An eerie silence fell upon the wide chamber of the throne room. It was dark.

The sun was descending, the curtains were shut, and the candles and chandeliers' flames were doused.

The doors immediately closed behind me and cut off any chance of escape. There was something gripping me from this room, and I could feel its presence as dreary as the darkness wrapping its decrepit fingers around my neck in an act of suffocating me with pressure.

"I have been watching the spectacle. It seems that our king's worries are true and are to be feared." A voice in the darkness echoed. It was cold and heart-rending, shaking my soul from within. It was an unsettling voice. "However, it seems that you lack the strength to formally be called the wretched title of a... Thalisean."

"Then you must also know why I am here," I stated, not letting him shake my resolve.

"Oh, I do. I never thought in my wildest fantasies that someone such as you would come to topple me down. I can try to flee towards the demon king and inform him, but it would be in my best interests to end you here while I can. There will be others vying for your life, so I find myself fortunate to be presented with such a generous gift, and the honor."

"If you think I'm here to hand myself over to you, then you are mistaken. I intend to vanquish you once and for all, avenging someone that I once held dear to me as well. I don't think you can even begin to realize the amount of anger that's built up from within me, waiting for this very day to come."

"Hmm? Avenging someone? I have no idea who you are referring to. I've killed too much already to remember their names or their faces. But, I would say that I have not lost my grace when it comes to taking someone's life. I do not act like a savage, killing whoever stands in my way, no. I kill for my king, and for us demons who are struggling to live."

"Then if you're not a savage, recall his name, Theodore Hark of Lavis! Etch his name unto your mind for all eternity for his soul will continue to purge you after I have banished you from this reality. My name is Zachary Erinn, etch that name into your mind for it is the name of the one who will end you in the name of vengeance, not only for his sake, but the for sake of those that fear you."

"Confidence can be overbearing. At times, it can even be a burden upon someone. To have emotions are a nuisance, but then how would I feel satisfaction from my deeds? The gratitude of being able to serve my brothers and sisters to secure a safe life for them. Having it for that is one thing, but trying to fake it is another. But it would be better if you showed me rather than allowing me to ramble on and on about things that can escape one's bounds of understanding."

"It sounds like useless ramblings used to delay the inevitable to me."

"Then your ears are closed to reality."

He stood, descending the stairs that separated the throne to the floor where the king's subjects were to stand in attention. His steps were closing in on me. I readied my sword and drew power from my mark.

"To answer your question. I might have recalled hearing that name. Ah yes, the town of Lavis. That time when his subordinates yelled out his name when I slew him. The look on his face was commendable as he accepted death with a stern expression. Not many can do that. Now, show me whether you'll make the same face or not."

His visage appeared as the light behind my hand gleamed on his face, rather, the face of king Georgios.

He drew his sword and charged with his large frame, a dark mist of miasma trailed behind him.

I challenged his advance and clashed, blade for blade, a fierce exchange of attacks coupled with a few maneuvers to avoid being fatally wounded. His attacks were strong, sending a shock of vibration from the handle of my sword to my arms.

If it weren't for this mark, I doubt I would have been able to hold off the brunt of his attacks, or even defend myself.

Hobris swiped his clutches in the form of a left hook, and on it was a searing purple flame that seemed to burn brighter than my own light.

"Exquisite! Truly. But the skills of that man you are trying to avenge is a cut above you. You lack the strength and the ability to put me to shame."

Such strength! This is too much from the beginning.

He mocked and ridiculed me, spouting all kinds of nonsense as his ferociously assailed me with an overwhelming barrage of attacks that seemed simply inhuman.

I retreated more than I could advance, and soon enough, I found myself a few feet towards the door which I entered from.

"Won't you show me the true power of that mark? I thirst to see what the light has in store for me."

"Your arrogance will be your downfall!"

"Yes, but it won't be anytime soon. In fact, it might seem like an eternity for me, I who lives as an immortal being of natural proportions. I am but a sliver of what is a larger being entirely. I exist, yet is treated as something to intertwine with the light. Peculiar, isn't it? How does something intangible gain its own right to live and become like this?"

It was surprising, albeit, something unusual. His words felt like a pulse of an imperceptible force that pushed me back.

The mark reacted, creating a pulse of its own, resonating with the darkness trying to overcome me.

"Many may think that the light is stronger, but they have never seen the darkness swallow up the light. It is a scene which truly captures the expression of one losing hope. I will show you just that."

He retreated and sent forth a wave of dark mist towards me, crashing like a violent, virulent wave. The windows shattered at the force as an invisible force protected me, casting a form of a thin sheet of white light.

He was overpowering me, I felt that immediately. But this barrier kept me from losing all hope.

"Now, resign yourself to the darkness. There will be no pain, no suffering, all silence for eternity. Isn't that such a nice feeling to have?"

"Silence!" I yelled out. My words carried weight as a wave of light blasted forth and swept back the tide of dark mist hounding at me.

Hobris staggered back as well, but only to swat away the pulse of light without difficulty.

"Not without a fight. No, resigning myself to defeat is simply impossible. Many look upon me as a symbol of hope. But I see myself as a simple being in this land who wants to fulfill their wishes. Demons or the darkness, it doesn't matter. Whatever evil I come to face, I will overcome."

I built up strength in my legs and leapt towards Hobris, coating my sword with light, and imbuing my entire being with the overflowing power of light, even if I can't fathom the amount it holds.

I moved to advance, pushing Hobris back with every fiber of my being.

I twisted and spun, putting to use all sorts of maneuvers to get Hobris out of balance, yet I can find no true opening. It was not as if I had not wounded him. Every clash of our blades, the light bound to my sword would pulsate and rebound to him. Every time that it would, his face contorted in irritation.

Light, I compel you! Heed my words!

Energy swirled onto my right hand unconsciously, building up until its power grew immense.

I hurled it towards Hobris, first getting close enough to catch him off guard.

He retreated and parried my blows until a clear opening presented itself.

The brilliant luster burst full force at Hobris, sending him crashing back on the throne.

He became silent an unmoving until his head rose.

"So, this is your answer?" he spoke. "I expected nothing less from the slave of the light. Yet, even with the possession of the title as auspicious as the last, you command the weakest light of all. It almost seems like something is holding you back..."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You are shackled to something that is binding your true potential. It is like you were created with a seal to your true worth. However, I know nothing else besides that. What I do know is that I need not underestimate you. Your race is to be feared whether they possess a weak light or not. They are all the same scourges."

"Is this your means to try and distract me? If it is, then it's a paltry attempt. My lack of experience won't hinder me from defeating you in the very least. What's driving me right now is pure hatred towards you."

"Oh, well that's interesting. Then, shall we begin and open the final curtain for our bout? The sole glory of defeating the Thalisean cannot wait. My rule will be unopposed if I take your head and absorb your power."

He stood up and dusted himself off.

"But, it appears that this body is simply holding me back. Only my true potential will suffice for such a victory."

In an instant, Georgios' body fell to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut. A dark mist hovered over the body and materialized into a robed, frail old man with a hunched back, wearing its hood on, covering his face. He used a tall, dark scythe as a cane.

There was a cold air about, and his presence was unnerving. There was a malicious smile under his hood.

He blended in with the dark mist around him and became hidden within it.

My heart started beating loudly, and my mind was in a state of panic. There was an insatiable amount of bloodlust floating in the air, and in his dreadful presence alone I felt as if I were shackled to the floor by fear and uncertainty, unable to move.

Slowly, the light present was disappearing, being enveloped in darkness. Then it was I alone who was isolated in his realm of darkness. The scene of the throne's chambers vanished and became a boundless rift of dark mist whose end I could not foresee.

"Where... am I?" I asked myself, looking around the area only to see the same thing again and again, the dark, the endless labyrinth of darkness.

As my guard wavered, I felt a glint of danger from behind me. It gave off the feeling of getting stabbed from behind with a cold, sharp blade.

I turned to it with my sword, seeing the cloaked old man fly at me at an unimaginable speed.

He swiped his scythe with enough strength to nearly disarm me and knock me back.

I turned to face the direction he passed but saw nothing but the dark. He was gone once more

As he disappeared, I was assaulted with a beating pain on the back of my head. There were incessant cries for help, delusional laughing, and the angered ramblings of despair. But, even with those voices ringing inside my head, I couldn't see where it could come from.

He again attacked and disappeared with an impeccable timing and speed.

Each strike was stronger than the last, creating fear from within me as I tried to slash at him, but failed. Every time he wounded me, I felt my energy depleting. It went on until I was forced to stand on one leg.

I tried to catch my breath and concentrate as best as I could. Fortunately, he paused, mocking me with his eyes that appeared as two red dots in the midst of a shroud.

"I can feel it, fear, coming from a Thalisean. It is laughable, but appetizing. This realm of mine, what I call A Fool's Paradise. It takes a lot out of me, but it drains the sanity of those trapped within my world. As you can hear, you are not my only victim. Once I reap your soul here, it will be lost to my domain for all eternity, just like the king, and that man you call Hark."

I paused in shock, unable to find the answer nor the will within me to answer back. My surroundings froze and time stopped.

But I managed to muster what few words I could say back at him.

"... I thought the souls of those you take over are simply pushed out from their own bodies? Have I heard wrong?"

He laughed, seeing a mental opening from within my psyche.

"Answer me!"

"True enough, yet I can reap what souls float in the endless abyss. The man's soul aimlessly floated about this world, therefore, I only did what was right and took hold of his soul before it disappeared, as such the natural nature of death would take place."

"... You truly are a demon. Now I have no doubt within my mind that you will regret these treacherous acts against us."

My power grew immensely once more, but this time, the uncontained power that I allowed to wander was put to use.

I absorbed every ounce that was being given. I could feel the power coursing through every vein in my body.

"Hmm, what is this? I ploy of deception?" asked Hobris.

I was slowly losing myself in the outburst of power that my consciousness started to fade.

Let us share this tragic fate. A voice rang inside my ears, echoing like something out of a divine being. It was angelic, pure, benevolent, and calming.

His eyes were brightly lit up, emitting an inhuman glow.

The mark behind his hand shone like a lone star in the middle of the desolate night sky, a glorious luster in the midst of all this darkness.

His heart was at peace; his hand didn't tremble, and his soul was composed. It was as if a different person stood in his place, in his own body. This was a sudden turn of events that even Hobris didn't foresee.

He felt it, too, the sudden change in his presence, his aura. For the first time in his existence, he felt fear. The one who reveled from the fear he brought unto others, he was starting to drown in his own.

"Hear me!" he cried out like a tyrant beloved by his people. His voice declaring a decree stood strong even in the dark one's domain. "I compel thee, light, bend thy knee and act upon my will! I take the form of a knight long detested by evil and all of its heinous acts! He who is valiant fell with a pang of guilt and anger, therefore I call upon you, a servant of light! Act upon my words and once more rise from the depths of which you were banished to!"

A thick coat of light began to surround him, enough to blind Hobris, enough to mask the body inside of the sphere of light, enough to bring about a worthless end to this so-called domain of darkness.

He burst forth from his cocoon, a glorious rebirth.

From head to toe he was clad in an armor reforged from light. A brilliant design that would make the most skilled artisans, craftsman, and blacksmiths in the world rethink their aspirations in life.

He wielded the same sword he held before, donning a cape that was pure white on the outside, and gold on the other. His helmet covered his face, but its direction was pointed where Hobris hid within the shadows.

He raised his blade, wrapping it in a coat of light. As he cleaved forth, a crescent blade of light shot towards Hobris, cutting the shadow where he hid.

He retaliated, blasting forth a massive array of dark projectiles, vanishing to the light's grandeur. However, he managed to beat it with his own spell before it could fatally strike him.

Astonished, Hobris hesitated, whereas Zachary lunged towards him, cutting the distance between them in an instant.

He stormed Hobris with a fierce combination of slashes, putting the demon on the defensive.

He countered with his own, feeling an odd sense of difficulty that was absent when he attacked Zachary before.

Zachary curbed the light into his command, using his current form to his fullest potential. He pushed himself to his limits despite the bone-breaking pain that assaulted him every time he would try to surpass the dead-end before him.

The two of them continued battling each other without giving ground. Hobris was nearly pushed to the brink several times now, and deep within him he knew that he needed to bring out one of his trump cards. If he would not be beaten with that, then he would have to resort to his ultimate choice.

Though Zachary possessed a newfound transformation, he held his head high and kept fighting, not thinking nor stopping in what he was doing. It was as if his will had manifested and possessed him fully, devoting himself to the destruction of Hobris, whom of which had been damaged badly due to the light's harm upon someone like him.

Zachary came to a halt, taking light breaths as to prepare for something. Small fractions of his armor were broken, but it held strong still, as if it were made with the strongest material on the face of the earth, maybe even something surpassing its perfection.

Hobris did the same as well, his body seethed and sizzled. Smoke flared from his body, a proof of his detest and contempt for the light in giving him such a weakness.

"I will commend you. The name of a Thalisean isn't truly to be taken lightly. Anyone who were to be trapped in my domain would have already become insane by now, however, you look unfazed even. In fact, it seems as if you are forcibly erasing my own world and replacing it with your own."

"..."

"No words? I see. There is truly nothing to speak of. I understand that fully. But, even with that, I can feel your weakness, the agitation in your heart, the pulse of your body. It wants to finish this for you have not long before the light gives up on you, correct?"

With a grunt, Zachary raised his right hand and created a curtain of weapons adorned with the power of the light, all gleaming and shining, combating each other for supremacy as the one who would catch their creator's attention. But they all had the same purpose.

The amount of different weapons he kept creating increased with each passing second, nearly dominating Zachary's side full of light. As this continued, Hobris mustered his own strength, serving only second to his coup de grace.

"Then let us both destroy each other here and now! Only the one who is worthy shall escape this maddening prison of despair! Come, hold nothing back for I am simply bursting with anticipation!"

As he whispered his words into the abyss, he was surrounded with a ripple of dark red bolts of lighting, a tense pressure of strength, and what seemed to be a shadow of a transparent colossal being. It took form with Hobris inside it. The being had no clear form, but it had the outlines of a horn and two daemonic wings behind it. The being almost looked too real to the eye thanks to the darkness and the countless red eyes behind Hobris to make it look alive.

Zachary lowered his arm and thousands upon thousands of weapons crafted from nothing but the light rained down upon the speck of darkness lingering within his own world.

"Bear the weight of your sins as I create my own! Article of judgement! Weapons created with the souls of those unfortunate enough to be stuck roaming this world without reason, nor justification. They wish for vengeance, a reason, a use. Therefore, they act upon my will!"

Hobris managed an amused laugh as he finished his preparation. "Excellent..." he said, a grin appearing on his face.

The demon's creation howled in rage, flexing every bit of its muscle. Its massive frame seemed to absorb every bit of the attack, leaving them lodged within it, leaving Hobris, who remained silent inside, unscathed.

"The prerequisites are complete," he whispered.

The outline of the demon slowly began taking the form of a sinister looking monster. Its long horns, sharp claws, and demonic eyes were what you would expect from a demon possessing an incredible amount of strength. He wore a long, dark cape that covered most of his body. He was taller, massively on a scale that could not even be compared.

As its materialization finished, he roared, sending Zachary back with a force that could not be seen. Chunks of his armor were being shattered apart even with a shield made of light to protect him. Thus, he was blown away from the demon.

"This will be the finale at last!" cried out the demon. "To have granted me the requirements for my greatest feat of all! I have taken the form of a god! Ahh, the exhilaration, the feeling of omnipotence! Finally, for so long I have thirsted for such power."

Zachary wasn't fazed in the least, that much showed from his face as he helmet had been send back by the malicious wind.

But the other peculiar thing was that another mark had appeared, aside from the one on the back of his hand, on the left side of his neck. It had the image of what seemed to be a crow pinching a feather on its beak.

"What did you do?" he muttered, cursing him beforehand.

"I merely absorbed every soul you simply gave out for free. You see, it was a forbidden sacrificial spell that I was chanting. I was planning to absorb every soul in my domain, however, you were gracious enough to hand me the souls that I needed. Now, I have ascended to godhood!"

His words alone carried enough weight to harm Zachary to the point where he almost vomited up blood, not just because of the stress being placed upon him by the mark, but also because of Hobris' presence.

The demon was not lying. He thought to himself that there was a god-like aura about him so suddenly. Standing before him was difficult enough due to it.

They battled; Zachary forcing every fiber of his being to move despite the unbearable pain upon his body.

He could not land a strong enough hit on the massive demon as he would be blasted away with a more superior form of dark magic. It was on a much more terrifying scale.

No matter how desperate he became, no matter how much effort he placed behind his powers, Hobris stood on top, not breaking a single bead of sweat.

Hobris was faster despite his large, tall, lean body. In the blink of an eye he would disappear without a trace, then bombard Zachary with a monstrous array of spells bound with darkness.

He found himself at a great disadvantage, as if his current form didn't make matters any better, but not any worse. If it weren't for the armor, which was reforged from the light, he was wearing, a worse fate might have befallen him.

"Damn this!" he cursed, pounding the ground with his fist.

"Ahahah! This is simply marvelous! Who knew being a god felt so fulfilling!" Hobris laughed loudly, losing himself in intoxication of his own greatness.

Zachary stayed flat on his back, looking up at nothing in particular. His entire body trembled for nothing he could do would work.

"What am I to do now?" he asked himself.

He is still weak. Though he has now become a god, he still possesses a weakness of instability, both body and mind. A voice spoke inside his head, awakening his senses.

You must finish him here and now, otherwise, he will wreak havoc in a much grander scale. No one will be able to oppose him anymore, maybe not even the demon king everyone fears so much.

"But I have no strength to spare," he replied. "My power is slipping away from me. How will I hope to match someone who has become a god?"

You are not alone. You do not realize it, but simply being here in this realm of darkness has given you your chance of achieving victory. Your beacon has awakened the shattered, restless souls of those trapped within here. They seek the benevolence and the respite from the light you create.

He looked around and saw the silhouettes appearing from the darkness like possessed zombies. They spouted their anger, regrets, and wishes, appearing upon the thousands. There were enough of them to fill his sights.

Save us... Save us, please... They all muttered in an unsynchronized fashion.

A hand appeared before him, waiting for Zachary to took hold of it.

"Don't give up now," said the voice. It sounded too familiar to be true. Without hesitation, he looked up and saw a familiar face.

"Good to see that you still have the energy to be surprised. Now, take my hand. You have no time to waste."

Wait a second, just wait a goddamn second, he said to himself. He could not believe his eyes.

"What? You look like you've just seen a ghost," replied the man reaching out to Zachary.

"S-Sir Hark?" his voice trailed.

"Nice to see each other again. I'm surprised, but glad. It seems that you're just holding up fine, the scars and bruises say so," he laughed as heartily as if he were alive. "To be truly honest with you, I'm a bit glad to see your face. It was getting too decrepit for my own good here. I waited, but now here you are, just like I expected. You have a light that draws in the hearts and souls of the lost, Zachary."

He fell forward due to the weakness in his legs, but Theodore caught him in time. His body and form looked real enough, including the scar on his chest where Hobris dealt the finishing blow on him.

"Oh, you can't be losing heart now, kid. It's still far too early for that. Don't tell me you've given up already."

"I-I can't believe it, you're really here?" tears streamed from his eyes without his notice. His emotions showed on his sleeve. His trembling arms wrapped around Theodore's in his moment of weakness.

"Yeah, but not in the flesh. Only my soul, along with many others. I thought I was going to meet your mother and father already, but I was taken in on the road to the afterlife. We don't have much time, nor do we have the luxury of chatting amongst ourselves. Listen, we need you to free us from this prison. All these trapped souls have gathered after seeing your light. They're ready to give what's left of them to pass on."

"Do you think I have what it takes? Tell me, have I grown? I know I, who lacks so much has come this far, but am I truly prepared for this?"

"I don't think I need to tell you that anymore. Only you can. With you being here, that must mean that you've built up the resolve for an answer. Don't lose it now, I'd be really disappointed if you did. You're the only one who can do this."

Theodore Hark turned to face the demon who was being enamored by hordes of restless souls, latching on to Hobris and distracting him. "Let's catch up after this. I know we won't have much time, but every second would be worth it for me," he smiled, glancing back at Zachary, who regained his lost confidence and strength.

His marks grew ablaze, pulsating with a hopeful sheen. The souls that felt the light touch their incorporeal bodies became stronger and regained what life they lost after wandering the darkness for so long. The pure intent behind the light shining upon them was a bastion that overcame fear.

"Reforge!" he cried out, enveloping himself with the same light that made his armor anew. "Great Thalisean of generations past, I utter your true name, Arun! the stalwart knight who defended the masses. Loved by all, yet fell from grace with regret. Let us intertwine our fates!"

With a faint whisper, he spoke the very words uttered by the knight, merging his fate with his.

"The stronger the gloom of the darkness, the stronger the light is. Oh, this tragic world, take each other's hand and do not let go. Do not disappear into the darkness for I will lead you through it."

His broken and shattered armor was reforged anew, this time, in a much grander design. A full set of armor fit for someone who carries the title of the great defender. His armor shone a gold light. The design of the armor was made to resemble a dragon, one of the greatest noble races, feared and respected for all eternity. His previously tattered cape fluttered valiantly behind him with the same magnificent colors.

As Hobris glanced to where the light drew his attention to, he was wracked with a great pain from all across his body. He was getting restless, and the uneasiness inside his mind and soul was making him lose his focus and control over the power of the forbidden spell.

He knocked away the wandering souls that were latching onto him. They possessed no true strength to stop him, but their numbers made up for that. They were draining his power bit by bit.

"Get away from me at once, you damnable spirits! I still reign over this world! You cannot oppose me no matter what you do!"

But he spoke that with an empty resolve. Inside, the souls he had absorbed were being restless, inciting an uncontrollable chaos within his own body where he was sure to have had absolute control.

He thought to himself, 'The damned Thalisean's light is giving them the hope that they desperately need. I need to snuff out that light before it's too late!'

But it truly was. It was strange, he said to himself. He was seeing two personas within one body, no, three. He could not comprehend for he didn't have the time to dwell on such menial things. He needed to defeat him and regain control of himself as fast as possible.

"Zachary, now! Finish him while we hold him down!" roared Theodore as he unleashed a chain that stuck to Hobris, along with many others, binding him down.

He held his sword with his two hands and felt no fear nor trembling behind his strength. He was composed, calm, facing a godlike being with the light he was given.

"Hobris! Prepare yourself for your reckoning!" he cried out, producing a near golden light that emanated from his sword. A strange aura swirled around his sword. "I swear on this damned mark that you're going to pay for everything that you've done!"

He was surrounded with a grandiose veil of light that embraced him benevolently.

Hobris roared in anger upon hearing this, meeting Zachary head on. The two settled what had to be finished.

Another battle raged on outside.

Blood and the bodies of soldiers were scattered across the plaza.

They all breathed to catch their breaths, exhausted and spent from fighting and using up most of their energy.

Their bodies bled and ached. They were battered beyond belief, far from the comprehension of any normal person. They bore the weight of battling great demons with great powers.

"Emperor of the raging skies, send forth an envoy to invoke fear upon the enemy! Rule with a thunderous applause!"

With the words that came echoing from Albert's mouth, a massive bolt of lightning struck Tarvis, in which he absorbed it. The ground around the demon, however, shattered under the strong spell.

'Damn', he cursed. He was bound to using only spells that were within reason. If he were to truly unleash what was forbidden, then the city would be plunged into ruin. Yet, even with a sufficient inventory of spells, he surpassed any prodigal magician or spell caster. It was another problem entirely as he had to deal with demons who undermined such powerful attacks, taking the brunt of the damage.

"I expected you to be able to bear only a few, but to be able to take most of them is terrifying! Are these what rank Ivaas demons are like?"

He was well accustomed to fighting those beneath the known ranking of the demons, namely Quas and Eryahens.

Quas was the weakest known rank within the demon hierarchy. But, it was subdivided into three categories, that being: lower, middle, and upper.

A demon ranked as a lower Quas cannot be compared to an upper Quas for the difference is significantly different.

Then comes the other rank after Quas, which is Eryahen, then Ivaas, then Razhuen, then Hylis. Each rank of a demon means that they are much more of a threat than the last.

Hylis is the highest known rank of demons among the humans. They are oblivious whether there are ranks higher than a Hylis, but the humans fear that rank enough. To consider having a demon with a rank higher than that would mean the loss of hope for many.

There have only been two Hylis ranked demons in the history to have taken the field, and they alone almost wiped an entire kingdom off the face of the map in the past. Only some of the greatest heroes were able to incapacitate them, but not kill them off entirely. It was at the cost of their own lives, and many others that they were able to succeed.

Only those who have enough power can claim a rank. They are often called demon lords in that aspect, so a clear boundary between which are strong enough, and those who are weak enough can make all the difference against a race that is struggling to fight for its survival.

But even with such powerful demons, there are ways to defeat them.

Lia and Aster stood side by side, dealing with Gorzt who was amazingly pushed to his utmost limits, becoming a raging monster wielding a powerful arsenal of fire magic. The siblings were at their wit's end, overwhelmed by a demon's true strength.

They fought long and hard, coming to a complete standstill until Everett, Gino, and Daphne arrived, bringing with them a regiment of soldiers to fight back the demons with numbers.

Their morale grew, but the hopes of defeating them were still grim.

"Where is Zachary?" asked Daphne.

"Currently, master Erinn is occupied. Our task is to hold these two back while he defeats the root of it all inside the castle." Albert spoke, not taking his attention away from the demons.

"Then I will go help him! He cannot handle it alone." She tried to run for the castle but was stopped by Lia with an adamant expression on her face.

"Place your trust in him. I'm sure that he will appreciate the help, but I don't think he'd like someone to get hurt from it either. I know it's vexing for I myself want to help him, but this is something far from what we can handle. I understand what you might feel for him, but I trust him enough to devote my efforts here."

"She is painfully correct, Daphne. Though it unnerves me that we have to leave our last chance of hope alone, there must be a reason for this. I can't ignore these two for the destruction they've caused as well. Let us defeat them and come to his aid then. Do you all still have the energy to keep moving?" he roared a rallying cry.

They all responded to his call and never once wavered, believing him to the best of their abilities.

Just as things began getting heated once more, a massive pillar of light burst forth from the castle's roof, creating a spectacle that all looked up to, both demon and human.

They were in awe, unable to speak. They simply admired it for it was different, far different from what they've seen before. For some, it was their first time in seeing such a beautiful light glow and pierce into the sky beyond the clouds.

A turbulent wind blew softly blew away all those close by, and all within the city could feels its warm, welcoming presence gravitate towards their souls.

For the demons, they felt unrest within their souls. They were being judged for their sins, purged, and commanded omnipotently.

"That light!" pointed Aster as he shielded himself and his sister from the outburst of the wind. "Zach!"