CHAPTER 23

The next few days passed in a blur of rigorous training and silent contemplation. I had spent nearly a year learning from Alric, and yet I felt like I had only just begun to scratch the surface of what I could truly achieve. Each new ability, each new layer of control over the Aetheric Flow, opened up possibilities that hadn’t even crossed my mind when I first stumbled into the forest all those months ago.

But with each new breakthrough came a new challenge, and today was no different.

The sky was overcast, thick clouds hanging low over the forest as if they were waiting for something to happen. Alric stood a few paces away, his arms folded across his chest, watching me with that familiar, unreadable expression.

“You’re ready for something different today,” Alric said, his voice steady.

I nodded, wiping the sweat from my brow as I steadied my breathing. The physical strain of our last session still clung to me, but I could feel the healing magic working in the background, mending the damage as quickly as it appeared. My Auto-Heal was a constant companion now, repairing even the smallest cuts and bruises without a second thought. But Alric’s words lingered in my mind—healing wasn’t everything. I couldn’t rely on it to carry me through every battle.

Alric turned and started walking toward the edge of the clearing, his pace slow but purposeful. I followed in silence, my curiosity piqued. He hadn’t told me what today’s lesson would be, only that it would push me further than before.

We walked for several minutes, deeper into the forest than we usually went. The trees grew thicker here, their towering forms casting long, dark shadows across the forest floor. The air was cool and still, the sounds of the forest muffled by the dense canopy overhead.

Finally, we came to a small, secluded area—a circle of trees surrounding a large boulder, the ground beneath us covered in moss and fallen leaves. It was quiet here, almost unnervingly so.

“This will be the site of your next test,” Alric said, turning to face me. “But this one won’t be like the others. It’s not about controlling the environment or expanding your abilities. Today, you’ll be facing something very real.”

I frowned, unsure of what he meant. “What do you mean by ‘real’?”

Alric didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand, and I felt the familiar ripple of the Aetheric Flow shifting around us. The air grew heavier, the energy swirling in a way that made my skin prickle with anticipation.

And then, without warning, something emerged from the shadows.

A figure stepped out from between the trees, its movements slow and deliberate. My breath caught in my throat as I recognized what it was—a creature unlike any I had seen before, its body tall and twisted, with dark, leathery skin and glowing red eyes. Its claws scraped against the ground as it moved, and the air around it seemed to hum with unnatural energy.

A demon.

I froze, my mind racing. It wasn’t the demon—the one that had destroyed my family—but it was close enough. Its presence sent a chill through my veins, the memories of that day rushing back in a flood of fear and anger.

Alric’s voice was calm, cutting through the chaos in my mind. “This is your test, Niv. You’ve trained for this moment. Now, you must face it.”

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped back, instinctively reaching for the mask at my side. I slipped it on, feeling the familiar weight settle over me, the calm that came with it. But the fear still gnawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to overwhelm me.

The demon took another step forward, its eyes locked on me, glowing with malevolent intent. Its presence was suffocating, and I could feel the power radiating off of it in waves.

But this time, I wasn’t the same person I had been when I first encountered the demon that had torn my world apart. I wasn’t powerless anymore. I had trained. I had learned. And I had unlimited mana at my disposal.

This was my chance to prove it.

I steadied my breathing, forcing myself to focus. Analyze.

The familiar sensation of my mind breaking down the demon’s movements kicked in, my instincts sharpening as I assessed the situation. The demon was strong—its claws could tear through stone, and its speed was faster than anything I had faced before. But it wasn’t invincible. Its movements were erratic, driven by rage rather than strategy. It had weak points, just like anything else.

I just needed to find them.

The demon lunged, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. I moved on instinct, using Auto-Dodge to avoid the strike, my body shifting out of the way just in time. The ground where I had been standing was torn apart, dirt and stone flying into the air.

But I didn’t stop to think. I couldn’t afford to. The demon was relentless, coming at me again and again, each strike faster than the last. But I was faster. Every time it attacked, I was already moving, slipping through its defenses, using Slip to adjust the terrain beneath us, throwing the demon off balance.

And yet, something was different this time. The stakes were higher. The danger was real.

One misstep, one moment of hesitation, and I could be dead.

The thought lingered in the back of my mind as I fought, pushing me to move faster, think sharper. The demon’s claws grazed my arm, and I felt the sting of pain, but before I could even register the wound, Auto-Heal kicked in, mending the cut instantly.

But the pain didn’t disappear. Alric’s words echoed in my mind—healing wouldn’t stop the pain. I had to fight through it, had to keep my mind clear.

The demon roared, its glowing eyes narrowing as it came at me again, this time with more ferocity. I could see it now—its desperation, its anger. It wasn’t used to being outmaneuvered. It wasn’t used to being challenged.

I could use that.

I let the demon get closer, its claws inches from my face, before I twisted, using Slip to shift the ground beneath it. The demon stumbled, its balance thrown off for just a moment—but that was all I needed.

I surged forward, drawing on the Flow around me, letting the mana flood my body. My blade flashed in the dim light as I drove it into the demon’s side, aiming for the weak point I had identified earlier. The demon howled in pain, its body convulsing as the mana surged through the wound, destabilizing its form.

I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I pushed harder, channeling more mana into the blade, feeling the energy pulse through me as I attacked again, driving the demon back.

The fight felt like it lasted forever, each second stretching into eternity as I dodged, countered, and struck with everything I had. My body screamed in protest, the pain of every injury throbbing beneath the surface, but Auto-Heal kept me going, mending each wound as quickly as it appeared.

Finally, with one last, desperate strike, the demon fell.

Its body hit the ground with a heavy thud, its glowing eyes flickering before going dark. I stood over it, my breath ragged, my heart racing in my chest. I had done it.

I had won.

Alric approached slowly, his expression calm but thoughtful as he looked down at the demon’s fallen form.

“You fought well,” he said quietly. “But there’s something you need to understand.”

I looked up at him, still catching my breath. “What’s that?”

“This was just a taste of what’s to come,” Alric said, his voice low. “The demon you’ll face—the one that destroyed your family—will be far stronger than this.”

I nodded, my grip tightening on the hilt of my blade. “I know.”

Alric’s eyes softened slightly, a rare hint of sympathy flickering in his gaze. “But you’re getting closer. You’re nearly ready.”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. Nearly ready. I had come so far, learned so much, but the real battle still lay ahead.

The real test was still waiting.

But today, I had proven something to myself. I wasn’t powerless anymore. I wasn’t the scared boy who had run from the demon that destroyed his family.

I was stronger. Faster. Smarter.

And when the time came, I would be ready.