The Devourer hit the ground like a falling mountain.
The warehouse floor cracked beneath its weight as shattered concrete flew in every direction. Its roar shook the walls, forcing everyone to cover their ears.
"Scatter!" Emerald shouted.
The team broke apart just as the creature's massive claws tore through the spot where they had been standing.
One swipe ripped through a steel support beam as though it was paper.
The ceiling groaned.
"It's bringing the whole building down!" Sam yelled.
Darius planted his spear into the ground.
"Hunters!"
The remaining Hunters immediately fell into formation around him.
"Contain the beast. Forget the royal."
Several Hunters hesitated.
"But Commander?"
"That is an order!"
Without another word, they obeyed.
Emerald watched in surprise.
"He's protecting us?"
"No," Lyra said, ducking beneath a falling beam. "He's protecting everyone."
The Devourer swung its enormous tail, sending Hunters and Shadow Guards crashing into the warehouse walls.
Selene cursed under her breath.
"You useless creature!"
She hurled one of her black blades toward the monster.
The blade struck its shoulder, and shattered into pieces.
The Devourer didn't even flinch.
"It can't be..." Selene whispered.
The beast turned its six burning eyes toward her.
For the first time since entering the warehouse...
Captain Selene looked afraid.
The Devourer lunged.
Selene barely escaped as its jaws crushed the concrete where she had been standing.
It wasn't listening to anyone.
Not even the Queen.
"It's out of control!" Noah shouted.
"Then we stop it," Emerald replied.
She raised both hands.
Emerald energy spread across the warehouse floor.
Thick vines burst upward, wrapping around the creature's legs.
For a brief moment...
The Devourer stopped.
"Now!" Emerald cried.
Sam, Kael, and several recruits rushed forward, driving the beast backward with ropes, chains, and reinforced poles.
It worked.
For exactly three seconds.
The Devourer roared.
A pulse of crimson energy exploded from its body, snapping every vine and throwing everyone backward.
Emerald slammed into a concrete pillar.
Pain shot through her shoulder.
Before she could stand, the monster was already charging.
"No!" Noah shouted.
He sprinted between Emerald and the beast.
Sword raised.
He knew it wouldn't be enough.
But he refused to move.
The Devourer's jaws opened.
Then....
A blue flash streaked across the room.
CLANG!
Darius's spear struck the beast's jaw with tremendous force, knocking its head sideways just enough for Noah to dive clear.
The spear returned to Darius's hand as though pulled by an invisible thread.
He glanced at Noah.
"Do not waste your life."
Noah caught his breath.
"I wasn't planning to."
"You nearly did."
The two shared a brief nod before turning back to the monster.
Emerald climbed to her feet.
"Why are you helping us?"
Darius never looked away from the Devourer.
"Because if that creature escapes..."
He tightened his grip on the spear.
"...there won't be a human world or an Underworld left to fight over."
His words hung heavily in the air.
Even Selene seemed shaken.
"You knew this thing existed?" Emerald asked.
"My predecessors imprisoned it centuries ago."
"And your Queen," Darius said, looking directly at Selene, "was arrogant enough to believe she could control it."
Selene's confidence finally cracked.
"This wasn't supposed to happen."
The Devourer reared onto its hind legs.
Its six eyes glowed brighter than ever.
Ancient symbols began to appear across its stone-like body, pulsing with crimson light.
Lyra gasped.
"It's feeding."
"Feeding on what?" Sara asked.
"Magic."
Everyone looked at Emerald.
The beast wasn't attacking randomly anymore.
It was staring only at her.
Darius realized it at the same moment.
"It senses your royal blood."
Emerald's mark burned like fire beneath her skin.
The Devourer lowered its head, sniffing the air.
Then, to everyone's horror...
It spoke.
Its voice was deep, ancient, and echoed as though a thousand souls spoke at once.
"Royal blood..."
The warehouse fell deathly silent.
The creature took one slow step toward Emerald.
"At last..."
Another.
"The heir has returned."
Emerald couldn't move.
The words struck something deep within her.
Fragments of memories flashed through her mind: a towering palace, a woman with gentle green eyes placing a hand on her forehead, and a booming voice saying:
"One day, the Guardian will know you."
Guardian?
No...
Everyone had called this thing a monster.
But what if they had been wrong?
The Devourer lowered its enormous head until one glowing eye was level with Emerald.
It stared at her for several long seconds.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, it uttered words that made the blood drain from every face in the warehouse.
"My Queen..."
Behind them, Captain Selene smiled.
"Oh..."
She whispered.
"This changes everything."