"Father, can you use your summon?"
Even if it was only Hunter Rank, it could help them escape.
"No, son," Kaden shook his head.
"Before they lock us up, they put a Beast stone collar on me. I can't use my power—and neither can your mother."
His voice dropped, a mix of regret and helplessness filling his words.
'I figured as much,' Kash muttered.
The collar was made to neutralize summoners.
Once locked in place, only someone of a higher rank could break it.
"I'm sorry, son. If I were stronger, none of this would've happened to our family..." Kaden's voice wavered, guilt seeping through.
His tough exterior cracked. The weight of not being able to protect his family was tearing him apart.
"You don't have to worry, Father. I'll save us. Just stay back from the bars and the walls."
They were confused by his orders but still followed.
Orange light flickered in the dark. It was followed by the strong scent of burning metal.
CLANK!
The sound echoed through the stone walls.
He rushed to the front of their cell while the burning imp, no larger than two feet, trailed behind him.
"Melt the bars."
The imp's grin stretched wide, its burning eyes gleaming with mischief.
Without a word, it reached out, wrapping its claws around the base. The metal hissed and began to melt, warping slowly away.
"Let's move before the guards notice," he glanced at the door at the end of the hall.
"Kash, that thing..."
"No time for questions," he interrupted, cutting his mother off.
Realizing the situation, his family stopped asking questions and followed.
They kept their distance, though, unable to escape the heat it was giving off.
'Can you hide your presence? You're glowing too much,' he asked mentally.
The imp grinned, proud and smug.
A second later, the flames along its body dimmed—but only slightly.
"That doesn't do anything at all," he sighed under his breath.
Stealth clearly wasn't this creature's strength. It flicked its hand like the fire was nothing—just decoration to show off.
He shook his head and moved forward anyway.
They finally reached the door. It stood tall and rusted, with bolts lining the edges.
Near the top, a small rectangle hatch sat shut. It was just big enough for a guard to peek through from the other side.
Kash signaled everyone to stop.
He moved to the metal door, already knowing the hatch would creak.
'Kill anything on the other side the moment it opens.'
The imp grinned, claws glowing brighter.
'Now!' Kash snapped the hatch open.
Flames burst from its hands as it shot through the gap.
The attack slammed into the guard's skulls, fire erupting on contact.
Their bodies dropped without a sound. No scream, no struggle. Just the smell of scorched flesh.
Kash shoved the door open.
"Move!"
They rushed in and sprinted down the narrow hall.
Shouts echoed in front of them as the others finally realized what was happening.
But Kash didn't stop. One glance at their uniforms told him everything. No crests. Just normal guards.
"Use Scorching Flame!"
The imp let out a high-pitched screech and unleashed hell.
Flames burst from its claws in wide waves, washing over the corridor like a firestorm.
The tight space worked in their favor, leaving their opponents little to no room to dodge.
"AHHHHH!"
"HELP ME, I'M BURNING!"
"GET IT OFF ME!"
"PLEASE, NO, NOT LIKE THIS!"
Guards screamed as their skin burned, the smell of it filling the air. Some dropped to the ground shaking, their eyes rolled back.
The fire hadn't even touched them yet, but their bodies were already giving up from the intense heat.
Others burned where they stood, armor melting to their skin.
Kash felt no guilt. It was either them or his family.
As they raced forward, his family watched in awe.
The imp's power was unexpected—its flames burned through everything in its path with ease.
Kaden's forced a question "Is... is that thing at the Predator rank?"
Kash didn't answer.
Every second counted. The guards were closing in, and the only thing that mattered now was getting out.
As they reached the stairs leading to the first floor, Kash suddenly stopped.
Something wasn't right.
Then, without warning, black feathers began to drift down from the ceiling.
"Don't let those things touch us!" he ordered after recognizing the attack pattern.
The imp let out an mocking screech.
"EEEEK! EEEKK!"
It clapped its hands together, a burst of heat igniting around its palm.
BOOOOM!
Flames erupted, roaring outward, incinerating the feathers before they could touch the ground.
But the feathers didn't stop raining. They twisted, fought against the flames, and fell harder, faster, like daggers in the dark.
"Not enough!" Kash hissed.
He swung his gaze around, searching for the source.
Then he saw it.
A figure stood between them and the stairs.
'An enforcer!'
"Imp, go and kill that man!" he barked.
The imp didn't hesitate. It shot forward like a streak of fire, heading straight for the target.
The enforcer caught sight of it and instantly turned, running away in panic.
But he underestimated its speed.
SWOOOOH!
With a flash of flames, the little creature surged forward, using the heat to propel itself faster.
"CRREEEK!" The Plague Crow shrieked, sensing the danger. It swooped in, trying to block the attack and shield its master.
But the imp wasn't intimidated.
With a single swipe of its claw, it sent a wave of fire roaring toward the crow, incinerating its black feathers instantly.
The Plague Crow screamed, caught in the inferno
Then, it snatched the crow's charred remains and hurled it directly toward its summoner.
The moment it hit, it exploded—fire erupted in a violent burst, swallowing the summoner in a storm of flames.
He blinked. Once. Twice. No way that just happened.
'How can it do all of this without training?'
The imp turned around, its small body puffing up with pride.
It folded its tiny arms across its chest and lifted its head high, as if to say, 'I'm built differently. Now praise me more.'