Red Smoke reveals himself from the shroud of darkness. Dark red fumes exude from his hulking body. Bloody spaulders generate screeching sounds as the tightened mountains of muscle around his shoulders and chest shift with each movement.

“Seraphiona, baby, good to see you again. You always look dashing in your armor.” A smirk spreads across Red Smoke’s face as he walks closer toward Kevin and Seraphina, the goons of evil spirits howling eagerly.

“I can’t believe you show up here! Didn’t all of you run back to the void last time after we crushed that grotesque priestess of yours?”

“And I also impaled your brother and gutted him like a fish.”

Red Smoke is not intimidated by Seraphina’s words. On the contrary, she visibly shudders after his remark.

“You filthy spirits! You think the Lady of Old Will will tolerate you being here? She is coming at this point! The second you show yourselves!”

“No way we can win against that old lady. We are here just for that boy. Hand him over.” Red Smoke extends his hand and points at Kevin.

“Wait, wait, wait… why me?” Kevin is shaken by the mutilated face before him. Ravenous eyes lock onto him like a wolf targeting its prey.

Seraphina steps forward, blocking Red Smoke from Kevin. A sword of light materializes in her hand, and her stance prepares her for the ferocious attacks.

“We don’t have much time for this. Get her!”

The goons of evil spirits let out screeches of excitement and bolt toward their prey.

With a warrior’s cry of fortitude, Seraphina’s first slash cuts down several evil spirits before she is scratched. One hand guides Kevin to synchronize with her pace while she deflects the claws of their enemies.

The light sword eradicates enemies like weeds. The moment the blade digs into their bodies, the goons immediately vaporize into smoke.

“Keep her busy.” Red Smoke walks around them, searching for a moment of weakness that will deliver victory.

Seraphina deflects a sneaky attack from her left with her gauntlet; the claw lodges into the metal. She sends out a powerful kick, catapulting the claw and its owner through the air. Only new gouges remain.

In her peripheral vision, a dark, lunging figure bolts toward Kevin. She turns, deflects the attack, and follows with a fierce flurry that destroys the assassin.

At that exact moment, a red shadow crosses the field like a cannonball, crashes into Seraphina’s flank, sends her flying, and hammers a crater into the ground.

Seraphina feels the massive impact creep through her body; her left shoulder is numb and burning. She does not have time to rest before more evil spirits jump at her. She rolls to the side, quickly gets up, and laboriously parries the incoming attacks.

She tries to close the distance between herself and Kevin, but Red Smoke now stands between them. Kevin hangs three feet off the ground, his collar clenched in a giant, rusty, bloody gauntlet.

“Well, hello there.” A bloody smirk shows on the mutilated face beneath the hood. Kevin shudders from the menace exuding from the monster in front of him.

“Let me go!” Kevin flails his arms and legs, pummeling his fists on the giant gauntlet. The stitches cry out with ripping sounds.

“Help! Help! Get your ugly face away from me!”

SHOOOOOM!!!

A beam of light plunges from the sky directly above Kevin and Red Smoke. Within the blinding column, Red Smoke sees a wolf—white as snow and radiating light—emerge and bite into his arm without mercy.

In pain, Red Smoke drops Kevin. The wolf catches him on its back and runs toward Seraphina.

“What is this creature!” Red Smoke is agitated by the surprise attack. Black blood gushes from the wound but quickly stops bleeding.