The blade came down.

  Nexil moved.

  The moment the black-flamed weapon descended toward the woman’s back, the world seemed to narrow into a single point. His body reacted before his thoughts could catch up.

  He was already there.

  Metal met flesh—not blood, not bone, but something else entirely.

  The demon’s blade stopped midair, caught between Nexil’s bare hands.

  The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, cracking the dirt beneath their feet. The black flames hissed violently, recoiling as if repelled by something they could not touch.

  The woman gasped, clutching her child as Nexil stepped between them and the demon.

  “You okay?” he asked calmly, glancing over his shoulder.

  She could only nod, frozen in shock.

  Behind them, the demon staggered back, eyes burning beneath its helm.

  “You…” it growled.

  Nexil rolled his shoulders lightly.

  “That all you’ve got?”

  Before the demon could respond, a blur of motion streaked past Nexil.

  The catwoman landed beside him, claws scraping against the ground, a grin stretched across her face.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Heh. Finally,” she said. “Thought you’d never jump in.”

  From the edge of the clearing, the mage descended quietly from her position, stopping at a distance. She did not raise her staff. Her eyes were fixed entirely on Nexil.

  Amber’s voice cut through the chaos.

  “What do you think you’re doing?!” she shouted.

  “I didn’t give the order to engage!”

  Nexil didn’t look back.

  “Couldn’t help it,” he replied lightly. “Timing felt right.”

  The demon roared and charged.

  Black flames surged as it swung its weapon again, faster this time. Nexil stepped forward, meeting the attack head-on. He ducked beneath the blade, drove his fist into the demon’s chest, and sent it skidding across the ground.

  The creature crashed into a stone wall and collapsed.

  It pushed itself up slowly.

  Then it stopped.

  Its gaze locked onto Nexil.

  The flames around it flickered.

  “You…” the demon rasped.

  “You lived.”

  Nexil tilted his head.

  “Hm?”

  “You survived the war,” the demon said, voice shaking now. “You shouldn’t exist.”

  Nexil laughed.

  “Oh, that?” he said casually. “Yeah. I always survive.”

  The demon stared at him, horror creeping into its expression.

  From the shadows above, Elyon’s eyes narrowed.

  The mage’s fingers tightened around her staff.

  Amber felt it too—something wrong—but her patience snapped.

  “That’s enough,” she said coldly.

  She leapt.

  Her blade ignited in a blaze of crimson fire as she descended from the air, cutting cleanly through the demon’s body in a single, brutal strike.

  The creature didn’t even scream.

  Its form split in two before dissolving into ash that scattered across the ground.

  Silence followed.

  Nexil turned back to the woman and knelt, picking up the fallen basket of food. He gently placed it back into her trembling hands.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “You’re safe now.”

  Tears streamed down her face as she pulled her child close.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  The team regrouped slowly.

  Amber crossed her arms, scowling.

  “We’ll talk about this later.”

  The catwoman stretched happily, clearly satisfied.

  The mage remained quiet—but her gaze never left Nexil.

  Elyon descended from the trees last.

  His eyes met Nexil’s for a brief moment.

  Neither spoke.

  But both knew.

  The demon’s words would not be forgotten.

  Author Note

  Some fights are won easily — but the words spoken during them can linger far longer than the battle itself.

  ? Voting / Liking

  ? Leaving a comment — your thoughts and theories matter

  ? Following / Subscribing to stay updated