Originally, Belial had discovered a mechanism where touching certain runic symbols would summon a spirit to aid him in battle.
However, that option was no longer available—it simply didn't work anymore. He had always relied on the spirits to handle most of the fight, but now, he had no choice but to face the challenge on his own.
The first guard lunged, its bladed limb slicing through the air with a whistle. Belial barely raised his sword in time, the impact reverberating through his arms. He gritted his teeth, his muscles screaming in protest as he pushed back, forcing the creature to retreat a step.
But it was only a momentary reprieve.
The guard's hollow eyes locked onto him, and it struck again, faster this time. Belial twisted, the blade grazing his side, drawing a fresh line of blood. He hissed, his movements growing sluggish as his wounds took their toll.
Xin, a few feet away, was locked in his own deadly dance. The second guard was relentless, Xin's shards flew, each one aimed at the gaps in the creature's armor, but the guard dodged or deflected them with eerie ease. One shard managed to pierce its shoulder, but the creature barely flinched, its movements unhindered. Xin's breath came in short, ragged gasps as he dodged another strike, the blade narrowly missing his throat. He rolled to the side, his fingers brushing against the cold stone floor as he searched for more shards. His pouch was nearly empty.
Raven, ever the immovable force, faced the third guard head-on. The creature's blades scraped against his armor, sending sparks flying, but Raven stood firm. His fists, coated in black ichor, swung with brutal force, each blow landing with a thunderous crack. But the guard was unlike the Fiends—it didn't stagger or fall. It absorbed the hits, its chitinous armor barely dented, and retaliated with a speed that belied its size. Raven grunted as a blade sliced across his forearm, the first real wound he'd sustained. He didn't falter, his expression unreadable beneath his helmet, but the guard's intelligence was evident. It was learning, adapting.
The fourth guard hung back, its hollow eyes scanning the battlefield as if waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Its presence was unnerving, a silent predator biding its time.
Belial's sword clashed against the first guard's blade again, the force of the impact sending a jolt of pain through his wounded shoulder. He stumbled, his footing unsure, and the guard seized the opportunity. It lunged, its bladed limb aimed straight for his chest. Belial twisted, but he wasn't fast enough. The blade grazed his ribs, drawing a sharp cry from his lips. He fell to one knee, his sword barely holding him up as blood pooled beneath him.
"Bel!" Xin shouted, his voice strained.
He flung a shard at the guard attacking Belial, but the creature deflected it with a flick of its blade. Xin cursed, his eyes darting around the chamber for anything he could use as a weapon. His gaze landed on a cluster of Diamond shards embedded in the wall, but they were too far away. He'd never make it in time.
The guard raised its blade, ready to deliver the killing blow.
A deafening roar filled the chamber as Raven barreled into the guard, his massive frame slamming into the creature with enough force to send it sprawling. The guard's blade skittered across the stone floor, and Raven didn't hesitate. He brought his fist down, aiming for the creature's head, but it rolled away at the last second, its movements unnervingly agile. Raven growled, his frustration evident, but he didn't pursue. Instead, he turned to Belial, offering a hand.
"Up," he grunted.
Belial grasped Raven's hand, his grip weak but determined. He staggered to his feet, his sword still clutched in his other hand. "Thanks," he muttered, though the word felt inadequate.
The guard Raven had knocked down was already back on its feet, its hollow eyes fixed on them. The other guards closed in, their movements synchronized, their blades gleaming in the dim light. The fourth guard, the one that had hung back, finally stepped forward, its presence commanding. It was larger than the others, its armor more intricate, its movements more deliberate. This one was the leader.
Xin joined them, his breathing ragged, his shards nearly depleted. "We can't keep this up," he said, his voice low. "They're too fast, too strong."
Belial wiped the blood from his mouth, his grip tightening on his sword. "We don't have a choice."
The leader guard tilted its head, as if studying them. Then it moved.
It was on Xin in an instant, its blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Xin barely dodged, the blade grazing his arm. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock. The guard didn't give him a moment to recover. It struck again, its movements a blur. Xin threw a shard, but the guard caught it mid-air, snapping it like a twig.
Belial and Raven moved as one, their instincts honed by years of fighting side by side. Belial's sword clashed against the leader's blade, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the chamber. Raven swung his fist, aiming for the creature's side, but the guard twisted, avoiding the blow with ease. It retaliated, its blade slicing across Raven's chest, leaving a deep gash in his armor.
Raven staggered, but he didn't fall. His fists clenched, his breathing heavy. "This one's different," he growled.
The other guards closed in, their blades raised. The group was surrounded, their backs against the wall—literally. The chamber was alive with the sound of dripping blood, the low hum of the nest, and the eerie silence of the guards as they prepared to strike.
Belial's mind raced. They couldn't win this fight—not like this. The guards were too strong, too fast, too intelligent. They needed a plan, but there was no time. The leader guard lunged at him again, its blade aimed for his throat. Belial parried, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling back. His vision blurred, his body on the verge of collapse.
Xin, desperate, flung his last shard at the leader guard. It struck true, embedding itself in the creature's shoulder. The guard paused, its head tilting as if amused. Then it reached up, plucking the shard from its armor and snapping it in two.
Xin's heart sank. "We're out of options."
Raven stepped forward, his fists raised. "No. We fight."
The leader guard seemed to consider him for a moment. Then it struck, its blade slicing through the air with blinding speed. Raven blocked with his armored forearm, but the force of the blow sent him to one knee. The guard pressed its advantage, its blade inching closer to Raven's throat.
Belial, summoning the last of his strength, charged. His sword clashed against the guard's blade, the impact jarring his arms. He pushed with everything he had, forcing the creature back just enough for Raven to regain his footing. Together, they struck, their movements synchronized. Belial's sword sliced across the guard's side, while Raven's fist slammed into its chest. The creature staggered, its armor cracking under the force of the blows.
But it didn't fall.
The other guards moved in, their blades raised. Xin, weaponless, braced himself for the end.
Then, a sound—a low, guttural growl—filled the chamber. The guards paused, their heads turning toward the source of the noise. From the shadows, a massive figure emerged, its form twisted and grotesque, its eyes burning with a feral intelligence.
It was another Fiend, but unlike the others, this one was different. Its body was covered in scars, its muscles coiled like springs, its movements deliberate. It was an alpha—a predator among predators.
The leader guard turned to face the new threat, its blade raised. The alpha Fiend roared, its voice shaking the chamber, and charged.
The guards hesitated, their attention divided. Belial seized the opportunity. "Now!" he shouted, his voice raw with desperation.
Xin, Raven, and Belial moved as one, their bodies fueled by adrenaline and sheer willpower. Belial's sword sliced through the neck of one guard, severing its head in a single, fluid motion. Raven's fist caved in the chest of another, the force of the blow shattering its armor and sending it crashing to the ground.
But the leader guard was still standing. It turned to face them, its blade raised, its hollow eyes filled with something akin to rage.
The alpha Fiend lunged, its claws slashing across the leader guard's back. The creature staggered, its blade slipping from its grasp. Belial didn't hesitate. He drove his sword through the guard's chest, the blade piercing its heart.
The leader guard fell, its body crumpling to the ground. The chamber fell silent, the only sound the ragged breathing of the group and the low growl of the alpha Fiend.
But it wasn't over.
The alpha Fiend turned to face them, its eyes burning with a feral hunger. It roared, its voice shaking the chamber, and charged.
Belial raised his sword, his body trembling with exhaustion. "Brace yourselves."
The alpha Fiend was upon them in an instant, its claws slashing through the air. Belial barely managed to block the blow, the force of the impact sending him sprawling. Raven stepped in, his fists swinging, but the Fiend was faster. It dodged his blows with ease, its claws raking across his armor.
Xin, weaponless, could only watch as the creature turned its attention to him. Its eyes locked onto his, and it lunged.
Belial, summoning the last of his strength, threw himself between Xin and the Fiend. His sword clashed against the creature's claws, the impact jarring his arms. He gritted his teeth, his vision blurring as he pushed back with everything he had.
But it wasn't enough.
The alpha Fiend's claws sliced through his sword, shattering the blade. Belial stumbled, his body collapsing to the ground. The Fiend loomed over him, its claws raised, ready to deliver the killing blow.
Then, a deafening roar filled the chamber.
From the shadows, another figure emerged—a massive, hulking form clad in blackened bonelike armor. Its movements were slow, deliberate, its presence commanding. It was another guard, but unlike the others, this one was different. Its armor was more intricate, its blade larger, its eyes burning with a cold, calculating intelligence.
The alpha Fiend turned to face the new threat, its growl low and menacing. The guard raised its blade, its movements fluid and precise.
Belial, lying on the ground, could only watch as the two titans clashed. The chamber shook with the force of their blows, the sound of metal against flesh echoing through the air.
Raven dragged Belial to his feet, his voice gruff. "We need to go. Now."
Xin nodded, his eyes wide with fear. "But what about—"
"We cannot fight that," Raven interrupted, his tone final. "We need to regroup."
Belial, his body broken but his spirit unyielding, nodded. "Let's move!"
As they retreated, the sounds of the battle behind them grew fainter, the roars and clashes fading into the darkness.