At the centre of the plain stood a mysterious castle. Its towers reaching toward the sky like giant's fists, its walls imposing and foreboding.
A collective gasp echoed through the group, their minds reeling with shock and fear. What was a castle doing here, deep in the heart of the forest? The question hung in the air, unanswered. Code's eyes were fixed on the castle, his heart racing with a mix of fear and curiosity – a sense of wonder that he couldn't shake.
Ran cleared his throat with a nervous jerk, the sound echoing through the oppressive silence. Fear had etched deep lines on his face, and his voice was barely audible as he spoke. "What's this castle doing here?" He forced himself to sound steadier, trying to shake off the creeping dread. "We have a job to do. I can sense the demon - it's close."
The sorcerer beside Dane spoke up, his voice shaking. "Have you lost your mind? We're no match for whatever that thing is!" Ran's eyes darted around the group, his gaze lingering on each face before moving on. "I know it's a risk, but we can't back down now." The sorcerer's face reacted in a mixture of fear and disgust. "Our lives are worth more than some mission! You're insane if you think we can take on this and win."
He spun around, taking a step back, and suddenly, a dark, malevolent force coalesced around him. The air seemed to ripple and distort, and the sorcerer's body began to twist and contort in ways that defied human anatomy. His screams were abruptly cut off as his head burst apart in a gory explosion, showering the surrounding area with blood and bone fragments.
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 malevolence.
"We're trapped," Dane whispered, his eyes fixed on the emerging horror.
Ran's grip on Code's arm tightened. "We have to fight," he growled, steeling himself for the battle ahead.
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. Ran's voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of fear. "Let's go," he said, his voice low and even.
Teno and Soudra, the sword users, charged forward in perfect sync. Their blades flashed in the dim light, striking the demon with precision and deadly force. Soudra's sword sliced through the air, aiming for the demon's neck, while Teno's blade thrust upward, targeting its chest. The demon parried their blows with ease, its massive arms swinging in wide arcs, but the sword users dodged and weaved, avoiding its counterattacks with agility.
Elara's sorcery wove a complex web of illusions around the demon's head, confusing and disorienting it. Lyra, a sorcery user cast a barrier around the sorcerers, which seemed to replenish their energies. Code, however, stood frozen, his eyes wide with fear. He had been tasked with providing elemental support through his fighting skills, but his mind was a blank, his concentration shattered by fear.
Ran's voice grew more confident, his commands more decisive. "Elara, maintain the illusions! Teno, Soudra, press the attack!" The demon stumbled backward, its defenses weakening, and for a moment, it seemed as though the sorcerers would emerge victorious.
But in an instant, everything changed.
The demon's eyes flashed with fury, and it lunged forward with a speed that belied its size. Its massive fist hurtled toward Kael, who barely had time to raise his hands in a futile attempt to defend himself.
Time seemed to slow as the demon's blow connected with a sickening crunch. Kael's body jerked backward, his eyes wide with shock and terror.
The group watched in horror as Kael's body began to crumple, his legs buckling beneath him. The demon's fist had torn through his abdomen. Blood and gore burst forth from the wound, splattering the surrounding area with a gruesome, crimson rain.
Kael's 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.
"You M***er F****r!" Ran screamed, as he dodged the demon's blows. He leapt into the air, soaring over the demon's head to strike from behind. As he spun through the air, his sword flashing in the dim light, the group held its collective breath.
This was it, the final blow. Ran's spinning slash would sever the demon's head from its shoulders, ending the battle in an instant. But in that fleeting moment, the demon seemed to sense Ran's intentions. With an unnatural speed, it twisted its body, and its fist connectee with Ran in a gruesome, bone-shattering impact.
Ran's body exploded in a shower of blood and gore, his limbs torn asunder by the demon's devastating blow. The group's triumphant cry died on their lips as they stared in horror at Ran's lifeless body, his sword slipping from his grasp to fall to the ground with a mournful clang.
The carnage was absolute. Code shivered in terror, his eyes fixed on the lifeless bodies of his teammates. The brutality of the scene was something he had never witnessed before. Fear gripped his heart, and he yearned to flee, but he knew it would be a futile attempt.
One by one, the demon hunted down the remaining members of the group, its relentless onslaught unstoppable. Code and Elara were among the last four standing, their hearts heavy with grief and their spirits crushed by the hopelessness of their situation.
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, Dane charged at the demon, but it was a futile attempt. The demon's massive foot came crashing down, crushing Dane'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 began to move towards Code, as his heart beat wildly. 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 ❤️