Athessa gets into the open cavern just after Loxley, and doesn't waste time engaging the same demon as he in a pincer attack. Even as four more demons crop up closer to the rift, she affords them only enough attention to assess the imminent threat, count their number, and return focus.

Once the bickering stops, they do work like a well oiled machine. Loxley's blade flashes here, Athessa's own glints there, parry, thrust, riposte--at one point as the demon is beaten back with steel and flame, Athessa dodges aside to get a clear shot at the short-arse attacking Matthias. Her throwing knife does little damage, but it staggers the slumping figure long enough that Matty doesn't need to dodge an attack while casting, and she can shift focus to a new target.

The closest of the new four is a rage demon, hunched and pulsing, hardened bits of its lava-like substance cracking and sloughing off as it moves. Athessa steps out of the way of a clumsy swipe from its claw-like hand and hacks the limb off. Of course, in the nature of rage demons that pisses it off and it swipes again, with the other arm, which it then loses. They'll regrow before too long, but Athessa is quick; she spins around the demon as it charges her, easily placing herself behind it and slashing both daggers down its back.