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The legions of a particular hell continued to pour forth into the city of Lost Haven and in some cases the swirling masses of demons and things better left unmentioned had been met by heroes. But not all that the demons and creatures from the depths of this particular hell met that opposed them came from the ranks of the heroes of the city of Lost Haven. And some of the other things that lurked in the darkness of the city were less than pleased with the intrusion.

A group of hound-like demons, great beasts that looked almost like wolves coated in flames and spewing forth malice and hate prowled the streets in search of more humans to slay and condemn to eternal torment. Then one of them raised its head as if it had smelt something before letting loose an unearthly howl and charging in the direction of one of the alleyways. The others did not follow, seemingly content to let this kill go to the one who had smelt it first. 

But as the hound demon entered the shadows of the alley something changed. The darkness there did not fade before the flickering light of the hellfire attached to the demon, and it abruptly disappeared from sight. The howls of triumph abruptly cut off in a strangled whimper that was replaced by a deep and inhuman laughing. It was a sound that vibrated and resonated, a sound that was distorted and twisted, a sound that was in no uncertain terms a challenge.

The others snarled and growled, but looked to the largest among them for the go ahead, a go ahead which they received. The demon hounds charged for the alleyway, and as they did so the shadows within surged forwards and the laughing grew louder. The first two of the demons leaped up as if to enter the cloud of darkness but their leaps were met by billows of the dark cloud, and shattered bodies were flung away as their fires petered out pitifully. Others tried to take advantage of the motion and leaped as well, but all were met with the same result, bodies shattered and torn by blows from within the darkness as the laughter continued and grew ever more scornful.

At last only the largest of the demon hounds remained and with a snarl that unleashed flames and a roar of rage the beast charged. This time the shadows did not billow outwards and the beast entered them. There was a single strangled yelp from within the shadows, followed by what sounded almost like a burp. 

For a moment only the darkness that had taken the street remained but that moment was not to last. Other demons had heard the cries and like any predator they began to swarm. Some flew, some crawled, some hopped, some moved in ways that man could not truly describe with words, but all were beings that should have been terrifying. Instead the only response was the growing laughter that boomed forth from within the cloud of darkness. "YOU THINK TO CHALLENGE?' a voice bellowed from within the cloud as the darkness lashed out at a demon who had come too close, crushing it with some appendage from within.

Following this the circling masses of demons moved back a bit as more continued to gather. Strangely though the darkness also seemed to grow and the attacks from within continued to pick off one or two at a time, never enough to even thin out the numbers, but the constant toll and the endless inhuman laughter was beginning to make even these beings from hell feel a shiver of what could only be described as fear. 

Demons are inherently cowardly, fearing their own deaths and unwilling to engage in many cases when they believe death is likely without suitable motivation. But such motivation did eventually arrive to end the standoff. A being, with horns that rose and curled around its head, wings that stretched forth from its back, blood red skin, and an aura of hell fire arrived. It surveyed the darkness and gave a derisive snort. "Swarm it and kill it." The demon said disdainfully as it flicked a hand at the shadowed mass.

With that flick the masses charged. Surely with so many even whatever strange thing lurked within the darkness would be easily dispatched. Perhaps they were right, perhaps weight of numbers alone would have carried the day. But they never got the chance to find out. White flame blossomed within their ranks. A fire that burned with an intensity at least as great as that of the hell fire, a fire that made even the demons vanish as if they had never been when it touched them. And it was not the only fire, a dark fire spread as well, tendrils twining out to touch demons, demons who immediately went mad, attacking their own kind indiscriminately in a frenzy. 

From the alleyway that the darkness had first emerged came a woman, a woman clad in her strange costume garb. Soul Fire."Why you started without me?" She seemed to be pouting behind the half mask and veil that covered her face based on her tone. "I'm hurt." And as she spoke more of the fire poured forth from her hands.

The demon who seemed to be in charge pointed at her as well. "Gut her, and bring her to me. I will eat her myself." He bellowed and the woman only laughed scornfully. The ranks of demons closed again and charged, both for the darkness and the woman in the black and gold. But none of them reached the woman. For before she could be reached she spun, and the streamers that came from her back seemed to stretch out almost as if they were the echo of wings. As she spun the flame that surrounded her became a whirling tempest of white fire that reached up into the sky in a funnel cloud of obliteration.

The darkness also was not idle, it and whatever lurked within crashed into the wave of attacking demons like a storm itself. Slain demons were thrown left and right, and others were simply crushed as whatever was within the darkness approached the commanding demon. The commander manifested what looked to be a sword of hellfire and charged. But his charge would be little more effective than all the others. As he entered the darkness something massive closed around him. And it was joined by others, at least six clawed 'hands' gripping various parts of his body. No matter how the demon struggled it could not get free and as it struggled fear continued to grow.

"What the hell are you?" The demon asked as the grip continued to tighten, the words hissed with hate but laced with terror. Then from inches away a great voice bellowed. "I AM YOUR NIGHTMARE." And a demon screamed in terror as the 'hands' all twisted and bloody pulp oozed out from between them within the darkness.