The air was thick with heat and smoke as the battle raged on.
The volcanic ground beneath Safari cracked with each powerful step he took.
Magsui, the demon general, roared in anger, his molten chains whipping around like fiery serpents.
Despite the demon's overwhelming strength, Safari stood tall, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Safari: (grinning)
"I've just been playing with you, Magsui. But now... the game's over."
With a fierce growl, Safari's body surged with immense power. A devilish aura engulfed him, crackling like lightning.
His muscles tensed, his aura flowed wildly as his hammer glowed with ancient devil power.
The sheer presence of the weapon caused the ground to tremble.
Magsui's grin faltered as he sensed the surge of energy.
Magsui: (growling)
"Hmph. Let's see if your hammer can match my flames!"
The battle erupted once more.
Safari swung his Hammer, creating shockwaves that shattered the volcanic pillars around them.
Magsui retaliated, unleashing streams of molten lava that scorched the battlefield. The clash between them painted the air with bursts of fiery destruction.
Meanwhile
Zack's hands still glowed with healing energy as he worked desperately on Nate, whose wounds were slowly closing. The young warrior stirred, groaning softly.
Nate: (weakly)
"Where... am I?"
Zack: (relieved)
"You're safe for now. But you really gave us a scare, man."
Jen knelt beside them, her hands trembling. She couldn't shake the worry from her heart as she stole anxious glances toward Safari's battle.
Jen:
"We need to end this... before anyone else gets hurt."
Nate clenched his fists. Though weak, the fire in his spirit hadn't faded.
Safari was constantly striking Magsui with Devil Flurry which was a continuous strikes of his hammer landing harder blows on him.
He then used Devil Blast, a blastwave from his body but he channeled it in the hammer to amplify it.
Safari next used his horn to launch him high in the sky and hit him with the hammer as if he were a ball landing him in the wall.
He even came up with a pretty childish name for the attack being Devil's Bat-Ball.
Like that, he continued his onslaught.
Enraged by Safari's relentless fury, Magsui's body gradually began to radiate an intense crimson glow. His molten form cracked further, releasing waves of unbearable heat.
Magsui: (roaring)
"Enough!"
With a vicious swipe, Magsui unleashed a massive burst of molten lava.
It surged through the air, igniting everything in its path. Safari barely managed to block the brunt of the attack but was blasted aside, crashing into a jagged rock wall.
The force was overwhelming, leaving Safari momentarily dazed.
Zack: (horrified)
"BIG BROOOO!"
But Magsui had no intention of stopping.
His sinister gaze fell on Jen. The demon general sneered, raising his hand as a sphere of molten energy formed within his palm.
Magsui: (mocking)
"You care for these weaklings? Then watch as they fall."
Safari: (slowly getting up) "Don't you dare..."
In an instant, he hurled the blazing sphere directly at Jen. Time seemed to slow. Her eyes widened, frozen in fear.
Jen: (terrified)
"No...!"
Just before the fiery blast struck, Nate, still weakened and barely able to stand, forced himself into motion.
Without a second thought, he threw himself in front of Jen, shielding her from the deadly attack.
Zack & Jen: (simultaneously)
"Nate!!"
The molten blast struck Nate with devastating force.
His body convulsed as the searing energy pierced through him, leaving scorch marks across his chest.
_ _ _
The air was filled with the scent of burnt flesh. Nate collapsed to the ground, the light in his eyes flickering.
Safari, emerging from the rubble, saw the horrifying scene before him. His eyes widened in disbelief as the realization struck.
Safari: (voice breaking)
"Nate...?"
Zack frantically kneeled beside Nate, his hands glowing once more as he desperately tried to heal the gaping wound. But the injury was far too severe.
Zack: (desperate)
"Come on, Nate! Stay with me!"
Jen, tears streaming down her face, held Nate in her arms. Her trembling hands brushed against his bloodstained cheek.
Jen: (sobbing)
"Why... why did you do that?!"
Nate, his breathing labored, weakly opened his eyes. Despite the unbearable pain, a faint smile formed on his lips.
Nate: (whispering)
"I couldn't let... someone die again... after losing my actual family."
Zack's tears welled up, his voice breaking.
Zack: (through tears)
"I can still save you! Just hold on!"
But no matter how much energy he poured into the healing, the wound remained. The glow in Nate's eyes continued to fade.
Safari's fists clenched tightly. The sight of Nate's action ignited something primal within him - a fury he could no longer contain. His voice echoed with pure rage as his Celestic Devil Hammer crackled with dark energy.
Safari: (roaring)
"You dared to harm the weak... and for that, you'll pay, you weakling!"
He charged at Magsui, his hammer glowing with destructive force.
The demon general, though visibly surprised, braced himself. But Safari's rage was unstoppable.
Safari:
"Devil Hammer Smash!"
The massive hammer collided with Magsui, sending a seismic shockwave through the air.
The impact shattered the ground beneath them, and the demon general let out a deafening cry as his molten body fractured, not able to bear the impact.
Magsui's form crumbled into glowing embers, consumed by the very flames he wielded.
Back at Nate's side, Zack shook his head, refusing to accept the inevitable. Jen clutched Nate tightly, her sobs muffled against his chest.
Jen: (pleading)
"Don't leave us, Nate... please."
Nate coughed weakly, his trembling hand brushing against her face.
Nate: (softly)
"Big guy! Thanks for defeating Magsui. Zack! Thank you for trying to heal me. And Jen! Thank you... for not avoiding me... I was always scared of girls. But... you made me feel... like I still mattered."
Tears fell from Jen's eyes as Nate's smile lingered, even as his breathing slowed.
Nate: (whispering)
"I can finally... see my family... I have no regrets."
With one final breath, his hand fell limp. The light in his eyes faded.
Jen: (screaming)
"Nate!!"
Zack lowered his head, tears falling freely.
Even Safari, standing amidst the destruction, could feel the heavy weight of loss.
A moment of silence fell over the battlefield.