The blast was enormous with shattering cries.
It lifted the waves far beyond all the skies.
The water then covered the great goblin spell,
Creating a fire that could rival all Hell.

In all the confusion, the demons had tried
To put out the flames that consumed the outside.
But when they used water, as they hoped it would tame, 
It angered the fire and enraged every flame.

Our time had arrived to attack all our foes
I bellowed out, “LOOSE!” as they unlocked their bows.
Intense madness grew as it twisted my face.
I bayed like a wolf and then charged at full pace.

The full army trained in an undulant wave,
From the largest dragon to the weakest knave.
We were like an ocean, a merciless flood,
Frenetically driven and thirsty for blood.

We took them unbalanced and reaped them like wheat.
Despite this great fortune, they were not yet beat.
Their archers and lookouts had joined in the fight 
And proved quite effective, increasing our plight.

But as soon as it poured, the rain turned to fire.
Our squadron of dragons had torched every spire.
The battle grew intense, the sound pierced my ears.
The cacophony grew, inspiring tears.

I could not be thwarted, my rage was too great.
While hacking and shouting, we made for the gate.
The shrieks of the griffins, the scurls of the ghouls,
Mechanical thuds of trajectory tools.

Our charge was successful, with one little hitch:
Hegtho had been mauled by some large harpy bitch.
The invisible man fell limp to the ground,
And showed only blood with no form to be found.

I saw Torig fighting with celestial skills.
Using both of his blades, he made numerous kills.
He was like a machine, but it was for the worst,
Attracting attention from the larger cursed.

He too, had been cornered and trapped just as well
By a large group of ghouls who ruled here in Hell.
Arachnid in shape and the color of mud,
They tore him to pieces and drank all his blood.

Still numbering six and at the main door,
We ventured inside while escaping the gore.
The shouting and death that had seethed through their lungs
Had poisoned the air and left grime on our tongues.

We slammed the doors shut as it rang in the halls,
As tapestries fluttered that hung on the walls.
So ornate in design, so utterly bright.
Such palpable colors as soft as the light.

Rencroft took a moment and said a quick prayer,
So many years passed, he was finally there.
For the first time in decades, through all of his strife,
He took a deep breath and felt new flavored life.

The main hall was brilliant with looks to admire
With at least fifty halls that led to each spire.
We followed our leader as still as a mouse
Right into the hearth that was big as a house.

“There’s a secret stone that will lead us to stairs.
It’d be an easy find if I had any flares!”
Ellycz closed her eyes and with gentle command,
Ignited a flame in the palm of her hand.

Rencroft simply smiled and continued his search,
Still quiet as mice, as if we were in church.
He managed to find it and pushed it complete,
Retracting the ground underneath Calief’s feet.

He went tumbling down without any chance
To hold his own balance or capture his stance.
He crashed on the surface; we thought he was slain,
“I think that you found it…” he uttered in pain.

We tried to retrieve him. Rencroft held us back.
“That shouldn’t happen. This could be an attack.”
Just as he said that, we could hear softened cries
As shadows emerged from silent disguise.

Ambiguous creatures. What were these dark things
That crept down below with the swiftness of wings?
All we could see was the red in their eyes.
He was already dead before we heard cries.

Our count was now five. We were losing men fast. 
I wondered how long our great coup would last.
We walked up the stairs and then reached the next room.
It lacked all the colors, producing a gloom.