Azriel's breath hitched in his throat when he realized what stood before him—the seven Archdemons of Asmodues. Their presence was overwhelming, a dark aura that seeped into the very air around them, making it hard for him to breathe. Each one of them radiated unimaginable power. These were not ordinary demons; they were the lords of hell itself, the handpicked servants of Asmodues, the Lord of Darkness.
The leader of the group, a tall woman with flowing raven-black hair and eyes that burned like molten lava, stepped forward. Her voice was sweet, venomous, and filled with malice. "Azriel," she purred, her gaze sharp as a blade. "The mortal who killed the queen. Asmodues wants to know... what gives you such power?"
Azriel felt his muscles tighten. He had faced many powerful enemies in his lifetime, but nothing compared to the sheer force of the seven before him. Yet, he would not show fear. He raised his sword, the blade shimmering in the pale moonlight, but his heart pounded against his ribcage.
"Tell Asmodues he can find out for himself," Azriel spat, his voice hard, concealing the uncertainty gnawing at his resolve.
The archdemon laughed, a cold, chilling sound that made Azriel's skin crawl. "Oh, we will. But first, we want to see it for ourselves."
And with that, the first strike came. The Archdemons moved faster than Azriel could have anticipated. Shadows surged forward, curling like snakes as one of them—a towering figure with horns and blood-red eyes—lashed out. Azriel barely had time to deflect the attack, but the force sent him crashing into a nearby stone wall, the impact shattering the rock behind him.
They were testing him, and it was clear that each archdemon carried the power of a god. He was just one man, standing against an army of death itself.
Azriel scrambled to his feet, his breath ragged. "Come then!" he shouted, summoning his magic, a swirl of dark energy coalescing around him. "Let's see who's stronger—witches or demons!"
The battle erupted in an explosion of energy. Azriel's magic clashed violently with the Archdemons', filling the air with the stench of burning earth and the sound of metal tearing through flesh. Azriel weaved between their attacks, slashing his blade across their monstrous forms, but each time he struck, the wounds closed as if they were nothing. They laughed at his attempts, growing more vicious with each passing moment.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as two of the demons conjured walls of fire and darkness, trapping Azriel in a deadly ring. He spun, deflecting an onslaught of attacks, his sword glowing with dark magic, but the power of the Archdemons was relentless.
Far away, Asmodues watched. His pale eyes glowed with malevolent glee as the image in the skull-shaped mirror reflected the intense battle. But something caught his eye—the silver necklace hanging from Azriel's neck. A necklace that seemed to pulse with its own light, glowing faintly as the battle raged on.
Asmodues leaned closer, his brows furrowing. "What is that?" he murmured to himself. The glow from the necklace intrigued him. Why was Azriel protecting it so fiercely?
A smirk twisted his lips. "Ah, so that's it. The Torch's essence lives within the boy." His voice echoed through the dark chamber as he summoned one of the Archdemons telepathically.
"Bring me the necklace."
The Archdemons instantly grew more vicious. The leader's violet eyes flashed as she focused on the silver glow around Azriel's neck. "The necklace," she hissed to the others. "It's what he's hiding."
Azriel, bloodied and exhausted, could feel their focus shift. He clutched the necklace tighter, knowing it held the key to everything, but the Archdemons' power overwhelmed him. Their combined strength was too much, and soon, the blows became unbearable. A searing pain shot through his chest as one of the demons slammed him into the ground, causing blood to pool around his body.
Then, one of them reached for the necklace.
"No!" Azriel screamed, his voice filled with desperation.
In a moment of blind rage, something within him snapped. A massive surge of energy exploded from his body, knocking all seven Archdemons back as though they were nothing more than leaves in a storm. The very ground beneath them cracked and shattered, the shockwave ripping through the battlefield like a hurricane. The glowing necklace around Azriel's neck pulsed with blinding light, enveloping him entirely.
Azriel's eyes burned a bright, searing red. His power, magnified by the necklace, coursed through him, making him feel invincible. His silver hair turned darker, almost black, as the magic surged through his veins.
The Archdemons, once unstoppable forces, now cowered before him. Azriel moved with lightning speed, slashing through their defenses as they desperately tried to regroup. His sword cleaved through their bodies with ease, and the energy he unleashed blasted them across the battlefield.
In a final, devastating blow, Azriel summoned all his strength. The ground beneath them opened up, and a portal to a distant realm—an oceanic prison deep beneath the earth—swallowed the demons whole. The prison was a place where even the vilest of beings were condemned to eternal torment.
Azriel stood panting, the glow from the necklace still vibrant, as the last of the Archdemons disappeared into the abyss.
Far away, Asmodues slammed his fist into the armrest of his dark throne. The sight of Azriel's newfound power enraged him. "The essence of Elysian... it's the Torch! If he unlocks its full potential, he could ruin everything."
Asmodues rose from his throne, his shadow stretching long and ominous. "I underestimated you, mortal. But now... you will face true darkness."