"Help when necessary, brother," Ukobathan said before leaping forward, diving straight at Raymond.
Raymond, seeing the figure hurtling toward him, drew his blade and raised it into a one-handed overhead stance. Jeremiah rose to his feet just in time to witness the attack.
That sinister aura… demons, Jeremiah thought grimly.
As Ukobathan closed in, Raymond slashed downward, aiming to split the demon's skull. But before the blade connected, Ukobathan's body glowed red and vanished. He reappeared at Raymond's side, driving a crushing punch into his ribs that sent the young man flying. Raymond slammed into a tree and collapsed face-first onto the ground.
"Raymond, wait for the right moment. When it comes, cut this bastard in two," Jeremiah commanded as he charged forward.
Ukobathan raised his fists. Jeremiah leapt, attempting a stomping back heel, but the demon vanished again, reappearing at Jeremiah's flank. He swung a haymaker into Jeremiah's face—only to find the exorcist unmoved. Jeremiah turned into the blow, deflecting it, and countered with a punch to Ukobathan's jaw that staggered the demon back several steps.
"Interesting. A human strong enough to match me physically. That's impressive—even if I'm holding back. But—" Ukobathan vanished once more, reappearing before Jeremiah. He sucker-punched the young man's stomach, forcing blood from his mouth.
"You have no idea how outmatched you are," Ukobathan sneered.
Jeremiah grabbed the demon's wrist, smiling as he locked eyes with him. "Outmatched? Not me, buddy." His fist ignited in wild flame, and he swung at Ukobathan's face. But the demon disappeared again, reappearing above him. Ukobathan opened his palm, releasing a blast of red energy that engulfed Jeremiah in dust and fire.
Brother relies too much on his projection technique. It's unique, yes—but if these exorcists find a counter, it'll be a problem, Lenen thought as he observed.
"You going to just stand there and watch, or must I come up there and vanquish you myself, demon?" Raymond shouted, glaring at the second brother.
"Forget what I said, brother! Engage!" Ukobathan barked, as Jeremiah rose from the blast with only minor injuries.
"Raymond, this is your chance to prove yourself. This is why we came into this forest—and why people like me live: to eliminate evil," Jeremiah declared, his fists blazing with wild fire. Raymond screamed, his golden aura bursting forth, growing violently.
These two might be a problem, Ukobathan thought. Lenen dropped down, landing before Raymond.
"Human, I'll give you one last chance to run. Take it and live. Refuse, and I'll kill you," Lenen said, his voice steady though his eyes betrayed him showing unease.
Raymond charged. Lenen raised his hand. "Repel." A shockwave blasted Raymond back with the force of five hundred newtons, sending him crashing through a tree. Raymond rose, charging again in a zigzag. Lenen repeated the word, and Raymond was hurled back once more despite his attempt to cut through the force.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah and Ukobathan clashed, exchanging a flurry of blows. Their speed and strength seemed equal, but Ukobathan's projection skill gave him the edge, allowing him to dodge and counter. Jeremiah's flames grew hotter, brighter, but the demon pressed harder.
Realizing the fight was slipping from his grasp, Jeremiah leapt back, creating two fiery clones that attacked simultaneously. Ukobathan struggled to evade them, his projection faltering under the pressure. Jeremiah began forming a fireball.
Raymond tried again to reach Lenen but was repelled each time. Seeing his brother falter, Lenen closed his eyes. We need to end this now. Mind Intrusion.
Raymond froze mid-charge, clutching his head. His mind flooded with every dark thought he had ever known. Then silence. He opened his eyes to find himself in a vast white space—his father standing before him.
"Look at you. A failure. Depending on that low-born boy to save you," Johnathan spat, his face twisted with disgust.
"What? Why are you here? Where am I?" Raymond asked, before his father struck him. He was thrown back, suddenly a child again, beaten mercilessly.
"IS THIS WHAT YOU ACHIEVED AFTER REBELLING, BOY? YOU ARE AS USELESS AS THE LOW-BORN! I'LL KILL YOU AND ERASE THE STAIN YOU ARE ON MY NAME!" Johnathan roared, pummeling him.
In reality, Raymond stood motionless, his face blank, as if his soul had left his body. Lenen seized the moment, firing a shockwave at Jeremiah. Distracted by his fireball, Jeremiah was caught off guard. The fireball exploded in his hands, his clones vanished, and Ukobathan darted in. A left hook smashed into Jeremiah, the shockwave dispersing the dust. Ukobathan pressed his advantage—hook after hook, followed by a brutal kick to the face. Jeremiah reeled, struggling against the demon's relentless speed and projection.
"Finish this, brother!" Lenen shouted, elated. But his triumph was cut short by a sudden, searing pain in his abdomen. Cold steel pierced his stomach. He turned to see Raymond, eyes blank and pupilless, face twisted with killing intent, slashing him open. Blood poured as Lenen staggered back, vomiting crimson. He repelled Raymond, but the exorcist slid only a few paces, his golden aura blazing stronger than ever.
How? He's still in the illusion, Lenen panicked.
Ukobathan glimpsed his brother's condition, his focus faltering. Jeremiah seized the moment, landing a crushing punch to the demon's throat that sent him flying.
"I have no choice. Forgive me, human," Lenen whispered, tears streaming. He raised his hand, and Raymond collapsed, clutching his head as if it would split apart. In his mind, young Raymond stood in the white void as waves of blood washed over him. In reality, he vomited violently, collapsing face-first.
The sight broke Jeremiah. He let out a deafening cry—a raw mix of rage, grief, and guilt. His energy erupted, instantly transmuting into fire, enveloping him in a blazing aura.
The demon brothers stood together, watching.
"I think I bit off more than I could chew, Lenen," Ukobathan admitted.
"You think?" Lenen forced a weak laugh.
"Brother, you must leave me. Finish the mission. Find the target. Run." Ukobathan embraced him. Lenen wept, protesting, but his brother's resolve was unshakable. He fled into the trees.
Ukobathan turned back, taking a fighting stance, a grin spreading across his face.
"Let's dance, exorcist."