My counter put some distance between us, but it took me a moment to even process what had happened.

I had had another vision, but this one wasn’t just a prediction of a single attack. Within a fraction of a second, I saw every possible course of action and every possible outcome for them, determined the optimal move and executed it before I even had time to consciously realise it.

A dozen different timeliness, all in less time than the blink of an eye. It was taxing on the mind, but it undoubtedly saved my life.

Back in my feet, I concentrated everything I had on that same feeling, closed my eyes, and let my clairvoyance guide my body once again.

I attacked low towards his legs, which he attempted to counter with a kick. I deftly moved just far enough to the side to dodge the kick, slicing the leg with my rapier before realigning my hands for a stab. He dodged backward, slowed slightly by the wound, which allowed me time to make a deeper cut on the other leg.

My opponent’s mobility now severely hampered, I deflected away the desperate scythe strike aimed at me before stabbing deeply into the opposite arm. With one final movement, I sliced off the large thumb on his weapon hand and left him to wail in pain.

The entire interaction took less than a few seconds. In less time than it takes most people to think, I had turned a losing fight into a victorious one. It was all thanks to my new power, 「Omniscience」.

The moment I knew my victory was secured, I clutched my head in pain. Mentally simulating a hundred different actions in a fraction of a second was enough to cause one hell of a headache.

“Human… you’ve impressed me. Wha- argh- what is your name?” Laplace said, through pained grunts.

“A-Amai… Amai Sugi…” I said, through equally pained deep breaths.

“Well then… Amai Sugi, by the rules of our duel, the victory is yours. My life is now forefeit at your hand.”

Laplace sat down, his massive legs no longer able to support him through the pain. I heard my loved ones running up to join me at my side, while Maxwell simply waited and watched. Laplace and I had previously agreed that the loser of the duel would pay with their life.

Then again, I never was one for rules.

“I’m not gonna kill you, Laplace,” I said, as the enormous demon looked up at me. “Here’s another lesson about humans and society: we value mercy above vengeance.”

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“Mercy? An idea of the collective. We demons have no concept of it. And yet, you say you will extend it to me? When I would have unhesitantly taken your head off your shoulders were the roles reversed?”

“Yes. That’s part of what it means to be human.”

A silence fell, with tension so great you could cut it with a knife. Until, Laplace started to chuckle. Then, after a few seconds, he broke into full-on laugh

“Ahahaha! Very well then, Merciful Amai Sugi. I hereby declare your first trial passed. I will look forward to seeing what you achieve with this new potential.”

I didn’t feel like I had earned Laplace’s admiration, nor even his respect. After all, those were ideas foreign to demons. But, in a way I doubted I’d ever understand, it seemed he had grown a fondness for me.

“It was a good fight. Thank you for helping me reach my new potential.”

“Do not thank me yet, Merciful Amai. You and I may yet meet again, to finish our battle properly. I will look forward to the day.”

“And when it comes, I’ll spare your life again.”

“Ha! You speak with the confidence and bravado of a true warrior. Keep yourself alive a good while longer, I wish to see what heights you truly reach.”

Hell and Earth were entirely incompatible worlds with entirely incompatible ideas, but I no longer felt that humanity and demonkind could never see peace. Perhaps we could come to understand each other in time.

***

“I will act as your escort through the rest of the trials. The trial chambers are separated by Midare Doors, which can only be opened by a demon,” Maxwell explained as we approached the door between the first and second trials.

“Can you tell us what the next trials will be like?” Asked Shin.

“I’m afraid that is the job of the examiner. I do not know what trials await you.”

After how taxing the first trial was, I wasn’t exactly eager to see what number 2 and 3 had in store. I was starting to get quite burned out by near-death experiences.

“You gonna be okay for the next trial, by the way?” Shin suddenly asked me.

“Hmm? Why do you ask?”

“It’s just… you were holding your head earlier. It looked like you were in a lot of pain.”

“Ah, that. My third ability is incredibly useful, it lets me see every possible outcome for every option I can conceive of in a tiny fraction of a second. But it’s a lot of information for the brain to deal with in a short period of time. Gave me one hell of a headache, but it cleared up pretty quickly.”

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, Shin, really. I’ll just have to keep 「Omniscience」in my back pocket as a last resort rather than relying on it consistently.“

True be told, the pain hadn’t entirely ceased. Seeing several seconds worth of information a hundred times over in less time than it takes to blink was enough to make my head pound like a hammer on an anvil.

But we had delayed long enough. Hana’s army was unlikely to survive an entire night of fighting, so we couldn’t afford to stop and rest. I had to trust my ability to push through it.

Finally, we reached the enormous separating door between the first and second trials. There was a seal with the engraved figure of a fly on the front of the door, which Maxwell placed his hand upon. Moments later, the door began to swing open.

“You… bastard…”

“It’s good to see you again, Shin. I do hope my letter reached you well.”

“I’ve already told you before, only my loved ones call me Shin. To you, Director, it’s Sora.”