The ground trembled beneath them as the colossal demon's fractured body pulsed with molten veins, its core blazing brighter than before. A guttural roar erupted—deep, metallic, and enraged—sending waves of corrupted heat across the crimson chamber. The flames that had once been ordinary fire now turned darker, merging with a slick, obsidian glow that devoured the light around it.
"Everyone, back!" Shellia shouted, her voice echoing through the warped dimension. The others retreated just as the floor cracked, and a blinding column of black fire erupted, swallowing the demon whole.
From within the inferno, something began to move. Clawed hands emerged—longer, sharper, dripping with molten corruption. The creature's body reformed, its previous shape twisting into a monstrous hybrid of flame and shadow. Eyes like twin furnaces burned in the darkness, glaring down at them with unrestrained malice.
Daryon cursed under his breath. "That thing's core didn't die—it evolved."
