The voice echoed through the broken building.
The demons stood completely still.
None of them moved.
None of them spoke.
Even the dark energy around them became quiet.
Alexander looked up.
A figure slowly came down through the broken roof.
He looked like an ordinary man.
Simple clothes.
Calm face.
No strange armor.
No huge weapon.
Nothing that showed how powerful he was.
But the moment his feet touched the ground...
The three higher demons stepped backward.
Aiona noticed immediately.
She looked at Alexander.
"They are afraid of him."
Alexander nodded.
"I can see that."
The man looked around the destroyed building.
Then his eyes moved to the unconscious people.
He frowned.
"You demons came here and destroyed all this just to get one person?"
The first demon lowered his head.
"This does not concern you."
The man looked at him.
"It does now."
The demon's body suddenly shook.
He struggled to stand straight.
"You..."
"You cannot interfere with the affairs of the higher demons."
The man smiled.
"I just did."
The demon's face became angry.
"You have no idea who you are speaking to!"
The man sighed.
"I know exactly who I'm speaking to."
He looked at Alexander.
Then back at the demons.
"Three higher demons."
"One demon commander."
"And an army waiting outside."
The demons froze.
The man knew everything.
The first demon slowly raised his hand.
"Attack him."
The other two demons hesitated.
"Now!"
They finally moved.
Dark energy exploded from their bodies.
The building shook.
The first demon rushed forward.
His fist was covered in black flames.
The man did not move.
The fist stopped only a few inches from his face.
The demon's eyes widened.
He could not move his hand.
"What..."
The man simply looked at him.
"You're too weak."
He raised one finger.
BOOM!
The demon was sent flying through the wall.
The other two demons attacked at the same time.
One released hundreds of sharp black blades.
The other created a giant ball of dark energy.
The man slowly raised his hand.
A bright light appeared.
The blades disappeared.
The dark energy disappeared.
The two demons stood frozen.
The man looked at them.
"Leave."
The demons looked at each other.
They clearly wanted to fight.
But fear had already taken control of them.
One of them slowly stepped backward.
"We will remember this."
The man smiled.
"Do that."
The demon opened a portal.
The other two quickly followed.
But before they entered...
Alexander spoke.
"Wait."
The demons stopped.
Alexander looked at them.
"Why do you want me?"
The first demon turned around.
"You will find out."
Then the portal closed.
Silence returned.
Alexander looked at the stranger.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"That's not important."
"It is to me."
The man looked at him carefully.
"You really don't remember?"
Alexander frowned.
"Remember what?"
The man did not answer.
Instead, he looked toward Aiona.
"You should take her somewhere safe."
Alexander looked at Aiona.
She was standing now, though she still looked weak.
Aiona looked at the stranger.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"Someone who doesn't want to see this city destroyed."
Aiona studied him.
There was something strange about him.
She could feel power.
A lot of it.
But she could not understand what kind.
The man turned away.
"Take care of each other."
Alexander stepped forward.
"Wait."
The man stopped.
Alexander's voice became serious.
"You knew those demons."
"Yes."
"You knew they were coming."
"Yes."
"Then you know why they want me."
The man looked back.
"I know a little."
"Tell me."
The man smiled.
"Not yet."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"Because you're not ready."
"For what?"
The man did not answer.
He simply walked toward the broken wall.
Aiona watched him leave.
Then she looked at Alexander.
"He's hiding something."
Alexander nodded.
"I know."
Suddenly...
The man stopped.
Without turning around, he said,
"One more thing."
Alexander looked at him.
"Those demons were not the strongest ones."
The man's voice became serious.
"They were only the beginning."
Then he disappeared into the night.
Alexander remained silent.
Aiona moved closer to him.
"What do we do now?"
Alexander looked toward the dark sky.
"I don't know."
Far away...
Inside a dark fortress...
The three higher demons returned.
They entered a huge hall.
Several powerful demons were waiting.
One of them stood from his throne.
"Where is Alexander?"
The three demons lowered their heads.
"We failed."
The entire hall became silent.
The demon king slowly stood.
"Failed?"
One of them nodded.
"We couldn't bring him."
The demon king's eyes became cold.
"Who stopped you?"
The three demons looked at each other.
Then one finally spoke.
"The Guardian."
The demon king froze.
For the first time...
Fear appeared in his eyes.
"The Guardian has returned?"
Nobody answered.
The demon king slowly sat back down.
"Then..."
He looked toward the darkness behind his throne.
"We have a much bigger problem."
And somewhere far away...
Alexander suddenly felt a strange pressure in his chest.
He looked toward the sky.
Something was coming.
Something far more dangerous than the demons he had just fought.
To be continued...