True Incubus: The Demon with No Limits

”Are you perhaps... scared?”

Lucian grinned.

The corridor became silent at those words.

Rhydan stared at Lucian. Lucian’s smile did not vanish and Rhydan—

”To think you would try to use my pride against me.”

”Is it working?”

”It is.”

Rhydan answered honestly.

Naomi blinked. Sabine and Isolde, however, weren’t very surprised. Rhydan had never once said no to a duel, he wouldn’t start now.

Rhydan’s companions frowned.

”You have no need to accept this, Rhydan.”

”Yes, don’t forget, he is a Demon, he must have some trick up his sleeve.”

”He is trying to manipulate you.”

”He is—”

Before they could continue, Rhydan raised one hand, making them fall silent.

”I know what he is doing.”

He spoke, his eyes not leaving Lucian even once.

”He challenged me because he believes I will not refuse a direct fight.”

He spoke as he stepped forward.

”And he is correct.

I will not hide behind my pack to defeat one opponent.”

One of the Werewolves frowned.

”He may not honour the agreement.”

”He is a Demon, I do not expect filth like him to honour anything.”

Rhydan snorted, the disgust he had for Lucian in his eyes not fading even in the slightest.

”But I will not dishonour myself because I expect dishonour from someone else.”

The Wolf announced out loud as the air around him turned heavier.

Lucian grinned at that. The more he watched Rhydan, the more impressed he felt and the stronger the glow in his eyes became.

He truly wanted a clean one-on-one battle.

He wanted to see how strong the Prodigy Wolf was.

But—

”Then let’s decide the conditions.”

He suggested with a smile, holding back his urge to forget everything and battle it out.

”State your demands.”

”If I win and you get eliminated, I’ll let your companions go and I will not take their Waymarks. If I lose and get eliminated, you let my companions go and protect her.”

He spoke as he pointed at Naomi.

Rhydan stared at the Human and narrowed his eyes.

Why was a normal Human here?

And how did she have three Waymarks already?

Even he only had two.

And...

The Demon wanted him to protect the girl...?

Rhydan did not understand. He also found it odd that the Human girl had the most Waymarks in this group.

Why didn’t... the Demon take the Waymarks?

Was it because he knew Aevrienne wouldn’t recognise him even if he had the Waymarks?

That was definitely a possibility.

Rhydan also did not fail to notice the worry in the Human girl’s eyes. It was very likely that the Desire Demon had charmed her.

He wanted her to win because he knew she was under his influence.

That was the Demon’s plan. Since he couldn’t have Aevrienne’s power on his own, he planned to use it through a proxy.

The worst part?

He dared to seek his help for it.

”No.”

Rhydan instantly denied it.

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

”So a powerful warrior like you is going to target a normal Human girl?”

He tried to taunt him.

”I have no intention of specifically targeting her. Once I win, I will take her Waymarks. If she hands them over on her own, I will let her go.”

”What about them?”

Lucian asked as he pointed at Isolde and Sabine.

”They’ll need to hand over their Waymarks too.”

Rhydan shrugged. He did not want anyone connected to the Demon winning the Trial.

”And I am the Demon here.”

Lucian laughed.

Rhydan did not care.

”If you win, you are free to take their Waymarks.”

He suggested a fair offer.

Lucian shook his head.

At this point, Waymarks weren’t really an issue for their team. With Naomi here, they could find Waymarks just by roaming around. What he needed was safety, so he—

”Let’s settle it this way.

The winner gets all the Waymarks. However, once the duel is over, there should be no more fighting.

Your people do not attack mine, mine won’t attack yours.”

”I can accept that.”

Rhydan nodded.

”Good.”

Lucian grinned at that, preparing to fight.

”Lucian...”

Naomi, who was standing behind him, called him in a low tone. Lucian turned towards her, showing his back to Rhydan because he knew the Wolf wouldn’t attack dishonourably.

”I’ll be fine.

You don’t know this, but I am very strong.

I simply can’t lose.”

That was a lie.

The Wolf was stronger than him.

Lucian’s screaming instincts made that very clear. He could not win.

The reason he proposed a duel was actually to prevent Naomi from being eliminated. He could see Aevrienne favoured Naomi. She could actually win this thing as long as she remained inside, so he decided to sacrifice himself.

That and he wanted to fight the Wolf.

He wanted to use this fight to push past his limits and get even stronger.

”It will be far easier if it becomes a two-on-two battle.”

Isolde spoke with a solemn face.

It was clear she wanted to participate as well. She felt like she was being dead weight and she did not like that feeling. Lucian just smiled at her and—

”This battle may force you to release too much power, Isolde. Do not forget, if even one of your seals breaks, the entire Trial might collapse.”

He dramatically placed one hand on her shoulder.

”For the sake of everyone inside this maze, you must endure the pain of remaining behind.”

He shook his head. Isolde stared at him. Lucian looked into her eyes and nodded ever so slightly, so in the end—

”You are right.”

She nodded, understanding the terrible burden placed upon her. She glanced at her trembling hand.

”The world is not yet prepared to witness my true form.”

”It may never be.”

Lucian nodded heavily.

”Then go.”

Isolde turned away dramatically, raising her face towards the ceiling.

”Fight without fear, Mother of Dragons.

I shall remain here, chained by the mercy I still possess.”

Naomi stared at the two with a deadpan look on her face.

How were they still like this?

Sabine, on the other hand, was inwardly glad.

She did not want to fight Rhydan and his subordinates.

She was here to win.

Finally, once Lucian was done with his theatrics, he turned back towards Rhydan. For a moment, he only stared at the giant man standing in front of him, then his grin widened—

”Are you ready?”

”Let’s get this over with.”