The demonic hunter lunged at Kael, obsidian sword poised to strike. He wasn't foolish; Kael, with his bow, was a priority target.
His speed was startling. In a blink, he was upon Kael, the deadly blade a hair's breadth away. "Die!" he rasped, his voice a guttural growl.
But Gorn reacted instantly, intercepting the attack with his own sword. The clash of steel resonated through the cavern, forcing Gorn back a few steps. He held his ground, though, his expression unwavering.
Meanwhile, Aella was already weaving her magic. The cave floor beneath the demon's feet turned to quicksand, trapping his legs in its grasp. Gorn, thankfully, was outside the spell's area of effect.
"Now! Long-range attacks!" Aella commanded.
She and Kael began casting more powerful spells, their incantations echoing off the cavern walls. These were clearly not simple, instant spells.
William watched intently, assessing the flow of the battle. He judged the demonically empowered hunter to be strong, but likely still weaker than Gorn and the seasoned adventurers.
'He might have the upper hand in a one-on-one fight,' William thought, 'but we have the advantage of numbers...'
And indeed, that advantage was proving decisive. While the hunter struggled to free himself from the magical quicksand, more attacks were incoming.
Kael invoked runes, enchanting three arrows simultaneously, each imbued with the power of fire. Aella, in a synchronized assault, conjured a blazing fireball.
The temperature in the cave spiked dramatically. Gorn pulled William back, his grip firm. "The impact will be nasty. Let's give them some space."
William readily agreed, retreating to a safer distance. Just then, the three fiery arrows and the searing fireball found their mark.
The resulting explosion was deafening. The cavern shook violently, and small rocks rained down from the ceiling. William's heart leaped into his throat. 'This damn cave is going to collapse…'
But thankfully, it held. Flames engulfed the area around the trapped hunter.
"Did we get him?" Aella wondered aloud, her voice a mix of hope and uncertainty.
The smoke gradually dissipated, revealing the hunter's charred and broken form. His clothes were reduced to tattered remnants, and the obsidian sword lay abandoned on the ground beside him.
"Seems our fire attacks were effective," Kael said, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Our team always prevails, doesn't it? We're one of the best!"
Overconfident, he strode towards the fallen figure. The others exchanged uneasy glances.
"Don't get too close, Kael," Borin cautioned. "We need to be sure he's dead."
But it was too late. With a sudden burst of energy, the demon snatched up the sword and lunged, plunging the blade deep into Kael's heart. It was a fatal blow.
"Gah..." Kael gasped, his eyes widening in shock and pain.
The demon's laughter echoed cruelly through the cavern. "I told you, you will all die here today! Foolish humans!"
The adventurers faltered. Borin and Aella froze, unsure how to react to the sudden turn of events.
Gorn, however, remained calm. And so did William. He had been observing the fight closely, and a crucial detail had caught his attention.
"Aella," William said urgently, "the demonic energy is fading fast! If we can keep him contained, we can win this!"
His words snapped Aella back into focus. She concentrated, and indeed, the demon's aura was diminishing.
With renewed determination, she attempted to ensnare the demon's feet once more with her quicksand spell. But this time, he was ready. With a powerful leap, he evaded the attack and charged towards Aella.
Borin intercepted the demon, his sword meeting the obsidian blade with a resounding clang. But unlike Gorn, he couldn't withstand the demonic power. The black sword sliced through his shoulder, drawing a cry of pain.
Blood gushed from the wound, the severity of the injury evident. It was clear that Gorn was the only one with the strength to face the demon now.
With a roar, Gorn charged, his sword raised high. "I am your opponent now!" he bellowed, meeting the demon's furious assault head-on.
The demon seemed genuinely surprised by Gorn's display of skill. "Not bad, old man," he sneered, "but you're past your prime. You know you can't win."
The dark energy surging through the hunter's body intensified, exceeding even its initial levels. It wasn't just the quantity of demonic power, but its potency. It was as if he was unleashing its full force all at once.
The demon became a blur of motion, his strength amplified. He and Gorn clashed in a whirlwind of steel, their swords meeting in a furious exchange of blows.
"Steel Skin!" Gorn roared, his voice echoing through the cavern.
"Featherweight!"
"Sharpened Senses!"
He activated a series of body-enhancement skills, each far exceeding William's in both level and mastery. Gorn's power surged, matching the demon's increased ferocity.
The sounds of their battle reverberated through the cave, the clang of steel and guttural roars filling the air. Aella desperately wanted to help, but the two combatants were moving with such blinding speed that she couldn't risk a mistimed spell.
William, too, could only watch, his heart pounding in his chest.
Despite the boost from his magic, Gorn was still outmatched. The demon, seizing an opportunity, landed a vicious kick to Gorn's stomach, momentarily throwing him off balance. In that instant, the obsidian blade flashed, slicing deep into Gorn's arm.
A cry of pain escaped Gorn's lips. The Steel Skin skill had prevented him from losing the limb entirely, but the wound was severe, hindering his movements.
The situation was deteriorating rapidly. William felt a surge of adrenaline, the pressure to act overwhelming. He couldn't just stand by and watch.
But before he could step forward, Borin's hand clamped down on his shoulder, holding him back. "Leave this to me, lad," he rumbled, his voice surprisingly steady despite the grim situation.
Borin, a mountain of a man with a gentle heart, charged towards the demon, his roar shaking the very foundations of the cave.
"Die, you monster!"
He swung his greatsword, but the demon, empowered by the dark artifact, was far too strong. The attack was effortlessly parried, and in a swift, brutal counter, Borin's head was severed from his body. He crumpled to the ground, lifeless.