The arena celebration didn't end when the drums faded.
Instead, it escalated.
Dozens of armored demons surrounded Steel and Stark, not hostile, not aggressive. Almost… ceremonial.
Steel leaned toward Stark.
"If they stab me in the back, I'm blaming you."
Stark smirked.
"You were the one who made the deal."
They were escorted through a torch-lit corridor carved into the inner wall of the tower. The air grew warmer. Steam drifted along the stone ceiling.
The hallway opened into a massive cavern chamber.
A natural hot spring.
Crystal-blue water shimmered beneath glowing mineral veins in the rock. Stone statues of ancient demon champions lined the walls. Steam rose gently into the cavern ceiling.
Steel blinked.
"…This seems nice."
Stark stepped closer to the water.
"I know. I wish Ian would spoil us like this after a win."
Steel chuckled.
"Closest thing we get is a debrief and a protein shake."
They stepped into the spring cautiously.
The warmth soaked into their exhausted muscles instantly. For the first time in days, their shoulders relaxed.
After the spring, demon attendants, still armored, oddly respectful, ushered them into another chamber.
Stone massage tables.
Scented oils.
A feast laid out along a carved obsidian table: roasted meats, glowing fruit, giant loaves of bread, metal goblets filled with dark liquid.
Steel leaned back in his robe.
"Okay… this is elite."
Stark grabbed a goblet.
"I'm not telling HQ about this part."
The chamber doors opened.
The fifteen-foot demon entered.
The entire room grew still.
Steel and Stark rose slightly in respect, not fear, just acknowledgment.
The demon spoke in a deep, controlled tone.
"I have had the skulls of the defeated warriors transported to your ship. A symbol of your victory."
Stark blinked.
"Oh… uh. Thanks."
The demon nodded.
"As promised, we will no longer disturb the locals. The tournament festival will relocate. We will rebuild elsewhere. Bigger."
Steel raised an eyebrow.
"Appreciate that."
The demon's glowing eyes studied them.
"You gave our people a spectacle worthy of legend."
Steel grinned in his robe.
"No problem. Thanks for the hospitality."
The demon gave a slow nod… then turned and exited.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Stark looked at Steel.
"…Did we just earn respect from demons?"
Steel shrugged.
"Guess so."
By sunset, they returned to the town.
Snow drifted lightly through the mountain air. Lanterns glowed warmly in the wooden streets.
The town leader stepped forward.
Steel explained everything:
No more kidnappings.
No more forced tournaments.
The tower would be theirs.
Relief spread through the crowd like a wave.
For the first time, the mountain felt lighter.
Children stepped out from behind their parents.
The soldiers smiled.
Stark looked up at the tower one last time.
"Not bad for a week in charge."
Steel smirked.
"Yeah. Maybe we didn't mess it up completely."
Back at HQ.
The Horizon Dropship landed in the hangar.
As the doors opened,
Two massive banners hung from the rafters.
Each banner displayed the skull of the demons they defeated, mounted with polished plating and engraved with their names.
Steel let out a low whistle.
"Okay… that's hard."
Ian and Optimus approached.
Ian crossed his arms with a slight grin.
"Heard you two had one hell of a mission."
Stark shrugged casually.
"Yeah… kind of fun actually."
Optimus smirked.
"How was leading the Empire?"
Steel rubbed the back of his neck.
"Stressful. But manageable."
Ian nodded approvingly.
"That's leadership."
Optimus stretched.
"Our break was good. First time we've properly relaxed in years."
Ian added,
"Felt strange not hearing alarms every five minutes."
Steel looked around.
"Where's Blade?"
Ian sighed dramatically.
"He still hasn't accepted the fact he has to go back to work."
Optimus laughed.
"He's somewhere pretending he doesn't hear his comm."
They all walked into the common room.
STF members gathered around, asking questions about the arena, the dragon, the hammer clash.
Steel exaggerated slightly.
Stark corrected him.
Laughter filled the room.