet. It is clear that your foundation is built of different, much denser material. Reliable, strong-willed, ruthless when the market demands it, and possessing an iron mind. Yet, you are loyal to