Theodore Robertson tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword as he stood at the edge of the craggy outcropping overlooking the dark planet below. Beside him, his brother Mateo clenched his trident, his eyes filled with the same determination and fury. It had been a long time coming—training with Artorius and Lucius, honing powers that could lay waste to the gods themselves. Now, with the strength of their demonic patrons coursing through them, they were ready to set the first fires of their vengeance.
The planet, known as Acheron, was the stronghold of Ravana, the Demon King, whose tyrannical rule and alliances with the gods made him the perfect target. From his black fortress, Ravana controlled an army of demons that served as the frontline defenders of the celestial hierarchy. Destroying Ravana would mean sending a message to the gods: their time was coming to an end.
"Are you ready, Theo?" Mateo asked, his voice barely a whisper, but Theodore could hear the excitement and tension rippling beneath his calm facade. Mateo was not just ready—he was hungry for the battle, as was Theodore.
Theodore smirked, his black eyes catching the glow of lava streams far below. "Let's give Ravana and his demons a taste of what true power looks like."
With that, the brothers stepped off the edge, descending toward the fortress below like meteors, their weapons alight with demonic energy.
---
The descent was swift, almost silent, save for the rush of wind that parted for their powerful forms. As they neared the surface, Mateo stretched his arm, and his trident blazed with a deep blue aura. He thrust it down, and a torrential wave materialized, crashing into the fortress walls with the force of a tidal wave. Stone cracked and splintered, torrents of water flooding the blackened courtyards of Ravana's domain.
In the chaos, demons scurried, their grotesque bodies twisting and morphing in an attempt to resist the deluge. But Mateo's power was overwhelming. His trident, a godly artifact given to him by Lucius, held dominion over water and ice. Entire battalions of lesser demons were swept away, their bodies flailing against the currents that should not have existed on this parched, desolate world.
Theodore landed on the broken battlements, his body already shifting as he invoked his own powers. His form glowed a deep, molten red, and his skin transformed to flowing lava. With a flicker of his will, he melded into the fiery substance, reforming as a searing inferno that burned through the fortress walls.
Drawing the black sword of Artorius, the Sword of Destruction, Theodore surged forward, leaving molten footprints in his wake. The sword thrummed in his grip, resonating with destructive energy, thirsting for battle. He swung it in a wide arc, the blade slicing through demonic flesh and bone as if they were paper, each swing leaving a trail of shimmering ash. The demons who dared to approach him found themselves disintegrating before they could land a single blow.
But Theodore was not satisfied with simple soldiers. His eyes were fixed on the towering black spire at the heart of the fortress, where he knew Ravana waited.
"Mateo," Theodore called out over the roar of the flames, "let's clear a path!"
Mateo didn't need further prompting. With a fierce grin, he thrust his trident toward the fortress gates, summoning another powerful wave that tore through the demonic defenses. Water and fire surged together, devastating the ranks of demons who scrambled to defend their king. Mateo brandished his other weapon, the black Sword of Extinction, gifted to him by Lucius, and cut down any who dared come close. The blade was dark, yet it pulsed with a power that felt ancient, unyielding. Every strike from the Sword of Extinction left demons not just dead, but erased—like they had never existed.
The doors of the black fortress finally gave way under the pressure, and the brothers strode forward, entering the lair of Ravana.
---
The interior of the fortress was a labyrinth of shadows and twisted stone. Flickering torches cast eerie light across the carved faces of demons that lined the walls. The brothers moved through the hallways with the grim purpose of executioners.
At last, they reached the throne room.
Ravana sat upon a throne carved from the bones of countless enemies, his crimson eyes narrowing as the two intruders strode in. He was larger than any demon they had encountered so far, his body clad in dark armor that seemed to absorb light, a menacing aura emanating from him. In one hand, he held a massive, spiked mace, and his lips curled into a mocking smile.
"So, the two vessels have come to challenge me," Ravana sneered, his deep voice reverberating through the hall. "Did the gods send you, or have you come to meet your end of your own accord?"
"The gods abandoned us long ago," Theodore spat, raising his black sword. "We're here to send them a message, starting with your head."
Ravana laughed, a sound filled with dark mirth. "Fools! I am no mere demon—I am a king! I am the gods' chosen servant!"
He raised his mace, and with a roar, the ground beneath them cracked as pillars of dark energy erupted around the room. The walls seemed to bend inward, and the room filled with the guttural snarls of more demons, loyal minions rushing to their king's defense.
Mateo moved quickly, his trident glowing as he summoned a wall of water that surged forward, crashing into the demons and washing them back. Theodore charged, shifting his form into lava as he dodged Ravana's powerful swing. He reformed just behind the demon king and slashed with the Sword of Destruction. Ravana barely managed to block it with his mace, the collision sending sparks of dark energy and molten fire spiraling into the air.
"Impressive," Ravana grunted, his face twisted with fury, "but you are still mortal vessels."
The battle raged, the brothers attacking Ravana with a deadly coordination they had perfected through years of training. Theodore's strikes with the Sword of Destruction grew more intense, each blow causing cracks in Ravana's armor. Mateo's water attacks were relentless, his trident spinning and striking with unerring precision, battering the demon king from every angle.
But Ravana was formidable, his dark magic pulsing through the room, summoning barriers and waves of shadow to counter the brothers' attacks. At one point, he managed to slam his mace into Theodore, sending him hurtling back, his lava form splattering against the walls. But Theodore merely reformed, his resolve unbroken.
"Enough!" Ravana bellowed, releasing a surge of dark energy that forced the brothers back. "I will end this now!"
He raised his mace high, channeling all his power into a final, devastating strike. But before he could bring it down, Mateo hurled his trident with all his strength, piercing Ravana's shoulder and pinning him to the throne. The demon king howled in rage, trying to pull it free, but Mateo's water surged from the weapon, binding him in place.
Theodore seized the moment, charging forward with both of his swords—the Sword of Destruction in his right hand and the god-killing blade in his left. With a powerful swing, he plunged the god-killing sword into Ravana's chest, the blade sinking deep, piercing through the demon's core.
Ravana's roar turned into a strangled gasp as his essence began to unravel. The energy drained from his body, his eyes losing their fierce red glow. As Theodore twisted the blade, Ravana's form disintegrated, his once-mighty body crumbling to dust.
For a moment, the throne room was silent, save for the crackling of Theodore's flames and the soft hiss of Mateo's water. The brothers stood amidst the ruins, victorious.
Theodore looked over at Mateo, a grim smile playing on his lips. "One less obstacle between us and the gods."
Mateo nodded, his own expression steely. "One step closer to vengeance."
They turned to leave, walking back through the decimated fortress, their purpose clearer than ever. The planet of demons had been raided, its king destroyed, and a message had been sent.
The gods had forsaken them, but now it was the gods' turn to fear.