The older knight stepped closer to the rift, his face tight with concern. "It's held that size for about three days now. But the corruption's spreading. Spores are showing up in the air, and a few of our scouts came back… coughing up roots."
Magnus scoffed, tossing a glance at the twisted foliage. "Classic Gaia demons. Nature's little freak show."
Galen approached the rift's edge, his gait relaxed, almost lazy. He stood there, eyes half-lidded, as if he were staring at a puddle instead of a swirling death hole in reality. After a few moments, he turned and casually strolled back to where he'd been standing, his expression unreadable.
"You said nothing's come out of it yet?" he asked, tone light.
The older knight nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. Not a single creature."
Galen tilted his head. "Let's hope it stays that way. Anyway—head back to base."
"Uh… excuse me?" the older knight blinked, confused. "Why, sir?"
Galen let out a tired exhale, turning his head just slightly. "Not really in the mood to teach right now. So, kindly drag your asses outta here and stand guard at the barrier. That's an order."
The knights exchanged glances, hesitation clear in their eyes. But the older one eventually saluted and turned on his heel. The younger knight stumbled a step before following, still unsure.
"Sir," the young one asked quietly, "should we really be leaving? We're supposed to be holding this ground, aren't we? Fighting demons?"
"You're not wrong," the older knight said without stopping, "but if Galen freaking Magna tells you to move, you move. If he wanted help, he'd ask for it. Which means we'd just slow them down."
He shot a glance over his shoulder. "Let the big dogs play, kid."
As the two knights retreated, Magnus stretched like he'd just woken from a nap. "Sooo, Gally… you wanna clue me in on the vibes here?"
"Something's coming," Galen muttered, eyes locked on the rift. "Don't know what, but it's not the kind of something I want babysitters around for."
Magnus scratched the back of his neck. "Huh. Think it's Sylvathar? I've only seen some crusty sketches and third-hand descriptions. Honestly, I imagine he's like… Gaia demons with a god complex and a gym membership."
"Maybe." Galen's lips twitched into the ghost of a smile. "But I don't care what he looks like. I just want a fight worth remembering."
"Well damn," Magnus said, unwrapping the last of his cream puffs. "Guess we're skipping to the good part, huh?"
But before he could take a bite—
A soft quake, barely enough to shake the pebbles. But the rift reacted instantly, pulsing with a sharp, rhythmic thrum. The black-green mist thickened, churning faster.
Then something moved.
A shape emerged, slow and massive. Like a nightmare coalescing into flesh. Roots slithered over a hulking body, vines woven like armor. Its head was jagged, bark-like, a gnarled mask with two faintly glowing green eyes peering from within.
It had no footsteps, no roar, just… silence. Dreadful, crushing silence.
Galen's eyes narrowed, a flicker of excitement dancing in them. "Yeah… that's not your regular flower boy."
Magnus popped the cream puff into his mouth, chewing lazily. "Huh. Could be Sylvathar. Or maybe just his bigger, angrier cousin."
Galen started walking forward, hands in his pockets like he was heading to a vending machine.
"Either way… let's say hi."
Magnus followed. "Okey dokey, boss."
As the demon descended in eerie silence, its feet kissed the ground without a sound. Arms still clasped behind its back, it stood there like a grim statue, tall and menacing. The rift behind it wavered for a moment, then collapsed inward, vanishing completely. Towering at nine feet tall, its glowing eyes swept the area like a predator scanning new prey.
Galen and Magnus halted a few paces away from the being. Though both stood tall by human standards—6'3" and 6'4" respectively—the demon loomed over them like a living tree given wrath and will. Galen's jaw tightened, his posture still casual but his pride clearly pricked.
"Tch. Hey, bastard," Galen muttered, only his eyes rising to meet the glowing gaze, "I hate being looked down on. So do us both a favor and don't piss me off."
The demon shifted slightly, lowering its head ever so slightly to acknowledge the two men. There was something oddly regal in its motion.
"Humans," it said at last, voice echoing directly into their mind. "How long has it been since I last stepped foot on Amthar? Centuries, perhaps…"
Though its mouth was hidden behind the gnarled mask, the words came as clearly as if whispered in their ears.
"Yeah, yeah, save the nostalgia. You can drool over Amthar some other time. Tell me who you are," Galen said bluntly.
"Hmph. Still so arrogant, so unaware of your place," the demon sneered, the glow in its eyes pulsing. "Lord Sylvathar always said you humans were hopelessly dense. Low in intelligence and high in misplaced confidence."
Magnus blinked, munching on the last bit of his cream puff. "Huh? Hold up. You're not Sylvathar?"
The demon's posture shifted, the surprise almost palpable despite the unmoving faceplate. "Me? Lord Sylvathar?" it scoffed. "Human, you truly are as foolish as they say. I am but the right hand of the Wise Lord Sylvathar. A servant in title, but exalted in purpose. I could never fill his shadow."
That was new. Galen and Magnus exchanged a look—Right hand demon of a Demon Lord? That wasn't in any of the war scrolls.
"So… that means you're a whole different breed than those usual Gaia creeps we keep slapping around?" Galen asked, his tone as bored as it was curious.
"Indeed," the demon said, proud. "As his right hand, my strength surpasses any normal kin who stumbles through these rifts."
Magnus rolled his shoulders lazily, arms behind his head. "Sucks that you're not Sylvathar… but your size checks out. Most Gaia demons ain't fortresses. Got a name, big roots?"
The demon stared down at them for a moment, then answered with grave weight. "Since this shall be the day of your deaths, I shall bestow upon you the courtesy of knowing the one who ends you. I am Karnag. Etch it into your tiny minds and carry it into the afterlife with you."
Galen let out a tired sigh. "Since when did demons start getting emotional?" he asked with a teasing curl to his voice. "Karnag, huh? Cool. Now listen—I'll ask you nicely."
He stepped forward, eyes locked with Karnag's.
"Where is Sylvathar?"
Karnag remained still, but Galen's voice dipped lower, sharper, more venom in each syllable.
"And don't test me with some crap answer. Because here's how it's gonna go: if you waste my time, I'll beat the ever-loving hell outta you. And I'll make sure you stay alive long enough to scream the truth.
"But if you tell me what I want to know right now, I'll make it easy—one clean slice and you're done. Deal?"
The demon's glowing eyes narrowed. "You are bold, human," Karnag hissed. "Impressive, but repulsive. That arrogance… it stinks of your kind."
"Still," he continued, tone shifting to something eerily amused, "If you are so desperate to learn the will of Lord Sylvathar… I shall make you a deal."
He raised his head proudly.
"If either of you can so much as land a single strike on me… I will reveal to you the next step in our divine plan. But I promise you—it will mean nothing, for your lives will end in the process."
Magnus let out a long, low whistle. "Ooh. Sounds spicy. You want me to handle this one, or…?"
"Nah," Galen cut in, removing his trench coat and tossing it to Magnus without breaking eye contact with the demon. "It already ticked me off with its height. Got my neck hurting from looking up."
He rolled his sleeves up, slow and casual, that same deadpan gaze fixed on Karnag. "And besides… I'm a man of my word."
"Alriiighty then," Magnus chirped, catching the coat and flopping down on a nearby jagged rock. "Guess it's solo time. Lucky for me, I brought backup snacks."
As Magnus reached into his pouch, Galen cracked his knuckles and took a step forward.
"You better make this interesting, Roots."
Karnag growled. "The name… is Karnag. Not Roots."
"It seems your arrogance is only matched by your ignorance," the demon continued. "To believe you can stand against me—you are no warrior. You are a fool."
"I'll end this quickly."