The crimson explosion expanded outward, swallowing everything in its wake. The sheer force of Kevin's final attack cracked the earth, shattered the remnants of the ruined battlefield, and sent shockwaves rippling across the sky. The entire city of Bolton trembled under the impact, as if the heavens themselves had been torn apart.
Ashborn's eyes widened. A destruction spell of this magnitude could wipe the entire city off the map. He had to act—now.
"Raphael! Maximum defensive output!"
At his command, a massive dome of black and golden energy erupted around him, Rick, and Lida. Ashborn gritted his teeth as his own magic collided with the destructive force, pushing against it with every ounce of power he had left. The pressure was unbearable. His body screamed in agony, his wounds from the battle reopening, but he refused to give in.
Rick struggled to get up, his face pale. "Damn it! I can't do anything against this!"
Lida clutched her sword, using what little divine magic she had left to reinforce the barrier. But even then, cracks began forming across the shield. The energy was too much.
Ashborn could feel his body breaking apart under the strain. His vision blurred, and blood dripped from his lips.
"Hold on," he told himself. "Just a little longer."
The explosion roared around them, consuming everything in an inferno of death. The city beyond the shield was reduced to rubble. The walls that once stood strong were nothing but molten stone, and the very sky burned with lingering embers.
Then—finally—Kevin's destructive energy began to fade. The roar of magic died down, and a strange, eerie silence followed.
Ashborn collapsed to his knees, his breath ragged. His vision darkened at the edges, his consciousness barely holding on.
They had won.
But at what cost?
Aftermath of the Battle
The once-bustling city of Bolton was now a wasteland. Buildings had been reduced to smoldering ruins, the streets were littered with debris, and the bodies of both soldiers and civilians lay motionless. The stench of burning flesh and blood filled the air.
Lida knelt beside Ashborn, worry etched across her face. "Ash, are you okay?!"
He tried to speak, but his body refused to respond. He had used too much power. His wounds, though slowly healing, left him too weak to move.
Rick, despite his own injuries, forced himself to stand. He looked around at the devastation before turning back to Ashborn and Lida.
"We need to get out of here," he said, his voice grim. "The city's gone… there's nothing left for us here."
Ashborn managed a weak nod. He had saved Lida and Rick… but he had failed to save Bolton. The guilt gnawed at him.
Lida placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You did everything you could," she whispered.
He wanted to believe that. But deep down, he knew—this was only the beginning.
A Shadow Watches
Far above the ruins, hidden amidst the swirling clouds of smoke, a figure in a dark cloak observed the battlefield. His glowing blue eyes reflected the carnage below.
Claude, the third demon general, smirked.
"So Kevin really did fall to them," he mused, his voice smooth yet laced with amusement. "Interesting…"
Then, without another word, he vanished into the darkness.
The war was far from over.
To Be Continued…