The Fire Spirit Lord inhaled hard, forcing composure into his trembling frame. “Fire Demon Lord, you were sealed in the Flame Prison of level nine. How can you possibly stand here now?”
A rasping laugh peeled from the Fire Demon Lord’s chest, low thunder rolling through a tinder-dry sky. “Sealed? Those withered relics truly believed shackles forged of their fear could bind me?”
He paused, eyes narrowing to burning slits. “I not only broke free, I returned stronger than flame itself. And I have come, Fire Spirit Lord, for one purpose, to collect what you owe.”
“Settle a debt?” The Fire Spirit Lord’s brow tightened. “We have never been foes, recent or ancient. What grievance do you imagine exists between us?”
“No grievances between us?” He gave a low, icy chuckle. “If you and those withered fossils hadn’t blindsided me back then, I’d never have rotted away in the Flame Prison for all these years. That debt will be paid in full today, down to the last ember.”
The onlookers traded uneasy glances as realization settled over them. Both men were ancient titans from level nine, bound together by a feud older than recorded history.
“You started that slaughter,” the Fire Spirit Lord shot back, color draining from his face. “Your depraved arts butchered countless innocents. We moved against you only to enforce justice for the heavens…”
“To enforce justice for the heavens?” The Fire Demon Lord’s laughter cracked like burning rock. “This universe runs on one law, devour or be devoured. The weak perish, their screams mean nothing to me.”
“Tonight I’ll have my revenge on you, and the entire level six will burn for every torment l endured!” threatened.
His gaze slid to the emerald vial clutched in the Fire Spirit Lord’s hand, a dark anticipation sparking within the infernal glow of his eyes.
“Fire Spirit Lord. hand me that emerald vial.” His voice was razor-cold, each word hissing like oil on flame.
Clutching the vial closer to his chest, the Fire Spirit Lord asked, “What are you plotting?”
“Plotting? I intend to release the Soul Devourer. The creature is the son of a dear friend, long lost to time. I will not stand idle while you keep the boy sealed away.”
“You…” The Fire Spirit Lord blanched. “You would unleash to ravage the realms again?”
“Ravage the realms?” He snorted. “This world crowns the strong. If the Soul Devourer has the power to rule, then rule shall. You so-called righteous saints merely envy his strength. I’ll ask one last time, will you give me the vial?”
The Fire Spirit Lord tightened his grip until his knuckles shone white. “Never. His crimes stain the sky itself. I will not let you set loose.”
“Magnificent… Truly the picture of virtue,” the Fire Demon Lord cackled. “Since you refuse to comply, you can swallow the blade.”
Dark-red flames erupted around him, doubling in height and fury, and the aura radiated grew so dense that the ground itself seemed to groan.
Boom!
An explosive roar split the air and sent shock waves ripping through the canyon walls.
The gorge trembled as the Fire Demon Lord’s power blasted outward. Air ignited, the temperature soared high enough to blister skin with a single breath.
Jared and the others fought for breath, stunned to realize the demon’s might clearly matched the Fire Spirit Lord’s own.
“Come, Fire Spirit Lord, let us settle our ancient score!”
In a blur of crimson light vanished, reappearing a heartbeat later as a streak hurtling straight toward his foe. Another deafening boom cracked across the valley floor.
His speed was so ferocious that, to mortal eyes, seemed to materialize directly before the Fire Spirit Lord, the flames trailing like a comet’s tail.
The Fire Demon Lord flexed his right hand into a hooked talon. A dark-crimson inferno streamed from each fingertip as raked toward the Fire Spirit Lord’s chest.
The sky itself screamed where that claw scythed, the air tearing open with a shrill, metallic howl.
