The Demon’s Wrath

A monstrous roar tore through the night, rattling the very ground beneath Ren's feet.

He looked up at the warped face of the cultist who towered over him with a body that had stretched out far too much. Its long nails oozed black energy, its eyes glowed red, filled with hatred.

There was no time for Ren to react: the monster attacked.

Boom!

Ren barely got out of the way, rolling as the monster's claws crashed into the ground, shattering the cobblestone street as if it were made of glass. Items flew in all directions, dust filling the air.

"This thing is on another level.".. Ren thought, grinding his teeth.

He could feel it—the raw strength pouring off the beast. This was no ordinary assassin.

The Hellfire Cult were concealing something much worse.

The monster pivoted, its enormous bulk moving unnaturally fast. It released a low, guttural snarl before vanishing in a blur — charging directly at Ren.

Too fast!

Ren had barely lifted his arms when the monster's fist smashed into his chest.

Crack!

Pain erupted in his body as he hurtled backwards.

He'd slammed into a neighboring wall, the crash fracturing bricks on impact. The air clattered out of him, pain like fire erupting through his ribs.

He coughed, blood oozing from his lips.

"Damn it..."

The monster didn't stop.

Before Ren could recover, it launched forward again, finding the distance between them in seconds. Its clawed hand swung down like a guillotine, hoping to rip him asunder—

And then—

A flash of silver.

Clang!

A curved blade caught the attack, redirecting the monstrous claws with a shower of sparks.

With a rush of wind, it came to rest before Ren, an all too familiar presence.

Sera.

Alongside her, her silver hair catch the moon light and piercing violet eyes unflinching to the monstrous cultist. In one hand she held her katana, and the other was glowing with a soft golden aura.

She didn't even look at Ren.

"You're late," Ren coughed, trying to push herself upright.

Sera waved her blade, the air around her thrumming with intangible energy.

"You're just weak," she shot back flatly.

Ren scowled. "Great to see you too."

The beast issued a deep, throat-rattling growl, its claws flexing in annoyance he could feel hundreds of feet below. It did eye Sera warily, as if she had a dangerous presence.

Sera cracked her neck.

"A Hellfire Cult beast, huh?" Her eyes narrowed. "They're getting desperate."

An out-of-this-world roar escaped the maws of the beast before it dashed towards me like a mad beast.

But this time—

Sera was faster.

Whoosh!

In an instant her form disappeared, reappearing behind the monster before it even noticed she'd moved.

Slash!

A narrow line of silver sliced across the monster's chest. A second later — a fountain of black blood spewed.

The creature shrieked and staggered back.

Ren's eyes widened. Even after this long… Sera rocked on a new dimension.

She swung her katana, throwing off the blood on the blade. "Pathetic."

The monster howled in anger, but instead of continuing to attack—

It roared.

Each call reverberated throughout the district, a deep, unnatural sound.

Ren's stomach twisted. "That's… not good."

A second later—

Boom! Boom! Boom!

More figures dropped down onto the battlefield as rooftops around them shattered.

Ren counted them — six more cultists.

And judging by their aura…

They were strong.

With a sigh, Sera went to flipping her katana in her hand. "You take three. I'll take the rest."

Ren snorted, finally finding his footing. His Blue Flame lived on, filling the yard with a precious light.

"Deal."

The cultists wasted no time.

The three enemies gunning for Ren attacked first, their weapons wreathed in dark flames.

The first swept a curved sickle at Ren's neck — he ducked.

The second cast a dagger, edge aglow with poison — he stepped aside.

The third one charged from behind, hoping to impale him—

Ren reacted instantly.

FWOOSH!

A jet of Blue Flame sprouted from his palm, covering his assailant in an instant.

The cultist shrieked, the inferno igniting his robes as he stumbled away.

One down.

The second cultist rushed in again, and this time faster — but Ren had already observed his attack pattern.

He adjusted his position, waited for the right time—

Then he kicked his knee into the cultists stomach.

The force crumpled the man in half.

Ren concluded with a powerful elbow to the ribs, dropping the cultist to the ground.

Two down.

The last one hesitated now, looking at his fallen comrades.

Ren smirked. "Come on. You wanted a battle, didn't you?"

The cultist growled, tightening his grip on the sword. He flew toward her, erratic motion, his sword swimming with cursed energy.

Ren dodged the first slash.

Then the second.

Then — he seized the cultist's wrist mid-swing.

The man was taken the back, his eyes widening in shock—

And Ren punched him square in the face.

That hit sent the cultist hurtling back, his mask shattering as he was slammed into the ground.

Three down.

Ren let out a breath, easing his shoulders. "That wasn't so bad."

Then—he turned.

And Sera, standing amid the corpses of three more cultists, blood splashed in the street.

She had not even worked up a sweat.

She looked sidelong at Ren, unscarified. "You're slow."

Ren groaned. "I hate you."

She sheathed her katana. "Get stronger, then."

Before Ren could react, the ground began to quake.

The district was imbued with a low, rumbling growl.

Ren and Sera faced the last enemy—

The twormensm, ast, inormant cultist.

It was still standing.

Still alive.

Now, its body was glowing.

Ren's heart skipped a beat. "No way… it's still—"

Before he could finish, the monster bellowed.

Its body burst into flames, the sheer heat melting the rock all around.

Sera's eyes darkened. "This thing refuses to die."

Ren tightened his fists, his Blue Flame surging for the second time.

"Then let's fix that."