The fortress stood in the distance. Its walls glowed with molten lava, slowly oozing and shifting as though the entire castle was breathing. The air shimmered with heat, and the ground beneath them grew warmer the closer they got.

"That's… not what I expected," Kale said, squinting at the strange sight.

"It's Malakar," Namara replied. "He's dramatic like that."

As they crept closer, they noticed a figure standing under what looked like a tree—a tree made of blackened, charred wood with embers glowing along its branches as if they were leaves. Malakar stood beneath it, his gaze turned upward as he spoke to a strange, cat-like creature perched on a low branch. The creature's body was feline, sleek and muscular, but its head was unlike anything Kale had seen, resembling a twisted badger with sharp, protruding fangs. Its yellow eyes blinked lazily as it seemed to listen to Malakar's cheerful chatter.

"That's him?" Kale asked, peeking around the rock they were hiding behind.

Namara nodded. "That's him. And that's your cue."

"Wait," Kale whispered. "Can't we just attack him from here? He looks pretty occupied with… whatever that is." He gestured to the cat-like creature.

Namara shook her head. "No. We're too far away. Besides, you need to get him angry enough so he won't sense us coming."

"And how exactly am I supposed to get him angry?"

"Just be yourself," Liliana said. "Make conversation. Ask him some questions."

"Why would that make him angry?" Kale asked.

Liliana laughed. "Just… don't overthink it. Just say whatever comes into your mind. He's a demon lord, Kale, he'll find a way to get offended."

Kale sighed, looking from them to the demon lord ahead. "Alright then." He shrugged, his stomach twisting with nerves as he stepped out from their hiding spot.

Malakar towered at least twice Kale's height, his body lean and muscled. For a demon lord, he seemed relatively normal, not as monstrous or terrifying as Kale had expected. His posture was relaxed, and the cheerful tone of his conversation with the strange creature only added to the bizarre image.

Kale walked up slowly. When he finally reached Malakar, he hesitated before clearing his throat. "Hi."

Malakar glanced at him briefly, then back to the creature. A second later, his head snapped back toward Kale, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "Why are you here?" he asked, his voice deep and rumbling.

"Huh," Kale said, tilting his head. "You don't look like a ball."

Malakar's expression froze. "What?"

"You just don't look like a big ball, that's all," Kale said with a shrug.

Malakar's eyes narrowed further, and smoke began to rise from his shoulders. "What in Runom's festering asshole are you talking about, human?"

Kale shrugged again. "They told me you'd look like a big ball of friendship. But you just look like a regular guy."

The smoke thickened, swirling around Malakar's body as his confusion gave way to anger. The cat-like creature meowed softly, but Malakar didn't even notice.

"Human," Malakar growled, fire beginning to glow in his eyes. "If you value your life, you'd better start making sense."

"I told you," Kale said. "They said you'd look like a ball!"

The flames in Malakar's eyes flared brighter as his body ignited, fire licking up his arms. "Now listen here, you little—"

Before he could finish, a thunderous crack split the air. Sadek's spear flew out of nowhere, slicing cleanly through Malakar's neck. His head and shoulders exploded in a burst of flame and smoke, his charred remains crumpling to the ground in a smoldering heap.

Kale blinked, looking back toward the others as Sadek emerged. "Well," Kale said, coughing, trying to wave away the smoke. "That was… quick."

Namara strode forward, inspecting the remains with a satisfied smile. "And here I thought this would be difficult." She looked at Kale. "Good job, by the way. You really know how to rile someone up."

"I didn't do anything," Kale muttered, brushing ash off his sleeve.

A low rumble rolled through the air. The ground beneath them began to tremble, and Kale's eyes widened as Malakar's smoldering remains stirred. The molten pieces of his body started to shift, flowing like lava, coalescing back into shape.

"Uh… guys?" Kale said, taking a step back.

Namara's smile faded as she watched the molten fragments reform. "Hmmm, that's inconvenient."

Malakar's head began to reappear, molten rock solidifying into a snarling visage. His body rebuilt itself, flames dancing along his newly formed limbs. As his eyes reignited, he turned to the tree behind him.

A large chunk of it was missing, where the strange cat-like creature had been, only four smoking, charred paws remained.

Malakar's gaze lingered on the remains of the creature for a long, tense moment. Then, with an eerie, deliberate slowness, he turned to face Kale and the others, his fiery eyes locking onto them. His expression was no longer confused, it was pure, seething rage.

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"Huh," Kale said. "That's… not great."

Malakar's jaw cracked open, his voice a deep, guttural roar. "You dare?" The heat in the air intensified, waves of shimmering distortion rippling out from his body.

Sadek readied his spear, stepping forward. "I knew it would be some bullshit."

Namara tilted her head. "I think you might have upset him."

Malakar raised his blazing arms, fire erupting around him, scorching the ground. "You will burn for this!" he roared, the ground beneath him glowing with flowing cracks as he lunged forward.

"Yep," Kale muttered, unsheathing his blade. "Definitely not great."

Kale ducked low and rolled to avoid a fist smashing into the ground. The impact sent molten shards flying, singeing his armor as he scrambled back to his feet.

Sadek's spear crackled with lightning as he hurled it toward Malakar, the bolt striking the demon lord's shoulder. Sparks burst across his body, but Malakar barely flinched.

"Keep poking him!" Sadek yelled. "We just need to keep him focused!"

"Focused?" Kale asked, sidestepping another fiery strike. "Focused on what? Killing us?"

Namara hovered nearby. "You're doing fine, Kale. Just keep him distracted."

"Distracted? He's going to kill me!" Kale shouted. "And he's made of fire!"

"Figure it out!" Namara yelled. She raised her hand, blowing a smoky kiss toward Malakar. As the smoke reached him, clawed hands erupted from the ground, pulling at his flaming limbs.

For a moment, the shadowy souls held, their desperate grip dragging him downward. Malakar roared, flames surging outward as he intensified his heat. The shadows hissed and evaporated, leaving the ground scorched and smoking.

"Still trying that old trick, Lirathiel?" Malakar said, his voice crackling like burning wood. "You'll need more than that."

Namara smiled. "Oh, darling, you remembered!"

Liliana darted forward, crimson blood spikes coiling in her hands. She hurled them toward Malakar in rapid succession, each one sizzling into steam before they could pierce him.

Kale watched her attacks fizzle out, just like Sadek's lightning had, just like Namara's shadows had. His fire simply burned too hot for anything to touch him.

They needed his heart. That was the only way to end this. But how were they supposed to reach it when getting close enough to land a hit meant being incinerated?

If magic wouldn't work, maybe steel would. If nothing could survive long enough to reach Malakar's core, then he'd just have to carve straight to it before the heat could stop him.

Kale exhaled, adjusting his stance. "If shadows, blood, and lightning won't work…" He rolled his shoulders. "Maybe we need something sharper."

Focusing his energy, he extended his hand, visualizing multiple blades forming in the air around him. In a shimmer of light they appeared, each one hovering in place. With a sharp motion, he sent them flying toward Malakar.

The blades struck true, embedding themselves in Malakar's blazing form. They didn't pierce deep, but each one lingered just long enough to disrupt the swirling currents of his body, sending ripples through the fire. The demon lord growled, swiping at them as they flickered and vanished, consumed by the heat.

"Not bad, Kale!" Namara said. "Now do it again, but bigger."

"Bigger?" Kale shouted, dodging another blast of fire.

"Yes, darling! Think grand!" Namara grinned as she floated out of Malakar's range. "What's the point of being a bladeweaver if you don't put on a show?"

Kale gritted his teeth, focusing his energy into a single thought. Not ethereal blades this time. Something solid. Something real. His hands moved instinctively, calling forth his skill. The air shimmered as one blade after another materialized, gleaming steel that glinted menacingly in the fiery light.

"Alright," Kale muttered. "Let's see how you like this."

With a flick of his wrist, the blades shot toward Malakar, slicing through his body. This time, they didn't dissolve. The impact sent chunks of the demon lord flying, each piece hissing as it hit the ground.

Malakar staggered as his body began to falter under the assault. "You think this is enough to stop me?" he roared. "You only delay the inevitable!"

Kale summoned more blades, each one flying toward Malakar, cutting deeper and deeper. The flaming layers of his body peeled away, revealing a fiery, pulsating core—his burning heart, faintly visible beneath the cracks.

"There it is!" Namara shouted. "Now's your chance, Kale!"

Kale leapt back, summoning every ounce of his strength. The air around him shimmered again as he unleashed a bladestorm, dozens of blades spinning in a lethal whirlwind that tore through Malakar. The demon lord's form shattered into burning fragments, his body reduced to pieces scattered across the ground.

As the burning heart became fully exposed, Kale willed Aeloria's Promise into his hand, transforming its sleek edge into a wide, flat blade. With a powerful swing, he used it like a bat, sending the heart flying through the air toward the others.

"Liliana!" Kale shouted.

Liliana's blood tendrils lashed out, wrapping around the glowing heart and yanking it out of the air just before it could land. She pulled it toward Sadek, her tendrils sizzling from the heat but holding firm.

Sadek stepped forward, his spear already crackling with electricity. With a sharp thrust, he slammed the weapon into the heart, unleashing a charged strike that sent a shockwave rippling outward as Malakar's scattered remains crumbled to ash.

The group stood frozen for a moment, the heat dissipating as silence fell over the battlefield. The glowing heart flickered faintly on the ground, pulsating with residual energy.

Namara stepped forward, brushing off imaginary dust from her shoulders. "See?" she said, flashing them a smug grin. "Easy."

Kale bent over, hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "Yeah, sure. Real easy."

Liliana crossed her arms, eyeing Namara. "You seemed awfully relaxed for someone who didn't do much."

Namara winked. "What can I say? I trust my team."

Sadek looked unimpressed. "This 'team' better hope that glowing thing doesn't come back to life."

Namara knelt by the heart, poking it with a nail. "Oh, it's done for. Mostly." She looked up. "But there might still be some fun left in it."

"Well," Kale said. "That could have been worse."

"Really?" Namara said. "Honey, you just cut a demon lord into pieces. A little more enthusiasm wouldn't hurt."

Sadek gave Kale a clap on the back. "You didn't die. Good."

Liliana shot him a smile. "You're finally learning to keep up."

"Gee, thanks for the glowing reviews," Kale said.

Liliana grabbed the heart. "We've got the heart, so let's go back to Innonuk and collect our prize."

"Or…" Namara said.

"Or?" Liliana asked.

"Or, we poke around Malakar's fortress and see what he's been hoarding. Artifacts, treasure… maybe he will have something fun or useful."

Kale looked toward the fortress, its walls still glowing faintly as lava seeped along its edges. "We did just take down the boss. It'd be a shame to leave empty-handed."

"Are you seriously suggesting we loot the place?" Liliana asked. "We already have his heart. Isn't that enough? Now you want to walk into the probably completely trap-filled fortress?"

Namara smiled. "Oh, Liliana, don't tell me you don't enjoy a little treasure hunt."

Before Liliana could retort, Sadek looked up. "Wait. Do you hear that?"

The group fell silent, their moment of victory evaporating as a distant sound reached their ears—a deep, resonant drumming, like hundreds of feet pounding against the ground.

Kale turned toward the sound, his heart sinking as the horizon shimmered. In the distance, silhouettes began to emerge—dozens, no, hundreds of them. Countless figures with molten skin and fiery eyes, weapons glowing with heat, advancing steadily toward them.

"Uh…" Kale began. "Guys? I think we've got company."

Namara tilted her head, spreading her wings, ready to take flight. "Oh dear. Looks like we've attracted a bit of attention."

"Must be here to congratulate us," Sadek said.

Liliana sighed. "We should probably decide if we're staying to fight or running for our lives."

Kale swallowed hard. "I thought killing Malakar was supposed to be the hard part."

Namara grinned. "Looks like the fun's just getting started."

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