Surrounded by the people who once he fought with, their swords now brandished against him.
Just moments ago, they were a united front, blades flashing in unison against the grotesque tide of otherworldly invaders.
Now, the same steel that had defended humanity was pointed directly at him, at his family.
Shawn's gaze swept across the faces he knew so well – his battle-hardened comrades, their expressions twisted into masks of animosity.
"What… what is the meaning of this?" Shawn's voice was loud and clear, the shock still too profound for outrage as he wasn't in the mood for jokes.
The question was unanswered as They moved with a chilling synchronicity, a silent wave of aggression in their eyes.
Panic clawed at Shawn's chest. He wasn't alone. His adopted brother, Reed, stood beside him, his familiar face a confusing blend of apprehension and something else… something Shawn couldn't quite decipher.
His wife, Lavila, her usually radiant eyes clouded with an unsettling neutrality, was close by, and his mother, Lily, stood a little behind them, her expression unreadable.
Instinct took over. "Reed, take the rear! Protect Mother and Lavila!" Shawn yelled, his voice regaining a semblance of its usual commanding tone.
He moved to shield them, his own hand instinctively reaching for the familiar weight of his sword.
The battle erupted without warning. A cacophony of steel against steel, shouts and snarls filled the air.
Shawn parried a wild swing from a former ally, his mind reeling. Then, a searing pain ripped through his back.
But as Shawn turned back to face the immediate threat, another blade flashed. This time, the attacker was none other than his brother Reed whose face was contorted with a venom Shawn had never witnessed before.
The polished steel of Reed's sword, a gift from Shawn himself years ago, was aimed directly towards him.
"Reed! What are you doing?" Shawn roared, deflecting the blow with a desperate parry of his bare arm, the sharp edge slicing through his skin. Reed didn't answer, his attack relentless, fuelled by a terrifying intensity.
Then, the chilling sound of cheering reached Shawn's ears. His blood ran cold as he heard the hateful cries.
"Kill the Demon worshiper! Plunge them from this earth!" His gaze flickered across the faces of his former comrades, their expressions alight with zealous fury. "Demon worshiper?" The accusation struck him like a physical blow, utterly incomprehensible.
He continued to defend himself, a desperate dance of evasion. He couldn't bring himself to strike Reed, the bond of brotherhood, however strained now, still holding him back.
"Reed, please! Tell me what's happening!" he pleaded, his voice raw with confusion and pain.
"Die, you demon!" Reed spat, his attacks growing fiercer, as the sword in his hands began to burn on its edges. Shawn recognized it with a sickening lurch – Reed was channelling his Apostle power, a sacred gift meant to combat darkness, now turned against him.
The disparity in their power was growing. Defending became increasingly difficult. Shawn glanced desperately at his mother.
Lily, the woman who had always been his staunchest supporter, had her face turned away, as if he were a loathsome sight.
His gaze then met Lavila's. Her beautiful eyes, once filled with warmth and love, were now distant, almost clinical. A cold dread seeped into Shawn's soul.
A sharp pain lanced through his shoulder as another attacker found his mark.
Desperation clawed at him. He had to survive. A primal surge of power erupted within him; the Apostle energy he had always wielded for good now tinged with a raw, untamed fury.
He moved with a sudden, brutal aggression, the shock on his former allies' faces palpable. Something had shifted within him, a darkness born of betrayal and despair.
The cheers faltered as the tide of the immediate skirmish seemed to turn against Reed, who was now struggling against Shawn's desperate counter-attacks.
More of the warriors surged forward, their cries of "Kill the demon worshiper! Help the real Hero!" echoing across the battlefield.
The fight became intense and every attacks sent jolts of agony through Shawn's wounded body.
He recognized faces in the throng – friends, mentors, people he had bled alongside. Each hateful glare, each swing of a blade, was a fresh wound to his heart.
Then, another heavy blow landed, staggering him. In that moment of distraction, a searing pain erupted in his chest.
He looked down to see a sword, its edges glowing with an unholy heat, stabbing from his heart. He knew that blade. It was Reed's sword, The Ra's cursed blade.
Shawn turned slowly, his vision blurring, to see Reed stumble back, dropping to the ground, a few minor cuts marring his skin.
Lavila rushed to his side, her hands glowing with healing energy, her brow furrowed with concern. Even his mother's gaze, though still averted from Shawn, held a flicker of worry… for Reed.
A triumphant roar erupted from the crowd as Shawn's body began to burn from the cursed blade. "The demon is down! Now he'll die by Ra's power!"
Darkness crept at the edges of Shawn's vision. The faces of his betrayers swam before him, their hateful cheers the last sound he heard as his life, the life of the hero who had saved them all, flickered and died.
*****************************************
Somewhere far from his own world, Shawn opened his eyes. A dark ceiling loomed above him, and he found himself surrounded by cowering demons.
His first instinct was to draw his sword and strike them down. However, a stark realization washed over him as memories of the brutal battle and the bitter betrayal by his own people flashed through his mind.
Anger welled up within him. He still couldn't accept what had happened. Just then, a Demoness placed her hand on him, startling him. When he tried to pull away, he found himself unable to move her hand.
"This one looks more… active than the others," the Demoness purred, licking her lips with a predatory smile. "I choose you as my 300th man. Come with me."
Her eyes glowed with an inner light as she turned and headed for a nearby chamber.
As for Shawn, he tried to resist, but ultimately found himself following her into the room. The light within was dim, and a large bed was placed in the centre.
With a languid grace, the Demoness began to remove her clothing. Her eyes, burning with desire, never left Shawn as silken fabrics slid from her body and pooled at her feet.
She stretched out on the expansive bed, her naked body a stark contrast against the dim surroundings, and deliberately opened her legs, a blatant invitation to Shawn who gulped looking the lower lips of the Demoness.
"Come now, show me what you've got down there!" she purred, with sweet voice laced with a hint of command. "I certainly hope you're as aggressive in bed as your eyes suggest."
Shawn was already naked, only wearing a rough cloth tied around his waist, barely concealing his intimate parts.
The Demoness's gaze flickered to the covering. "Remove that," she ordered, her voice imbued with an irresistible charm.
Compelled by her alluring magic, Shawn's fingers fumbled with the knot. As the cloth fell away, his hand brushed against his own flesh, and a jolt of pure shock coursed through him.
The thing between his legs was undeniably larger than he remembered, thicker and heavier. And the skin… it wasn't the familiar tan of his human form, but a strange, greyish hue, like that of the terrified demons around him.
Seeing his stunned expression, the Demoness chuckled, a throaty, pleased sound. "Lucky me…" she murmured, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now, bring that ding-dong here and lick me before we begin the main course."
Still caught in the potent web of her enchantment, Shawn moved as if in a trance. He approached the bed, his body acting without his conscious will.
He lowered his head between her outstretched legs, the potent, musky scent of her arousal filling his nostrils. And then, his tongue flicked out, beginning to obey her explicit command.