Levi braced for impact with the floor, but hit something soft and hairy instead, though he still had the wind knocked out of him. He rolled off the Apelike warrior that cushioned his fall, hitting the cement hard. Levi tried to rise but couldn’t; his legs felt like jelly. Helpless, he closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

The attack didn't come, so he opened his eyes.

Around him all the beasts had stopped, staring intently at the pile of rubble where Surtr must have fallen. They seemed to be hesitating; not sure what to do without their leader. Levi didn't wait around. As soon as he could move he crawled over to a pile of scrap metal and broken crates; worming his way underneath them as best he could and hoping he hadn't been seen. From the gaps in his hiding place he looked back at the rubble, praying it was over.

For a moment there was silence. Then the rubble shivered, sending a moan of anticipation through the waiting monsters. A moment later a blackened figure rose from the midst of the rubble; flinging concrete and metal as if they were no more than paper.

Levi let out a moan as well, burying his head in his hands. It's over, he thought. They'd tried everything and it wasn't enough. The demon had them beat and there was nothing else they could do. How could they win against something like that?

Then the doors to the north slammed open causing Levi to look up. Was it Ravea and Melanie? Was there a chance of beating this thing still? Then Levi's hopes were dashed as he saw the single figure standing at the door. It was the Farr lady. Had she really bested Liz's parents? He didn't want Liz to see this, even if they were about to die.

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But the blonde hunter staggered forward, clutching her side, as blood poured from an open wound. Behind her, Ravea and Melanie, Reggie, and about a half a dozen hunters Levi had never seen before, came rushing into the warehouse.

Levi watched in amazement as the nine of them cut down the monsters surrounding Surtr as if they were grass. The hunters worked in deadly unison, a dance performed by masters; striking dodging, advancing, retreating, till Surtr stood alone, cut off from its allies.

The monster was fast though, fast and powerful, striking with malice born from millennia of hatred. Each time an opening presented, the demon closed it, counterattacking with such force that he sent the hunters dancing back for fear of their lives. Still, as they retreated the others closed in behind, and the dance continued.

The end happened fast. Surtr had slowly been pushing the ring back toward the command platform, though so gradually Levi couldn't even be sure it was done on purpose. As soon as three of the hunters were well under the platform, the demon lashed out with tongues of black flame, shattering the support beams to send the platform, and those who remained on it, crashing down on top of the hunters.

In the instant Surtr’s attention was toward the platform, Ravea leapt forward. He grasped the demon from behind with massive arms, tempered by years at the forge. It was for only a moment that he pinned it, holding fast as the demon struggled, but it was enough. In that last desperate moment, as the demon was beginning to break free, Reggie's sword flashed in a stray beam of sunlight as it arced out, severing Surtr’s head from its body.

The head spun through the air, hit the ground with a thud, and rolled haphazardly along the cement till it disappeared down a storm drain.

After a moment of shocked silence, the few remaining attackers broke and ran, howling as they went. Quick as lightning, the hunters took off in pursuit, and then there was silence again.