The captain drew in a shuddering breath. "We remained hidden. But then—then the blast came. A thunderous explosion shook the temple walls, and the ground itself quaked beneath us. We knew then that Leader Hayes had encountered the Third Demon King."
The name itself seemed to steal the air from the chamber. The knights' faces paled, their bodies trembling as if caught once more in the demon's shadow.
"We felt it, my king," the captain whispered. "Our energy drained, our minds slipping into madness. Just as you warned us, the awakening tried to consume us, to sacrifice our very souls to fuel the Demon King's return. We had no choice but to take the potions you gave us. And then we struck the gates with all our might, desperate to break through, for we knew it was the only moment the Demon King would be vulnerable… the only chance to seize his heart."
