"To think that a rookie like you could reach this realm so fast..." the original demon's voice trembled—whether in awe or fury, I couldn't tell. Her eyes shimmered like ten thousand stars, impossible to read, but far too focused on me. Her body moved, and in a blink, she was gone from where she stood. Too fast.
I had barely begun to breathe in this new power—barely felt the weight of what I had become—and already, she was upon me.
Her claws tore through the air itself, slashing the very fabric of this realm. The shockwave came first, howling like a hurricane birthed from hell, followed by the heat of her strike. It wasn't just speed. It wasn't just strength. It was the kind of attack that ended bloodlines. A blow meant to kill. Meant to erase.
And yet…
I stood my ground.
Of course I did.
The Pride in me refused to flinch. It roared inside my veins, deafening me to doubt, anchoring my feet like roots clawing through the core of this dimension.
Take it.
