Elijah emerged from the void rift onto the southern continent, the air heavy with tension. The sky above was a deep, ominous gray, and the faint scent of sulfur lingered in the atmosphere. The land stretched out before him in jagged, uneven terrain, dotted with blackened ruins and corrupted forests.
The southern continent bore the scars of countless battles, the ground warped by demonic magic. Elijah stood still for a moment, letting the unfamiliar energy of the region wash over him.
"So this is where the demons have established their foothold," he muttered. "It feels... rotten."
The void within him pulsed, reacting to the corrupted magic saturating the air. Closing his eyes, Elijah extended his senses, allowing the void to resonate with the flow of energy around him. He could feel the distortions in space—pockets of demonic influence that twisted the land and made it unstable.
"They've tainted the ley lines," he realized, his expression darkening. "The demons aren't just occupying—they're reshaping the land itself. If this spreads, Eldora will fall."
He opened his eyes, his determination hardening. "Then I'll stop it here."
Elijah took a step forward, his boots crunching against the blackened soil. As he moved deeper into the desolate landscape, the air grew colder, and the faint whispers of demonic energy filled his ears.
Suddenly, he froze. His instincts, honed from a lifetime as the Heavenly Demon, screamed at him. He twisted his body just as a spear of dark energy shot past him, embedding itself into the ground.
"Impressive," a voice rasped.
Elijah turned to see a demon standing atop a jagged rock formation. Its body was lithe and humanoid, with blackened skin that pulsed with veins of crimson light. Two horns curled from its head, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Elijah with predatory intent.
"You don't belong here, human," the demon hissed. "Turn back, or die."
Elijah's lips curled into a faint smirk. "I've faced worse threats than you. If you think you can stop me, try."
The demon snarled, leaping down from the rock with alarming speed. Its claws gleamed with dark energy as it slashed at Elijah.
Without hesitation, Elijah raised his hand, summoning a thin veil of void energy. The demon's claws struck the barrier, and space rippled around the impact. With a sharp twist of his wrist, Elijah sent the energy surging outward, throwing the demon back.
The creature skidded to a halt, its eyes narrowing. "Void magic... You're no ordinary human."
"You're observant," Elijah said, his voice calm. "But it won't save you."
The demon roared, summoning a barrage of dark projectiles. Elijah moved fluidly, folding the space around him to dodge the attacks. He reappeared behind the demon, his hand glowing with void energy.
With a swift motion, he unleashed a blade of void magic, slicing through the demon's defenses. The creature howled in pain, black blood spilling onto the ground as it staggered back.
"Damn you!" the demon snarled, its form beginning to shift. Its body grew larger, its limbs elongating as it unleashed its true form.
Elijah watched, unimpressed. "Transformation won't help you."
As the demon lunged again, Elijah stepped forward, folding the space between them to close the distance instantly. His hand shot out, grabbing the demon by the throat.
The void energy in his palm pulsed, and the demon's body began to disintegrate, its form unraveling as it was consumed.
The demon's eyes widened in terror. "What... are you?"
"Your end," Elijah replied, his voice cold.
With a final pulse of energy, the demon's body vanished, leaving only a faint ripple in the air. Elijah released a slow breath, lowering his hand.
He glanced around, his senses alert. The battle had been brief, but it had likely drawn attention. Sure enough, he could feel more presences in the distance—stronger ones, moving toward him.
"This won't be easy," he muttered. "But I didn't come here for easy."
He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where a massive fortress loomed in the distance. Dark energy radiated from its spires, and even from this distance, Elijah could feel the immense power within.
"That must be their stronghold," he said. "Good. I'll start there."
With a flick of his wrist, he opened a void rift and stepped through, disappearing into the shadows of the southern continent.