Damien's vision blurred.
And then it was replaced with something else. Focus.
He felt the stone behind him. Felt the angle. The sharpness.
And he smiled.
Damien surged forward into the demon's grip, ignoring the pain, wrapping both arms around its torso. The demon snarled in confusion as Damien lifted again—every ounce of essence roaring through his frame.
They left the ground.
Damien twisted mid-air, redirecting their momentum, and slammed the demon down neck-first toward the jagged stone platform.
The demon realized too late.
It tried to pull away. However, Damien didn't let it.
The impact was brutal.
Booom!!
A sickening crack echoed through the forest as the demon's neck snapped violently against the stone. Its body convulsed once, twice—then went slack.
Damien held it there for a moment longer, breathing hard, arms trembling.
Then he let go.
The corpse slid limply to the ground.
Silence fell.
Damien straightened slowly, bloodied, battered, but standing.
