the Iron King pushed one trembling hand into the cracked ground. His movements were painfully slow, each breath wheezing through his shattered chest. Most of his armor—once a towering symbol of demon royalty—lay in pieces around him. What remained was dented, burned, and peeling away.
His exposed body was mangled, cuts glowing faintly with demonic energy leaking out like smoke. Yet his eyes, glowing blood-red, still burned with fury and disbelief. He lifted his head, staring at Nolan as though looking upon an impossibility.
"H…How…?" his voice rasped, jagged and raw. "How is a human this strong…?"
He staggered to his feet, swaying like a failing pillar. "A human isn't meant to surpass a demon! A human isn't meant to be superior to me!" His claws clenched as he shouted. "Tell me, Nolan… how are you superior to the Iron King? HOW?!"
