INT. HELL – SOUTHERN VALLEY – TIME UNKNOWN
Crimson fog crawls low across shattered ground. A single figure limps through the ash — Julian Reyes. His armor is cracked, his breathing ragged. In one trembling hand, he grips a small dagger, dull and chipped.
Julian: whispering to himself Don't cry. Don't cry. You're alive. You're alive. Just... keep walking.
His voice breaks, tears mixing with the soot on his face. His knees buckle as he stumbles over a stone ridge. The silence presses in — heavy, suffocating.
Then — a sound. A deep, wet growl from the distance. The ground shudders. The air grows hot.
Julian: panicked N-no... not now... please...
A shadow rises from the smoke — massive, monstrous. Ten meters tall, horns curling like blackened bone, claws like swords. Its eyes burn red, dripping molten light.
The demon steps forward, each thud shaking the cracked earth. Julian falls backward, trembling, clutching his dagger with shaking hands.
Julian: crying No, no, no, no, no—stay back!
The creature roars, slamming a claw down toward him — the impact splitting the ground. Julian screams, rolling away, dirt and fire bursting around him.
Then — something snaps.
His breathing steadies. The tears stop. His eyes shift — not glowing, but sharp, cold, lifeless.
The demon swings again — but this time, Julian moves.
In a blur of speed, he sidesteps, slides under the massive arm, and leaps upward, slashing across its neck with one clean motion. The blade glints — then silence.
The demon freezes. A line of red splits its throat — then its head falls, crashing into the ash with a thunderous echo.
Julian lands on his feet, blood splattering across his face. He doesn't flinch.
His expression is empty.
Another roar echoes. Dozens more demons appear from the mist — winged, horned, crawling, skeletal. The valley trembles with their advance.
Julian: quietly, voice low and cold Come.
They rush him — and he moves like a shadow. His dagger dances through the dark, cutting flesh, breaking bone, striking vital points faster than the eye can follow.
Slash. Twist. Pivot. Slash again.
Demons drop one after another. Wings are torn, claws severed, skulls shattered. Black blood sprays like rain.
Julian's face never changes. Calm. Mechanical. Perfectly balanced between grace and madness.
A winged demon dives toward him. He spins, throws the dagger, piercing its skull mid-flight. It crashes, twitching. Julian catches the blade midair before it hits the ground.
Julian: monotone Stay down.
More swarm him. He doesn't stop. His movements become faster — almost inhuman — until the sound of slashing fills the valley like a storm of steel.
EXT. HELL – NEARBY RIDGE – SAME TIME
Far away, Arven, Grace, and Kael climb through the southern ridge, weapons drawn. The ground shakes faintly beneath them.
Kael: You feel that?
Grace: looks around It's coming from that direction. Sounds like... fighting.
Arven: Fighting? Out here? No one else should be alive this far south.
Kael: grinning faintly Then whoever it is — they're not normal. Let's go.
They move quickly toward the noise, climbing over shattered stone and scorched earth. As they approach the next ridge, the sounds grow louder — roars, screams, metal cutting through flesh.
Then they stop. The three stand at the edge of the cliff — and stare.
Below them, hundreds of demon corpses litter the ground. The valley is painted black with blood and smoke. And in the center — one man stands, drenched in crimson, his dagger dripping.
Grace: stunned whisper ...That's... that's Julian.
Kael: jaw tightening No way. That's not possible.
Arven: in disbelief He's... alive.
They watch as Julian moves through the last wave — slashing, spinning, stabbing, a blur of cold fury. His eyes empty, his face expressionless. Every demon that comes close dies instantly.
Slash. Step. Turn. Strike.
The air fills with the sound of his blade cutting through flesh and bone. When the final demon falls, Julian stands still, chest heaving, surrounded by silence and carnage.
For a long moment, no one speaks.
Kael: quietly That's not fighting. That's... slaughter.
Julian slowly looks up — his gaze distant, unfocused. He sees them on the ridge — Arven, Grace, Kael. His expression changes in an instant.
His eyes widen. His lip trembles.
Julian: voice cracking A–Arven? Grace? Kael?!
He drops the dagger and runs toward them, stumbling over corpses, tears spilling down his face.
Julian: crying uncontrollably Waaa! I thought I was dead! I was so scared! There were demons everywhere!
He crashes into Arven, hugging him tightly, sobbing into his chest like a child.
Arven: shocked, still processing Julian... you... what the hell was that?
Grace: kneels beside him We saw everything. You... you killed them all.
Kael: still stunned With a knife.
Julian: sniffling I–I don't know! They came at me and then... everything went black! When I opened my eyes, they were just... gone!
Arven exchanges glances with Grace and Kael — all three equally confused and disturbed.
Arven: Whatever that was... it saved your life. And ours.
Grace: gently You're safe now, Julian. We'll figure it out later.
Julian: still crying, clutching Arven's arm Please don't leave me again.
Arven: puts a hand on his shoulder We won't. You're coming back with us.
The four of them turn toward the distance — toward the faint golden light of the Garden of Eden in the far horizon.
Kael: softly The others won't believe this.
Grace: looking back at the field of corpses I'm not sure I do.
They walk together, Julian trembling between them — a scared boy once more, leaving behind the massacre he doesn't remember.
To be continued...