On the ramparts of the third wall, a single figure stood prominently visible. Grand Commander armor, but more elaborate than standard issue—gold trim on black steel, a massive two-handed blade strapped to his back, and even at this distance, an aura of concentrated power that made the air shimmer.

"Oh good," Lilith muttered. "They're issuing a formal challenge."

"Is that normal?"

"For Grand Commanders facing someone they recognize as a significant threat? Yes. It's a psychological tactic—offer single combat, and if you decline, you look cowardly. If you accept, they get to kill you in front of your army and shatter morale."

Liam studied the Grand Commander. The man's stance was confident but not arrogant. Professional. Someone who'd killed enough demons to know exactly how dangerous they could be, but also confident enough in his own abilities to issue public challenges.

"I'm accepting," Liam said.

"Of course you are," Lilith sighed. "Because why would you ever take the sensible approach?"

"Because sensible doesn't keep us alive any longer," Liam said, echoing his earlier words. "Commander Koth!"

The scarred veteran appeared immediately. "Lord Azra?"

"The Grand Commander on the ramparts just issued a challenge. I'm accepting. I want the entire army to witness this."

Koth's expression was carefully neutral. "Lord Azra, with respect—Grand Commanders are significantly more dangerous than regular Commanders. This could be a trap."

"It is a trap," Liam agreed. "But it's also an opportunity. We need a visible victory to maintain morale. This gives us one."

"Or gives them a visible victory when they kill you," Koth pointed out.

"Then I won't let them kill me," Liam said simply.

He walked toward the third wall, alone, his human face set with determination that had become his default expression. Behind him, the demon army watched—some with faith, some with doubt, all of them exhausted and bloodied and desperate for something to believe in.

The Grand Commander descended from the ramparts, meeting Liam in the open ground between the second and third walls. Up close, he was enormous—easily seven feet tall, muscles built from decades of combat, scars visible even through gaps in his armor.

"I am Grand Commander Valerius," the man said, his voice deep and resonant. "I have served the Radiant Empire for forty-three years. I have killed six hundred and seventeen demons in single combat. And I have been waiting my entire career for the chance to face the Primordial Demon."

"I'm flattered," Liam said dryly.

"You should be." Valerius drew his massive blade—easily six feet long, etched with prayers that glowed with consecrated power. "I heard you killed my colleague, Grand Commander Orin. I studied the reports. I know your techniques. Your spatial displacement. Your false authority. Your stolen flames."

"And you think that knowledge will save you?" Liam asked.

"I think knowledge is the difference between warriors and corpses," Valerius replied. "You're strong, Demon Lord. Impressively so for something wearing a human face. But you're not unstoppable. And today, I prove it."

He didn't wait for Liam to respond. Valerius moved with shocking speed for someone his size, closing the distance in three massive strides. His blade swept in a horizontal arc that would have bisected Liam if it connected.

Liam Phase Shifted backward, and the blade passed through empty air.

Valerius was already adjusting, his follow-up strike tracking Liam's new position with the precision of someone who'd fought phase-shifters before. The consecrated blade caught Liam's hastily-formed Abyssal Plate and shattered it like glass.

[Health: -8%]

The impact sent Liam stumbling. He channeled Infernal Conflagration, black flames erupting toward Valerius with lethal intent.

The Grand Commander simply walked through them.

Not because he was immune—Liam could see his armor blackening, see the pain in his expression—but because forty-three years of fighting demons had taught him to endure pain in service of closing distance.

Valerius's fist caught Liam in the ribs, and despite his armor, despite his demon enhancements, the impact was devastating. Something cracked. Liam Phase Shifted away, putting distance between them, and tasted blood.

[Health: -14%]

[Warning: Significant injury detected]

The demon army watching let out a collective gasp. This wasn't the dominant performance they'd seen against lesser opponents. This was their lord being hurt, being pushed back, being matched by an enemy who knew exactly how to counter his techniques.

"You rely too much on your displacement," Valerius called out, circling slowly. "It's predictable. You favor backward momentum when threatened, left side when pressing attack. After forty-three years of fighting demons, I know every variation of shadow-step magic ever developed."

He was right. And worse, Liam realized with sinking certainty that this was just the first Grand Commander. There were five more waiting, each one probably just as skilled, just as prepared.

This was going to cost everything.

Liam straightened, ignoring the pain in his ribs, and channeled Essence through his entire body. Not for a specific technique, but for raw enhancement. Making himself faster, stronger, more durable.

[Essence: -2,000]

[Temporary Enhancement: All physical attributes increased 30%]

"You're right," Liam said. "I do rely on Phase Shift too much. So let's try something different."

He charged.

Not with Phase Shift, but with simple physical speed enhanced by Essence. Valerius hadn't expected the direct approach, and for a moment, the Grand Commander's guard was open.

Liam drove Abyssal Plate-wrapped strikes into that opening. One, two, three impacts that actually pushed Valerius back. Infernal Conflagration erupted from point-blank range, flames that couldn't be walked through when deployed this close.

Valerius screamed—not in fear, but in fury—and brought his massive blade down in an overhead strike that would have split Liam in half.

Liam Phase Shifted at the last instant, appearing behind Valerius, and channeled every fragment of Sovereign's Dominion he could muster directly into the man's mind.

The psychic pressure was immense. Valerius staggered, his movements slowing as his brain tried to process the cognitive assault of human face commanding demon authority.

It bought Liam three seconds.

He used them to drive his hand—wreathed in Abyssal Plate and Infernal Conflagration—through the weak point where Valerius's armor connected at the spine.

[Essence Feast activated]

[+940 Essence]

Grand Commander Valerius died on his feet, held upright by Liam's arm through his back, his expression frozen in something between rage and respect.

"Six hundred and seventeen demons," Liam said quietly, pulling his hand free and letting the body fall. "I'm six hundred and eighteen."

The silence that followed was absolute.

Then someone in the demon army roared—wordless and triumphant—and the sound was taken up by thousands of throats. The Nameless Litany began chanting prayers. Soldiers who'd been doubting found their faith renewed.

Lord Azra had killed a Grand Commander in single combat.

In front of everyone.

Undeniable.

[Nameless Litany: 1,067 → 1,134 members]

[Essence Generation: +4504/hour]

[Synchronization Index: 52% → 54%]

Sixty-seven new faithful. Two percentage points of synthesis.

And five more Grand Commanders still waiting.

Liam turned to face the third wall and saw them lined up on the ramparts now—all five, watching their colleague's corpse with expressions ranging from grim determination to cold fury.

They knew he could kill them individually.

Which meant they wouldn't fight him individually anymore.

"Well," Lilith said, appearing beside him with a mix of pride and concern in her golden eyes, "you got your visible victory. Now what?"

"Now we find out if I can kill five Grand Commanders simultaneously," Liam said.

"You can't," Lilith said flatly. "Even I would struggle with five at once, and I'm significantly stronger than you."

"Then we fight together," Liam said. "You take three, I take two. We end this before they can coordinate."

"That's still suicide—"

"Everything about this offensive is suicide," Liam interrupted. "But we're doing it anyway. Because the alternative is worse."

He raised his voice, letting Sovereign's Dominion carry it across the battlefield.

"THIRD WALL ASSAULT! ALL LEGIONS ADVANCE! NO MERCY! NO RETREAT! WE BREAK THROUGH TODAY OR WE DIE TRYING!"

The demon army roared its response and surged forward.

The five remaining Grand Commanders descended from the ramparts to meet them.

And the real battle for Sanctum Lux began.

[Current Status]

[Health: 78%]

[Essence: 51,280]

[Casualties: 11,847 dead, 8,293 wounded]

The numbers kept climbing.

The synthesis kept deepening.

And Liam Cross—or whatever he was becoming—prepared to do the impossible one more time.

Because that's what monsters did.

They won.

Whatever the cost.

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