Ravyn sits casually on a pile of stolen treasure, tossing a gold coin in the air like he’s got all the time in the world.

  I thought he was gonna give me a mission…

  I cross my arms, already getting impatient. "Hey, Ravyn, what mission am I supposed to do? And what do I get after I complete it?"

  He lazily turns his head toward me, his grin never fading. "Mission? Ah! Right, right—almost forgot." He stretches, cracking his neck before waving a hand dismissively. "It’s simple. Just kill a demon somewhere in the forest."

  I raise an eyebrow. "That’s it?"

  He chuckles. "Oh, don’t act like it’s easy. You might have some tricks, Eli, but demons aren’t just wild animals. They fight back."

  I tap my foot, waiting. "And my reward?"

  Ravyn's grin widens. "We conceal that demonic stench of yours."

  That makes me pause. That’s actually worth it. No more people sensing me from a mile away and trying to gut me? Yeah, I’ll take that deal.

  Lena, still leaning against the wall, smirks. "Hope you’re not afraid of a little blood, newbie."

  Mark grunts. "Or dying."

  Porky oinks. Probably not relevant, but still.

  I let out a deep sigh. "Fine. Give me the details."

  Ravyn just laughs. "Oh, you’ll find it. Or it will find you."

  "Wait, I’m going alone?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at Ravyn. "Are you seriously not even gonna watch me?"

  Ravyn bursts out laughing like I just told the funniest joke in the world. "Oh, no, no, no, newbie—you’re on your own for this one." He leans back, balancing his chair on two legs. "Think of it as a trust exercise... but, y’know, with a chance of violent death."

  Lena smirks from the side. "If you die, then I guess you weren’t worth keeping around."

  Mark grunts, which I assume means "she's not wrong."

  I glance at Porky, who just oinks at me like he’s also questioning my life choices.

  I sigh. "Great. So, I just wander into the creepy demon-infested forest and hope I find something to kill before it finds me?"

  "Pretty much!" Ravyn grins. "Oh, and no coming back empty-handed. We need proof that you actually did the job."

  "Proof?"

  "Y’know, a severed head, a claw, something cool. Use your imagination!"

  I rub my temples. "Fine. But if I die, I’m haunting all of you."

  Ravyn claps his hands together. "Deal! Now get out there, Gravewalker—your fate awaits!"

  I hate this guy.

  I walk toward the door, and as if on cue, the heavy stone gate creaks open. The morning light floods in, momentarily blinding me after spending so much time in the dimly lit base.

  At least they have good timing.

  The crisp morning air greets me as I step outside. The forest stretches ahead, vast and eerily quiet, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. The fresh scent of damp earth and leaves fills my lungs, a stark contrast to the scent of old stone and stolen gold back in the hideout.

  Porky trots beside me, his little feet padding against the dirt.

  "Yeah, yeah, I know," I mutter, glancing down at him. "You think this is a terrible idea. Me too."

  But there’s no turning back now. If I want that demonic stench gone, I have to do this.

  I take a deep breath, tighten my grip on Nyxrend, and make my way deeper into the forest.

  "How am I supposed to find this demon?" I mutter, glancing around. Everywhere I look, it's just an endless sea of green—towering trees, thick undergrowth, and vines twisting around ancient trunks. Sunlight barely filters through the dense canopy, casting flickering shadows on the moss-covered ground.

  "This forest is huge…" I exhale, adjusting my grip on Nyxrend. If I don’t find a clue soon, I’ll be stuck wandering in circles.

  Suddenly, a thought pops into my head. Light bulb. I graze my chin, a smirk creeping onto my face.

  "Demons attract demons, right? If I use my Demon Eye, I should definitely draw it here. No way it wouldn’t come to its only teammate in the middle of the forest."

  I close my right eye, leaving only my left open. I should be radiating my demonic aura everywhere now. I exhale, a hint of unease creeping in. Hopefully, I don’t attract any humans instead.

  A chill runs down my spine as my Demon Eye flares to life. The air around me feels heavier, charged with an invisible force. If there’s a demon nearby, it should sense me any second now.

  Minutes pass. The only sounds are the rustling leaves and the distant calls of birds. I tap my foot impatiently. Come on… There’s no way this thing doesn’t notice me.

  Then, a shift. A presence—faint but unmistakable—lurks at the edge of my senses. My grip tightens around Nyxrend.

  "There you are," I whisper, a grin forming on my lips.

  A rustling sound echoes through the trees, followed by a low, guttural growl. Something—or someone—is approaching.

  A deep, guttural growl rumbles through the trees. My body tenses.

  "Why is it growling? What is this, a wolf?" I mutter under my breath, glancing at Porky. The massive boar stares back, drool dripping from its mouth, oblivious to the danger.

  I quickly sign for him to stay put. The last thing I need is him charging in and making things worse.

  The growling grows louder, closer. Leaves rustle, branches snap. Whatever it is, it’s big—and it’s heading straight for me.

  It suddenly lunges out of the bush.

  A demon.

  I instinctively take a step back, gripping Nyxrend tighter. Its presence is suffocating, like a thick, invisible pressure pressing down on me. So this is what demonic aura feels like... Zareth never radiated any, so I’ve never experienced it firsthand. It’s raw, oppressive—yet strangely familiar.

  But something feels... off. My eyes narrow as I get a better look at it.

  Why does it look human?

  The demon stands before me, its posture tense, its gaze locked onto mine. If I didn’t know better, I’d mistake it for a regular person. Are all demons like this? The thought lingers in my mind, unsettling.

  Porky lets out a low grunt behind me, snapping me back to the moment. I exhale slowly, keeping my stance firm.

  "Alright, buddy. Let's see what you're about."

  The demon lunges.

  A blur of motion. Before I can even think, pain explodes in my ribs. The impact sends me flying, my back slamming against a tree with enough force to rattle my bones. A choked gasp escapes my lips as I slump forward, barely catching myself on one knee. My vision swims, the world tilting for a second.

  Shit. That was fast.

  The demon doesn’t give me time to breathe. It’s already on me, closing the distance in an instant. I barely register the movement before a clawed hand crashes into my shoulder, the force sending me tumbling across the dirt. My body bounces once—twice—before I skid to a stop, coughing up dust and saliva.

  I force myself onto my hands and knees, my breath ragged. My entire body screams in protest, but I can’t stop moving. I glance up just in time to see it stalking forward, its glowing crimson eyes locked onto me like a predator savoring its wounded prey.

  It grins, sharp teeth gleaming in the dim forest light.

  "Humans… so weak… but so delicious…"

  A chill runs down my spine.

  I grit my teeth and push myself to my feet, raising Nyxrend. My grip tightens on the hilt. I can’t let it rattle me. This isn’t the first fight I’ve been in since coming here, but something about this one feels different.

  More desperate.

  More hopeless.

  The demon moves again. No wasted motion, no hesitation—just pure, inhuman speed. I try to swing, but I’m too slow. A fist crashes into my gut, and I feel something crack. A strangled gasp escapes me as I double over, but the demon doesn’t stop. A knee slams into my jaw, sending me airborne, and before I even hit the ground, another hit collides with my back, slamming me down like a meteor.

  The impact leaves me gasping in the dirt. My vision flickers. Damn it… I try to push myself up, but my arms tremble beneath me.

  Then—

  CRACK.

  A sharp, blinding pain erupts in my side as the demon’s foot connects, launching me like a ragdoll. I crash through a tree, the trunk splintering from the force. Agony explodes in my ribs as I hit the ground, coughing up blood.

  I can’t keep up…

  The demon is too fast. Too strong. Every time I try to counter, it’s already moved. Every time I think I see an opening, it’s a feint. It’s playing with me.

  The realization makes my stomach turn. I can’t win like this.

  But I have to.

  I force myself to stand. My legs feel like they’re made of lead, my breaths shallow and uneven. Blood trickles down my forehead, stinging my eye. My arms feel like they’re barely attached, but I raise Nyxrend again, forcing my body to obey.

  The demon tilts its head, almost curious. Then it vanishes.

  Where—?!

  I barely register the sound of air being torn apart before a clawed hand rips across my chest. A deep gash opens, pain flaring through my nerves like fire. My body reacts on instinct, stumbling back just in time to avoid the follow-up strike.

  I can’t even see it move.

  Another attack. This time I try to dodge, but my legs don’t respond fast enough. A fist collides with my ribs again, and something definitely breaks this time. I bite down a scream as my body caves in from the force, sent flying once more.

  I hit the ground hard. My body refuses to move.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Am I… really going to die here?

  The demon walks toward me, slow, deliberate. Savoring the moment. Its grin widens, drool dripping from its lips as it crouches over me.

  "You… look so fragile… how do you taste, I wonder?"

  It raises a clawed hand, ready to rip me apart—

  Then—

  Something shifts.

  A flicker of light in my mind. A pulse in my blood. My Demon Eye burns, the world sharpening into brutal clarity. My muscles scream, but my mind suddenly feels… clear.

  I see it.

  The way its weight shifts before an attack. The subtle movements in its shoulders. The half-second of preparation before every strike.

  And suddenly—I understand.

  "Wait a second…" I breathe, a weak chuckle escaping my lips. My battered body still trembles, but my grip on Nyxrend tightens. A grin stretches across my bloodied face.

  "I get it now."

  The demon hesitates, just for a second, confused by my sudden confidence.

  And in that second, I move.

  It lunges—

  I sidestep.

  It swipes low—

  I jump back just in time. The attack barely misses, stirring the dust where I once stood. I can see it now. The rhythm. The cycle.

  "This is just like a Souls game!" I shout, exhilaration flooding my veins. "It only attacks in a pattern! My Demon Eye must be helping me read it!"

  The demon snarls, enraged. It throws another attack—this time, I parry, redirecting its claw just enough to leave it open for a split second. My sword slashes out, carving into its side.

  The demon howls.

  Blood drips from my blade. It can be hurt.

  I exhale sharply, ignoring the pain in my limbs. My movements feel lighter now, more precise. Every attack, every step—it’s like I’ve fought this thing a hundred times before.

  The demon charges again, but this time, I meet it head-on. I duck under its swipe, roll to the side, and slash at its leg. The blade connects, cutting deep, and the demon stumbles. I pivot, bringing Nyxrend down in a brutal arc—

  SLASH.

  Another deep wound. The demon screeches, staggering backward.

  "You were kicking my ass before," I pant, wiping the blood from my mouth. My grin doesn’t fade. "But now? You’re just another boss fight."

  The demon roars, lunging in blind fury.

  But this time, I’m ready.

  Now, it’s my turn.

  The demon howls in frustration, its movements becoming more erratic. It lunges again, but I’m already one step ahead. I sidestep, watching as its clawed hand slices through empty air, then counter with a quick slash across its back.

  It roars in pain, spinning toward me with wild, desperate swipes. But now, I see everything. Every attack, every twitch of its muscles—it’s all becoming predictable. My Demon Eye pulses, the world around me sharpening with unnatural clarity.

  "You were overwhelming at first," I say, dodging another swipe with ease. My blade whips out, carving another deep gash into its side. Blood splatters across the forest floor, staining the grass crimson. "But now? You’re just a rage-quitting player who realized they’re about to lose."

  The demon lets out a guttural snarl, then does something unexpected. It stops attacking.

  I pause, gripping Nyxrend tightly. What is it planning?

  Then—I see it. The wounds I’ve inflicted start to close, flesh knitting itself back together. Its breathing steadies, and the wild look in its eyes dulls into something worse.

  Cold, calculating hunger.

  It’s regenerating.

  My stomach twists. If I don’t finish this fast, it’s going to recover completely—and then I’ll be back to square one. I tighten my grip on Nyxrend and exhale. Alright then. No more playing around.

  I lower my stance, my Demon Eye flaring with intensity. The next exchange will decide everything.

  The demon grins, its jagged teeth glistening with fresh saliva. Its wounds seal up like they were never there, the gashes I carved into its flesh fading before my eyes.

  Damn it. It’s healing faster than I can damage it.

  I grit my teeth. If I let this drag out, I’ll lose. My body is already at its limit, and this thing? It’s just getting started.

  The demon tilts its head, amusement flickering in its glowing red eyes. Then—without warning—it vanishes.

  My instincts scream. I throw myself backward just as its claws slice through the air where my throat had been a second ago. It lands in a crouch, then springs at me again, faster than before.

  I block with Nyxrend, but the impact nearly rips the sword from my hands. My feet skid across the dirt, barely holding my ground. Before I can recover, it’s already mid-attack again.

  A clawed hand slashes toward my side—I twist away, but not fast enough. Pain flares as its nails tear into my skin, warm blood seeping into my combat attire.

  I bite back a scream. Focus. Stay calm.

  It presses the attack, forcing me onto the defensive. My arms ache with every block, my body sluggish with exhaustion. I dodge left—too slow. Its knee slams into my ribs, sending me stumbling.

  It pounces, aiming to finish me off.

  I react on instinct. Nyxrend swings up just in time—steel meets flesh, slicing through its outstretched arm.

  The demon shrieks, black blood spraying into the air. I don’t stop. I can’t stop. I press forward, slashing at its chest, its legs—anything I can reach.

  It leaps back, snarling. The confidence in its gaze wavers.

  That’s right. You feel it, don’t you?

  I adjust my stance, my breath ragged. My Demon Eye is working overtime, reading its movements before it makes them. Every dodge, every parry—I’m getting faster.

  Smarter.

  The demon rushes me again, but this time, I don’t just react—I counter. It slashes low—I step over it and drive my knee into its gut. It staggers, gasping. My blade follows, cutting a deep line across its chest.

  It howls in agony, stumbling back.

  I don’t give it time to recover. I lunge forward, bringing Nyxrend down in a brutal arc—

  But just before my strike lands, the demon smiles.

  A chill runs down my spine.

  Then, in a blur of motion, it vanishes again.

  What—?!

  Pain explodes in my back. I barely process the impact before another strike slams into my shoulder. My vision flashes white as I crash to the ground.

  My thoughts whirl. It tricked me!

  I try to move, but my body isn’t responding fast enough. Heavy footsteps approach, and I roll onto my side just in time to see the demon looming over me, grinning.

  It lifts a foot and stomps down—

  I twist away, barely avoiding my ribs being shattered. Scrambling to my feet, I raise Nyxrend, panting.

  That was close. Too close.

  The demon tilts its head again, studying me. Then it does something that sends a shiver through my bones.

  It laughs.

  A deep, guttural, inhuman laugh.

  "This is fun," it purrs, voice dripping with malice. "Struggle more. Break more."

  My grip tightens. My body is screaming at me to stop, to run—but I can’t. I won’t.

  I take a deep breath. Calm down. Think.

  I replay the fight in my head. The movements. The patterns. What changed?

  And then—it clicks.

  It’s adapting.

  Just like me.

  Shit.

  I shake my head. No. I can still win this.

  The demon crouches, preparing to charge again.

  I exhale slowly. My Demon Eye glows brighter.

  "Alright, freakshow," I mutter, raising my blade. A smirk tugs at my lips despite the pain. "You wanna play? Let’s play."

  The final round begins.

  The demon vanishes.

  Not a sound. Not a warning.

  I barely have time to register the movement before—

  THWACK!

  A clawed fist slams into my ribs, sending me airborne. My breath leaves my lungs in a violent gasp. Before I can even think about recovering—

  CRACK!

  Something strikes my back midair, slamming me into the ground like a ragdoll. The impact rattles my skull, my vision blurring from the sheer force. I try to move—

  But the demon is already here.

  It grabs me by the throat and lifts me effortlessly, my feet dangling above the dirt.

  "Too slow," it sneers, squeezing. My lungs burn as I claw at its hand, but its grip is like iron.

  Black spots creep into my vision. My limbs grow heavy.

  No—not like this.

  I tighten my grip on Nyxrend, forcing my muscles to move through sheer willpower. With the last bit of strength I can muster, I swing.

  The blade carves deep into its shoulder, cutting through flesh and bone.

  The demon screams and recoils, dropping me. I hit the ground hard, gasping for air, my throat raw.

  No time to recover. It’s already moving again.

  I roll to the side as its foot crashes down where my head had been a second ago. Dirt and debris fly into the air.

  It’s pushing harder now.

  I scramble to my feet, my body screaming in protest. My whole frame feels battered, my breaths ragged.

  The demon’s wounds are healing. Not as fast as before, but still fast enough to be a problem.

  I need to finish this. Now.

  The demon charges. But this time, I don’t wait.

  I rush in too, meeting it head-on.

  It slashes—I duck.

  It spins for a backhand—I step in, jamming my elbow into its ribs. The impact staggers it for a second—just enough time.

  I pivot, Nyxrend gleaming in the dim light, and slash upward.

  The blade carves through its arm, nearly severing it completely.

  The demon shrieks, stumbling back. It clutches its mangled limb, eyes wild with pain and fury.

  I press the attack.

  I’m faster now. Not just physically—but mentally. My Demon Eye burns with every movement, every twitch of its muscles laid bare before me.

  The demon lunges, desperate. I sidestep, dragging my blade across its side.

  A deep cut.

  It roars, swinging wildly. I duck under one strike, then another. It’s slower now—sloppy. The frustration in its eyes is clear.

  It knows it’s losing.

  "Not so fun anymore, huh?" I taunt, exhaling sharply. My body is still wrecked, but adrenaline is keeping me upright.

  The demon snarls—and then, it does something unexpected.

  It stops.

  Its chest rises and falls, its body trembling. Then—its mouth stretches into a grotesque grin.

  "I see now," it hisses. "You learn."

  I freeze.

  "You… steal."

  My stomach drops.

  Before I can react, the demon lunges with everything it has.

  Faster than ever.

  I barely bring Nyxrend up in time. The sheer force behind its attack sends me flying, my back slamming into a tree. The impact knocks the wind out of me.

  I cough, trying to push myself up—but the demon is already on top of me.

  A clawed hand grips my face, slamming my head into the dirt. Stars explode in my vision.

  I struggle, but it doesn’t let up.

  "You think you’re the only one who adapts?" it growls, its breath hot against my skin.

  Shit—!

  I twist, using every ounce of strength to break free, but it’s relentless. It raises its free hand, claws glinting in the dim light.

  It’s going to end this.

  I need to move—NOW!

  My mind races. My Demon Eye flares.

  I see the pattern. The rhythm. The opening.

  And I take it.

  At the last second, I shift my weight, twisting just enough to break its grip. My head barely clears the incoming claws as I roll away.

  I land on my feet—barely. My legs nearly give out, but I force them to hold.

  The demon turns, snarling. But this time—I’m already moving.

  I close the distance in a single step. It lashes out—too slow. I weave past its strike, blade flashing in the dim light.

  A clean, brutal slash across its chest.

  The demon gasps, stumbling back, blood spraying from the deep wound.

  I don’t stop.

  I can’t stop.

  Nyxrend cuts through its thigh. Then its arm. Each strike faster, sharper. The demon tries to retreat, but I won’t let it.

  This ends now.

  I dash forward, my blade raised for the final strike.

  The demon’s eyes widen—fear flashing for the first time.

  It opens its mouth, as if to speak—

  But Nyxrend carves through its throat before it can.

  Silence.

  For a moment, neither of us move.

  Then, the demon staggers, choking on blackened blood. Its body trembles—then, with a final gasp, it collapses.

  Dead.

  I stand there, chest rising and falling, my whole body shaking. My arms feel like lead, my legs ready to give out.

  But I won.

  I won.

  I exhale, wiping blood—mine and the demon’s—off my face.

  "Damn," I mutter, finally letting the exhaustion sink in. "That was way harder than it needed to be."

  I glance down at the corpse, my thoughts still racing. It was strong—stronger than anything I’ve faced so far.

  But in the end…

  I adapted.

  I pull Nyxrend free, the demon collapsing in a heap at my feet. My breaths come ragged, my entire body trembling. Every muscle feels like it’s on fire, my wounds burning with each movement.

  I take a shaky step back. Damn… that was brutal.

  Pain? I can handle pain. Zareth’s training had pushed me past my limits more times than I could count. But this level of exhaustion? This bone-deep fatigue that makes my limbs feel like lead? That’s harder to ignore.

  I roll my shoulders, wincing. Still alive… barely.

  With a heavy sigh, I wipe the blood—mine and the demon’s—off my face. I glance at the corpse, making sure it isn’t getting back up. Nothing. Just a lifeless husk.

  Finally, I sheath Nyxrend, ready to move on—

  "Yummy."

  I freeze.

  My fingers tighten around the hilt. My heart skips a beat.

  I exhale sharply, wiping blood from my mouth. Right, a soul-eating sword that talks. How could I forget?

  Before I can even process what just happened—

  Clap. Clap. Clap.

  I freeze. That sound. Slow. Mocking.

  I turn my head, my exhausted body tensing on instinct.

  Standing at the edge of the clearing, leaning casually against a tree, is Ravyn. His jagged mask tilts slightly, those glowing violet slits practically grinning at me. Next to him, arms crossed and as unshakable as ever, stands Mark, his war hammer resting against his shoulder.

  "Took you long enough," Ravyn drawls, his voice dripping with amusement. "Thought we'd have to step in and save your sorry ass."

  Mark says nothing, just staring at the corpse of the demon, then at me. A silent nod—acknowledgment, maybe respect.

  I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Great. An audience.

  Ravyn casually walks over to the demon’s corpse and crouches beside it, grabbing the severed head like it’s nothing more than a hunting trophy. He turns it over in his hands, inspecting it with mild interest before letting out an amused chuckle.

  "Well, I kinda thought you were gonna die," he admits, tilting the head slightly, as if checking for any signs of life. "But hey, you didn’t! And I don’t want you dead, Eli. You’re different from normal people—you’ve got potential."

  He tosses the head up slightly before catching it again, his grin never fading. "And, fun fact—this mission? It was Rajah Rank."

  I freeze. "Rajah?" The name alone sounds important. A bad feeling creeps up my spine. "Wait—what does that even mean? Is that some kind of high-ranking adventurer level?"

  Mark, standing beside him, crosses his arms. "It means you were in way over your head." His deep voice is flat, but there’s something almost... impressed in his tone. "That demon was already injured before you got here. If it had been at full strength, you wouldn’t have stood a chance."

  My eye twitches. "You knew?"

  Ravyn shrugs like it’s no big deal. "Well, yeah." He waves a hand dismissively. "I mean, it’s not like I threw you in completely blind. You had your sword, your demon eye, your determination—"

  I cut him off. "You sent me on an errand like some low-level lackey!"

  "Whoa, whoa, don’t say it like that!" Ravyn feigns offense, pressing a hand to his chest. "I did warn you I’d be giving you missions, didn’t I?"

  I glare at him, barely restraining myself from lunging at his stupid, grinning face. "Missions usually come with information! Like, I don’t know, ‘Hey Eli, by the way, this thing could rip you in half even when it’s half-dead!’"

  Lena, still leaning against a tree with her arms crossed, smirks. "Well, you didn’t die, so why are you complaining?"

  I groan, rubbing my temples. "I swear, if this is how things are gonna be, I might actually die from stress before I die in battle."

  Ravyn grins, tossing the severed head into a bag. "Relax, newbie! You passed the test, and that’s all that matters. Now, let’s head back to base—gotta hold up our end of the deal, right?"

  I sigh, utterly drained. "Fine. Whatever. I did the job. Let’s just get this over with."

  Porky, who has been watching the entire conversation, lets out a low oink—probably judging me.

  I shake my head and trudge after the others. At least I survived. That’s gotta count for something... right?