The tunnel opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in shadows, its walls lined with jagged crystals that pulsed with a faint, sickly light. At the center of the chamber, on a raised platform of black stone, stood the demon.

He was waiting for them.

His crimson skin gleamed under the crystal light, his golden eyes fixed on the entrance as if he had known they would come. His arms were crossed over his chest, his posture relaxed, almost bored. The horns that swept back from his forehead seemed larger now, more prominent, and the shadows around him writhed like living things.

"I was wondering when you’d arrive," he said, his voice echoing off the chamber walls. "The hounds were supposed to slow you down, not provide a warm-up exercise."

Hope stepped forward, her greatsword blazing with golden light. "Your pets are dead, demon. Just like you’re going to be."

The demon’s lips curled into a smile—sharp, predatory, and utterly cold. "Bold words for someone whose armor is cracked and whose mana is running low."

She didn’t bother to deny it; the truth was already written on her face.

The demon’s golden eyes shifted to Andrey, studying him with something that might have been curiosity. "And you. The human who carries the artifacts. You’re more resilient than I expected. Most weak humans would have been torn apart by a single hound."

Andrey met his gaze steadily, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. "That’s where you’re wrong."

The demon laughed—a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the chamber. "No. You’re not. That’s why I brought you here."

Hope’s eyes narrowed. "Brought him here? You dragged him through a rift to use as bait."

The demon tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming. "Bait? No, Valkyrie. He’s the prize."

Hope’s internal thoughts raced. ’Prize? What does he mean by that?’

The demon uncrossed his arms, spreading them wide as if to embrace the chamber. "You see, I’ve been watching you, Andrey Thompson. The artifacts you’ve collected." His smile widened. "You’re doing exactly what we wanted."

Hope’s grip on her greatsword tightened. "What are you talking about?"

The demon’s eyes flicked to her, then back to Andrey. "The artifacts you’ve been collecting, they’re not just keys to the seal. They’re also... amplifiers. Each one you purify and bond with makes the seal weaker. Makes it easier for our master to break free."

Andrey’s blood ran cold. ’The system said we were collecting them to strengthen the seal. But if the demon is telling the truth...’

He pushed the thought aside. "You’re lying."

The demon’s smile didn’t waver. "Am I? Ask yourself, Andrey. Why would a system designed to fight demons tell you to collect the very artifacts that keep their master imprisoned? Why would it encourage you to bond with them, to make them part of yourselves?" He took a step forward, his shadow stretching across the chamber floor. "Because the system isn’t on your side. It never was."

Hope stepped in front of Andrey, her greatsword raised. "Don’t listen to him, Andrey. He’s trying to confuse you."

The demon laughed again. "Confuse him? I’m enlightening him." His golden eyes bored into Andrey’s. "The system that chose you, that gave you power, that demanded you perform degrading acts in exchange for strength... where do you think it came from? Who do you think created it?"

Andrey’s mind was reeling. The system had always been mysterious, its origins unclear. But he had trusted it because it had given him power, because it had helped him protect his team.

’The demon is lying,’ he told himself. ’He has to be lying.’

But the doubt had been planted.

The demon raised his hand, dark energy gathering in his palm. "Enough talk. You’ve served your purpose, Andrey Thompson. Now it’s time to collect what’s ours."

Andrey’s hand shot to his katana. "Hope!"

She was already moving.

Her greatsword swept toward the demon’s head, golden light trailing behind it. The demon sidestepped, the blade carving through empty air. He raised his other hand, and a wave of dark energy erupted from his palm, slamming into Hope’s chest.

She flew backward, crashing against the chamber wall. Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone. Her greatsword clattered to the ground.

Andrey sprinted forward, katana drawn, Ki flowing into the blade. "Ki Blade!"

The demon caught the glowing blade between his fingers.

He held it there, his golden eyes meeting Andrey’s. "Impressive technique. But useless against me."

He flicked his wrist, and Andrey was thrown backward. He hit the ground hard, his katana skidding out of reach. Damage Absorb flared, but the demon’s attack had been too fast, too precise.

Andrey pushed himself up, his regeneration already healing the damage. ’He’s toying with us.’

The demon walked toward Hope, who was struggling to rise. Her armor was cracked, her face pale, but her blue eyes blazed with defiance.

"You’ve fought well, Valkyrie," the demon said, crouching beside her. "But this is where your story ends."

He raised his hand, dark energy coalescing around his fingers.

Andrey’s hand closed around his white-and-gold pistol.

"Phantom Step."

He vanished, reappeared behind the demon, and pressed the barrel against the back of his head.

"I wouldn’t do that," Andrey said, his voice cold.

The demon froze.

"The artifacts," Andrey continued, "the system, the seals—I don’t know what’s true and what’s not. But I do know one thing." He pressed the barrel harder. "You’re not taking anything from us."

The demon’s lips curled into a smile. "Bold. But futile."

In a blur of crimson and shadow, he closed the distance between them.

Andrey didn’t hesitate. His finger pulled the trigger.

The bullet passed through empty air.

The demon was behind him now, his clawed hand closing around Andrey’s throat. He lifted him off the ground, squeezing.

"You’re persistent," the demon murmured, his golden eyes boring into Andrey’s. "I’ll give you that."

Andrey’s hands clawed at the demon’s wrist, but his grip was iron. His regeneration struggled to keep up, but the pressure was too much.

Darkness crept at the edges of his vision.

Then—

Hope’s greatsword, blazing with golden fire, slammed into the demon’s side. The impact sent him staggering, his grip loosening. Andrey dropped to the ground, gasping.

Hope stood over him, her greatsword raised, her armor cracked but her eyes fierce.

"Get away from him," she snarled.

The demon touched the gash on his side, his golden ichor staining his fingers. His smile had vanished, replaced by something colder.

"You’re going to regret that, Valkyrie."

Hope didn’t respond. She lunged, her greatsword carving arcs of golden light.

Andrey pushed himself to his feet, his katana back in his hand. His body ached, but he forced himself to move.

The demon’s golden eyes flickered with irritation. He raised both hands, and the shadows around him swirled violently, coalescing into dense orbs of pure darkness. Each orb pulsed with unstable energy, humming like a living heartbeat.

"Shadow Volley."

He thrust his hands forward. A dozen orbs shot toward them, trailing black mist.

Hope moved first. Her greatsword swept in a wide arc, golden light erupting from the blade. "Luminous Arc!" The crescent of light intercepted three of the orbs, detonating them prematurely. The explosions shook the chamber, sending shrapnel of crystallized shadow raining down.

But more orbs kept coming.

Andrey’s hand shot up. "Mana Threads!" Thin, nearly invisible strands of mana shot from his fingertips, weaving a web in front of them. Two orbs struck the threads and detonated—the web absorbed the impact, but only barely. The threads snapped under the strain.

"They’re too many!" Andrey shouted.

Hope grabbed his arm and yanked him behind a jutting crystal formation. The remaining orbs slammed into the ground where they’d been standing, cratering the obsidian floor. Shards of rock and shadow flew in all directions.

"We can’t just hide," Hope said, her breathing heavy. "He’ll keep spamming those until we’re exhausted."

Andrey’s mind raced. ’The orbs track us. They’re not random. He’s controlling them somehow.’

He peeked around the crystal. The demon stood in the center of the chamber, his arms still raised, his fingers twitching like a puppeteer pulling invisible strings. The orbs orbited him now, waiting for his next command.

"His hands," Andrey said suddenly. "He directs the orbs with his hands. If we can disrupt his movements—"

"Then we stop the orbs," Hope finished. She tightened her grip on her greatsword. "I’ll draw his attention. You get close and cut his strings."

Andrey nodded. "On your signal."

Hope stepped out from behind the crystal, her greatsword blazing with golden light. "Hey, demon! Is that all you’ve got? I’ve seen parlor tricks more impressive than this!"

The demon’s eyes narrowed. He flicked his wrists, and the orbs shot toward her in a serpentine pattern, weaving left and right to avoid her blade.

Hope didn’t try to cut them. She ran straight at the demon, her greatsword held low, her body low to the ground. The orbs curved behind her, following but she was faster.

"Divine Step!"

Golden light erupted from her boots, propelling her forward in a burst of speed. She closed the distance in an instant, her greatsword swinging upward toward the demon’s chest.

He raised his arm, shadows coalescing into a jagged shield. The blade struck the shield, sparks flying. The shield cracked but held.

"Annoying," the demon muttered.

He swept his other hand sideways. A wave of shadow spikes erupted from the ground, racing toward Hope.

Andrey was already moving.

"Phantom Step!"

He vanished, reappeared beside the demon’s flank, katana already swinging. The demon’s golden eyes widened, he tried to raise his other arm to block, but it was too late.

Andrey’s blade carved across the demon’s wrist.

Not deep. Just enough to disrupt his focus.

The demon hissed, his concentration breaking. The orbs orbiting Hope wobbled, then detonated prematurely—a chain of explosions that shattered the nearby crystals but left Hope untouched.

The demon staggered back, clutching his bleeding wrist. Golden ichor dripped between his fingers. "Heh. You think this changes anything?"