The air grew still, and a sudden chill swept through the hall, sending a shiver down my spine. Before anyone could react, a deafening roar erupted, and a massive demon burst forth from the shadows, its twisted form radiating darkness.
"Get back, everyone!" the priest shouted, but the warning came too late. The demon lunged, and thick smoke billowed from its body, obscuring the vision of my companions. Panic filled the air as the room descended into chaos.
Instinct kicked in, and I felt the darkness within me flare to life, urging me to unleash my power. Memories of Lyra's last moments surged through my mind, fueling my determination. I couldn't let this creature harm anyone else.
With a fierce cry, I summoned the flames that had been dormant inside me, darker and more intense than before. "You f***ing demon, taking everything away from me! First, Lyra and now Zhal! Everyone I love died because of demons!" I shouted, directing the flames toward the demon.
The fire swirled around me, casting an eerie light through the smoke as it collided with the demon. The creature howled in rage, but I pushed forward, feeling the energy coursing through me, amplifying my strength.
But as the flames raged, I felt my energy waning. I focused every ounce of my will, calling upon the power that had once surged in my grief. "Die already, you f***ing demon!" I yelled, releasing a powerful blast of dark flames.
The inferno exploded, consuming the demon in a torrent of shadows. For a moment, I felt invincible, the flames wrapping around the creature, but then a wave of exhaustion crashed over me. My vision blurred, and I staggered.
Just as the demon began to falter, my strength gave out. The world spun around me, and I collapsed to the ground, darkness closing in.
When I came to, the smoke had cleared, and the hall was eerily quiet. I struggled to focus, my body heavy and unresponsive, wounds stinging from the battle. The demon lay defeated, its form disintegrating into ash.
But before I could take in what had happened, Falgran stepped forward, a smug expression on his face. "It's done," he proclaimed, his voice dripping with false bravado. "I fought it off."
I blinked in disbelief, anger rising within me. "You didn't do anything! I was the one who fought it!"
Falgran shrugged, dismissing my words. "You were weak. If it weren't for my presence, you would have fallen to that creature. Everyone saw it."
The priest turned to us, his face a mask of concern. "We need to understand how this demon breached our sacred space. We cannot let our guard down."
My body trembled as I tried to push myself up, but pain shot through my side, making me gasp. I glared at Falgran, frustration boiling over. "You think you can take credit for this? I fought that demon with everything I had!"
But as I looked around, doubt crept in. Would they believe me, or would they side with him? Exhaustion threatened to pull me back into darkness. I had proven my strength, but now I felt weak and vulnerable.
As my vision blurred, I heard Falgran's voice, laced with mockery. "Pathetic," he sneered, and that pushed me over the edge. I couldn't let this stand.