Axel's voice dropped to a low murmur, his face devoid of emotion. "Megicula?" he repeated, his eyes narrowing as the name slipped from his lips. "So you're the one I need to kill first."
The figure before him, Megicula, grinned widely, revealing teeth that were too sharp to be human. "Before we take this battle to its climax," Megicula said, his voice smooth and filled with dark amusement, "I would like for you to enter my domain. No trees, no obstacles—just me and you."
Axel opened his mouth to respond, but in an instant, the world around him shifted. A wave of nausea briefly hit him as the entire environment morphed in the blink of an eye. Where there had been forest, there was now only desolation.
The ground beneath Axel's feet turned pitch black, littered with dying embers, the ash swirling in the wind like the remnants of an old battlefield. The air was thick with the smell of sulfur, fire, and blood. The wasteland stretched out in all directions, a landscape of jagged rocks and molten fissures. Everything here—down to the dust in the air—seemed to be an extension of Megicula himself.
The demon's grin widened, exposing more of those nightmarish teeth. "In here," Megicula said, his voice carrying across the barren land, "there are rules."
Axel's eyes narrowed. *Rules?* He clenched his fists. This wasn't some tournament—this was a fight to the death. What kind of game was this demon playing?
Megicula began counting them off, one by one, as if savoring each word. "First, no one can die in this domain unless by the rules. Second, the only way to die is if your back hits the ground three times. And lastly... no one else can interfere, nor can you use your system's potions."
Axel's eyes flashed. *Systems.* That word caught his attention, but there was no time to dwell on it. Before he could even process the information fully, Megicula's hand shot out. In his palm, a dagger materialized—a wicked weapon with an intricate design that pulsed with an eerie energy. Megicula pointed it directly at Axel, his grin unshakable.
"Are you ready?" Megicula's voice echoed, filled with menace.
Axel widened his stance, taking a deep breath to steady himself. His grip on his sword tightened, the air around him crackling with tension. "Come," he whispered, his eyes locking onto Megicula's, already bracing for the inevitable.
And then it hit.
Faster than Axel could react, his body was lifted off the ground, soaring through the air as if he were weightless. Pain shot through his abdomen, his mind reeling as he tried to make sense of it. *What just happened?* His stomach churned violently, his vision blurring momentarily as the searing pain from his gut throbbed.
*Ah, right. The knee.*
He recalled the moment just before impact—Megicula had blurred out of sight, appearing before him with impossible speed, driving a knee deep into his gut. The pain lingered, but Axel gritted his teeth and forced his body to twist mid-air, managing to land on his feet. His boots skidded across the cracked earth, sending shards of rock scattering as he caught himself.
His eyes darted around, searching for Megicula. But the demon was already gone.
Axel's instincts kicked in, his muscles reacting before his mind could catch up. He spun, his sword slashing through the air in a wide arc. Metal clanged against metal as his blade met Megicula's, inches from slicing through the demon's neck.
The shock on Megicula's face was momentary, but it was there—an instant of surprise before his grin returned. He parried Axel's strike with ease, pushing the blade away. "Impressive," Megicula admitted, his voice low. "You were able to track me. Not many can do that."
Axel breathed heavily, eyes locked on his opponent. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, fingers trembling from the force of the parry. Megicula's speed was unnatural, faster than anything Axel had ever faced before.
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Megicula loomed over him, his face a mask of mockery. "What's wrong? We're just getting started!"
Axel's lips curled into a weak smile. "I wasn't talking to you," he muttered.
Megicula paused, confusion flashing across his face. "What?"
Axel's smile grew. "You're already dead."
The demon's eyes widened in shock. "What... what are you talking about? One more hit and you're the one who—"
Axel slowly sat up, his expression calm, almost serene. "Here's the thing. I don't play by the rules of a domain I already destroyed the moment it began."
Megicula's eyes widened as his body suddenly locked up. He couldn't move. Panic gripped him as he struggled, his limbs refusing to obey him.
"How—how did you—"
Axel let out a low sigh. "Your domain was tied to your mind. And I've been testing something—nightmares, and the decaying touch of the dead. While you were focused on the fight, I've been decaying your domain from within."
Megicula's breath hitched. "No... no, this can't be..."
Axel stood up, brushing off the dirt from his clothes. "I now control this world. And guess what? That means I also decide how you die."
The demon's face twisted in fear, his body trembling as he tried to break free from Axel's control. But it was no use.
Axel smiled darkly. "Goodbye, Megicula."
Without warning, Megicula's head exploded in a shower of blood and bone, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground.
[Leveled up]
[Leveled up]
[Leveled up]
[Leveled up]
Axel's eyes glowed with a sinister light as he felt the surge of power coursing through him. "Onto the next trial," he muttered to himself, his voice cold and unwavering.