Erina ran from the back of the cave—just in time to see the demon leap off the cliff. Kald was nowhere to be seen. Lea was slowly rising to her feet.
Dalan laid motionless on the ground. As Erina circled around to him, she gasped and fought back the urge to vomit. Tears filled her eyes, but she wiped them away with her sleeve before kneeling beside him. She checked his pulse.
It was too late, Dalan was gone.
She winced, then stood and turned to Lea, who was still trembling.
"Where's Kald!?" Erina shouted.
Before Lea could answer, the sound of falling trees and clashing echoed from the forest below, Erina received her answer.
"Go help him. I'll be down soon!"
Lea nodded, then turned to Dalan one last time. Her face twisted with sorrow before she jumped down after Kald.
****
Down below Kald was getting tossed around like a ragdoll. He wasn't fighting—he was surviving. His earlier attack had only made the demon stronger, much stronger. Its eerie laughter echoed through the forest.
Thankfully due to Dalan the demon had been left with only one arm, had it still had both Kald would've been long dead by now.
Even so, Kald could barely keep up anymore. The demon's fist slammed into his sword over and over, bouncing off and flying through trees, snapping trunks like twigs. There wasn't any time to counter.
He just needed a moment. Enough time to charge up another strike. He had the force—he just needed the time!
The demon lunged again.
But from its left, something leaped from the brush… Lea. She moved like an animal, knives drawn as she drove them towards the demon neck.
It turned.
"NO!" Kald shouted.
The demon caught her mid-air by the throat. She let out a choked cough. Kald prepared to help her—but as their eyes met he stopped… From the look in Lea's eyes. Somehow, he understood.
She was buying time.
He clenched his jaw and held his ground, charging his sword one last time.
Lea raised her legs, wrapping them around the demon's arm. Then she lifted her knives and channeling all the force she had left she slashed them through the demon's limb from both sides, chopping it off.
She smiled, and as she fell with the arm Lea closed her eyes. Being out of force there was no chance of getting away...
The demon raised its leg and kicked her in mid-air, its foot tore through her torso severing her body in two.
Kald watched as blood spattered cross the forest. He wanted to scream, he wanted to cry, but he couldn't, not now. His blade burned brighter, shining a radiant blue light that cut through the dense trees—guiding Erina towards him.
She ran, panting, heart racing. She had to make it in time, she had to.
With Lea dealt with, the demon turned to Kald. It charged, slamming its foot into his stomach. Kald reinforced his core at the last moment but still coughed up blood as he flew back.
Once Kald was sent flying the demon regrew its arm. It tilted its head, as if surprised it could do so, and set off.
Kald flew from the forest and twisted midair, somehow managing to land on his feet with a massive crash. He was now out on the open plain before the forest.
He continued to charge his blade — he'd end it. For Dalan, for Lea, he'd end it. Tears swelled in his eyes as someone emerged from the forest — it was Erina. She was rapidly running toward him.
Kald gave her a warm smile as the demon leaped from the forest shortly after, crashing into the ground, sending up rubble.
It started toward Kald, picking up speed bit by bit.
Kald sighed.
Ah, I'm going to die here, with a demon of all things...
He glanced again to his right , Erina was still running toward him.
Now that I think about it, I didn't get to tell her I loved her last night. Ha, I'm gonna regret that in the afterlife.
He then got one last glimpse of her face before turning back to the demon. His sword was nearly ready — it surged with force, every bit Kald had left.
Finally the demon slowed and stopped in front of Kald as it yanked its arm back.
Kald had no clue how it even got its arm back, but it didn't matter, it was all about to end... He went to bring his blade down but stopped.
In between him and the demon ran a figure.
Kald went to scream upon realizing…
"No—!"
The demon's hand shot forward, right through Erina's chest, stopping inches from Kald's own.
Erina slowly looked up to Kald, gasped, and mustered a single word.
"...Enchant..."
Immediately Kald's sword burst in deep red flames...
Kald glanced down at her and upon seeing the expression on her face he paused… it was an expression fierce and unafraid yet at the same time so loving. In that moment Kald reached a decision… he brought down his blade…
What the hell am I doing!?
Stop…
STOP!!!
His blade connected. The force of his attack was so great, the air cracked and a massive explosion was sparked, enveloping everything in a bright light...
****
As the dust cleared, Kald stood alone. The ground around him was scorched, still smoldering with heat. Erina was nowhere to be seen.
He exhaled as if coming up from the water for air.
What just happened? What had he done? Dalan… Lea…Where was Erina? Was she okay? Where was the demon? What's happening!?
His thoughts scattered like loose flies, buzzing without order or sense. He couldn't think straight. Did he even want to think straight?
His chest rose and fell rapidly, with each shaky breath.
Then looking down he saw something—a smoking lump on the ground. He staggered toward it.
As the smoke began to dissipate, two red eyes gleamed through the haze.
It was the demon, or what remained of it... a charred torso and part of its head, both crumbling away into dark, smoky particles.
Kald locked eyes with the creature and just before it completely faded away it mumbled something in a broken whisper...
"King... soon... return..." With that the Demon vanished—into nothingness.
Kald barely had time to process the words before an awful drowsiness came over him. His limbs grew heavy. His knees buckled. Strength fled his body like sand through fingers.
He collapsed to the ground.
"...Erina." Was the last thing he was able to muster before falling unconscious.
(And thus, Kald's adventure continues…)