For a heartbeat, silence gripped the room as everyone stared out Arden’s office window. The distant chaos filled the horizon with smoke and flame as a towering, monstrous silhouette rose from the smoldering crater where the Black Ring had stood.

  Arden moved first, his eyes narrowing. “I know what these things are—but explanations can wait. We have to stop that demon before it destroys half the city.”

  Jarek stepped back from the window, already prepping his blaster. “Then let’s move. Now.”

  Sai, eyes sharp and intent beneath his hood, strode forward. Without hesitation, he shattered the wide office window with the hilt of his dagger. Wind surged into the room, whipping around papers and loose debris. With a glance back, he said calmly, “See you down there,” and stepped out into open air.

  For Sai, falling was like breathing. Daggers outstretched, he slowed his plummet against the building’s glassy facade, metal and crystal screaming beneath him as twin blades carved jagged, smoking lines downward.

  Brinn moved to follow. He ignited his palms, flame runes bursting to life as he leaped from the shattered window. Fire flared around him, slowing his fall and carrying him forward. He shot downward like a blazing comet, leaving a streak of orange across the sky.

  Jarek pulled a compact grappling gun from his gear, aiming and firing it into the building’s external scaffolding. The hook bit into metal with a sharp clang. With practiced ease, he stepped out into the air, zipping downwards at dizzying speed, the wind roaring past.

  Ramm stared after them, eyes wide with disbelief. He leaned cautiously forward, looking at the dizzying drop. “Absolutely. Not. Nope.”

  Pepe hovered near him, bright lights flickering with amusement. “Don’t worry, I’ll accompany you. We’ll take the elevator like civilized beings.”

  Ramm scowled, storming to the elevator doors and stabbing the call button angrily. “Great. Stuck in a tiny box during an apocalypse. Love it.”

  The elevator arrived, and Ramm stepped inside, Pepe floating cheerfully beside him.

  Pepe chirped happily, “Initiating tense heroic descent sequence!”

  “Oh no,” Ramm groaned, already covering his ears.

  Suddenly, loud, overly dramatic orchestral music filled the elevator, the rhythmic drums and strings timed perfectly with their slow descent.

  “Really?” Ramm shouted over the music. “Are you serious right now?”

  “Studies show heroic soundtracks boost morale by 27%!” Pepe said gleefully.

  Ramm glared at him, pressing himself against the elevator wall. “My morale is plummeting.”

  Meanwhile, far below, Sai landed gracefully amidst the debris-filled street, instantly moving into a sprint towards the towering creature. Its massive wings stretched wide, blotting out the sunlight, twisted horns framing a face of raw rage.

  Jarek and Brinn quickly joined Sai, standing shoulder to shoulder as dust and smoke filled the air around them.

  “Draw its attention!” Jarek ordered, raising his blaster. “Buy time for the evacuation.”

  Brinn’s fists glowed fiercely, fire cascading around his arms. “Gladly.”

  The demon lord noticed them, its crimson eyes blazing with fury. With a guttural roar that shook the buildings around it, it charged, claws extended, ready to obliterate them.

  Sai moved first, a shadow weaving through chaos, daggers flashing with surgical precision. He leapt directly at the demon’s chest, blades biting into thick hide. The monster staggered, momentarily thrown off balance by the attack.

  Brinn unleashed a volley of fireballs, flames roaring across the gap and exploding against the demon’s side. The creature bellowed again, skin searing and blistering under the fierce heat.

  Jarek opened fire, rounds sparking and ricocheting off the monster’s reinforced scales. “It’s tough! Find a weak point!”

  Sai was already probing, each strike a measured attempt to expose vulnerabilities.

  Meanwhile, the elevator continued its unhurried descent. Ramm stood, tapping his foot impatiently, the orchestral music growing even louder and more dramatic. Pepe hummed along, lights blinking in rhythm.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “You know they’re probably dying out there, right?” Ramm said anxiously.

  Pepe spun cheerfully. “Calculations suggest only a moderate risk of death. Well, moderate-to-severe. But don’t worry, I’ll play something cheerful if things get worse.”

  Ramm glared. “Stop being comforting. You’re terrible at it.”

  Suddenly, the elevator jolted slightly. Ramm flinched, clutching the railing tightly. “What was that?”

  Pepe beeped uncertainly. “Structural instability! Or possibly minor catastrophic damage!”

  “Oh, fantastic,” Ramm groaned, staring anxiously at the flickering numbers. “This is exactly how I wanted to die—in an elevator, with you playing symphonies of doom.”

  “Think of it as character development,” Pepe encouraged brightly, music shifting cheerfully to an ominous crescendo.

  Outside, chaos unfolded like a living nightmare.

  Sai dove gracefully from the towering building, daggers of void glass dragging down the building’s exterior, sparks and shadow trailing behind him. Brinn plunged after, flames blazing brilliantly, slowing his descent as he glided toward the streets below. Jarek fired his grappling hook, swinging himself smoothly to ground level amidst the debris.

  On the battlefield, the demon lord loomed, a twisted creature of legend reborn into terror. Its hulking form pulsed with dark energy, limbs armored with thick, shimmering scales. Massive wings unfurled like nightmares, sending gusts of unnatural wind through the crumbling streets. Fiery eyes glowed crimson, scanning the devastation with cold, intelligent rage.

  Sai didn’t hesitate. He sprinted forward in a blur, his daggers shimmering darkly. With swift precision, he vaulted off rubble and leapt, driving both void-glass blades deep into the demon’s side. The creature roared in fury, jerking violently and trying to shake him loose. Yet Sai hung on, twisting his blades deeper, tendrils of shadow seeping from the wounds like dark mist.

  Brinn landed hard, the ground cracking beneath his feet. Flames engulfed his fists, radiating intense heat. He hurled a searing orb of fire, striking the demon’s armored chest with explosive force. The beast staggered, roaring again, its scales cracking and blackened at the impact point.

  Jarek circled, rifle blazing continuously, but his blaster bolts merely bounced harmlessly from the demon’s thick armor, scattering sparks harmlessly into the night. “My weapons aren’t doing a thing!” he shouted, frustration evident in his voice.

  “Only void and elemental attacks!” Sai yelled back, wrenching one blade free to dodge a deadly swipe of the demon’s massive claws.

  Jarek nodded grimly, stepping back and focusing instead on guiding panicked civilians away from the raging battle. “I’ll clear the perimeter—just hold that thing off!”

  Above them, the elevator chimed softly, finally settling at ground level. The doors slid smoothly open. Ramm emerged from the elevator, legs trembling, his face pale and clammy. Pepe hovered cheerfully behind him, music fading into an overly dramatic flourish.

  Ramm stared in horror at the chaos unfolding around him. “Alright, I’m here. What fresh nightmare is this?”

  Pepe spun enthusiastically. “Welcome to today's apocalypse! Your friends are doing quite well, considering.”

  Across the battlefield, Sai's sharp voice echoed clearly. "Ramm! Cover Brinn—give him space!"

  Ramm nodded shakily, stumbling forward and pulling his cyber glove tight, the circuits crackling with anxiety-induced static. “On it!”

  Brinn stood, focusing intently as flames surged brightly around him. He gathered energy from deep within, the heat radiating outward in palpable waves, illuminating his hardened expression.

  The demon turned its furious gaze toward Brinn, sensing the power building. With a roar, it lunged forward, darkness streaming behind it like a cloak of shadows.

  “Brinn, watch out!” Sai shouted, desperately slashing at the demon's wings to slow it down.

  But the creature was unstoppable. It surged forward, knocking Sai aside like a nuisance and bearing down relentlessly.

  Ramm, panicking, extended his cyber glove, desperately firing small distracting blasts. “Hey, ugly! Over here!”

  The demon barely registered the weak attacks, its glowing red eyes locked solely on Brinn.

  Brinn exhaled deeply, eyes closed for one final, intense second. His body flared brilliantly, the flames intensifying, wrapping around him in a blinding inferno of raw elemental magic. When he opened his eyes, they burned with pure, blazing determination.

  “Let's end this,” Brinn growled.

  He thrust his arms forward, unleashing a torrent of roaring fire, powerful enough to illuminate the entire battlefield in dazzling, searing light. The demon shrieked as flames engulfed it entirely, scales and shadow alike blistering under the immense heat.

  Yet, through the inferno, the demon still charged forward, defying agony, driven by primal fury. Its massive clawed hand shot out, piercing straight through Brinn's magical firestorm and slamming into his chest with terrifying force.

  Brinn gasped sharply, the fire around him sputtering instantly as the creature’s claws punched clean through his armor, blood staining the demon's blackened scales. His eyes widened in shock and pain as he was tossed aside, crashing heavily against a shattered wall, slumping lifelessly.

  “BRINN!” Ramm screamed, staggering backward.

  Before Ramm could react further, the demon surged again, closing the distance in a single horrifying heartbeat. Its enormous clawed hand plunged into Ramm’s chest, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. Ramm’s body jerked violently, his eyes glazing over in disbelief and agony.

  Pepe's cheerful melody warped into a frantic, distorted buzzing. “No—Ramm!”

  Sai pushed himself up from the ground, his vision blurred, heart hammering. “NO!”

  Jarek stood frozen in shock, unable to process the nightmare unfolding before him.

  Ramm’s gaze briefly met Sai’s, filled with helpless confusion and terror. Then his eyes slowly closed, head falling limp.

  The demon released Ramm’s motionless body, letting it fall like a broken puppet onto the battlefield, and unleashed a triumphant, earth-shaking roar.

  Pepe drifted numbly downward, settling beside Ramm’s still form, lights flickering weakly. “Please… this can’t be…”

  Sai stood, trembling, daggers shaking in his grip, shadows flickering violently around him. Brinn lay motionless and bleeding; Jarek stared helplessly, fists clenched in powerless fury.

  And above the devastation, the demon lord stood victorious, darkness cascading outward as hope shattered around the surviving members of the team.