Eira’s heart pounded in her chest as rlin, bloodied and exhausted, shouted, "Run! Now!"
No one hesitated. Even in their fear-stricken state, their survival instincts kicked in. Eira, still cradling Junior, began sprinting alongside the others. Emma and the children stumbled but pushed forward, driven by sheer terror. Zyrith, pale and trembling, ran as if death were at her heels.
rlin cast protective wards behind them as they fled, his mana reserves dwindling dangerously low. "Keep moving!" he yelled, his voice strained.
But the oppressive darkness lood closer.
Back at the smoldering ruins of the orphanage, a figure erged. His entire body was cloaked in shadow, writhing like a living void. The only distinguishable features were his cold, piercing eyes that glowed faintly in the darkness.
The figure moved with an unnatural grace, his shadowy form bending and shifting as if the physical world held no authority over him. He stopped near Serah’s lifeless body, gazing at it with a detached curiosity. Slowly, he crouched down, his voice low and venomous.
"So they were able to kill you?" he mused, his tone carrying no sympathy, only disdain. "I didn’t expect you to be this weak, Serah. How disappointing."
He stretched out a hand, tendrils of dark energy extending from his palm to Serah’s corpse. As he absorbed the remnants of mana lingering in her body, her form crumbled into ash, scattering in the night breeze.
Straightening, the figure let out a soft chuckle. "Absorbing you gave a re two minutes in this form," he said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "How pitiful."
He turned his glowing gaze toward the horizon. "Now... where is Zyrith?"
Closing his eyes, he extended his awareness, scanning the area with an omnipresent sense. Within monts, he pinpointed the group fleeing into the forest. A cruel smile spread across his face.
"Found you."
In a blink, he vanished.
---
The group skidded to a halt as the dark figure materialized before them, his form coalescing from shadow. The oppressive aura he exuded silenced the night, and a suffocating chill settled over them.
"Where are you running to?" he asked coldly, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Do you think you can escape ?"
The words alone sent a wave of dread through everyone. Emma clung to the children, tears streaming down her face as she fought to keep her legs steady. Zyrith fell to her knees, her body trembling violently.
The dark figure’s gaze locked onto Zyrith, and his smile widened. "Co here," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Your death will bring glory to the Demon Lord."
Zyrith’s trembling intensified as tears blurred her vision. "P-please... I don’t want to die... please, spare ..."
Ignoring her pleas, the dark figure began walking toward her. Each step he took seed to sap the strength from those around him, leaving them paralyzed by his overwhelming presence.
Eira gritted her teeth, clutching Junior tightly. She whispered to Emma, "Take him."
Emma looked at her, terrified. "I... I can’t—"
"You can," Eira snapped, thrusting Junior into her arms. "Protect him with your life."
Emma hesitated but nodded, holding Junior close.
Helen stepped forward, her sword drawn, her jaw set in defiance. "We can’t just stand here," she said.
"Wait!" rlin hissed, his eyes fixed on the figure.
The dark figure reached Zyrith, his hand outstretched to absorb her mana. But just as he was about to touch her, a blazing fireball erupted from rlin’s staff, severing the shadowy hand.
The dark figure paused, looking at his hand—or rather, where his hand had been—with mild curiosity. Slowly, he turned to face rlin.
"You want to die that badly, wizard?" he asked, his voice colder than ice. "I was planning to spare you and let you witness the annihilation of your city. But if you insist..."
rlin’s hands trembled, but he quickly cast a ntal resistance spell over himself and the others. "Stay calm," he said through gritted teeth. "Don’t let him break you."
The dark figure let out a low chuckle. "Admirable. Futile, but admirable."
---
What followed was a massacre.
Helen charged in, her sword blazing with enchanted energy. She moved with precision and skill, striking at the figure with everything she had. But her blade passed through him as if he were smoke. He retaliated with a casual flick of his wrist, sending her flying into a tree. She coughed blood but forced herself back up.
Eira followed, her own sword glowing with a faint, golden hue. She launched a flurry of strikes, each one precise and deadly. But the dark figure rely sidestepped her attacks, his movents almost lazy.
"You’re strong," he mused, catching her blade with two fingers and snapping it effortlessly. "But strength alone isn’t enough."
He hurled Eira backward with a blast of dark energy, sending her skidding across the ground.
rlin unleashed a barrage of spells—fire, lightning, and wind—but the dark figure absorbed them all as if they were nothing more than sparks.
"Is that all?" the figure mocked, closing the distance between them in an instant. He grabbed rlin by the throat, lifting him effortlessly. "You call yourself a mage?"
rlin struggled, gasping for air as he managed to cast a spell to force the figure to release him. He collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.
The others fared no better. Zyrith was paralyzed by fear, unable to move. Helen and Eira fought valiantly, but every attack was either dodged or deflected with ease. The dark figure was toying with them, showing them just how hopeless their situation was.
---
As the battle reached its peak, the dark figure turned his attention to Emma, who was huddled with the children. His gaze locked onto her, and he began walking toward her.
"No!" Eira shouted, struggling to her feet.
The dark figure raised a hand, dark energy crackling around it. "You can’t protect them," he said coldly. "Let show you."
As he prepared to strike, a sudden voice rang out.
["Initiating self-preservation mode"]
The voice was monotone, chanical, and unmistakably coming from Junior.
A blinding light erupted from his small form, shooting toward the dark figure with incredible speed. The figure barely had ti to react before he was struck by a barrage of radiant energy. Each beam of light pierced through him, causing him to stagger.
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