The Eralith Ruins were alive with chaos. The team's breaths mingled with the acrid air as the shattered crystal unleashed a ripple of energy, sending tremors through the ground. Adrian braced himself against the impact, his sword digging into the soil for balance.
The green glow of the crystal was extinguished, but the battlefield was far from silent. From the haze of corrupted energy, a monstrous figure emerged. It towered over the team, its hulking form crackling with malevolent power.
"Who dares to destroy my conduit?" the demon roared, its voice resonating through the ruins. Its crimson eyes locked onto the group, its twisted mouth curling into a predatory grin. "You have made a grave mistake."
Adrian's heart pounded as the enormity of the demon's presence sank in. This was no ordinary foe. The air around it seemed to distort, radiating an oppressive heat that made it hard to breathe.
"Mohan," Adrian said, his voice low. "What are we dealing with?"
The old captain straightened, his fists clenching as his gauntlets sparked with faint energy. "A Lower Demon. Seventh Seat, if I had to guess. That thing isn't here by accident."
Kiera stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly. "It's Dravokh," she said, her voice tinged with dread. "He's one of the Lower Seven. The crystal wasn't just a conduit—it was bait. We've walked right into his trap."
Dravokh's laughter echoed through the ruins. "Smart little druid," he sneered. "The crystal was never meant to stand. It was meant to lure fools like you into my grasp."
The ground beneath their feet cracked, and demonic energy surged upward, forming jagged spires of corrupted rock that cut off any retreat. The air grew heavier, stifling their movements.
Seraphina gripped her staff, sweat beading on her brow. "We're sealed in. His aura… it's overwhelming."
Adrian scanned the battlefield, his sword raised. "No running, then. We fight."
Kael nocked an arrow, his eyes sharp as he sized up the demon. "We're outmatched, Adrian. Do you have a plan?"
Adrian's mind raced. They were battered and drained from the earlier fight, but Dravokh was blocking their only escape. If they didn't take him down, they wouldn't make it out alive.
"We keep him moving," Adrian said finally, his voice steady. "Wear him down. Don't let him focus on any one of us for too long."
Lucas stepped beside Adrian, his twin blades gleaming. "That's all well and good, but if we're going to wear him down, someone has to be the bait."
Adrian met his friend's gaze. "I'll take point. Keep him on me. You all focus on finding an opening."
Mohan's jaw tightened. "You'd better not get yourself killed, boy."
Dravokh wasted no time, lunging forward with surprising speed for a creature of his size. His claws raked through the air, aiming for Adrian, who barely dodged in time. The force of the attack left deep gouges in the stone behind him.
"Is that all you've got?" Adrian taunted, his sword flashing as he slashed at the demon's arm. The blade met resistance, sparking against Dravokh's armor-like hide.
"Bold words for a mortal," Dravokh sneered, his claw swiping toward Adrian again.
Lucas darted in from the side, his blades carving into the demon's exposed flank. "Guess you've never fought us before," he said, grinning as he danced out of reach.
Kael fired a volley of arrows, each one aimed at Dravokh's joints. The arrows struck true, but the demon's dark energy absorbed much of the impact.
"This isn't working," Kael muttered, his eyes narrowing. "He's too well-armored."
Kiera's staff glowed as she conjured vines that lashed out at Dravokh's legs, binding him momentarily. "Focus on his core! That's where the corruption is strongest."
Adrian nodded, charging forward as Mohan joined him, the captain's gauntlets sparking with energy. Together, they struck at Dravokh's chest, their combined force staggering the demon.
Dravokh roared, dark energy exploding outward and forcing the team back. "Enough of this!" he bellowed. "You think you can challenge a Seat of the Lower Seven? Pathetic!"
The team regrouped, their breaths ragged as Dravokh loomed over them. The demon's aura pulsed, sapping their strength with every passing moment.
"We can't keep trading blows like this," Seraphina said, her voice strained. "We'll burn out before he does."
Adrian's mind raced, his gaze flicking to the fractured remains of the crystal. An idea began to form. "Kiera," he said, his voice urgent. "That crystal was feeding him, right? If we can sever his connection to the residual energy, he'll weaken."
Kiera hesitated, her hands tightening around her staff. "I can try, but his aura is stronger now. It'll take time."
"We'll buy you that time," Mohan said firmly. He turned to the group. "Protect her at all costs."
As Kiera began her ritual, the team formed a defensive perimeter around her. Dravokh laughed, his claws crackling with dark energy. "You think a druid's tricks can stop me? How amusing."
Adrian met the demon's gaze, his sword raised. "Let's see how amusing it is when we cut you down."
Dravokh lunged again, his claws slamming into the ground as Adrian sidestepped and countered with a powerful slash. Lucas joined the fray, his blades flashing as he struck at the demon's legs.
Kael fired arrow after arrow, each shot aimed with precision to exploit any weakness in Dravokh's armor. Meanwhile, Mohan unleashed powerful punches, each strike reverberating with the last of his aura.
The demon growled, his movements growing more erratic as the team's attacks chipped away at his defenses. "You're persistent," he snarled. "But persistence won't save you."
Behind them, Kiera's voice rose as her ritual neared completion. The vines around her glowed with an ethereal light, their energy reaching toward Dravokh like tendrils.
Seraphina knelt beside Kiera, her hands glowing faintly as she poured what little mana she had left into shielding the druid. "Hurry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We can't hold him off much longer."
As Kiera's magic surged, the vines latched onto Dravokh, binding him in place. The demon roared, his aura flaring as he fought against the spell.
Adrian charged forward, his sword glowing with renewed determination. "Now!" he shouted.
The vines tightened, glowing brighter as they drained the corruption from Dravokh's form. The demon howled in pain, his movements faltering.
But just as victory seemed within reach, the ground trembled violently. A surge of dark energy erupted from Dravokh, shattering the vines and sending the team sprawling.
Dravokh laughed, his voice filled with malice. "You think you've won? This is only the beginning!"
As the dust settled, the demon's form began to shift, his aura growing even darker. Adrian pushed himself to his feet, his sword trembling in his grip.
"Mohan," he said, his voice steady despite the fear in his chest. "What are we dealing with now?"
The captain's eyes narrowed. "Something worse than we planned for."
The team regrouped, their breaths ragged but their resolve unbroken. The battle was far from over, and the true fight was only just beginning.