Daniel could feel the grotesque power emanating from the four figures before him. As strange as their Dunamis was, it was definitely not of the Dae. More similar to Robert’s, but far more potent. “They’re humans…” He said, his voice full of tension, and Avria and Turak looked at him.

“You’re every bit the person she said you were.” The figure in the middle said, his voice distinctly male. “No Dae could have sensed us.”

The figure pulled the cowl back and revealed a man, with ebony skin and short cropped hair. The three others did the same, and Daniel confirmed they were all human. One was a young woman with white skin, and light brown hair, the other an older looking Asian man, maybe in his mid-forties. The third was a dark-skinned woman, with her hair tied tightly back.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Daniel. There’s no need for the disguise.” The man in the middle said, taking a step forward. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” His dark eyes scanned the warriors around him, and he smirked. “And the company you keep.”

“I see you already know who I am. No doubt from the Espi-Dunam.” Daniel said, leading his Cro’kan forward. “We were on a mission to find you. There is a safe place for humans here in Eleutheros. Tell me your names.”

The man barked out a laugh. “A safe place for humans?” He turned his head toward his companions. “I think that’s a bunch of bullshit. The Dae aren’t our friends.”

“We are honor bound to support the Spirit-Sent.” Avria said, “Daniel can attest to that. We mean you no harm.”

The man's eyes locked onto her, his gaze sharp as a blade, radiating a hatred so palpable it seemed to scorch the air between them. "I don’t believe you." With a swift motion, he flung open his cloak, revealing an incisor blade which he drew with a hiss of scraping bone. His companions mirrored his action, their blades singing as they were unsheathed, the air now thick with the threat of violence.

"This doesn’t have to go this way," Daniel interjected, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. Shit, he thought, feeling the tension escalate. "Let’s just take a second here, we’ve got a lot to discuss. I’m just glad we found you guys. There are more humans in Eleutheros. We have a home here. And the Dae have been helping us."

"The Dae are a blight," the man spat, his voice dripping with contempt, his eyes never leaving Avria.

"At least tell us your names," Daniel pleaded, trying to defuse the situation. "We don’t need to do this."

The man let out a slow and sinister laugh. “They’ve poisoned your mind, Daniel. If you had any idea what we’re really doing here, you’d think differently.”

“What?”

"I am Greyson," the man in the center declared, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He gestured to the brown-haired girl, "This is Lauren," then to the middle-aged man, "This is Dorian," and finally to the dark-skinned girl, "And this is Ashley." Greyson's smile was cold, mocking. "There. Happy?"

"Alright," Daniel managed, swallowing hard against the lump rising in his throat. The power radiating from them was intensifying, a dark, coiling force that felt like corruption incarnate, making his stomach churn with revulsion. "Great, now let’s sit down for a bit, have some wine and talk."

"We can talk, Daniel," Greyson responded, his tone laced with a chilling certainty, "But this isn’t going to go the way you want. You have a decision to make. Right now." He aimed his weapon at Avria, his intent clear. "You have to choose; between us? Or them."

Daniel's eyes found Avria's, her fierce yellow gaze meeting his. He could see the conflict in her, the dawning realization of what this encounter might mean for them all.

"We're not going anywhere," Turak countered sharply. Daniel glanced back to see Turak, his hands tightening on the reins, every muscle ready for combat. "Our High King has charged us to protect and serve Daniel. We will not allow him to be turned over to the likes of you."

"This is ridiculous!" Daniel snapped, frustration boiling over. "I brought them out here to find you and as many other humans as possible. For safe harbor and a way for us to figure out what’s really going on." His words were tinged with desperation, the hope of unity clashing against the looming threat of violence.

“That isn’t an answer, Dan.” Greyson smirked. “What if I told you we know how to get home?”

Daniel’s train of thought came to a screeching halt as they processed Greyson’s words. “What?”

"There it is." The man's smirk widened into a pleased, predatory grin. "Yeah, we already figured it out. And this is just another step in order to make that a reality."

"You guys, actually—" Daniel started, but his words were cut off by an abrupt shout.

"Make up your damn mind!" Ashley bellowed, her anger palpable, and her face twisted in frustration. "It’s simple. Come with us; your own people, and go home? or stay with them."

"Thanks, Ash," Greyson snapped, turning to glare at her with a warning in his eyes. "I’m handling this."

"He’s a Dae lover. Just like his buddy, Robert," Ashley retorted, stepping forward aggressively, her body language screaming readiness for a fight. "The only difference is, we were told to kill him. So why are we sitting around here and playing twenty questions? We already know what we have to do."

"Because he’s a human, Ash!" Lauren interjected, her voice rising from the side, laced with a plea for reason. "He deserves a chance!"

"Wait." Daniel's eyes narrowed, his intent clear. "What did you say about Robert?"

Greyson met his gaze, accepting the challenge. "That’s enough, Ash. We all agreed to talk to him first. Robert is with us."

"Traitor," Avria snarled, her voice dripping with contempt.

"Not a traitor," Turak countered. "She called him a Dae lover. He must be being held against his will."

"Where is he?" Daniel demanded with authority. "I want to see him!"

"That’s not gonna happen," Greyson sighed, the finality in his voice like a door slamming shut. "Unless you come with us."

Fucking bullshit, Daniel thought, his frustration boiling like lava within him. He had yearned for this moment, to find other humans since he'd arrived here, and now, here they were, batshit crazy. "What happens if I come with you?" His question was both a challenge and a desperate plea for some semblance of reason.

“We sit down and go over the details of how to get home.” Greyson shrugged.

“Greyson.” Dorian spoke for the first time, giving the man a warning look. “That wasn’t what she said.”

“Who is she?” Daniel asked, not missing the clear indication of a ringleader not present. “And why would someone want me dead?”

“Are you coming with us or not!?” Ashely yelled, taking another aggressive step forward.

Daniel's eyes narrowed on Greyson, noting how he didn't even try to rein in Ashley's outburst this time. There was something else at play here, a directive Greyson seemed desperate to avoid. But who was this mystery woman they kept referring to? The question gnawed at Daniel. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder, meeting the eyes of Avria and Turak, their bodies tense, muscles rigid with anticipation. Avria's head moved, a slight, almost invisible shake, her yellow eyes conveying a silent warning.

“No.” He finally said. They were clearly hostile, and the aggression displayed thus far left him with little choice. “But I will sit down and talk to you civilly. Or you could come back with us to Vul De Rah.”

Greyson let out a long, disappointed sigh, his shoulders slumping. "That's too bad." With a swift, practiced motion, he slashed at the air with his incisor, and a glowing tear appeared before him, shimmering like a mirage. Daniel recoiled slightly, not anticipating such a bizarre move. The tear expanded silently, the surrounding light distorting as if being pulled into a dark vortex. The interior was pitch black, and from it seeped an overwhelming, corrupt power that assaulted Daniel's senses.

A clawed hand then emerged, gripping the edge of the tear, then another, which began pulling it open. A shadow emerged from within, followed by a grotesque face, a vision from nightmares, with two long, twisted horns curling upwards, casting eerie shadows. Its eyes, black and soulless, found Daniel’s, and in that moment, the world grew colder, the air thick with dread. The creature's gaze was a physical force, a palpable chill that raced down Daniel's spine, the silence around them now charged with the ominous promise of chaos unleashed.

“What in all the?” Turak said, reeling. “It’s a demon!” He drew his blades from his back and readied himself.

Avria's voice shook, but her command was clear, "Daniel! We can't fight a demon here! We must flee!"

"No chance of that!" Dorian bellowed, his blade slicing through the air with a precise arc. At first, nothing seemed to occur, but then a new tear shimmered into existence to their left, the air warping around it like a mirage.

Soon, all around them, humans were slashing at the air, each cut spawning more of these eerie portals. The atmosphere buzzed with the chaotic energy of the unknown, and dozens of the foul monsters began emerging rapidly.

"Enough!" Avria's shout was almost drowned by the cacophony of opening portals and snarling abominations. She thrust her hand forward, and with a screech that pierced the air, a bolt of lightning surged from her palm, aimed directly at Greyson.

Greyson, impossibly fast, countered with a swift slash of his blade and power, intercepting the bolt. The collision resulted in a deafening blast, the shockwave sending everyone staggering. Yet, Greyson stood firm, his smile one of grim satisfaction.

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"These aren't demons, Dae," Greyson declared, his voice cold as he raised his hand towards Avria. "This is."

The ground beneath them trembled, not from fear but from the birth of something ancient and malevolent. A pale, ghastly form began to emerge from the earth, growing with an eerie grace. It was a creature of nightmares, its face and head adorned with seven black, soulless eyes that watched without blinking. The air around it shimmered, distorting as if the very light recoiled from its presence, and it ascended to a towering height of over twenty feet.

Its skin was like a thin, translucent membrane, stretched taut over a dark, skeletal frame that was visible beneath, giving the creature an almost skeletal appearance despite its bulk. Its lips, black as midnight, were pulled back in a perpetual snarl, exposing rows of razor-sharp teeth that promised death. A cloak, made of the same pale flesh that covered its body, draped over its shoulders, adding to its otherworldly horror.

Daniel felt his heart plummet, a cold dread washing over him as he beheld this abomination. "Oh my God…" he whispered, his voice barely escaping his constricted throat, his eyes unable to look away from the menacing figure.

"This is Ool'ak," Greyson said, his hand now pointing directly at Avria, his finger like the blade of a guillotine. "Kill them all."

The command was issued with such finality that it seemed to echo in the charged air, sealing their fate as the monstrous Ool'ak stood, an embodiment of terror, ready to fulfill its master's bidding.

The Demon opened its maw, unleashing a howl that resonated with such force it seemed to vibrate through Daniel's very bones. His Cro'kan, overwhelmed by terror, bucked and tried to flee despite Daniel's desperate attempts to keep it in place. The sound was so piercing, it could have shattered glass; Daniel pressed his hands against his ears in a futile attempt to shield himself from the sonic assault. Through his half-closed eyes, he caught a blur of motion; Ool'ak, the massive creature, rushing past him, its form a terrifying comet of death aimed at Avria.

Avria, with reflexes honed by countless battles and decades of experience, leaped from her Cro'kan just as Ool'ak's jaws, expanding to an impossible width, clamped down on the creature. The Cro'kan let out a howl of agony as Ool'ak's teeth tore through its flesh, shredding it with voracious bites until the mount was nothing more than a gruesome memory.

"Defend the Princess and the Spirit-Sent!" Turak's voice cut through the chaos as he leaped off his own panic-stricken Cro'kan, his hands conjuring two blades of water that he sent hurtling towards the four humans. But a hulking creature stepped in the line of fire, its body erupting in a fountain of black blood as the water blades sliced through it. The creature's dying screech was a grim herald of the carnage to come.

In that moment, the air was filled with the rush of bodies as every single creature that had emerged from the portals launched their attack. The ground trembled with their charge, the air now thick with the scent of blood and fear. Daniel's party was suddenly at the epicenter of a maelstrom of claws, fangs, and dark magic, each creature driven by a singular purpose; to destroy them.

Daniel dismounted and sprinted towards Avria, who had just evaded another deadly strike from Ool'ak. "Avria!" he shouted, his fear morphing into seething anger at the sight of the demon attempting to consume her. Avria, quick as lightning, infused her blade with electricity, slashing at Ool'ak's side. The creature recoiled, growling in pain from the electric assault. Daniel slid in beside her, assuming one of his practiced combat stances with his incisor blade ready.

"We need to escape, Daniel!" Avria panted, her face now slick with sweat, more so from fear than exertion. "This creature is beyond any of us!"

Before Daniel could respond, his instincts screamed danger; he spun, releasing a blast of white-golden flames that intercepted a water attack from Greyson.

Greyson laughed, the sound chilling. "I knew you had something up your sleeve!"

Daniel quickly scanned the battlefield. The Rexun warriors were locked in a desperate struggle against the horned creatures, with Captain Malak's commands booming above the chaos of Dunamis and otherworldly howls. Turak leaped towards the humans, felling two creatures with swift, bloody strokes. Seizing Greyson's momentary distraction, Daniel imbued himself with speed, dashing forward to strike at Greyson's throat. His hope was simple: kill the summoner, and hopefully, disrupt the control over the creatures.

But as his blade flashed, Ashley's sword intercepted, blocking his attack. Greyson, now alert, blasted Daniel with a wave of water. "You son of a bitch!" he roared, his voice thick with fury. "You want to die with these fucking things so bad, huh?"

Turning to Ashley, Daniel's attacks were relentless, now seeing her only as an enemy. After several exchanges, it was clear she was outmatched; her movements were clumsy against his strength. He nearly disarmed her but was thwarted by Greyson's swift intervention, who knocked Daniel back with a shoulder charge that felt like being hit by a boulder. His bone breastplate absorbed much of the impact, but Daniel still stumbled, raising his sword once more.

"Greyson!" Lauren's voice cut through the din from their left, her arm bleeding profusely as she scrambled away from a blood-soaked Turak. The Dae Lord, resembling a demon himself, with the black blood and viscera of his foes coating his body, cut down two more creatures who attempted to stop him with lethal efficiency. Dorian, in retaliation, sent a barrage of spikes and stones at Turak, who dodged with terrifying agility before impaling Dorian's thigh with one of his blades. Dorian, in pain, encased himself in stone armor to fend off the next attack.

"Ool'ak!" Greyson's command was sharp, redirecting the demon's attention. "Kill this one!"

Daniel lunged at Greyson, their blades clashing in a flurry. Greyson was a formidable opponent, yet Daniel's rage-fueled attacks pushed him back. Suddenly, a blast of black energy from Greyson sent Daniel staggering backward. The air around Greyson twisted with the dark Dunamis of a Dae-leu, the water black and viscous like tar.

Daniel gritted his teeth and blocked the attack with a wall of white flame. The corrupted water hissed, and steam covered their surroundings. In that time, Daniel realized that this battle was more than they could handle. He needed to take it seriously. He dropped his incisor blade and summoned his metal sword in a flash of light. He focused his power into it, and it glowed golden like a beacon in the darkness. Greyson’s form appeared as the steam blew away from them, and Daniel saw his eyes widen at the sight of his new weapon.

There was a loud screech behind him, and Daniel turned just in time to dodge the gaping maw of Ool’ak. The attack was so sudden, he had to leap to the side without hope of finding his footing. He slid on the blood soaked grass, and struggled to get up. The Demon turned back to him, poised to strike again. Shit! Daniel thought, unable to dodge in time.

"Daniel!" Avria's voice cut through the chaos, her command clear as she sent an incredibly potent bolt of lightning crashing into Ool'ak. The Dunamis struck the demon with a blinding flash, eliciting a screech of pain as it stumbled backward. "Focus on the beast!" she shouted, not to Daniel, but to the Rexunii warriors who had just finished off the last of the lesser creatures, now rallying around Daniel. They unleashed their Dunamis in a concerted effort against the towering menace.

Ool'ak, in response, raised its colossal arms for the first time, the flesh cloak on its shoulders unfurling like horrific wings of pale, almost translucent skin. With a bone-chilling screech, it brought these wings down, releasing a wave of black flame that surged towards Daniel and his allies.

Daniel's response was immediate and fierce, his body alight with an eruption of white-gold flame. His determination was palpable; he would not let this abomination claim any of their lives. As the two opposing forces clashed, Daniel felt immense pressure; it was like holding back an avalanche with his bare hands. His screams were of pure rage, a battle cry against the overwhelming force. But just as he felt himself about to be consumed by the power, the assault ceased abruptly, leaving him drained and collapsing onto the blood-soaked grass.

As he fell, time seemed to slow. His body felt weak and heavy, and as he glanced up at his opponent, he realized he was too slow to react as Ool'ak lunged with its gaping maw towards him. Fear, raw and consuming, filled Daniel as he reflected on his inadequacy against this creature.

Then, in a blur of motion, he felt a hand grasp him, and with immense strength pushed him to the side. The demon's jaws snapped shut with a wet crunch, just missing him. Blue blood sprayed across his face as he stumbled, but turned to see Avria caught in the demon’s maw. Time seemed to stop as the sight was processed before him. He looked into her eyes; those beautiful, yellow eyes that had been his beacon through so many dark times, full of determination and strenght. They were now wide and filled with fear, tears and sorrow.

Her scream tore through the air as Ool'ak's jaws bit down once more, its razor-sharp teeth slicing into her flesh and bone. Blue blood, vivid and horrifying, cascaded from her wounds, with half her body now consumed by the monstrous abyss.

"Avria!" Daniel's voice was a mix of terror and heartbreak, his hand stretching out in a futile attempt to reach her. "No!"

"Daniel!" Her voice was desperate, filled with a trembling fear that plunged like a dagger into Daniel’s heart. “Da—"

The demon opened its maw once more, and with a finality that echoed through Daniel's soul, it swallowed Avria whole. The world around him seemed to darken, the noise of battle fading into a somber silence as the reality of her loss sunk in, leaving only the echo of her last, unfinished call for him.

Time itself seemed to freeze for Daniel as the horrific images of Avria's last moments replayed in his mind, each flash a torment. Grief clawed at him, morphing his sorrow into an inferno of rage. With a scream that tore from his soul, he charged at Ool'ak, the embodiment of his anguish, his golden sword swinging with the fury of a vengeful god. The creature, seemingly surprised at his sudden surge of power, raised its arm to block, but Daniel's blade sliced through it like paper, severing the limb with a spray of black blood.

Ool'ak's roar was one of agony as it staggered back, clutching at the stump where its arm once was. Daniel, driven by loss, leaped for another strike, but the demon, in a desperate escape, sank into the earth, evading him. As it disappeared, its seven eyes locked with Daniel's, filled not with malice but with fear: fear of him. The ground erupted with an explosion of flames where Daniel's sword struck, dirt and grass flying in all directions.

Daniel raged at the monster’s escape, turning to find another target for his wrath. But the battle was over, and with it, his enemies had vanished. Greyson, along with his companions, was nowhere to be seen. And the last of the monsters from the portal had been dispatched. Daniel's shout was raw, "Fuck!" he screamed hoarsely. As an eerie silence came over the battlefield.

Tears welled up, not just from anger but from a profound sense of loss. "Avria..." he whispered, collapsing to his knees, the name a lamentation. "Avria..." His grief consumed him, the reality of her brutal end by a demon, summoned by humans, shattered his spirit.

"Please!" The desperate cry of a woman cut through the haze of Daniel's grief. His gaze snapped to the source, landing on Lauren, one of Greyson's group, her knees embedded in the blood-soaked dirt. Turak's incisors were buried deep in her guts, the flesh around the blades torn and seeping. She clutched at them with her bare, bloody hands, coughing up a froth of blood as her body convulsed with pain.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Turak's voice was a venomous hiss as he twisted the blades, the sound of grating against bone and muscle sickeningly clear.

Daniel's rage ignited anew, his focus narrowing to her. He stormed over, his sword a flash of gold against her throat, the metal cold against her skin. "Where the fuck did he go!?"

She sobbed, the pain making her words stutter. "P...please!" Blood flowed freely from her mouth, painting her chin red. "Don’t k-kill me!"

"Tell me where Greyson went!" Daniel roared, his voice raw with hate. "Tell me, you piece of shit!"

"Daniel!" Turak's shout was like a physical blow, pulling Daniel from the brink. "We need her alive."

The words were a harsh reminder, but Daniel's vision was still clouded with red, his desire for revenge nearly overwhelming.

"We need her alive, Daniel," Turak repeated, his tone firm as he yanked his blades out of her stomach. The sound was wet, gruesome as flesh and organs gave way. Lauren screamed, collapsing into a fetal position, her cries a mix of pain and terror. "Humans are resilient," Turak growled to the warriors around him. "I've seen them take far worse. Bind her. Keep her wounded. If she starts to heal, cut her open again. We don’t know her powers or if she can bring more of those foul creatures upon us. We need to keep her weak."

"Yes, my Lord," Malak responded, his voice steady as he and two others moved to bind Lauren. She was soon hauled off toward the carriage, her sobs and cries of pain fading.

Daniel's senses were dulled, and the world around him a blur of sounds and motion. He rubbed at a wetness on his cheek, and his hand came away stained blue. It was the blood of a Dae. Avria’s blood, he realized. A lump grew in his throat, and his heart turned to ice. She’s gone… he thought. She had been ripped away from him in the most violent and gut-wrenching way possible. The thoughts left him hollow, as he recalled it over and over again. He growled in futility against the fates, closing his eyes as tight as he could, until all that remained was the haunting image of her terror-stricken eyes, and her voice calling his name in those last, desperate moments.