Determination

The sounds of screams pierced the air, sharp and desperate, breaking the eerie silence of Purgatory. I froze mid-step, my heart pounding in my chest. Someone, or something, was in trouble.

Without hesitation, I ran towards the source, the uneven terrain blurring around me. As I crested a hill, the scene below came into view, and my stomach turned.

A group of souls, battered and broken, were kneeling in a shallow crater. Towering over them was a figure cloaked in shifting black armor, her crimson red eyes glowing with malice. Her presence exuded pure power, an A-rank demon, no doubt.

"Nyroxia," I muttered under my breath, recognition sparking through me. Aurora had mentioned her before as Elzarath's right-hand man, a sadistic enforcer who thrived on tormenting the weak. She then raised her whip-like weapon, its shadowy tendrils writhing like living snakes. "Pityful souls," she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "You exist at my mercy. And my mercy… is wearing thin." A surge of anger coursed through me as one of the souls groaned, its broken body barely able to kneel upright. I clenched my fist and before I could stop myself, I called out to her.

"That's enough!" She then turned her head in my direction, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Well, well. A bold little demon, aren't you?" I took a step forward, ignoring the trembling in my legs. "Leave them alone, if you want to play your sadistic games, find someone who can defend themselves," I said without thinking of the consequences of my words. Then she tilted her head, amusement flashing in her eyes. "And I assume you're volunteering." I nodded, forcing the steel into my voice. "If I win, you'll leave these souls alone and leave. If I lose… I'll accept your punishment," I said, showing no fear in my eyes.

The souls gasped, their sunken eyes widening in disbelief. Nyroxia's laughter echoed through the clearing, dark and menacing stance of Purgatorio. "How noble. Very well, little demon. Let's see how long you can last."

The fight began with a confusion of emotions. She was fast, no faster than I had anticipated. Her whip lashed out, striking the ground where I had been standing moments before. I barely managed to dodge it, the tendrils brushing against my side and leaving searing pain in their wake.

"You'll have to do better than that," Nyroxia taunted, her voice a venomous hiss.

I gritted my teeth and summoned my shadow sword. The dark weapon felt heavier than before, its form flickering as I struggled to maintain control. I lunged at Nyroxia, striking out with all my might.

She parried effortlessly, her whip wrapping around my sword and ripping it from my grip. "Pathetic," she taunted, delivering a swift kick that sent me sprawling to the ground.

But I wasn't done yet. Activating Demonic Speed, I ran up behind her and landed a solid punch to her side. I barely fazed her, but the brief opening allowed me to retrieve my sword.

For every blow I landed, Nyroxia counterattacked with double the force. The gap between our strength was apparent, but I refused to back down. Every blow, every dodge, every step pushed my body closer to its limits.

"You are stubborn," she commented then, her tone almost grudgingly impressed. "But this is where it ends."

She raised her whip for a final strike, the tendrils crackling with dark energy. I braced myself for a counterattack, knowing I wouldn't be able to block it. But before the blow could land, a voice rang through the air.

"Enough, Nyro."

The oppressive weight of Elzarath's presence descended upon us like a storm. Even without seeing him, I could feel his power—a suffocating force that made it hard to breathe.

She then hesitated and lowered her weapon slightly. "As you command, lord Elzarath," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "Tsk" with a final glare, Nyroxia vanished, leaving the souls and me behind.

Exhausted, I collapsed to my knees, my body trembling from the effort. Despite my defeat, a small spark of pride burned within me. I hadn't won, but I hadn't backed down either.

"Are you insane?" Aurora's voice snapped me out of my daze. She stood a few feet away, her expression a mixture of anger and concern.

"They needed help," I said simply, struggling to my feet. "I couldn't just stand by."

She shook her head, her fists clenched at her sides. "You don't understand the danger yourself in. Nyroxia could've killed you. And for what? A handful of souls who wouldn't have done the same for you?"

I met her gaze, unflinching. "It doesn't matter. I did what was right."

Aurora's jaw tightened, but she said nothing more. She turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

That night, as I lay on my mat, the fight replayed in my mind. Every movement, every strike, every mistake—it all came rushing back. My body ached, but my determination burned brighter than ever.

I sat up, grabbing my blade. If I couldn't beat Nyroxia now, I'd train until I could.

Under the pale light of Purgatorio's sky, I practiced. Each swing of my blade was sharper, each movement faster, each dodge more precise. Hours passed, the chill of the night air biting at my skin, but I didn't stop.

By dawn, my body was screaming in protest, but I felt stronger, Wiser.

Aurora approached, her expression unreadable as she watched me. Finally, she spoke. "You're not the same as you were yesterday."

I sheathed my blade, wiping sweat from my brow. "I'll never be that weak again."

She nodded slowly. "Good. Because we have six months until the demon king trials. If you want to survive you'll need to reach at least A+ rank. Right now, you're sitting at C+."

Her words didn't discourage me. If anything, they fueled the fire in my chest. I met her gaze, determination shining in my eyes. "Then we'd better get started."