Precedent picture: A Fierce Battle (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/a-fierce-battle/2864037/?p&ca) For being in the right mood, here is the music I've listened while writing : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPCUaDs9bcE _________________________________________ The four adventurers took a corridor leading deeper in the cave. Romatzo and Marina, both wearing the more protective armors, were opening and closing the march in the narrow passage way. After Romatzo, there was Delphine, lighting the long and dark corridor with her staff. The more the group progressed in it, the more an oppressing feeling took place inside them. Getting bigger and bigger after each steps, until they finally reach the end of the passage. Fire lights could be seen further, seaming to indicate a larger room. But their bodies almost refused to enter the room. Forcing themself, they finally entered. A deep and despicable voice greeted them. "When I stopped hearing the sound of the fight, I thought the intruders were dead. And now here you are. Interesting." The red demon sitting on its massive throne, was smiling. Its body was impressive, at least twice the height of Marina and three time her width. Huge wings and a thick tail were coming from its back. Its head sporting two long horns, curved backwards. But the real disturbing thing with the creature was the aura it emitted. A despicable sensation of mixed hate, terror, despair and death. It was not the first demon that Romatzo, Delphine, Minalva and Marina met, but the sensation coming from this one was so much worst. Like if just by being near to it could drain their life. "Gornhoth ?!" Let out Delphine in a wisper. The demon, like if it heard her, started to laugh. A horrible laugh that froze their blood. "No, I'm not Lord Gornhoth, little human." Its voice was no less unbearable than its laughter. "If I was him, you, poor and weak mortals would be dead just by being in my near presence. No, my name is Ulharrl." No humans or earth tongues could retranscript nor pronounce the horrid sound of the name of the demon. The four were petrified. He obseverd them for a moment. "I recognise your smells. You are those who stole the Egg of Gonrhoth to my Master. You took advantage of our absence to steal it." Its massive hands pressed harder the sculpted skulls of the arms of the throne that cracked a little under the pressure. "And you managed to survived to the assaults of the demons that my master have send you, as well as the shadow of Lord Gornhoth. To that last revelation Delphine almost fainted. The giant demon they encounter was Gornhoth itself! The mere idea that the seal on the egg was weak enough to release a part of Gornhorth, so little it was, was horrific to hear. "I don't know how you broke the tracking spell that was on you, but I'm happy you came back. It'll spare me the time to hunt you down to kill you." His tail wipped the air. After each word, the despair was plunging its claws deeper in the heart of the adventurers like if they were under a spell. But one of them seemed to be less affected by it. "THAT'S ENOUGH!" yelled Romatzo. His shout broke the frozen state of his friends. "You are not the real threat here. said Romatzo pointing the demon with his axe. Your master is our main goal. We won't lose our strengths and powers by all staying here to fight you." He looked at his friends who were still confused and added. "I'll hold him back while you'll run to the next part of the cavern where his master must be." - But... started to say Delphine. "No but! GO! "I... I stay with you. tried also to add Minalva. - NO! I'm sure you won't be too much than three to kill the master of this creature." his tone was not allowing her to argue. Ulharrl seamed amused by that. "And I thought dwarves were stupid. And maybe that is indeed the case, your stupidity not allowing you to be affraid by me. But you are right. My master's powers are a lot greater than mine. he took a breif pause. Although physically, I am the strongest. he smiled, observing the dwarf. I'll let your friends go join my master. The path beside my throne will lead them directly to him. When I will have killed you, I'll bring them your corpse. I can not wait to see their despair." A terrible laughter raised from its mouth. Romatzo didn't let the girls argue more. He indicated them to leave with his head, already concentrated for the upcoming battle. The girls splitted and slowly contourned the throne from each side. Looking at Ulharrl all the time while doing it. The demon followed the girls with its eyes too, making its tail wipping the air. When they were finally out of reach, the three friends headed to the dark entrance in front of them. Minalva given a last worried look toward Romatzo. She felt guilty to let the dwarf facing alone the creature, but, even if it was hard to her to admit, she was releaved to leave. The most traumatising experience of her life had been her first encounter with demons and the scar was still very fresh. After the three had left, Ulharrl turned its head to face Romatzo. What he saw made it raised an eyebrow. "Why do you smile dwarf ?" asked the demon. - I dreamed all my life for a fight like this one. he said reinforcing his grip on his magical axe. And if I have to die today, I'll die satisfied." The demon standing up from its throne, smiled too. Thinking that maybe it would be a good fight too. Then both charged at each other. _________________________________________ Thank you for watching and reading, hope you enjoyed it. :) It's a coincidence, but it's the second time that Romatzo break the state of despair provoked by a demon (the first time being in "Deus Ex Delphina"). So I think that it will become a trait of the Mountain Dwarves to be able to resist more to the demons aura. For Ulharrl and it's throne too, actually, I acquired them few months ago for free at Daz.com (they were free for just a day, I think) and I instantly wanted to use them for the end of this arc. I created my own textures for Ulharrl, the character being quite old, the originals were making 480px. I haven't spent too much time on it, maybe nothing more than a half hour. But I'm pretty happy with the result. :D Some precision on Ulharrl itself. Compared to the simple demons that the team have met in the pictures "The End ?" and "The Outcome", Ulharrl is a Superior Demon. Superior Demons are stronger and (very) intelligent and their malefic aura is also more influential on mortal. Don't forget to pray for Romatzo. It will the hardest fight of his life and it could be the last one!