"We have a new target for you, Aria. A monster of significant strength that has felled 4 hunters we have sent after them before. We do not know how they were defeated, only that communication has ceased with each"

The bishop, standing among glowing candles on a pedestal that made his position feel like one of great importance.

Aria hardly reacts at the loss of 4 of her fellow hunters. Her eyes are cold steel as she nods her head at the bishop.

"Very well, tell me more about my target. What manner of beast is it? Where is it located? How long has it been active?"

The bishop begins to tell Aria about her target.

Aria listens intently to the bishop's description, her eyes narrowing. She takes mental notes on each detail and pauses thoughtfully at the mention of a cloak. "Is there anything else you can tell me about its appearance or behavior?" she asks carefully.

"Hmm...interesting..." Aria murmurs under her breath. "It sounds like the demon may be using its cloak to conceal its true form and weaponry." She pauses for a moment, thinking. "I'm not sure if that will make it any easier or more difficult to kill, but I suppose that knowledge can only help me prepare accordingly."

The alarm startles her momentarily, but she quickly regains her composure. "It seems our target has been spotted," Aria says calmly to the bishop. "If you'll excuse me." With that, she steps away from him and sprints towards where the guards are pointing, ready for battle.

Nodding grimly, Aria readies herself as she nears the commotion. She knows she must be swift and cunning to have any chance of success against this powerful demon. Her yellow eyes scan the crowd, searching for any sign of movement or deception. The air around her crackles with anticipation, as if she is preparing to spring into action at any moment.

Without hesitation, Aria draws her weapons and charges at the monster, her boots pounding against the cobblestone. "Let that child go!" she shouts, unleashing a flurry of blows aimed at its cloaked form. Her training takes over as she flows seamlessly between attacks, searching for any weakness in the demon's defenses. The air itself seems to become taut with anticipation and violence under her focused gaze.

As the air suddenly thickens, Aria's senses heighten. She knows it's a demonic power at work and adjusts her attacks accordingly. Her blade swings even faster now, seeking to puncture any vulnerability in the demon's form. Though it's difficult to pinpoint its exact location beneath the cloak, she trusts her instincts as she continues to slash and strike relentlessly at what must be the creature's most obvious weak points: the limbs protruding from beneath its concealment.

Her yellow eyes dart around the area for any signs of collateral damage or civilian interference that might endanger her mission. For now, however, all attention is focused on bringing down this powerful adversary as quickly and efficiently as possible.

With a primal scream, the demon's cloak is torn away by the wind as its head rolls across the ground with a sickening thud. Its form reveals itself to be that of a hideous, scaled creature, claws and fangs bared in agony. Despite her initial success, Aria doesn't let her guard down for even a moment; she continues to attack relentlessly, slashing at any vulnerable spot she can find until the demon finally lies still upon the cobblestone.

Finally, when she is certain that it no longer poses a threat, Aria allows herself to catch her breath and lower her weapons. With one last glance around at the now-silent crowd, she sighs heavily before turning back towards where she came from. The battle may be over, but the memories of what she's done and witnessed will linger in her mind for far too long...

Surprise and disgust flicker across Aria's features as the black-hooded figure appears on the demon's shoulder. She instinctively draws her sword, her movements quick and precise despite the sudden change of targets. "Who are you?" she demands, her voice cold and steady.

Her eyes narrow as they study the intruder. The hood conceals its face, but that doesn't mean it isn't vulnerable to her trained gaze. The sword in her hand feels light and deadly as she waits for an opening, prepared to strike should this newcomer prove itself a threat or simply an unwelcome distraction from her true mission.

Her eyes narrow at the sight of the sword held by the cloaked figure, its tip glistening with the demon's blood. For all she knows, this could be a fellow hunter...or an accomplice of her quarry, looking to claim the glory for themselves. The thought sours her stomach and tightens her muscles further in anticipation of battle.

"Put that down," she growls through clenched teeth. "That demon is mine." Despite her words, a hint of uncertainty creeps into her voice as she takes another step closer to the cloaked figure.

This figure...it carries her wanted poster. But why? Is it here to aid her...or hinder her progress? With a sigh of frustration, Aria lowers her sword and takes another step closer. "Whoever you are," she begins cautiously, "I could use some help." Her words come out clipped and tense, betraying the unease that gnaws at her gut.

She waits for a response, watching the cloaked figure carefully, prepared to draw her weapon again should it prove necessary. But right now, curiosity gets the better of her...and perhaps a hint of loneliness.

The cloaked figure's silence only serves to heighten her suspicion, but before she can press further, it vanishes into the crowd like a shadow dissipating under the light of day. For a moment, Aria stands there alone, feeling more lost and confused than ever before. She takes a deep breath, then turns back towards where she came from, the memory of her encounter with the cloaked figure nagging at the edges of her thoughts like an itch she can't quite scratch. Perhaps this new mystery will have to wait until another day...

That encounter...it was strange. And familiar somehow. The way it moved, the silence despite being so close to the demon. It made her feel...odd. Maybe this wasn't some interloper after all. Perhaps it was just another pawn in her eternal game against the demons of the world, sent to help her achieve her goals. An unsettling thought, but one that she can't shake nonetheless.

With a sigh, Aria pushes these musings aside for now and continues on with her mission. There is still much work to be done if she ever hopes to find peace again, both within herself and in the world around her.

Strange... The demon had described this very creature. It was true what they said about the Church using its pawns. Perhaps I should keep an eye out for any information on whoever it is beneath that hood. It could prove useful in understanding their true motives and intentions. For now, though, my focus remains on my own mission. There's no telling when another demon will rise up to wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting populace.

The sudden commotion catches her attention as guards rush to inform her about the capture of the mysterious figure. Her heart races briefly with anticipation and suspicion, wondering what this might mean for her own mission. "Take me to it," she demands, her voice cool and commanding. "I want answers." She's not sure if trusting these men is the wisest course of action, but for now, they seem to be on the same side.

Without waiting for a reply, Aria follows the guards at a brisk pace through the winding streets until they arrive at a nearby police station. The building itself seems sturdy and well-fortified against any supernatural threats that might arise. As they approach the entrance, her yellow eyes narrow suspiciously on the figure inside, locked in a heated discussion with several officers. "That's it," she breathes, her heart beating faster now

"Let him out," Aria snaps at the guards who brought her here. They exchange uncertain glances but eventually obey her command, stepping aside as she approaches the black-hooded figure standing motionless amidst a sea of police officers. The air around them crackles with tension; no one seems quite sure what will happen next.

"Who are you?" Aria demands again, her voice hard and unforgiving. "And why have you been following me?" She takes another step closer, ready to strike if the figure makes any sudden moves. Her eyes drift over to the officers nearby, wondering whether they'd support her in taking action against this intruder...or try to stop her themselves.

"I didn't give you permission to talk back," she snaps. Her voice remains cold and unyielding, despite the hint of surprise in her words. "Answer my questions." She takes another step forward, moving so close now that she can feel the heat radiating off the figure's body through its cloak.

Her grip tightens on her sword, but not enough to make any aggressive moves. For now, she needs information more than she needs bloodshed.

Her eyes widen slightly at the figure's bold statement. It had heard her say go away before, but it seemed to think she meant something else this time. Perhaps it truly was delusional, or perhaps there was more going on here than she initially realized. "I see..." She replies cautiously, taking another step back to give herself some space to think and plan her next move.

Her gaze flickers over the officers again, wondering if any of them would make a move against her if things escalated further. The silence between them stretches on for several long moments before she finally decides on an approach: truth or dare. "If you're not here to hurt me...then why are you following me?"

The words hang in the air, heavy with accusation and suspicion. She watches closely as the figure reacts to her question, waiting for any sign that might reveal its true intentions.

She tilts her head slightly, narrowing her eyes as she studies the figure's face beneath the hood. It denies following her...but that doesn't mean it isn't lying. Then again, maybe it truly isn't following her; perhaps their paths have just crossed multiple times in unrelated incidents.

"And what do you want from me?" she asks finally, her voice low and dangerous. "Why won't you leave me alone?" She takes another step back, keeping herself at a safe distance from the figure but also making it clear that she's not afraid to continue pressing forward if necessary.

The silence stretches out again as they lock gazes. Aria waits, her mind racing with possibilities and scenarios. What does this mysterious figure want from her? And why is it so intent on staying close?

Her eyes widen in shock as the figure pulls out a sword and launches itself into a flurry of attacks. The guards around them fall swiftly under the onslaught, blood painting the cobblestones red as their bodies hit the ground. For a moment, Aria is frozen in place, unable to believe what has just happened. But then she snaps out of it and quickly steps back, readying herself for battle.

"You'll pay for this!" she yells, her voice loud enough to cut through the chaos around them as she launches into a series of counterattacks aimed at the figure clad in black. The sword in her hand flows like water through the air, seeking out any opening it can find amidst its cloak-shrouded movements.

Her heart races with both adrenaline and anger as she fights against this mysterious enemy. She knows

Her body slams into the ground with enough force to knock the breath from her lungs. Stars dance before her eyes as she tries desperately to regain her footing, only for the figure clad in black to spin around and plant its sword at her throat once more. Her heart pounds frantically as adrenaline surges through her veins, but fear freezes her limbs in place.

"I... I'm sorry," she manages to whisper, terror lacing her voice. "I didn't know." Tears well up in her eyes as she meets the gaze of the figure before her. Despite its monstrous appearance, there is something almost human about it now; a hint of emotion and regret that chills her to the core.

The figure looks down at her for what feels like an eternity, the sword trembling ever so slightly in its grip. Then, slowly but surely

Her eyes widen in disbelief as the sword is tossed aside and the figure disappears without a trace, leaving her alone with the stunned guards. Trembling, she slowly climbs to her feet, wiping away tears of relief and confusion. The events that transpired...they defy explanation. But one thing is certain: this mysterious being isn't what it seemed.

With shaking hands, she reaches out to touch the blade where it had been at her throat just moments ago, feeling a strange mixture of fear and awe coursing through her veins. What was that thing? Why did it spare me? So many questions without answers.

Turning away from the scene of chaos, she begins to walk slowly down the street, lost in thought as the memories of their brief battle replay over and over in her mind. Somehow, she knows this isn't the last time they