The group skidded to a halt as the ruined street opened onto a wide, precarious bridge stretching over a bottomless chasm. The structure creaked and swayed ominously, its ancient stone pitted and worn by time. The faint green mist from the city seemed to spill over its edges, cascading down into the void below like ghostly waterfalls. Relief was just within reach—freedom lay on the other side of the bridge.

  But then, the world itself seemed to hold its breath.

  A sound shattered the fragile moment of hope, a roar so loud and unnatural it sent a tremor through the earth beneath their feet. It wasn’t just a noise—it was a tidal wave of distorted, guttural rage, layered with an otherworldly resonance that seemed to bypass the ears and claw directly into the soul.

  Everyone froze, their bodies locking up with instinctive dread. Even Kael, steadfast and fearless until now, felt his breath hitch, his grip tightening on the hilt of his blade. Slowly, he turned, his eyes scanning the mist-shrouded ruins behind them.

  And then, it appeared.

  From the shadows and haze, a form began to take shape—at first an indistinct mass of flickering flame and writhing darkness. But as it moved closer, its terrible visage became clear. The creature was immense, towering far above any mortal man. Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of blood and shadow, its crimson flesh glistening with streaks of oily black blood that seemed to boil and drip like molten tar. The liquid hissed and sizzled as it struck the ground, sending up plumes of acrid smoke.

  Wings—if they could even be called that—unfurled from its back, vast, jagged things that appeared to be made of both tattered flesh and seething flame. They shifted and flickered in the air, more like the remnants of a horrific firestorm than anything natural. Its head was monstrous, crowned with jagged, spiraling horns that glowed faintly as if lit from within. Twin eyes, like burning coals, stared out from its shadowed face, radiating a malevolence so palpable it felt as though the creature could see straight into their souls.

  And then it roared again, a sound that reverberated through the ruins and sent a wave of suffocating heat and despair washing over the group. The very air around the beast shimmered, as if reality itself was struggling to contain its presence.

  Zeveron stumbled back, his face pale, his voice trembling as he whispered, “What…what in the name of the gods is that thing?”

  Kael didn’t answer immediately, his eyes fixed on the monstrous figure as it took a slow, deliberate step toward them. Each movement of the creature exuded raw power, the ground quaking beneath its massive, clawed feet. The mist around it seemed to recoil, as if even the cursed city feared its presence.

  Finally, Kael spoke, his voice quieter than usual, as if admitting the truth out loud made it more real. “A Spirit of darkness, an omen of destructive...A Demon.”

  The words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, no one dared to breathe. The creature let out a low, guttural growl, the sound resonating like distant thunder as its fiery eyes locked onto them. It lifted one massive, clawed hand, and from the tips of its talons dripped black blood that hissed and bubbled as it hit the ground.

  Kael tightened his grip on his sword, his jaw clenching as he took a step forward, placing himself between the demon and the others. “Get to the bridge,” he commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding. “Run. Now.”

  Behind him, the mercenaries hesitated, their fear turning their legs to stone. But as the demon took another step forward, its hulking form looming ever closer, survival instincts kicked in. They began to move, their hurried steps echoing on the ancient stones as they rushed toward the precarious bridge.

  Kael remained where he was, his blade held ready, his eyes never leaving the monstrous figure. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to breathe evenly.

  Kael’s pulse thundered in his ears as the demon advanced, each step a deliberate, earth-shaking threat. The heat emanating from the creature warped the air, curling it into shimmering waves that distorted the ruins around them. Its fiery eyes locked onto him with a predatory hunger, as though it recognized his resistance as nothing more than a fleeting annoyance.

  Kael gritted his teeth, his Magnite longsword held in a defensive stance. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to run, to abandon this impossible fight, but he knew that if he fled, the others would never make it across the bridge.

  The demon lunged without warning, its massive claw sweeping toward him with terrifying speed. Kael barely had time to react, diving to the side as the claws raked through the air where he’d been standing. The force of the swing alone sent a gale of scorching wind barreling into him, nearly knocking him off his feet.

  Rolling back into a crouch, Kael extended his left hand, curling his fingers into a sharp gesture. “Jarla!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the roaring chaos. A burst of crimson flame erupted from his palm, coiling into a jagged arc that slashed toward the demon’s chest.

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  The fire struck true, but the demon didn’t even flinch. The flames licked harmlessly across its bloodied skin, absorbed into the shadows that clung to its form like a second armor. The creature let out a low, guttural laugh, a sound that vibrated deep in Kael’s bones, before retaliating with a swipe of its other claw.

  This time, Kael was too slow. The blow clipped him, tearing through his leather armor and sending him sprawling across the ground. Pain exploded across his side as blood seeped from the fresh gashes. He gritted his teeth against the agony, forcing himself to roll away as the demon’s massive foot came crashing down where he’d landed. The impact shattered the stone beneath it, sending jagged shards flying in every direction.

  Kael scrambled to his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The demon was toying with him, its monstrous grin spreading wider as it advanced. Kael had fought undead, wraiths, and horrors that would break lesser men, but this creature was beyond anything he had ever faced.

  Raising his sword, he swung with all his might, aiming for the demon’s outstretched arm. The blade connected, slicing through the shadowy flesh with a burst of golden light.

  The demon howled, its scream reverberating through the ruins, but the victory was short-lived. Black blood sprayed from the wound, splattering across Kael’s arm and chest. The liquid burned like acid, eating through his armor and searing his skin. He cried out, staggering back as the pain lanced through him.

  The demon’s rage was palpable now. It lunged again, faster this time, forcing Kael to duck and weave desperately to avoid its onslaught. Every strike of its claws, every sweep of its tail, was a deadly game of inches. Kael’s muscles burned with the effort of keeping up, his lungs heaving as he cast spell after spell to fend it off—barriers to deflect its blows, bursts of flame to drive it back, and enchanted strikes to keep it at bay.

  But the creature was relentless. A backhanded swipe caught him across the chest, throwing him into a crumbled column with bone-jarring force. His vision blurred as he struggled to rise, his sword still clutched in his trembling hand. Blood dripped from a deep gash on his forehead, blinding one eye as the metallic taste filled his mouth.

  The demon loomed over him now, its fiery eyes glowing brighter, its twisted grin revealing rows of jagged teeth. It raised both arms, preparing to bring them down in a crushing blow.

  Kael forced his shaking body to move. With a roar of defiance, he thrust his sword upward, The strike hit the demon square in the chest, the creature staggering back. It snarled in pain, the shadows around it flickering and writhing as though wounded.

  The demon recovered quickly, its fiery eyes narrowing as it let out another deafening roar. It charged, its massive form barreling toward him with unstoppable momentum.

  The demon closed the distance with terrifying speed, its claws slicing through the air in deadly arcs. Kael moved with everything he had, deflecting some strikes with his glowing longsword and narrowly dodging others. But he wasn’t fast enough to avoid them all. Razor-sharp claws raked across his body, tearing through flesh and armor alike. Blackened blood seeped from the gashes on his arms and chest, dripping onto the cracked stones beneath him. Pain lanced through his nerves, but he gritted his teeth and fought through it, his mind singularly focused on survival.

  Kael swung his sword in a wide arc, its runes glowing as it cleaved into the demon’s side. The blade cut deep, black blood spraying from the wound like a noxious geyser. The creature let out a guttural roar, a sound that vibrated through the stones and rattled Kael’s already pounding skull. It flicked its massive claw, and with a force that felt like a hurricane, the sword was ripped from Kael’s grasp. The Magnite blade clattered to the ground, skidding several meters away.

  Before Kael could react, the demon raised a hand and clenched its fist. A force, invisible yet crushing, wrapped around Kael’s body like an iron vice. He gasped, his ribs compressing under the unseen pressure. Every muscle strained as he struggled to break free, but it was like fighting against the weight of a mountain.

  The demon tightened its grip, and Kael roared in agony as his bones began to creak and fracture under the strain. His vision blurred with red as pain consumed him, his lungs screaming for air. Above him, the demon let out a deep, mocking chuckle, savoring his suffering.

  With a desperate gasp, Kael forced his trembling hands into a familiar sigil and whispered through gritted teeth, “Ventus!” A violent gust of wind erupted beneath him, swirling with enough force to kick up dirt and debris. The demon flinched, momentarily releasing its crushing grip as the gale forced it to steady itself.

  Kael hit the ground hard, gasping for breath and ignoring the fiery pain that wracked his broken body. Desperation fueled his movements as he drew his short sword from his side and lunged. The blade sank deep into the demon’s gut, the sharp steel cutting through flesh and sinew. The demon exhaled in a soundless hiss, momentarily stunned, but its eyes glowed brighter with malice.

  With a low growl, the demon grasped the hilt of the blade and pulled it free. The steel corroded rapidly, melting and twisting as its acidic blood ate through the weapon in seconds. Kael staggered back, his hands trembling, but he refused to give up.

  He spun toward his discarded Magnite sword, his legs protesting with every step. He dove for the blade, grasping its hilt just as the demon swiped again. With a surge of strength, Kael slashed low, severing the tendons in the demon’s massive ankles. The beast roared in fury, collapsing as its legs gave out beneath it.

  Kael didn’t hesitate. He rolled to his feet, evading another desperate swipe, and swung upward with all his strength. The glowing blade bit into the demon’s neck, carving halfway through its thick flesh. A geyser of black, corrosive blood erupted, spraying across the stones as the demon gurgled, its fiery eyes flickering.

  With a final, thunderous crash, the demon collapsed forward, its massive body striking the ground like a falling tower. Kael staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Every inch of his body screamed in pain, his blood-soaked armor weighing him down like lead.

  Before he could fully process his apparent victory, a deep, resonant chuckle echoed through the ruins. Kael froze, his eyes widening as the laughter grew louder, more guttural, and more mocking.

  Turning slowly, Kael saw the demon’s body—gone. The ground where it had fallen was blackened, scorched, but empty. His gaze snapped upward, drawn by an ominous glow. There, hovering above the temple, was the demon. Its massive, shadowy form was wreathed in flames, its fiery eyes glaring down with malice. Its laughter reverberated through the city as it raised a clawed hand.

  The laughter was joined by a new, horrifying sound: the rising chorus of moans and roars. From the shadows of the ruins, hordes of undead began to pour forth, shambling, stumbling, and clawing their way toward him. Their glowing eyes and grotesque forms filled the streets like a flood of death, all drawn toward the demon’s call.

  Kael turned, every nerve in his body screaming for him to move. He limped toward the bridge, his injuries slowing him with each agonizing step. At the edge of the bridge, Severon appeared, his horse galloping toward Kael. The dwarf’s face was pale with fear, but he didn’t hesitate as he reached down, grabbing Kael by the arm and hauling him onto the saddle.

  “Hold on!” Severon barked, spurring the horse forward.

  Kael clutched his Magnite sword tightly, his vision swimming as the world blurred around him. Behind them, the demon’s laughter grew louder, and the bridge began to tremble beneath the weight of the pursuing undead. Kael turned one last time, summoning the remnants of his strength to cast a shimmering golden barrier—an Aegis—over the bridge’s entrance.

  The spell flared to life, sealing the undead within the cursed city. As Severon’s horse carried them into the tunnel, Kael collapsed against the dwarf, his breath ragged and his body broken. The city of horrors receded into the darkness behind them, but the demon’s presence still loomed, its laughter echoing in Kael’s mind.