Its massive claw descended directly toward the king.
Jack moved first.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
He shoved Akshay away.
The impact sent the king rolling across the street.
Then the claw struck.
A deafening crash echoed through the district.
Stone exploded.
Dust filled the air.
And when it settled—
Jack was gone.
Nothing remained except shattered debris.
Akshay stared.
Disbelief filling his face.
"No..."
The king's voice barely escaped.
Andre clenched his fists.
Kai felt sick.
The city had just lost its commander.
The soldiers saw it too.
And their rage exploded.
The battle became desperate.
Personal.
Every soldier pushed forward.
Every citizen who could fight joined.
And at the center of it all, Kai saw the demon stagger.
An opening.
Small.
Brief.
Enough.
"Andre!"
Andre immediately understood.
The giant thief sprinted forward.
Akshay followed.
Together they distracted the demon.
Giving Kai exactly one chance.
Kai leapt.
Higher than he thought possible.
The world seemed to slow.
Then he saw it.
A glowing blue core inside the demon's chest.
Instinct screamed.
Hit there.
So he did.
His fist slammed into the exposed core.
A crack appeared.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
The demon froze.