The world shook.
As the first seal shattered, an infernal light erupted from the earth, casting the chamber in an eerie, flickering glow. The ground split apart, revealing a chasm of endless fire. From its depths, a towering beast of molten rock and writhing flame dragged itself into existence.
The first of the Devil's monstrous champions had returned.
It stood at least twenty feet tall, its body sculpted from living magma, veins of liquid fire coursing through its cracked, stone-like flesh. Two massive horns curled from its head, and its eyes—a pair of endless, smoldering voids—locked onto Kol with insatiable hunger.
Then, it roared.
The force of its cry sent a shockwave tearing through the chamber, shattering walls, splintering pillars, and knocking the witches off their feet. Even Kol, despite his strength, was forced back a step.
The sheer heat was unbearable. The air itself seemed to warp and twist under its power.
Dain, Orin, and Valen rushed into the chamber, weapons drawn.
They had felt the shift in power from outside—the seal's release had called them like a war drum. And when they arrived, their worst fears were realized.
"What in the abyss is that?!" Orin snarled, his twin daggers flickering with dark energy.
"A goddamn nightmare," Valen muttered, tightening the grip on his chains.
Dain said nothing. He simply cracked his knuckles, his massive frame already preparing for battle.
Kol's expression was unreadable, but the air around him was charged. The Black Thunder at his fingertips crackled, a storm of power that mirrored his growing rage.
Lisa, still unconscious in the ritual circle, remained trapped within the witches' failed attempt to corrupt her blood. Jacob and Brad had yet to reemerge—but they didn't have time to wait.
Elizabeth stepped beside Kol, her eyes narrowing as she took in the monstrous entity before them.
"The Devil's champions... I thought they were nothing more than myths."
"They were," Kol said darkly. "Until now."
The beast let out another earth-shaking roar, its molten claws slamming into the ground, sending rivers of liquid fire streaking toward them.
Kol moved first—faster than thought—his body flashing through the inferno. His Black Thunder surged, and with a single, devastating strike, he tore straight through the flames, his fist colliding with the creature's chest.
A shockwave exploded.
The beast stumbled backward, the impact sending cracks through its magma-forged body. But it did not fall. Instead, it grinned—jagged teeth of molten steel forming in its burning maw.
"That's not good," Valen muttered.
Dain stepped forward next. He leaped, twisting midair, and brought both fists down like a meteor onto the creature's skull.
Boom.
The ground cratered beneath them, but the beast only laughed, catching Dain mid-motion and hurling him across the chamber like a ragdoll. Dain smashed into the far wall, sending debris cascading around him.
Before it could recover, Orin and Valen struck together, their synchronization flawless. Orin teleported behind the monster, his twin daggers slashing across its back, while Valen's chains wrapped around its arm, pulling it off balance.
Elizabeth unleashed a blast of divine power, striking its chest in a flash of radiant gold—but still, the beast did not fall.
Kol's eyes narrowed.
"Enough."
With a single motion, he vanished—appearing directly above the creature, his hands forming a spear of Black Thunder.
The moment his attack struck—the entire chamber collapsed into darkness.