Conmager turned away from the secret door and walked the center of the warehouse. He wanted to be as far from the door as possible when the winged demons found him. Pain lashed at his every step, and he felt exhausted beyond measure.
He would rest soon enough.
The door crashed in pieces, and five winged demons hurried through, machine guns in hand. Conmager struck the butt of his staff against the dusty floor. It burst into brilliant white fire, pushing back the shadows. The winged demons snarled and took to the air. Before Conmager could react, they had landed in a circle around him, weapons ready.
“Where is the boy?” snarled one.
Conmager smirked and lifted his staff. “Find him yourself, if you can.”
“Kill him!” bellowed another.
“No,” said the one Conmager had burned. “Perhaps we shall take him to the Lord alive, yes?”
A machine gun barked, and agony exploded through Conmager’s left knee. He screamed and leaned upon his staff to keep from toppling to the floor. He closed his eyes, shuddered, and gathered his power for the last effort.
The staff vibrated in his hands, the white fire blazing brighter.
“Take him!” said the burned demon. “Once the Lord has finished with him, we shall feast on his flesh…”
Conmager yelled, raised the staff high, and struck the head against the floor with all the strength he could muster.
The staff shattered into a thousand pieces with a blinding flash.
White fire exploded in all directions. The winged demons screamed, and Conmager screamed with them before the darkness claimed him.
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The Tower of Endless Worlds Page 59