The group's screams echoed through the air as they stumbled backward, horrified by the sudden and gruesome demise of their companion. Ran's eyes widened in shock, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. "Wh-what was that?" Elara stuttered, her voice trembling with fear.
Ran's gaze darted wildly, searching for any sign of the demon. "I don't know, but we need to get out of here, NOW!" he yelled, grabbing Code's arm and pulling him toward the trees. But it was too late. A dark, ominous presence began to materialize before them, its aura radiating an unspeakable dread.
The air grew colder, the shadows deepening as the demon's power washed over them. The group's collective breath caught in their throats as the demon's form began to take shape. Its massive body seemed to fill the space, its presence suffocating.
The demon's face was a twisted mockery of humanity. Two curved horns protruded from its forehead, sharp and menacing. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy, burning with an inner fire that seemed to pierce through the darkness.
As the demon's grin spread across its face, the group's hearts sank. It was a grin that seemed to say, "I will enjoy killing you." The demon's presence was intoxicating yet toxic, making the air feel heavy and oppressive.
Teno and Soudra, the sword men at the vanguard, charged forward, their blades flashing in the dim light. Elara's sorcery wove a complex web of illusions around the demon's head, confusing and disorienting it. Code stood frozen, his mind a blank, his concentration shattered by fear.
The battle was intense and chaotic, the group's movements a blur of steel and sorcery. But despite their best efforts, the demon seemed almost unfazed. Its massive arms swung in wide arcs, its claws tearing through the air with deadly precision.
Kael's eyes widened in terror as the demon's fist hurtled toward him. He tried to dodge, but it was too late. The demon's fist tore through his abdomen, leaving a gaping wound that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Blood and gore burst forth from the wound, splattering the surrounding area with a gruesome, crimson rain.
Kael's body jerked backward, his eyes locked on Ran's. He tried to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper. "Ran... I'm sorry..." His eyes began to fade, his body crumpling to the ground. Ran's face twisted in anguish as he rushed to Kael's side.
"Kael, no! Don't say that! You're going to be okay!" Ran's voice cracked with emotion, his eyes welling up with tears. But it was too late. Kael's body went limp, his eyes frozen in a permanent stare. Ran's world seemed to shatter in that moment, his rage and grief boiling over like a cauldron.
With a battle cry that shook the air, Ran charged forward, his sword flashing in the dim light. His movements were wild and desperate, driven by his grief and fury. Ran leapt over the demon, and appeared behind it, as he spun in the air, ready to slash it from behind. But the demon was relentless, its power too great.
In that instant, the demon twisted it's body, and landed it massive fist directly on Ran, who was still in mid air. Ran's body jerked backward, his eyes wide with shock. He tried to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper. "Kael... I..." His eyes locked on the demon, his face twisted in a snarl. "You monster..." The demon's fist crushed Ran's skull, ending his life in an instant.
The group watched in horror as their leader fell. Code and Elara were among the last four standing, their hearts heavy with grief and their spirits crushed by the hopelessness of their situation. The demon's relentless onslaught continued, its massive fist crushing Dane beneath its weight.
The sound of his body being pummeled was a sickening crunch that echoed through the air. One by one, the demon hunted down the remaining members of the group, its power unstoppable. The group's screams grew more desperate, their movements more frantic.
Code's ragged breathing was the only sound that pierced the oppressive silence, a reminder of the carnage that had just occurred.
Nearby, Elara stood frozen, her eyes dull and lifeless, fixed on the spot where Ran had fallen. Her face was etched with shock and grief, her usual determination and fire extinguished. Lyra's anguished sobs echoed through the forest, her body shaking with each ragged breath.
The demon's presence still lingered, its malevolent energy seeping into the air like a chill. Code's instincts screamed at him to move, to escape the agony, but his body felt heavy, unresponsive. The weight of their situation settled upon him like a physical burden, crushing him beneath its oppressive weight.
As the demon began its slow, deliberate approach, its twisted grin growing wider with each step, Code felt a sense of hopelessness wash over him. The demon's eyes blazed with an otherworldly hunger, its massive body seeming to fill the space around them.
In a desperate bid to escape the futility, Peter charged at the demon, but it was a futile attempt. The demon's massive foot came crashing down, crushing Peter's fragile form beneath its weight. Lyra's scream shattered the silence, her voice cracking with despair.
Code's heart shattered alongside Lyra's, his mind reeling in horror as he watched his friend meet a gruesome end. He was trapped between Elara's trembling form and Lyra's despairing sobs, unable to summon the courage to act.
The demon's fist hurtled toward him, and Code dodged by mere inches, his heart skipping a beat. But his left hand wasn't so lucky. The demon's punch ripped it from his body, leaving Code screaming in agony.
As the demon's foot came crashing down, pinning his legs beneath its weight, Code felt a sense of resignation wash over him. He knew he was beyond saving, and the thought was almost liberating.
In his final moments, Code's gaze met Elara's, and he saw his own despair reflected back at him. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, to tell her it would be okay. But it was too late.
Just as the demon raised its foot to deliver the final blow, a voice pierced the air:
"Don't give up!"
***
I hope you enjoyed this chapter ❤️