The training grounds of the Demon King were nothing like she'd imagined.
No sand or grass—just a circular platform of black stone, floating above a lake of molten lava, suspended in mid-air by ancient magic. Arcane runes pulsed beneath her feet. One wrong step, and she might literally fall into hell.
"Try not to die," Azazel said flatly, conjuring a flame in his palm the size of her entire torso.
Yui swallowed. "You really know how to comfort a girl."
The Demon King tilted his head. "I was not aware you needed comfort. You asked to survive. Then prove it."
He hurled the fireball toward her.
"Wha—!"
Instinct kicked in. Yui dove sideways, her dress catching on a jagged rock. Pain lanced through her side, but she rolled, gasping.
The system chimed.
[Emergency Combat Mode Activated]
Dodge Successful: +5 XP
You are now eligible to unlock a soul-bound skill.
"Yes!" she breathed, staggering upright. "System—open skill tree!"
[Soul-Bound Skill Tree: Demon Pact]
→ Shadowstep – Unlocked!
Effect: Instantly teleport to Azazel's side or location of demon energy origin.
Cooldown: 1 minute
"Shadowstep—go!" she shouted.
Her vision twisted. One moment she was in the fireball's path. The next, she stood behind Azazel, slightly off balance, heart pounding.
He turned.
"Interesting," he said. "You moved through my flames unburned."
"I—I didn't know if it would work…" she admitted.
"Then your instincts are better than your logic," he said. "Good. Next time, don't hesitate."
Next time? She barely had time to breathe before he raised a hand again—and a column of black flame roared toward her like a wave.
Oh god. He's serious about this.
Two Hours Later
Yui lay flat on the obsidian floor, her chest heaving.
Hair stuck to her face. Her arms shook. But she was alive.
Barely.
[XP Gained: 90]
Level Up! → Level 2 Unlocked
Skill Upgrade Available: Shadowstep (Rank I → II)
Mana Pool Expanded.
Azazel stood over her, expression unreadable.
"You are not strong," he said. "But you are stubborn."
"…Thanks," she muttered, unsure if it was an insult or a compliment.
He extended a gauntleted hand. She hesitated—then took it.
As he pulled her up, her system pinged again.
[Synchronization with Azazel: 9%]
Soul-Bond Progressing... New Emotion Detected: Respect
Warning: Enemies Monitoring Outer Perimeter
Next Event: Hostile Encounter Predicted (24 hours)
Her breath caught.
They were being watched.
And something was coming.