From within the smoke—
They emerged.
Towering figures.
Twice the height of ordinary demons.
Thick black armor fused to crimson flesh.
Massive horns.
Claws the size of swords.
Their eyes glowed like burning furnaces.
Greater Demons.
One reached the frontline first.
A soldier charged bravely.
The demon caught him.
Without effort—
It ripped him in half.
Blood rained across the street.
Another grabbed two civilians.
Their screams ended almost instantly.
A third crushed an entire barricade beneath one swing of its arm.
Panic spread through the ranks.
"...Fall back!"
"No!"
Taai stepped forward.
"We hold!"
The Greater Demons roared together.
The sound shook windows throughout the district.
Then—
The defenders answered.
Rifles fired.
Magic exploded.
Ballista bolts pierced thick flesh.
Spears flew.
Axes swung.
Even knowing many would die—
No one ran.
The battle for the north...
Had truly begun.