Thankfully, after telling the heroes what they had done wrong in exquisite detail, most of them had the grace to at least look abashed. They should start to slowly improve as we continue to do these spars. And, to make sure that they won’t start using their energy to create strategies that would only work against me, I’m going to change my combat style every time we spar. This will force them to become more adaptable, and will keep them from only knowing how to deal with one type of enemy.
Of course, I needn’t mention that Arthur was the only one that still looked arrogant and righteous after my careful dissection. Mostly because the only advice I gave him was to pull his head out of his ass.
For everyone else, I told them what had gone wrong, and gave them advise on how to improve themselves.
Some, like Sarah and Selina, didn’t need the advise, since they were experienced enough to know how to get better.
The one who needed the advice the most was Rust, who couldn’t help but seem lost during the sparing match. He had shot a quiver full of arrows at me, missing all of them narrowly. This made him frustrated, and angry at himself. I commended him on the fact that he had engaged me in the first place, and that the arrows had gotten so close already.
(Rust) “But I never hit you!”
(Kai) “Look, nobody is expected to hit their target so soon after picking up the bow. You didn’t hit me this time. You probably won’t next time either, but you can certainly get closer to that goal. Just keep trying, that’s all I’m asking.”
He seemed to get this, and calmed down. I went on to tell him strategies, on how to hit an enemy in the middle of combat. Like, wait for a moment when the enemy stands still, and isn’t focused on incoming arrows. Rust hadn’t shot any arrows while I was fighting others, which should have been the best opportunity to catch me off guard. He should also wait for a point when I am unable to avoid the arrows, like when I’m blocked in on multiple sides, and unable to dodge. He simply doesn’t have the experience needed yet, and the best way to get it would be to continue fighting me.
It’s the same story for most of the others.
Merlin seems to be the quickest to adapt, mostly because he’s already so experienced, and only needed time to adjust to his new illusionist powers. He’s already shown a potential application of them—He had placed an illusionary version of himself down at the start of the combat, and rendered himself mostly invisible. As long as the target doesn’t catch on, he could very well sneak about and take them unawares. I had noticed it, and seen the discolored patch of air giving away his real position, but otherwise, he did well. And, as he gains a greater grasp of his abilities, he could start doing so much more with it.
Harving’s pretty much an enigma to me. He’s always quiet, but when he acts, he acts violently. All his attacks strike to kill, and he does so viciously. It’s a bit scary, really. But, like Merlin, he should adapt to the situation quickly. I was a bit concerned when he stood around for the first part of the spar, but he took action afterwards, even if it had been stopped when I had released my aura. Oh well. As long as he can take action, then everything should be fine.
I’m not even going to mention Arthur again. It feels like he wins when I do.
I’ve convinced Gaby to begin looking for a way to use her class that suits her. She’s been unsure about how to use her class, but the only thing people have told her is that a way to use it will come naturally to her.
Well, it hasn’t. she doesn’t know how to fully utilize her main class, though her secondary was easily figured out. Scholar, and Swordsman, it was. It can’t really be helped, since she used to be a student and everything, but I don’t think anyone expected for her to not understand her classes yet. Swordsman is fine and all, but it’s her secondary class, while Scholar is her primary.
So, it looks like we have to find a good use for her Scholar class, one that’ll support the group in the best possible way.
So, yeah. I threw her into the academy library, and told her to start reading.
What? Her class is Scholar, right? I figured that the library would be a good place to start, after all.
The next day, she looked happy and joyful, but exhausted. And, in no shape to spar, so I sent her back. Hopefully, she’s now sleeping. If not, then she’s back in the library. I may have just awakened a monster of sorts. Oops.
Since it’s unlikely that she would be needed during the spar in any way, since the rest were still just as bad as her, I continued to the clearing with the rest of the heroes.
This time, instead of going barehanded, I brought along a single shield. It wasn’t large or anything, but it still proved formidable as I blocked every blow thrown at me, from the arrows, to the daggers, to the swords.
Just as they started getting frustrated with the whole thing, since they clearly weren’t able to touch me, I began bashing them with the shield. I found it extraordinarily funny how they would go flying every time.
From another point of view, it must have been odd to see a small girl only just over five feet tall flinging larger people around, as she lay about her with a stout oak shield.
Well, I had fun with it. The heroes were less enthused. Especially when I smacked Arthur straight in the face with the shield, leaving him on the ground with blood steaming out of his nose, and his eyes watering. Hopefully, this’ll get him to value women more, and be less of an ass-hat.
Once again, after the spar ended, I had dinner with the heroes, and told them what had gone wrong, and what they could improve. There were some repeated mistakes, but not as many as I would have thought. They seem to learn quickly, as a whole. Even Arthur had learned—He hadn’t stood about waiting for me to come to him this time. No, this time it had been Harving who had the biggest issues.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
He did the same thing again, where he half-heartedly committed himself to combat. He simply didn’t have the same feeling around him, that ruthless and cold feeling. I don’t know what was wrong with him, but I suspected he has something holding him back from being able to fight me with his full power. Maybe a trauma, or a bad memory. I’ll ask him about it sooner or later, when I’m able to talk to him alone.
Gaby showed up for the dinner as well, and spent the entire time talking to Sarah about all the fascinating books she’d found in the library. I reminded her that she still has to find a use for the knowledge she gains, one that would help the others in some way. I was beginning to get an idea of how she could do this, but I also know that it would be best to let her come to those conclusions on her own, given time.
Speaking of time, it seems that my reaching level one hundred is closer than I had originally thought.
I leveled up twice while meditating after the second sparring lesson with the heroes. I don’t know how it’s possible to advance so quickly, but I’m guessing it’s due to my bloodlines. After all, one side is that of powerful elven nobility, and the other from an unknowably powerful man. And, it seems that now I’m closer to becoming a demon lord than I had been, the process of leveling up to get there has been accelerated greatly. I’d say it’s only a matter of weeks now. And, I’m planning on taking a trip outside of the academy when the time comes for me to fully become a demon lord. I don’t know what’ll happen, or if it’s noticeable, but I don’t want to take the risk of alerting everyone that there’s a demon lord in the academy. At least this way, if there is some sign that I’ve advanced, it’ll show up in the middle of the wilderness.
And, the next day, after another sparing session, this time with me using a massive greatsword to bat away all opposition, I went to visit Flavius.
Luckily, Niten was also there for some reason or another. It would save me the trouble of tracking him down, at least.
Without much preamble, I sat in one of the chairs in front of Flavius’s desk. Both of them looked confused about the whole thing, especially since I had just burst into the room, carefully closed the door behind me, and sat down without a word.
(Flavius) “Is something wrong, Kai?”
(Kai) “Well, not really, but I thought I would let you guys know about something.”
I saw a sly look cross Niten’s eyes, and he carefully examined me.
(Niten) “Does it have something to do with those changes I can see? You’ve gotten more powerful, haven’t you?”
Flavius’s head whipped around to look at Niten.
(Flavius) “Really?! How is that possible—I mean, I noticed how your horns are now blackened at the tips, but I thought that was just fashion or something. Your strength also changed?”
I nodded.
(Kai) “Right. Those changes do have something to do with what I’m about to tell you, and what’s going to happen to me in the future.”
They both looked concerned. While I’m flattered that they care about me, if they show concern for me now, then what’s going to happen when I drop my news on them?
(Kai) “Basically, it looks like my demon blood is evolving.”
They looked confused now, trying to puzzle out the implications of what I just said.
(Flavius) “Uh...What does that mean?”
(Kai) “It means that I’ll likely become a Demon Lord in a few weeks.”
Ah, if they had been drinking something, it would be all over the walls right now.
Flavius sat stunned, and I could see a riot of emotions flit across his face, one after the other.
Niten took the news calmly though.
(Niten) “So, are you going to leave the academy?”
(Kai) “For a while, yes. I can’t be sure that the process of becoming a demon lord won’t attract unwanted attention, so I’ll be going away in a few weeks. If nobody notices, then I’ll come back.”
Niten nodded thoughtfully.
(Niten) “It might be that, even were someone to notice this, you would be able to return to the academy.”
Now it was my turn to be confused.
(Kai) “What do you mean? Wouldn’t it be bad for the academy’s image if it came out that a demon lord was in residence?”
(Niten) “No, on the contrary, I would think that this news getting out would help the academy greatly. It has always lacked a good number of demon blood students—in fact, at the moment there are only fifteen demons students enrolled, and they face discrimination on a daily basis. Also, do not forget that the leaders off all three continents are meeting on equal footing soon. The demons do not have a single, strong leader. Though, since your brother has now escaped, he might suffice.”
I snorted. Jasper, leading a nation? He would first have to leave his books alone.
Flavius was still sitting, stunned. Well, I can imagine why. After all, I’m still only thirteen, though I should turn fourteen soon. A teenage Demon Lord? That’s never been heard of in the continents so far.
(Kai) “So? What are you getting at, mentioning the summit?”
(Niten) “What I mean to say, is that strength should be viewed with the greatest importance in the coming years. Having a Demon Lord on their sides should be a good incentive to accept the demons once and for all.”
----------------------------------------
Author's Note:
So, the internet went down for something like three hours today.
Apparently, all of Germany's servers are experiencing problems of varying size.
I'll be on a plane for most of the day tomorrow, so it's a toss up as to if a chapter comes out.
Again, I'll be depending on the availability of internet to post it.
I mean, it will be written on the plane. I have nothing better to do, so yay?
—River.
Also, a side note, I've erased most of the author's notes on pervious chapters, leaving only those with significance to the story,