The air felt wrong the moment they crossed the ridge.
Jake noticed it first—the silence. No birds. No insects. Even the wind seemed to hesitate as if the land itself was holding its breath. Ahead of them stretched a scorched valley, blackened earth carved by claw marks and deep craters. This was no ordinary battlefield. This was territory claimed and ruled.
"So this is it," Kale said quietly, her hand resting on her weapon. "The Demon General's domain."
Flo stood slightly behind them, her hood pulled low. Her expression was calm, but her fingers were clenched tightly at her sides. Jake glanced back at her. "You alright?" he asked. She nodded. "Just… stay close," she replied.
They didn't get far.
The ground trembled, slow and deliberate, like footsteps of something massive approaching. A wave of pressure slammed into them, forcing Jake to take a step back. From the shadows ahead emerged a towering figure clad in dark armor, horns curling back from its helmet, crimson eyes burning with intelligence rather than rage.
The Demon General.
"So," the creature's voice rumbled, echoing across the valley, "the ones who follow my trail finally arrive."
Kale immediately stepped forward, blade drawn. "This ends here," she said coldly. "Your attacks stop today."
The Demon General laughed, a deep, mocking sound. "Bold words from insects."
The fight erupted without warning.
Jake barely had time to react before the battlefield exploded into motion. Flames roared, the ground shattered, and the General moved with terrifying speed. Jake felt his body move before his mind caught up—dodging, striking, surviving. Each action flowed into the next as if success itself guided his movements.
Infinite success.
Still, the pressure was overwhelming.
Kale fought fiercely, her strikes precise, but even she was being pushed back. Jake gritted his teeth, forcing himself forward again and again, feeling bones strain and muscles scream. They could win—but not like this. Not without something breaking.
Then it happened.
The Demon General suddenly stopped mid-attack.
Its crimson eyes widened.
Slowly, deliberately, it turned its gaze past Jake and Kale… and fixed it on Flo.
The battlefield fell silent.
The General took a step back.
Then another.
And then, to Jake's shock, the towering demon lowered itself, one knee hitting the scorched earth with a heavy thud.
"My apologies," the Demon General said, voice no longer mocking but reverent. "I did not recognize you at first."
Jake froze. Kale's grip tightened, her instincts screaming danger.
Flo stepped forward.
"Enough," she said, her voice sharp, carrying authority that cut through the air like a blade. "This ends now."
The Demon General bowed its head. "As you command."
Jake's heart pounded. "Flo…?" he said slowly. "What is this?"
She didn't look at him.
"Leave," Flo ordered. "Withdraw your forces. This conflict is over."
"Yes," the General replied immediately. "At once."
Without another word, it rose, signaling its subordinates to retreat. The oppressive presence faded as the demons vanished into the distance, leaving behind a shattered battlefield and a silence that felt heavier than before.
Jake stared, struggling to process what he had just seen.
Kale turned on Flo instantly, weapon raised. "What are you?" she demanded. "No demon kneels unless ordered by something higher."
Flo finally turned around.
Her hood slipped back.
Her eyes glowed faintly, not with malice, but with something ancient and restrained.
"I didn't want it to happen like this," Flo said quietly. "But you were going to get hurt."
Jake swallowed hard. "Flo… are you a demon?"
She met his gaze directly.
"Yes."
The word hung in the air.
Kale stepped forward, anger and betrayal flashing across her face. "You lied to us."
"I hid the truth," Flo corrected. "Because if I hadn't, I wouldn't be standing here. And neither would you."
Jake felt his chest tighten. His mind raced, replaying every moment, every conversation, every warning Kale had given him. "You could've told us," he said.
Flo looked away. "Would you have listened?"
Silence answered her.
The valley felt colder now, heavier. Nothing had changed… and yet everything had.
"Are you going to kill me?" Flo asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jake stared at her, heart pounding.
The question wasn't just about trust anymore.
It was about what came next.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, Jake realized that surviving wasn't the hardest part.
Choosing who to stand with was.