his dark magic. Jake rolled with the blow, counter-attacking as he regained his feet. He tried to increase his might, desperate to strike a decisive blow. His counters began to have some effect, as Creatos' form was smoldering, but nothing was seriously hurting him.
Creatos again began to batter Jake with a constant barrage of attacks, this time signaling the closest half-men. "Render him unconscious and bring him to me." Focused on stopping Creatos' attacks, Jake could not spare anything to defend against the six half-men that came towards him.
He was staggered by an especially powerful blast, losing his footing and going down. Jake saw the half-men start to run towards him, seeking to take advantage. Jake's hand gripped his dagger as he tried to regain his feet.
Before he could right himself, a shadow passed over him as a figure leapt from a passageway above him, bowling into the half-men. Jake heard a familiar voice call out as the figure rolled to its feet, sword in hand. "Get on your feet and fight, boy!"
Dominic!
Jake was stunned for a brief moment as he saw Dominic, who clearly fought his way to them, his clothes tattered and armor dented and scratched, blood running from multiple wounds, engage the half-men, sword moving, putting them down. He immediately launched himself at the next group of half-men nearby.
Creatos saw him as well, sending a blast towards him to blacken his bones. Jake lashed out with a flare of blue might, deflecting the attack as he regained his feet. He attacked again, determined to end this, striking Creatos and forcing him back.
Jake and the demon fought, the clash of their powers echoing and overlapping the sounds of Jonas battling the Imps, the flashes of light from the duel battles making the shadows in the cavern dance. While Marcus and Dominic were engaged with the half-men, Hailyn was attacking them as well, clearing space around the warriors. Jake and Creatos circled each other on the outside of that battle, each trying to take advantage, bolts of light and dark blistering the air.
The demon lord delivered a powerful counter, driving Jake down to his knees. It rose to its full height, black eyes reflecting the reddish light of the torches. "It is time to end this farce." Creatos snarled as he advanced. "Obey me now and I will spare your life. Otherwise, I will send you to..." He cut off as Dominic seem to explode out of a nearby group of half-men and ran forward, blade extended.
The demon was caught off guard and unable to move in time. Dominic ducked under its arms and, putting his momentum behind it, ran his sword through its belly.
The demon screamed a horrible scream, a cry of terrible pain and overwhelming anger, stunning all. It whirled and backhanded Dominic, catching him on his breastplate, crumpling it, and sending him tumbling across the rocky floor. His body twisted and turned as he rolled, then came to a halt, limp and motionless. The demon yanked the sword from its stomach, the metal ringing as it hit the stone floor. Dark blood flowed around its hand as it clutched at the wound.
Suddenly, all of the half-men began to cry out and fall as Creatos began to drain their life energies. Jake could almost see the dark energy as it flowed into the demon lord. Its magic took on a darker hue, pulsing and concentrating on its wound. Jake could see the wound starting to close.
"The half-men!" Jake called out, as he swept his power into the writhing half-men, destroying them. "Destroy the half-men!" Jonas heard and he and Hailyn sent bright flares of their magic into the half-men, destroying them as well.
Creatos snarled, crying out as the energies began to weaken, attempting to draw in what remained before the half-men were destroyed. The surviving Imps, stunned by the turn of events and staring in disbelief at their lord, suddenly turned and fled the cavern, leaving Creatos alone.
Jake turned back, striking the demon, staggering it, its wound still open. It was not allowed to set itself as Jonas hammered it with clerics' fire, Hailyn adding her might as well. They battered it, not letting up, but it was strong, able to resist their powers longer than expected. They drove it back, their powers reaching it more and more.
Desperate, the demon fixed its gaze on Jake, hate and contempt twisting its face, then snarled. "You will still lose." Jake saw one of its arms, radiating dark fire, swing