The scene unfolded with the Hell Knight revealing his true form. His fiery aura pulsated with a menace that screamed of impending doom. The team exchanged determined glances, knowing it was now or never.
The Hell Knight slammed his hands together, conjuring a fiery circle on the ground. From the infernal flames, a demonic beast emerged. It resembled a colossal bat, standing nearly four meters tall, with a red-gray body, wicked horns, and an aura of raw savagery.
The bat demon unleashed an ear-piercing screech that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The team dodged with precision, narrowly escaping the destructive waves.
The creature then bit into its own flesh, causing thick, oozing blood to spill out.
Isaac exclaimed, "What in hell is it doing?"
To their astonishment, the blood morphed into a massive warhammer made entirely of crimson energy.
Morpheus analyzed the situation quickly. "A blood manipulation ability… it can forge weapons from its own essence."
With a single beat of its massive wings, the bat demon ascended into the air and in a flash dove toward Morpheus, swinging the blood hammer with terrifying force. Morpheus evaded at the last moment, the hammer smashing into the ground, sending a violent shockwave that shattered the earth.
Isaac retaliated by conjuring a massive fiery arrow imbued with the flames of a phoenix. He released it with deadly precision, aiming at the airborne demon. However, the bat emitted a pulse of energy, scattering the flames in all directions.
But Isaac smirked. The dispersed flames quickly reformed into a fiery arrow, striking the demon squarely in its torso.
The bat demon crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact.
Isaac smirked triumphantly. "Underestimate the flames of my phoenix, and you'll regret it. They never extinguish."
But to their shock, the bat's spilled blood began creeping back toward its body. Slowly, its wounds regenerated.
Isaac gritted his teeth. "So, your body is just as tough as your powers. Fine. I'll burn you to ash."
Meanwhile, Rozemar, still in her divine form, clasped her hands to the ground. Gigantic vines burst forth from the earth, ensnaring the demon's legs and pinning it mid-air. The demon struggled instinctively, flapping its wings and attempting to slice through the vines, but their strength held firm.
"Now, Morpheus!" Rozemar shouted.
Morpheus nodded, channeling the shadows around him. In a blink, he teleported atop the bat demon's head, forming razor-sharp claws of pure shadow. With a fierce battle cry, he grabbed the beast's jaw, forcing it open.
"Isaac, now! Turn it to ash!"
With his phoenix wings spread wide, Isaac soared into the air, crafting an enormous flaming spear. He hurled it with immense force directly at the demon's exposed mouth.
Morpheus vanished into the shadows just as the spear hit its mark. The demon let out a final, guttural shriek as the spear impaled it, piercing through its entire body.
Isaac smirked. "The beauty of my flames? I can control them even after they strike."
The flames of the spear intensified, growing hotter and denser until the bat demon's body was consumed. With a fiery explosion, the demon disintegrated into ash, leaving nothing but scorched earth behind.
The team stood silently for a moment, catching their breath as the ashes of their formidable foe scattered into the wind.
Rozemar broke the silence, her voice steady but laced with fatigue. "One down… but the real battle is yet to come."
Morpheus glanced at Isaac, a faint grin forming. "Not bad, phoenix boy. But try not to burn everything next time."
Isaac chuckled. "Only if you stop brooding for five seconds, shadow boy."
Rozemar rolled her eyes but couldn't help smirking. Despite the tension, their camaraderie shone through. They were ready for whatever came next.
Morpheus glared at the Hell Knight, his eyes burning with fury. "Enough with the tricks," he said, his voice steady but filled with anger. "Let's settle this face-to-face. Is this all you've got—weak beasts? Seems you have no real offensive power."
The Hell Knight's rage intensified, his fiery form blazing even brighter, as though his anger itself was fueling the flames. It was as if he understood Morpheus's words. With a violent motion, he drew another fiery circle on the ground.
Isaac spoke, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Is he summoning the bat again?"
But what emerged from the fire shocked them all.
Instead of the bat, a new figure appeared—a being, a demon with gray and red skin, humanoid in shape, standing a towering two meters tall. In its hand, it held a trident-like spear, black as coal, radiating an ominous and dangerous aura.
Isaac scowled, irritation written all over his face. "I'm tired of these games. I'll turn them all to ash."
With that, he began to form a massive, fiery spear, preparing for his next strike.
But then, the Hell Knight did something completely unexpected.
He walked over to the demon he had summoned, gripping its head with both hands. Flames leaped from his body and flowed into the demon through its mouth and eyes. The team froze in shock, not knowing what was happening.
Morpheus stared in disbelief. "What is he doing?"
To their horror, the Hell Knight began to absorb the demon's power. The demon's body contorted, flames erupted as they were drawn into the Hell Knight's own form.
Isaac frowned in confusion. "Wait... Is he... merging with the demon?"
The Hell Knight's body pulsed with even more intense fire, his eyes glowing with molten fury. His aura grew darker and more savage, as though the demon had become one with him. The very air around him seemed to crackle with newfound power.
Morpheus's eyes narrowed. I understand now.
The Hell Knight was not simply a brute force. His true power lay in his ability to merge with other beings, absorbing their strength. Earlier, when he had been in his armor, he wielded a sword. But now, by absorbing the demon, his form had become far more lethal.
Morpheus's gaze sharpened. "We destroyed his demonic body before, which forced him to rely on summoning beasts. But now... he's become even stronger. To defeat him, we must destroy his demonic form entirely."
He turned to Isaac and Rozemar, speaking with certainty. "We must destroy his demon body now. That's the only way to finish him."
Isaac and Rozemar nodded, their expressions hard with determination. They understood the task ahead.
Morpheus's thoughts raced. But our strength alone isn't enough. Even with Isaac in his Phoenix form and Rozemar's divine manifestation, we won't be able to defeat him without casualties.
Then, an idea flashed through his mind—a dangerous thought. If I push myself into a berserker state, I might have the power we need to overcome him. But that would mean risking everything...
A grim determination settled over him. This is a gamble with my life, but life is a gamble. If I'm not brave enough to face this, I'll remain a nameless shadow, a person who never achieved anything. And I refuse to let that be my fate.
He clenched his fists, whispering to himself. "Shadows only exist because of light, and death only comes to those who have lived. Isn't it ironic that we run from our shadows, knowing they are a part of us?"
He raised his head, his resolve unshakable. I will become the shadow that devours the light, where all that remains is ash.