While everyone was caught up in the battle, Revana remained unnoticed. She moved through the shadows, drawing closer to the portal. Its glow grew ever stronger, the magic ringing in the air like the breath of some living creature. She raised her hand — her palm glimmered with red, demonic energy. Just one more step… and then she realized someone was watching her.
Revana slid between the shattered remains of stone columns, moving as quietly as she could. The hall was filled with the clash of battle — the demon's roars, Elgot's lightning strikes, the sharp, sweeping motions of Kano that left trails of icy mist in their wake. She could feel the portal's magic trembling in the air. It was alive, heavy with dark power, and it was her true target. Just a little more…
She took the final step, her fingers reaching for the red light pulsing in the vortex framed by the portal's stone arch. And then terror pierced through her body. She froze.
Cold. Not the cold Kano's sword left behind. Not the ancient chill of the ruins. This was something different — unseen, almost ghostly. The sense of someone standing directly behind her.
From the darkness came a voice.
—"Revana… long time no see."
She didn't turn right away. Her chest rose and fell slowly. She knew that voice. Slowly, controlling every movement, she turned. A demon emerged from the shadows. Not just a soldier or an officer — one of the generals from a neighboring demonic kingdom.
They called him an intriguer, a sly assassin, a shadow at court. But he was also someone she had spoken to many times — during meetings between their rulers, at private balls, in the midst of quiet diplomatic negotiations. And now he stood before her, blocking her way to the portal. And she had to kill him.
Revana pretended to be glad to see him, offering an easy, light smile.
—"You're here too," she said softly, casually.
The demon returned the smile.
—"I'm always where I'm needed."
But his hand drifted toward his sword.
Revana moved like lightning. Before his fingers could close around the hilt, her dagger was already cutting through the air. A slender blade flashed in the dim light. She was so fast he didn't have time to react.
The edge sliced across his throat in a single smooth motion. His eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening as if to speak — but no sound came. He staggered back.
Revana stepped forward. The blade flashed again, driving into his back, straight into the crystal that was his life force. His body shuddered as if struck by lightning. His eyes went dim for a heartbeat… and then he collapsed heavily onto the stone floor.
Revana looked calmly at his lifeless body. He never had a chance. She was the best warrior in her kingdom. No demon who relied on tricks could ever defeat her.
Lowering her gaze to the portal, she made sure no one was watching and moved forward. Her fingers touched the dark runes that kept it open.
With one sharp motion, she shattered the seal. The portal shuddered. Its magic began to fade, dark waves of energy unraveling as the pulsing light trembled and lost its strength. Revana smiled. The task was done. She slipped carefully into the shadows, making her way back toward the throne hall's exit without a sound. And while Kano and Elgot battled the demon, no one even suspected that she had just destroyed one of the key points of the invasion — and that because of it, one of the mightiest demon kingdoms would soon lose part of its power. She vanished into the darkness. Her mission was complete.
Kano and Elgot fought shoulder to shoulder. The demonic beast rampaged through the hall, smashing columns and scattering rubble, yet it couldn't land a blow on its main prey — the boy who moved like the wind, and the elf who rained lightning upon it. Kano slipped past every swipe of its claws, leaving frozen cuts across the creature's hide. Elgot struck those same spots with arcs of electricity, amplifying the damage and punching through even the monster's toughest flesh.
—"Kano, one more strike!" Elgot shouted, hovering in the air.
Kano vanished and reappeared directly above the beast.
—"Cold!" He swept his sword across the demon's chest, leaving a thick layer of ice.
—"Lightning!" Elgot cried, spinning his hands before him.
A pillar of electric energy slammed into the exact same spot. The ice bit deeper into the creature's body, freezing it down to the core.
—"Again!" Kano roared, dropping to the floor and striking once more.
—"Hold still, you freak!" Elgot wove his hands into a magical gesture, summoning even greater power.
A massive seal of ice locked the beast in place. Its body became encased in thick layers of frost, its limbs frozen stiff, its terrible maw caught in a silent roar.
The demon went still.
Silence fell.
—"Did we do it?" Kano asked, breathing hard.
Elgot didn't answer. His eyes narrowed, fixed on the icy prison holding the beast. Something was wrong. He could feel it.
—"Run! Now!" His voice rang with urgency.
Kano turned toward him in disbelief.
—"What?! It's frozen!"
—"That thing's going berserk! It's sacrificing itself to grow even stronger!"
Kano's whole body tensed. He turned to face the monster — and saw it. The ice was cracking from within. Inside the frozen shell, dark flames flared — faint at first, then stronger.
Cold shivers raced across Kano's skin. A sharp terror gripped him. This thing was waking — stronger than before.
Elgot was already running with the dwarves toward the exit.
"KANO! RUN, DAMN YOU!"
For the first time, he heard panic in the elf's voice. Kano stood frozen. Inside his mind, two voices clashed.
One screamed: "Run! Don't look back! No one can face this!"
The other whispered: "You must protect your friends."
"Who else, if not you?"
"Look at yourself…"
"You can do more than ever before."
Kano bit his lip. He would not let them die. His thoughts shifted, the panic fading away. Only resolve remained. He would not let this monster leave this place.
He rushed forward, sprinting to the lever that controlled the gates. The dwarves were already outside. Elgot too.
—"KANO, RUN!"
The boy gave no answer. He pulled the lever. The gates slammed down, beginning to close. The last thing Kano saw were Elgot's eyes blazing with fury.
—"YOU DAMN IDIOT! OPEN IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!"
A thunderous explosion echoed. The monster was already breaking free of the ice.
Kano smiled — a light, weary smile, as if he had just said goodbye to his life. But he wasn't going to surrender. He turned back to the monster.
The lizardmen still in the hall froze in terror. Before them stood the only one who hadn't run. He gripped his sword. Despite the fear, despite knowing there was almost no chance… he stayed. Because he had decided to.
Beyond the gates, Elgot was pounding his fists against the metal.
—"KANO!!! OPEN UP, YOU THICK-HEADED FOOL!"
But the boy didn't listen. He stood watching as the ice shattered completely and the demon beast — now wreathed in dark fire — broke free. And in that moment, Kano realized he wasn't ready for a fight like this.