The demon's roar ripped through the clearing, sending a murder of crows screeching into the sky above.
My heartbeat thrummed in my ears, but I kept my focus locked on the massive beast as it lumbered forward.
This wasn't the first big demon I'd faced, but this one had a raw ferocity that set it apart. Its red eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence, and every step it took sent tremors through the ground.
"Alright, big guy," I said under my breath, my voice steady despite the tension tightening in my chest. "Let's see how you like a little heat."
I extended my hand, summoning the purple fire that coursed through my veins. Flames licked up my arm, twisting and curling like a living thing before pooling in my palm. With a flick of my wrist, I hurled the first blast directly at the demon's chest.
The fire struck true, exploding on impact and enveloping the creature in a violet inferno. For a moment, I thought that might be enough but no.
The demon stepped through the flames, its charred skin knitting itself back together almost instantly.
It snarled, baring its jagged teeth, and charged at me with alarming speed.
"Shit!" I leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding a swipe from its claws that left deep gouges in the earth where I'd been standing.
The demon turned, faster than I expected for something so large, and swung again. This time, I wasn't quick enough. Its massive arm clipped me, sending me sprawling across the dirt. Pain shot through my side, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.
I rolled to my feet, summoning another wave of fire. This time, I concentrated, shaping the flames into a spiraling spear. With a shout, I hurled it at the demon's head.
The spear struck the side of its face, blasting one of its horns clean off. It roared in rage, the sound reverberating through the clearing like thunder.
"Guess you didn't like that," I muttered, wiping blood from the corner of my mouth.
The demon lunged at me again, and this time I stood my ground. I raised both hands, summoning a torrent of fire that erupted from the ground in a wide arc.
The flames formed a barrier between us, crackling and roaring with intensity.
But the demon didn't stop. It plowed through the fire, its skin blistering and peeling but regenerating almost as quickly as it burned.
Damn it. This thing was tougher than I'd anticipated.
I shifted tactics, drawing the fire inward and channeling it into my blade. The sword's edge glowed with molten heat, the purple flames wrapping around it like a second skin.
"Let's finish this," I growled, charging at the demon head-on.
It swung its massive arm at me, but this time I was ready. I ducked under the blow and slashed upward, my blade slicing through its arm like a hot knife through butter. The demon howled in pain, black ichor spraying from the wound.
Before it could recover, I pressed the advantage, landing a flurry of strikes on its legs and torso. Each slash was precise, aimed at weakening its movements and keeping it off balance.
Finally, with one last, powerful swing, I drove my blade deep into its chest. The flames surged, spreading through its body like wildfire. The demon let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground in a heap.
I stumbled back, breathing hard as I watched its massive form disintegrate into ash. The ground beneath it smoldered, the air thick with the acrid scent of burnt flesh.
"That… was a workout," I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow.
I scanned the clearing, half-expecting another demon to come charging out of the shadows.
But everything was still. The oppressive energy that had hung in the air was gone, replaced by an almost eerie calm.
Once I was sure the coast was clear, I started searching the camp. If the Heart of Ember was here, I'd find it.
The makeshift tents and supply crates were mostly empty, their contents either destroyed or taken.
I sifted through the rubble, my frustration mounting with each passing minute. There was no sign of the red diamond—no glittering gem hidden among the debris, no lockbox to pry open.
Damn it.
I kicked over a crate, sending its shattered pieces flying. The man who'd sent me here had either been mistaken or lying. Either way, I'd wasted time and energy fighting that demon for nothing.
My eyes landed on a scrap of parchment fluttering in the breeze. I picked it up, scanning the hastily scrawled text. It was a crude map of the region, marked with several Xs—none of which pointed to this location.
"If you want to find that red diamond, you should go to the south," I muttered, mimicking the hunter's words. "Big reward my ass."
I folded the map and stuffed it into my pocket. This wasn't over—not by a long shot. If the Heart of Ember was out there, I'd find it.
As I turned to leave, a deep, guttural growl rumbled through the forest. My blood ran cold as I realized the fight wasn't over yet.
Emerging from the shadows was another demon—larger, more menacing, and with an aura that made the first one feel like a warm-up. Its glowing red eyes locked onto me, and it let out a roar that shook the very ground beneath my feet.
"Well," I said, drawing my blade once more, the flames igniting along its edge. "Guess round two starts now."
The massive demon towered over me, its glowing red eyes fixed with deadly precision. My muscles tensed, and the familiar surge of purple fire coursed through me, roaring to life along my blade. I was battered and bruised, but I wasn't done yet.
It lunged, claws ripping through the air, but I sidestepped and swung my sword in a fiery arc.
The blade struck its arm, searing through the thick hide and sending a plume of smoke into the air. The demon howled, recoiling as ichor dripped from its wound.
"Not so tough now, are you?" I taunted, though my breath was ragged. I had to end this quickly before exhaustion got the better of me.
The demon growled and swung its massive tail, catching me off guard. It slammed into my side, knocking me to the ground.
The impact rattled my bones, but I rolled with the momentum, avoiding the follow-up strike that left a crater in the dirt where I'd been.
I scrambled to my feet, adrenaline coursing through me as I summoned every ounce of fire magic I had left. The purple flames flared brighter, surrounding me in a protective blaze.
The demon hesitated, its instincts finally kicking in. It could sense the danger, the sheer heat radiating off me. I took advantage of its hesitation, charging forward with a roar of my own.
The fight was brutal—claws against flame, raw power against relentless determination. My strikes grew fiercer, each one carving deeper into its hulking form.
The forest around us burned with violet fire, the once-verdant clearing now an inferno of destruction.
Finally, with a desperate leap, I drove my blade straight into its chest, channeling everything I had into the strike.
The fire surged, consuming the demon from within. It roared one last time before collapsing, its massive form disintegrating into ash.
I dropped to my knees, gasping for breath as the flames around me flickered and died. The forest fell silent once more, the oppressive energy dissipating like a storm that had passed.
When I finally managed to stand, I scanned the charred clearing, my eyes sharp for any sign of the red diamond. The demon had guarded something—I was sure of it.
My gaze caught on a faint glimmer among the debris. Heart pounding, I made my way toward it, pushing aside the rubble with trembling hands.
There, nestled among the ashes, was a small wooden box. I hesitated for a moment before opening it, half-expecting it to be another dead end. But when I lifted the lid, my breath caught.
A vibrant red gem, the size of a robin's egg, rested inside, gleaming even in the dim light. The Heart of Ember.
I held it up, marveling at the way it caught the light, its facets glowing like embers of a dying fire. A grin spread across my face, equal parts relief and triumph.
Finally. I had it.
The perfect ring for Aeliana.
The weight of exhaustion melted as I stared at the red diamond in my hand, its fiery hue reflecting the passion I felt for Aeliana. This wasn't just a gem—it was a promise, a symbol of everything I wanted to share with her.
I closed the box gently, tucking it safely into my pocket. A deep breath steadied me as I surveyed the charred battlefield one last time. The journey had been brutal, but every bruise, burn, and scar had been worth it.
With renewed determination, I turned south, ready to finish what I started and craft the perfect proposal.