Nyx looked at , her golden eyes holding little interest as if she was already bored of my presence. With a lazy swipe of her paw, the air before she cracked like glass, and two doors materialized out of the shimring void. The sound echoed through the space, a sharp reminder of the surreal environnt I found myself in.
I frowned. Hadn't this realm been created for to advance my dream divinity? Instead, it seed like Nyx was trying to get rid of already. She turned her gaze back to , her expression cold and unreadable.
"There are two doors, as usual," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "One is a nightmare door, and the other is a deathmatch door. Choose one, kill the being inside, and bring your offering. That will serve as paynt for your first lesson." Stay connected with empire
Her words hung heavy in the air. I hesitated a bit, unsure which door would give the best results. What kind of beast would be stronger? What offering would Nyx deem more to her liking? I glanced back at her, deciding that guessing wouldn't help.
"Which paynt do you prefer?" I asked.
A flicker of amusent danced across Nyx's face for the first ti, her expression softening just enough to unsettle . "The stronger the offering, the more… motivated I'll be to teach you," she said, her lips curving into a sly grin. She raised a paw and pointed lazily toward the door labeled Deathmatch. "That one."
I expected her answer, but that didn't make it easier to hear. My chest tightened as the reality sank in. There was no easy way forward, not here. I hesitated, my eyes lingering on the Nightmare door. It would likely be less dangerous, but it wouldn't win favor with Nyx.
Taking a deep breath, I turned and walked toward the Deathmatch door. I couldn't take shortcuts if I truly wanted Nyx to invest in . Difficult choices led to greater rewards—or so I hoped. It was like that in my gas, so I hoped it counted here.
The door slowly creaked open. I stepped inside, my vision adjusting as the familiar sensation of space shifting around took hold. When the world settled, I found myself standing on another floating island. The air was thin and cold.
At the center of the island, a single figure sat motionless. The monster was ditating, its skeletal fra cloaked in silvery-white armor with dark undertones. Purple energy streaks pulsed through its form, glowing faintly like veins beneath the skin. Golden highlights adorned the edges of its armor, giving it a regal yet corrupted look. Black, feathered wings extended from its back, their tips frayed as though they'd burned in so forgotten battle. A long spear rested in its hand, its blade radiating an ominous purple light.
The aura around the monster was suffocating, pressing against like a wall. One look was enough to tell this being wouldn't fall with a single strike—or even a dozen. It exuded the sa overwhelming presence I'd felt when I first bought Supre Swordsmanship from the system.
I summoned my sword into my hand, its weight grounding . My grip tightened as I stepped closer. The monster stirred, its wings shifting slightly as it reached its full height. It cracked its neck, a hollow sound that sent a shiver down my spine, then fixed its glowing eyes on . I saw only one thing in that gaze: a pure, unrestrained thirst for battle.
I moved cautiously, closing the distance, but the monster didn't wait. It vanished. One mont, it was there; the next, it was gone, its presence a faint whisper behind . My instincts scread, and I whirled around just in ti to et its spear with my blade. The impact sent a shockwave up my arm, and I groaned under the weight of the strike.
Its strength was imnse, but I held firm, my sword locking against the spear. For a brief mont, our eyes t again—his glowing with the joy of combat. I pushed back, forcing the monster to retreat, and jumped away to create so distance.
My hand trembled from the clash, but I didn't hesitate. I cleaved the air with my sword, sending a slash of compressed space hurtling toward the monster. The attack tore through the island, cleaving a small mountain in two, but the monster had already vanished again.
I froze, my senses on high alert, waiting for it to reappear. This ti, it materialized directly in front of , its spear a blur as it shot toward my chest. The attack was impossibly fast, aid straight at my heart. My blade moved instinctively, deflecting the spear just enough to avoid a fatal blow. The tip grazed my arm, leaving a shallow cut that barely stung.
But sothing was wrong.
A faint purple glow lingered around the wound, spreading through my skin like a creeping frost. My nerves dulled, and my left arm grew sluggish, responding slower than normal. I frowned, my mind racing. 'Poison? No, it didn't feel like poison. If it were, my body would have detected and neutralized it already. This was sothing else.'
I quickly summoned the system. "Gabriel, analyze this energy. Do we have anything to counter it?"
Gabriel's voice ca through, calm and focused. [Analyzing… please hold.]
I hated relying on the system, but this wasn't the ti to let pride get in the way of survival. While Gabriel worked, I focused on holding my ground. My body was growing weaker, but my mind sharpened. I studied every move the monster made, every subtle shift in its stance.
Normally, I relied on raw skill and instinct to win my battles, but now I had no choice. I had to anticipate every strike and feint if I wanted to survive. The monster moved like a real monster. While I could feel that he was really strong and experienced, I also felt the mistakes he made due to excitent. I punished him for those mistakes but couldn't capitalize too much on them.
I only struck back when I saw an opening, countering just enough to keep it from overwhelming . My energy was draining, and my movents slowed, but I refused to give up. While I knew that even if I died, Eleanor would bring back, I didn't want this to stop now.
Just as my body neared its breaking point, a potion suddenly appeared in my hand. Gabriel's voice rang in my ears, sharp and urgent.
[The monster before you wields a unique blood magic, corrupted magic at its core. This potion will neutralize the magic and heal your body. Drink it now!]
I didn't hesitate. Tearing the stopper from the potion, I drank it in one swift motion. The effects were imdiate. Strength flooded back into my limbs, the numbness in my left arm vanishing as if it had never existed. The fog clouding my mind cleared, and I felt my strength coursing through my body.
The monster noticed the change. He grinned, baring jagged teeth, and raised his spear, anticipating my attack. For the first ti since the fight began, I attacked, my blade clashing against his spear with enough force to send sparks flying. His excitent for the battle was infectious; before I realized it, a grin had also spread across my face.
I wasn't typically one to revel in combat—my ti was far better spent with my beautiful wives. But the sheer joy radiating from my opponent, the thrill of matching strength and skill, stirred sothing within . Blow after blow, we exchanged strikes.
With my strength fully returned, I could keep up with his relentless pace. Moreover, my earlier weakness had forced to study his movents intently. Every subtle shift in his stance, every twitch of his wings—I had morized them all. Blocking and deflecting his attacks beca easier with each passing mont, and his once-overpowering power beca manageable.
Though the fight was exciting, I couldn't prolong it. I needed to conserve as much energy as possible for the lessons. With that in mind, I decided to end it. Raising my sword, I murmured, "Red Cross."
In an instant, two glowing red crosses materialized around the monster, their energy humming with palpable power. Slowly, they began to close in on him. The monster reacted imdiately, thrusting his spear at the crosses to shatter them. His strikes were precise and forceful, but the energy surrounding the crosses deflected every attack effortlessly.
He didn't relent. Strike after strike, he threw his full strength at the glowing constructs, but the crosses held firm each ti. As they drew closer, his frustration grew, his movents becoming more erratic. The weight of inevitability hung in the air, heavy and oppressive.
With a final, desperate thrust of his spear, he aid to break through, but the deflecting energy surged back with such force that the spear was wrenched from his grip. It clattered to the ground, leaving him defenseless. The crosses closed in, slicing through him swiftly and decently. His body fell apart, the pieces crumbling lifelessly to the ground.
I stood still, my breathing heavy as I stared at the remains of my opponent. I waited, sword still in hand, watching for any movent. For a full minute, the battlefield was silent, the tension lingering like a ghost. When I was sure he wouldn't rise again, I allowed myself to relax.
My legs gave out, and I sank to the ground, utterly exhausted. A smile crept across my face as I lay there, the thrill of victory. The fight had been grueling, but I couldn't deny how much I had enjoyed it.
After a few minutes of rest, I bought an energy potion from the system and downed it, feeling its restorative effects wash over . Rising to my feet, I walked toward the monster's remains, my steps slow and deliberate. Standing over his body, I gave a respectful salute.
"You were a worthy opponent," I said quietly, my voice carrying genuine admiration.
I encased his remains in a coffin and stored it in my space ring. With my offering secured, I turned to the only door on the island and stepped through, ready to et Nyx again and begin my first lesson.
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