Dink smirked at the first demon to confront him. It stood twice his height with a gnarled exoskeleton acting as armour. Foul-smelling drool dripped from its mouth as it snarled in response, exposing asymmetrical serrated teeth. Dink glanced around the inner sanctum to get his bearings on the situation.

At the foot of the stairs, Axion used the fallen avatar’s sword to prop himself upright. He was panting heavily while catching his breath, staring warily at a cowed demon too hesitant to make the first move. At his feet was a large pile of corpses belonging to disembowelled demons. A corpse moved, crawling out from underneath the bodies stacked atop it.

Axion shifted without moving his gaze, slamming the heavy blade down on its neck, severing its head. The demon in front of him flinched away, looking around itself for support. Only a few demons remained standing and their attention was focused up the stairs toward Dink.

Dink ignored their hungry gazes to examine the Beastfolk woman huddled behind Axion, her impressive breasts squeezed together on full display.. She refused to move more than a few paces away from Axion, leaving him slightly distracted by keeping an eye on her.

That girl is probably going to get Axion killed at this rate. I’ve just noticed a few of the demons climbing the walls to circumvent his position. If they ambush him from behind, she’s only going to get in his way. It seems it’s my job to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“Alright you ugly fucker, let’s get down to business,” Dink said to the demon in front of him.

The beast shrieked in response before lunging forward. Mana filled Dink’s body with strength as his eyes hardened, the world slowing with every beat of his heart. The demon’s trajectory became obvious to predict. Dink leapt forward to meet it, a short mana blade erupting from a clawed finger. He carefully traced the blade across the demon’s throat while it was unable to react, stepping passed while ducking under its wild swing.

The arm easily passed over the top of his head as the world resumed its usual pace. The draconic script on Dink’s spine pulsed with azure light. He indifferently glanced over his shoulder to watch the demon crash to the dais, its head rolling to a stop against the altar. Dead before it hit the ground. Dink stood at the head of the stairs, opening his arms wide in a challenge while grinning at the milling demons below.

“Who’s next? That was just pathetic. Surely, you lot can do better than this pissant,” Dink mocked, gesturing to the decapitated demon behind him. In response to his words, the demons surged into action. They ignored the fatigued Axion to charge up the stairs at Dink.

Hmm, there’s more of them left than I initially realised. No matter, they’re all small fry. I feel insulted that Jiltia didn’t send anything formidable through the Hellgate. No surprise really, succubi are suited to subterfuge, not amassing armies. It’s not their style.

Dink inhaled deeply, locking eyes with Axion across the room. He slightly gestured toward the exit with his chin. Axion nodded in understanding. He shielded the gorgeous Beastfolk woman with an arm and started slowly edging up the stairs, careful not to draw unnecessary attention.

The first wave of demons arrived within moments. Dink welcomed him with a stomp filled with power to the chest, catapulting it into the soldier demon behind. Sending them both tumbling down the stairs in a heap. Otherworldly shrieks filled the air as demons converged across the ceiling toward him.

Dink cocked an eyebrow and glanced upward. He shook his head upon discovering a second Hellgate opening. Standing on the other side staring down with disdain was Jiltia, a shadowy form beside her. The figure beside the nude Jiltia was obscured by heavy robes, the only thing visible a thorned crown.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. It looks like Jiltia made a pact with an archdemon for rescue. Time moves differently over there, it could have been weeks for her to gather reinforcements. I wonder what she offered in payment. Likely the excess life force she took from me. That’s the main form of trade among demons. Or, it’s possible she offered up her body and services. Whatever she bartered, I don’t care. She has marked me as her enemy and that’s all that’s important.

Soldier demons similar to the ones already inside the inner sanctum swarmed through the portal. In addition, a pair of elite demons multiple times the size of their peers leapt through. Their colossal figures plummeted to the floor as the Hellgate began to close behind them.

Jiltia gave Dink a mocking smile while clutching her impeccable breasts in her hands. It was the last thing he saw as the portal sealed shut. Dink snorted wryly, turning to confront the horde of grotesque soldier demons.

No two looked the same, with the only shared trait being their armoured exoskeletons. Some had multiple pairs of arms while others stood on multiple pairs of legs. Still more had innumerable sets of eyes. In contrast, some had none, hunting by unknown means. All of them had their attention fixated on Dink.

This could become unpleasant. Jiltia actually sent two Expert realm demons. That would have been costly. I’m flattered she thinks so highly of me.

This will be challenging without a weapon, but not impossible. Alright, stop fucking around. There’s killing to be done.

Dink sneered at the horde, leaping into action. He agilely climbed the towering figure of the nearest soldier demon, the smallest among them. He climbed atop its shoulders, plunging a short mana blade into its neck. The demon attempted to swat him away, but Dink simply shifted his position to the opposite shoulder.

There was a flash of azure light as the blade briefly extended deep into the demon’s torso before being pulled free. A shower of putrid black liquid erupted across the press of demons, covering them in smoking blood.