.....
"Listen to closely. Don’t hesitate. Don’t feel afraid," Alex said, his tone steady as the Demon let out another low growl, still refusing to step forward. "Right now, I’ll just be honest. You’re an extra, soone who has no role in society."
Ezra’s expression dimd at those words, his shoulders dropping slightly as he accepted the truth he had always known. It hit him like sothing unavoidable, as fate itself had already decided his place.
"However," Alex continued, his voice cutting through that doubt, "that doesn’t an you can’t change that destiny."
Ezra tightened his grip around the small, cheap knife in his hand, his eyes sharpening despite everything. His stance steadied, and his focus locked entirely onto [Igris], refusing to look away.
"I won’t let you die, Ezra," Alex whispered, a faint smile forming as he completely ignored the Demon’s presence. "Here and now, you and your tad creature will learn what it ans to face death. Don’t run. Face it head on."
Ezra inhaled slowly, calming his breathing before crouching slightly to pat his tad creature for just a mont. That brief touch grounded him, as if reminding himself he wasn’t alone.
"Well then..." Alex said calmly, lifting the [Abyss Blade] and slicing it lightly through the air. "Make the first move."
...
"Adoff, don’t help him," Alex added without looking back.
"But—"
"Don’t," Alex cut in, his tone firm. "I have my reasons. I’ll explain later."
Ezra began to move forward slowly, each step deliberate as the Demon finally gave him its full attention. [Igris] stood tall, almost insulted that soone like Ezra was the one approaching instead of Alex.
This entire cave route was normally livestread for the academy and the audience watching from above, allowing every mont of the trial to be seen. However, the mont the scouts died, the feed cut out abruptly, leaving nothing but a flicker of light before the screen went dark.
Inside the arena, confusion spread as the audience and staff tried to understand what had just happened. Even though the principal couldn’t determine the cause, the system showed no clear error despite the sudden disruption.
The location itself was sealed by a powerful enchantnt, one that even she couldn’t casually undo without spending an entire day breaking through it. That left only one option—wait.
Wait and assu the worst.
The scouts she had sent were both S-Rank, individuals she believed more than capable of handling anything within the trial. Yet even they had fallen to a re B-Ranked Demon, exposing a terrifying gap between Demons and those from the lands of Ashtar.
The crowd didn’t panic out of concern for the group’s survival, but rather frustration over wasted money and a ruined spectacle. Complaints were already expected once the event ended, sothing the academy was prepared to compensate for.
They didn’t know what happened. To them, the Demon never even appeared—the stream had simply vanished.
The principal exhaled quietly, her thoughts settling as she leaned back slightly. "At least none of them were royals..."
That was all that mattered to her.
Vanesca Vor Artorious, a woman who had witnessed life and death countless tis, still held onto the sa aristocratic values as everyone else. Even now, that mindset didn’t waver.
Back within the cave, Ezra Soulfer continued forward, each step carrying more weight than the last. It felt like this mont would decide everything about who he was.
His pace was slow at first, almost dragging, but he didn’t stop.
"Weaker human... coming?" [Igris] muttered, confusion creeping into its tone as it watched Ezra approach.
It didn’t like this.
Being ignored by Alex had already unsettled it, but now being challenged by soone weaker felt almost insulting. It wasn’t used to this kind of defiance.
Stomp!
Ezra slamd his foot against the ground, his tad creature growling beside him in response. The small adolescent lion lowered its stance, ready to move at any mont.
They were now only five ters apart.
A distance that ant death for anyone else.
Alex watched from behind, tapping his arm lightly with a faint grin. "Nicely done."
"AHHHHHHH!" Ezra scread, throwing himself fully into the mont as he rushed forward with his knife raised. "DON’T SS WITH !"
His beast moved alongside him, circling to create an opening as they closed the gap. For a brief second, it looked like everything slowed down just for him.
Alex let out a chuckle, watching it unfold. "Nice try... but a Demon is way too powerful for soone like you."
Bam!
The impact ca instantly.
The Demon’s punch connected, sending Ezra flying backward into the stone wall with overwhelming force. The collision echoed loudly as cracks spread through the surface and debris fell around him.
Alex smiled faintly as he stepped forward, appearing right in front of Ezra’s fallen body. He looked down at him, his presence now far more intimidating than before.
Ezra tried to speak, his lips parting slightly, but no sound ca out as the pain overtook him.
"Heal transfer," Alex whispered calmly.
---------------------------
[Heal Transfer Ability Potion Transferred]
└ -1 [Heal Transfer]
[Healed 30 HP]
└ Ezra Soulfer
---------------------------
Strength returned just enough for Ezra to regain awareness, though his body still refused to move. His voice ca out weak and broken. "I... thought you said you’d help ..."
Alex’s expression didn’t change as he looked down at him. "I said I would keep you alive. Don’t twist my words."
Ezra’s vision blurred as consciousness slipped away again, his body finally giving in. "Now sleep," Alex added quietly. "I’ll take care of the rest."
Ezra collapsed fully, his body going still against the ground.
His creature hadn’t fared any better, lying nearby after taking the aftermath of the impact. Alex glanced at it briefly before using his ability again.
---------------------------
[Heal Transfer Ability Potion Transferred]
└ -1 [Heal Transfer]
[Healed 30 HP]
└ Adolescent-Lion
The beast’s breathing steadied before it too fell unconscious, exactly as Alex intended.
"Alright..." Alex muttered, removing his black jacket as he looked down for a mont, then shifting his gaze back toward [Igris].
He spat lightly onto the ground before gripping the [Abyss Blade], dragging it slowly through the air from left to right.
The Demon stood waiting, eager yet restrained, its pride refusing to let it strike first.
Then, without hesitation, Alex prepared himself—and spoke once more to Adoff.
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