As soon as Logan landed, he cast Mana Surge, aiming to drain the mana fueling the demons' intricate spellwork. A confident smile spread across his face as the demons rushed toward him, their desperation clear. Without hesitation, he unleashed a rapid combination of spells. First, Flame Aura enveloped him, granting resistance to fire-based attacks. Then, he used Scorch's new and strongest skill, Flamestorm erupted around him, engulfing the approaching demons in a fiery inferno.
The sheer intensity of the flames exceeded his expectations, their destructive power overwhelming even his shield spell at times letting flames that almost burnt his skin. Logan felt his mana depleting rapidly but also sensed the experience he was gaining in the process. Yet, the firestorm was quickly spiraling out of control, threatening to consume more of the city.
To counteract the chaos, Logan cast Icy Dominion, concentrating the spell over himself as he rose into the air. The clash between ice and fire produced violent bursts of steam, forcing him to ascend higher to avoid the scalding steam. Though the ice spell initially struggled to overpower the flames, the water it created began to suppress the fire, gradually dispersing the inferno.
Once the flames had subsided, Logan surveyed the devastation. The surrounding destruction was immense—nothing stirred, no voices, no creatures, only an eerie silence. Determined to ensure there were no survivors left in the rubble, he made one final sweep.
Turning his attention back to the clash between Scorch and Zyphor, Logan saw the battle raging on, the capital suffering even further destruction. As for the docks, the area had largely emptied, with only Luna, Riptide, Rubina, and Lisa remaining, seemingly awaiting Logan and Scorch.
Flying slowly toward the docks, Logan searched the rubble for any signs of life. He eventually spotted Serana, who was using her ability to detect blood to locate survivors. She carried three individuals on her back, her exhaustion visible as Logan approached.
[Did you find anyone else?] Logan asked, taking the three humans from her to lighten her load.
[No, but I'll keep looking. I've already made a few sweeps, so there shouldn't be anyone left,] Serana replied, her fatigue evident.
[Will you be able to hold up?] Logan offered her some of his blood.
[Don't need more,] Serana responded with determination. [I got full just draining the demons. I'll do one more check before joining you all to leave.]
With that, Serana sped off, sending out her bats to broaden the search while Logan continued his efforts to find survivors amidst the rubble.
Logan glanced at the three humans he carried, noting how they appeared to have been placed in a deep sleep—likely to ease Serana's burden as she rescued them. Each bore wounds requiring urgent attention, and among them was a man with what seemed to be a broken leg.
With only a tenth of his mana remaining, Logan knew he needed to return quickly while maintaining his wings to stay airborne. As he continued forward, a tragic cry echoed from the distance—a hoarse, desperate voice pleading for his life. Suddenly, Logan felt a surge of revitalizing energy coursing through him, signaling the apparent death of the demon general. The vast flow of experience he gained was appreciated to keep Logan moving.
In the distance, Logan watched as Scorch stomped the ground triumphantly. The colossal dinosaur released a blazing beam toward the sky, as though declaring its hard-earned victory to the heavens. Logan smiled, proud that his part in this battle was finally complete and knowing Scorch had gained the experience it needed to evolve further. His thoughts wandered briefly, imagining how Luna and his other tamed creatures might appear after their next evolution.
Finally reaching the girls and his remaining allies, Logan gently placed the three humans down, careful not to aggravate the man's broken foot. He helped ease the woman, likely the man's wife, onto the ground and then shifted the child from his shoulder, asking for assistance to safely lay him down.
"We have won this fight," Logan began, his voice heavy with a mixture of relief and sorrow. "I can only pray for those who perished in this long battle, but at least their deaths were avenged. Scorch dealt with the demon general, as I'm sure you saw from here. And the demons who tried to escape or cast large-scale magic—they were stopped."
Everyone cheered even if they felt bad for those that had fallen here to protect their home.
Logan waited for both Scorch and Serana to return, his gaze lingering on the destruction around him. The earth trembled as Scorch approached, the rhythmic sound of its footsteps echoing like the striking of drums—just like the scenes Logan loved in movies.
"Looking good, Scorch! You dealt with that demon perfectly," Rubina shouted. Scorch's menacing expression softened, and it wagged its tail before lowering its massive head for a pat.
"You never change, huh?" Logan smiled, stepping forward to stroke his creature's face. The dinosaur's newly evolved scales felt even stronger, their texture reminding him of metal.
Moments later, Serana returned, carrying a twelve-year-old girl. Like the others she had rescued, the child had been placed in a hypnotic state to keep her calm.
"Do you think that's the last of the survivors?" Logan asked, his eyes scanning the fiery cityscape.
"Yes. I checked more than a few times in all directions. There's no more life around here, except for vermin," Serana replied, slumping as she gently laid the girl down. Her exhaustion was evident, her focus shifting toward the next portal as it shimmered into existence.
One by one, the group began leaving the desolate city. Logan hesitated, casting one final glance back after Scorch entered the portal. He helped Serana up, his heart sinking as he took in the devastation. A once-thriving kingdom had fallen—a nation brought to ruin in mere days.
Clenching his fist, Logan felt a surge of resolve course through him, strengthening the need to continue with the task ahead. Returning to his kingdom, he saw the survivors being tended to, their expressions a mixture of relief and despair. Near the warp portal's entrance, Silvia and Marie stood, their exhaustion mirroring Logan's and that of the others who had fought to protect the destroyed kingdom.