I stood over Damien, my cheachest heaving, sword trembling in my grasp. The duel was over. Or so i thought.
A sudden pulse of darkness erupted from Damien's body, his breathing turned ragged and an unnatural force colled around him like living shadow. The air grew heavy, crackling with a sinister energy that sent a chill down my spine.
Then, he streamed. A guttural, inhuman sound. His veins darkened, pulsing like liquid night and his eyes glowed with malevolent crimson. Blackened claws extended from his fingertips, his frame shifting slightly, muscles tightening unnaturally. His presence became overwhelming, suffocating and primal as he became way bigger than him normally, like probably around 4 or 5 meter?
I instinctively raised my sword, knowing the duel not over yet.
No, it's not even duel anymore, at this point i know it will become battle to the death.
"Demon transformation? Why the hell he have that?"
Damien blurred from my vision, he moved so fast to the point one moment he was standing few meter away from me, and the next he was right in front of me.
His clawed hand slashing through the air. I barely manage to dodge iy, feeling yhe wind of the each slash graze my cheek.
His attack is faster, stronger and wilder each strike.
He attacked relentlessly, his movement no longer calculated but feral, filled with an unhinged fury.
Every blow carried monstrous force, shaking the ground with each impact. I could barely keep up, trying to parrying each attack desperately as my arms throbbed from the sheer of strength behind each strike.
"Damn it, Damien stop!"
I shouted to him, hoping he somehow still have his mind intact.
But, there wasno recognition in his eyes, onlu beastly hunger from destruction.
I clenched my jaw, if Damien truly lost himself to demonic power, then there no was no choice to kill him now since Lyria still haven't awakened her own skill at this point of story.
The arena descended into chaos as Damien's body convulsed, shrouded in a sinister black aura. His once pristine uniform was now tattered, his veins pulsing with dark energy as his fingers curled into claws. His eyes once filled with contempt now burned with an unnatural crimson glow.
Just give him pair of bat wing and then you have textbook demon, kind funny though.
The atmosphere in the arena had shifted from excitement to sheer terror and the spectators running out of the arena in a panic, leaving only a few people watching—for whatever reason.
Then, Damien moved swiftly toward me again, slashing at my heart with his sharp claws. His movements were even faster than before, leaving me no time to dodge.
'Damn it, is this the end for me?'
And then, a barrier of light appeared around me, shielding me from Damien's attack. It was strong enough to withstand the strike from Damien, who had been overtaken by demonic power, causing his claws to shatter—but they quickly regenerated again.
Iris stood at the edge of the arena, one hand outstretched. She didn't say anything, didn't even look at me, as if she had simply din the bare minimum required to keep me alive.
"Sigh, so much for sitting this out"
She muttered.
It's surprised me honestly, to think she not only save me but she saw my duel too, i need to buy her something later.
Before Damien could launch another attack, his body slammed into the side of the arena, apparently Cedric, with his gauntlet already equiped, help me by kicking him.
"The hell is wrong with him?!"
Cedric glancing at me.
"He look like a goddamn monster!"
"No clue, he probably performed some kind of ritual before dueling me since he was weaker than me"
Well even though it's sound arrogant but honestly it's a fact that original Tristan is stronger than any his siblings at this point of the story.
Damien let out guttural snarl, his body trembling as even more demonic power, cracled around him.
Cedric exhaled sharply.
"Then we beat some sense to him!"
Without another words, Cedric charge towards Damien.
The arena shook with each clash, the sheer force of their battle sending shockwaves through the stands. Here, only 3 students left fighting corrupted Damien.
Tristan, Cedric and Iris, who surprisingly help tristan and Cedric stoping Damien for whatever reason it is, worked perfectly sync.
Yet, Damien handling them without any difficulty, he doesn't even show any sign that he is tired even when fighting 3 people at once.
In fact, he seem getting stronger the longer the fight goes on, the stronger he becomes, as if he adapts to his opponent's abilities.
Cedric wiped blood from his mouth.
"This bastard, did he become stronger or what?"
I stood beside him, griping my sword tightly. My legs throbbed from the wound, but i force myself to ignore it.
"We need a plan"
Iris clicked her tongue, seemingly annoyed by Tristan's obvious statement.
"Obviously. Rushing in like idiots won't work, listen to me and let me think to find a way to survive this"
Without waiting for my or Cedric respon, Damien let out a guttural growl, the dark energy surging around his body, the ground beneath him cracked as he stomped forward, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained malice.
"Move!"
Iris shouted.
I and Cedric split in opposite directions, i dive to the left as Cedric dashed right, his gauntlets cracking against the ground as he launched himself forward, aiming straight for damien, fish glowing with mana, strengthen his raw power.
I take the opening to flank from the side, my blade burning with crimson flame as I aim for the unprotected parts of Damien's body.
Iris stay behind us, her sharps gaze tracking every movement, while providing us support with her magic, casting buff and attacking with various spells to keep Damien pressured
Seriously, how the hell she not part of Vermillion class?
"Tristan left!"
I barely manage to twist out of the way as Damien seings at me, his corrupted fist tearing through the air where my head had been a second ago, the sheer force alone sends a shockwaves that rattles my bones.
"Cedric now!"
Cedric roars as he dlams his fist into Damien's side. The impact sends Damien staggering, breaking his stance for just a second.
But.
That's all Iris need.
She thrust her hand forward, magic circles flaring beneath her feet. Chains of golden light shoot from the floor, wrapping around Damien's limbs.
"Got him!"
She shouts.
Damien' thrashes against the bindings, his corrupted aura raging like a storm.
I dont hesitate.
With a burst of speed, i dashed forward, my sword covered with crimson flames cutting through the air like violent comet.
Cedirc us right behind me, his gauntlets glowing as he throws his full strength into a devastating punch.
We strike at the same time, hoping this attack would stoped corrupted Damien.
A deafening explosion of force erupts as our attack land. The impact sends dust and debris flying in every direction.
For a moment, silence hangs in the air.
Then, from within a cloud of dust, Damien's crimson eyes flare to life.
He still standing.
And become more furious.
"You gotta be kidding me"
Like seriously? After all this time he still standing like our attack is nothing.
I prepare to use my skill, knowing if I let this go on for too long, I'm definitely going to die here.
Then-
A flash of lightning struck the arena, striking Damien's body, accompanied by Lyria as she descended into the battlefield.
Her saphire eyes burning with resolve as she raised her sword, the very same sword she got from dungeon at that time.
"You three, fall back. I'll handle this."
She said without looking back at us.
Cedric blinked.
"Wait what-"
Before he could finish, she vanished.
With incredible speed, Lyria blasted towards Damien, facing him head-on. Her entire body was enveloped in a white aura, her chestnut hair growing down to her waist and turning pure white. Her movements became sharper and more precise with each strike, as if she instinctively knew exactly where to attack.
Damien tried to counter her assaults, but it was futile. Lyria's speed increased with every passing second, making it seem as though Damien was dancing in the palm of her hand.
My breath hitched.
This is-
The Origins.
Lyria exclusive skill, a skill that allow her to grow stronger from every fight he won, somewhat similar with super saiyan honestly.
My heart pounded, but..that was impossible.
In the original game, Lyria's ability wasn't supposed to awaken until much later. It only awakened when she was on the brink of death, when the original Tristan nearly killed her.
So why? How she awaken her own skill at this point of the story?
Lyria pushed forward, her blade glowing with raw energy. With every strike, Damien staggered, his monstrous strength crumbling against her overwhelming precision.
Then, with a final, decisive slash, she sent him crashing to the ground.
His corrupted form flickered, then shattered like glass.
The dark energy that had consumed him dissipated, leaving only his unconscious body lying still on the arena floor.
Silence fell.
Then, the professors arrived.
Seriously though, why the hell every professor always come late when something serious like this happen?
With swift precision, they restrained Damien, binding him in enchanted chains.
"Take him to the detention ward"
One of them ordered.
As they carried Damien away, I exhaled, finally allowing myself to relax.
But something still felt off.
Why Damien have demonic power? He not supposed to have that power, even when he fight tristan he not supposed to turn into monster.
A chill ran down my spine, no, don't tell me she finally making a move?
...
From the shadows of the upper balcony, a figure watched with an amused smile. Cloaked in darkness, crimson eyes gleamed like burning embers.
Lilith, one of demon lord general who infiltrate the academy tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips.
"So…he a failure huh?"
She had only meant to push Damien into desperation, to test the corruption's limits. But instead, she had found something far more valuable.
Her gaze settled on his opponent, his stepbrother, Tristan.
Unlike Damien, whose body had rejected the darkness, Tristan already been touching its edges, whether he realized it or not.
A natural vessel.
Not just any vessel, he perfect vessel.
With the right push, he could become exactly what she needed. A bridge. A gate.
Lilith chuckled softly, her voice lost in the wind.
"How interesting…"
Then, without a sound, she vanished into the darkness.