Six hours later...
Sai could barely stay on his feet. Every step sent a jolt of pain through him; his body was torn to shreds, and his breath came in ragged gasps, as if through hundreds of piercing needles. Demons still surrounded him, their roars drowning out everything else, and the very ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble with their steps.
He watched as Nox spread his small but sharp wings, hissing, trying to push back the nearest opponents, creating flashes of light that distracted them, if only for a moment. But the demons were too many. They leaped and attacked simultaneously, their claws and teeth tearing through the air, ripping his clothes, leaving deep gashes on Sai's body.
"Damn... I..." Sai tried to speak, but his words broke into sobs and coughs. The taste of blood filled his mouth, his lungs burned with fatigue and pain. He couldn't even fully raise the revolver.
Sai understood that if he fell now, it would be the end. But an inner resolve drove him forward. He took a step, fell to one knee, gripped the revolver with both hands, and tried to focus the darkness within himself.
"Nox..." he whispered, barely audible, "help..."
The dragon flew closer, a faint, bright aura emanating from his body, creating a protective field around Sai. But even that wasn't enough: the demons' claws sliced through the defense, leaving burns and bloody scratches on his skin.
Sai could barely stand. His legs trembled, his body swayed. Every breath was a struggle. He felt hot blood rising in his throat, and a second later, he vomited onto the ground, mixing blood and dust at his feet.
"No... no..." he whispered, feeling a weakness that was overwhelming him. "I... can't..."
But his mind still fought. He made an effort and raised his hand with the communicator crystal. His hands shook, but he managed to type out a short message:
"Most likely I... I'm going to die now... the whole city is full of demons... Nox is holding on next to me... don't know if I can get out..."
Sai heard Nox's quiet whine beside him; the dragon moved closer, sensing his master's peril. His small claws scraped the ground, his wings fluttered slightly, but in his eyes was the determination to protect Sai at any cost.
"I... I can't..." he whispered again, but his words were drowned out by the roars of the demons.
The strength inside him was slowly fading, every breath becoming harder. He felt his consciousness beginning to slip away, a fog descending over his eyes. Nox leaped right in front of him, hissing and releasing a bright flash of light that threw back the nearest demons, though only for a moment.
"Nox..." Sai tried to raise his hand, but his body wouldn't obey. "Hold on..."
At that moment, a demon that looked stronger than the others, with black skin and claws almost as long as an arm, leaped directly at him. Sai barely had time to raise the revolver, but he lacked the strength—the blow landed squarely on his torso, and he lost consciousness.
Nox shot into the air, using his wings to beat back several demons, trying to protect Sai, but his master no longer moved. The little dragon whined and slid around him, guarding his body, which lay on the dusty, scorched earth.
The city descended into chaos, fire blazing around them, destroyed houses smoldering, demons screaming and attacking each other. Sai lay on the ground, knocked out, his body trembling with fatigue and pain, blood mixed with grime, his eyes closed.
Nox, sensing his master's helplessness, whined softly, his light gently illuminating the dark space around them. He darted between the demons, trying to keep them at a distance.
Time seemed to freeze. Everything around was noise, screams, smoke, and fire, but for Sai, this moment became a strange silence—he felt as if the world had stopped, as if the universe itself was holding its breath, watching the last line of defense.
And it was then, as Sai's consciousness was almost completely dissolving, that he heard a quiet but distinct voice in his head:
Not now. You are not dead yet.
Sai opened his eyes with difficulty. Nox stood beside him, looking at him, and the little dragon's aura seemed to be pushing him back towards life. He felt a strange warmth in his chest, as if a part of his grandfather's strength and everything he had learned was returning.
But physically, he was almost destroyed. His body wouldn't obey, blood flowed down his arms and face. Every movement was a struggle, but the inner voice, mingled with Nox's energy, urged him to get up.
Sai tried to take a breath, barely managing to suppress a cough, but thoughts of his grandfather, the destroyed house, and the need to survive still kept his consciousness on the edge. He gripped the revolver, which now felt heavy and yet alive, as if sensing his pain and determination.
"I... I can't die now..." he whispered, feeling the darkness within gradually returning. "Not yet..."
And at that moment, the little dragon leaped right in front of him, hissing and spreading his wings. Sai felt the energy connecting with his body, slowly restoring his strength. He felt a weak but real surge—his heart beat faster, his breathing evened out.
Nox pressed against his hand, as if saying, 'You are not alone yet.'
Sai barely held back his tears, but a look of resolve appeared on his face. He understood that an even greater battle lay ahead, that the demons around them wouldn't just disappear. But for now, he was at least alive.
The city still burned, demons screamed and fought among themselves, but for Sai, this moment became a starting point. He had survived, and that meant he could still do something.
Nox whined softly, and Sai looked at him and tightened his grip on the revolver:
"We'll get out of here... together..."