The walls of the cave were covered in damp moss, and the air was thick with the scent of moisture mixed with the faint metallic tang of blood. The flickering light of magical torches lining the walls cast dancing shadows on the stone floor. Somewhere deep within the dungeon, the distant howling of werewolves echoed—wild and piercing, enough to make any ordinary adventurer tremble. But Alex merely adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, completely calm in the face of danger.
"We're here," Elizabeth broke the silence, arms folded behind her back. She calmly watched her nephew, though her eyes held a hidden curiosity. "Remember, I'm only here as an observer. But if you lose control of the situation, your dear auntie will jump in to save you."
She smiled.
Alex stretched with a grin, as if he were going for a light jog rather than walking into a monster-infested hell.
"No need to worry."
He opened his hand, and blood began to seep from his fingertips. It didn't fall to the ground but hovered in the air, gathering into the shape of a long, curved sword.
"Just sit back and enjoy the show."
"Well, it's not every day you get to witness the power of a level one hundred," Elizabeth said, stepping back and leaning against the wall. "Might as well see what I taught you in the future."
As soon as Alex stepped forward, a low growl filled the cave, and from its depths emerged the bodies of werewolves. Their sharp claws glinted in the dim light, and their yellow eyes burned with predatory rage. They charged from all sides, hungry and bloodthirsty.
Alex didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled.
"Alright then… let's dance."
He vanished from his spot, leaving a crimson streak in the air. In the next instant, chaos erupted among the werewolves.
His blood-forged sword sliced through the monsters with deadly precision—every movement swift, economical, and lethal. One werewolf lost a limb; another had its chest slashed open from shoulder to belly. The monsters' blood splashed onto the stone floor but never hit the ground—instead, it gathered around Alex, forming a rotating field of crimson.
"Behind you!" Siren's voice rang out sharply.
Alex reacted instantly: a portion of the blood surrounding him hardened into a sharp arrow and pierced the head of a monster sneaking up from behind.
"Thanks, Siren," he said, dodging another werewolf's claw and driving his sword clean through it.
The more enemies he felled, the more emerged from the darkness. Alex could feel the pressure mounting—they gave him no room to breathe.
"How many of you are there?!" he growled, dodging two attacks at once.
"The more monsters you kill, the faster you level up," Siren replied mockingly. "So stop whining—Behind you!"
Alex didn't even turn. With a flick of his hand, some of the blood swirling around him shifted form. It shot backward, absorbing the blow of a massive werewolf paw. The deadly claws meant to tear into his back sank into the thick blood, which immobilized the monster's limb.
A faint smile appeared on Alex's face as he turned to the creature trying to sink its fangs into him.
"How rude to attack from behind."
The blood holding the werewolf's paw sharpened instantly, turning into a massive spear that pierced the beast with a crunch. The monster let out a final gurgle before collapsing.
There was no time to rest—more werewolves charged at him. He dashed forward like lightning, and in an instant, his bloody sword cleaved through ten monsters at once. The blade slipped through flesh as if slicing through air.
Another group attacked from the side. Alex reacted instantly—a few drops of blood separated from the larger mass, forming into thin needles that shot forward like bullets, piercing the skulls of the charging beasts.
Elizabeth watched closely, arms crossed.
"He could at least pretend he's struggling. It feels like I brought him to a playground, not a dungeon."
"Left side!" Siren signaled.
Alex glanced at the approaching monsters. Using the blood of the last werewolves he'd slain, he formed a bloody tornado that swallowed four of them in an instant. Seconds later, dozens of needles burst from the whirlwind, tearing the beasts apart from within. He then hurled the remaining needles at another pack of werewolves trying to flank him from the right.
Elizabeth tilted her head slightly as she assessed the situation.
"That technique… creating deadly needles from others' blood. Don't tell me… I taught him that in the future? Looks like it wasn't such a dumb idea after all. I've only developed the theoretical concept of this technique so far—haven't even tested it in battle. And now I'm watching its real-time application. Ha. Alex, you really are my nephew. And apparently, my most talented student."
The battle raged on, and the werewolves continued to fall one by one. Alex moved like he was dancing between their attacks, leaving behind nothing but bodies and pools of blood.
"Well, it's been fun," Alex raised his hand, "but I'm afraid it's time to wrap this up."
The blood swirling around him accelerated sharply, forming hundreds of thin needles that hung frozen in the air… and then launched in all directions. The monsters didn't even have time to howl—dozens of red projectiles pierced their skulls, hearts, lungs. With one move, Alex finished off the remaining werewolves.
"Finally," he exhaled heavily and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Opening his inventory, he retrieved a mana recovery potion and drank it in one gulp.
Elizabeth pushed off from the wall and lazily walked over to him.
"Impressive," she said, clapping her hands. "Especially that blood technique… Be honest—was it me who taught you? Was it?"
"You, you," Alex smiled lightly. "Though it was a pain to master. The nuances of manipulating someone else's blood, the precise mana control... and that's just the basics you drilled into me. When we got into the advanced stuff…"
"Okay, enough," Elizabeth placed her hands on Alex's shoulders. "I'm glad the future me managed to develop it and even teach you, but for now that concept only exists in my head. So quit spoiling it."
"If you want, I can teach you. Save you a few dozen hours."
"Thanks, but I'll figure it out myself. That thrill of crafting a new spell and testing it in combat for the first time… when it doesn't work and you have to rethink everything… I want to go through all of it on my own. And I suggest you try it sometime, too."
"If I get the time—definitely," Alex gently moved her hands off his shoulders. "But right now, the boss awaits."
They moved forward. Ahead stood massive gates made of black stone. A symbol of a snarling wolf was carved into them. This was the boss room.
"Ready?" Elizabeth looked at Alex.
"Always," he replied, as the blood sword appeared once more in his hands.
The boss room was a vast, cavernous hall, its walls covered in dark growths. The air reeked of blood and rot—enough to make even a seasoned fighter flinch. In the center of the room, among scattered bones and remains of bodies, loomed a terrifying figure.
The boss—a giant werewolf twice the size of its subordinates—knelt, engrossed in its meal. Its massive claws tore into the carcass of a smaller werewolf, ripping it apart. Other monsters, slightly smaller, stood nearby, as if waiting for their turn. Its fur was dark, almost black, and scars from countless battles marked its back.
Alex and Elizabeth stood silently by the entrance, observing the scene. The werewolves hadn't noticed them at first, too engrossed in their brutal ritual.
"Remember, I'm only here as an observer," Elizabeth said quietly, her eyes never leaving the werewolves.
Alex gave a short grunt without taking his gaze off the boss.
"So I assume you want to take on all the small monsters to test that technique I used?"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled.
"You're quite the perceptive one."
"Not perceptive," Alex shrugged lightly. "I just know you well."
At that moment, the massive werewolf lifted its head from its meal. Its yellow eyes burned with fury as it finally noticed the intruders. A loud, thunderous roar echoed through the cave, making the walls tremble.
The smaller werewolves immediately charged forward.
"Here we go," Alex muttered, shifting his weight.
"Have fun, nephew," Elizabeth said with a slight smile as she stepped forward to meet the rank-and-file monsters.
Alex paid her no attention—his gaze was locked solely on the boss.
The monster charged at him, massive like a mountain of muscle and rage. Its claws shattered the stone floor, each step accompanied by a deep growl.
Alex launched himself toward the beast. The boss swiped at him with a claw, but Alex dodged, leaving behind thin streaks of blood in the air.
"Siren!"
"Behind you!"
Alex spun around sharply, and in that moment, a portion of his blood formed a barrier, absorbing the werewolf's claws. The blood mass caught the blow and then quickly solidified into a sharp spear, which pierced the monster's paw with a piercing shriek.
The boss howled in pain, but didn't even think of retreating. It turned and attacked from another angle.
Alex slid backward, then fired off dozens of blood needles that burst from the air and pierced the werewolf. The monster roared, but despite the many wounds, continued its advance.
"Thick-skinned," Alex muttered, quickly assessing the situation.
Suddenly, the boss leapt into the air, raising a claw glowing with dark energy.
"What the..."
The claw slammed down, creating a shockwave that forced Alex to retreat.
"He's using mana?" Alex said, surprised.
"Most high-level bosses have that ability," Siren replied.
"Right. I'd forgotten after all this time."
Alex rushed forward again, dodging another strike. His blood-forged sword sliced through the air, carving deep wounds into the boss's body.
But it wasn't enough.
The monster spun sharply and swung its paw, forcing Alex to raise a blood barrier in front of himself. Even so, he felt the force of the blow—it hurled him backward.
He landed, rolled across the ground, then quickly got to his feet.
"Alright... let's try something else."
He spread his fingers, and all the blood around him began to thicken and swirl, forming a dark spear in his hands.
"You think that'll work?" Siren's worried voice asked.
"If I hit the right spot," Alex grinned slyly.
The monster charged at him again. With his free hand, Alex conjured several blood needles and fired them at the boss. The creature shielded its face with its paw, and all the needles embedded into it without causing much harm. But when it lowered its paw, the blood spear instantly flew into its right eye.
The werewolf roared in agony so loud that the entire cave—walls and ceiling—trembled.
"And now for the final touch," Alex extended his hand forward, drawing the monster's blood into a vortex.
The boss howled and tried to dodge, but the blood wrapped around him from all sides.
"Let's see if you survive this," Alex whispered, clenching his fist.
The mass of blood suddenly turned into hundreds of sharpened spikes that pierced the boss's body all at once. The monster screamed, struggling to break free, but Alex clenched tighter, forcing the blood to compress around him.
The werewolf gave a ragged growl... and then its body exploded from within.
Silence filled the chamber.
"Your level has increased," came Siren's calm voice in his head.
Alex breathed heavily, relaxing his fingers.
"Perfect technique..." came a voice from behind.
He turned and saw Elizabeth standing amid a pile of defeated monsters.
"Well, the dungeon is officially cleared," she smiled.
"And how did your first test with the technique go?" Alex asked with a grin.
"As good as it could, for a first time."
"Glad to hear it." Alex simply nodded, pulling the remaining blood back into his body. "Shall we head back?"
"Wait a second. Let's grab this first," she walked over to a small chest near where the werewolves had been feasting. Opening her inventory, she placed the entire chest inside. "I'll pass it on to the Guild later. Now we can return."
And with that, they vanished into a portal that appeared in front of them the moment the boss died.
Alex walked slowly along the marble walls, twirling his access card between his fingers. Its golden sheen barely caught the light from the magical crystals illuminating the path. That small piece of metal granted him official access to the most dangerous dungeons the Guild had to offer.
Elizabeth's words echoed again in his mind after they returned:
"—I'd like to visit one more dungeon today."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, evaluating his serious expression.
"No, that's enough for today," she said, crossing her arms. "Come to my office tomorrow after your training with Krul."
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
Elizabeth just gave a mysterious smile:
"I have an idea I should've implemented a long time ago."
"And what idea is that?"
"You'll find out tomorrow," she said calmly. "Now go get some rest."
Alex exhaled sharply, rolling his eyes.
"No clarity again," he muttered, slipping the card into his pocket. "Will they ever get rid of that habit?"
He continued walking, pondering what Elizabeth might have meant. However, just as he was nearing his room, his steps suddenly halted. Nearby, leaning casually against the wall, stood a familiar demon—the very same one who had caused chaos in the square.
"Looks like he's waiting for you," Sirena said calmly.
The boy merely smiled.
"Obviously. And I can even guess how this is going to start," he replied mentally. "There are only two options. First: he starts yelling about his pride, who he is, and how I dared to humiliate him in front of everyone. And, of course, he'll go on about how badly I hurt him."
He gave a subtle shake of his head.
"Second option: the moment I get close, he throws a dark spell right in my face."
"You're being overly pessimistic," Sirena remarked. "I still hope he's here to apologize—or maybe he's waiting for someone else entirely."
Alex gave a short chuckle.
"Sure, keep hoping, Sirena. Though you of all people should know reality's rarely that generous."
He approached the door to his room, and at that exact moment, the demon finally pushed off the wall and stepped forward.
"You bastard…" the demon growled, baring his teeth in rage.
Alex instinctively glanced at the boy, noted his aggressive stance, and realizing a classic tirade was incoming, turned to Sirena.
"Sirena, judging by his behavior, how much would you say he hates me on a scale from one to ten?"
"I'd say… around a seven."
"Only a seven? Seems like at least a nine to me."
"For a nine, he'd already have tried to hit you."
"Come on, Sirena, have a heart—let him speak. He probably spent all night rehearsing in front of a mirror, trying to get everything off his chest. The only thing I still don't get is—what was my fault in any of this? If he's so desperate to be angry at someone, he should start with his tiny brain."
"Or with Lilith. After all, she's the one who scolded him in the square."
"Exactly. So why rush to me with all the blame when there are two far more qualified candidates?"
Meanwhile, the demon was still ranting. He clearly had a vivid imagination, because in a very short span of time, Alex had apparently "humiliated him in front of everyone," "ruined his reputation," "stripped him of his honor," and much more of the same.
Alex lazily yawned and reached for the doorknob, cutting the demon off.
"Look, can we continue this some other time? Right now, I'd much rather enjoy a hot bath, a cup of tea, and a short nap than have a conversation with you."
The demon clearly wasn't in the mood for compromise. As soon as Alex tried to open the door, he lunged forward, aiming to grab him by the collar.
But Alex didn't even glance at him—he simply stepped back lightly, putting a few meters of distance between them.
The demon, who had been confident in his attack just a second ago, lost his balance and nearly stumbled forward.
"Oh, sorry, was I supposed to stand still?" Alex asked in an innocent tone, tilting his head. "You really should warn me in advance. Let's try again. Careful not to overdo it."
Grinding his teeth, the demon pulled a long black spear from his inventory. His eyes burned with fury.
"If fists won't reach you, how about this?!"
Alex merely shrugged, watching as his opponent charged. The demon thrust the spear toward his chest, but Alex calmly sidestepped, letting the weapon whistle harmlessly past him.
"Why aren't you attacking?" Sirena asked, her tone even.
Alex dodged another strike, then placed his hands behind his head with a smile.
"Well, first of all, I don't want any extra trouble with the student council. Second…" — he ducked quickly, letting the spear sweep over him — "it's fun. Let the guy blow off some steam."
The demon raged on. He tried to corner Alex, attacking faster and more aggressively, but no matter what he did, his spear couldn't reach its mark.
Alex moved with ease, as if dancing, dodging at the last possible moment.
"Had enough?" he asked with feigned boredom when the demon launched an especially powerful strike.
But the boy wasn't listening. With a sudden lunge, he put all his strength into the next attack. That was what Alex had been waiting for. He stepped aside, allowing the spear to fly past, then spun sharply behind the demon and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
The demon froze.
"All done? Or should we dance a bit more?" Alex leaned toward his ear, keeping his carefree tone.
The boy jerked free and jumped back. Still gripping the spear moments ago, he suddenly threw it aside. The weapon clattered against the floor, bouncing a few times before coming to rest. But Alex barely paid attention to that—something else had caught his eye.
The demon reached into his inventory and pulled out a small vial filled with thick, dark liquid. The contents shimmered in the light of the magical crystals, glowing faintly with a crimson hue.
"And what do we have here?" Alex raised an eyebrow, watching as the demon downed the potion in one gulp.
In an instant, a powerful magical wave surged around him. The air seemed to grow heavier, saturated with something oppressive and ominous. Goosebumps ran down Alex's skin, and a flashing sense of danger sparked in his mind like a red alarm.
This aura…
Alex could see it. His heightened intellect allowed him to perceive the flows of magic around him more clearly, and now he could distinctly see spirals of dark energy swirling around the demon—dense and aggressive. They pulsed like living matter, ready to burst free.
"Sirena," he said, trying to stay calm even as he braced internally for the worst. "What's that potion? What's happening to him?"
"Scanning the database…"
A second of silence.
"No data found."
Alex froze for a moment.
"What do you mean, 'no data'?"
"I can't find anything similar in the registry of known elixirs."
"Fantastic," Alex muttered, watching as the demon's body began to transform.
His form grew more massive—muscles bulging as if they might burst through his skin. The fabric of his uniform split at the shoulders and forearms with a faint crackling sound.
But that was only the beginning.
Two black horns appeared on the boy's head—horns that demons usually concealed with magic to avoid drawing attention. They looked rough, uneven, like obsidian blades. His eyes turned red, burning with furious hatred. The pupils narrowed into thin slits, resembling those of a snake.
Thick saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth, seeming to evaporate upon contact with the air. His body appeared heavier, his breath deeper, and every movement was charged with inexplicable aggression.
Alex frowned.
"Dude, are you okay over there?"
The demon said nothing. He merely raised a hand bearing a magical ring, and in the same instant, a glowing symbol appeared beneath Alex's feet.
"Evade now!" the Siren sharply raised her voice.
Without thinking, Alex leapt to the side. A good move—because where he had just been standing, a massive black spike erupted from the ground. Its edges pulsed with dark energy, and the air around it vibrated, as if space itself couldn't bear the pressure of such power.
Alex looked back at the demon.
"Right, got it. You're not in the mood for a conversation."
Suddenly, the demon charged at Alex with incredible speed, moving like a true beast. His weaponless hands reached straight for Alex's chest, clearly aiming for his heart.
Alex tensed every muscle, ready to take the hit. But just as the strike was about to land, the demon twisted mid-motion, changing the direction of the attack, and kicked Alex in the side. The boy didn't even have time to fully react. The impact struck him with such force that the air seemed to explode around him.
"Damn…!"
His body crashed through a giant glass window, which shattered into thousands of pieces. But instead of falling uncontrollably, Alex regrouped mid-air. His eyes quickly assessed the situation, and his body adapted to the fall.
Just before hitting the ground, he twisted sharply and formed a platform of blood beneath his feet. Using it as a springboard, Alex converted the fall's momentum into forward motion, gliding softly across the grass.
He landed on one knee to absorb the speed, then rose smoothly, brushing a few shards of glass from his shoulders.
"Well, that was fun," he muttered, dusting off his clothes.
His gaze immediately shot forward to the broken window, where the demon still stood—panting and growling like a wild animal.
Alex tilted his head slightly and loosened his fingers.
"Well, if that's how you want it…" His lips curled into a predatory grin. "Then let's dance a little more."
The demon, standing among the shattered remains of the window frame, bared his teeth in a vicious sneer as he watched Alex. His chest rose and fell in harsh, ragged breaths, and his red eyes blazed with a savage light.
And then he vanished.
Alex instinctively tensed and dodged to the side just as a black spike burst from the ground where he had stood a second before, tearing through the soil and leaving a deep crater.
If I'd hesitated for even a moment…
But there was no time to think.
The demon appeared in front of him, striking with his right hand. Alex dodged instantly, feeling the air slice apart around the demon's fist from the sheer force of the blow. He stepped back, but in that same moment, another spike erupted from the ground in front of him. Alex jumped to the side, and the demon vanished again.
The Siren didn't miss a beat.
"Above!"
Alex looked up and saw the demon descending from above, leg extended for a crushing blow. At the last moment, he rolled aside, and the ground beneath him exploded, forming a deep crater and scattering clumps of earth and stone in all directions.
Alex felt shards of marble from the garden path strike his back.
"What kind of monstrous strength is this…" he muttered, straightening.
The demon gave him no time to think. Spikes shot out from both sides, forcing Alex to retreat sharply. But as soon as he moved, another spike burst up beneath his feet.
Alex leapt and pushed off the spike with a quick motion, flipping through the air.
"Left side, watch out!"
Another strike from the demon! Alex raised his arms to block the attack, but at the last moment, the boy shifted direction again and kicked toward Alex's stomach.
Alex barely had time to react, crossing his arms in front of him. The blow was so strong it sent him flying backward, several meters through the air. But once again, he managed to regroup and, pushing off the ground, skidded across the garden's marble tiles, stopping a few meters away from the demon.
He quickly got to his feet and locked eyes with the demon, who stood in place, breathing heavily, a look of wild satisfaction on his face.
"Looks like you're having fun," Alex muttered, brushing dust from his sleeve.
"Aren't you?" the Siren reminded him calmly.
Alex smiled, dodging two more spikes that shot up from the ground.
"Well, how should I put this… I feel like I'm being too lenient."
"You could've ended this fight long ago if you'd taken it seriously."
Alex silently dodged another punch.
"Maybe."
"Then why are you holding back?"
Alex thought for a moment, rolling aside to make the demon miss once more.
"I'm afraid if I attack seriously, he won't be able to handle it. The difference in levels might come into play, and I don't want to deal with the consequences."
"If you keep dodging, he'll corner you. And someone will patch the boy up afterward anyway, so end this show before a crowd shows up."
The demon poured all his strength into the next strike.
Alex ducked instantly, letting the fist pass over his head.
"All right," Alex sighed heavily.
He took a sharp step forward, and before the demon could react, Alex landed a punch under his ribs. The blow was so powerful that the demon's body folded forward, his feet lifting off the ground. He flew back like a cannonball and crashed into the marble wall of the garden with a deafening crack. Stones scattered, sending up a cloud of dust.
Alex straightened and shook his hand lightly.
"Let's hope that calms him down."
Behind him, a familiar female voice spoke—calm, yet with a hint of curiosity.
"What's going on here?"
Alex spun around and saw Lilith standing a few meters away, arms crossed. Behind her, a dozen students had gathered, clearly drawn by the noise of the battle.
"It's over now," Alex managed to say—just as a chilling feeling ran through his body.
The demon's aura, which he had clearly sensed just minutes ago, surged again, filling the air with a suffocating energy. Alex turned his gaze to the spot where a dense cloud of dust from his strike still hovered, and immediately noticed a troubling sign—a dim gray glow of a magic circle was cutting through the dust, glowing directly in the demon's hand.
But that wasn't even the worst part.
The demon was completely ignoring Alex. His hand was aimed straight at Lilith.
Time seemed to slow down.
"Damn it!" Alex instantly created a magic circle beneath Lilith, and in the same moment, her figure vanished, reappearing right next to him.
In the very next second, a massive black spike burst out from the spot where the girl had been standing, piercing the ground like a spear that was meant to tear her apart.
"What the hell was that?" Lilith asked quietly but sharply, glancing at Alex.
"I don't quite understand yet myself," Alex replied quickly, then raised his voice to address the students. "Everyone, get out of here, now!"
The terrified students didn't need to be told twice—just one look at the giant spike was enough to make them turn around and run at full speed.
Alex turned back to the demon, ready to resume the fight, but as the dust settled, he noticed something strange. He clearly remembered landing a solid hit to the demon's ribs, even felt them crack under his fist. But now the demon stood upright, as if he'd just gone out for a stroll. Not a single trace of damage.
"He regenerated that fast?" the thought flashed through Alex's mind.
Meanwhile, the demon finally spoke. His voice was distorted, raspy, but there was a barely perceptible note of pleasure in it.
"Oh, Lady Lilith… How glad I am to see you again."
Lilith's reaction made it clear she didn't recognize him. The demon smirked slyly, baring his sharp fangs.
"Don't tell me you don't remember me, after that… long and boring lecture?"
Lilith looked at him again, and after a moment, her eyes lit up with recognition.
"Rayner…" Her voice became almost emotionless, cold.
The demon smiled contentedly, as if he had just heard the most pleasant word in the world.
"So, you remember… Well then, Lady Lilith, I'm glad I can finally repay you for all the humiliation I had to endure because of you!"
"What happened to you?" Her eyes swept over his body, analyzing every change.
"You really want to know?" Rayner threw his head back and laughed. "Soon it won't matter anymore!"
Alex exhaled heavily and turned to Lilith.
"I don't think we can expect a constructive conversation with him right now."
She was silent for a second, then slowly nodded.
"You're right."
She stepped forward, her aura beginning to shift.
"Our task now is to stop him before he does anything else."
"Easier said than done. I gave him a pretty good hit to the ribs a minute ago, but as you can see—it didn't really do much."
"In that case, can you buy me some time? I'll try to create a spell that won't let him recover so easily."
Alex clenched his fists with a sinister grin.
"Oh, I can do that."
Rayner didn't hesitate. His hand jerked forward, and a dark magic circle flared in front of his palm. Alex reacted immediately, his fingers clenched, and a thin layer of blood covered his palm, forming a shield. A dark spike shot out of the circle, speeding toward Lilith with terrifying velocity.
Alex took a single step forward and thrust out his hand. A dull thud. The spike stopped, wedged between Alex's fingers. Lilith froze, her eyes wide. Rayner stood stunned, not understanding how Alex had simply… caught his attack. Alex slowly lowered his hand, still gripping the spike. His palm trembled slightly from the force of the blow, but the blood barrier had absorbed the brunt of the impact, preventing serious injury.
He turned to Lilith and asked calmly:
"You okay?"
Lilith nodded silently, her eyes still fixed on the spike in his hand. Rayner growled. His rage seemed ready to erupt.
"You filthy… freak…" he hissed, conjuring another magic circle. This time, multiple dark spikes burst forth.
With light, swift movements, Alex used the first spike to deflect all the others. The last one flew straight at him.
"What if I try this?" he muttered, hurling the first spike directly at the last one.
The two projectiles collided, exploding with energy.
"Oh, now this is getting interesting," said Alex, cracking his neck.
Rayner only roared and charged forward. He no longer wasted mana on ranged attacks—now he was fighting with his bare hands. Alex felt a gust of wind as the demon's fist passed just millimeters from his face.
He's faster.
The next punch could've shattered his jaw if Alex hadn't tilted his head just in time. Rayner didn't stop. He lunged again, and this time Alex didn't dodge. He raised his hand, and the blood that still clung to his palm thickened once more. The demon's fist struck the crimson mass, and Alex even saw Rayner's eyes widen.
"You think you're the only one who can play with mana?" Alex clenched his fingers, and the blood shifted rapidly, coiling around Rayner's wrist like a red serpent.
With a sudden jerk, Alex pulled him off balance.
"Wanna take a little flight?" he grinned and hurled Rayner backward with full force.
The demon didn't even have time to brace himself—his body whistled through the air and crashed into the marble wall on the other side of the garden with a loud crunch. Dust billowed high into the sky.
Lilith looked at Alex in surprise.
"Where did you get that kind of strength?"
"It's all thanks to training with one of our Headmistresses," Alex said, clenching his fists again as he watched the cloud of dust. "How's that spell coming along?"
Lilith caught her breath and arched her fingers, creating a dark magic circle in front of her.
"All set! Move!"
Alex instantly leapt to the side.
Lilith thrust her arms forward, and a surge of dense dark energy burst from her palms. It shrieked through the air toward the spot where Rayner still lingered in the dust. The power of the attack was so immense, even Alex felt the air compress from the pure magical force.
The blast hit its mark. A massive explosion shook the ground, and the dust rose once more with renewed force.
Is it over?
Slowly, the dust began to settle… and Alex clenched his teeth as he saw Rayner standing amidst the ruins, completely unharmed.
Black spikes loomed around him, forming a protective dome.
Lilith was breathing heavily.
"This…" she collapsed to her knees.
Reiner straightened his shoulders, baring his teeth in a grin.
"Hahaha," he burst into laughter. "And that attack was supposed to stop me? Is that all you've got, President?"
Alex didn't even have time to respond before Reiner charged forward again.
"You're really starting to get on my nerves!"
Alex lunged to meet him. His fist smashed straight into the demon's jaw, launching him into the air before he crashed back down with a thunderous impact, forming a new crater in the ground.
Alex quickly knelt beside Lilith.
"You okay?"
"That… that was my most powerful spell," she whispered, staring at her hands. "And it had absolutely no effect…"
Alex opened his inventory and pulled out a potion.
"Drink this."
Lilith silently took the vial and quickly drank its contents. In an instant, she was back on her feet.
"What now?"
Alex looked over at Reiner, who was struggling to rise from the ground.
"He's almost out of mana. Did you notice how toward the end of the fight he stopped using the spikes?"
Lilith nodded.
"So my attack at least drained him."
"Exactly." Alex rolled his wrists. "Can you cast another spell? Something less powerful, so it won't take as long to prepare?"
"I'll try," Lilith said at once, beginning to form a new magic circle.
"Perfect. Then I'll keep dancing with him while you get ready."
Lilith nodded, her fingers already glowing with dark energy. The dust had fully settled now. Reiner stood amidst the ruins, his chest heaving with rapid breaths.
Alex took a step forward again, cracking his knuckles.
"Round three."
Suddenly, something shifted beneath Reiner's feet. The ground cracked, and thick green vines burst out, lightning-fast, wrapping around his arms and legs. The demon struggled, muscles tensing, but the harder he fought, the tighter the vines gripped him, preventing even the slightest movement.
"What the…?!" Reiner hissed, trying to tear free.
Alex and Lilith instinctively turned in the direction from which the magic was emanating. A calm but commanding voice spoke behind them:
"Are you two all right?"
They turned to see three figures approaching at a steady pace—Elizabeth, Krul, and another woman with long emerald hair and a composed expression. In her hand glowed a green magic circle, from which the vines binding Reiner were emanating.
Alex chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"We had it under control," he said in a casual tone.
Lilith shot him a mocking look.
"Oh, that's what you call 'under control'?" she raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the wreckage around them.
Alex just shrugged, as if there was nothing unusual about the scene.
Meanwhile, Krul and Irida approached Reiner. The vines tightened further around his body, preventing him from even lifting his head.
"He's still resisting," Krul observed calmly as she watched the demon.
"Give me a second," Irida replied, kneeling down and placing her palm on Reiner's forehead.
A moment passed—then his body went limp. His eyes rolled back, and his breathing steadied.
"He's asleep," the woman reported calmly as she stood back up.
Elizabeth gave a slight smile and looked at Alex.
"So, ready to explain how exactly you managed to put on such a show?"
Alex exhaled heavily, shifting his gaze from the unconscious Reiner to Elizabeth.
"Well, looks like I don't really have a choice, do I?"