The E.R.O southern headquarters stood majestically atop a ridge, overlooking a lush valley bathed in the golden glow of a setting sun. A pristine waterfall cascaded down the rocky cliffs, feeding into a shimmering river below. Deer grazed peacefully in the tall grass.

  Inside the sleek, modern building, a woman in a white and black suit leaned over a console. Her long white hair framed a face of determination as she tapped at the holographic display. The room buzzed with quiet activity as agents moved purposefully, but the woman’s focus remained fixed on the flashing report in front of her.

  “Anomaly detected: Redwood Hollow Park, California,” the screen read.

  She frowned, narrowing her ice-blue eyes before pulling out her phone and dialing a number. It rang twice before a warm, country voice sang in her ear. “Well, howdy, sugar! What’s got ya callin’ me this time o’ day?”

  “White-Bullseye,” the woman said crisply. “There’s a developing situation in Redwood Hollow Park, California. Reports indicate multiple Demurges—or possibly a demon—are attacking the area. You’re the closest to it.”

  The voice on the other end whistled low. “Demurges, huh? And a demon, ya say? Well, don’t that sound like a party. What’s the catch?”

  The woman sighed. “The last known operative in the area was Red Gale. Her device and tracker went dead shortly after a reported rift rebound in the same location. We’ve lost contact with her.”

  “Red Gale? That girl don’t go down easy. But I hear ya loud ‘n clear. Thing is, I’m at least two states away. Never been to Redwood Hollow before, so I’ll teleport as close as I can.”

  “Good,” the woman replied, glancing back at the report. “More backup will be en route once you arrive, but we’re short-handed. Rifts have been acting up all over the region. This one caught us off guard.”

  A short laugh came through the phone, followed by a confident drawl. “Pssh, I can handle a demon or two. Ain’t nothin’ but a day’s work. W.B. out, partna!”

  The line went dead, and White-Bullseye slipped her phone back into her pocket. She took a deep breath, stepping outside the hotel room and onto the open terrace overlooking Salt Lake City. The moon hangs peacefully in the sky. She took a moment to admire it, a small, confident smile tugging at her lips.

  “Time to get to work,” she murmured to herself, pulling a pistol from the holster strapped to her thigh. The weapon gleamed in the moonlight, its sleek black body etched with intricate golden engravings of swirling winds and roaring flames. Its barrel was slightly wider than a standard firearm, giving away its specialized design. She aimed it skyward, her grip steady, and pulled the trigger.

  The gun fired with a resonating boom, but instead of a bullet, a shimmering portal burst open in the air above her, its edges glowing faintly with iridescent hues. The energy rippled outward like waves on water, distorting the sky around it.

  White-Bullseye holstered the pistol and adjusted the brim of her white cowboy hat. With one last look at the city, she stepped forward and leapt into the portal, disappearing in a flash of light.

  ————

  The battle at Redwood Hollow Park was nothing short of catastrophic. The once-serene landscape had been reduced to chaos, with trees shattered like matchsticks, the ground cracked and scorched, and the air heavy with smoke and ash. Savannah stood at the top of an mountain ledge, bloodied and battered, her breath labored as she stared down the being that had brought her to the edge of her limits.

  The creature moved with blinding speed, its spiraled eyes glowing with twisted glee as it darted around her, a blur of black veins and malevolence. Tracking it was nearly impossible—it didn’t emit a presence, no aura or energy for her to latch onto with her senses. It was like fighting a shadow that slipped through her fingers at every turn.

  Savannah gritted her teeth and summoned her wind, the air around her exploding into a cyclone of turbulent force. The winds howled and spun, forming a barrier, but the creature only smirked, its body twisting unnaturally as it lunged through her defenses.

  The air grew heavier as the being’s energy shifted. Its body pulsed with dark, chaotic power, black veins spreading and glowing faintly as it summoned its own power. The black energy rippled outward, seeming to swallow the darkness around it, and collided with Savannah’s wind in a violent clash of opposing forces. The winds screamed as they met the oppressive weight of the dark energy, pushing against each other in a volatile standoff.

  Beams of dark energy shot out—not just from its eyes and mouth, but from its hands, shoulders, and even its chest. The onslaught was relentless, beams ripping through the air in chaotic patterns that forced her to teleport and dash through the chaos to avoid them.

  Savannah grunted, spinning her wind around her like a vortex to deflect the incoming attacks. Her wind swirling around her in a protective aura, acting as both armor and modesty. She managed to counter with bursts of concentrated wind that shot toward the creature like lances, but it evaded with maddening precision, darting around her like a specter.

  What the hell is this thing? she thought, her mind racing even as her body fought instinctively. Her winds clashed with the beams, deflecting some while others grazed her, searing her skin with intense heat. The being’s attacks weren’t like anything she’d encountered before. They felt deliberate, almost alive.

  The creature laughed, the sound grating and maddening. “Is this it?” it taunted, its spiraled eyes gleaming with manic glee.

  Savannah gritted her teeth, focusing on keeping her distance while gathering her thoughts. That’s not normal Manifestion or mani control. Black magic, maybe?

  She knew black magic all too well—a grotesque power that most Demurges used when attacking humans. It wasn’t like her Manifested Wind, which drew from the natural flow of energy within all living things. Black magic was different. It was chaos, pure and unrestrained, drawn from whatever hell that birthed the Demurges. It lets them manifest beams of energy, usually from their mouths or eyes, to destroy and maim. But this creature… it didn’t follow those rules.

  Normal Demurges can’t summon that many beams at once, and definitely not from their whole body. Savannah’s mind worked furiously as she dodged another volley of attacks, her winds propelling her backward while deflecting the edges of the blasts. This thing isn’t just strong—it’s evolved. It might be stronger than your average demon.

  The thought chilled her, but she pushed it down, forcing herself to focus. She had to figure out a way to fight back. Her wind intensified around her, the vortex whipping into a furious storm. The protective aura shielded her but even so, she could feel her strength waning.

  The being leapt into the air, its spiraled eyes locking onto her as it twisted mid-flight, sending another barrage of black beams toward her. Savannah spun her wind into a concentrated shield, deflecting the attacks with a blast of force.

  But even as she countered, her mind refused to stop analyzing. If black magic comes from the creature itself, then maybe… maybe it has a limit. Maybe this thing’s body can’t sustain it forever.

  The being landed gracefully a few yards away, tilting its head with that unnerving grin still plastered across its face. It didn’t speak much, only letting out occasional bursts of laughter or growls of disappointment when she managed to evade its attacks.

  Savannah’s chest heaved as she glared at it, her wind swirling tighter around her like a raging storm. She needed to end this—and soon. But how do you stop something that doesn’t even play by the rules of the monsters you know? Think, Savannah. Think.

  The creature lunged at her again, its body a blur of darkness and malice. Savannah’s mind raced as she prepared her next move, hoping she could find an opening before it was too late.

  She clenched her fists, the winds around her intensifying into a raging storm as her determination burned hotter. “You want something worth your time? Fine!” she snarled, pushing past her exhaustion as she prepared to counterattack.

  As the creature darted toward her, its movements erratic and disturbingly fast. Savannah’s eyes narrowed, and she planted her feet firmly, focusing all her strength. The swirling winds around her shifted, sharpening into deadly currents that hummed with lethal intent.

  With a fierce motion, she slashed her arm through the air, unleashing razor-sharp currents of wind. The winds screamed as they tore forward, slicing through the terrain like invisible blades. The creature, still mid-lunge, twisted unnaturally to counter, dark beams erupting from its limbs to intercept the attack. The black magic clashed with her wind, and for a moment, it looked as though the two forces would cancel each other out.

  But something felt different. Savannah’s sharp eyes caught it—this time, the creature didn’t use the overwhelming, oppressive power it had unleashed earlier, the one that had stopped her wind in its tracks with a single command. It’s holding back? No… it doesn’t know how to use its power the same way twice… maybe?

  Her mind raced even as she moved. It’s strong—absurdly strong—but it’s not skilled. It’s like one of those overpowered characters in a video game. All hacks, no technique. She gritted her teeth as her wind clashed against its chaotic energy. It has the power to win outright, but it doesn’t know how to wield it.

  Savannah shifted her stance, her hands coming together as she compressed her wind into a single, concentrated force.

  The air around her exploded outward as she released the blast, the high-pressure wind roaring through the battlefield with devastating power. The impact hit the creature head-on, it's dark beams scattering as it was sent hurtling backward. It slammed into a nearby rock formation with an ear-splitting crash, the stone shattering into jagged pieces that tumbled to the ground.

  Dust and debris filled the air as Savannah lowered her hands, her chest heaving. The winds around her softened slightly, still protective but less volatile. She took a moment to breathe, her mind racing to process what had just happened.

  Wiping blood from the corner of her mouth, her thoughts steadying. It’s powerful—annoyingly powerful—but I’ve fought harder battles. It’s just brute force. No discipline, no strategy. She clenched her fists, focusing on the movement of the winds around her. I have experience. I’m the better fighter. I just need to focus.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Her sharp green eyes locked on the settling dust where the creature had landed. It wouldn’t stay down for long.

  Savannah shifted her weight, readying herself for its next move. The winds stirred again, coiling around her like a living force. “Come on,” she muttered to herself, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. “You’re not done yet.”

  “We’re not?” it asked, laughing, its spiraled eyes glinting with amusement as it stood back up and mockingly stretched.

  “Oi!” Savannah snapped, narrowing her eyes. “I was having a private conversation!”

  The creature tilted its head, clearly entertained. “You can still joke and banter? Interesting. Those other humans all begged and cried. Yet here you are, so strong-willed.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’ve been told I’m hella special. You’re not saying anything new.”

  “It’s new to me.” It shrugged, the motion unnervingly casual for the situation.

  Savannah opened her mouth to respond but froze when the creature’s grin widened.

  “And why are you naked?” She asked mockingly, trying to get some form of control back.

  “I could ask the same thing, my little Veythari,” it said mockingly, its spiraled eyes gleaming with twisted delight.

  Her face hardened, her protective wind swirled tighter around her. The creature’s laughter grew louder, and it pointed a long, clawed finger at her, while holding its other hand over its face as if to hide the sinister laugh.

  “I’m gonna enjoy beating the shit out of you,” she said, her smile growing sharper, more dangerous.

  “Well then, my little Veythari,” it purred, leaning forward with anticipation. “All you have to do is get closer.”

  Savannah’s thoughts raced as the creature’s mocking laughter echoed around her. It’s toying with me, she realized, her jaw tightening. She had burned through too much Mani in the last hour—from the moment she chased the Demurge to rescuing Zoey after the explosion and now this brutal battle. Every move had chipped away at her reserves. Taking on a demon level entity like this right now wasn’t just reckless—it was suicidal.

  Even at my peak, this fight would still be a challenge, she thought bitterly. But a barrier… a barrier would’ve ended this sooner. Her frustration flared, but she pushed it down. She wasn’t in a position to regret what she hadn’t done; she still had a few tricks left. The problem was, she’d need a lot of luck to pull this off.

  She had already broken down its strategy. One, it’s using black magic as a test—either for fun, which would make this worse—or because its other ability takes too much energy. She clung to the second possibility. Black magic didn’t follow the same rules as Manifestation, and so she doubted this creature relied on the same energy source she did. That was something she could potentially exploit.

  Second… this thing may or may not be Howard. The thought twisted her stomach. She wasn’t against killing him, not if he’d become this monster, but the idea still made her feel… something. She shoved that aside. Now wasn’t the time to feel conflicted. It was kill or be killed.

  She clenched her fists as her thoughts crystallized into a singular focus. I have to go all out. Anything less, and I’m dead.

  Finally, there was the possibility of backup. The E.R.O. wouldn’t let something like this go unchecked. Someone was definitely on their way. She could wait, conserve her energy, and survive until help arrived.

  But that’s how losers think.

  Her eyes narrowed, and the winds around her sharpened in response to her determination. This thing had pissed her off—mocked her, taunted her, treated her and others like a toy. She didn’t want to just survive this fight.

  She wanted to crush it herself.

  The creature tilted its head, noticing the sudden flair in her aura and the determination etched into her expression. Its black spiraled eyes glimmered with what could only be described as… excitement. Something about her defiance stirred it, as though it had finally found a challenge worthy of its attention.

  It smiled at her, its sharp teeth glinting ominously.

  “Oi! Don’t look at me like that,” Savannah snapped, her voice laced with disdain.

  “I’m excited,” the creature replied, its voice dripping with dark amusement.

  “Ew!” she shot back without missing a beat.

  “So, my little Veythari, what do you—”

  “It’s Savannah,” she interrupted, her tone sharp.

  “Hmm?” It paused, genuinely curious.

  “My name, dipshit. It’s Savannah,” she said, glaring at it.

  The creature tilted its head again, its grin widening. “Why are you telling me this? I already know. I see it in the memories.”

  Bingo, Savannah thought, her suspicion confirmed. This thing is Howard but not Howard. Whatever had happened to him after she’d left him alone by the trail, it was clear he was no longer the person she’d known. That realization made what she had to do far easier on her conscience.

  She gave a small shrug, her winds swirling more fiercely around her. “I just wanted you to know the name of the person who beat the living shit outta you.” Her smirk grew sharper. “Anyone can become a Veythari, so you calling me that doesn’t seem personal enough.”

  “I see, you're stalling for backup… amusing.”

  She scoffed, “Oi! Like I would need back up to kick your ass! Once I’m done with ya, you won’t have to worry about seeing another Veythari!”

  The creature’s laughter bubbled out, a twisted, grating sound that made her skin crawl. Its face contorted grotesquely, its smile stretching unnaturally wide while its spiraled eyes rolled in different directions. Its jaw seemed to unhinge slightly as it mocked her, its tongue flicking out like a serpent’s.

  “Is that so?!” it sneered, its voice pitched higher, almost like a mockery of her own. “Well then, I guess I’ll let the next one know of your failure! When I’m flaunting your corpse around my waist!” Its expression twisted further, its grin becoming downright monstrous. “Or maybe… maybe I’ll play with and tamper with that body of yours.”

  “Oi! Now you’re trying too hard.”

  “Am I? Isn’t that what demons do? Rape and pillage?”

  Savannah’s stomach churned, but her face remained stoic. Instead of reacting with anger or fear, she smirked back, tilting her head slightly. “Hehe, you sick bastard,” she replied, her voice eerily calm. “Try it. See what happens. This isn’t your DND campaign.”

  The creature didn’t hesitate. It lunged at her with blinding speed, laughing maniacally as it closed the gap, its clawed hands outstretched and ready to tear her apart.

  Savannah didn’t flinch. Just as it was about to reach her, she teleported above it, leaving only a faint gust of air in her place. With a swift motion, she unleashed a barrage of concentrated wind beams, each one slicing through the air with precision.

  The creature twisted and contorted mid-air, dodging the beams with an unnatural fluidity. Its laughter echoed as it evaded her strikes, its spiraled eyes locked on her with gleeful anticipation.

  But Savannah wasn’t done. Before it could counter, she teleported again, reappearing just to its side. Channeling her energy, she thrust her hand forward and unleashed a focused, high-pressure blast of wind that struck the creature directly.

  The force of the blast sent it hurtling downward, slamming into the ground with a thunderous impact that shattered the earth beneath it. Dirt and debris exploded into the air, the ground cracking and caving under the sheer power of her attack. Savannah landed lightly on a nearby outcrop, her wind swirling protectively around her as she scanned the crater below.

  The creature’s laughter, faint but persistent, echoed from the rubble. “That was exciting!,” it called out mockingly, its voice muffled by the dust.

  Savannah’s fists clenched, and her winds howled louder in response. “Good,” she muttered under her breath, her green eyes sharp and focused. “I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”

  “I hope so!” it yelled, its voice echoing with manic glee.

  Savannah tensed, preparing for it to fly out of the crater and counterattack. But instead, it did something she didn’t expect. The creature crouched low, its spiraled eyes narrowing as it pooled its dark energy inward. The black veins across its body pulsed and glowed ominously, the chaotic energy concentrating into its core.

  “Wait—” Savannah’s eyes widened as realization hit. It’s going to explode!

  The creature erupted in a devastating blast of dark energy, the shockwave tearing through the park with a force that seemed to shake the very earth. The explosion’s intensity was overwhelming, uprooting trees, splitting the ground open, and nearly sinking the park into chaos. Savannah barely had time to react as she was hurled backward by the sheer force, her wind struggling to shield her against the onslaught.

  Her ears rang, and her body ached as she tried to reorient herself. I can’t sense it, she thought frantically, her mind racing. Where is it? Where—

  Before she could finish the thought, the creature appeared behind her in a blur, its claws glowing faintly with dark energy. It struck with terrifying speed, digging its claws deep into her side. Pain exploded through her body as it lifted her effortlessly, her blood staining its hands.

  Laughing maniacally, it began to ragdoll her, slamming her into the ground with brutal force before swinging her like a toy. The impact of each strike cracked the earth and sent shockwaves rippling outward. Savannah’s mind reeled as the air was knocked from her lungs, her wind flickering weakly around her as she struggled to fight back.

  With a final swing, the creature hurled her into the side of a mountain. The impact shattered the rocky surface, sending boulders tumbling as the force of her body carved a crater into the stone. She collapsed against the rubble, gasping for air, her entire body screaming in pain.

  The creature’s laughter echoed through the air as it approached slowly, savoring its apparent victory. “That was fun,” it said, grinning wide as it loomed closer. “But I think you’re just about done, my little Veythari.”

  Savannah gritted her teeth, her vision blurred, but her mind refused to give in. Not yet, she thought, forcing her wind to stir faintly around her once more. Not yet.

  “I was really hoping this would be more… hmm, exciting,” it said, its voice dripping with mock disappointment as it slowly approached her broken form. Savannah lay slumped against the rubble, her body aching with every shallow breath she took.

  “But you did well. I think.” It chuckled, the sound cruel and condescending. “You’re my first, so I can’t really say.”

  Before she could respond, the creature lifted its foot and pressed it firmly against her head, pinning her to the shattered rock. She winced, the pressure intensifying the pain shooting through her skull.

  “Maybe,” it mused, its grin stretching wider, “I’ll make you my first for everything. My first Veythari kill.” It leaned down slightly, its spiraled eyes glinting with twisted joy. “My first intimate partner. Looks like this will be like the campaign.”

  Savannah’s stomach churned, disgust and rage boiling inside her as its voice dripped with vile intent.

  “And then,” it continued, its voice almost singsong now, “my first experiment. Oh, Savannah,” it mocked, tilting its head as though admiring her. “I thank you for this opportunity.”

  Its laughter echoed around her, but despite the agony wracking her body and the overwhelming pressure of its foot on her head, Savannah’s mind burned with defiance. Her winds stirred weakly, but she clung to the flicker of energy, refusing to give up.

  Not yet, she thought, her teeth gritting against the pain she said. “You’re not taking me down that easily.”

  “Come again?” it sneered, cupping its ear mockingly, its spiraled eyes narrowing with glee.

  Savannah’s lips curled into a weak but defiant smirk. “Oi,” she said, her voice strained but firm. “You heard me.”

  The creature applied more pressure to her skull, making her wince, the ground beneath her cracking further under the force. “Oh, there you go, getting me excited again,” it purred, its voice dripping with sadistic delight. “I just—”

  Before it could finish, Savannah moved. Despite the pain and the creature’s intense focus on her, she surged with a speed and grace that seemed almost ethereal, her movements fluid and divine. In one swift motion, she grabbed its horns, yanking its head down to meet hers, their faces inches apart.

  Their eyes locked—a harbinger of death against an unbroken warrior. Savannah’s green eyes burned with unrelenting determination, and for a brief moment, the creature’s ever-present grin faltered.

  Then she struck.

  With the force of her wind spiraling behind her, five concentrated vortexes formed behind her head like engines. She used them to propel her skull into its with devastating force, slamming their foreheads together. Once. Twice. Over and over again, each blow sending shockwaves through the air, the winds around her roaring with her fury.

  The creature staggered back, disoriented and unsteady. Its spiraled eyes flickered faintly as it tried to regain control, but Savannah didn’t let up. Channeling her wind into razor-sharp currents, with a feral cry, she unleashed slicing gusts, severing its arms and head in one fluid motion.

  For the first time, the creature’s expression shifted—mildly amused, almost intrigued. For something so unshakable, that was as close to shock as she could hope to see.

  Savannah didn’t hesitate. With the last of her strength, she summoned a concentrated blast of wind, a Gale Cannon that erupted outward with earth-shattering force. The creature’s dismembered form was hurled back, the sheer power of the blast obliterating the landscape in its path. Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and a massive crater was carved into the earth as the creature disappeared into the chaos.

  Breathing heavily, she stumbled forward slightly, wiping blood from her face and smiled weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Oi! How's that for entertaining, dipshit?"