The morning air over the rural trade hub was heavy with the smell of smoke. Sid stood at the edge of the cobblestone street, watching small fires burn in the distance.
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The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but the sky was already clouded with thick, ash-colored haze. The Hollow alarm had gone off less than an hour ago, and by the time their squad arrived, the town's outer walls were already broken.
The Hollow swarm was still inside.
Reinhardt adjusted the straps of his massive greatshield, scanning the ruined marketplace ahead. "No civilians left in sight. Good. That means I don't have to hold back," he muttered, his voice low but steady.
Kael, leaning casually against a half-broken cart, gave a quick grin. "You're still going to brag if you crush something in one hit, aren't you?"
Thorne, their newly assigned commander, cut in before Reinhardt could respond. His Hollowbane rifle rested against his shoulder, the strange silver in its barrel catching the dim light. "Enough chatter. We're dealing with a Behemoth-class Hollow here — armored type. Keep it away from the inner quarter."
Sid felt his grip tighten on his weapon. The daemon inside him, Ravh'Zereth, stirred faintly, whispering something he couldn't quite make out. It was like the voice was urging him forward, almost eager.
The ground shook.
From between two crumbling warehouses, the Hollow Behemoth emerged. It was massive — easily three times the height of a man — its thick armor-like hide made of jagged bone plates. Its four eyes glowed a dull, sickly green, and its long, curved horns scraped the sides of buildings as it pushed forward. Each step cracked stone beneath its weight.
"Reinhardt!" Thorne barked.
The knight was already moving. His greatshield lit with pale, spectral light, and ghostly shapes — sharp, jagged maws — shimmered around its edges. "Fortress Breaker!" Reinhardt roared, slamming forward. The spectral maws lunged as one, biting into the Behemoth's armor. Bone cracked under the crushing force, fragments scattering across the cobblestones.
The Behemoth bellowed, swinging a claw the size of a tree trunk at Reinhardt. The impact made the ground shake, but Reinhardt held, shield braced.
Sid darted in, black flames licking at his hands. "Oblivion Bind!" he called without thinking. The air warped, and chains made of living fire burst from the ground, wrapping around the Behemoth's limbs and neck. The chains sizzled against its hide, burning deep into the bone plating.
But the moment the flames touched, Sid felt his body jolt. Ravh'Zereth's voice was suddenly crystal clear, deep and commanding. "Tighter. Crush the heart. Now."
Sid's breath caught. His grip tightened on the chains, his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. For a second, it felt like the daemon was guiding his hands, moving his body — not him.
"Sid!" Kael's shout cut through the haze in his mind. "Don't lock yourself in!"
He forced himself to breathe, pulling back just enough for the chains to hold without tightening further. The Behemoth fought against them, snarling.
That's when Thorne stepped forward. His Hollowbane rifle snapped open with a metallic click, silver-coated rounds sliding into the chamber. "Clear my shot!"
Reinhardt shifted, yanking the Behemoth's head down with his spectral maws. Sid's chains strained against the monster's weight, the heat from his own flames burning against his skin.
Thorne took aim.
"Rendstorm Rounds!" The rifle's shot cracked like thunder. A burst of shimmering projectiles ripped through the Behemoth's chest, each round bursting inside like lightning in a cage.
The Hollow's roar turned into a choking gasp before it collapsed onto the street, black ash pouring from the gaping wound in its core.
Silence fell. Only the sound of faint fires remained.
Thorne lowered his rifle, eyes scanning the smoking corpse. "Target down. Area secure. Good work."
Kael smirked. "That's your version of a compliment?"
Thorne ignored him, turning his gaze to Sid. "Your control slipped back there. Don't let it happen again."
Sid wanted to argue, but the demon's voice was still echoing in his head. "We could have finished it faster."
He clenched his fists. For now, he stayed silent.