Flames Of Annihilation

“Estheria!!” Strixx screamed, her voice cracking with panic. I shouted too, my chest tightening as rage surged through me. My fists clenched hard enough to shake. This demon…!!

Aeliff slowly pushed himself back up, jaw locked with grim determination. His fingers curled tighter around his wand as its crimson glow deepened into a fierce, molten red. Dark shadows spiraled up along its shaft, pulsing like veins of magma.

“You damned demons…” His voice dropped into a low growl, sharp and deadly.
Without hesitation, Aeliff swung his wand forward. Blazing red projectiles exploded from its tip--fast, relentless bursts of concentrated magic.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Each blast struck the towering demon dead on, detonating in fiery shockwaves that tore through the clearing.

The very air trembled from the barrage.Yet the monstrous demon barely staggered. Dark tendrils lashed across its cracked flesh, sealing wounds almost instantly as if time itself reversed on its body.

It stood tall--unscathed and mocking.A deep, rumbling laugh echoed from its throat.

“How pathetic… weak,” it hissed, voice thick with disdain. “It barely wrung a breath from me, lowly elf!”

Its jagged teeth bared in a sneer, yellow eyes narrowing dangerously.

Aeliff’s jaw tightened until it creaked. His teeth ground together in fury, nostrils flaring.“You damn monster…!” His voice dipped into a cold, venomous snarl. “Let’s see how you heal from this!”

The demon chuckled darkly, spreading its claws mockingly.

“Oh no, I’m terrified!” it jeered, grin wide and vile.Aeliff snapped his gaze sideways, barking out sharply.

“Oi! Demon girl--!”Strixx blinked, whipping her head toward him.

“Strixx!” she snapped back with a cute, fiery glare. “Strixx’s name is Strixx! Not demon girl!”

“Yeah, yeah--whatever!” Aeliff barked impatiently, already raising his wand high. “Just buy me some damn time!”Strixx huffed, glancing at me quickly. “Luca! Strixx will assist the annoying mage.” Her crimson eyes softened slightly. “You go check on Estheria. And Luca… stay behind, okay?”

I nodded firmly. “Alright, Strixx. Don’t get hurt.”

Strixx’s expression sharpened again--she jabbed a clawed finger at me sternly. “Stay behind, Luca. No matter what!”“Oi! Strixx--girl--whatever--” Aeliff barked again. “Are you helping me or not!?”Strixx growled under her breath and shot forward in a burst of speed, claws flashing.Aeliff didn’t wait--he thrust his wand skyward, both hands gripping it tight.

The earth beneath his boots fractured, crimson and orange energy spiraling violently upward around him like a fiery vortex. His voice boomed across the battlefield, sharp and commanding:

“O blazing Pyresign… Flame that devours the void and melts the very skies…”

Before he could finish, the monstrous demon lunged toward him with terrifying speed--claws outstretched to tear Aeliff apart. But Strixx cut across its path in a blur. Her foot whipped upward--CRACK! Her sharp kick smashed into the demon’s jaw, snapping its head back as the massive figure staggered a few meters away.

 

Without missing a beat, Strixx’s claws extended with a metallic scrape. She darted in, slashing and ducking with precise, hit-and-run strikes--keeping the demon off balance, buying crucial seconds.
Aeliff’s voice roared louder, undeterred:

“Descend as the wrath of the sun--reduce all to ash in the furnace of ruin… INFERNAL STARFALL -- FIRE OF ANNIHILATION!”

Strixx flipped backward, landing neatly a safe distance away. “NOW!” Aeliff bellowed. “Get away, demon girl!”

 

Strixx smirked and leapt clear as Aeliff’s spell surged to completion.

 

Above, the sky ripped open--blackened clouds split violently apart as a colossal sphere of blinding fire ignited high overhead. The massive orb blazed like a sun reborn, crackling with white-hot fury.

 The temperature spiked instantly--the ground beneath us shimmered from the searing heat.

 

With a sharp thrust of his wand, Aeliff slammed the spell downward.A colossal, concentrated beam of solar flame roared down from the heavens like divine judgment.

It struck the monstrous demon dead center--KA-BOOOOOOM!A tidal wave of flame and force engulfed the battlefield as the explosion consumed everything .

 

As the inferno slowly died down, thick plumes of smoke curled into the darkened sky. When the dust cleared— The monstrous demon still stood.But barely.
Eighty percent of its flesh had been obliterated.

Its towering frame was now thin, skeletal--most of its muscle mass seared away, the charred remains clinging weakly to blackened bone. Its breathing was ragged, shallow.

The regenerative tendrils that once surged so easily over its wounds now sputtered weakly, unable to keep up.

It teetered on its feet--crippled.Across the battlefield, Aeliff staggered, then collapsed to one knee. His chest heaved with exhaustion.

A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he slowly lowered his wand to the cracked earth.

 

“You damn demon…” he muttered breathlessly, a grin spreading across his sweat-soaked face. He let his back fall against the dirt, lying flat as he exhaled heavily.

 “Hah… how you like that, bastard…?”

Strixx darted over to him, her ruby eyes sparkling with excitement. “That was so cool!!” she beamed, practically bouncing in place. “Strixx liked it!!”Aeliff let out a breathless chuckle, smirking as he lifted an eyebrow.

“Of course you did… that was my strongest spell, after all.”

He closed his eyes, the smirk lingering on his lips as he caught his breath.Meanwhile, I hurried across the battlefield. Estheria was there--pushing herself upright, her long golden-blonde hair slightly tousled and dusted with ash. She winced slightly but sat up straight.

“Estheria!” I called out, kneeling beside her. “Are you okay?”She took a deep breath, then nodded, brushing strands of hair from her face. “Yes… I’m fine now, Luca.” Her voice was calm, but there was a shadow of frustration in her eyes. “He caught me off guard.

 I underestimated his strength.”Her violet gaze drifted to the distant, burned silhouette of the demon.

“He used nearly his full power in that punch… that’s why I blacked out for a few minutes.”I let out a breath of relief and offered her my hand.

“Here--let me help you up.”Estheria took my hand firmly and rose to her feet in one smooth motion. Even injured, her composure never wavered.

“But… Estheria,” I said, tilting my head slightly, curiosity rising in my chest. “What’s up with your raw strength? I mean, I already knew you were strong--but the way you relentlessly fought that demon… it was incredible. You really are… ever reliable.”

A soft smile touched her lips. “Thank you, Luca,” she murmured quietly.

 

Before she could say more-- Strixx sprinted over at full speed and leapt into Estheria, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. Her horns bumped lightly against Estheria’s shoulder as she buried her face in her chest.“Strixx was worried…!” she said, her voice muffled but full of relief. “Strixx is glad Estheria is okay…”

Estheria smiled again, warmer this time. She gently placed a hand on Strixx’s head. “Of course I’m okay. I’m strong, after all.”Strixx looked up with a bright grin. “Yes! Estheria is super strong!!”Aeliff brushed dust off his cloak as he approached Estheria, his expression tight with irritation. His voice came out rough, clipped.

“I don’t like what I’m about to say… but--” He paused, his crimson eyes glancing briefly at her before flicking away, jaw clenched. “--you saved me… back when that demon almost struck me down.”

He clicked his tongue and looked off to the side, clearly uncomfortable.

“But don’t get the wrong idea,” he snapped quickly. “You saved me, sure--but I finished off the demon. Now we’re even. Don’t think we’re friends just because of that. And also--” He gritted his teeth, struggling with the words.

“I want to tha---tch. Never mind. That’s all I have to say.”

Strixx tilted her head, frowning. “Aeliff, you’re not going to thank Estheria for saving you?” she asked innocently. 

“Strixx knows this--when someone helps you, you’re supposed to say thank you. Strixx always thanks everyone who helps Strixx.”Estheria smiled faintly at her words, calm and graceful as always. She glanced softly at Aeliff.

Aeliff caught her smile out of the corner of his eye, his cheeks flushing deep red. He spun around abruptly, marching away in a huff.

 “As if I care!!” he barked, flustered, hiding his embarrassment as he stomped off.

I stepped closer to Estheria, glancing back toward the demon’s scorched remains lying motionless in the distance. “Estheria… that demon we fought--it felt far stronger than when we faced it back in the forest.

”Estheria’s gaze hardened, thoughtful. “It’s the Sacred Towers,” she murmured.

 “They’ve been corrupted. The mana they once purified is being twisted into demonic energy… and that energy is spreading across ElFairia. That’s why its strength was so immense.”

Before I could respond-- Even with its body scorched and crumbling, the demon raised its burnt hand toward the sky, its cracked fingers clawing weakly at the air.

Aeliff’s eyes widened in shock. “Why is it still moving?! Impossible!!”A low, guttural chant rumbled from the demon’s throat--an ancient, otherworldly language that sent chills down my spine. Black veins pulsed across its burned body as grotesque, writhing new flesh began to knit over the charred remains. Its regeneration had begun.

Without hesitation, Estheria dashed forward--her boots cutting deep into the cracked ground as she closed the distance at blinding speed.

But before she could reach him-- BOOM A violent shockwave exploded outward from the demon’s body, blasting her back through the air. She crashed hard into the ground, skidding across the dirt with a sharp gasp.My heart clenched. “Estheria!”And then

-- A deep, composed voice echoed from above.

“DIVINE RETRIBUTION.”

A golden beam crashed down from the sky, covering the regenerating demon in blinding light. The ground shook hard as the light burned through its body, turning it into ash. The demon’s broken form fell apart and scattered into the wind, erased completely.

We turned sharply toward the source of the voice.

 

Descending calmly from the air, surrounded by shimmering light, stood the Grand Mage himself--his robe billowing in the wind, eyes sharp and unwavering. Behind him, rows upon rows of elite High Mages and battle mages of the Great Capital advanced across the field--an entire army, their formation precise and overwhelming. Their staves and wands shimmered with prepared spells, ready to launch a full-scale assault against the demonic forces corrupting the Sacred Towers of the Illusion Forest.

 

The Grand Mage’s gaze swept over us, calm and commanding. “Well done… Luca. Strixx. Estheria. Aeliff.” His words carried weight--measured, but unmistakably approving.The tide of battle had shifted.The Grand Mage approached the four of us, his footsteps steady and calm.“You all fought well,” he said. “You stopped the demon from spreading chaos inside the Capital.”

Estheria stepped forward, her expression serious. “Grand Mage, the demon we just fought was much stronger than when Strixx, Luca, and I faced it in the forest.”

She glanced back at the scorched battlefield, then continued, her tone sharp. “As you mentioned before, the Sacred Towers--now corrupted--are releasing demonic energy. Any demons within the usual range of that energy supply have become far stronger because of it.”The Grand Mage’s gaze rose to the sky, his jaw tightening.

“The barrier is weakening faster than I feared.” His voice dropped, heavy with urgency.

 “We don’t have time to waste. We must head into the forest immediately--purify the corruption at its source and destroy the demons fueling it before their power spreads any further.”Estheria turned to us and gave a sharp nod. “Let’s move out.”

With a commanding motion, the Grand Mage ordered the elite High Mages and Battle Mages to prepare for an assault on the Illusion Forest. Their formation shifted quickly, the mages moving with practiced precision.

Strixx turned to me, her amber eyes serious. “Luca, stay close to Strixx. No matter what.” I nodded.

“I’ll do my best not to slow anyone down… and not cause trouble.”Without a word, Strixx reached out and grabbed my hand, her grip steady and warm. “Just stay close to Strixx, Luca.”

 

At that moment, a sharp crack echoed through the air above us. Everyone froze.The Grand Mage’s eyes shot upward. “No… this can’t be.”

Above ElFairia, a massive crack split across the sky. Then, with a burst of blinding energy, the entire barrier shattered—breaking apart and dissolving into glowing fragments of mana that scattered into the wind.
The barrier was gone.“That means…” I muttered under my breath.The Grand Mage’s expression darkened, his voice grim.

“The Sacred Towers have been fully corrupted.”
Suddenly, in front of all of us, the huge purple mana crystal atop the Sacred Tower at the center of the Capital turned pitch black. A glowing circle of dark energy formed around the base of the tower, pulsing ominously.

All around it, battered and broken bodies appeared--figures collapsing near the tower’s base, their robes torn and faces pale.The Grand Mage’s face twisted in horror.

“No… it can’t be. Those are the elite mages we sent into the forest… the ones who never returned.”

And then--

A figure emerged in front of the tower.A demon. His long black hair hung loose around his sharp, wide eyes. His presence oozed dark energy, thick and suffocating. A twisted smile spread across his face as he spoke in a playful, chilling tone:

“ElFairia is ours now.” He took a step forward, his dark aura thickening, suffocating the air around us. “I am Veltrerxx,” he said, his voice laced with cruel pride. “A demon necromancer from the Demon King’s army… the one who represents the suffering of life."
His grin widened, shadows curling around him as his power flared menacingly.

The demon’s smile stretched wide as he slowly spun around, arms lazily opening like he was showing off to the whole place. His sharp eyes darted over each of us, shining with a strange, wild excitement.