"The Fallen Hero's Return: Saaransh's Legacy"

The fight against the Demon King Vorkhael had finally come to its peak. Furious, Vorkhael released his rage form, his strength raging out of control, hell-bent on annihilating the heroes.

Saaransh and his friends—Ryu Jin, Yun Seo, and Kang Ha—fought to the limit. But in the heat of the battle, Yun Seo received a fatal blow, her body slamming against the debris, still. Now, only Saaransh, Ryu Jin, and Kang Ha were left. With time running out, they had to kill Vorkhael before he gained full power, or their battle would result in utter destruction.

The field of battle was scattered with rubble. The grand demon palace, once majestic in height, now lay in shambles, its gigantic pillars shattering under the power of their conflict. Their breath was filled with the acrid scent of charred rock and blood, heavy with the lingering residue of devastation.

In the midst of it all was Vorkhael, his colossal frame seething with malevolent energy. His terrible form towered above them, his presence choking.

He burst into a hysterical laugh. "You insects still stand? Amazing… but useless. You will all die here!"

Saaransh, Ryu Jin, and Kang Ha stood firm. Their bodies bruised, their gasps staccato, but their resolve unwavering.

Saaransh wiped the blood off his lips, his black eyes smoldering with determination. "Guys, we have to kill him before he can regain strength. If he does… this fight is finished."

Ryu Jin clamped his teeth hard, his sword shaking in his hand. "You're right, Saaransh. We have to keep pressing together. If we lose momentum, we're finished."

Kang Ha nodded and drew out his magic. "I'll defend both of you with my most powerful spell. Just give me a minute to prepare."

Saaransh and Ryu Jin looked at each other and grinned. "A minute? That's child's play."

Not They rushed forward without dying for even a moment, their swords charged with energy. Vorkhael greeted them with a wicked smile, his enormous sword held high.

The battlefield shook as the three warriors met in an earth-shattering exchange of blows. Sparks flew with every blow, shockwaves ripping through the destroyed palace.

Saaransh bellowed, charging his attack. "Infernal Blizzard Slash!"

Both of his swords sliced through the air, releasing a huge wave of fire and ice. The flames burned Vorkhael's armor, while the ice spread over his body, encasing parts of him in a split second.

Vorkhael growled, his dark energy boiling as he fought to resist the competing forces. But Saaransh and Ryu Jin had more tricks up their sleeves.

Ryu Jin charged forward, his sword blurring with unadulterated might.

"Thunder Gale Slash!"

With a stroke of unbroken movement, his sword sliced through the air, releasing a freezing-sharp whirlwind blade energized with lightning. It sliced into Vorkhael's shoulder, unleashing wild bursts of lightning coursing through the Demon King's body.

Vorkhael growled, his bright crimson eyes burning with rage.

Enough, mortals!

The whole battlefield shook as he launched himself aloft. His sword burned with evil power, dark fire writhing around the huge blade-like living darkness. A cruel smile split his face.

Oblivion Descent!

He swung his titanic sword in a thunderous crash. When it landed, the impact released a cataclysmic wave of darkness. The earth broke apart under it, huge sections of the battlefield disappearing into a churning pit of ruin. Shards of void-like energy radiated out, engulfing everything in their path.

Saaransh only managed to respond in time, rolling to the side as the momentum of the attack launched him crashing through the wreckage. His body shattered multiple stone pillars, the blows crushing them on impact. The last crash landed him sprawled out on the debris, blood running from his forehead, his breathing uneven.

"Shit." he croaked, spitting blood onto the wrecked earth.

Then—his eyes snapped towards the battlefield.

Yun Seo had been too close to the impact.

Yun Seo rested on the ground, her body bruised and battered, a gash of blood running down her forehead. Her breathing was shallow and irregular.

Ryu Jin spat blood on the devastated earth, struggling to remain upright. His hold on his sword shook, but his anger burned intense.

"That damned.!" he snarled.

Kang Ha ran over, gasping, his robes ripped from the fight. He knelt beside Yun Seo, his hands already aglow with healing magic.

"Are you two all right?" His tone was panicked, but he didn't pause for a response. He laid his hands over Yun Seo's chest, golden energy flowing out. "I can immobilize Vorkhael for thirty seconds—no longer!"

Saaransh, his body still reeling from the blow, wiped blood from his forehead and struggled to stand. His muscles screamed in protest, his breathing was harsh, but his gaze was unblinking.

"That's quite sufficient," he growled, his tone firm.

Kang Ha raised both arms and chanted in an ancient Incarnation. The earth shook. A burst of chains of raw mana appeared, swirling into the air and enveloping Vorkhael's arms and legs, restraining him.

The Demon King's body stiffened, his abomination muscles straining against the radiant bindings.

"You think that will hold me?!?" Vorkhael bellowed, his voice causing the battlefield to shake.

Ryu Jin grinned, wiping blood from his lips. "No," he said, bringing his sword level with his face. "But it'll slow you down just enough."

Saaransh didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his twin swords flaring with a raging inferno of fire and ice.

"Look at me, Vorkhael." His voice was colder than ice as he struck with deadly precision, his blows biting deep, taking advantage of every gap left by the demon's held-back state.

Ryu Jin followed in flawless harmony, his lightning-shrouded sword slicing through the air in perfect harmony with Saaransh's blows. Their unrelenting barrage poured down on Vorkhael, a tempest of elemental wrath—fire, ice, lightning, and wind entwining in a fatal harmony.

But the Demon King was not done.

A low, rumbling laugh burst from his lips, his aura darkening until it was almost choking.

"You humans are amusing," he said, his red eyes blazing with cruelty. "But game time is done."

The black flames that swirled around his sword guttered—then became blood-red, the air around it twisting as if reality itself was distorting under its sheer might.

Vorkhael's face twisted into a vicious grin.

"Abyss Tyrant Domination!"

With one, cataclysmic swing, he released a slash so ferocious that the fabric of reality itself appeared to shatter.

The force of Vorkhael's blow was so immense that Ryu Jin was sent stumbling back. His form crashed into a shattered wall with a repulsive crack, dust falling about him.

He was choking, blood trickling from his lips. "D-Damn it…!" he croaked, on the verge of passing out.

Saaransh had successfully dodged the worst of the attack, but even he had been driven back by sheer numbers. When the dust cleared, his piercing gaze moved to Ryu Jin's motionless body.

Without hesitation, he ran over, yanked Ryu Jin by the collar, and hauled him back from the wrecked carnage.

"You idiot! Don't go in without me!" Saaransh reprimanded, his tone tinged with both annoyance and worry.

Ryu Jin let out a weak smirk, his grip on his sword barely steady. "Tch… I got carried away."

Saaransh let out a sigh, lowering him beside Yun Seo, whose breathing steadied but still was weak. He faced again towards Vorkhael again. The Demon King remained standing, his grotesque form looming above the battlefield, but the hints of damage had started to surface. Blood seeped from his body—his blood, after immortality spanning so many years.

Saaransh clutched his swords harder. His cold black eyes seethed with something unrecognizable. This had to be finished.

"Just one more blow, Ryu Jin," he said softly, but firmly. "Can you hold on?"

Ryu Jin strained himself up, his arms shaking beneath his weight. He clenched his teeth and anchored himself.

"I have enough for one last trick…" he muttered, holding his sword hard.

Saaransh nodded sharply. This was it.

Ryu Jin mustered the remaining energy in his body, his flesh crackling with electricity, raging with a force that belied his wounds. His eyes burned with fierce intent.

"Ultimate Move… ONE HUNDRED DEATHS!"

His voice echoed on the battlefield like whispers of death—cold, merciless, and unavoidable.

Lightning flowed within his blood, propelling him into a speed beyond compare. Within a fraction of time, he directed a hundred cuts, every cut filled with the sheer might of a tempest.

Steel clashed against steel along with exploding energy as the air vibrated from the mayhem. Every blow inflicted deep slashes across Vorkhael's body, his giant form twisting under the unrelenting barrage.

The Demon King stumbled, blood oozing from the numerous wounds etched into his body. His lips twisted into an evil smile.

"Hahaha… Blood… my own blood… after so many years…" His red eyes shone with madness. "But it's pointless—still not enough to kill me!"

Ryu Jin's power finally drained. His body relaxed, and he fell.

Saaransh caught him in mid-fall, placing him gently beside Yun Seo.

"You did your part," he murmured. "Now leave the rest to me."

At that moment, Kang Ha raised his hands toward the sky, his body swaying from exhaustion, but his eyes glowed with a fierce, triumphant light.

He grinned. "Ultimate Move… HELL DESCENT!"

A storm of blazing fire meteors rained down, each one burning with the intensity of a dying star. The battlefield erupted in flames, consuming everything in a fiery cataclysm.

Vorkhael emitted a raging roar as the blaze consumed him, his body disappearing within the tide of devastation. The ground itself shook beneath the enormity of the assault, the once-strong palace now charred and lifeless.

Once the flames died down, Saaransh advanced. His two swords emanated an ethereal, heavenly light, their very radiance casting an air of finality on what lay ahead.

This was their battle.

To Be Continued.