Dink caught the dragon sword in midair, angling the crude blade downward. The first giant demon roared in rage from being used as a springboard. It moved with unbelievable speed, swatting him from the air. Before it collided, Dink successfully shifted the blade to block. He was sent hurtling toward the second elite soldier demon.

Ignoring the stinging sensation from the impact, he diffused the excess momentum by sending himself into a spiral. At the last moment, thrusting out the sword while simultaneously whistling.

The bone blade resonated with the correct frequency, unleashing a sonic pulse drilling through the torso of the colossal demon. Caught off guard, the blast opened a huge cavity in the demon's chest with Dink's body piercing through it and out the other side only a moment later.

He emerged in a shower of black blood. The demon's face locked in an expression of comical disbelief as it collapsed into a heap behind him.

His victory was short-lived. A rancid-smelling noxious gas started simmering up from the gaping hole in its chest as its flesh melted away into a thick liquid. Figures started to take shape and emerge from the ooze, covered in putrid slime.

"Fuck me. They even invested in setting up a death gate. The concentrated energy of a killed Expert realm will power a portal for more than a week," Dink cursed, blocking his nose between two fingers while involuntarily steeping away. "There's only one way I can close it and that's by destroying the anchor. In this case, I would assume it's the demon's corpse. But that's not going to get rid of a death gate. I need to sever the demon's tether to the mortal plane. What's something easily overlooked?"

The altar!

Soldier demons continuously crawled from the cavity through the death gate. Dink wasted no time in dispatching them as they came through. After witnessing the creature ahead slaughtered with a single slash, a grotesque demon shrieked and leapt skyward, unfurling large wings.

Dink managed to catch a glancing blow against the new arrival, partially severing its arm at the elbow. It flopped uselessly as the demon hissed in rage in pain while flapping its wings. Dink sneered in contempt, whistling as he casually swung the dragon blade. A sonic shockwave pulverised the posturing demon in a shower of gore.

Damn it all. I'm on the wrong side of the room. The Expert realm demon and a horde of soldier demons are between me and the altar with more arriving every moment I delay.

"Dink, we're here to help!" Riva called from behind.

He turned to investigate their arrival. Standing at the top of the stairs were his companions. Axion at the front with Murkuk and Tahlea at his sides. Riva was positioned at the ledge with a pair of expensive mana crossbows in her hands. Lastly, stationed at the back was a welcome sight.

Estra stood with a healthy glow to her skin, she was being propped up by two former sisters of Mercy. The half Wood-Elf, sister Eos, and the unknown Beastfolk woman attached to Axion. Both had found spare robes to garb themselves in. Dink ignored their presence, making eye contact with Estra. He caught a glimpse of Martha cowering in the shadows at the entrance.

"Took you long enough. I take it that you all understand what I need you to do. Kill everything that moves. I'm going to destroy the altar. Hopefully, Mercy doesn't get too mad at me for it. I just did him a favour, after all. It's good to see you back in action, Estra," Dink said, distractedly slashing off the head of an unfortunate soldier demon facing the wrong direction.

"Stop talking. We have a job to do," Estra reprimanded. Dink wordlessly grinned in response, drinking in the sight of her revitalised figure.

Without further delay, the group sprang into action. Riva unleashed a torrent of mana bolts on the repulsive soldier demons covering the ceiling. They weren't strong enough to pierce through their thick exoskeletons yet an unfortunate few were sent plummeting into the ground below, splattering upon impact.

"You guys better catch up. I've already killed more than ten," Riva gloated while continuing to accurately shoot.

Her eyes were illuminated with mana as she no longer aimed for vitals. Instead, she expertly targeted their handholds, sending droves of demons falling to their deaths. The remaining Expert realm demon became annoyed with her creating a hail of bodies and punched out with an enormous fist.

Axion had discarded the giant sword of the fallen avatar in favour of his enchanted great axe. He leapt forward to intercept the fist with his axe raised above him. Arcane Sigils flared into life, spreading along the shaft into the axe head, allowing it to bite deep into the colossal demon's wrist. Dink didn't stand idly by, he used the opportunity to slash across the demon's ankle as he ran past.

The pain caused it to rear back in pain with a ground-shaking roar of outrage. The demon lifted its foot, attempting to stomp the small creature pestering it underfoot. Dink rolled to the side, slashing backward as he regained his feet.

The giant demon lost balance while hopping back on one foot and collapsed against the staircase. Dink wanted to give chase but was intercepted by a wave of soldier demons. As he turned to confront them, they were engulfed in a blazing inferno accompanied by maniacal laughter.

Dink glanced to see Murkuk with his bangstick held high atop the stairs having the time of his life, ignoring the prone giant's head less than six feet away from him. The demon shifted its focus toward the oblivious Goblin, reaching out to swat him like a bug. Its hand never got to land, an invisible ripple travelled through the air and completed what Axion had started, severing it at the wrist.

Murkuk's laughter didn't falter as he was coated in putrid oily blood. Instead, it was the opposite he began cackling in mad delight. The blood ignited across the staircase to blanket it in fire, eliciting countless shrieks from soldier demons caught in the blaze.

Axion dodged around Tahlea casting a second attack spell to leap onto the giant demon's torso. He sauntered to the top of its chest with his great axe resting atop his shoulder, looming over it. With a deep reverberating lion’s roar, he hefted the axe from his shoulder and slammed it into the demon’s skull. It screeched with rage and hauled itself to its feet, leaving Axion dangling from the haft of his axe embedded in the demon’s head.