Ezra gritted his teeth as more Aether surged through his sword, the blade humming with energy. Damn, I just wish I could call on that power from the Chaos Paladin. This is going to be a damn near impossible fight without it. His thoughts were sharp as his focus narrowed on Zyrion, the towering demon. The shadow of doubt crept in briefly, but Ezra quickly brushed it aside—he had no time for hesitation now.
With a burst of speed, Ezra charged forward once again, his movements faster, more precise. His sword arced through the air with a deafening crack as a blade of shadow Aether shot from its edge, cutting through the space between them with the force of a thunderclap. The strike was meant to pierce through the demon's defenses, but Zyrion was quick.
In an instant, the demon wove a rune at blinding speed, the symbols dancing in the air as he constructed a barrier of ethereal energy. The shadow blade slammed into it with an audible crack, sending out shockwaves of Aether as it clashed against the protective wall. The barrier held, but the sheer force of Ezra's attack rattled it, causing cracks to spiderweb through the surface.
Zyrion smirked, clearly pleased with himself, as he turned to taunt Ezra. "Is that all you have, Mercenary? I thought your reputation was—"
But the demon never finished his sentence. Before he could speak another word, Korr appeared from behind, a hulking figure of fury and raw power. His beast form was fully activated now, his muscles bulging as he grew larger with every step. He charged like a living avalanche, roaring with the primal might of a bear. With a sickening crack, Korr's massive fist collided with the back of Zyrion's head, sending the demon flying through the air, his staff tumbling from his hand as his body crashed into the ground.
Korr didn't stop. He let out another guttural roar, his voice deep and primal as he rushed forward, growing even larger with each step. His body seemed to be reshaping itself as his limbs thickened, his fur growing denser and darker. He was becoming something even more fearsome, a monstrous bear with the strength to tear apart anything in his path.
Ezra stood back, momentarily stunned by the sheer power of Korr's transformation. The air seemed to vibrate with the energy Korr exuded, and for the first time in a long while, Ezra found himself impressed. Damn... He had seen Korr fight before, but this was something else entirely. The man—no, the beast—was a force of nature, and it was clear he wasn't holding back.
Zyrion, struggling to rise from the ground, glared at Korr with a mix of fury and disbelief. His red eyes burned with rage as he wiped blood from his lip, a growl escaping from his throat. "You dare interfere?" The demon's voice was a snarl, the deep, resonating sound of an ancient predator now enraged.
Korr let out another roar, his claws scraping against the earth as he charged again, closing the distance in an instant. His giant paws slammed into the ground, creating craters as he pushed forward, faster than Zyrion had anticipated. The demon barely had time to react before Korr was on him, his claws slashing through the air in a vicious arc aimed at the demon's throat.
Ezra took a breath, quickly reassessing the situation. Korr was holding Zyrion's attention now, but this wasn't over. The demon was far from helpless, and Zyrion's power was immense. Ezra knew he couldn't rely solely on brute force—he needed a strategy, and he needed it fast. His hand tightened around his sword as the Aether flowed through him, gathering at the base of his blade.
We can take him down, but we need to keep the pressure on. Ezra's thoughts were clear, and his resolve solidified as he prepared to strike again.
The battle was far from won.
Ezra's heart raced, his senses on high alert as Korr kept Zyrion distracted. With the demon momentarily off balance, Ezra knew this was his moment to strike. He moved in behind Zyrion, his sword already humming with Aether as he unleashed three quick slashes in rapid succession. Each slash sent jagged blades of shadow and pure energy slicing through the air, cutting through trees and tearing through the ground in their wake. The first two slashes landed on Zyrion's side, the shockwaves reverberating through the demon's body, and the third connected with his back, sending the beastman stumbling forward.
Without missing a beat, Ezra charged his Aether, pulling on every last bit of power he could muster. The air around him hummed as energy gathered, his eyes glowing with intensity. He swung his sword with a roar of force, releasing a massive, powerful slash—a fourth, larger blade of Aether—this one so concentrated with power that it seemed to warp the air itself. The wave of energy tore through the forest, the force of it knocking trees flat before slamming into Zyrion's body with a bone-rattling explosion. The demon screamed in agony as the slash carved deep into his flesh, leaving a trail of scorched and smoldering skin. His body was thrown backward, crashing into the ground with an impact that shook the earth itself.
But Zyrion wasn't done. He snarled, pain flickering in his red eyes, and quickly began weaving runes with blinding speed. Three massive symbols of Aether twisted into existence, glowing with ominous power. From each rune, arcs of black lightning shot out in every direction, crackling with pure destruction. The lightning arced and whizzed around Zyrion at such incredible speed that most wouldn't even be able to perceive them.
Ezra dove to the side, his heart pounding in his chest as he narrowly avoided the first few arcs of lightning. The air sizzled with the energy as they passed inches from his skin. His instincts were honed from years of combat—he moved with fluid precision, dodging one, then another. But the last bolt shot toward him, faster than he could react. He raised his sword just in time, unleashing another slash of Aether to deflect the arc. It collided with his blade, sending a shockwave through his body, but he held his ground.
Behind him, Korr roared in defiance. His beastly form, now fully transformed, was impervious to the attack. He stormed forward, ignoring the lightning as if it was nothing more than a mild irritation. With his mighty claws raised, Korr slammed a devastating blow into Zyrion's midsection, sending the demon flying backward, crashing through the earth with such force that the ground beneath him caved in, creating a massive crater. Zyrion was left gasping, blood pouring from multiple wounds, his body twitching as the demon struggled to recover.
Seizing the opportunity, Ezra rushed forward with renewed speed, his sword glowing with Aether. His heart raced, but his mind was clear. He needed to finish this, now. With a mighty leap, Ezra soared into the air, his body encased in a swirling mass of shadow Aether. The shape of a panther began to take form, its eyes glowing like twin orbs of molten gold. Ezra let the energy envelop him, and with a feral roar, he dove down at Zyrion, his sword poised to strike.
The demon's eyes widened in shock, caught off guard by the sheer intensity of the combined attack. He had been too focused on fending off Korr's strength to notice Ezra's lightning-fast movements. As Ezra descended, the Aether panther swirling around him, he could see the fear flash across Zyrion's face for the first time. The demon had underestimated them both.
Ezra's sword plunged downward with incredible force, aiming straight for Zyrion's heart. The moment before impact, Zyrion twisted his body to the side in a desperate attempt to evade, but it was too late. Ezra's blade tore through the demon's defenses, sinking deep into his chest, the Aether-infused steel cleaving through flesh and bone as if they were nothing. Zyrion let out a strangled scream of pain, his eyes wide with disbelief as his body jerked from the blow.
Korr, still roaring in fury, slammed his claws into the demon's legs, pinning him to the ground. The demon's once-proud form now lay broken and battered, his body twitching, unable to move. The ground beneath him was slick with blood, the air thick with the stench of burning flesh and Aether.
Ezra stood over the fallen demon, his sword still embedded in Zyrion's chest, Aether swirling around him like an inferno. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he couldn't afford to relax just yet. Zyrion was still alive, barely, and it was only a matter of time before he tried to retaliate.
But as he looked down at the demon, Ezra's mind sharpened. He knew what needed to be done. He pulled his sword free with a grimace, the motion sending a spray of blood into the air. He raised the blade high, ready to strike again.
"This ends now, demon," he said, his voice cold and steady. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword as he prepared to finish the fight once and for all.