Vengeful Ascension: The Rise of a Demon Emperor

The village of Morith had become a battlefield of despair. Twilight loomed on the horizon, but the encroaching darkness was not the night. It was Krynos, the Bone Architect—Sixth of the Lower Seven Demons. He stood at the heart of the square, his gaunt form emanating waves of suffocating malice.

The team was battered and barely standing. Adrian Falter clutched his sword, his knuckles white as sweat dripped down his face. Beside him, his comrades—Lucas, Kiera, Kael, and Seraphina—held what little ground they had left. Blood stained the cobblestones beneath their feet, but retreat was no longer an option.

"You've done well to survive this long," Krynos sneered, his voice like fractured glass. "But the stage ends here, little knights."

Adrian took a deep breath, his body aching as he forced himself forward. "We can't back down," he said, his voice steady despite the hopelessness pressing in. "Krynos is toying with us. He's not invincible!"

Kael drew his bowstring taut, his face pale but determined. "Then we'll make him regret underestimating us."

"Don't lose hope," Seraphina whispered, holding her glowing staff close. "[Sanctuary Shield]!" She cast a shimmering barrier around them, its golden light flickering like a candle against the howling dark.

Krynos watched, amused. "Ah, the healer's light… fragile and fleeting. Shall I break it?"

Before anyone could move, Krynos raised his clawed hand, and black spikes erupted from the ground. The barrier trembled under the onslaught. Kiera cried out, vines sprouting around her to shield them, but it wasn't enough.

"Kael!" Lucas shouted as the archer broke formation, firing a rapid barrage of arrows. Each shot struck with precision, slicing through the tendrils of darkness.

Krynos didn't flinch. He snapped his fingers, and the arrows disintegrated into dust mid-flight.

Kael froze, his face contorted in disbelief. "That's… impossible—"

Krynos closed the gap in a blink. "Such little resistance." With a lazy swipe, a bony claw pierced through Kael's chest.

"No!" Adrian roared as Kael's body crumpled to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him, his bow slipping from lifeless fingers.

The battlefield seemed to tilt. Kael—the one who always struck first, the quiet crackshot—was gone.

"Another one down," Krynos murmured, flicking blood from his claws. "Come now, Adrian. How many more will you let fall?"

Kiera snarled, her voice trembling with anger and fear. "You monster!" She thrust her hands forward, roots exploding from the earth in a last-ditch effort to bind the demon. "Hold him!"

The vines coiled around Krynos, tightening with an audible creak. For a moment, it looked like they might work.

Kiera turned to Adrian. "Now! Finish him!"

Adrian charged, his blade glowing with [Aura Burst]. His feet pounded against the bloodied cobblestones as he swung for Krynos's chest.

But as the blade neared, Krynos's laughter echoed. With a flex of his aura, the vines crumbled to ash.

"No," Kiera whispered as Krynos blurred forward, his hand driving through her abdomen.

Adrian slid to a halt, horror overtaking him as Kiera gasped, clutching at Krynos's clawed hand embedded in her stomach. Her legs gave way, the life draining from her green eyes.

"Your roots were strong," Krynos said coldly. "But not strong enough." He tossed her aside like a broken doll, her body landing limply on the ground.

"Stay with me!" Seraphina shouted as she dropped to her knees beside Kiera, her hands glowing with healing magic. "Please, just stay—"

"It's too late," Adrian said softly, his voice hollow. He couldn't take his eyes off Kiera's still form. The realization clawed at him like a curse.

Lucas gritted his teeth, his twin blades trembling. "This is madness… Adrian, we can't win this. We can't."

"No!" Seraphina cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. She stood, turning toward Krynos, fury burning through her exhaustion. "You'll pay for this!"

She raised her staff, her light flaring brilliantly. "[Radiant Judgment]!" she shouted, releasing a wave of holy energy.

The light surged forward, blinding in its brilliance. Krynos lifted a hand, as if testing it. The holy magic scorched his armor, but it wasn't enough.

Krynos smiled. "Your light flickers bravely, little one. But light cannot exist without shadow."

Before anyone could move, Krynos was there—his claw piercing Seraphina's chest. She gasped, blood spilling from her lips, her light flickering and dying.

Lucas staggered back, his breath ragged. Kael. Kiera. Seraphina. All gone.

Adrian turned, his voice hoarse. "Lucas, RUN!"

Lucas stared at him, torn. "But—"

"You can still get out!" Adrian shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "Go! If one of us survives, it's not over!"

Krynos tilted his head. "How noble. But running won't save him."

Lucas clenched his fists, then turned and bolted for the edge of the village, guilt clawing at his chest with every step.

Adrian stood alone, his breathing labored as he faced Krynos. His legs trembled, but he forced himself to stand tall. "You won't… get away with this."

Krynos regarded him with amusement. "You are alone, Adrian Falter. What can you hope to achieve now?"

Adrian's sword lowered slightly as his thoughts raced. Kael… Kiera… Seraphina… all gone. A lump rose in his throat, but he swallowed it down.

'I can't let it be for nothing.'

Adrian lunged, pouring everything into one final strike. "[Last Stand]!"

His aura flared like a wildfire, his blade cutting a brilliant arc toward Krynos. For a heartbeat, he thought he saw fear in the demon's eyes.

But Krynos caught the blade in his clawed hand. The energy splintered, shattering like glass.

Adrian fell to his knees, his strength finally failing. His sword slipped from his grip as Krynos loomed over him.

"You fought well," Krynos said, his voice almost… respectful. "But you were always destined to fall."

Adrian's vision blurred. Darkness crept in at the edges. No… not yet… I can't…

His thoughts drifted to his comrades—Kael's sharp wit, Kiera's kindness, Seraphina's unwavering hope. I failed them.

The last thing he heard was Krynos's voice, a whisper in the dark. "Sleep, little knight."

And then everything went black.

* * *

Lucas stumbled through the woods, blood streaking his face and clothes. His lungs burned, and his mind screamed at him to stop, but he couldn't.

When he finally reached a clearing, he collapsed to his knees, sobbing. "I left them… I left them…"

The dawn broke, pale light stretching over the horizon. The village of Morith, and the friends Lucas had known, were gone.