The Villain Professor's Second Chance

I clicked my tongue in frustration, gripping my sword tightly as I recalculated my next move. The two demons were working together—smart, but it meant I'd have to adjust my strategy. Their coordination was impressive, but predictable in its simplicity. They were relying on brute strength and elemental dominance. All I had to do was outthink them.

I shifted my gaze to the others. Aurelia was still engaged in a brutal duel with the fire demon. Her golden flames clashed violently with the demon's inferno, lighting up the battlefield in bursts of fire and heat. Sweat dripped down her face, and I could see a faint cut on her arm, seeping blood. She was holding her own, but just barely. The demon wasn't giving in, and neither was she.

Aurelia gritted her teeth, frustration flashing in her eyes as the fire demon lunged at her again, its claws igniting with searing heat. She barely dodged the strike, but not without taking another hit to her arm. She cursed loudly, swinging her hand in a wide arc, sending a torrent of golden flames toward the demon. Continue reading stories on empire

It screeched, but instead of retreating, it seemed to absorb some of the fire, growing more ferocious.

"Bastard," Aurelia spat, her eyes narrowing. She stepped back, clutching her injured arm, blood mixing with sweat as she fought to keep her breathing steady. She glanced my way, her frustration evident, but before she could say anything, something moved in the shadows.

A blur of darkness swirled around her—an all-too-familiar sensation. My eyes widened in recognition.

The shadow demon.

The demon of decay, moving with the speed granted by its shadowy ally, appeared from the darkness behind her. Its grotesque hand reached out, aiming for her head. If it touched her, she would die instantly. Everything it touched decayed to dust, and Aurelia was moments from being its next victim.

She didn't see it. Or perhaps she did, but had no time to react.

"Aurelia!" I shouted, already in motion. I didn't think, only acted. My legs pushed off the ground, my sword held tightly in my right hand as I crossed the distance between us in an instant. Just before the decay demon's hand could reach her, I grabbed Aurelia by the arm and pulled her back, spinning us both out of harm's way.

But the move had cost me.

In saving her, I had left myself vulnerable.

I heard the hiss of decay before I felt it. Cold fingers wrapped around my left arm, and the searing pain shot through my body like wildfire. The decay demon had grabbed me.

Aurelia, still caught in the motion of being pulled away, turned toward me, her eyes wide with horror as she realized what had just happened.

"Draven!"

But it was too late.

Moments before the demon had gotten hold of me, my mind had been racing. I had seen the move play out in my head a dozen times, analyzing every possible outcome. The shadow demon's speed was a problem—it allowed the other demons to reposition and attack at unpredictable angles. That's how the decay demon had been able to close in on Aurelia without her noticing.

It wasn't an easy enemy to track, constantly shifting through the battlefield like smoke.

Aurelia's golden flames, despite their raw power, were too wild and unfocused. They provided a brilliant offensive force but didn't do much in terms of defense, especially not against the decay demon's abilities. Her injured arm only made her more vulnerable.

As for Anastasia, her dark flames were holding the shadow demon at bay, but I could tell she was struggling to keep it contained. The nature of the shadow demon allowed it to slip through her fire more easily than the others. I needed to give her an opening, something to break its focus.

But first, I had to deal with the decay demon—and its deadly grip on me.

The pain was unbearable, as if my very flesh was rotting away beneath its touch. I could feel my muscles weakening, the energy draining from my body as the decay spread up my arm. I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in to the pain.

I needed to act fast. My mind raced, piecing together a plan, even as the demon's grip tightened.

"Cruxion flare ignis!" I shouted, forcing my right hand to move. With a sharp flick of my wrist, I conjured a blast of concentrated flame, aimed directly at the decay demon's chest.

The blast hit its mark, forcing the demon to let go of me as it staggered back, screeching in pain. I stumbled, my left arm limp at my side, already showing signs of decay. The skin had turned a sickly gray, and I could feel the rot creeping further up toward my shoulder.

Aurelia was at my side in an instant, her golden flames flaring to life as she pressed them against the decayed flesh. The pain was blinding, but I forced myself to stay conscious, watching as her flames burned away the rot, stopping its spread. Her eyes met mine, wide with panic.

"Bastard," she muttered, her voice shaking. "You stupid bastard, why'd you do that?"

I didn't answer. There wasn't time.

The decay demon was still moving, its blackened eyes locked on me with murderous intent. The shadow demon had regrouped as well, flickering at the edges of the battlefield, its movements quick and hard to track. I could hear the fire demon and Anastasia still locked in combat behind us, her dark flames clashing with its roaring inferno. We couldn't afford to lose focus now.

I pushed Aurelia back, ignoring her protests as I forced myself to stand. The pain in my left arm was still there, a dull, throbbing ache, but it was manageable. For now.

"Lyan," I called, my voice sharp. "Create an opening for Anastasia."

Lyan's illusions were already shifting, new phantoms of Anastasia flickering across the battlefield, drawing the shadow demon's attention. The real Anastasia took the opportunity to strike, her dark flames surging forward, encasing the shadow demon in a cage of fire. It screeched, writhing as the flames closed in around it.

"Good," I muttered under my breath. "Now for the decay demon."

I could see it moving toward us again, its decayed form radiating with dark energy. Aurelia shifted beside me, her golden flames crackling in the air as she readied herself for the next attack. Her injured arm still bled, but she was as determined as ever, her eyes burning with defiance.

"Don't let it touch you," I warned, my voice low. "If it gets close, use your flames to keep it at bay."

"Yeah, no shit, Draven," she snapped, though her voice lacked its usual bite. She was still shaken from the close call, but she wasn't about to admit it.

The decay demon lunged again, its rotting hands outstretched, aiming for both of us. I sidestepped the attack, slashing at its side with my sword. The blade connected, but it barely made a dent in the demon's decayed flesh. It was like trying to cut through stone.

Aurelia's flames roared to life once more, her golden fire crashing into the demon with full force. The decay demon shrieked, its body writhing as the fire scorched its flesh, but it didn't retreat. Instead, it pushed forward, its decayed hand reaching out for Aurelia's head.

"Damn it," Aurelia cursed, stepping back, her flames flickering as she tried to hold it off.

Shit.

These demons know Aurelia's potential perhaps.

That's why they are all aiming for her.

The decay demon's hand was inches from her head, the air around it crackling with dark energy. I could see the panic in her eyes—she knew if it touched her, it was over.

But I couldn't let that happen.

Without thinking, I moved. My body acted on instinct, ignoring the pain in my arm as I reached for Aurelia, pulling her away from the demon's grasp just in time. We stumbled back together, the demon's decayed hand missing her by mere inches.

But in saving her, I had left myself exposed.

Before I could react, the demon's hand shot out, and this time, it didn't miss.

Cold, rotting fingers wrapped around my left arm, and the decay spread instantly, the pain searing through me like wildfire. My vision blurred, and I could hear Aurelia shouting my name, her voice filled with fear.

"Draven!"

But it was too late.

The demon had me.