Warning: gore, vomit, RAPE in the second half of the chapter.

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With Hongjoong crashing into their midst to swing his weapon, their huddled enemies parted. Yunho and Wooyoung saw their opening and attacked the remaining two while Hongjoong sliced at the Demon King. Though they might not hold out by themselves, if they could slow these four until the rest of Seonghwa's husbands arrived...

But the first strike of the orc chieftain's mace against Yunho's sword already had Seonghwa's heart sink. The hit threw the human back even when he stemmed his whole body into the block and his limbs trembled from the force. A few of those, and his arms would give in.

Wooyoung focused on dodging and delivering brief slices with his dagger against the towering bulk of the orc lady, but if she caught his wing once...

Seonghwa needed to hurry. He marched at Yongguk with his sword poised and its pale glow came to life at the promise of some action.

The peace-loving elf had reached a breaking point. Though he hated a blade's song for blood, hated the resistance of flesh against the steel, he glanced only once at his overwhelmed husbands and cold determination filled his chest.

Someone who caused so much suffering to Seonghwa and his family, to his people, deserved nothing else. Yongguk needed to be stopped before anyone else looked hurt.

"You look confident with that blade, brother. Are you certain you shouldn't sit down to relish your endless peace?" Yongguk snickered when they circled around each other. They took distance from Hongjoong's swishing scythe and the Demon King's awful jagged blade. Yunho's grunts distracted Seonghwa as he was more occupied with their well-being than his own.

"I shall, after I defeated you. Your years in exile haven't been kind to you."

But Yongguk laughed, and he bore no gleaming sun blade as he did in the past. His sabre was orkish, with a grip made of bone and a blood-chilling jagged edge to it. If dug into a body, it would rip out everything around it, bone and flesh.

"I can take you in battle any day. You have become complacent and weak since you married. Have you been a good spouse to them? Spreading your legs whenever they please, cooking for them, giving them children? I bet you would let even the dog mate with you."

Seonghwa flung into him to test his brother's strength. They often sparred when they were children, so they knew of each other's technique. In hiding their obvious weaknesses, they tried to think of ways to outsmart the other.

With their shrieking blades pressed close, Yongguk's once handsome features glinted with malice. The gold of his eyes was full of cynicism when he looked down on his brother.

"You're disgusting," Seonghwa pressed out and whirled back when Yongguk shoved him off. The elf beckoned around the room and the jarring noises of battle from their companions.

"Prove me wrong. Where are those children of yours, hm? I know they are here somewhere."

Ignited, Seonghwa slashed at him and crossed their blades on the other side when Yongguk danced away. Every hit resonated in his spine, but despite his grandiose weapon, Yongguk possessed no otherworldly powers. It was night, so he waned like Seonghwa. Only vengeance and protectiveness propelled either side of their battle.

"You won't lay a hand on them."

"I will, in only a few more moments," Yongguk scoffed and parried another hit. He seemed impressed by Seonghwa's determination to hurt him, but he didn't push back with his whole might. As if he were only holding Seonghwa up, taunting and prodding him. As if he was waiting for something.

Seonghwa realised the same moment that a scream bellowed through the throne room. Instantly, he stumbled back from Yongguk and his head snapped around to Wooyoung.

The inevitable had happened and the orc chieftain had taken hold of his wing. It was the one that was priorly injured and Seonghwa flinched when she broke it again in a cruel snap. Wooyoung writhed against the awful crack, trapped on the ground beneath her foot. She brutally grabbed hold of the other flailing appendage when the first one finally stopped moving to disorient her.

"Stop!" Seonghwa bellowed, and his feet instinctively turned in their direction. His call ripped Yunho from his concentration and, like an avalanche, their care for one another became their quickest downfall.

Yunho collapsed when he was brutally hit on the side. His body flung from the orc and blood seeped through his clothing where that mace crushed skin and bone. With a hoarse yell, Seonghwa rushed over to kneel next to him, ready to defend against the nearing orc, but what of Wooyoung?

Yongguk's laughter was delighted with their panic. He kicked at the fallen gryphon-born and Wooyoung wound himself with all his might, spitting curses up at the elf. Seonghwa couldn't leave him. Counting on Yunho's momentary rest, he dashed to their side and his blade cut through the air, making Yongguk stumble away.

But the foot of the male orc met Seonghwa's side and pressed all the air from his lungs. He coughed, losing hold of his blade when his body was flung to the ground. Before he could roll around and retrieve it, Yongguk clapped his hands.

"Now, now, we must take a break here, or we will miss out on some unique fun. Seize them."

Confused what his plan was when it wasn't beheading Seonghwa, the elf struggled against the orc when he was pressed down. The female dragged Wooyoung over to Yunho and bound their arms behind their backs before she perched down on top of them. No whimpering and bleeding had her move.

"Leave them alone!" Seonghwa roared, but he ended in a gasp when Yongguk slammed his head into the ground. Stars danced before his vision when he was also trapped. The moon no longer supplied its healing light through the windows, and Seonghwa squirmed when the orc left him with Yongguk.

"What are you doing?!" Seonghwa hissed at his brother. He was wired enough without these twisted games, but Yongguk spent the past years plotting in exile. And the glee in his eyes meant he intended to play.

"Our key figure for tonight," he lauded with a nod at the last remaining pair. Hongjoong still fought against the Demon King, but his magic waned in the presence of the dwarven artefacts. He looked small before the towering beast and Seonghwa soon realised he wouldn't hold out. He couldn't shield himself and his attacks lacked fuel.

Without his magic, Hongjoong was just a regular person.

Seonghwa didn't understand. He cried out a warning when the orc came up behind Hongjoong. In the first moment, it looked as if he might make it. As if the vigour returned to his limbs in his challenge to prove himself.

But then he made the mistake of glancing behind and spotted his companions fallen on the ground. Yongguk kneeling next to Seonghwa with his sword.

His shock and instant priority to free them exposed him in the same way as it exposed Seonghwa.

The elf flinched when a sickening hit landed against Hongjoong's head. It was only the fist of the mighty Demon King, but Hongjoong staggered, losing control of his last defences. At that same moment, the orc came over to press the artefact he had worn against Hongjoong's chest. The sorcerer immediately slumped.

"Very good," Yongguk crooned over Seonghwa's horror. How could this be? All four of them so easily battled down? Yongguk took his elite but didn't Seonghwa's union with his husbands make them stronger? Wasn't he supposed to win here?

"Seonghwa," Yunho gasped out when the Demon King took hold of Hongjoong's waning form before the sorcerer fell over. He was so small against his grip. All that confidence and the shimmer of his magic gone.

"Stop it," Seonghwa whispered, not understanding. "What are you doing? Stop," he begged again, and Yunho coughed against the grip of the orc around his neck so he would shut up.

But Yongguk looked most pleased when the Demon King handed Hongjoong over to the orc. Carelessly jostling the mage's body around as if he were a doll to throw around.

"They are here somewhere, aren't they? Your precious kids? I would like to meet them," Yongguk grinned wickedly. He traced a treacherous hand over Seonghwa's spine and he shuddered.

"How about you introduce them to me? I am sure your sorcerer can help."

Hongjoong's head lolled. He was conscious enough to realise Yongguk's words, and he gritted his teeth against the blood in his mouth.

"Rot," he spat at Yongguk, and a glob of blood hit the orc's cheek. When Yongguk tutted disapprovingly, Seonghwa's body gradually cooled.

Something was happening. Going wrong. This wasn't the end. No quick death, so Yongguk could be sure of his crown. Like last time, he intended to torment Seonghwa.

And he understood Seonghwa was much more vulnerable towards those he loved than if he were agonised himself.

"Make him sing," the sun elf grinned at the orc and he didn't hesitate. He whipped out a leather band to wrap around Hongjoong's neck and pinned the artefact against his skin there. The sorcerer choked when its grip was too tight, but his flailing hands got pressed back down. So easily manhandled, Hongjoong was twisted around until his back faced the orc.

"I wonder how much the great Magus Maximus can take without his magic. We are also new to these discoveries, you see," Yongguk gossiped to his horrified brother. Below him, Seonghwa squirmed and tried to break free despite his injuries.

"Our glorious Demon King is also here in case it shouldn't be enough." The demon in question idled near the doors with an ear on the fighting outside. Had Seonghwa's husbands gone to fight with the armies? Did they search for him out there while he was pressed against the ground of his throne room?

Seonghwa flinched when the orc ripped Hongjoong's clothing from his body, exposing him to the cold air. The orc strained against his breeches, massive below Hongjoong's squirming body. The sorcerer was only half conscious, but he wound himself against what was to come.

"No," Seonghwa whispered once he realised what they were doing. "Stop it."

But Yongguk slinked to his side and held Seonghwa's chin in place, so he was forced to look. So he could make eye contact with Hongjoong's bleary stare while the orc rutted up against him with a grunt.

"Watch," Yongguk breathed, so exhilarated. "Watch your love feel good."

Seonghwa strained against his grip and tried to get up. He collapsed when Yongguk pressed his knee into his wound and gasped out in horror when the orc aligned himself. Hongjoong bit his lip, stubbornly quiet.

"No!" Seonghwa yelled and Wooyoung also shrieked, but they couldn't do anything. Hongjoong's head flung back with a cry when the orc rammed into him to the hilt. His obscene length burrowed into the sorcerer's narrow body and bulged through his stomach. Carried by the massive orc, his arms were pinned to his back so the orc could get a better grip on him to ram him down deeper.

Hongjoong's face distorted, and his body spasmed. A moment later, he threw up all over the ground, heaving and writhing in pain while the orc hummed in satisfaction.

Tears gathered in Seonghwa's eyes.

Blood trailed down Hongjoong's thighs to drip from his feet.

"Stop, don't hurt him," he pleaded, but the orc had only just started. He lifted Hongjoong's entire body to slam him back down, ripping deeper until Hongjoong choked on his cries and more vomit. The sorcerer hung in his grip, near unconscious, and Seonghwa was going crazy. He threw himself against Yongguk, biting and kicking at him.

"Let him go! Have my head, have my crown, but stop hurting him!" He wailed, but Yongguk forced him down. Made him look as Hongjoong was raped. The mage hung in the orc's grip, defenceless as he was taken so painfully. Seonghwa sobbed.

Hongjoong couldn't. Giving up meant unveiling the hideout to their foes. No matter the pain that wracked his body, he stubbornly held out.

"Take me instead! Stop-" Seonghwa sobbed and his insides twisted painfully as he felt Hongjoong's pain, as he needed it to stop.

He didn't know how much he begged. How much Yongguk chuckled at him. Hongjoong's face was covered in tears and snot and his body was full of bruises by the time the orc came the first time, but the mage still held out. Hung to his last piece of sanity as he was taken again and again, as green seed mixed with the red of his blood.

Seonghwa watched it all. Felt every sting of pain. Held Hongjoong's gaze when his eyes wavered and ultimately slipped shut as he couldn't hold out any longer.

Seonghwa cried uncontrollably when his mage slumped. He almost wished he had given up sooner to save himself, but Hongjoong's stubborn loyalty clung to a hope that would be shattered. Fought so hard to hold Yongguk back from doing something infinitely worse.

"I'm sorry," his lips formed with their last might. Then, he dropped from the orc's grip to land in their pool of liquids, oozing blood and disgusting cum.

And his last magic fell as the hidden door unveiled.