The demon that had lost its arm backed away. The remaining ten elite demons – stronger, smarter than the lesser ones Elara had killed – all turned their attention from Aldric and the fleeing nobles to Damien.
As if recognizing something. As if identifying their true target.
The one they'd really come for.
For a moment, the hall was silent except for panicked breathing and the wounded demon's shrieks.
Then the demons attacked as one.
What happened next would haunt the witnesses' nightmares for years.
Damien moved.
Not with the measured technique of trained swordsmen. Definitely not with the divine power of blessed heroes. But with something far worse – predatory, overwhelming, absolutely merciless.
Shadow exploded from him like a living thing. It didn't just defend or deflect. It attacked with vicious intelligence, seeking weak points, exploiting gaps, killing with surgical precision.
The first demon lunged. Damien's shadow blade took its head clean off.
One second.
