Norris moved fast, almost at a run.

  — Upward, — he threw over his shoulder. — To the king’s hall. The portal will be there. Demons always entrench themselves in the most symbolic place.

  The higher we climbed, the worse it became.

  From below came thunder — the stone guardians were breaking through floors, destroying everything in their path.

  Behind us, the war raged.

  Ahead — something far worse.

  The corridor was flooded with red light from distant bursts of fire.

  The floor was blackened stone.

  The air reeked of sulfur and blood.

  And there were two of them.

  The first was a beastlike demon — half man, half gigantic wolf, with needle-like bones protruding from its body.

  The second was a man… or what remained of one.

  His skin was ashen, his veins black, his eyes completely red, and two short black horns grew from his forehead.

  Elinia whispered softly:

  — He’s… being demonized…

  And in the same second, a fireball flew at us.

  Elinia raised a wall of water — steam exploded into the air.

  But the demon-man vanished from his spot.

  He appeared right in front of me.

  He reached out to touch me — I reacted instinctively, striking with magic.

  I formed a layer of water around myself, thickening it with every heartbeat.

  His fingers touched the water — and I felt it…

  Poison.

  Rot.

  Decay.

  That hand wasn’t merely poisonous — it destroyed everything it touched.

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  I instantly froze the water layer — ice locked around the demon’s hand.

  I jumped back and unleashed a hail of stone arrows.

  He dodged — too fast, almost like teleportation.

  Norris shouted:

  — I’LL HANDLE THAT ONE!

  DON’T LET THE CRIMSON HUMAN TOUCH YOU!

  And he lunged forward himself — straight at the beast demon.

  The demon-man abruptly switched targets — charging at Finn.

  — DON’T LET HIM TOUCH YOU! — I yelled.

  I barely made it — raising an ice wall in front of Finn.

  Finn didn’t hesitate. He conjured a tongue of flame.

  He struck the demon with fire — it howled, recoiling. Its skin melted.

  But it didn’t die.

  It snarled, and its entire arm swelled like a rotten tumor.

  I quickly formed a massive dome of water around us.

  He touched it—

  And the dome exploded into acidic spray, but I redirected the water sideways just in time, saving everyone.

  Where Norris battled the beast demon, it was pure slaughter.

  The demon tore the air apart with hundreds of small fireballs.

  Norris dodged, shattered the explosions with his blade — but one fireball struck his arm, the burn hissing into flesh.

  Norris didn’t stop.

  He leapt like a man used to killing giants.

  The sword struck.

  Bones cracked.

  The beast demon collapsed.

  We rushed to Norris; Elinia and I immediately began treating the burn.

  He clenched his teeth.

  — Thanks… we move on.

  Before us stood a massive door — thick oak, layered with numerous seals.

  Norris turned.

  — Finn! Fireball! Blow the door!

  Finn nodded, his hands already burning with flame.

  — Finn — break the door. Fireball, maximum power.

  Finn nodded again, fire dancing across his palms.

  — Zen — immediately after the blast, cover the floor with ice.

  — Make the demons slip, lose footing and momentum.

  — If needed — freeze their legs, precisely and fast. You control the space.

  Norris turned again.

  — Kairen — your vortexes. But not just wind. Create your mini-golems.

  — Let each vortex become a “guardian”: intercept projectiles, disrupt demon advances, and cover our flanks.

  Kairen clenched his jaw, activating the wind — small spiral creatures whirled around him.

  — Elinia — ranged support.

  — Precision and control, don’t overheat your mana.

  — If ritual demons appear — strike them first.

  She nodded, gathering electric current in her palms.

  — Tara, Siren, Miella — close combat with me.

  — We form the strike group, clear the path, cut down anyone who pushes forward.

  The three swordswomen stepped in unison, gripping their hilts.

  — Elgar — water.

  — Extinguish flames, flush demons from cover, support Zen if his mana overloads.

  — You’re flexible support.

  Norris raised his sword.

  — Behind this door is the portal.

  — We go in fast. We come out alive.

  — Close the portal at any cost.

  Finn glanced back, inhaled — and began gathering fire.

  He looked at each of us.

  — This is the final push. Behind that door is the portal. We don’t let it activate. No matter the cost.

  We nodded.

  Finn raised his hands—

  A FIREBALL.

  The door was ripped from the wall by the explosion.

  And we charged inside.