The demon shot forward at a crazy speed, slamming into Dalan, who blocked with his shield. From behind the demon came Lea, who stabbed at its shoulders with both daggers. It groaned and swung its left hand back, trying to hit her, but she dodged just in time.
Doing so left it vulnerable, and Kald used the opportunity to drive his sword into its side—opposite from where Dalan had.
The demon tried to retreat, but Dalan rammed his shield into its other side, pushing it deeper onto Kald's blade. Lea came up behind and started slashing at its back.
The demon screeched in pain—then Kald and Dalan heard Erina's voice from across the cave:
"ENCHANT!"
The two men turned to each other and grinned as new strength filled their bodies. They pushed harder, trying to sever the demon in two. But before they could, it let out one last screech and pushed against the weapons with both hands.
To their surprise, the demon managed to overpower them—just slightly—but enough to create a small gap. It then pushed off the weapons and used the momentum to leap backward, landing in front of the shrine again.
Kald regrouped the others with a deep breath."Alright, everyone—just a little more!" he said, eyeing the two massive gashes torn into the demon's waist.
After a brief moment of pause The demon and Kald charged at the same time. Its fist and Kald's sword clashed with a loud clang, orange sparks bursting into the air. They began to exchange blows so quickly Kald himself could barely keep up.
Thankfully, from each side, Lea and Dalan appeared and stabbed at the demon. It leaped back—but the two stopped mid-swing, leaving a perfect opening for Kald, who dashed forward.
Erina's voice echoed through the cave again: "ENCHANT!"
Kald's blade became enraptured with water. The demon raised its arms to block, but it was too late. Kald struck, blasting the creature backward and into the small shrine—shattering it.
Kald winced. I'll help rebuild it later, he thought.
As the dust cleared the demon slowly rose, its wrist gauntlets now cracked.
"I think those gauntlets are its only real defense," Kald said. "The rest of the armor's brittle. If we break them…" he trailed off, Lea and Dalan got the message.
Dalan nodded. Lea stepped forward. "Last push."
"ENCHANT!" Erina shouted again, empowering all three of them.
Kald turned and smiled toward her then faced forward again."Yup, last push."
The demon clenched its fists and charged, even faster than before.
Kald, Dalan, and Lea charged as well, their enchanted strength and speed matching the demon's. Then, they attacked as if in a coordinated dance—leaving the demon no room to breathe. It thrashed like a cornered beast as it tried to avoid the blows, but the team didn't let up.
One by one, they landed strikes on its legs, chest, face, shoulder.
The demon slowed then Lea saw it—one last opening. She raised her daggers and lunged, but—
The demon turned, as if in slow motion.Lea hesitated. Did it leave that opening on purpose!?
Before she could react, it grabbed her by the hair and slammed her into the ground."Ugh!" she coughed, dazed.
Kald and Dalan froze in shock. The demon ignored them and raised its fist to finish Lea— But Dalan dove in front, blocking with his shield just in time.
WHAM. The fist crashed against the steel.
Kald rushed in and swung at the demon to force it back. It dodged, throwing a punch in return, which Kald blocked with his sword.
He backed away slowly. The demon followed.
"Erina!" Dalan shouted, looking down at Lea, who was barely conscious.
"Right!" Erina raised her wand. A warm light appeared around Lea—healing magic.
Kald kept the demon's attention, glaring it down. But... the demon didn't take the bait.
Instead, it dashed backward—toward Dalan and Lea.
Kald remembered Dalan's words: A demon will resort to far worse than hiding in a tree. You must be prepared.
"YOU BASTARD!!!" Kald roared as he sprinted after it.
Dalan looked up just in time to see the demon looming over them. He raised his shield again—"Argh!" he grunted, holding back the blow.
He looked back. "Lea, are you oka—?"
But Lea was gone.
Dalan grinned. Behind the demon… was Lea. She had slipped around Dalan and now swung at the demon, aiming for its neck.
But before she could land the blow the demon dodged by circling around Dalan's shield with inhuman speed.
"DALAN!!!" she cried.
But with no time for him to react, the demon drove its arm into Dalan's back and through his chest.
(And thus, Quick Fang's adventure continues...)