Just as Kaiser finished speaking, one of the Shadow Demons charged toward them with almost inhuman speed.
"Watch out!" Tharion yelled, swinging his axe with all his might.
The axe's blade came close to the demon, but Tharion dodged the attack with surprising agility. In the blink of an eye, another Shadow Demon lunged from the right flank.
Reik, wielding the sword Kaiser had handed him moments before, tried to intercept it. He felt the strange weight of the weapon in his hands, but deep down, something told him that this sword was more than it seemed.
"I won't die here, I'll overcome this no matter what!" Reik shouted.
At that very moment, a Shadow Demon darted toward Reik with clear intent to end his life. However, Reik reacted just in time and swiftly dodged the attack aimed at his neck. With great skill, he slashed the Shadow Demon in half.
"Incredible, how did you do that? I couldn't even see it!" Laira said.
"Not bad at all, Reik," Tharion said, clearly impressed.
"If you want, I can leave the rest for you, Tharion," Reik replied, laughing.
"Stay focused! There's another one coming," Kaiser said, pointing to Tharion's right.
With lightning speed, another Shadow Demon leaped at Tharion. Surprised, Tharion fell to the ground, and with a luck no warrior should have, he tripped just in time to dodge the demon's claws. That brief moment allowed him to defend himself with his axe.
"Someone get this thing off me, please!" Tharion shouted, struggling to fend off the demon with his axe.
Hearing Tharion's desperate cries, Reik didn't hesitate to rush to his aid. With quick and agile steps, he ran toward his companion while the Shadow Demon kept attacking mercilessly, its claws scraping the edge of Tharion's axe.
"Hold on, I'm coming!" Reik shouted, gripping his sword tightly.
With a swift move, Reik slashed the demon, ending its life.
"Are you alright, Tharion?" Reik asked, laughing.
"I don't find it funny at all, I nearly died," Tharion replied.
"Sorry, Tharion, but that was surreal. You saved yourself by falling, you know?" Reik said.
"Let's focus on the fight. After what happened, I can't leave it like this; I'm going to take them down!" Tharion said, determined to regain his honor.
"Be careful. Reik, Tharion, Laira, take down the ones in front of us. I and the others will cover your backs!" Kaiser commanded.
"Got it, I trust you!" Reik said, gripping his sword tightly.
But at that moment, their plan was unexpectedly thwarted as the Shadow Demons devised something unimaginable, something the warriors weren't prepared for.
"¡HAHAHAHA!" The demons' laughter echoed in everyone's minds.
"My head hurts... They're laughing at us," Reik said.
"They won't be laughing so much when they taste my axe," Tharion growled, enraged.
"You're dead!" the demons shouted with sinister laughter. "You're trash, and you'll be eliminated," they continued, their cackles filled with disdain and malice.
Suddenly, the demons' voices fell silent, and an absolute stillness took over the area, which worried them even more. Moments later, a dense fog began to rise, and a feeling of terror completely consumed them, leaving them unable to move a single muscle. They knew something terrible was about to happen...
"Stay focused, we don't know what they're planning, but prepare for the worst," Kaiser said.
Kaiser wanted his words to help, but even he feared the overwhelming sensation and could barely move his fingers.
"Today is the day my story begins, and I won't let it end here and now," Reik said, tensing his muscles.
Thanks to those words, everyone felt encouraged and gained a bit more confidence. They were astonished that someone as young as Reik had such a strong will, and of course, they didn't intend to be left behind.
"You'll go far, Reik, and I hope to be there to see it," Kaiser said with a bright smile.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble beneath their feet, then the tremor grew stronger until the nearby rocks began to roll. The air filled with dust, and the trees creaked as if they were about to break. Everyone halted, their eyes wide with panic.
"It doesn't seem like an earthquake. Those are footsteps... But what could it be?" Laira asked, worried.
"No idea, but it's not small," Reik replied.
At that very moment, the sound stopped, and no one could say a word. They were stunned by what they saw before them.
"It's... it's... huge!" Fain screamed, utterly terrified.