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The Hellguard's hands were fisted at his sides.

Thump.

Yes. Three more steps.

“My Lord would not… He would not—for me…” The demon fumbled over his words, shaking his head to clear his train of thoughts. With another puff of breath out of his nostrils, he ground out. “Reth.”

Evan stiffened suddenly, blinking in confusion before realizing he wasn’t the one who'd stiffened. It was the palms beneath his feet. He glanced back at the Shadow, whose eyes were now blazing.

Something wasn't right.

He had to get this over with quickly.

“The Eternal wishes for you to return. So, you must,” Evan said, more firmly, eyes at the foot of the demon. “You wouldn’t go against your Lord’s command, would you?”

Thump. Thump.

A corner of Evan’s lips twitched up. He raised his hands, palms facing towards the nearing demon, eyes glowing bright.

He drew light from his exposed core, a ball of buzzing spiritual energy burning between his palms, growing from the size of a fist to a football. Bigger, brighter.

One step closer. Just one more.

“My Lord…” The Hellguard moved forward as if in a trance, chanting his master's name. “My Lord…”

The ball of energy in Evan’s hands grew to the size of that demon’s fist, blue sparks flying around it as he induced more light into it. Tremors wrecked his arms, never having conjured so much energy at once before, the glare from the ball almost blinding.

Just as the demon was about to take the last step forward, he suddenly froze.

What…?

He tilted his head to a side, listening to something, then let out a muffled grunt.

Evan’s heart dropped when the Hellguard sidestepped, revealing a silhouette standing behind him, perched atop a branch high enough to step on the demon’s shoulder.

Red robes fluttered softly in the wind, long hair swaying with a silent rhythm around the silhouette. Demonic energy outlined his form, swirling around him in black tendrils, and the slight drizzling rain sparkled like pearls around him. From this distance, Evan couldn’t see his face shrouded in darkness, but those two scarlet eyes were glowing brighter than the stars in the sky above them.

Who else could it be?

Sensing the ominous presence behind him, the Hellguard spun around, snorting angrily.

“Wait…” Evan's eyes widened, his heart picking up the pace as the ball of spiritual energy blazed in his hand. “Turn around! Here, this way! Dumb rock, this wa—YOU FUCKING IDIOT!”

The last one was for Xen.

With a bellow, the Hellguard charged towards Xen, swiping his giant arms madly.

For a brief second, Evan completely lost his mind.

The image of the demon reaching toward Xen and ripping him apart formed in his brain, and suddenly, Evan realized how much he’d hate to see that. How much he’d hate it if Xen died.

Not today.

Rearing back, Evan aimed straight at the retreating figure of the Hellguard and fired the ball of spiritual energy. But with his focus disrupted, the aim was sloppy. The blast hit the demon’s back just as his huge rock hand wrapped around Xen’s body.

13. Three Centuries Ago

As soon as Xen was yanked off the branch by the Hellguard, the Shadow’s palms flickered under Evan’s feet.