POV: At The Castle Walls
The night sky burned red. The moon was covered with smoke, and the sound of battle echoed over the sky.
From the top of the castle wall, archers fired arrows and mages casted spells into the darkness. Shadows of beasts swarmed forward like a living tide. Their glowing red eyes made the battlefield look like hell itself.
"Loose the arrows! Don't let them climb!" shouted the captain of the guard.
Archers fired in a steady rhythm, and each arrow down each monsters, but it was never enough. The monsters climbed the walls fastly, their claws scraping against stone. Soldiers stabbed them down with spears, yet for every monster that fell, two more appeared.
The knights held their shields, pushing ladders off the wall, while mages launched fireballs to the monsters from the top of the wall.
"Push them back! Push them back!"
The defenders gave everything they had, but the ground kept shaking.
And then—
It happened.
The air grew heavier. Thick. Suffocating. Even the monsters paused for a moment.
A soldier clutched his chest, his breath sharp. "W-What is this… aura?"
Another knight fell to one knee, trembling. "It's not normal guys…"
A shadow loomed in the distance. The temperature dropped, then rose in the next second.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive fireball shot from beyond the battlefield and slammed into the castle wall. The explosion lit up the night like the sun itself. Stone shattered, dust rained down, and a section of the wall collapsed with screams echoing across the courtyard.
"The wall's broken! Fall back!" someone shouted.
Through the smoke, a giant figure walked forward. His steps were slow, confident, with fire aura behind him.
He was taller than any man, his body wrapped in black armor with crimson lines glowing like lava. His hairstyle was complete different from other, and his eyes burned like twin flames.
Everyone froze. Their weapons trembled in their hands.
"It… it can't be…" a mage whispered, his voice shaking.
Another soldier fell to his knees. "That's… one of the Demon Generals…!"
"The 7th… strongest… demon general!"
The demon's lips curled into a cruel smile. His voice was deep, like thunder rumbling in the abyss.
"So this is the great human castle…? Pathetic. I'll burn it all to the ground."
He raised one hand, and flames erupted from the ground, spreading across the courtyard like wildfire. Soldiers screamed as fire consumed buildings and bodies alike. The heat was unbearable, forcing knights back.
"Attack him! Don't let him through!!" the captain yelled.
Hundreds of arrows and spells rained down at once. Fire, lightning, wind—every mage emptied their mana.
BOOOOM!
The impact filled the courtyard with smoke and dust. Soldiers coughed, hoping, praying.
But when the smoke cleared, the demon was still standing, completely unharmed.
He tilted his head, amused. Then with one casual swing of his arm, a wave of black fire burst out, burning dozens of men alive.
"Pathetic humans. You can't even scratch me." He laughed, the sound echoing across the battlefield.
The wall defenders stared in despair. Some dropped their weapons. Others froze, unable to move.
The demon general stepped forward. Every step shook the ground like an earthquake.
POV: Inside the Castle
Inside the throne room, the King sat with his two daughters. Guards blocked the doors, their faces pale, but stay active.
The younger princess held her sister's hand tightly, "I-I'm scared…"
The elder sister tried to stay strong. "Don't worry… father is here."
The King stood tall, but holding his sword tightly. Sweat rolled down his forehead.
BANG!
The massive door shook violently. Dust fell from the ceiling.
BANG!
The guards flinched. The princesses gasped, holding each other tighter.
CRAAASH!!
The door shattered, flying off its hinges, and a wall of flame spilled into the throne room. Guards shielded the royals with their bodies, but nothing could hide the towering figure that stepped inside.
The 7th Demon General.
His armor glowed, his burning eyes scanned the room, and when he saw the princesses, his lips twisted into a hungry grin.
"Ah… royal blood. How perfect. I'll use you to bring this kingdom to its knees."
The King pointed his sword, his body trembling. "You will not touch them!"
The demon chuckled. "You? Protect them? Don't make me laugh."
He blurred forward. Before anyone could blink, he appeared behind the princesses and wrapped his massive hand around their arms. His other hand pressed a blade against their necks.
The girls screamed. The guards rushed forward.
"STOP!!"
The demon's grin widened. "One step closer, and I'll spill their blood right here."
The princesses cried. Tears streamed down their cheeks.
The King's sword fell from his hand, clattering on the floor. His voice cracked. "P-Please… leave them… take me instead…"
The demon laughed, a cruel, deep sound. "No. Their fear is far sweeter than yours."
But then—
Another voice cut through the room.
"I will not allow it."
Everyone froze. The demon's eyes narrowed. The guards gasped.
Before anyone could react, the ceiling above shattered, and a figure dropped down like a shadow. Cloak fluttering, eyes sharp, sword gleaming.
Renji.
The princesses' eyes widened with hope. "Renji!!"
In one swift move, Renji slammed his foot into the demon's hand, knocking the blade away from the girls. With another kick, he struck the demon's chest, forcing him back across the room.
The princesses stumbled free, rushing into their father's arms.
The guards shouted in joy, "He's back!! Sir Renji has returned!!"
The demon growled, his hand clutching his chest. His fiery eyes narrowed. "You again…"
Renji stood tall, his sword pointed forward, his voice calm but sharp.
"I told you before. Touch them again, and I'll cut you down."
The demon's face twisted in rage. Black flames erupted around him, the ground cracking beneath his feet. His body expanded, his horns lengthened, and two massive wings tore from his back.
His true form.
The throne room shook as his aura exploded outward, forcing even the bravest guards to stumble back.
"You dare defy me, human? Very well…Now witness my true power."
Renji held his sword, unfazed by the pressure. His eyes narrowed.
"So this is your real form, huh? Then I'll just defeat you as you are."
The air grew still for a single moment. Both sides stood ready, power radiating off them.
The 7th Demon General, transformed into his true form.
And Renji, the lone human standing for kingdom.
The battle for survival was about to begin.