Chapter 79

The shockwave from Zoth and Meldis's clash left cracks in the walls and sent debris flying. Zoth leapt into the air, conjuring a massive fireball that roared as it hurtled toward Meldis. The demon, unfazed, allowed it to engulf him entirely. When the smoke cleared, Meldis stood there, grinning.

"That all you got? Pathetic," he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain.

But Zoth didn't let the insult distract him. Using Meldis's arrogance as cover, he vanished from sight, reappearing behind the distracted demon. His target wasn't Meldis—it was Gletta. Zoth's blade aimed for her exposed neck, but Elta intercepted with razor-sharp claws. The clash of steel and claws rang out, a sound sharp enough to rattle bones.

Meanwhile, Maria fired shot after shot at Meldis, her movements quick and precise, but none of her attacks had any effect. Meldis stood like an unyielding fortress, deflecting everything she threw at him.

'This tank of a demon,' Maria thought, frustration mounting. 'I can't break through his defense, not even with my strongest attack. A direct fight with him is suicide.'

Meldis, noticing her hesitation, grinned wickedly and retaliated with a fireball aimed directly at her. Maria dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding the flames as they exploded behind her.

"You shouldn't let your mind wander in a fight," Meldis taunted, his voice booming as he advanced.

Maria clenched her jaw, reloading her shotgun. "Shut up and fight, you overgrown brute!"

Zoth and Elta's battle intensified, but the tide was turning. Elta's severed arm was draining his strength rapidly. Desperation flickered in his eyes as he tried to make a deal.

"You're not human," Elta hissed, panting. "Let me make you an offer. Give us the girl, and we'll spare your life!"

Zoth chuckled coldly. "You're barely holding yourself together, and you're still trying to negotiate? Pathetic."

Elta smirked despite the blood dripping from his mouth. "I don't need to win. I just need to buy time."

Zoth's eyes widened in realization as he turned toward Gletta. She was no longer feasting; her body was enveloped in a dark, pulsating aura. The ground trembled as her form began to shift.

"NO!" Zoth shouted, breaking away from Elta and lunging at her. His sword was inches from Gletta's neck when an explosion erupted, the force throwing him across the room and pinning him against a wall.

Maria turned just in time to see Zoth crash into the rubble. Her gasp of horror was cut short as Meldis seized the moment and delivered a devastating punch to her stomach, sending her flying into the same wall.

Both heroes struggled to their feet, battered and gasping for air.

"What... what just happened?!" Maria asked, her voice shaking.

"She's transformed," Zoth replied, his tone grim. "She skipped her normal evolution stages... and became a Demon God."

Maria's face paled. "What?! How is that possible?"

Zoth steadied himself, his eyes locked on Gletta. "It doesn't matter. Maria, listen to me—get out of here. Take the others and retreat. I'll hold them off for as long as I can."

Maria's eyes widened in disbelief. "No! I'm not leaving you here alone!"

"This isn't a fight you or the others can win," Zoth said, his voice calm but firm.

Gletta stepped forward, her voice dripping with mockery. "I'll make this simple: hand over the girl, and I'll spare you."

Zoth smirked, gripping his sword tightly. "Do I look like someone who'd take your offer?"

Without waiting for a response, he lunged at her, their weapons colliding with a deafening crash. The two combatants zipped across the battlefield, their movements a blur of speed and power. Gletta's newfound strength met Zoth's unrelenting determination in a clash that shook the entire mall.

Elta and Meldis stood frozen, watching in awe.

"Gletta really evolved into a Demon God..." Elta muttered, his tone filled with a mix of fear and admiration.

Maria, on the sidelines, could barely follow their movements. The speed, the power—it was beyond anything she had ever witnessed. She felt utterly powerless.

But Zoth wasn't giving up. In a moment of precision, he found an opening and delivered a devastating strike, pinning Gletta to the ground. He landed gracefully beside her, his eyes burning with resolve.

Elta and Meldis immediately tensed, their instincts screaming at them to intervene.

But Gletta laughed as she rose, brushing off the attack as though it were nothing. "This... this is fun! I haven't felt this alive in centuries! Thank you for rejecting my offer."

Maria, still frozen, suddenly felt a hand grip her from behind. She turned to see Elta, his arm fully regenerated from feasting on corpses. His claws dug into her shoulder, pinning her in place.

"Zoth!" Maria screamed.

Elta sneered. "Drop your weapon, or I'll kill her."

Zoth's eyes darted to Maria, his mind racing. In a flash, he was upon them, slicing through Elta's arm and freeing her. But just as he landed—

Stab.

"Zoth!" Maria's scream echoed through the mall. Gletta's claws had pierced Zoth's chest. Blood poured from the wound as Zoth gasped in pain.

"You're persistent," Gletta hissed, smirking.

Zoth gritted his teeth, turning and delivering a powerful punch to her face, sending her flying. But before he could catch his breath, Meldis charged, slamming into him with the force of a freight train.

Zoth was flung into the air, crashing to the ground near Maria.

"Zoth!" Maria cried, rushing to his side. She supported him with her arms, her eyes filled with tears. "We need to get out of here! You can't fight like this!"

"No..." Zoth muttered, his voice weak. "You need to get out of here. Now."

"I'm not leaving you!" Maria shouted, her voice trembling.

Zoth smiled faintly, his hand reaching up to touch her face. "I'm... sorry, Maria."

Before she could react, Zoth mustered the last of his strength and punched her, sending her flying through the wall and out of the mall.

Maria hit the ground outside, coughing and clutching her stomach. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed, "Zoth!"

Inside, Zoth turned back to face Gletta, Elta, and Meldis. Blood dripped from his wounds, but his eyes burned with defiance. "You'll have to kill me before I let you take another life."

And with that, Zoth raised his sword one last time.