My dad a hero? Then why did you tell me when I was older that he died on a business trip???

The sky was a swirling black, the land, cracked open in places to reveal fiery lava rivers that snaked through the landscape of the city like veins of a dormant beast. My group and I were nearing Asmodeus's castle, and though I had braced myself for chaos, a strange calm permeated the city.

"Something's off," I muttered, eyeing the glass spires where demonic figures writhed in ecstasy, adorned in nothing but shimmering shadows. This was hell's equivalent of a red-light district, perfectly suited for the master of lust.

"They're all busy," Ben pointed out, nocking an arrow to his bow, the flames near us reflecting in his determined eyes. "Too lost in their own desires to notice us."

And he was right. The female demons danced languidly, hypnotic figures set against a backdrop of molten orange. They clung lovingly to each other, their laughter echoing against the obsidian walls, a sound that felt more like mockery than joy.

"What's the plan, Viscoff?" I asked, my grip tightening around the hilt of my blue katana. Beside me, the enormous Viking warrior was trying to shake off the daze induced by the demons' captivating dance.

He scratched his beard, contemplating. "We don't have time to play sneaky," he finally declared, raising his axe. "I'll create a distraction. Zain, you need to get to that window at the top."

"Window?" My brows furrowed. "You mean the one miles above us? Do you honestly think I can—"

"No time. One minute until the time given by that wretched Satan is over. Fire and ice for victory, lad!"

With that, he hefted me up with unexpected strength, throwing me toward the castle. In a dizzying rush, I sailed through the air, adrenaline surging through my veins. The ground began to fade, and I smashed through the window above like an errant comet crashing into a starscape.

Inside, I heard laughter—the twisted laughter of Asmodeus. My heart raced as I staggered to regain my footing. I turned, and my breath caught in my throat.

Dehya stood before me. But it wasn't the Dehya I loved; the darkness has corrupted her even more. Her Light skin shimmered under the firelight, but her expression was devoid of warmth. There was a darkness behind her as she raised her wand, vines erupting from the ground that coiled around her like serpents.

"Dehya, please!" I stammered, my heart aching. "It's me."

She remained silent, lips curling in a sinister smirk. Asmodeus's laughter crept closer, a vile melody that made my skin crawl.

"What have you done to her?" I screamed, fury and desperation making my voice crack. "Why is she like this?"

"Don't fret," Asmodeus teased from his throne, his grotesque form cloaked in shadows. "She's simply embraced her true nature. So much untapped potential within her, waiting to be unleashed. All that I did was release the chains that held her deep desires."

Vines lashed out from Dehya's Hand, and I was forced to roll aside, barely evading the deadly foliage. "Dehya!" I cried again, desperate to reach the part of her that was still with me. "You have to resist!"

"Why?" she asked, voice dripping with sweet malice. "Why would I refuse all this power? This is what I was meant for, Zain."

The realization hit me as hard as a blow from Viscoff's axe. She was no longer the fierce guardian, the lovely elf who commanded vines; she was now controlled by the darkness that flowed inside her.

"You're stronger than this!" I shouted, blocking another attack. I would not fight back—not yet. "We Built a life together. You belong to no one but yourself! Not even me!"

Our dance continued like that, a back-and-forth of dodges and evasions. Each attack from her felt sharper than the last, a testament to how much she had succumbed to the darkness. One hit finally landed—a robust strike to my side—and I spiraled into the wall of the chamber, pain racking my body like a wild beast.

As I gasped for breath, darkness crept into the edges of my vision, and the walls around me melted away. I was suddenly thrust back into the echoes of my past, flashes of it flooding my mind—the training, the bonds, the moments of camaraderie with Orion and all those who fought beside me to claim our fate.

The image of Dehya, the real Dehya, emerged: radiant, free, wielding vines of life for the sake of our world.

"Zain!" her real voice echoed in my mind, bursting through the chaos. "We are bound by fate, remember?"

And just like that, a surge of hope ignited within me. The connection we shared transcended the darkness suffocating her.

I staggered to my feet, fortitude fueling my resolve. "Dehya!" I called out, channeling all of my love and determination. "You belong only to yourself! Remember the woods? The warmth of the sun? The stars? Your family? We are stronger together, I need you!"

For a fleeting moment, uncertainty flickered in her eyes.

"Zain?" she faltered, the vines around her wavering.

I dove forward, sidestepping one of her attacks, determination burning bright. "Fight it! Fight for us!"

As Asmodeus Stood, annoyed, a vines-bound Dehya hesitated, despite the suffocating influence gripping her heart. Wielding my sword, I prepared my attack—not against her but the darkness that had ensnared her soul.

"Be strong!" I urged, realizing what I had to do. This battle was not solely mine; it was ours.

In that moment, by the flickering embers of my resolve, I knew I'd do whatever it took to bring her back—to fight not just for love but for her freedom.

As I poised to strike, the light of our mutual past collided with the weight of a dark future. The time had come to reclaim our fate amidst the howling shadows.

——

*a long time ago*

The place was filled with a bittersweet scent of flowers and incense as the mourners gathered in solemn silence. Zain, a small boy of eight, sat nestled in the gentle embrace of his mother, her long blue hair reminiscent of sunlight breaking through dark clouds. Teal strands framed his heart-shaped face, shimmering faintly as tears streamed down his cheeks. His father's picture dominated the stage, surrounded by vibrant blooms, but the absence of a casket felt heavy in his chest.

"Why did the gods take Daddy?" Zain's voice quivered, breaking the silence. "It's not fair! I need him!"

His mother's expression remained composed, a facade of strength crafted to shield her son from the brunt of sorrow. She brushed a gentle hand across Zain's hair, creating a momentary cocoon of warmth between them. "Sometimes, my love, the gods have plans for us," she said, her voice steady yet tender, like a soft melody weaving through the darkness.

"What kind of plans?" He sniffed, eyes wide with unshed tears.

"An important one," she replied, looking past the crowd to the image of her husband. "Your father… he was chosen to protect some place. A world filled with darkness and despair, where evil reigns. They needed a hero."

Zain's curiosity piqued, the vivid imagery conjured by his mother's words momentarily distracted him from the weight on his heart. "A hero? My daddy is a real hero?" he whispered, eyes sparkling under the veil of grief.

"Yes, my love! He needs to fight the darkness, armed with love and courage. You see, love is the strongest force across all realms. It's the only thing powerful enough to defeat absolute evil. That's why your father had to go."

"What happens if the darkness wins?" Zain asked, panic flickering across his small face.

His mother leaned closer, her voice a soothing balm amidst the tumult of emotion around them. "Love never loses. It endures, Zain. Your father's love for us will guide him, just as it will guide us. His strength is with you, protecting you every day, and my love for him will bring me to his side one day as well as you."

Zain's heart swelled with a mix of pride and sorrow. "So… do we have to fight too?"

"Always, my darling. We fight for the ones we love, and protect the ones who aren't strong enough, because that's what your father is doing right now," she affirmed, her eyes shining with a determined light. "And one day, you will understand what it means to fight for love. You will love someone, and it will empower you in ways you cannot yet imagine."

A sense of resolve began to creep into Zain's heart, warming him from the inside out. Maybe his father was not lost. Maybe he was somewhere out there, battling evil with the same spirit that he had when protecting their home.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and purple across the sky, Zain nestled closer to his mother, feeling the strength radiating from her. The funeral, draped in sorrow, transformed into something powerful—an affirmation of love and a promise of resilience.

——

The cold stone walls of Asmodeus's castle loomed around me, creating an unsettling atmosphere that buzzed with tension and hostility. Light barely broke through the heavy drapes, casting an eerie glow across the room. I held my blue sword in one hand, my dragon sword in the other, the weight of them comforting against my battered body. Yet, I wasn't fighting the demons of the abyss or the minions of war today; I was fighting someone whose heart had intertwined with mine—Dehya.

"Why won't you fight back?" her voice rang through the chamber, both demanding and teasing. I could feel the tension vibrating in the air between us, a tempest beneath a surface of calm. She stood at a distance, her elegant form undulating with an ethereal beauty that disguised the lethal power she commanded. Vines pulsed from her whims, intertwining and constricting around my limbs like serpents eager to devour.

"You know I can't hurt you," I replied, my voice shaky. The words barely escaped my lips before a vine lashed out, coiling around my wrist. I stumbled backward, but instead of severing the connection, I let it tighten. "Dehya, you know I can't."

With each attack, she sent forth wave after wave of dark tendrils, cutting into my flesh, pinching at my consciousness. The memories of our time together filled the corners of my mind like soft whispers carried by the wind. Closer days where laughter intermingled with joy reminded me of my mother's words—how love was the strongest force in all the realms; how it banished shadows and healed wounds. The pain of her strikes was unbearable, but oddly liberating.

As the weight of her next assault came crashing down on me, I remembered our first encounter. She had been surrounded by men wanting to kill her. That day, I saved her and fate brought us together.

"I know you're holding back. You think that by taking the hits, you're protecting me!" She almost sounded angry, but I could sense her confusion lurking beneath. "This isn't a game! You will die if you don't fight."

* "And one day, you will understand what it means to fight for love. You will love someone, and it will empower you in ways you cannot yet imagine." *

More of my mothers words from that day filled my mind. With a sudden burst of resolve, I stopped trying to avoid her strikes. I had fought long enough, and I understood now. Every wound she inflicted drew me closer. The sharp tendrils of her magic tore across my skin, but I welcomed the pain as a reminder of my choice to love her fully, finally accepting that it was okay to be vulnerable.

Veins pulsed beneath the vines as her magic wrapped around me, constricting tighter until I was brought to my knees. The pain was a symphony, an intricate dance of suffering and clarity. I faced her, now on the floor of Asmodeus's chamber, breathless and a mess of tattered resolve.

"Dehya…" I croaked, and her expression faltered. Those dark eyes flickered with uncertainty as the sharp points of the vine curled toward my chest, aimed for the heart she had stolen. "I love you… I always will."

Time seemed to freeze as those words echoed through the air. I met her gaze, feeling the warmth radiate from my confession. There was no fear left, just acceptance, an acceptance of this strange, heavy truth that had come to define me. As her vine pierced through the fabric of my being, I felt the sharp pain of it—the physical embodiment of my emotional surrender.

For a moment, I saw her hesitate, her hand trembling as she molded that vine to a sharper point, uncertainty clashing against her need to strike. Then came the shift, the realization that her heart was mirrored in mine. Just like that first day, she understood the power that existed between us—a force infinitely greater than anything we could wield.

The sharp tip penetrated deep within my chest, where once lay the fortress of a fierce warrior now lay open, raw, and exposed. I gasped as I felt the warmth of my blood spilling forth, washing over the cold stone beneath. Even as the world began to fade around me, a soft, golden light enveloped me, a warmth I could only hope resonated with Dehya.

As I prepared to greet the abyss, I felt a vine unfurl, cradling my heart—the very essence of love I had found in this remarkable elf. The pain faded, and in its place, serenity took root. Our love, pure and fierce and unyielding, enveloped me entirely as I closed my eyes, sinking deeper into an embrace that felt like home.

"Zain!" Her voice broke through as a desperate plea, echoing in my mind. Tears streamed down her face, gleaming like dew in the soft light. I smiled inwardly, it worked. knowing our bond could never truly sever, even if I were to leave this world behind. The strength of our love transcended life and death and reality itself—something I had learned not just from my mother but from the very connection Dehya and I shared.

And even in that fleeting moment, as everything blurred around me, I knew one profound truth: I loved her fiercely, with every piece of my soul, and in that love, we would always fight together—no matter the realm we found ourselves in.

——

Inside the ominous walls of the castle, Flickering torches cast elongated shadows that danced on the stone walls, amplifying the tension that hung in the atmosphere. Viscoff, led the charge, his massive axe glinting under the dim light as he barreled forward. The sound of clashing metal and echoing growls reverberated through the dark corridors, marking their path of destruction.

Ben, swiftly loosed an arrow from his red bow, the arrow streaking through the air like a comet, finding its mark in the eye socket of a snarling demon. "Just another day at the office," he quipped, his voice laced with a blend of bravado and determination. The dwarf twins, Gimola and Gimli, flanked him, their blades cutting through the enemy with calculated precision and lethal grace.

"Keep up, slowpokes!" Gimola shouted as she executed a spin, her braids whipping around her like a whirlwind, dispatching an assailant that had crept up behind them. Gimli nodded in silent agreement, sweat glistening on his brow as he swung his blade, the twin daggers gleaming brighter with each demon felled.

Their spirits were high, despite the escalating challenges that came with ascending the castle. Each level revealed increasingly formidable foes, demons cloaked in shadows with claws like daggers and malevolent eyes that seemed to drink in their fear. They fought hard, but working in tandem, the group melded seamlessly. June, unleashed spells that crackled with energy, her voice rising in incantation as fireballs erupted and lances of light skewered their foes.

As they climbed higher, the sheer presence of their enemy began to weigh heavier on them. The air crackled with magic, an unsettling aura that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end. Each corner they turned brought a new massacre, yet they pressed on, driven by their unity and the urgent need to rescue their comrade.

"We'll reach them. We have to," June reassured, glancing back at her companions. She could feel the stakes weighing heavy on their shoulders, the urgency substantial.

Finally, they arrived at the large, ornate door that marked the end of their ascent. It loomed before them, decorated with intricate carvings that seemed to pulse with dark energy. Viscoff took a step forward, shoulders squared, and in one powerful motion, he kicked the door open.

The sight that met them sent chills down their spines. Zain lay on the ground, his blue katana and dragon sword beside him, the latter glowing faintly as if beckoning for its master. But the most shocking sight was Dehya, the enchanting elf, standing over him. In her hand, a sharp black vine coiled like a serpent, driven firmly into Zain's chest.

"DEHYA!" Viscoff's voice boomed, filled with shock and despair. The room fell into a heavy silence.