A burst of light exploded atop the squad's heads, obliterating all the houses in its path. The once war-torn town now had a gaping hole at its center, leaving the entire area cleared out.
The shield network formed by the five united fighters reappeared as the smoke dissipated, but the energy indicators on everyone's combat suits had started flashing red. They detached their reserve batteries and inserted them into their suits, completely abandoning offense, and struggled to maintain the shields to protect the incessantly crying children. Bullets kept flying at them from behind, and the Demon-Breaking Bullets they used could quickly dismantle the shields, so the individual shields were nearly depleted.
"Headquarters, hurry!"
The words had barely left their lips when a second light beam crashed down upon them. They managed to withstand the attack once more, but had no batteries left to recharge the shields. If a third beam came, they might escape, but the children were doomed.
