The horn's call still vibrated through the bloodstained walls as Damien and Arianna raced up the spiral staircase of the castle's core, their joined hands slick with drying blood. The war had begun—and it was sooner, and fiercer, than Damien had expected.
Above them, the sky had split apart. Rivers of fire poured across the heavens, and armies were already gathering on the plains of the Underworld: dark-winged creatures, skeletal knights, infernal beasts summoned from the deepest pits of Hell.
And leading them—Lucifer's chosen generals.
Arianna burst through the castle's highest tower, gasping at the sight before her.
Thousands—no, tens of thousands—of soldiers moved like a black sea, churning toward Damien's fortress. In the sky above, massive creatures with leathery wings and molten eyes circled like vultures waiting for a corpse to fall.
Her heart plummeted into her stomach.
"How can we fight that?" she breathed.
Damien's silver gaze burned.
"Because we have something they don't," he said grimly.
"What?"
Damien turned, sweeping his hand toward the ruined courtyard below.
And the stones themselves shifted.
From the earth, from the very blood of the castle, figures began to rise.
Knights in black armor, their faces hidden behind snarling masks. Wraiths formed of mist and bone. Giant beasts with flame flickering in their mouths.
The ancient army of the Underworld.
Arianna staggered back. "You— you can summon them?"
Damien's mouth twisted into a grim line.
"I can now," he said. His gaze flicked to her. "Because you're here. Because we are bound."
Their Blood Oath had not only tied their souls together—it had unlocked something deep inside the Underworld itself.
The castle, the land—it answered to them now.
Arianna's hand tightened around his.
"We fight," she said. "We make them regret ever coming here."
A muscle ticked in Damien's jaw. "Stay behind me."
"No," she said fiercely. "We fight together."
Damien stared at her a long moment, something burning in his eyes.
Pride.
And something even deeper.
"Then stay close," he said, and drew his blade.
It wasn't a sword made of mortal steel.
It was forged of pure darkness, wreathed in silent, black fire.
Arianna reached for her own weapon—a blade Damien had gifted her after her first failed escape attempt.
It had been a threat then.
Now it was a promise.
The ground shook harder as the enemy army drew nearer. The sky itself wept fire.
Damien turned to the battlements, raising his sword high. His voice boomed across the infernal fields, amplified by the castle's magic.
"TO ME!"
The ancient warriors snapped to attention, their armor clanging in a thunderous chorus.
"DEFEND YOUR QUEEN! DEFEND YOUR KING!"
The roar that answered shook the stones beneath Arianna's feet.
Damien reached for her hand again, their blood still mingled along the cuts in their palms.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.
Arianna swallowed her fear, feeling it burn into something sharper. Something like rage.
"Let's end this," she said.
Together, they moved.
The castle gates groaned as they opened.
And the armies of Hell collided with the armies of the Underworld.
The battle had begun.
On the Battlefield
Arianna fought with every ounce of strength she had, her blade flashing in the molten light. Every swing of her sword tore through the lesser demons, sending them shrieking back into the abyss.
Beside her, Damien was a force of nature.
His dark sword carved through the enemy ranks with terrifying precision, shadows leaping from him like living weapons. Every creature that dared approach was swallowed by his power.
Yet for every demon they cut down, three more surged forward.
Lucifer had brought everything he had.
Overhead, one of the giant, winged beasts shrieked and dived toward Arianna.
She barely had time to react—then Damien was there, grabbing the creature midair with a snarl and ripping it apart with a blast of shadow magic.
"You alright?" he barked.
Arianna panted, blood dripping down her forehead. "I'm fine!"
"Stay close!"
The battle raged for what felt like hours.
Arianna's arms ached. Her body was coated in sweat, blood, and ash.
But she didn't falter.
Because every time she looked at Damien—at the fierce, unstoppable power he wielded, at the way he fought to protect not just her, but their people—her resolve hardened.
They were fighting for their future.
For their throne.
For their love.
And they would not lose.
Not today.
The Turning Point
Through the chaos, a figure appeared on the battlefield.
Cloaked in white flames.
Wielding a sword of pure, blinding light.
Lucifer.
He strode through the battle like a god, demons parting before him, lesser shadows burning to ash in his wake.
His golden eyes locked onto Damien and Arianna across the bloodied field.
And he smiled.
Arianna felt her heart skip.
This wasn't just a battle.
This was a challenge.
Lucifer raised his burning sword.
"Come, my son," he called, his voice shaking the sky. "Come and show me if you are worthy of her!"
Damien's hand tightened around his sword.
He turned to Arianna, brushing blood-smeared hair from her face.
"You stay here," he said roughly.
"No," she said immediately.
He leaned in, his forehead pressing to hers briefly.
"I need you alive," he whispered. "Please, Arianna. If he kills you…" His voice cracked. "I will tear this world apart."
Arianna's throat tightened.
But she nodded.
"I'll hold the line," she said.
Damien kissed her forehead once, fiercely.
Then he turned and strode toward his father.
Toward the final battle.
And Arianna, blade in hand, turned to face the rest of the enemy.
She would not let this castle fall.
She would not let their future die here.
No matter the cost.